Swanston was a merchant who travelled between San Francisco and
Vancouver Island transporting timber and salt fish.
1 In
1854, one of Swanston’s cargo ships, the
Brig William, was wrecked off the east coast of
Vancouver Island.
2 After this incident, Swanston was requested in
Douglas’s court to discuss his observations.
3 He did not show up in court when called upon to witness and was, therefore, put into
jail.
4 Furthermore, Swanston refused to pay the crew their wages and mentioned that he had
heard
rumours which led him to imagine that there may have been foul play
about the wreck of the
William.
5 Upon further investigation, the colonial staff discovered that
Douglas’s actions were inappropriate because he did not have the power to call a Court of
Vice Admiralty.
6 Later in
1854, Swanston was
denied compliance
by
Sangster, the Collector of Customs, to bring the
William Allen to the west coast of
Vancouver Island.
7 He wrote many letters complaining that
Sangster treated him unfairly. However,
Douglas and other colonial staff agreed that
Sangster acted professionally in refusing Swanston’s request.
8 Overall, it appears that the relationship between Swanston and
Douglas was rocky, considering that
Douglas says
Swanston’s friends are few in number and certainly do not represent the respectable
part of this community nor their real wants and sentiments.
9 Swanston was considered a rumour-monger and created tension among the officers and
staff of the colony.
10