<persName ref="prs:blanshard"><surname>Blanshard</surname>, <forename>Richard</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:grey_hg"><surname>Grey</surname>, <forename>Henry</forename> <forename>George</forename></persName> 11 August 1851, CO 305:3, no. 9336, 34. Blanshard addressee Earl Grey

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 11 August 1851, CO 305:3, no. 9336, 34.The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.6, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V51016.html. CO 305:03 CO 305 3 9336 34 16 V.I. 1851 received 11 November co_305_03_00035r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Despatch to London. Minutes (2), Marginalia (1).

This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.

Blanshard writes to Grey to acknowledge Grey's earlier letter that advises that the government will not maintain a regular detachment of troops to protect Vancouver Island. Blanshard reiterates some details on the Fort Rupert murders, and argues that the subsequent military retribution carried out by the Daedalus prevented a massacre.

The minutes point to contradictions within Blanshard's reports on the murders, especially as to the location of the crime, relative to Fort Rupert. Grey agrees that it would be awkward to pass over such crimes unnoticed, but cites a lack of information on the circumstances, generally. He adds that it is common practise for Europeans to incite aggression, and insult Indigenous women.

 Blanshard, Richard
Vancouvers Island
Grey, Henry George Inserted revisionDesc with @status="proofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
9336, CO 305/3, p. 34; received 11 November 9336. Vancouver's Island. Military.
Vancouvers Island
11 August 1851. My Lord,

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of 20th March 1851 in which after acknowledging the receipt of mine of 18 September 1850, you inform me that it is not in the power of Her Majesty's government to maintain a detachment of regular troops to garrison Vancouvers Island and further that Her Majestys government cannot protect British subjects who may voluntarily expose themselves among the natives at a distance from the settlements.

I beg to assure your Lordship that I have always discouraged persons from so exposing themselves but itbut it is scarcely applicable to the unfortunate seamen who were murdered at Fort Rupert, as the murder was committed at a considerably shorter distance from that post than is frequently visited by the servants of the Hudson's bay company on their shooting excursions.

That the settlement was in danger I was fully persuaded both by what I saw myself and by the apprehensions expressed by the Hudson's bay company's servants who were on the spot, and I still firmly believe that the visit of H.M. Ship "Daedalus" prevented a massacre,

I have the honor to be my Lord Your most Obedient Servant Richard Blanshard Governor This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.The Rt HonbleHonourable Earl Grey
The Governor states that the Instructions of 20h March are scarcely applicable. But on a subject of so much importance he should have taken pains to explain himself.

The instructions assume that the mur==dersmurders of 1850 were committed at some distance from the settlement     But the Governor now states that the crime was perpetrated at Fort Rupert, and apparently contra==dictingcontradicting himself, at a considerably shorter distance from that post than is frequented by the Hudson's Bay Co's Servants on their shooting excursions.

The murders of 1851 were com==mittedcommitted at a distance of about 30 miles from the settlement.

Both murders have been in some measure avenged by HM Ships Daedalus and Daphne. But if further crimes be committed, of the same nature, it might become extremely awkward to let them pass unnoticed.

PS 11 Novr HM N 11
It wdwould no doubt as Mr Smith says be awkward to pass over such crimes unnoticed. — On the other hand it is quite impossible to keep up a force in Vancouver's island for the purpose of meeting such cases, & with respect to the murders which have been reported we have no informatn whatever as to the circumstances under which they were committed. The first provocatn may have been given by the sufferers. I am afraid it is not very uncommon for the Europeans in their collisns to be the aggressors by insulting the women of the natives. — I do not see that anything cd be usefully added to the instructns already given, or that there wdwould be any advantage now in continuing this correspondence. — Put by. — G. 12/11
No 16.