<persName ref="prs:molesworth"><surname>Molesworth</surname>, <forename>William</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:douglas_j"><surname>Douglas</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> 5 September 1855, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 273. Molesworth addressee Douglas

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Molesworth, William to Douglas, James 5 September 1855, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 273.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/V557303.html. LAC RG7:G8C/1 LAC RG7 G8C/1 273 3 V.I. 1855 rg7_g8c_01_00154r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

The project glossary items have xml:id attributes beginning with trm_, and we use a trm: prefix to refer to them when linking from term elements.

We link to orgs in orgs/organizations.xml using the org: prefix.

We link to places in places.xml using the plc: prefix.

We link to people in bios/*.xml using the prs: prefix.

We link to vessels in vessels/*.xml using the vsl: prefix.

We link to other documents in the collection using the cdc: prefix.

The cdt (ColDesp Document Type) prefix used on catRef/target points to a central taxonomy in the includes file.

We link to other documents in the collection using the cdc: prefix.

Despatch from London. Enclosures (untranscribed) (6).

Molesworth writes to Douglas on the subject of Swanston's Collector of Customs conflict at Port Victoria. Molesworth forwards a report, from the Commissioners of Customs, that justifies the Collector's actions to bar the William Allen from the Island's other ports, and requests that all future Memorials addressed to the Secretary of State be forwarded to the Colonial Office.

The six documents included in the file comprise Swanston's complaints against the Collector of Customs at Victoria.

 Molesworth, William
Downing Street,
Douglas, James Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
No. 3 LAC, RG7, G8C/1, p. 273
Downing Street,
5th September, 1855, Sir,

I have received your Despatch of the 6th last March, No 2, reporting upon the complaint of Mr Robert Swanston as to the conduct of the Collector of Customs at Port Victoria in refusing to grant a permit for his Vessel theWilliam "William Allen" to proceed to other Harbors of Vancouver's Island. It having been deemed expedient to refer the correspondence on this subject to the Commissioners of Customs for their observations, I have now to transmit to you a copy of the report they have addressed to the Board of Treasury with respect to it, and I am glad to learn thereupon that they are of opinion that the proceedings of the Collector appear to have been justified, and that Mr Swanston'scomplaint complaint is fully and satisfactorily answered. In forwarding to you this report of the Commissioners of Customs I have to instruct you to direct the special attention of the Collector at Port Victoria to the advice they have offered as to the course he should pursue in future in all disputes or applications for relief of a nature similar to the present; and I would observe to yourself, that, although in this case you have assigned reasonableground ground for omitting to forward Mr Swanston's complaint to this Department, the proper course for you to pursue is always to send home Memorials or representations addressed to the Secretary of State by any inhabitant of Vancouver's Island. It will of course be desirable that it be made known by public notice or otherwise in the Colony, that the Secretary of State for the Colonies will not entertain complaints in cases wherethe the parties have not, in the first instance, sought redress from the local Authorities.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant W. Molesworth Governor Douglas &c &c &c Vancouver's Island
1. G.R. Dawson and J. Goulburn to Treasury, 11 August 1855, upholding Sangster's conduct and requesting copies of the information for future reference.
2. Robert S. Swanston to Grey, 15 September 1852, registering his complaint.
3. Swanston to Sangster, 24 July 1854, regarding Swanston's permit.
4. Sangster to Swanston, 24 July 1854, explaining that Douglas had instructed him not to grant Swanston a permit.
5. Richard Golledge to Swanston, 27 March 1854, returning his memorial.
6. Edward E. Langford, J.P., 18 April 1854, certifying document on annexed sheet (not found) is a correct copy of the same.