<persName ref="prs:douglas_j"><surname>Douglas</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:labouchere_h"><surname>Labouchere</surname>, <forename>Henry</forename></persName> 20 April 1857, CO 305:8, no. 5817, 45. Douglas addressee Labouchere

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Douglas, James to Labouchere, Henry 20 April 1857, CO 305:8, no. 5817, 45.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/V57011.html. CO 305:08 CO 305 8 5817 45 11 V.I. 1857 received 27 June co_305_08_00045r.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), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).

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.

Douglas informs the Colonial Office of Commander Swartwout’s report of an assemblage of Northern Indians, on Vancouver’s Island or in its immediate vicinity, preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the American Territory. Douglas was not aware of this muster but refrained from giving a decided opinion. He reports that the Natives in question are quiet and submissive to all the police regulations.

The minutes advise that they ask the Admiralty what Naval force is at Vancouver Island. The Colonial authorities observe that Douglas’s language & conduct inspires strong confidence in his judgment, but they worry that he may be overpowered or drawn against his will into the Indian War now raging in Washington Territory.

Enclosed is a draft from Merivale to the Secretary of the Admiralty forwarding this report and enquiring into the disposition of naval forces in the North Pacific; a draft from Merivale to Hammond forwarding the despatch to the Foreign Office; a letter from Swartwout to Douglas, reporting rumours from Bellingham Bay that a large gathering of Northern Indigenous forces on Vancouver Island were planning to attack American settlements and asking if there were any grounds for such fears; and a reply from Douglas to Swartwout stating that similar reports had circulated in Victoria but he believed them to be unfounded.

 Douglas, James
Victoria Vancouver's Island
Labouchere, Henry Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
No. 11 5817, CO 305/8, p. 45; received 27 June
Victoria Vancouver's Island
20th April 1857 Sir

1. I herewith transmit for your information, copies of a correspondence with Commander Swartwout, commanding the United States Steamer "Massachusetts" on the subject of a reported assemblage of Northern Indians, on Vancouver's Island or in itsimmediate immediate vicinity, preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the American Territory, a report which he observes has given rise to much excitement and caused great alarm among the inhabitants of Washington Territory.

2. Not being aware that the northern Indians entertain the designs imputed to them by such reports, and having recently received intelligence from those parts of Vancouver's Island which in the event of a meditated attack upon the American Settlements, the Northern Indians would probably select, as a rendezvous I feelassured assured that no such muster of Indians has taken place.

3. I stated my opinion, to that effect, in replying to Captain Swartwout's communication and also the arrival of a large party of Northern Indians at this place.

4. I however refrained from giving a decided opinion as to their future conduct or intentions, though I do not think that they meditate evil against the whites, yet being the creatures of impulse, no sort of confidence can be reposed in them.

5. Many other gangs of those savages to the number in all of 60 large canoes, have since arrived here: a number sufficientlyalarming alarming, considering their character, and the weak state of the settlements. They however continue quiet and submissive to all the police regulations, which we have thought it proper to establish.

I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient humble Servant James Douglas Governor The Right HonbleHonourable Henry Labouchere Esqre Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State For the Colonial Department.
Mr Merivale I do not think that there is any positive occasion for communicating this to the F.O. & H.B.Co: but still you may deem it proper to take that course.

Perhaps it wdwould be advisable to ask the Admy to inform Mr Labouchere what naval force was at V.C. Island & where.

ABd 27 June
Mr Fortescue Governor Douglas's language & conduct have been such, I think, as to inspire strong confidence in his judgment & power of managing cases like this: still, considering the extreme weakness of his settlement, he may be over powered or drawn against his will into the Indian war now raging in Washington Territory.

I think all the steps mentioned by Mr Blackwood should be taken?

HM June 27 CF 29 HL 1
Draft, Merivale to Secretary to the Admiralty, 10 July 1857, forwarding copy of the despatch and enquiring into the disposition of naval forces in the North Pacific.
Draft, Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 10 July 1857, forwarding copy of the despatch.
1. Commander S. Swartwout, U.S. Navy, to Douglas, 4 April 1857, reporting rumours from Bellingham Bay that a large gathering of Northern Indigenous forces on Vancouver Island were planning to attack American settlements and asking if "in your good judgment" there were any grounds for such fears.
2. Douglas to Swartwout, 4 April 1857, replying that similar reports had circulated in Victoria but he believed them to be unfounded.