Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 9 December 1858, CO 60:1, no. 1062, 503.

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Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 9 December 1858, CO 60:1, no. 1062, 503.

Abstract

Despatch to London. Minutes (2), Other documents (1).

Douglas thanks the CO for allowing him to pay the crews of the Satellite and Plumper from the local revenue. He enumerates the total for the past quarter and announces that he has liquidated one third of the sum. He qualifies that if the extra allowance had been limited to the crew and not applied to Captains and Officers as well the charge would not have become an intolerable burden on the colony’s limited income.

The minutes forward to the Admiralty and print for Parliament.

Enclosed is Merivale to the Secretary to the Admiralty forwarding a copy of the despatch for information.

No. 46

Victoria Vancouver's Island

9 December 1858

Sir,

1. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No 24 of the 24th of September 1 in which you kindly approve under the peculiar circumstances in which I was placed, of the allowance of pay to the companies of H.M. Ships "Satellite" and "Plumper", from the local revenue equal to their rate of pay from the Crown.

2. That.

2. That extra allowance of pay was made for three months up to the 30th September last, when it was not considered necessary to continue it for a longer time, and with the knowledge and approval of Admiral Baynes, who concurred with me regarding the allowance as unusual and forming a troublesome and inconvenient precedent, that decision was made known to Captains Prevost and Richards, to announce to their respective ships companies.

3. The charge for that quarter was as follows—
"Satellite" £2253.14.8
"Plumper" £1118.11.7
£3372. 6.3

4. I

4. I have already liquidated one third of that sum; I propose to pay a second instalment very shortly, and the third will be paid as soon as circumstances permit.

5. Had the extra allowance been limited to the ships companies, the amount of pay would have been moderate; but applying as it did to the Captain and Officers, the charge became an intolerable burden on our limited income, and to me a source of ceaseless trouble and anxiety.

I have etc.
James Douglas
Governor