Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer to Douglas, James 29 November 1858, CO 398:1, 155.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Lytton confidentially rescinds his endorsement of John D'Ewes for employment in
British Columbia after learning of allegations of misconduct levelled against him while he was
appointed to several positions in Australia. In this letter, Lytton spells D'Ewes's name
Dewes.
Confidential
Downing Street
29 November 1858
Sir,
In the early part of last September, on the representation of
various Gentlemen who vouched for his respectability of character, I
furnished Mr John Dewes [D'Ewes] formerly Police
Magistrate in the Gold Fields at Ballarat, a Commissioner of Crown Lands and Deputy Sheriff in
Victoria with a letter of Introduction dated the 11th Instant.
1
I am not aware whether Mr Dewes [D'Ewes]
has in accordance with his intentions, proceeded to British Columbia, and presented himself to you;
but I feel it due to myself and to you, to place you in possession of
information of which I
was at the date of my letter ignorant, but which may serve to guard against any misapprehension
on your part. That information I regret to
say is by no means of a satisfactory character. It appears that Mr
Dewes [D'Ewes] about the time of the Ballarat riots laid himself open to
suspicion and comment upon the manner in which he discharged the duties with which
he was entrusted, and my attention has been drawn to a Minute
of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, entered on the Notes and proceedings of the Legislative Council during
the Session, 1854-5, which I enclose herewith.
2
information of which I
was at the date of my letter ignorant, but which may serve to guard against any misapprehension
on your part. That information I regret to
say is by no means of a satisfactory character. It appears that Mr
Dewes [D'Ewes] about the time of the Ballarat riots laid himself open to
suspicion and comment upon the manner in which he discharged the duties with which
he was entrusted, and my attention has been drawn to a Minute
of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, entered on the Notes and proceedings of the Legislative Council during
the Session, 1854-5, which I enclose herewith.
2
I am not prepared to enter into the details of the case or to pronounce any opinion
upon
Mr Dewes' [D'Ewes'] conduct;
but I feel
bound to correct any error into which you may have been led by my letter of
Introduction accorded without the knowledge of these facts.
bound to correct any error into which you may have been led by my letter of
Introduction accorded without the knowledge of these facts.
I have preferred to make this Despatch a confidential one, but you will be at liberty
to make use of it, should the circumstances of the
case appear to require such a step.
Footnotes
- I.e., 11 September. Cf. Lytton to Douglas, 11 September 1858, CO 398/1, p. 100.
- . Hotham to Molesworth, 21 November 1855, CO 309/35, pp. 59-80. ??