Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Peel, Frederick to Rogers, Frederic 3 June 1862, CO 60:14, no. 5534, 242.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (3).
Peel informs Rogers that, before authorizing payment of freight charges for
Hay and Oatswhich were to be shipped to British Columbia aboard Thames City but ordered removed from the vessel by Moody prior to departure, the Treasury requires answers to questions concerning authority, freight rates, and the disposition of the forage after its removal from the vessel. Colonial Office staff discuss the situation in the minutes and Blackwood describes Moody as
the worst man of business I ever encountered.
Peel to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
3 June 1862
With reference to your letter of the 25 April last, I am
directed by the Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury
to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle,
that before giving any directions for the repayment to Naval
Services of the sum of £98.10, being freight claimed by the
owners of the "Thames City" forcertain
certain Hay and Oats shipped for
British Columbia but landed at Gravesend under orders from
Colonel Moody, Their Lordships wish to be informed whether Col
Moody's proceedings in the matter have been approved of by the
Department under whose instructions he was acting when making
arrangements for the departure of the Party of Royal Engineers
to that Colony.
certain Hay and Oats shipped for
British Columbia but landed at Gravesend under orders from
Colonel Moody, Their Lordships wish to be informed whether Col
Moody's proceedings in the matter have been approved of by the
Department under whose instructions he was acting when making
arrangements for the departure of the Party of Royal Engineers
to that Colony.
My Lords would observe that at the request containedin
in
Mr Elliot's letter of the 11 November 1858, They paid to Col Moody the sum of £183.3.1 the value of certain Hay and
Oats purchased by him.
in
Mr Elliot's letter of the 11 November 1858, They paid to Col Moody the sum of £183.3.1 the value of certain Hay and
Oats purchased by him.
It now appears that the Forage was landed at Gravesend,
but it is not clearly shown how it was then disposed of or
whether the value, if returned to the contractor as surmised
in the letter from the War Department of 12 April last, has
been accounted for.My
My Lords request that enquiries may be
made into this matter, and that the value of the Forage, in
whatever manner it may have been accounted for may be repaid to
the Paymaster General on account of the Board.
My Lords request that enquiries may be
made into this matter, and that the value of the Forage, in
whatever manner it may have been accounted for may be repaid to
the Paymaster General on account of the Board.
Apart from this question it appears to Their Lordships that
the sum of £98.10 is a very high charge for the freight to
British Columbia of Forage of the value of £183.10, and They would wish to be furnishedwith
with an explanation from the Naval
Department in regard to the fairness of the charge.
with an explanation from the Naval
Department in regard to the fairness of the charge.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
It is reported by Mr Ebden, who has searched, that this Office has not signified any approval of "Col: Moody's proceedings in this matter." I remember Col: Moody mentioning in conversation that he had been obliged to disembark some stores on acct of want of room for his men, but I cannot recall to my memory that he explained at the same time what he had done with the said stores. There was no "confusion or changes of purpose" in this Office when the Engineers started; if anything went wrong it was entirely owing to Colonel Moody's personal share who is the worst man of business I ever encountered.
It is reported by Mr Ebden, who has searched, that this Office has not signified any approval of "Col: Moody's proceedings in this matter." I remember Col: Moody mentioning in conversation that he had been obliged to disembark some stores on acct of want of room for his men, but I cannot recall to my memory that he explained at the same time what he had done with the said stores. There was no "confusion or changes of purpose" in this Office when the Engineers started; if anything went wrong it was entirely owing to Colonel Moody's personal share who is the worst man of business I ever encountered.
2. A despatch has been sent to B.C. requiring an explanation
from Col. Moody on the subject.
3. In the meanwhile I suppose we must ascertain from the Admy
why the freight cost so much.
ABd
5 June
I agree that we must write to the Admiralty as proposed and
I think that with reference to our recent despatch of the 23rd
of April to Governor Douglas, we had better send also a copy of
the present letter from the Treasury and desire that it may be
communicated to Col. Moody for any additional explanations which
he may have to offer. The Treasury should be told that we had
already written to the Governor to call upon Coll Moody for
information on this subject and that a copy of their Lordship's
letter will be sent out in order to elicit any additional
explanations
which Coll Moody may have to offer.
which Coll Moody may have to offer.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 14 June 1862, advising that Douglas had been instructed to call upon Moody for information on the subject of the hay and oats disembarked at Gravesend.