Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 10 July 1850, CO 305:2, no. 9152, 67.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2), Marginalia (4).
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.
Blanshard reports to Grey that he has appointed Helmcken as medical officer at Fort Rupert. Blanshard then recommends that a duty be imposed on the
importation and manufacture of ardent spirits,particularly with respect to the Indigenous population, which he adds is treated better than
the white labourers.
In the minutes, Blackwood acknowledges the limitations of Blanshard's
Magistracyoptions, and holds no objection to Helmcken's appointment, notwithstanding his employment by the HBC. Blackwood imagines that formal alcohol prohibitions will have to wait until a legislature is formed. Next, Merivale agrees that Helmcken's appointment is the best solution, given the circumstances—he adds that as a surgeon, Helmcken is likely under less Company influence. Merivale doubts that, legally, Blanshard can enforce duties without a legislature. Finally, Merivale asks whether or not Blanshard's report should be forwarded to the HBC, in light of Blanshard's candour, of which he observes,
Blanshard evidently writes as if he did not expect his Despatches to be under such supervision.
The first enclosure is a copy of Blanshard's correspondence to Helmcken, appointing him as magistrate and justice of the peace. The second enclosure is a
draft reply, from Grey to Blanshard. The final enclosure is a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Pelly, that forwards a copy of Blanshard's despatch, and advises that Grey will confirm Helmcken's appointment.
I beg to enclose a copy of a letter I addressed to J.S. Helmcken
Esqre, Medical officer of the Hudsons Bay Company at Fort Rupert,
appointing him to act as magistrate provisionally; this is the only
appointment I have
yet made in the colony, for as there are no
independent settlers, all cases that can occur requiring magisterial
interference are disputes between the representatives of the Hudson's
Bay company and their servants, to appoint the former, magistrates would
be to make them judges in their own causes, and to arm them with
additional power which few of them would exert discreetly. Mr Helmcken has only recently arrived in the colony, from England he is
therefore a stranger to the petty brawls that have occurred and the
ill feelings they have occasioned between the Hudsons Bay Company and their
servants, from this and from my knowledge of his character I have great
confidence in his impartiality his situation too as surgeon renders him
more free from the influence which might be exercised over another
servant of that Company.
ill feelings they have occasioned between the Hudsons Bay Company and their
servants, from this and from my knowledge of his character I have great
confidence in his impartiality his situation too as surgeon renders him
more free from the influence which might be exercised over another
servant of that Company.It is moreover highly desirable that there should be a resident
magistrate at Fort Rupert as the miners and labourers there have shewn a disposition to riot which if not checked
may lead to serious
consequences. The Indian population being numerous savage and
treacherous, and the distance from Victoria and total want of means of communication between the two places, increases the inconvenience.
Extract.
I may here mention that the accounts which have been published in
respecting the barbarous treatment of the Indian population by the
Hudsons bay company, are, both from my own personal observation and from
all I have been able to gather on the subject entirely without
foundation. They are always treated with the greatest consideration,
far greater than the white labourers and in many instances are allowed
liberties and impunities in the Hudson's bay company's establishments
that I regard as extremely unsafe. No liquor is given them by the
Company on any pretense but it is impossible to prevent their obtaining
it from the merchant vessels that visit the coast.
Probably England.3^
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I presume there is no alternative […] except the appointment of this gentleman to the Magistracy, if the Office is really necessary: but the objection to appointing the Servants of the H.B. Company holds good against this selection as much as it wd in any other case.
I presume there is no alternative […] except the appointment of this gentleman to the Magistracy, if the Office is really necessary: but the objection to appointing the Servants of the H.B. Company holds good against this selection as much as it wd in any other case.
I imagine that it will not be thought proper to check the
introduction &c of spirits by prohibitory duties: but whenever a
Legislature is organized penalties might be legally imposed on persons
supplying the Indians with spirits.
ABd
11/11.
Mr Hawes
I should certainly recommend confirming this appointment as the best which could be made under the circumstances? A Surgeon is likely to be more independent of the Company's influence than any less necessary officer.
I should certainly recommend confirming this appointment as the best which could be made under the circumstances? A Surgeon is likely to be more independent of the Company's influence than any less necessary officer.
2. I do not suppose the Govr has strictly speaking any power to
impose such a duty (if it were desirable) without until he can get together a
Legislature.
3. Shall this desp. be communicated to the Company? I know no
reason against it in the present instance, but Mr Blanshard evidently
writes as if he did not expect his Despatches to be under such
supervision, & it is no doubt desirable he should do so. I believe
however it will be best to communicate whenever no objection to doing so
occurs?
Yes — With regard to duties they are clearly desirable when the
necessary authority for their impositn can be obtained —
G.
13
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, Blanshard to John Sebastian Helmcken, 22 June 1850, appointing
him magistrate and justice of the peace "in and about Fort Rupert and in
the adjoining district of Vancouvers Island."
Other documents included in the file
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, 20 November 1850, forwarding copy of despatch and advising that Grey would confirm Helmcken's appointment.
Footnotes
- This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.
- This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.
- This arrow indicates the end of the "Extract" portion noted in the minute on the previous page; see image scan.