Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 18 November 1850, CO 305:2, no. 2727, 95.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Other documents (4), Marginalia (2).
Blanshard sends Grey his letter of resignation as Governor of Vancouver Island, for reasons which include ill health and bankruptcy. Blanshard suggests that his successor have a large fortune; he then requests passage to Panama on a Royal Navy ship, as it would be costly, to both his constitution and finances,
to travel with the HBC.
In the minutes, Blackwood reasons that since Blanshard was sent to Vancouver Island with public money, his passage back should be the same. Merivale wants to defer the
matter to the HBC, and remarks on Blanshard's
habit of indulging his hostility to the Company.Grey asks to send a copy of Blanshard's letter to the HBC, to then confirm that he will accept the resignation, and to inquire if the Company has
any other gentleman to recommend for the appointment.
Of the four enclosures, the first is a draft reply from Grey to Blanshard; the second is a draft letter from the Colonial Office (CO) to Hamilton that requests passage for the outgoing governor; the third is from the CO to Pelly, which reports Blanshard's resignation and calls for suggestions for a replacement; the fourth is a draft
reply from Grey to Blanshard, which advises that the Admiralty has been instructed to provide Blanshard passage.
I regret to inform your Lordship that I find myself compelled to
tender my resignation
as governor, and solicit an immediate recall from
this colony, as my private fortune is utterly insufficient for the mere
costs of living here, so high have prices been run up by the Hudson's
Bay Company, and as there are no independent settlers every requisite
for existence must be obtained from them;
My health has completely given way under repeated attacks of ague,
and shows no signs of amendment. Under these circumstances I trust your
Lordship will at once recall me, and appoint some person as my successor
whose larger fortune may enable him
to defray charges which involve me in certain ruin; I trust that your Lordship will
give directions that I
may be furnished with a passage as far as Panama in one of HM Ships, as
my state of health will not bear the long voyage round Cape Horn, and
being compelled to defray the expenses of my passage out, by the
Hudson's Bay Company who repudiated the bills their Chairman had
authorized me to draw, has so straightened my private means, that I am
unable to pay the heavy expenses of the route through California.
to defray charges which involve me in certain ruin; I trust that your Lordship will
give directions that I
may be furnished with a passage as far as Panama in one of HM Ships, as
my state of health will not bear the long voyage round Cape Horn, and
being compelled to defray the expenses of my passage out, by the
Hudson's Bay Company who repudiated the bills their Chairman had
authorized me to draw, has so straightened my private means, that I am
unable to pay the heavy expenses of the route through California.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord
Your Most Obedient Servant,
Richard Blanshard.
Governor of Vancouvers Island
My Lord
Your Most Obedient Servant,
Richard Blanshard.
Governor of Vancouvers Island
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Mr Blanshard was given a passage in a Queen's Ship from Callao to VanCouver's Island, & the expense paid by the Public —: Probably if his resignation is accepted a similar indulgence will now be accorded him — always supposing the Admiral on the Station has the means — on his return from the Settlement. See 2726.
Mr Blanshard was given a passage in a Queen's Ship from Callao to VanCouver's Island, & the expense paid by the Public —: Probably if his resignation is accepted a similar indulgence will now be accorded him — always supposing the Admiral on the Station has the means — on his return from the Settlement. See 2726.
ABd
29/3
But at all events this must go to the HBC. with reference to the
charge of their "repudiating their bills"_ I cannot help remarking on
the inconvenience of Lieut. Blanshard's habit of 
indulging his
hostility to the Company, whether well or ill founded, by throwing out
these undefined & loose charges.
indulging his
hostility to the Company, whether well or ill founded, by throwing out
these undefined & loose charges.Send a copy to the Co sayg that I propose to accept his
resignatn & request to be informed whether they have any other gentleman to recommend for the appointment.
G.
31
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Hamilton, Admiralty, 7 April 1851, requesting passage for the governor to Panama.
Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, 7 April 1851, advising of Blanshard's resignation and requesting the name of a possible replacement.
Draft reply, Grey to Blanshard, no number, no date, advising the Admiralty had been instructed to convey him from Vancouver Island.
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.