Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 11 August 1851, CO 305:3, no. 9336, 34.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Marginalia (1).
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 writes to Grey to acknowledge Grey's earlier letter that advises that the government will not maintain a regular detachment
of troops to protect Vancouver Island. Blanshard reiterates some details on the Fort Rupert murders, and argues that the subsequent military retribution carried out by the Daedalus
prevented a massacre.
The minutes point to contradictions within Blanshard's reports on the murders, especially as to the location of the crime, relative to
Fort Rupert. Grey agrees that it would be
awkwardto pass over such crimes unnoticed, but cites a lack of information on the circumstances, generally. He adds that it is common practise for
Europeansto incite aggression, and insult Indigenous women.
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of 20th March 1851 in which after acknowledging the receipt of mine of 18 September 1850, you inform me that it is not in the power of Her Majesty's
government to maintain a detachment of regular troops to garrison
Vancouvers Island and further that Her Majestys government cannot protect British subjects who may
voluntarily expose themselves among the
natives at a distance from the settlements.
I beg to assure your Lordship that I have always discouraged
persons from so exposing themselves but it
but it is scarcely applicable to the
unfortunate seamen who were murdered at Fort Rupert, as the murder was committed at a considerably shorter distance from that post than
is frequently visited by the servants of the Hudson's bay company on their shooting
excursions.
but it is scarcely applicable to the
unfortunate seamen who were murdered at Fort Rupert, as the murder was committed at a considerably shorter distance from that post than
is frequently visited by the servants of the Hudson's bay company on their shooting
excursions.That the settlement was in danger I was fully persuaded both by
what I saw myself and by the apprehensions expressed by the Hudson's bay
company's servants who were on the spot, and I still firmly believe that
the visit of H.M. Ship "Daedalus" prevented a massacre,
Minutes by CO staff
The Governor states that the Instructions of 20h March are
scarcely applicable. But on a subject of so much importance he
should have taken pains to explain himself.
The instructions assume that the murders of
1850 were committed
at some distance from the settlement But the Governor now states
that the crime was perpetrated at Fort Rupert, and apparently contradicting himself, at a considerably shorter distance from
that post than is frequented by the Hudson's Bay Co's Servants
on their shooting excursions.
1850 were committed
at some distance from the settlement But the Governor now states
that the crime was perpetrated at Fort Rupert, and apparently contradicting himself, at a considerably shorter distance from
that post than is frequented by the Hudson's Bay Co's Servants
on their shooting excursions.The murders of 1851 were committed at a distance of about 30 miles from the settlement.
It wd no doubt as Mr Smith says be awkward to pass over such
crimes unnoticed. — On the other hand it is quite impossible to keep up a
force in Vancouver's island for the purpose of meeting such cases, & with respect to the murders which have been
reported we have no
informatn whatever as to the circumstances under which they were committed. The first provocatn may have been given by the sufferers.
I am afraid it is not very uncommon for the Europeans in their
collisns to be the aggressors by insulting the women of the natives. — I do not see that anything
cd be usefully added to the instructns
already given, or that there wd be any advantage now in continuing this correspondence. — Put by. —
I am afraid it is not very uncommon for the Europeans in their
collisns to be the aggressors by insulting the women of the natives. — I do not see that anything
cd be usefully added to the instructns
already given, or that there wd be any advantage now in continuing this correspondence. — Put by. —G.
12/11
Footnotes
- This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.