Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Pelly, John Henry
to Grey, George 28 February 1851, CO 305:3, no. 1800, 362.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Other documents (1), 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.
Pelly writes to Grey to respond to Blanshard's earlier letter on, among other things, the HBC denying Grant a settlement in Victoria. Pelly's lengthy refutation of several of Blanshard's concerns covers such topics as security of the colony, Indigenous relations at
Sooke, and the need, or not, for a military presence on Vancouver Island.
In the minutes, Smith notes that matters on Vancouver Island progress unfavourably, and asks as to whether or not to dispatch immediate naval
assistance.
This file encloses an extract of a letter, fully transcribed, from Douglas to Barclay, which discusses Grant's case, and strategies for Indigenous relations, generally. The final enclosure is
a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Pelly, which expresses satisfaction with the information provided by Pelly, and states that the government has no intention of dispatching troops to the area.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships
letter of the 25th Instant transmitting a Copy of a Despatch from the Governor of Vancouvers Island in which he states that a Gentleman of the
name of Grant has been prevented by the Hudsons Bay Company from
settling in the neighbourhood of Victoria in that Island, and recommends
that two Companies of regular Troops be sent out for its defence, and
requesting that I should furnish your Lordship with any Explanation
which it may be in the power of the Hudson's
Bay Company to afford on
the Subject of the refusal of Land near the Fort to Mr Grant, and that I
should state the views of the Company with regard to the measures
measures to be
taken for the more efficient protection of the Settlers.
2Ansd 22d of March
Desp. to Governor 20th ﹏﹏﹏
Desp. to Governor 20th ﹏﹏﹏
measures to be
taken for the more efficient protection of the Settlers.With regard to the case of Mr Grant, I have to state that the
Company never received any complaint from him, or other information
(until now from your Lordship) that he had been prevented from settling
near to Victoria.
Mr Grant purchased 100 Acres of Land in 1848, and sent out in a
Vessel chartered by the Company agricultural implements and other articles, and 8 Laborers. He proceeded himself
to the Island by way of
Chagrés, Panama, San Francisco, and Fort Vancouver on the Columbia
River, and I enclose an Extract of a Letter from Mr Douglas the Agent of
the Company, dated 3rd, September 1849, which contains all the
information possessed by the Company in regard to the selection of his
land. ⎯ The Land reserved for the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Pugets
Sound Company could not make it
necessary for him to place himself at a spot 25 miles distant from Victoria, there is therefore every reason to believe that it was entirely a matter of his
own choice and selection.
necessary for him to place himself at a spot 25 miles distant from Victoria, there is therefore every reason to believe that it was entirely a matter of his
own choice and selection.I have not received any information from the Company's Agent of any outrages by Indians at Soke or Victoria, but I learn from the Captain of one of the Company's Vessels lately arrived from
the Island, that from
some cause or other Mr Grants Servants had left him; that he had placed
his Farm in the charge of one old man, whom he had hired on the Island, and that the Indians had pilfered some of his Potatoe Crop, and Stolen
some Blankets and other Articles, most of which had been recovered from
them, but that he (the Captain) had not heard of any other injury being
done by the Indians.
With regard to the Governor's recommendation of sending out two
Companies of regular troops for the more efficient protection of the
Settlers I have to state, that the Company
have no reason to apprehend any danger from the Indians in that part of the Island, who consist of Small Tribes, and in the whole are not numerous. It is the practice
of
the Company to maintain at all their stations a number of men sufficient
for their protection, and the collection of settlers will of course
diminish the risk of any trouble from the Indians.
have no reason to apprehend any danger from the Indians in that part of the Island, who consist of Small Tribes, and in the whole are not numerous. It is the practice
of
the Company to maintain at all their stations a number of men sufficient
for their protection, and the collection of settlers will of course
diminish the risk of any trouble from the Indians.The Company therefore do not consider that any Military Force is
required at present; but if your Lordship should be of opinion, that
such a Measure is called for, I think it proper to state, that the
Company are not in possession of any funds applicable to the
Colonization of the Island, adequate to meet the expence.
Minutes by CO staff
It will be seen by the accts received this morning thro' the Admiralty, and which are of an even date with the Governor's dispatch, that matters are not
progressing so favourably in Vancouver's island, as the Hudson's Bay Co have been led to suppose. It is much to be regretted that HMS Daedalus could not have stopped.
Immediate naval assistance would seem to be the most appropriate
aid that could be furnished to the Governor?
PS
1. March
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
In 1800/51
Extract of a Letter from Mr Chief Factor Douglas to Archibald Barclay Esq Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company dated “Fort Victoria 3 September 1849”
Captain Grant arrived here by the way of Fort Vancouver and Nisqually on the 11th August. He had much difficulty on keeping his
men who came out by the Harpooner two months before his own arrival
from leaving the Island, as they were dissatisfied about the absence of their Employer. Before my arrival
here they applied to Captn Shepherd of Her Majesty's Ship "Inconstant" in the character of
Distressed British subjects for a passage to England probably with the intention of
leaving his ship at San Francisco, California to which
Port he was bound direct: but fortunately he refused to receive them on board. ⎯ Taking advantage of the authority granted
by the board in your
letter of the 1st December 1848. I received them into the Company's
service immediately after my arrival here; and by that means had the
pleasure of making them over to Captain Grant, when he at length made
his appearance as before mentioned on the 11th of August
On the 14th following I started with Captain Grant on an
excursion along the Coast, for the purpose of shewing him the best
points for Settlement, and recommending him to
the Natives. He chose a
place at Sy-yousuing 25 miles distant from Fort Victoria, where he has
the important advantage of a good mill stream and a great abundance of
fine timber. He is now busily employed putting up log houses for
present use and intends immediately after getting under cover for the
Winter to build a Saw Mill and prepare deals and house frames for the
California Market, where the former, by our latest advises, were
selling at 250 dollars a thousand square feet.
the Natives. He chose a
place at Sy-yousuing 25 miles distant from Fort Victoria, where he has
the important advantage of a good mill stream and a great abundance of
fine timber. He is now busily employed putting up log houses for
present use and intends immediately after getting under cover for the
Winter to build a Saw Mill and prepare deals and house frames for the
California Market, where the former, by our latest advises, were
selling at 250 dollars a thousand square feet.This little body of Colonists, the first independent settlers on
Vancouvers Island, have commenced their bold enterprize, under the most
favorable auspices: they have no enemies to dread; and no obstacles to encounter, beyond those
which the hand of nature has interposed
through the force of a teeming sail. Instead of thirsting for their
blood, the Natives are not only kind and friendly, but ready and
willing to share their labors and assist in all their toils, and they
regularly bring in large quantities of the finest salmon and Potatoes, which they part with
at a low rate in barter for such articles as suit
their fancy or necessities.
It has been a work of time and labour, to bring the Indians to
that state of friendly intercourse, and I have endeavoured strongly to
impress
on the minds of Captain Grant and his followers the
incalcuable importance, both as regards the future well being of the
Colony, and their own individual interests, of cultivating the
friendship of these children of the Forest. The settlers are certainly
wanting in experience, but are full of courage and have taken to
their Work with a degree of ardour and tenacity of purpose, which
promise great and permanent results.
on the minds of Captain Grant and his followers the
incalcuable importance, both as regards the future well being of the
Colony, and their own individual interests, of cultivating the
friendship of these children of the Forest. The settlers are certainly
wanting in experience, but are full of courage and have taken to
their Work with a degree of ardour and tenacity of purpose, which
promise great and permanent results.Captain Grant arrived in this country, completely destitute of
funds. Mr. Ogden had to advance money to pay his passage from
California to Fort Vancouver, and since his arrival here, he has been supplied with provisions and articles to purchase food on credit from the Companys stores, and I have further
to furnish him with cattle
draught oxen and horses to commence and stock his farm; and in fact, he
will be for 12 months to come, entirely dependent on the Company
for his daily bread, and I fear the Colonists who are to follow will be equally destitute
of means.
For making such advances, I have no authority from the Board and
have been induced to take these steps in the case of Captain Grant
solely with the view of meeting their views and furthering their plans
for the colonization of this Island;
which must have been totally
overthrown and the colonists driven to despair, and to abandon the
settlement altogether, had the Company's assistance been unwisely
withheld; I anxiously await the intructions of the Board relative to
the amount of assistance which I am at liberty to grant to Colonists,
and an expression of their opinion in regard to my proceedings, in the
case I have now submitted for consideration."
which must have been totally
overthrown and the colonists driven to despair, and to abandon the
settlement altogether, had the Company's assistance been unwisely
withheld; I anxiously await the intructions of the Board relative to
the amount of assistance which I am at liberty to grant to Colonists,
and an expression of their opinion in regard to my proceedings, in the
case I have now submitted for consideration."Other documents included in the file
1Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, 22 March 1851, expressing satisfaction with the information provided, and stating that the government
has no intention to dispatch troops to the area.
Footnotes
- This enclosure is thought to be misfiled in the War Office volumes as "WO 1/549," page 531; further content not yet available.
- This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.