Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grey, Henry George to Blanshard, Richard 20 March 1851, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 15.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
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.
Grey writes to Blanshard on the subject of the security of the Vancouver Island, in light of the murders of three British seamen near Fort Rupert. Grey adds that from all that he has heard on the matter, he concludes that the settlement
is in no
actual danger,and that British subjects who
expose themselves to the violence or treachery of the Native Tribesdo so at their peril.
I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 6, of September 18th
last, conveying the last accounts of the state of affairs in Vancouver's
Island up to that date.
2. I must distinctly inform you, that it is not
in the power of Her
Majesty's Government to maintain a detachment of regular Troops to
garrison the Island.
in the power of Her
Majesty's Government to maintain a detachment of regular Troops to
garrison the Island.3. With reference to the murder committed by the Indians on the
unfortunate Seaman in the neighbourhood of Fort Rupert, Her Majesty's Government have received intelligence through Rear Admiral Hornby, of the proceedings which you caused to be taken by Captain Wellesley of H.M.S. "Daedalus" to demand, and, if possible, to punish the
murderers since the date of your Despatch. From the
information which
has thus reached me I by no means feel satisfied of the prudence of the
step which you took in directing this expedition, which appears to me to
have failed in its main object. And at all events it is necessary that
I should state for your guidance on future occasions, that Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to protect, or attempt to punish injuries
committed upon, British subjects, who, voluntarily expose themselves to
the violence or treachery of the Native Tribes at a
distance from the
Settlements. I have no reason to suppose from the accounts which have
reached me, both from yourself and from other quarters, that the
Settlements themselves are in actual danger.
information which
has thus reached me I by no means feel satisfied of the prudence of the
step which you took in directing this expedition, which appears to me to
have failed in its main object. And at all events it is necessary that
I should state for your guidance on future occasions, that Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to protect, or attempt to punish injuries
committed upon, British subjects, who, voluntarily expose themselves to
the violence or treachery of the Native Tribes at a
distance from the
Settlements. I have no reason to suppose from the accounts which have
reached me, both from yourself and from other quarters, that the
Settlements themselves are in actual danger.Footnotes
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