Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Grey, Henry George 28 May 1852, CO 305:3, no. 7372, 113.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1), Marginalia (18).
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.
Douglas writes Grey to acknowledge Grey’s council appointments, and expresses concerns over the influx of gold prospectors
and miners arriving at Haida Gwaii from the American West Coast. Douglas also suggests that the
formation of Missionary stationsoutside of the settlements cease, claiming that the indigenous populations in the Cowichan Region have exhibited hostility towards a Catholic Priest living
beyond the limits of the settlement.
The minutes discuss the issue of allowing missionaries to station themselves outside
of settlement boundaries.
[No. 4]
1Reprinted
My Lord,
1 3
2 5
3 6
communicated with the Church Missionary Society respecting
the moral instruction of the Native Tribes, with the view of
ascertaining whether it may not be in the power of the Society to send
out Missionaries.
I also observe that your Lordship for very important reasons, does
not consider it expedient to prohibit the resort of foreign vessels to
Queen Charlottes Island.
4
5.
No foreign vessel was known at that time, to be, on the coast;
but in the space of ten days afterwards, seven vessels had assembled in
Gold Harbour, from the American Ports in Oregon and California, having
each from 40 to 70 miners on board. Finding the vein pre-occupied by
the Hudsons Bay Compys people the Americans sent out parties in all
directions to explore the neighbouring coast; but their researches for
gold were not successful, and four of
of the vessels after a few weeks stay
abandoned the enterprise, not however without having landed a party of
15 men, who have thrown up a block house on Nutts Island, and mounted
two small pieces of ordnance as a protection against the Natives.
5
of the vessels after a few weeks stay
abandoned the enterprise, not however without having landed a party of
15 men, who have thrown up a block house on Nutts Island, and mounted
two small pieces of ordnance as a protection against the Natives.
That party, and one American vessel, were, by last advices of the
26th Inst. still in Gold Harbour. It was expected from the small
quantitiy of Gold found, that the vessel would soon leave the coast, but
the party on shore had it appears made up their minds to remain for a
further time on the Island; from a persuasion that gold would be found
in considerable quantities by mining, and they were expecting a
re-inforcement of hands with supplies by a ship from California.
With our limited information respecting the auriferous deposits
of the Island, it is difficult to predict with certainty what
may be the issue of their adventure; but it is very certain that
success will have the effect of attracting, a crowd of
adventurers from the American settlements on this coast to Queen
Charlottes Isld, and it will be no easy matter to eject them
when firmly established.
I had indeed hopes derived from
from the signal failure of the five
first American vessels which visited the Island, that the Mines would be left to the better directed and firmer enterprise, of Her
Majestys
subjects and that this Colony would become a Depôt and place of refuge
to the British ships employed about the mines.
from the signal failure of the five
first American vessels which visited the Island, that the Mines would be left to the better directed and firmer enterprise, of Her
Majestys
subjects and that this Colony would become a Depôt and place of refuge
to the British ships employed about the mines.
6
It was evidently a travelled lump but whether thrown up by the
waves, or carried down from the neighbouring mountains, could not be
ascertained; though plausible arguments are adduced in favor of each of
those opinions.
Detachments had been sent out to explore the interior of the
Island, who discovered a large fresh water lake, and many extensive beds
of quartz rock; but they saw very little surface gold.
It
7 9
We were however lately alarmed by a reported outrage committed by a
party of Cowegins, on the person of Mr Lemprît, a very
zealous and energetic Roman Catholic Priest, who commenced a Mission last
year in the Cowegin Country, without a single white assistant, and
without any pecuniary means to defray the expense of an establishment,
as he trusted entirely to his Indian converts, for support; a plan which
could hardly be expected to succeed with ignorant savages.
8 10
by the Indians to
require its immediate restitution; a service which was satisfactorily
accomplished without any difficulty.
9
There is no Desp. of this date. May it not be a Military one?
It would be a mere waste of energy to send Missionaries to that
part of the Island, as without powerful support, there is not the remotest chance, that the cause of
religion would be promoted by their
presence; while their office would be derided
derided their persons insulted,
and their lives exposed to continual danger.
derided their persons insulted,
and their lives exposed to continual danger.
10 11
11 12
Ext 13
I communicated to Captn Kupar the substance of the information
respecting Queen Charlottes Island and the projects of the American Adventurers, which is stated in this, and my previous letters to
your Lordship, and also procured one of the Hudsons Bay Compy's officers, who is well acquainted with the navigation of the coast to accompany him
in that voyage.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships
most obt humble Servt
James Douglas
Governor Vancouvers Island
Your Lordships
most obt humble Servt
James Douglas
Governor Vancouvers Island
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I presume this Despatch should be acknowledged & the Governor's proceedings with respect to the Roman Catholic Priest approved? As we have already been in communication with the Hudsons Bay Coy & the Church Missionary ‸Socy on the subject of sending out Missionaries, an Extract from the Despatch with reference to confining the Stations within the limits of the Settlements should perhaps be sent to both?
I presume this Despatch should be acknowledged & the Governor's proceedings with respect to the Roman Catholic Priest approved? As we have already been in communication with the Hudsons Bay Coy & the Church Missionary ‸Socy on the subject of sending out Missionaries, an Extract from the Despatch with reference to confining the Stations within the limits of the Settlements should perhaps be sent to both?
Acknowledge & approve Govrs judicious proceedings about the R.C. Priest & future missions.
This is altogether a satisfactory Report. Send it to Lord Derby.
JSP
14
A Duplicate of this Despatch has been sent to Lord Derby.
Footnotes
- This text is written in a "Received" stamp, in which the word "Received" has been crossed out. See image scan.
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- A large section of highlighted text begins here and ends at "…very little surface gold." on the verso page stamped 114. See corresponding marginal note below.
- The highlighted text mentioned in note 7 ends here.
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- The text here, which is located in the left margin, is followed by a vertical line that presumably directs the final two paragraphs of the despatch to be extracted. See image scan.