Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
O'Brien-Stafford, Augustus Stafford to Cuffe, John Otway O'Conner 28 June 1852, CO 305:3, no. 6031, 260.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
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.
On behalf of the Admiralty, Stafford forwards correspondence on
Queen Charlotte Islandto Desart, for Pakington’s information. However, the minutes confirm Blackwood’s notion that
this communicationis useless.
Of the three enclosures, the first contains letters from Aikin and Staines, the second reports on the movements of vessels, and the third, transcribed, is a
letter from Staines, which discusses, among other subjects, gold at Haida Gwaii, the wreck of the Una, and encroaching American interests.
Stafford to Desart (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send
you herewith, for the information of Secretary Sir John Pakington,
Copies of a Letter from Rear Admiral Moresby, dated the 11th May
1852, No 52, and of its enclosures, relative to Queen Charlotte
Island.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I am not aware that any use can be made of this communication.
I am not aware that any use can be made of this communication.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Moresby to Stafford, 11 May 1852, enclosing letters from Aikin, British Consul at San Francisco, and Staines,
Hudson's Bay Company Chaplain.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Staines to [Aikin or Moresby?], 10 January 1852
Not knowing whether any reliable information has been transmitted
by anybody here to any of HM representatives on this Coast, as to the
certain discovery of Gold in Queen Charlottes Island, & that, in great
density & very large quantities I think it by no means inconsistent with
my duty as a British Subject to take the earliest opportunity of giving
you authentic information of it. It appears that the existence of the
Gold had been known to the Agents of the H.BCo. for about 2 1/2 years,
to my certain knowledge they must have been aware of it in 1850 or very
early in 1851. I saw two specimens of it, before Aprl last
last year, &
had one myself in the end of April or the beginning of May, which came
through their hands. They have already sent two expeditions thither for
the purpose of obtaining it, both by trading it from the Natives and
also by mining. The last started about the beginning, say the 10th
or 12th of Octr last, in the Brigte Una in which the bearer Jno
McLean bore a part. This vessel stayed only three days, & her
success fully proved the richness of the Mines at the place where she
made her trial. She was wrecked on her return at Cape Flattery. For
all details I beg to refer you to the bearer, in whose information you
may rely. He has a few specimens with him which you can examine. I
have some myself which I would send if I had any certain mode of
sending.
I
last year, &
had one myself in the end of April or the beginning of May, which came
through their hands. They have already sent two expeditions thither for
the purpose of obtaining it, both by trading it from the Natives and
also by mining. The last started about the beginning, say the 10th
or 12th of Octr last, in the Brigte Una in which the bearer Jno
McLean bore a part. This vessel stayed only three days, & her
success fully proved the richness of the Mines at the place where she
made her trial. She was wrecked on her return at Cape Flattery. For
all details I beg to refer you to the bearer, in whose information you
may rely. He has a few specimens with him which you can examine. I
have some myself which I would send if I had any certain mode of
sending.
I have thought it the more necessary to write about this matter
because on the one hand, I know that many American expeditions are
likely to proceed thither, as indeed, 3 have gone already (one is a
British ship, but chartered by Americans). This vessel the Georgiana is
wrecked on Q.C. Island, & an American ship the Damaiscone [Damanscove?] has been sent by the Collector at Olympia Puget Sound, under the Revenue
Flag to try & redeem them. 3 or 4 of the crew who are in the hands of
the Natives are British Subjects. On the other hand I have heard that
the H.B Co have made an attempt to obtain a grant of the Island from our
Govt not letting them know the reason why they wanted it. I sent 2
specimens to Genl Miller at the Sandwich Islands
in Augt or
Septr last, & in a letter dated Octr 11th he states to me that
he had sent one of them to the Foreign office. Perhaps it would be as
well to purchase McLeans specimens from him. I have written
simultaneously to the British Consul at San Francisco.
in Augt or
Septr last, & in a letter dated Octr 11th he states to me that
he had sent one of them to the Foreign office. Perhaps it would be as
well to purchase McLeans specimens from him. I have written
simultaneously to the British Consul at San Francisco.