Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Pakington, John Somerset to Douglas, James 2 August 1852, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 66.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Enclosures (untranscribed) (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.
Pakington writes Douglas on a variety of issues, which include Blanshard’s missing offical communication while governor, Douglas’
good judgement shewnin relations with the Songhees people, and the approval of Douglas’ request for a military vessel to be stationed at Haida Gwaii.
This file encloses Blanshard’s letter to Pakington which states that Blanshard had left his correspondence in the care of the council on Vancouver Island.
No. 3
Downing Street
2nd August 1852
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 15th of
April last, and to acquaint you that I have called upon Mr Blanshard,
the late Governor of Van Couver's Island to deliver to thisOffice
Office, copies
of the Despatches to the Secretary of State, which, as you report, are
not included among the public Records of the Settlement which he
committed to your charge on his retirement from the Government.
Office, copies
of the Despatches to the Secretary of State, which, as you report, are
not included among the public Records of the Settlement which he
committed to your charge on his retirement from the Government.
In expressing my approval of the firmness and good judgement shewn
by you in the affair of the Songies Indians, I have only to add that the
mode of dealing with the native Tribes is a point which I must leave to
your own discretion, trustingto
to your disposition to cultivate friendly
relations with them as far as may be possible.
to your disposition to cultivate friendly
relations with them as far as may be possible.
With reference to your request
that a Ship of War may be stationed off Vancouver's Island I have to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Ship "Thetis" has been
ordered to remain there until the latter end of January next.
I take this opportunity of enclosing a Book of Regulations for the
guidance of the Governors of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, and I
have to direct your attentionto
to the Rules laid down in the 6th
Chapter, as to the manner in which the correspondence with the Secretary
of State should be conducted.
to the Rules laid down in the 6th
Chapter, as to the manner in which the correspondence with the Secretary
of State should be conducted.
P.S. With reference to the first paragraph of this Despatch I
enclose for your information the Copy of a Letter which I have just
received from Mr Blanshard, in answer to the enquiry I directed to
be made to him, respecting the absence of any Copies of his Official
correspondence with the Secretary of State, from the Records of the
Government of Vancouver's Island.
16 Augt/52
16 Augt/52
