Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Russell, John 13 September 1855, CO 305:6, no. 10886, 136.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (3).
Douglas writes to Russell to report on naval matters, which include the visit of Admiral Bruce and several ships to Vancouver Island, the subsequent supply for the same, and costs incurred—and questions as to how to
defray them—
the sovereignty of the Islands in the Arro Archipelagoand, finally, Douglas’s request that supply ships sail direct from England to
Port Esquimalt,to avoid the concerns and costs of landing first at Valparaiso.
The minutes note that the Admiralty will pay for the naval hospital at Esquimalt, and ask that the Foreign Office and Admiralty each receive copies of Douglas’s correspondence.
The first of the four files included in the file is a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Hammond, Foreign Office, which forwards a copy of Douglas’s despatch; the second is the same, but to the Admiralty; the third is a draft reply from Labouchere to Douglas, which reports that Douglas’s requests for storehouses, and direct delivery of stores from England to Esquimalt, have been sent, via the Admiralty, to Bruce for a report; the fourth is a letter from Bruce to Douglas, which thanks Douglas for his support of the squadron while at Vancouver Island.
No. 17
13 September 1855
I have the honor to inform your Lordship that the Colony has been
lately visited by Rear Admiral Bruce with the "Monarch", and several
other of Her Majesty's Ships, forming part of the Squadron employed in
the Pacific.
In consequence of thearrangements
arrangements made by this Government the
ships, while here, were abundantly supplied with vegetables and fresh
provisions, so that the officers and men were all in good health, and in
a state of perfect efficiency, when the Fleet sailed from this Colony.
arrangements made by this Government the
ships, while here, were abundantly supplied with vegetables and fresh
provisions, so that the officers and men were all in good health, and in
a state of perfect efficiency, when the Fleet sailed from this Colony.
The naval hospitals constructed at Esquimalt have, from unforseen
circumstances, been only partially required this season; but
nevertheless our wish to assist Her Majesty's Ships, in time of need has
been appreciated by the Commander in Chief, as you will observe through
a letter from him, which I have the honor to enclose herewith.
The outlay caused by the erection of the naval Hospitals, so far as
it has yet been ascertained, is £938.3.8 Sterling, and I believe that
£60 or £70 more, making altogether the sum of £1000, will cover every
expense connected withthe
the undertaking.
the undertaking.
I have now to request that your Lordship will be kind enough to
direct, whether that outlay is to be defrayed out of the Imperial
Treasury or from the Colonial Funds, and if the latter, that the wishes
of Her Majesty's Government to that effect, may be communicated to the
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.
I have had much conversation with Rear Admiral Bruce in respect to
the question which has been raised by the authorities of the United
States, concerning the sovereignty of the Islands in the Arro
Archipelago.
His views on that subject coincide entirely with those which the
obvious meaning of the First article of the Treaty of July 1846, had led
me to embrace.
I also communicated to him the instructions, on the samesubject
subject,
which I have received from Her Majesty's Government, as stated in Sir
George Grey's Despatch No 4 of the 21st September 1854, and he has
agreed to lend every assistance in his power, in asserting Her Majesty's
sovereignty over all the disputed Islands, and for the protection of
British property on the Island of San Juan.
subject,
which I have received from Her Majesty's Government, as stated in Sir
George Grey's Despatch No 4 of the 21st September 1854, and he has
agreed to lend every assistance in his power, in asserting Her Majesty's
sovereignty over all the disputed Islands, and for the protection of
British property on the Island of San Juan.
Since the arrival of the Fleet at this place the Americans have
made no attempt to molest the British settlers of San Juan, and I do not
apprehend any difficulty with them, as long as we have a military force
at hand, to punish their aggressions.
Her Majesty's Ship "Trincomalee" is at present refitting in
Esquimalt, and will probably not leave Port, before the first week in
October, when the "President" is expected to touch here for
refreshments.
Perhaps
Perhaps your Lordship will pardon me for alluding to an opinion
which I have long entertained in respect to the important advantage the
public service would gain by forwarding the provisions and stores
required for the national ships employed in the Northern Pacific, direct
from England to Vancouver's Island, instead of landing them in the first
place and storing them at Valparaiso; an arrangement involving one of
two evils—either the ships of war must, at brief intervals, abandon
their distant stations, and to the neglect of other objects resort to
Valparaiso to revictual—or that service must be performed by means of
hired transports, at a very considerable expense, in fact, I believe, in
all cases, exceeding the sum that would be required to bring the
supplies, in the first instance, directfrom
from England to Vancouver's
Island.
from England to Vancouver's
Island.
As a means of avoiding that expenditure and the inconvenience of
employing Her Majesty's ships, as mere transport vessels, I would take
the liberty of proposing to your Lordship that a Naval Store House be
erected here, or rather at Port Esquimalt, and that the provisions and
stores required for the ships employed in the Northern Pacific be sent
from England directly to this place, and stored here.
I will further remark on that subject, that the expense of erecting
a proper building, for a naval store House, would not exceed the sum of
1500, and should your Lordship think favourably of the plan, and
authorise me to carry it into effect, and to appoint a store keeper, I
think the Council of this Colony would cheerfully vote a sum of money in
aid of so popularan
an object.
an object.
With those remarks I will leave this suggestion for your Lordships
consideration.
The Right Honble Lord John Russel [Russell]
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
1st With respect to the Naval Hospital, the Govr has been informed that the Admiralty would defray the expense of its construction—see 7548 and 8277 V.Couvers Isld.
1st With respect to the Naval Hospital, the Govr has been informed that the Admiralty would defray the expense of its construction—see 7548 and 8277 V.Couvers Isld.
2nd Send extract to the Foreign office of so much of the desp.
as relates to the sovereignty of the Islands in the Arro Archipelago?
3d Naval Stores Houses. The Admiralty declined last year to
adopt the Govrs suggestion on this head but this renewed proposal on
the subject had better be referred to them? See 4064 and 4698.
VJ
27 Nov
No reason was assigned for declining. See 4698. I daresay there
are good & sufficient ones. But it would clearly be a great point gained for the prosperity & importance of this colony.
are good & sufficient ones. But it would clearly be a great point gained for the prosperity & importance of this colony.
HM
N 28
I think it wd be well to send a copy of the entire despatch to
the Foreign Off. for Ld Clarendon's information & to the Admiralty
for consideration.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 13 December
1855, forwarding copy of Douglas's despatch.
Draft, Colonial Office to Secretary of the Admiralty, 13 December
1855, forwarding copy of Douglas's despatch.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Rear Admiral H.W. Bruce to Douglas, 30 July 1855, expressing
appreciation for the services provided for the squadron while at Vancouver Island.