Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grey, George to Douglas, James 12 November 1855, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 300.
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 Douglas to thank him for a report on
the state and prospects of Vancouver's Island,and to concur with Douglas that a police force is needed, provided that all expenses are paid either by local revenue or by the HBC. Finally, Grey assures Douglas that ongoing government negotiations over
commercial restrictionswith the United States should result in a
an extension of the Reciprocity Treaty to the Island.
No. 5
Downing Street
12th November 1855
Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 16 of the
21st of August reporting on the state and prospects of Vancouver's Island.
I have to express to you my thanks for this useful report and at the
same time to signify to you my approval of your prudent and determined
conduct towards the Indians who visitedthe
the Settlement in the summer.
the Settlement in the summer.
2. I concur in your remarks on the utility of a Police force for
the preservation of order in the settlement and I see no objection to
the establishment of a sufficient force for that purpose, but you must
understand that all expenses connected with its formation and
maintenance must be defrayed from the local Revenue or by the Hudson's
Bay Company.
3. The Commercial restrictions which militate against the
developement of the
trade of Vancouvers Island are engaging the
attention of Her Majesty's Government who are not unmindful of the
interests of this distant dependency of the British Crown, and they are
not altogether without hopes that negotiations which have been commenced
with the Government of the United States may terminate in an extension
of the ReciprocityTreaty
Treaty to the Island under your Government.
trade of Vancouvers Island are engaging the
attention of Her Majesty's Government who are not unmindful of the
interests of this distant dependency of the British Crown, and they are
not altogether without hopes that negotiations which have been commenced
with the Government of the United States may terminate in an extension
of the ReciprocityTreaty
Treaty to the Island under your Government.