Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Stanley, Edward Henry 25 July 1858, CO 305:9, no. 9254, 157.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3), Other documents (3).
Douglas reports that sailors have been deserting from the Satellite and Plumper. The remaining crew has been offered double pay which Douglas fears may not be enough to prevent more desertions. He will keep their salary doubled
until the CO directs him otherwise.
The minutes indicate that they will pass on Douglas’s report to the Foreign Office, as the two ships are performing an FO duty
running the Maritime Boundary line.They
sanctionDouglas’s conduct in advancing
Territorial Revenueto double the seamen’s pay.
No. 32
25 July 1858
1. I have the honor of transmitting herewith copy of a
correspondence with Her Majesty's Boundary Commissioners,
Captains Prevost and Richards on the subject of an increase of
pay, which they begged might be given to the ships companies of
the "Satellite" and "Plumper" under their command.
2. You
2. You will observe that they were alarmed about the desertion
of their men, fearing that in consequence of the want of hands,
it might be out of their power to maintain their ships in a
state of efficiency.
3. Their fears were not groundless as many men had at the date
of Captain Prevost's letter, deserted from the "Satellite" and
others were preparing to follow their example.
4. As the matter was urgent and there was no time for referring
the question to the Admiralty, as the ships might in a few days,
have been deserted by their crews, I authorized Captain Prevost
to announce without delay to the companies of Her Majesty's
Ships "Satellite" and "Plumper"that
that they would hereafter
receive an allowance from the Territorial Revenue equal to their
rate of pay from the Crown.
that they would hereafter
receive an allowance from the Territorial Revenue equal to their
rate of pay from the Crown.
5. The men of those two ships are now therefore receiving
double their pay, and there are so many inducements for
desertion that it is possible they may not remain even on those
terms, but certainly not for the regular pay of the service.
6. Should that measure not meet with your approval, I will
discontinue the extra pay, at any time you may direct, and
continue it until I receive your instructions on the subject.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
This proceeding appears to me an abundant justification for our paying the R. Engineer party good wages. I hope that what has been settled for the private Soldiers will be found to be enough to keep them from deserting. As the "Satellite" and "Plumper" are performing a For: Office duty in running the Maritime Boundary line I think we should communicate this desph &c to that Dt as well as to the Admy adding that the proceeding which has been requested obtains Sir Edward Lytton's approval.
This proceeding appears to me an abundant justification for our paying the R. Engineer party good wages. I hope that what has been settled for the private Soldiers will be found to be enough to keep them from deserting. As the "Satellite" and "Plumper" are performing a For: Office duty in running the Maritime Boundary line I think we should communicate this desph &c to that Dt as well as to the Admy adding that the proceeding which has been requested obtains Sir Edward Lytton's approval.
I think we should further send copies of those Papers to the
H.B.Co for their information. I presume that the payments in
question will be made out of the "Territorial Revenue" of
British Columbia—which Country occasions this extra expense.
Finally sanction the Governors conduct.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Captain James C. Prevost, HMS
Satellite, to Douglas, 28 June 1858, describing events relative to
his recent expedition to Fraser River, and informing of the
problem of desertion from his ship to the gold fields.
Captain George Henry Richards, HMS
Plumper, to Douglas, July 1858, asking for the same pay increase as
recently granted to the
Satellite.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 23 September
1858, forwarding copy of the despatch.
Minutes by CO staff
I hardly think this need be sent to the H.B.Co. This extra
pay is to come out of the territorial Revenue of B. Columbia, I
presume. But the Governor is not clear in his infn on this point.
