Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 16 May 1860, CO 305:14, no. 7737, 295.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (4), Other documents (3).
No. 30, Military
16 May 1860
I have the honor to forward herewith to your Grace by request of
Colonel Moody the copy of a
a letter he has addressed to me respecting
the selection of a site upon the Island of San Juan for the military
post formed there by Her Majesty's Troops in establishing a joint
occupation of the Island with the Troops of the United States.
a letter he has addressed to me respecting
the selection of a site upon the Island of San Juan for the military
post formed there by Her Majesty's Troops in establishing a joint
occupation of the Island with the Troops of the United States.
2. The circumstances of the case are detailed in the correspondence,
but it may be
be convenient that I should briefly recapitulate them.
be convenient that I should briefly recapitulate them.
3. When the instructions were received to land a body of Troops upon
the Island of San Juan it became a matter of some consideration as to
where the Military Post should be established, for most of the
desirable spots have been pre-empted by American settlers and of
course the act of landing Troops
Troops upon any of these spots would at
once have produced a disturbance. Admiral Baynes despatched Captain Prevost in the Satellite to make a reconnaissance and to report upon
the localities that were suitable and available. His report pointed
to six positions but Admiral Baynes and myself at once agreed that
one spot—the spot ultimately chosen
chosen—was pre-eminently suitable.
The other positions were objectionable for general reasons,
contiguity to the United States Camp, difficulty of access, scarcity
of water &ca. However thinking that Colonel Moody might offer a
valuable opinion upon such a matter I forwarded the correspondence to
him and requested him to favor me with his views. He instantly
despatched an officer from
from British Columbia to Fort Victoria in order that
he might proceed to San Juan to examine the different localities
and furnish a report before Colonel Moody could offer an opinion. I
desired the Officer to wait upon Admiral Baynes but Admiral Baynes
declined his services, in which I perfectly acquiesced. Had we been
been
seeking a site solely with a strategical vein, the assistance offered
by Colonel Moody would have been very valuable, but as we were above
all things desirous to avoid the appearance of having placed Troops
on the Island with any covert object, I certainly am of opinion that
it would have been unwise for an Engineer Officer to have proceeded
in the first instance to
to examine the different localities, the more
especially as no actual necessity existed for such an action.
Troops upon any of these spots would at
once have produced a disturbance. Admiral Baynes despatched Captain Prevost in the Satellite to make a reconnaissance and to report upon
the localities that were suitable and available. His report pointed
to six positions but Admiral Baynes and myself at once agreed that
one spot—the spot ultimately chosen
chosen—was pre-eminently suitable.
The other positions were objectionable for general reasons,
contiguity to the United States Camp, difficulty of access, scarcity
of water &ca. However thinking that Colonel Moody might offer a
valuable opinion upon such a matter I forwarded the correspondence to
him and requested him to favor me with his views. He instantly
despatched an officer from
from British Columbia to Fort Victoria in order that
he might proceed to San Juan to examine the different localities
and furnish a report before Colonel Moody could offer an opinion. I
desired the Officer to wait upon Admiral Baynes but Admiral Baynes
declined his services, in which I perfectly acquiesced. Had we been
been
seeking a site solely with a strategical vein, the assistance offered
by Colonel Moody would have been very valuable, but as we were above
all things desirous to avoid the appearance of having placed Troops
on the Island with any covert object, I certainly am of opinion that
it would have been unwise for an Engineer Officer to have proceeded
in the first instance to
to examine the different localities, the more
especially as no actual necessity existed for such an action.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
As the stationing [of] a Military Force on San Juan is an Act of the Foreign Office, perhaps we should do wisely to send thither a copy of this correspondence saying that if Lord J. Russell sees no objection the S. of S. proposes to signify his approval of the view taken by Govr Douglas of this matter.
As the stationing [of] a Military Force on San Juan is an Act of the Foreign Office, perhaps we should do wisely to send thither a copy of this correspondence saying that if Lord J. Russell sees no objection the S. of S. proposes to signify his approval of the view taken by Govr Douglas of this matter.
ABd
6 August
Mr Fortescue
I hardly see under the circes why the Govr wrote to Col Moody on the subject. However he probably took the safest course. I shd be inclined however not to go beyond the [negation?]—that the S. of S sees no reason to doubt that the Govr judged rightly in refraining from [anything] that could be construed into a Military Survey.
I hardly see under the circes why the Govr wrote to Col Moody on the subject. However he probably took the safest course. I shd be inclined however not to go beyond the [negation?]—that the S. of S sees no reason to doubt that the Govr judged rightly in refraining from [anything] that could be construed into a Military Survey.
FR
[date cut off file]
I agree.
CF
7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Moody to Douglas, 29 March 1860, expressing regret that
Captain Parsons had not been allowed to survey San Juan Island to
determine the most suitable site for the camp from a military point
of view.
R.M. Parsons to Moody, 23 March 1860, advising that both
Douglas and Admiral Baynes had refused his services, having already
determined a site for the military settlement.
W.A.G. Young, Acting Colonial Secretary, to Parsons, 20 March 1860,
refusing his services by advising that the governor did not want to
present an appearance of choosing a site for the camp "with reference
to its advantages in a strategical point of view."
Other documents included in the file
Draft,
Colonial Office to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 14 August 1860,
forwarding copy of the despatch for consideration.
Draft, Colonial Office to Hammond, August 1860, further explaining
why Douglas refused the services of Captain Parsons, and
advising that Newcastle was prepared to accept the position taken by
Douglas and Admiral Baynes.