Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Romaine, William Govett to Fortescue, Chichester 28 September 1860, CO 305:15, no. 9430, 78.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), 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.
Romaine to Under-Secretary of State
28 September 1860
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you
herewith for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for
the Colonies, an Extract from a Letter of Rear Admiral Sir Robt L.
Baynes, dated the 9th Augt, No 129, relative to the number of
Indians who have located themselves in the neighbourhood of Victoria, Vancouver Island.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
There are, as you are aware, various reports on this subject from Governor & Admiral. The present report is satisfactory inasmuch as it discourages the idea of danger to the Settlement. I cannot but think that the Governor has committed an error in allowing the Indians to approach so near the Town of Victoria. He has probably permitted them to do so on acct of the
advantage of selling to them
English commodities. But this is a Hudson's Bay Co view which is
purely directed to matters of profit, and not one by which the
Governor should be influenced only.
There are, as you are aware, various reports on this subject from Governor & Admiral. The present report is satisfactory inasmuch as it discourages the idea of danger to the Settlement. I cannot but think that the Governor has committed an error in allowing the Indians to approach so near the Town of Victoria. He has probably permitted them to do so on acct of the
advantage of selling to them
English commodities. But this is a Hudson's Bay Co view which is
purely directed to matters of profit, and not one by which the
Governor should be influenced only.
ABd
29 Sepr
I should not readily assume that Governor Douglas is wrong in the
management of Indians. He knows much more about them than we do.
Put by?
