Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 11 September 1861, CO 305:17, no. 9782, 445.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (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.
Douglas replies to Newcastle's despatch no. 49, dated 31 March 1861, regarding
Stamp's travel aboard HMS Grappler in October 1860. He informs
Newcastle that Stamp served as pilot aboard the Royal Navy ship, which was sent to
Barkley Sound from Esquimalt
in consequence of some misconduct and symptoms of hostility on the part of the Indians in the neighbourhood.Therefore, Douglas did not think Stamp should have to pay for his passage. The minutes show that while the Colonial Office agrees that Stamp should not be responsible for the cost of his journey, the colony of Vancouver Island should, as
the service on whh he was employed on board the Grappler [was] purely colonial.
No. 60
11 September 1861
In reply to your Despatch No 49 of the 31st March, requesting me to
furnish any information I may be able to supply on the subject of the
entertainment on board Her Majesty's Gun Boat Grappler in October
1860 of Captain Edward Stamp, represented to be the Government
Superintendentof
of the Settlement of Barclay Sound, I have the honor
to acquaint Your Grace that the circumstances of the case are as
follows. In October last it was necessary, in consequence of some
misconduct and symptoms of hostility on the part of the Indians in
the neighbourhood of Barclay Sound, to despatch a Gun Boat to the
place; the Senior Naval Officer at Vancouver's Island, Captain Spencer of the Topaze, applied to me to afford the assistance of a
Pilot, as Barclay Sound was unsurveyed and the Officer in Command of
the Gun Boat was ignorant of the navigation; Ihad
had no one to send, but
Captain Stamp, who is not in the Service of the Government, but one
of the Energetic projectors and proprietors of the Settlement at
Barclay Sound, happened to be upon the spot, and immediately
volunteered his services to supply the required assistance. They
were accepted, and as they were gratuitously rendered, I have not
thought it proper to make any claim upon Captain Stamp in repayment
of the expenses for entertainment now referred to.
of the Settlement of Barclay Sound, I have the honor
to acquaint Your Grace that the circumstances of the case are as
follows. In October last it was necessary, in consequence of some
misconduct and symptoms of hostility on the part of the Indians in
the neighbourhood of Barclay Sound, to despatch a Gun Boat to the
place; the Senior Naval Officer at Vancouver's Island, Captain Spencer of the Topaze, applied to me to afford the assistance of a
Pilot, as Barclay Sound was unsurveyed and the Officer in Command of
the Gun Boat was ignorant of the navigation; Ihad
had no one to send, but
Captain Stamp, who is not in the Service of the Government, but one
of the Energetic projectors and proprietors of the Settlement at
Barclay Sound, happened to be upon the spot, and immediately
volunteered his services to supply the required assistance. They
were accepted, and as they were gratuitously rendered, I have not
thought it proper to make any claim upon Captain Stamp in repayment
of the expenses for entertainment now referred to.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
It would be improper to call upon Capn Stamp to defray the expense of his entertainment, but I think it wd be equally improper that this Country should do so—the service on whh he was employed on board the Grappler being purely colonial.
It would be improper to call upon Capn Stamp to defray the expense of his entertainment, but I think it wd be equally improper that this Country should do so—the service on whh he was employed on board the Grappler being purely colonial.
ABd
2 Novr
Mr H. Irving
Does the Coll Agent ever make payments for B. Columbia? [Corrected by Irving to read: Vancouver Island?]
Does the Coll Agent ever make payments for B. Columbia? [Corrected by Irving to read: Vancouver Island?]
Mr Elliot
The Agent has made some small payments on account of Vancouver Island and on the occasion of his doing so we instructed the Governor to remit the amount. The Agent has no funds of the Colony in his hand.
The Agent has made some small payments on account of Vancouver Island and on the occasion of his doing so we instructed the Governor to remit the amount. The Agent has no funds of the Colony in his hand.
HTI
[5?] Nov
