Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 5 July 1866, CO 305:29, no. 8277, 2.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 5 July 1866, CO 305:29, no. 8277, 2.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Confidential
5th July 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter from Mr Allen
Francis, United States Consul in this Colony, inquiring whether there
would be any objection to the firing of a National Salute on the
occasion of the anniversary of the Independence of the United States
together with my replythereto
thereto.
thereto.
Notwithstanding my refusal to accord my sanction to the proposed
proceeding a scow was chartered on which guns were mounted and being
towed to the mouth of the Harbour (half a mile from the Public
Offices) a salute of 36 guns was fired at daylight on the 4th July,
and repeated at sunset.
Mr Francis the Consul is an uneducated man of very intemperate
habits, and I did not think it expedient to takeany
any further steps in
the matter, but I think the Government of this Colony should be
instructed as to the proper course of action in future years.
any further steps in
the matter, but I think the Government of this Colony should be
instructed as to the proper course of action in future years.
I believe I am correct in stating that the use of cannon by
unauthorized persons in a British Colony is illegal, and proceedings
of the nature I now bring under your notice may be reasonably
regarded as endangering the public peace, and I am in a position to
know that they have given offence to many British subjects.
I
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This is a question I presume on wh: the Foreign Office should be consulted? The Govr asks for instructions for his guidance in future.
This is a question I presume on wh: the Foreign Office should be consulted? The Govr asks for instructions for his guidance in future.
VJ
27 Aug
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Francis to Kennedy, 3 July 1866, asking if there would be any
objection "to the firing of a National Salute, on Beacon Hill, on the
occasion of the anniversary of the Independence of the United States."
Other documents included in the file
Colonial Office to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 15 September
1866, forwarding copy of the despatch for consideration and asking
whether general instructions should be issued to all governors
on the subject.
