
================================================================================
FILE: 1851-02-03_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51008.txt
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Nothing of any importance has occurred since I had last the honor
of addressing your Lordship;
As two years have expired since Vancouvers Island was granted to the Hudson's bay company, and the
conditions of that grant bind them to deliver a report of the state and
progress of the colony at the end of such period, I beg that your
Lordship will allow me a copy of such report, that I may compare it with
my own remarks.
The only real sale of land that has taken place so far as I am
informed, is one of one  hundred acres of land to a Captain Grant at Soke
harbour. Mr Grant left the island some months ago, leaving a labourer in charge of his farm. Nothing has been heard of him since,
and as his affairs here are in a most hopeless state, I do not think he
will return. More than a year ago he executed an assignment of his
title to the Hudson's Bay Company. A Mr ToddMr Tod, (still a servant
of the Hudson's Bay company's) has ploughed up a few acres near Fort
Victoria, under a verbal arrangement with the company's agent Mr
Douglas, that he should be allowed to purchase one hundred acres, to be
furnished with a title, finding that he cannot obtain the said title;
nor even a written promise to furnish it, he is becoming alarmed has
discontinued the house he was beginning to build, and talks of leaving
the colony.
With the exception of a Canadian who has squatted near Rocky
point, there is not another  cultivator on the Island.
I have written to Sir John Pelly, the governor of the Hudson's bay
company, requesting some information respecting a large tract of land
called the Hudson's bay company's, and Puget Sound company's Reserve,
but no notice of my letter has been taken yet. Their Agent here
professes ignorance of every arrangement, but has admitted that they do
not intend to pay for it; This tract contains I am informed nearly
thirty square miles of the best part of the Island, and they are already attempting to sell small lots to their own servants at greatly advanced rates.

I consider this as an extremely unfair proceeding. The terms of
the grant of the Island expressly state that "All lands shall be sold
except such as are reserved for public purposes," and in consideration
of the trouble and expense this may incur the Hudsons bay Company are
allowed the very handsome remuneration of ten per cent on all sales they
may effect, and on all Royalties, not satisfied with this they are
grasping at the whole price of the land, by monopolizing this vast
district making it a free gift to themselves, and then selling it for
their own profit, as they are attempting to do; in proof of this I may
mention that, an Englishman of the name of Chancellor arrived here from
 California a few weeks ago, with the intention of settling. The Agent
offered to sell him land on the "company's reserve," which he declined
as he preferred another part of the Island but found so many difficulties thrown in the way that he at last pronounced the purchase
impracticable, and is leaving the colony in disgust; He told me that he
was the forerunner of a party of several British subjects at present in
California who were merely waiting for his report to  2
decide whether they
would settle in California or the United States.



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FILE: 1851-02-11_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB01.txt
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With reference to the letter of Governor BlanchardBlanshard dated the 18th August last, a copy of which was communi-catedcommunicated to me by
Mr Under Secretary Hawes under the date of the 30th November, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith an extract of a
letter received by the Company from Mr Douglas, the officer in charge
at Fort Victoria, giving an account of the murder of three seamen,
deserters from one of the Company's ships, by the natives of the
northern part of Vancouver's Island.



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FILE: 1851-02-12_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51009.txt
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The Agent of the Hudson Bay Company has presented me an account for
signature being a voucher of the balance between the amount expended by
the Hudson's bay company on the colony, and the receipts of duties,
sales, royalties &c collected in the colony;
The Account asserts that they have expended $2736 (dollars) of
which $2130 (dollars) are for goods paid to Indians to extinguish their
title to the land about Victoria and Soke harbours, the remainder also
for goods paid also to Indians for work done for the colony, provisions,
and ammunition for the same Indians. The receipts amount to $1489
(dollars) (from which 10 per cent is to be deducted according to  the charter of grant to the Hudsons bay Company) and consists entirely of
royalties on coal for the last two years, land sales there are none, as
I have previously informed your Lordship. On examining the account I
found that for the goods paid to the Indians a price was charged three
times as great as what they are in the habit of paying them at, for
their own work; respecting this and some inaccuracies I detected in the
account I addressed a letter to the agent; he corrected the errors but
made no alteration in the prices, and in the course of the conversation
gave me to understand that they did not expect the charter of grant to
be renewed at the expiration of the five years (January 1854) and that
then they would be entitled to a reimbursement of their expenditure. At
this rate they may continue for the next three years paying away a few
goods to Indians to extinguish their claims to the soil, and by
attaching an ideal value to their goods they will at the end of that
time appear as creditors of the colony to an overwhelming amount, so
that the foundation will be laid of a colonial debt, which will for ever
prove a burden. I beg your Lordship to observe that, at the prices they
usually pay goods at, the receipts are amply sufficient to cover the
expenditure and to have a balance in favor of the colony —
Under these circumstances I yesterday signed an amended copy of the
account, as a voucher for the goods, adding a protest that the balance
shall not be considered a true one, as I conceive it to lie on the other
side and to be against the Hudson's bay Company;
The whole financial arrangement and expenditure is of course
entrusted to the Hudson's bay company but I conceive that my
instructions, (Art 20) containing directions about the public money authorize my exerting a negative voice on the present occasion, to
prevent the revenue which does exist, and is much required for internal
improvement, (roads especially) being swallowed up by the Hudson's bay
company, as profit on their goods —
I trust that your Lordship will lose no time in appointing my
successor, as my health has been very bad for some months, and I feel it
impossible to remain here much longer, on account of increasing 
weakness; my instructions direct that in the event of my death or
absence, and there being no Lieutenant Governor, the Senior member of
the Council shall for the time assume the government, (Art 40) but I
have not been able to appoint a council, as there is no one in the
Island above the grade of a Labourer except the servants of the Hudson's
bay Company, and I have previously stated to your Lordship, my reasons
for considering them unfit for Magisterial appointments, of any kind;



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FILE: 1851-02-25_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51010.txt
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I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No 5
of 23rd October 1850, in which after expressing a hope that the
emigration to California may ultimately prove beneficial to this
settlement, you point out a mistake I have fallen into in supposing the
Puget Sound Agricultural Company to be identical with the Hudson's bay
Company. I am fully aware that the rights of the Puget Sound Company
are recognised in the Treaty of 1846, between Great Britain and the
United States, but my remark was merely intended to apply to the state
of things here. The Agent of the Hudsons Bay Company receives, I am
informed, a salary for acting as Agent of the Puget Sound Company,
beyond this the latter company are not represented in this country,
labourers bound by engagements to the Hudson's bay Company have been,
and now are employed on the Puget Sound Company's Land Claim, without
any change of service. The Hudsons Bay Company make use of such
portions of that Land Claim as they think fit, for the erection of
buildings, cutting timber &c, a saw mill and houses attached for the
workmen are standing on it, their property, Farming stock such as
cattle, and sheep, are removed from one company's claim to the other
belonging alternately to each of them, but always under charge of the
Hudson's bay company's servants, none of whom acknowledge any service to
the Puget Sound Company, the greater part being ignorant of its very
name; A Further proof of their identity here may be found in the fact
that these persons employed on the Puget Sound Company's Land Claim are
allowed to make their purchases at the stores of the Hudson's bay
Company, at the same reduced rate of prices as when employed on the Land
claim of the Hudsons bay company, a privilege which is declared to be
strictly reserved to the servants of that company. I think that these
statements will prove sufficient explanation of my remark.
Mr Grant has returned to the Island and resumed possession of
his farm at Soke, one or two persons in the employment of the Hudson's
bay Company have as they inform me agreed to purchase small plots of
land near Fort Victoria at very high rates, others who are willing to
settle are deterred by the price,
I have received a note from Captain WelleslyWellesley, commanding H.M.S.
Daedalus, of 24 October 1850 San Francisco, in which he informs me that
one of his boats was fired into by the Indians near cape Scott, by which
the officer in charge and two marines were wounded, all slightly, I have
no particulars, but presume the occurrence has been reported to the
Admiral on the station,



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FILE: 1851-02-27_Parker_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515ADW1.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit
to you, for the information of Earl Grey, the copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Hornby, dated 23rd December last, No 138, together with
copies of one from Captain Wellesley of HMS Daedalus and its enclosures respecting the murder of three British Seamen and the proceedings of that Ship at Vancouver's Island.



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FILE: 1851-02-28_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB02.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships
letter of the 25th Instant transmitting a Copy of a Despatch from the Governor of Vancouvers Island in which he states that a Gentleman of the
name of Grant has been prevented by the Hudsons Bay Company from
settling in the neighbourhood of Victoria in that Island, and recommends
that two Companies of regular Troops be sent out for its defence, and
requesting that I should furnish your Lordship with any Explanation
which it may be in the power of the Hudson's Bay Company to afford on
the Subject of the refusal of Land near the Fort to Mr Grant, and that I
should state the views of the Company with regard to the measures to be
taken for the more efficient protection of the Settlers.
With regard to the case of Mr Grant, I have to state that the
Company never received any complaint from him, or other information
(until now from your Lordship) that he had been prevented from settling
near to Victoria.
Mr Grant purchased 100 Acres of Land in 1848, and sent out in a
Vessel chartered by the Com--panyCompany agricultural implements and other articles, and 8 Laborers. He proceeded himself to the Island by way of
Chagrés, Panama, San Francisco, and Fort Vancouver on the Columbia
River, and I enclose an Extract of a Letter from Mr Douglas the Agent of
the Company, dated 3rd, September 1849, which contains all the
information possessed by the Company in regard to the selection of his
land. ⎯ The Land reserved for the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Pugets
Sound Company could not make it necessary for him to place himself at a spot 25 miles distant from Victoria, there is therefore every reason to believe that it was entirely a matter of his own choice and selection.
I have not received any infor--mationinformation from the Company's Agent of any outrages by Indians at Soke or Victoria, but I learn from the Captain of one of the Company's Vessels lately arrived from the Island, that from
some cause or other Mr Grants Ser--vantsServants had left him; that he had placed
his Farm in the charge of one old man, whom he had hired on the Island, and that the Indians had pilfered some of his Potatoe Crop, and Stolen
some Blankets and other Articles, most of which had been recovered from
them, but that he (the Captain) had not heard of any other injury being
done by the Indians.
With regard to the Governor's recommendation of sending out two
Companies of regular troops for the more efficient protection of the
Settlers I have to state, that the Company have no reason to apprehend any danger from the Indians in that part of the Island, who consist of Small Tribes, and in the whole are not numerous. It is the practice of
the Company to maintain at all their stations a number of men sufficient
for their protection, and the collection of settlers will of course
diminish the risk of any trouble from the Indians.
The Company therefore do not consider that any Military Force is
required at present; but if your Lordship should be of opinion, that
such a Measure is called for, I think it proper to state, that the
Company are not in possession of any funds applicable to the
Colonization of the Island, adequate to meet the expence.



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FILE: 1851-03-20_Earl_Grey_to_Blanshard_V517001.txt
================================================================================

I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 6, of September 18th
last, conveying the last accounts of the state of affairs in Vancouver's
Island up to that date.
2. I must distinctly inform you, that it is not in the power of Her
Majesty's Government to maintain a detachment of regular Troops to
garrison the Island.
3. With reference to the murder committed by the Indians on the
unfortunate Seaman in the neighbourhood of Fort Rupert, Her Majesty's Government have received intelligence through Rear Admiral Hornby, of the proceedings which you caused to be taken by Captain Wellesley of H.M.S. "Daedalus" to demand, and, if possible, to punish the
murderers since the date of your Despatch. From the information which
has thus reached me I by no means feel satisfied of the prudence of the
step which you took in directing this expedition, which appears to me to
have failed in its main object. And at all events it is necessary that
I should state for your guidance on future occasions, that Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to protect, or attempt to punish injuries
committed upon, British subjects, who, voluntarily expose themselves to
the violence or treachery of the Native Tribes at a distance from the
Settlements. I have no reason to suppose from the accounts which have
reached me, both from yourself and from other quarters, that the
Settlements themselves are in actual danger.



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FILE: 1851-03-28_Parker_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515AD01.txt
================================================================================

Her Majestys Ship Daedalus having afforded a Passage to His
Excellency Mr Blanshard Governor of VanCouvers Land between the 30th of Septr and 9th of Octr last, on a visit to Fort
Rupert, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
request you will inform me whether Earl Grey is of opinion that the
Expence of this Passage should be borne by the Public.



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FILE: 1851-03-29_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51011.txt
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I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships dispatch No 6 of
20 Novr 1850, approving of the provisional appointment of Mr John
Sebastian Helmcken as magistrate at Fort Rupert, and further mentioning
your Lordships concurrence in the opinion that a tax on the importation
and manufacture of ardent spirits would be desirable so soon as a
legislature should furnish the necessary authority. Mr Helmcken has
as a I previously informed your Lordship resigned his appointment, and
has been removed from Fort Rupert to Victoria; there is unfortunately no
one remaining whom I consider at all fit to take his place., Moreover
Mr Helmcken's having been called on since his arrival here to give up
or furnish copies of his official correspondence while magistrate, to
the Hudson's bay company's agent, thus using his authority as chief
factor in the companys service over Mr Helmcken, has quite confirmed
me in my opinion of the impropriety of making appointments among the
company's servants. Even after retiring from the service they are in a
great measure subject to the same influence as they receive certain
allowances which may be forfeited if they act in any manner that is
considered as prejudicial to the company, the forfeiture would be at
once enforced by the Agents in this country and the great distance from
England would render any appeal to the Directors in London a work of
time and uncertainty,
I have heard that fresh specimens of gold have been obtained
from the Queen Charlottes Islanders, I have not seen them
myself, but they are reported to be very rich, the Hudson's bay
company's servants intend to send an expedition in the course of
the summer to make proper investigations.



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FILE: 1851-03_Colvile_to_Grey_V515HB03.txt
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I have the honor to forward to you herewith, an Extract of a letter
received a few days ago from Mr Chief Factor Douglas relative to the
proceedings adopted to punish the murderers of the three Seamen who had
deserted from one of the Company's Ships.
As Mr Douglas has not in any of his letters alluded to the
rumour mentioned by Governor Blanshard in his Despatch of the 18th
August 1850, which attributed the murder of these unfortunate men to the
instigation of the Company's Servants, I feel persuaded that the rumour
was without foundation,



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FILE: 1851-04-03_Earl_Grey_to_Blanshard_V517007.txt
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I have received and laid before the Queen your two Despatches of
the 18th November last requesting to be relieved in the Government of VanCouver's Island, and I am to inform you that Her Majesty has been pleased to accept your resignation of the Office of Governor of that Settlement.
I am unable to state whether the means at the disposal of the
Admiral Commanding in the Pacific will admit of his ordering you a
passage to Panama, but I have communicated your wishes on the subject to
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and have requested their
Lordships to make them known to the Admiral.



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FILE: 1851-04-09_Parker_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515AD02.txt
================================================================================

In reply to your Letter of the 7th Inst, respecting the passage
of Mr Blanshard, late Governor of 
Vancouver's Island from that Place
to Panama; I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
state, for the information of Earl Grey, that the Admiral Commanding in
the Pacific has been acquainted that in case of any of Her Majestys
Ships visiting Vancouver's Island there will be no objection to a passage being afforded to Mr Blanshard, to any Port to which Her Majesty's Ship may be proceeding.



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FILE: 1851-04-12_Parker_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515AD03.txt
================================================================================

With reference to your Letter of the 8th Instant, stating that Earl Grey does not consider that the Expence of the Passage of Governor Blanshard on board Her Majestys 
Ship Daedalus between the 30th of Septr and 9th of Octr last is one which ought to be paid by the Public, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that as the Captain of the Daedalus is entitled to be paid for this Passage their Lordships request that Lord Grey will cause Governor Blanshard to be called upon to pay to Captain Wellesley of the Daedalus the sum of Forty seven Pounds fifteen shillings, being the allowance due to him on account thereof



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FILE: 1851-04-16_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB04.txt
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I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Mr Hawes' letter of the
7th Instant 〜 transmitting copy of a Despatch from Governor Blanshard
tendering his resignation of his office, and communicating that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to accept the same, and enquiring whether the Hudson's Bay Company had any Gentleman to recommend for the Situation. ⎯
In answer to this enquiry, I have to state that the Governor and Committee consider that in the present state of Vancouver's Island as respects the Native Indians and the white population it is of importance that the Governor should possess some experience in conducting the requisite intercourse with the Indians and for this and other reasons they have requested me to recommend James Douglas Esqre Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company and Manager of their affairs in the Island as well qualified to fill the Office.
I take this opportunity of stating that the Governor and Committee are surprised at the observations made by Mr Blanshard respecting the conduct of the Company towards him which they feel to be unjust
He was offered a passage in one of the Company's Ships, but
declined it, and preferred proceeding by the Steam Packet to Chagres and
thence by Panama to the Island. ⎯ The Governor and Committee understood that this course was to be at his own expence, and when a Bill for £100
was drawn upon them by him from Jamaica, it was referred to his own
relations in London. ⎯ But afterwards on hearing from him that there was
some mis--apprehensionmisapprehension respecting the expence of his journey by the route which he had taken, he was informed that the amount was placed to his
credit, and he must have been in possession of this decision at the date of his letter vizt 18th November 1850
It was necessary to im--portimport provisions from the Oregon Territory and
elsewhere, cultivation on the Island at that time being insufficient for the supply of the Company's Establishment there, and the prices may have
been high but the Governor and Committee are confident that neither the
prices of provisions, nor of European Articles were enhanced or "run up"
by the Company as alleged by Mr Blanshard who in point of fact had a
Seat at the table kept at the Company's Establishment



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FILE: 1851-04-20_Earl_Grey_to_Blanshard_V517008.txt
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I transmit for your information a copy of a letter from the
Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject of a
passage afforded to you in Her Majesty's Ship "Daedalus" between the
30th of September and 9th of October last, and I have to request that you will cause the expense thereof amounting to Forty Seven
Pounds—Fifteen Shillings—(£47-15-0) to be paid to Captain Wellesley of
that Vessel.



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FILE: 1851-04-28_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51012.txt
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I have received a communication from the Governor & Directors of
the Hudsons bay Company stating, that they and the Puget Sound Company
are about to occupy some land in this Island and that the sum of Four thousand pounds is to be expended on public buildings, under my
direction, subject to the approval, and sanction of their Agent, and
further indicating the neighbourhood of their own posts as the place
where such buildings are to be erected.
Unless the colony is intended to be merely an enlarged depot of
the Hudsons bay company which I do not conceive was the intention of Her
Majesty's Government in making the grant of the Island, it will be a
waste of public money to expend it in the way they indicate, as the
public buildings will then be surrounded by their Reserves which they
are neither prepared to use or sell.
The Large tract of land called their Reserves, of about thirty
square miles in extent includes the only part of the Island, in the
Straights of Fuca, in the any way adapted for the first settlement, there
are other large tracts on the Canal de Arro, and the gulf of Georgia but
they are at present so inaccessible that their settlement and occupation
must be gradual. The quantity of land at Soke is too small to make it
of any importance and the rest of the coast is one mass of rock without
harbours. The Hudson's bay company does not profess to require all
these Reserves, either for its own purposes or those of the Puget Sound
Company, but say they cannot tell what portions of them they may require
till surveys have been sent to them in England. These surveys they have
taken no steps at all to obtain, they have never even engaged a
surveyor. A Mr Grant, who had studied for a short time at the
Military College at Sandhurst, commenced a survey of part of the
Companys land last summer, but it was discontinued and has never been
resumed. The Agent here tells me that he expects a surveyor from Canada
in the autumn if one can be engaged, supposing that he does come, the
winter rains will prevent any operations till the following spring,
which will bring it far into the fourth year of the Hudson's bay
Company's possession of the Island. In the meantime these Reserves effectually prevent any bona fide colonists from settling.
No site for a Town has ever been mentioned, and indeed till the
question of the Reserves is settled it would be useless to select one,
for by refusing to sell the land around it, taking it as their own and
setting an extravagant price on it, as they have already done near
Victoria they will completely isolate and prevent the occupation of any such town. When a Town site shall be selected, that will be the place
for the public buildings not in the vicinity of the Companys posts
where there is no probability of a population ever gathering beyond a
few of their own servants. Until such site be selected and the
adjoining land brought into the market fairly, I do not think it will be
expedient or even just to the future prospects of the colony to expend
the produce of the land sales on buildings,



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FILE: 1851-05-10_Pelly_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515HB06.txt
================================================================================

Sir JH Pelly presents his Compts to Mr Merivale and begs to
acquaint him that the packet of Despatches for the Governor of
Vancouver's Island, accom-panyingaccompanying Mr Merivale's note of the
30th April has been forwarded agreeably to Lord Grey's request.



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FILE: 1851-05-12_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51013.txt
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I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships despatch No 3,
of 29 June 1850 transmitting the public seal of the colony of Vancouvers Island, and Her Majesty's warrant and sign manual authorizing and
directing its use.
I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships despatch
No 4 of 16 July 1850 approving of my reasons for deferring the
nomination of a council for the present and pointing out the expediency
of establishing the council and other prescribed institutions without
any unnecessary delay —
I can assure your Lordship that I am deeply impressed with a sense
of the expediency of the prescribed measures, but I regret to add that
there is at present a total want of the necessary materials either for a

council or for any other legislative, or executive appointments, The
whole tendency of the system pursued by the Hudson's bay Company being
to exclude free settlers, and reserve the Island either as an enlarged post of their own, or a desert.
I have received a communication from the Hudsons bay Company
stating that no salaries are to be paid out of the proceeds of the land
sales, but must be raised in the Island either by taxes on imports, or otherwise. This is in fact repudiating the clause in their grant which
binds them to provide, at their own expense, all necessary civil and
military establishments, their own arrangements tend to prevent a tax paying population settling here, and that the harbours shall be open to
all nations for the purposes of trade is prominently put forward in the
prospectus they have published.
Reports are current of gold having been found by the Cowitchin
Indians, in the Arro Canal, but they are so vague as scarcely to
deserve notice,



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FILE: 1851-05-19_Earl_Grey_to_Douglas_V517101.txt
================================================================================

I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a Commission under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, appointing you to be Governor and
Commander in Chief in and over the Island of Vancouver and its dependencies, together with Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and
Signet for your guidance in the administration of the Government thereof.
I also transmit a Commission under the Seal of the High Court of
Admiralty, appointing you to be Vice Admiral of that Island and of its dependencies.



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FILE: 1851-06-10_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51014.txt
================================================================================

I beg to enclose to your Lordship a copy of a memorial presented to
me by Andrew Muir, a Scotch miner lately in the employment of the
Hudsons bay Company; The said Andrew Muir appears to have been grossly
ill treated by the officers of that company, and in consequence left the
Island in a ship bound for San Francisco, in company with some other persons who declared they did not consider their lives safe after the
violent threats that had been herd to them, They have returned by
the first opportunity and seek redress for the loss and damage they have
sustained, Several minor cases of the same kind I have settled
summarily, but a case like the present does not admit of being so
disposed of, as considerable damages are claimed; I expect that other
actions of a similar nature will shortly be commenced, and to secure a
fair trial will to say the least be a matter of great difficulty as with
the exception of the plantiffs family (the Muirs) there are not five
persons in the Island except the Hudson's bay company's servants. My instructions authorize me to make magisterial and temporary judicial
appointments, but do not provide for the event of there being no persons
qualified to hold them. I would beg to press on your Lordships notice
the expediency of making an immediate appointment of Chief Justice, or
some law officer for the colony, who shall have full power to hear and
determine all causes, subject to the usual appeals, a fair salary should
be attached to the appointment, to be paid by the Hudson's bay company,
till such time as it can be raised in the Island,
The ship Tory has just landed about one hundred and twenty persons,
all with two exceptions servants of the Hudson's bay company, some have
already been sent to Oregon, and some to other posts of the company, no preparations had been made here for their reception beyond erecting a couple of log houses or rather sheds, in these the remainder are huddled
together like cattle, as I have seen myself, to the number of thirty or
thirty five in each shed, men and women, married and single, without any
kind of screen or partition to seperate them, as may be supposed great
discontent exists already and will most certainly increase, the result
will probably be that they leave the colony and seek employment in Oregon,



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FILE: 1851-06-12_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB07.txt
================================================================================

I have received Mr Under Secretary Hawes's letter of the 15th Ulto transmitting for the information of the Hudsons Bay Company the Copy of a Dispatch from the Governor of Vancouver's Island, dated
Feby 3rd 1851, and requesting that I will ⎯ furnish your Lordship with the Report referred to by Governor Blanshard, which by the terms of the Royal Charter the Company are required to make once in every two years at least.
In compliance with your Lordship's request I beg to hand you the accompanying Report.



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FILE: 1851-06-12_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB08.txt
================================================================================

I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Under Secretary Hawes's
letter of the 4th Inst transmitting to me for any observations which
the Hudsons Bay Company may have to offer, extracts from a Dispatch from
the Governor of Vancouvers' Island on the subject of the goods paid to the Indians to extinguish their titles to land.
In reply to which I beg to state to your Lordship that, as Mr
Blanshard has resigned the Office of Governor of Vancouver's Island, the
Hudsons Bay Company do not consider it necessary to make any remarks on
the Extracts referred to, nor indeed do they think it fully within the
province of the Governor to inquire into the transactions between the
Company and the Natives with respect to the extinction of the Titles of
the latter to their lands.



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FILE: 1851-07-12_Addington_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515FO01.txt
================================================================================

I am directed by Viscount Palmerston to transmit to you, for the
information of Earl Grey an Extract of a letter from Her Majesty's
Consul General at the Sandwich Islands, reporting the existence of Gold at Queens Charlottes Island. ⎯



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FILE: 1851-08-04_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51015.txt
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I have the honor to forward for your information the report made to
Captain Fanshawe of HM Ship "Daphne" by Lieutenant Lacy of the Daphne,
who commanded a party sent to apprehend the murderers of the British
seamen at Newitty, on the 19 July last; the tribe at first fired on the
boats, but fled when the party landed, Lieutenant Lacy did not pursue
them owing to the nature of the ground but the other Indians represent
the dispersion of the tribe as complete, this was effec==tedeffected without loss
and the wounds of the two seamen are slight. A most beneficial effect

has been produced on the tribes in the neighbourhood who had previously
caused much alarm among the Hudson's bay company's servants, and
endangered the safety of the post at Fort Rupert, for the future I trust that place will remain in Safety which it did not appear to be before —



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FILE: 1851-08-11_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51016.txt
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I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of 20th March 1851 in which after acknowledging the receipt of mine of 18 September 1850, you inform me that it is not in the power of Her Majesty's
government to maintain a detachment of regular troops to garrison
Vancouvers Island and further that Her Majestys government cannot protect British subjects who may voluntarily expose themselves among the
natives at a distance from the settlements.
I beg to assure your Lordship that I have always discouraged
persons from so exposing themselves but it is scarcely applicable to the
unfortunate seamen who were murdered at Fort Rupert, as the murder was committed at a considerably shorter distance from that post than is frequently visited by the servants of the Hudson's bay company on their shooting excursions.
That the settlement was in danger I was fully persuaded both by
what I saw myself and by the apprehensions expressed by the Hudson's bay
company's servants who were on the spot, and I still firmly believe that
the visit of H.M. Ship "Daedalus" prevented a massacre,



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FILE: 1851-08-11_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51017.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships
despatch of 3rd April 1851 notifying that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept my resignation of the office of Governor of this settlement, and that your Lordship has com==municatedcommunicated my request for a passage in one of Her Majesty's ships, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
H.M. Ship "Daphne" being on the point of sailing from this settlement for San Francisco, I have applied to Captain Fanshawe for a passage as far as that port, as it is very unlikely that another of H.M. Ships will visit the settlement this year.
Should no Official announcement of the appointment of my successor arrive in the mean time, it is my intention to nominate a council provisionally, or such a portion of council as may constitute a quorum, the Senior member of which will act as Governor till a new appointment be made,



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FILE: 1851-08-11_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51018.txt
================================================================================

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships despatch of
20th April 1851, enclosing a copy of a letter from the secretary of
the Lords commissioners of the Admiralty, and desiring me to pay to
Captain Wellesly of H.M. Ship Daedalus the sum of £47,15,0, for the expenses of a passage that was afforded me in that ship, in September and October last.
As I presume that your Lordship in observing that you did not
consider it as an expence that ought to be paid by the public, referred 
to the terms of the grant of Vancouvers Island to the Hudson's bay Company, by which they are bound to defray all expenses of the
settlement I have forwarded a copy of your Lordships letter to the
Governor and Directors of that company requesting them to make the
payment, for no funds are at my disposal as Governor,



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FILE: 1851-08-25_Hamilton_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515AD04.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you, for the information of Earl Grey, the copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Moresby dated 7h May last, No 49, and of its Enclosure, reporting his proceedings on the Pacific Station.



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FILE: 1851-08-30_Blanshard_to_Earl_Grey_V51019.txt
================================================================================

I beg to inform your Lordship that on the 27th Inst, I nominated the following gentlemen as Members of council for Vancouvers Island
           James Douglas Esqr, (Senior Member)
           James Cooper Esqr
           John ToddTod Esqr
Providing expressly that these nominations should be merely provisional, and subject to be confirmed or disallowed by Her Majesty the Queen. The above named gentlemen have this day taken the oath of
allegiance as prescribed and their seats as members of Council.
H.M. Ship "Daphne" leaves this settlement for California on the
1st September, and as I am about to avail myself of that opportunity of leaving the Island, the Senior Member of the council will administer the government, till further instructions shall be received from your Lordship,



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FILE: 1851-09-10_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB09.txt
================================================================================

I have received two letters from Mr Merivale enclosing
Despatches from the Governor of Vancouver's Island, dated the 28th
April and 12th May 1851, and stating your Lordship's wish that I
would afford you an explanation of such parts thereof as relate to an
intended expenditure on public buildings, and to the payment of Salaries
from the proceeds of taxes on Imports.
At the time the communication alluded to by Mr Blanshard was made to that gentleman it was thought that the Fur Trade branch of the Company would require a considerable quantity of land in addition to
that which they possessed before the conclusion of the Boundary Treaty
in 1846. The Puget Sound Agricultural Company had also intimated their
intention to become purchasers of a tract of land near the Fur Trade
Reserve. The quantity in both cases was uncertain, no accurate survey
having been made, but in order that the Governor might not be in want of
Funds for such public works as might be considered most necessary, Mr
Douglas was directed to advance from time to time (as it might be
required) the sum of £4000. When however it was found that the land
occupied by the Fur Trade at Victoria pre--viouslypreviously to the year 1846 was considered by Mr Douglas to be sufficient for their purposes, the
amount to be advanced to the Governor was reduced to £2000, as your
Lordship will perceive by the enclosed extracts from a Dispatch to Mr
Douglas dated July 16th 1851, in which also a mistake which had been
made respecting the house for the Revd Mr Staines was rectified.
As Mr Blanshard has not transmitted to Your Lordship a copy of the letter in which the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay
Company stated to him their views with regard to the expenditure on public buildings and other Colonial objects, I beg leave to hand you a copy of that communication, from which you will see how far he is borne out in the observations contained in his Dispatch, and what were the Company's real objects in directing £4000 to be expended in public works. It was in fact left almost entirely to the Governor and his Council to select both the sites and the works to be erected on them.
On the subject of Captn Grant's efficiency as a Surveyor I can only say that he was recommended to me as peculiarly qualified for the work he had to perform. But when it was found that he neglected his duties another Surveyor of proved ability was sent out, and is at present I have reason to believe employed in Surveying the Victoria District.
An Assistant Surveyor has also been engaged, and is now on his way to the Colony.
With regard to the exorbitant price stated by Mr Blanshard to be demanded by the Company for land, I am not aware, nor do I believe that a farthing more than the original price fixed upon, namely one pound per acre, has ever been demanded by the Company's Agent for any land either without or within the Reserve.
With respect to the payment of the Salaries of the Civil Officers
of the Colony out of the proceeds of taxation, I beg to say that I
always understood that your Lordship meant the Colony to be established
on a self supporting principle, and I know no better mode of procuring
the means of defraying such expences than by levying a moderate
duty — Say 5 per Cent — on Imports. ⎯ Such a duty, I may observe, would, at
present at least, be paid in a great measure by the Hudson's Bay
Company; and if calculated on the value of last year's importation would
amount to £1400.



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FILE: 1851-09-12_Pelly_to_Elliot_Assistant_Under-Secretary_V515HB10.txt
================================================================================

Sir J H Pelly presents his Compliments to Mr Elliot and begs to return the Report with the seal of the Hudson's Bay Company affixed to it

Hudson's Bay House

Septr 12. 1851



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FILE: 1851-09-19_Earl_Grey_to_Douglas_V517102.txt
================================================================================

In compliance with the request contained in Mr Blanshard's
Despatch of the 5th February last, with its enclosures, I transmit
herewith the copy of a Report which I have received from the Hudson's Bay
Company, and which by the terms of the Royal Charter they are required
to furnish once in every two years at least, shewing the quantity of
land sold by the Company at Vancouver's Island at the price of one pound
per acre.



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FILE: 1851-09-22_Hamilton_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515AD05.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you herewith for the information of Earl Grey, the Copy of a letter dated the 27th June  last, No 54; from Rear Admiral Moresby, Commander in Chief in the Pacific, ⎯ and of its enclosures, reporting his Proceedings, and on the State of Affairs in Vancouver's Island.



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FILE: 1851-10-21_Parker_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515AD06.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send
you herewith for the information of Earl Grey a Copy of a Letter from
Rear Adml Moresby dated the 3rd of July last No 55 containing a
Report connected with Vancouvers Island



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FILE: 1851-10-24_Parker_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515AD07.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send
you herewith, for the information of Earl Grey, Copies of a Letter from
Captain Fanshawe of Her Majesty's Ship Daphne, dated the 7th Augt, and of its enclosures, reporting the proceedings taken against the Newitty Tribes of Indians in Vancouver's Island for opposing the arrest of the Murderers of three Englishmen.



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FILE: 1851-10-24_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB12.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to acknow==ledgeacknowledge the receipt of Mr Under Secretary Hawes's letter of the 10th Instant transmitting, for any observations which the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company may have to offer, a Copy of a Despatch from the Governor of Vancouver's Island enclosing the Copy of a Memorial addressed to him by Andrew Muir complaining of ill treatment received from the Company's Servants at that Settlement.
I shall not trouble Your Lordship with any observations on the 
Statements contained in the Memorial, but I cannot understand why the
complaint was not heard and decided on by Governor Blanshard, as all judicial authority is vested by Her Majesty in the Governor of the Colony, and there are no persons in the Company's service, I may venture to assure Your Lordship, who would not render every  ⎯assistance in their power to the Governor in administering justice impartially to all.
With respect to the accomo==dationsaccomodationsaccommodations for the Passengers for the
Ship "Tory" on their arrival, I beg to state that enquiry will be made
on the subject; but so far were the passengers from being discontented
with their treatment that, in consequence of the reports sent home by
them, several applications have been made by their friends here for
permission to go out to join them.



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FILE: 1851-10-31_Douglas_to_Earl_Grey_V51101.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships
communication of the 19th May 1851, transmitting a Commission under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, appointing me to be Governor and

Commander in Chief in and over the Island of Vancouver, and its dependencies, together with instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and
Signet for my guidance in the administration of the Govern==mentGovernment thereof,
and also a Commission under the Seal of the High Court of Admiralty,
appointing me to be Vice Admiral of that Island and of its dependencies, all which instructionsments were duly received by me on the 30th Instant. ⎯
I beg through your Lordship to convey to Her Most Gracious
 Majesty, my humble thanks for those distinguished marks of confidence,
which, it shall be my endeavour to prove, are not misplaced. ⎯ The Royal
Instructions, will be faithfully executed, and in the exercise of the
power and authority vested in me by the Royal Commiss--ionCommission, it shall be my
study to promote, to the utmost of my ability, the honor and advantage
of the Crown, as well as the interests of Her Majestys Subjects in this
Colony. ⎯

I am happy to inform your Lordship that nothing has occurred to
disturb the tranquility of the Settlements on this Island, since the
departure of the late Governor BlanchardBlanshard by Her Majestys
Ship "Daphne" on the 1st September last. The Natives generally profess the most friendly disposition, and prove their sincerity, by the character of their daily intercourse with the Settlers. ⎯
The late operations of Her Majestys Ship "Daphne" acting under
instructions from Governor BlanchardBlanshard against the Neweeti Tribe,
inhabiting the north end of Vancouvers Island, have been attended with the happiest effects, and so filled their mind with terror, that they
made no attempt at reprisals. They since abandoned their former place of residence, and took refuge among the Tribes living on the West Coast of Vancouvers Island. ⎯
To that point as Soon as their retreat was discovered a party
of friendly Indians were dispatched by Mr George Blenkinsop the
Hudson's Bay Companys Officer in command of Fort Rupert, with a message
from this Government proffering peace to the Tribe at large, on
Condition of the delivery of the three Indians concerned in the murder.
Those terms were at once accepted by the Neweete Chiefs, but
before the proposed seizure could be effected the murderers received
notice of their danger and fled from the Camp. They were however chased
into the woods, and put to death by their own people after making a
desperate resistance, in which one of the assailants was severlyseverely
wounded. ⎯
The mangled remains of the Criminals were taken to Fort Rupert and after being identifi=edidentified by the Chiefs of the Quaheolth Tribe, were interred near the Fort, so that there is no doubt as to their having met with the fate they so Justly merited. ⎯
The war with that nation may be now considered as virtually at
an end, and I beg to express, to your Lordship, how greatly I feel
indebted to Mr GeoGeorge Blenkinsop, for his able and active aid, in bringing it to a satisfactory and honourable close. ⎯
I propose in a short time to visit that part of Vancouvers Island for the purpose of establishing amicable relations with that, and other Tribes of Indians whose friendship will greatly conduce, to the well being of the Colony. ⎯
I am happy to inform your Lordship that the Grain Crops throughout the Settlements were abundant this season, and were secured
in fine condition; though Singular to say, in the American Settlements
about Nisqually and on the Columbia River, the harvest was remarkably
wet, and it is estimated that at least one third of the grain of this
season perish==edperished on the field, and a larger proportion was much damaged by the wet, a circumstance which tells greatly in favour of the climate
of Vancouvers Island. ⎯
The grain raised in the Colony this year will not be
Sufficient to meet the home demand, and we shall be under the necessity
of making up the deficiency by importing bread stuffs from abroad. ⎯
On the other hand the potatoe crops will greatly exceed our
annual consumption, and the potatoes are remarkably large and of good
quality. ⎯
The Natives generally are turning their attention to the
cultivation of the Potatoe, and to other useful arts, such as the manufacture of Shingles and Laths which are becoming popular among them.
I shall probably take the liberty of calling your Lordship's
attention hereafter to the best means of improving the condition of the
aborigines of this Island, who are in many respects a highly interesting people, and I consider worthy of attention.
They will become under proper Manage=mentManagement of service to the Colony
and form a valuable auxiliary force, in the event of war with any
foreign power. ⎯ From my long experience of Indian character and of the
tribes on this Coast in particular, I am led to regret that the
Missionary Societies of Britain, who are sending Teachers to so many
other parts of the world have not turned their attention to the natives
of Vancouvers Island; as by the aid of those Societies, Schools might be established for the moral training and instruction of the Aborigines, to
the manifest advantage of the Colony. ⎯
On the subject of internal improvements, I may remark that a high road along the Coast from Victoria to Soke Inlet about 25 miles distant, is greatly needed to facilitate intercourse, and we have that object now in contemplation, having already surveyed the ground and found it not ill adapted for the purpose. ⎯
I have further to inform your Lordship, that the natives have
discovered Gold in Englefield Bay, on the West Coast of Queen Charlottes
Island. One of the Hudson's Bay Company Vessels visited the spot, in
the month of July last, and succeeded in procuring about 60 oz of Gold,
principally by barter from the Indians. One lump of nearly pure Gold weighing 1 lb 11 oz was seen in the possession of one native, who demanded a price beyond its value, so that it was not purchased. ⎯ The Gold is associated with white Quartz rock, similar to that of the auriferous deposites in California; it is yet found in small quantities, but I am of opinion that it exists abundantly in that and other parts of
the Island. ⎯
The report of that discovery having become known in this
Country, I am informed that several American Vessels are fitting out in
the Columbia, for Queen Charlottes Island, for the purpose of digging
Gold—a circumstance to which I would request your Lordships attention,
as it may be the desire of Government to exclude foreign vessels from
that part of the Coast. ⎯
As the Council of this Island nominated by Governor BlanchardBlanshard, consisted originally of three members, myself included, and is now reduced by my late appointment, to two members, a number insufficient to form a quorum, I have selected Mr Roderick Finlayson, a Gentleman of worth and great experience, to fill the vacancy until your pleasure thereupon is made known. ⎯
I shall do myself the honor of addressing your Lordship from
time to time, on the affairs of Vancouvers Island, as circum==stancescircumstances occur, deserving of your notice.



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FILE: 1851-10_Barclay_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515HB11.txt
================================================================================

I am directed to acknowledge the Receipt of your letter of the
8th Inst, transmitting for the information of the Directors of
the Hudson's Bay Company, the copy of a letter from the Secretary to the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, accompanied by the Copy of a letter dated the 27th June last (No 54) from Rear Admiral Moresby Commander in Chief in the Pacific and of its enclosure, detailing his proceedings at Vancouver's Island and reporting on the state of affairs there.
The Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company request that you will convey to Earl Grey their thanks for the communication of these documents.



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FILE: 1851-11-05_Earl_Grey_to_Douglas_V517201.txt
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I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Predecessor's despatch of
the 4th of August last, with its enclosures, reporting the proceedings
taken by Lieutenant Lacy, of Her Majesty's Ship "Daphne", with a view to
apprehend the Indians who murdered certain British Seamen at "Newitty"
in July last.
It is impossible that I can judge of the propriety of the
proceedings which have been taken with a view to the apprehension of
these murderers, without fuller information on the subject than that
which is contained in your Predecessor's despatch. But you will ere
this be in possession of the general views which Her Majesty's
Government entertain on the question of the protection to be afforded to
British subjects against the violence of the native Indian tribes as
explained in my despatch of the 20th of March last, No 1,
Military. I have nothing to add to the instructions contained in that
despatch.



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FILE: 1851-11-07_Pelly_to_Grey_V515HB13.txt
================================================================================

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Under Secretary Hawes' letter of the 3rd Instant transmitting, for any observations which the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company may have to offer, the copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Moresby to the Board of
Admiralty containing a Report connected with Vancouver's Island.
Respecting the price of provisions supplied or to be supplied to
Her Majesty's Ships I have nothing to remark, until I receive a reply to
a letter which I have written to the Board of Admiralty requesting to be
informed of the prices complained of as being overcharged by the
Company's— Agent at Vancouver's Island. I may however observe that there
is a market price there as everywhere else, and that Admiral Moresby's
remark "that the interest of a Company with exclusive rights of Trade is
incompatible with the free and liberal reception of an emigrant
Community" is not applicable to the Hudson's Bay Company inasmuch as
that Company neither possesses, nor exercises, any exclusive right of
trade in Vancouver's Island.
On the subject of the Hudson's Bay Company's Reserve of land Around
Fort Victoria, I beg to refer your Lordship to my letter of the
10th September from which it will be seen that the quantity of land reserved for the
purposes of the Fur Trade, instead of being 20 square miles, is not
likely to exceed six; and that this land was in the Companys possession
before the division of the Country by the Boundary Treaty with the
United States. Should any addition to that quantity be required the
Company will pay for it as other Settlers do.
The Puget Sound Agricultural Company, which I beg to observe is
quite distinct from the Hudson's Bay Company,— require a considerable
tract of land for the pasturage of their large flocks and herds, and as
they are by the terms of the boundary treaty liable to be dispossessed
at any time of their lands at Puget Sound, they have, in order to provide against this contingency, judged it expedient to secure lands in
Vancouver's Island.
This measure Your Lordship will readily percieve is not only
essentially necessary for the preservation of the Sheep and Cattle, but
is also of the first importance to the Colony, as it is from that source
alone that Settlers can be supplied with Stock for their farms, At the
same time I would observe that it is the intention of the Puget Sound
Company to relinquish (Should it be required) such parts of their
reserve as may be considered peculiarly adapted to the wants of Settlers.

I have further to observe in reference to Admiral Moresby's
recommen==dationrecommendation that a Naval Station should be formed at Esquimault
Harbour, that if any portion of the land there be required for public
purposes, it can according to the Grant be resumed by the Government at
any time; but it is highly desirable that the Company should have early
notice of the— intentions of Government, as otherwise difficulties may occur from previous appropriations.

Admiral Moresby's — statement in regard to the Miner's clearly shews
that his information on that subject has not been drawn from an
impartial source. He seems not to have been aware that those Miners
were not Settlers, but the Servants of the Company engaged under
Contracts in this Country. From the moment of the arrival of these men
on the Island they shewed that they had other views than those they professed. Not finding Coal so soon as they expected they demanded 2/6
pr day each in addition to their Contract Wages.
In order that the Mining operation might not be stopped this demand
was conceded, but this did not satisfy them, and they first struck work,
excited insubordination among the Company's Servants, and then deserted
in a body (with the exception of the Superintendent). They went to the
Gold diggings in California, were not successful, and notwithstanding
the ill usage they complain of, returned to Vancouver's Island and
demanded payment of their Wages for the time they had been away. In the
meantime the Company had to send out other Miners in their place at
great expence.
Admiral Moresby states that 320 Acres of Land are offered by the
American Authorities to every married Couple willing to settle on the American side of the Strait, and that such offers must greatly impede
the Colonization of Vancouver's Island.
On this Subject there can be but one opinion, but I do not agree
with him when he infers that the Settlers in Vancouver's Island are dependent on the Hudson's Bay Company, as purchasers of Land there are perfectly independent.
I was not aware that Coal had been found in the locality mentioned
by the Admiral. The Hudsons Bay Company have had the Country near the
mouth of Frasers River about 75 miles north of the river Sinahomis examined by a practical miner, but though the Strata are of the
carboniferous order no coal was found.



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FILE: 1851-11-27_Blanshard_to_Grey_V516B01.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to report to your Lordship that I have arrived in
London from Vancouvers Island and shall be happy to receive any commands from your Lordship.



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FILE: 1851-11-28_Parker_to_Peel_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V515AD08.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Earl Grey, Copies of two Letters dated the 7th July and 5th Augt, No 57 and No 67, from Rear Admiral Moresby, and of their enclosures, containing intelligence respecting the state of affairs in Vancouver's Island.



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FILE: 1851-12-16_Douglas_to_Earl_Grey_V51102.txt
================================================================================

I have the honor to transmit herewith duplicate of my letter of
the 31st Octr.
There is nothing of importance to communicate respecting the
Colony since that date; the Native Tribes continue their friendly
intercourse with the Settlements, and in return they are protected in
their rights, and we endeavour by every possible means to conciliate
their good will, as it is a matter of vast importance to acquire their
confidence, and to lead them to appeal for redress in all cases of
wrongs to the law of the land, instead of having recourse to lawless
retaliation. ⎯
A difficulty of some weight has lately occurred to me, in the
settlement of disputes between the Colonists and Indians, which I will
take the liberty of briefly submitting to your Lordship; for unless
obviated in some way, it may prove dangerous to the peace of the Colony.
The question was forced upon my attention some days ago, on the
occasion of a complaint made by "Tenasman," chief of the Soke Tribe,
against Thomas Hall a white settler, who was charged with having
forcibly disposseddispossessed the Plaintiff of a double barrelled fowling piece, leaving the Plaintiff a much inferior Gun, in return.
The plaintiff had no evidence to support the charge except the
testimony of one of his own countrymen, who not being a Christian, could
not be duly sworn. ⎯ I nevertheless admitted the evidence of the
Plaintiff's wit-nesswitness, which however failed in proving the fact of force
being used by the defendant, in obtaining the Plaintiff's Gun; while it
was, on the contrary, proved by the defendant, that the exchange was
effected without force being used, and by the mutual consent of the
parties. ⎯ It appeared however that Plaintiffthat the Plaintiff on being, better
inform-edinformed as to the relative value of the two guns, wished to recover his
own. ⎯ The case was necessarily decided in favour ofof the defend-antdefendant, and
against the Plaintiff who nevertheless had evidently been duped in the
transaction, and I therefore prevailed upon the defendant, not by order
of Court, but as a matter of justice, to give the plaintiff some further compensation.
The question arising out of that simple case, on which I would
request your Lordship's instructions is this: How far the testimony of
Indians is to be admitted as evidence in the Law Courts of this Colony?
It is not in my opinion advisable to receive Indian testimony in
adjudging the disputes of white men; but in the case of disputes between
the white man and Indian I do not see how we can with justice reject the
only species of testimony the latter may have to offer, and when
offences against life or property are committed by Indians, the only
testimony against the offenders may be that of their own countrymen. On
that subject I would take the liberty of remarking to your Lordship, how
very important it is to the peace and security of the settlement that
instant attention should be paid to the complaints of Indians, and their
wrongs receive speedy redress as nothing will tend more to inspire
confidence in the governing power, and to teach them that justice may be
obtained by a less dangerous and more certain method than their own
hasty and precipitate acts of private revenge.
We have received advice from the Settlement at the north end of
the Island, up to the 10th Novr, when every thing was well and
quiet in that quarter. The Mining operations of the Hudson's Bay
Compy at Fort Rupert, are proceeding with great spirit, but I am
sorry to say, as yet without success, the bore having been carried to
the depth of 183 feet, without revealing a remunerative bed of Coal;
there is however every reason to hope that coal will eventually be found.
The Puget Sound Compy are making extensive improvements on
their Farms in the Victoria District, and several of the Hudson's Bay
Company's Officers; who have purchased tracts of land, are building
houses, and bringing the land gradually into cultivation. ⎯
Since I had last the honor of addressing your Lordship two
vessels from the American Ports in Puget Sound bound to Queen Charlottes Island have touched at this Port. They had collec--tivelycollectively about 64
passengers on board, who were going thither, for the purpose of digging
Gold. ⎯ It is also currently reported that several vessels filled with
passengers have sailed from the Columbia and California, for the same quarter. Their presence on the Coast will I fear, be productive of much
evil, and lead to serious difficulties with the Native Tribes. ⎯ It has
also occurred to me that those ad-=venturersadventurers may possibly attempt to
plun-derplunder the British Trading Posts, on the neighbouring Coast, and I will further submit for your Lordships consideration the probability of their
becoming formidable, from the mere force of numbers, and should Gold
prove abundant, putting Government to much future trouble and expense in
guarding national rights, unless measures are immediately taken to
restrain the subjects of the United States, and other foreign powers
from entering or forming settlements on that Island.
We have very lately received intelligence that the Hudson's Bay
Compys. Steam vessel "Beaver" and one of their Coasting Vessels are
detained at Nesqually by the Officers of the United States Customs upon frivolous pretences, a circumstance which has caused an intense
excitement among the people of this Colony, and I had some difficulty in
preventing a forcible demonstration on their part, for the rescue of the
vessels; which had been sent to Nesqually principally to bring down
Cattle, for the supply of the Colony.
The proceedings of the United States Officers are highly
injudicious, and a serious hindrance to trade. They however plead the
orders they have received, and are receiving by every mail, from
Washington, in justification of their proceedings. ⎯



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FILE: 1851-12-22_Douglas_to_Barclay_V515HB05.txt
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FILE: 1851-12-30_Hamilton_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V515AD09.txt
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I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send
you herewith for the information of Earl Grey copies of a Letter from Rear Adml Moresby dated the 21st of Octr last No 107 and of
its enclosures reporting the proceedings of Her Majesty's Ship Daphne at
Vancouvers Island

