Monday 18th April 1859

Lempriere takes advantage of the lull in work to make connections.

18th Monday – In the afternoon I walked down to Mr. Monroe’s and gave him the letters of introduction that Mr. Morris gave me.  He was very civil, and after I left sent me a note off to the “Thames City” about a tent etc. for Mr. Ogilvie.

--From the Journal of Lt. Lempriere, RE,
on board the Thames City in Esquimalt Harbour.

{Note: Ogilvie is the Anglican Minister at Hope.

Captain Gosset requested a Nominal Roll and attending pay for the Columbia Detachment.  Captain Luard presents the following document:

"Thames City", Esquimalt Harbour, 18th April, 1859.

Estimates of the probable Amount of Pay required for the Subsistence of the Columbia Detachment Royal Engineers from 29th January 1859 to 30th April 1859.
Ranks No. Rate per diem Days £. s. d.
Color Sergeant and Act. Srt. Major 1 3/10.5 92 17 16 6
Act. QMS 1 3/4.5 92 15 10 6
Sergeants 7 2/10.5 92 92 11 6
Corporals 8 2/2.5 92 81 5 4
2nd Corporals 8 1/10.75 92 69 15 4
Sappers 123 1/2.5 92 683 13 6
Buglers 2 1/2.5 92 11 2 4
Total       971 15 0
Add Good Conduct Pay

Total

       13

985

 16

11

 0

0
Sergeant -15th Hussars

Corporal- 15th Hussars

 1

1

 2/2

1/7.5

 92

92

 9

7

 19

9

 4

6
Sergeant - Royal Artillery

Corporal - Royal Artillery

 1

1

 2/10

2/2

 92

92

 13

9

 0

14

 8

4
1st Class Orderly - Medical Staff 1 2/- 92 9 4 0
Total 153     1034 18 10

{Note: This Nominal Roll appears to take into account the desertion at San Francisco.}

The Victoria staff of the Lands and Works department continue to send along information and goods to the Detachment in Queenborough.

Department of Lands and Works, BC
18th April 1859

Dear Sir,

I have sent the tents by Eliza Anderson this day addressed to the Lieut. Governor.  I have enclosed a letter from His Excellency that was left here today, also copies of specifications of Mr. Fell.  A gentleman of the name of Hubbard of Langley called.  He wanted permission to build a wharf or Pier at Langley, he gave about two weeks ago a letter to the Colonel upon the subject and the Col. told him he would speak to the Governor about it.

A person from Freeman's Express called for $1200.  I told him to write to you on the subject.

All is going right here.

Yours Truly
E. Bowers Doggett.

Note: Fell is the contractor at Derby who has been given the contracts for the gaol, Church, and Court House.

Meanwhile, in the Camp, Moody faces a shortage of Officers who can take on the task of a reconnaissance of the area up the Brunette River.  He dispatches a small party from the Royal Marine Camp under his temporary aide-de-camp, Lt. Blake, RMA.

To His Excellency
Colonel Moody
Commanding
Royal Engineers

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that according to your order, I proceeded last Monday (18th) in charge of an exploration expedition consisting of Captain Bazalgette, RM, one Private, RM, and three Indians with rations for five days for the purpose of ascertaining the relative position of Burrard Inlet with regard to Queenborough.

The route I pursued for the purpose of affecting this was by the small River Brunette to Burnaby Lake, making the latter my Head Quarters.

The distance from Queenborough to the lake I ascertained to be by the River about 6 miles.  The river is exceedingly tortuous in its course, and its stage at the time that I proceeded up it was very low, but perfectly navigable for small canoes the portages owing to the fallen timber are numerous; but these obstacles might easily be removed. 

The Lake is two miles and a half in length by one in breadth and the deepest part that I could find, I sounded at two fathoms, its entire shores are also very swampy – its bearing is N.70 W. from where the Brunette running to the Fraser flows out of it – and is about N.70 W. of Queenborough..."

--25 April, 1859,
report from Lt. Blake, RMA to Col. Moody