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Rear-Admiral Ross to Admiralty enclosing
Captain Eliott's report of 25 January 1839
(8 February 1839)

[—]resident, Callao 8th February 1839

Sir,

      In transmitting to you, for the information of their Lordships, the accompanying report and various Letters enclosed, therewith, from Captain Eliott of Her Majesty's Sloop Ey, whom I had directed, by my order of the 15th of May last, to visit the Society, Friendly, and Pitcairn's Islands, agreeably to their Lordships directions as set forth in their Instructions to me, to communicate with those Islands by a Vessel from my Squadron at least once a year; I feel it my duty to express to their Lordships, my entire approbation of the judicious and masterly way Captain Eliott has carried those orders into execution; and as his report is explanatory in every particular, it leaves me only to add my concurrence in the opinion advanced by him, viz. the necessity of

Charles Wood Esq.
      Secretary
            Admiralty

having one of Her Majesty's Ships employed upon that Service, who could devote more time and attention to the interests of the British residents at those Islands, than it was possible, during his short stay there, to afford them; I was under the necessity of limiting the absence of the Fly, in the execution of this Service, to a much shorter period than I could have wished owing to the great call I had at the time of my despatching her, and which I still have, for the more active Services of the few Ships under my Command, during the present disturbed state of this Country; —

      In addition, therefore, to the repeated applications already made by me to their Lordships for an increase to my Force, I beg to offer the present as another instance in proof of the advantages likely to be derived to Her Majesty's Government by such a measure, and which I beg to

      Note across bottom of page
30 Sept.
Their Lordships are pleased with the very satisfactory manner in which Capt Elliot has conducted this service.
[W].C. 2 Oct
[For] Lord J Russell's information.

Acqt. Col. Office that Capt. Elliot of HMS Fly having visited some of the Islands in the Pacifick gives an account of the present state of Pitcairns Island which the inclosed is an Extract. [-]
W.C 30 Sept.

submit for their Lordships' consideration.

I have the honor to be,           
Sir,                       
Your most obedient     
humble servant

Charles B.H. Ross

Rear Admiral and
Commander in Chief

Notes.

      Pagination of the original autograph has been maintained.

      Captain Russell Elliott (later Admiral) was commander of H.M.S. Fly who visited Pitcairn's Island in November 1838. His action there instituted the first formal government on the island.

      Vice Admiral Charles Bayne Hodgson Ross CB (July 1776 – 2 March 1849) was a Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who later commanded the ship that took Napoleon Bonaparte into his finale exile on St Helena, and who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station. [Wikipedia]

      Lord John Russell was Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (30 August 1839 – 30 August 1841).

Source.
Document no. 61. Feb 8, 1839. "Rear-Admiral Ross to Admiralty enclosing Captain Eliott's report of 25 January 1839." 1244 to 1249.

This transription was made from the collection of documents at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library.

Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jul 31 2022.

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