Verney was warned by his father not to be too engaged in activities which might be seen as improperly political for a naval officer - and which might endanger his future as a country gentleman and political figure once he was home in England. Presumably for this reason, Verney kept quiet - except to his father - about his strong belief that Governor James Douglas, the old HBC man whose circle of family and friends had a tight grip on the colony's administration, had to be removed as soon as possible and replaced by a leader who could better bring English civilization to the colony. [note]