Berens to Lytton
Hudson's Bay House
London,
6th August 1858
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the Earl of Carnarvons letter of the 5th Instant, in compliance with which, I have announced to my coleagues in the Direction the intention of Her Majesty's government to revoke the right of exclusive trade with the Indians, which was given to the Company in the Royal Licence of the 30th of May 1838, over so much of the Territory in question as is comprised within the Colony of British Columbia.
I have also the honour of enclosing an extract of a letter addressed to Governor Douglas under date, the 16th of July last, from which you will perceive that the wishesManuscript imagewishes of Her Majesty's government upon this point have already been anticipated to a certain extent by the Hudson's Bay Company, in a manner which you will doubtless approve.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your very obedt Servant
H.H. Berens
Depty Govr
The Right Honble
Sir Edwd B. Lytton
&c &c
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale This ready compliance of the Hudson's Bay Company—and of course without allusion to compensation, to which they have no valid claim—will be very satisfactory to Sir Edward Lytton. The announcement of the revocation which is intended will, I assume, be contained in the next desph to Govr Douglas.
ABd. 11 Augt.
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Put by. (Sir E Lytton has seen it.)
HM Augt 11
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Extract, Smith to Douglas, 16 July 1858, informing him that the Company's exclusive license to trade is being terminated.