Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Berens, Henry Hulse to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 13 July 1859, CO 60:6, no. 7063, 56.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Berens addresses Douglas's correspondence to Newcastle in
which [Douglas] tenders to the Government the power of purchasing his retired interest in the Hudson's Bay Company for a specific sum.Berens reports that the HBC will make
a special exception in this caseand purchase
Governor Douglas's retired interest,for the full amount requested, should the government decline Douglas's
proposition.Merivale minutes that Douglas's proposition
can scarcely be definitively accepted until Govr Douglas's conduct in relation to the late expenditure to which he has pledged himself for public buildings in Victoria, has been considered.
Berens to Newcastle
I have the honor to transmit herewith, a copy of a letter
recently addressed by His Excellency James Douglas the Governor
of British Columbia to the Secretary of this Company, from which
it appears that Mr Douglas has addressed a letter to your
Grace by which he tenders to the Government the power of purchasing
his retired interest in the Hudson's Bay Company for a specific sum.
It has occurred to the Board of Directors of this Company
that Her Majesty's Government may consider it contrary
contrary to their
usual practice to become the purchasers of the interests of a
private individual in any Commercial undertaking and that
therefore Governor Douglas's proposition would probably not
be received with favour. Under this impression, and with a view of
relieving Her Majesty's Government of an embarrassing question
and testifying how highly the Company appreciate the long and
faithful services of Governor Douglas and at the same time, of
enabling him to retain the dignity which Her Majesty's Government
had conferred upon him, the Board have determined to make a
special exception in this case, and in the event of Her
Majesty's Government declining the proposition
proposition, to become
themselves the purchasers of Governor Douglas's retired
interest at the price which he himself has put upon it.
contrary to their
usual practice to become the purchasers of the interests of a
private individual in any Commercial undertaking and that
therefore Governor Douglas's proposition would probably not
be received with favour. Under this impression, and with a view of
relieving Her Majesty's Government of an embarrassing question
and testifying how highly the Company appreciate the long and
faithful services of Governor Douglas and at the same time, of
enabling him to retain the dignity which Her Majesty's Government
had conferred upon him, the Board have determined to make a
special exception in this case, and in the event of Her
Majesty's Government declining the proposition
proposition, to become
themselves the purchasers of Governor Douglas's retired
interest at the price which he himself has put upon it.
They have accordingly lost no time in communicating to
Governor Douglas this determination, and they trust that its
effect will be to remove all further difficulties with respect
to the definitive acceptance by Mr Douglas of the high
office to which he has been nominated.
Minutes by CO staff
See 6987.
This is a very handsome offer of the Company. But I
think it can scarcely be definitively accepted until Govr
Douglas's conduct in relation to the late expenditure to
which he has pledged himself for public buildings in
Victoria, has been considered?
But an acknowledgement of this very liberal offer must not
be delayed till then.
N
19
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Berens, 20 July 1859, advising final
decision of Douglas's position must await settlement of certain issues.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Do you think it wd be expedient to send Govr Douglas a copy of this Correspondence without comment, but with reference to the despatch, which will be forwarded to him next Mail, touching his expenditure for Govt buildings at Victoria?
Do you think it wd be expedient to send Govr Douglas a copy of this Correspondence without comment, but with reference to the despatch, which will be forwarded to him next Mail, touching his expenditure for Govt buildings at Victoria?
It is not unlikely that the H.B.Co will send it to him.
ABd
27 July
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
