Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes to Douglas, James 7 May 1860, LAC RG7:G8C/9, 172.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Newcastle informs Douglas that his proclamation
prescribing the conditions on which unsurveyed Agricultural lands may be occupied in British Columbiacannot be approved until Newcastle receives Douglas's feedback on Clarke's proposal, and Douglas makes the changes to the proclamation which are outlined in the attached report from
the Emigration Commissioners.
No. 23
Downing Street,
7 May 1860
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 5 of the
12th of January enclosing a Proclamation issued by you prescribing
the conditions on which unsurveyed Agricultural lands may be occupied in
British Columbia.
The difficulties you experienced in providing surveyed 
country
lands for agricultural Settlers were explained in your despatches of the
4th July and 18th of October last and the present Proclamation
carries into effect the measures to which you had found yourself compelled to
resort of granting occupation of unsurveyed land with a future right of
preemption.
country
lands for agricultural Settlers were explained in your despatches of the
4th July and 18th of October last and the present Proclamation
carries into effect the measures to which you had found yourself compelled to
resort of granting occupation of unsurveyed land with a future right of
preemption.
The Proclamation has been laid before Parliament in compliance with
the provisions of the Act 21-22 Vic: Cap. 99, but I shall delay to
convey to you any final decision upon
upon it until I shall have received
your report upon the scheme of Captain Clarke R.E. for the disposal of
the Crown Lands of British Columbia which I forwarded to you with my
despatch No 3 of the 7th of January which has crossed your
despatch now under acknowledgement.
upon it until I shall have received
your report upon the scheme of Captain Clarke R.E. for the disposal of
the Crown Lands of British Columbia which I forwarded to you with my
despatch No 3 of the 7th of January which has crossed your
despatch now under acknowledgement.
In the meantime it may be useful to communicate to you the enclosed
observations of the Emigration Commissioners in which
some necessary
amendments of the Proclamation issued by you are pointed out
out.
out.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract of a Report from the Land Emigration Commissioners,31 March 1860, recommending a number of changes to Douglas's proclamation regarding the pre-emption of unsurveyed land in British Columbia.