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 1 March 1861, CO 60:12, no. 1917, 119.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Berens writes Newcastle to acknowledge Fortescue's letter containing a despatch from
Douglas forwarding correspondence from Dallas regarding the ongoing dispute between the government and the
HBC over the company's land claims on Vancouver Island.
Blackwood minutes that the issue will require the intervention of a third party to resolve,
seeing that the 2 persons on the spot differ so widely.
Berens to Newcastle
Hudson's Bay House
1 March 1861
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr
Under Secretary Fortescue's Letter of the 15th ulto.
with the accompanying Copy of a despatch from Governor Douglas
enclosing Copies of a Correspondence with Mr Dallas. From
a communication received by this Company from Mr Dallas
(who, I may observe in passing, is Son in law of His Excellency)
it appears that he sent a rejoinder to the Governor's letter of
which I have the honour to transmit a Copy herewithand
and from
which Your Grace will observe that there appears to exist a
serious misunderstanding between these Gentlemen as to
what has really occurred in reference to the claims of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
and from
which Your Grace will observe that there appears to exist a
serious misunderstanding between these Gentlemen as to
what has really occurred in reference to the claims of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Mr Berens here sends a copy of the ansr returned by the H.B. Company's Agent, Mr Dallas, to the Governor's Letter to that gentleman of the 5 Decr last—see 917—which letter was regarded by this Office as completely satisfactory. It is probable that the Governor will answer this communication of Mr Dallas', & send us a copy of his ansr. If so we should then be in a condition to forward the correspondence on both sides to the Land Board. The question however which
must eventually
arise is "which of the two, Governor, or Mr Dallas, rightly
estimates the amount due to the Co for the lands
or buildings taken from it by the Crown,"
and that is a matter whh some third party only can
determine, seeing that the 2 persons on the spot differ so widely.
Mr Berens here sends a copy of the ansr returned by the H.B. Company's Agent, Mr Dallas, to the Governor's Letter to that gentleman of the 5 Decr last—see 917—which letter was regarded by this Office as completely satisfactory. It is probable that the Governor will answer this communication of Mr Dallas', & send us a copy of his ansr. If so we should then be in a condition to forward the correspondence on both sides to the Land Board. The question however which
must eventually
arise is "which of the two, Governor, or Mr Dallas, rightly
estimates the amount due to the Co for the lands
or buildings taken from it by the Crown,"
and that is a matter whh some third party only can
determine, seeing that the 2 persons on the spot differ so widely.
ABd
6 March
Mr Fortescue
This will be for your consideration. I should think that we had better keep the Land Board (especially as Mr Murdoch has worked so much on this subject) informed of each communication of information, at the time of it's reaching us—& not to wait for the chance of further reports, which might possibly never arrive.
This will be for your consideration. I should think that we had better keep the Land Board (especially as Mr Murdoch has worked so much on this subject) informed of each communication of information, at the time of it's reaching us—& not to wait for the chance of further reports, which might possibly never arrive.
TFE
6 March
Duke of Newcastle
To Mr Murdoch—for information, and for any observations he may have to make upon it?
To Mr Murdoch—for information, and for any observations he may have to make upon it?
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
A.G. Dallas to W.A.G. Young, Acting Colonial Secretary,
giving his views of the Hudson's Bay Company's land claims
(eleven pages).
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to Emigration Commissioners, 12 March 1861,
forwarding copy of the company letter for observations and suggestions.