Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Ryan, Edward to Merivale, Herman 24 September 1848, CO 305:1, no. 595, 595.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Other documents (10).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Ryan reports back to Merivale on some specifics of the Vancouver Island grant to the HBC, upon which he was, presumably, asked to comment. Among other things, Ryan is concerned that the colonists would lose fishing rights, and suggests that Pelly confirm, in writing, that this would not occur.
This file encloses a variety of correspondences related to Vancouver Island. It is unclear as to whether these are the documents to which Ryan refers when he writes
I return all the papers you sent me.The documents are included in the order in which they appear in the colonial volume.
Vancouvers Isld Grant
Teignmouth. Devon.
Sepr. 24. 1848
My Dear Sir
I have been moving about and did not receive your notes of the
19h & 23d until last night — I return all the papers you sent me.1 — The additions to the Grant are what we agreed upon when I saw you and
will carry out the arrangements proposed in Mr Hawes' letter of the 4th of Sepr and assented to by Sir John Pelly in his letter of the 9th — The reservation of land
required for the formation of naval establishments was mentioned at the meeting of
the Committee as desired by Lord Auckland and it was agreed that a reservation of land for the purpose should be introduced
into the Grant —
required for the formation of naval establishments was mentioned at the meeting of
the Committee as desired by Lord Auckland and it was agreed that a reservation of land for the purpose should be introduced
into the Grant —With respect to the suggestion made by MrFitzgerald — the first
as you state has been anticipated — The second is I think deserving of some consideration,
I am disposed to think Mr Fitzgerald has put
a right construction on the terms of the Grant, and I think it questionable whether
the Company should be allowed to exercise the […] exclusive right of fishing. Perhaps without altering the terms of the Grant Sir J. Pelly would have no objection to give a written
acknowledgement that it was to be understood that the Colonists were not to be deprived
of the right of fishing — As to the third & last suggestion— it
seems to me exceedingly unlikely that the Company will accept the Grant if liable
to be dispossessed at any time by the local legislature and I do not see how we could
reasonably propose such terms.
a right construction on the terms of the Grant, and I think it questionable whether
the Company should be allowed to exercise the […] exclusive right of fishing. Perhaps without altering the terms of the Grant Sir J. Pelly would have no objection to give a written
acknowledgement that it was to be understood that the Colonists were not to be deprived
of the right of fishing — As to the third & last suggestion— it
seems to me exceedingly unlikely that the Company will accept the Grant if liable
to be dispossessed at any time by the local legislature and I do not see how we could
reasonably propose such terms.The committee of the Privy Council have only to consider the terms & conditions of
the grant not the propriety of making […] a grant an grant MrFitzgerald who is opposed to the Governt making any grant to the Comp
any with some shew of reason suggested terms which cannot be
accepted __. Any papers you wish to send me will reach me if sent through the Ruling Board. —
any with some shew of reason suggested terms which cannot be
accepted __. Any papers you wish to send me will reach me if sent through the Ruling Board. —Other documents included in the file
A batch of extracts on the subject of Vancouver Island entitled "Memoranda &c."
Extract of a despatch from Lord Elgin, No. 73, 6 June 1848: a testimonial in favour of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Crofton to Hawes, 12 February 1848: a testimonial in favour of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Extract from report of Lieutenant Wilkes, no date, entitled, in part, "Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition,"
which refers to the influence of the
Hudson's Bay Company's officers over Indigenous groups, and the company's
establishment at Vancouver; it discusses, also, morals and religion.
Summary of events and correspondence related to plans for
colonization of the Oregon Territory and Vancouver Island, no date.
Extracts of letters from the Board of Management at Fort
Vancouver and Fort Victoria, dated 15 March 1847 and 6 November
1847, respectively.
Draft, Parliamentary Paper, No. 104, marked as Confidential, on Vancouver's Island; printed at the Foreign Office, March 1849.
Other documents included in the file
A batch of documents on the subject of Vancouver Island entitled "Parliamentary Papers."
An Act, printed by the Queen's Printers, concerning the "Administration of Justice
in Vancouver's Island," dated 28 July 1849.
A printed copy of correspondence between the Chairman of the the Hudson's Bay Company and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as ordered by the House of Commons,
10 August 1848.
A printed copy of several Addresses to the House of Commons, as ordered by the House
of Commons, 7 March 1849. This includes, starting on page 9 of the document, a "Census of the Indian Tribes
in the Oregon Territory […]."
Other documents included in the file
Appears to be a timeline of the correspondence on the subject of Vancouver Island and the Hudson's Bay Company, entitled "Indexes," and headed "Hudson's Bay Coy." The first entry to the index is dated 7 September 1846.
Footnotes
- It is unclear as to whether Ryan refers here to the documents enclosed below.