Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Eddisbury to Merivale, Herman 15 March 1849, CO 305:2, no. 2237, 205.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents
(2), Marginalia (4).
Eddisbury writes to Merivale, to alert Grey of a copy of a despatch from Adams regarding the settlement of Vancouver Island. Furthermore, Eddisbury asks Grey to inform Palmerston on the same subject.
This file encloses a letter from Adams to Palmerston that requests information on Vancouver Island. Several minutes appear on the enclosure, including Merivale's presumption that the settlement of Vancouver Island is under
Imperial Governmentas administered through the
Governor appointed by the Crown.
2 Ansd 27 March / 49
[…] Hudson's Bay Com. 28 March /49
[…] to Foreign Office 7 Apl / 49
(Draft with 2777 Hudson Bay Compy)
[…] Hudson's Bay Com. 28 March /49
[…] to Foreign Office 7 Apl / 49
(Draft with 2777 Hudson Bay Compy)
No 2 Jany 12/49
information upon this subject, which His Lordship may think it desirable that Mr Adams should be enabled to communicate to the Persons who have applied to him.
Minutes by CO staff
16 Mar
Mr Hawes
I presume the answer will be to request Ld Palmerston to inform Mr Adams, that Vancouver's Island will be a settlement entirely under Imperial Government by means of a Governor appointed by the Crown with instructions to call a representative assembly; that the land
only is
granted* to the H.B.C. and annexing (for the information of intended
Settlers) a copy of the recent resolutions of the H.B.C. respecting the
sale of land. A copy of this letter & the answer to be also transmitted
to the Company?
I presume the answer will be to request Ld Palmerston to inform Mr Adams, that Vancouver's Island will be a settlement entirely under Imperial Government by means of a Governor appointed by the Crown with instructions to call a representative assembly; that the land
only is
granted* to the H.B.C. and annexing (for the information of intended
Settlers) a copy of the recent resolutions of the H.B.C. respecting the
sale of land. A copy of this letter & the answer to be also transmitted
to the Company?
HM
Mh 16.
M 16
*I should say conditionally granted.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, William Pitt Adams to Viscount Palmerston, 12 January 1849,
requesting information about Vancouver Island.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Eddisbury, 27 March 1849, providing information on the colony at Vancouver Island, with enclosures.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr. Hawes
No copy of these Resolutions appear to have been sent to received by the Department from the Hudsons Bay Compy but they are published in the Morning Chronicle of the 17 Jan last, a copy of which accompanies their Draft.
No copy of these Resolutions appear to have been sent to received by the Department from the Hudsons Bay Compy but they are published in the Morning Chronicle of the 17 Jan last, a copy of which accompanies their Draft.
Draft, Colonial Office to Sir John Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, 28
March 1849, forwarding correspondence with the Foreign Office regarding
settlement at Vancouver Island.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Copy
No 2
No 2
209
Lina January 12, 1849
Lina January 12, 1849
My Lord,
The recent discovery of the Gold Region in California, accessible to Individual enterprise and highly remunerative to Personal labour,
has created a General movement among British Subjects of the operative Classes who
are formed, in considerable numbers, along this Coast.
Compelled by a desire for change, and hopes of rapid prosperity, but doubtful of the advantages
of California from the Report (however incorrect) of its lawless population
and
and unhealthy climate, several Individuals have applied to me for information respecting
Vancouver’s Island, believing that by the working of coal and agricultural pursuits, they might realize ready profit from the expected commerce with California, and obtain a permanent settlement with an excellent Market for their produce. The
first questions generally put to me are, Is there any Govt established in Vancouver’s Island? Can we depend upon Law and Order? I have been able to give in reply, such information
only as could be collected from the Report of the
the Debates in Parliament during the last session on the subject, and have found
that the idea of living under the Govt of the Hudson’s Bay Company is distasteful
to the majority of proposed Immigrants: the best men, skilled Artisans with some Property,
seek apparently the Imperial Protection, and desire to settle where they can feel
confident of security under Her M’s Govt.
The Viscount Palmerston GrB
and unhealthy climate, several Individuals have applied to me for information respecting
Vancouver’s Island, believing that by the working of coal and agricultural pursuits, they might realize ready profit from the expected commerce with California, and obtain a permanent settlement with an excellent Market for their produce. The
first questions generally put to me are, Is there any Govt established in Vancouver’s Island? Can we depend upon Law and Order? I have been able to give in reply, such information
only as could be collected from the Report of the
the Debates in Parliament during the last session on the subject, and have found
that the idea of living under the Govt of the Hudson’s Bay Company is distasteful
to the majority of proposed Immigrants: the best men, skilled Artisans with some Property,
seek apparently the Imperial Protection, and desire to settle where they can feel
confident of security under Her M’s Govt.I have thought it right to state these circumstances to Your Lordship because should
it be deemed expedient, there would seem to be a probability by advice and information
above of directing a certain number of excellent Immigrants to Vancouver’s Island,
in
in preference to any of the Territories of the United States.
in preference to any of the Territories of the United States.I have &c.
(signed)
Wm Pitt Adams
(signed)
Wm Pitt Adams
Footnotes
- This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.
- This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.