Hammond to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
May 30th 1854
Sir,
I have laid before The Earl of Clarendon your letter of the 20th instant inclosing a report from the Governor of Vancouver's island respecting the channel through which the Boundary between Vancouver's island and the territory of the United States should properly be laid down; and I am to request that you will state to the Duke of Newcastle that if His Grace concurs in the expediencyofManuscript image of the measure, Lord Clarendon proposes to instruct Her Majesty's Minister at Washington again to bring forward the proposal which, you were informed by Mr Addington's letter of the 14th of June last, was made to the Government of the United States in the year 1848 for taking measures for defining the Boundary between the British and American Possessions in that Quarter.
I am Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant
E. Hammond

H. Merivale Esqre
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
In June last the F.O. were of opinion that it would be better to postpone measures for settling this question with the U.S. Govt but now Lord Clarendon proposes that the proposal in 1848 to appoint a Commission to mark the Boundary in the Canal de Arro should at once be made. As to the appropriateness of the moment for endeavoring to arrange the subject I presume the F.O. will be deemed the Chief Authority.
ABd 1 June
HM June 1
FP 2
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Approve of the measure if Ld C. thinks the present a fitting
opportunity.
N 2
Other documents included in the file
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Colonial Office to Hammond, 6 January 1854, stating that Newcastle approves of Lord Clarendon's proposal.