Murdoch to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Colonial Land & Emigration Office
21st August 1854
Sir
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th Instant, enclosing two letters from the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company proposing an alteration in the provision to be made for the support of a Clergyman in Van Couvers Island.
2. We learn from this letter that the provision heretoforeintendedManuscript image intended to be made for a Clergyman was the reservation of a certain portion of the Wilderness land, and it is now proposed to substitute for this a money payment amounting in all to £400 a year, with a moderate residence and small glebe. We can have no hesitation in recommending the approval of this allocation. The remuneration of the Ministers of Religion by grants of Land has been very commonly adopted in New Countries, but it has, we believe, universallyfailedManuscript image failed—or only succeeded partially by diverting the Clergyman from his proper duties to the pursuit of Farming or land jobbing occupations.
We have the honor to be Sir
Your Obedient Humble Servants
T.W.C. Murdoch

H. Merivale Esq.
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
Consent to the arrangement proposed in the Company's Letter of the 18 July?
ABd 21 Augt
Annexed.
HM Augt 21
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Colonial Office to A. Colvile, Hudson's Bay Company, 30 August 1854, expressing approval at the proposed arrangements for payment of the clergy on Vancouver Island.