Berens to Newcastle
Hudson's Bay House
2 September 1859
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Fortescue's letter of the 10th August in reference to the Hudson's Bay Company's claim on Her Majesty's Government in connexion with the Grant of Vancouver's Island; and, in reply, I feel it incumbent on me to state that the subject matter therein contained is of such importance that I am unwilling to take upon myself the responsibility of answering it without the assistance of my Co. Directors, who happen at this season to be absent from London. I would therefore request that the correspondence may be allowed to remain in abeyance for the present.
I have the pleasure to inform Your Grace that I have again received advices from the Company's representative inManuscript imagein Vancouver's Island confirming what he had before stated as to his refusal to make further advances to the Colony, but at the same time remarking that much inconvenience may arise to the Colony from withholding all assistance to it.
I have etc.
H.H. Berens
Govr
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
I suppose that Mr Berens may be answered that this question may be allowed to stand over for the present and that the Duke of Newcastle will await an answer to the letter from this office of the 10th August on the reutrn of the Directors of the Company to London.
HT Irving 3d Sept
HM S 3
N 4
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Merivale to Berens, 10 September 1859, agreeing to wait for a reply until the return of the company's directors.