Berens to Newcastle
Hudson's Bay House
27 June 1860
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Under-Secretary Fortescue's letter of the 22nd instant and in conformity with the request therein contained I beg to state that the payment of £25,000 on account of the claim of the Company in respect of the resumption of Vancouver's Island by the Crown, may be made to MrThomas Fraser, the Company's Secretary, who will attend for the purpose on Friday next, unless I hear from Your Grace to the contrary.
Upon the assumption that theManuscript imagethe money will then have been received the necessary authority will be forwarded by Friday's Post to the Governor of Vancouver's Island, for making grants of public lands; and I have the honor to transmit herewith, for Your Grace's information, a Copy of the letter proposed to be addressed to Governor Douglas.
I have etc.
H.H. Berens
Govr
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
As time is so urgent, I have at once prepared & despatched a letter to the Treasury and have sent a note to that effect to Mr Berens. I conclude that we should also let the Governor know by the present mail what he may expect. I have made the requisite alteration to a draft already Manuscript imageapproved, now herewith circulated.
TFE 29 June
This is quite right.
CF 29
N 30
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
Hudson's Bay Company to Douglas, June 1860 (date left open), authorizing him to "dispose of such land in the Island of Vancouver as has not already been disposed of by this Company, or as is not claimed by them as having been their property prior to the Grant of the Island from the Crown," and directing that all conveyances must be sent to London to have the company's seal affixed to them.