Murdoch to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
20 July 1861
With reference to your letter of 2nd instant I enclose herewith for the consideration of the Duke of Newcastle, the copy of a Letter from Messrs Coleman Turquand & Co offering to undertake the examination of the accounts between H.M. Government and the Hudsons Bay Co in connection with Vancouvers Island, and stating the rate of remuneration which would be charged for themselves and their Clerks. As it is possibleManuscript image that the examination may involve some considerable expense, I would submit whether it would not be desirable to consult the Lords Commissoners of the Treasury before Messrs Coleman's offer is finally accepted.
I have etc.
T.W.C. Murdoch
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
The number of days or weeks which this investigation will occupy can, I suppose be only conjecturally assumed. Otherwise it is an important element in the amount of the expense which the Treasury will have to sanction.
ABd 22/Apl
Mr Fortescue
To Treasury, for considn. RequestManuscript image to be provided with their Lordships opinion whether the Services of these accountants may be accepted on the proffered terms?
TFE 22/7
Yes.
CF 22
N 23
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I have sent you in today a letter from Messrs Coleman offering to undertake the examination of the H.B.Co's accounts at certain specified rates. This letter has been delayed more than it ought to have been, but not by my fault. On receiving the C.O. letter of 2d Instt I thought the safest course was to enquire at the Treasury, privately, whether there was any person they were in the habit of employing in such matters—or whether their experience would afford us any assistance. From one cause or another the answer was delayed, and it was only on Wednesday that I was in a position toManuscript image act. The general result of what I learned at the Treasury was that they had paid upwards of £8000 to Quilteo & Ba[name partly off microfilm] for a report on the [Weedon?] Stores all [of?] which was of no practical use—and therefore that we shd employ some one else. I therefore wrote to Mr Coleman on Wednesday—had one interview with him on Thursday—and received this morning the letter I now enclose.
Mr Coleman appeared to me to take rapidly and clearly the main points to be enquired into—and he promised me to make the examination himself. I presume that his appointment should be from the Colonial Office, but he will require instructions and, unless I hear from you to the contrary, I will send a Draft for your consideration in theManuscript image course of a few days. I presume that you [one word off microfilm] wish to have the examination [start] as early as possible. Mr Coleman would prefer putting it off for a short time, but I told him the matter was urgent—and he in consequence undertook to put other matters aside in order to proceed with it at once.
TWCM 20 July 1861
CF 22
N 23
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Coleman, Turquand, Youngs & Co. to S. Walcott, Emigration Office, 19 July 1861, outlining the fees to be charged for examination of the Hudson's Bay Company's accounts.
Other documents included in the file
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Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 29 July 1861, forwarding copy of the land board letter with an explanation of the need for a professional review of the Hudson's Bay Company's accounts, and asking whether the terms proposed by Coleman, Turquand, Youngs & Co. appeared reasonable and could be accepted.
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Colonial Office to Coleman, no date, marked "Cancelled. Vide Treasy/7614," accepting the terms offered by Coleman, Turquand, Youngs & Co. and outlining in detail the government's position in the dispute with the HBC concerning compensation for costs incurred by the company on Vancouver Island prior to the colony's reconveyance to the Crown.
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Fortescue
This is forwarded in pursuance of Mr Murdoch's note within. Of course the letter cannot be despatched until we receive the Treasury sanction for incurring the expense.
TFE 25 July
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Keep until Try sanction is obtained.
Other documents included in the file
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Government Emigration Board
Park Street, Westminster
24 July [1861]

My dear Elliot
I send you a Draft of instructions to be issued to Coleman the Accountant in case his appointment is decided upon. I promised Mr Fortescue I would prepare them unless I heard from him to the contrary.
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It would perhaps be inaccurate to address the instructions to the Firm but I saw Mr Coleman himself & he promised [to] undertake the matter in person—which is, I think, a matter of importance. I have therefore addressed the letter to him, but [a] verbal alteration or two would of course trans[fer] it to the Firm.
Ever yours sincerely
T.W.C. Murdoch