Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
12 July 1862
I have to acknowledge your letter of 10th instant enclosing a further letter from the Hudsons Bay Co on the subject of the amount to which they are entitled on the resumption of Vancouvers Island by the Crown.
2. I do not see that I can add anything on this subject to what is stated in my report of 18th March last. No new statements or arguments are brought forward in the present letter from the Company, and I continue to think that a paymentManuscript image of from £30,000 to £32,000 would meet the justice of their claim. At the same time it would appear to me very bad economy, irrespective of all questions of policy, to incur the expense of legal proceedings for the sake of the difference between that sum and the amount which the Company are willing to accept—and if the Company are determined, I do not see how, without legal proceedings, they can be compelled to retransfer Vancouvers Island. But I presume that the Duke of Newcastle will call on Mr Andoe to report on the present letter fromManuscript image the Company before any conclusion is come to upon it.
I have etc.
T.W.C. Murdoch
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Refer 6657 to Mr Andoe. As Mr A. recd his instructions from the T-y the proper course wd be to refer to him through that Dept. That route will involve a day or two more delay.
ABd 14 July
Mr Fortescue
Transmit as proposed?
TFE 14 Jy
CF 14
N 15
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Elliot to F. Peel, Treasury, 15 July 1862, forwarding correspondence from the Hudson's Bay Company regarding their disputed claim, and asking that it be referred to Andoe for his observations.