Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Gibson, James O. and McPherson, Andrew to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 5 September 1862, CO 305:19, no. 9372, 639.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Gibson and McPherson, two men living in Whitby, Upper Canada, ask Newcastle about
purchasing land on San Juan Island.
Gibson and McPherson to Newcastle
Whitby, Upper Canada
5th September 1862
His GraceThe Duke of Newcastle
Secretary of State for the Colonies
May it Please your Grace
We the undersigned intending to Emmagrate
from Canada and Settle in British Columbia desire to purchase a Small tract of Land in that
Colony, Say—Six hundred or one thousand Acres.
It is our intention to engage largely in the business of Farming and
in the manufacture of Furniture and Agricultural Implements, for
which businesses we learn after making the most careful inquiries
there are most excellent openings. We are prepared to invest a large
Capital in the above undertakings provided we can purchase a quantity
of Land en bloc at a reasonable price.
On examining the Map of British Columbia, we are of the opinion that
the Island of San Juan would be the most suitable place to locate the
proposed Manufactures. We are quite prepared to accept such title as
the Imperial Government can give to the Land on San Juan Island and
are prepared to run all risks as regards the claim of the United
States to the San Juan Island.
Minutes by CO staff
I include draft of an answer, thro' Lord Monck.
TFE
Sep 23
Other documents included in the file
Newcastle to Viscount Monck, 24 September 1862, forwarding copy of
the letter and advising that the government could not consider selling
any part of San Juan Island so long as right to the Island was in
dispute, but forwarding information on other land available in
British Columbia and Vancouver Island.