Berens to Lytton
Hudson's Bay House
12 January 1859
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Earl of Carnarvon's letter of the 7th Instant in which he announces first that Her Majesty's Government must insist on the strict fulfilment of the condition upon which Governor Douglas was appointed to the Government of Vancouver's Island, and British Columbia, namely, his entire separation from the Hudson's Bay Company and the abandonment of all contingent share in its profits or retiring annuity dependant thereon; and secondly that while you do not think Governor Douglas entitled toManuscript imageto any separate allowance as Governor of Queen Charlotte's Island, yet, if he has incurred any actual expense in that capacity there would be no objection to having his statement of those expenses entertained with a view to reimbursement.
In reply, I have the honour to acquaint you that no time will be lost in transmitting to Mr Douglas a copy of Lord Carnarvon's letter in order that he may at once be made aware of the determination of Her Majesty's Government on both those questions.
As regards Mr Douglas's retired interest in the Fur Trade, I have only to observe that although the Directors of this Company do not feel justified in the present state of affairs in exercising their right of pre-emptionManuscript imagepre-emption, they trust he may be enabled to find some other means of disposing of his remaining interest in the Company.
I have etc.
H.H. Berens
Govr
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
I presume we should leave the Company to correspond with Mr Douglas on this subject, putting by these papers till we hear further from them?
VJ 13 Jan
I think rather that the last paragraph requires a short answer concurring probably with the Directors, if any unexceptionable way can be devised?
HM Jan 14
Yes.
C Jany 14
Yes, if that way be unexceptionable.
EBL Jan 15
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Merivale to Berens, 24 June 1859, concurring in the opinion of the directors of the company that Douglas be allowed to explore different methods for disposing of his shares.
Berens, Henry Hulse to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 12 January 1859, CO 60:6, no. 448, 7. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B595MI01.html.

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