No. 102
6 December 1860
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward herewith to Your Grace copy of a communication addressed to me by Mr Dallas, the Agent at this place of the Hudsons Bay Company, upon the subject of the affairs and position of the Company in connection with the Manuscript image the Colony of British Columbia, and I also forward copy of my reply to that communication.
2. I should not trouble Your Grace with this matter, not exactly comprehending the precise practical object of Mr Dallas' letter, did it not appear that he had forwarded a copy, and by a Mail prior to my receipt of it, to the Directors of the Hudson Bay Company for the purpose of being laid before Your Grace. I therefore hasten by the earliest opportunity following to place Your Grace in possession of my Manuscript image my reply.
3. From that reply, which contains but a plain recital of facts, Your Grace will perceive that no just or sufficient grounds exist for the complaints made by Mr Dallas, and that so far from the Hudson's Bay Company having been treated with injustice and disregard by this Government, they have on the contrary been protected in an especial manner, and that considerations have been afforded and allowances made them which, I think, should merit a somewhat different acknowledgment than Manuscript image than that accorded by Mr Dallas.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
I conceive that this despatch contains the report upon the complaint of the H.B.Co in respect to the Governor's proceedings towards them in the land matters of B. Columbia of which we stood in need when Mr Berens wrote to this Office on the 4 Jany. I presume a copy of these papers shd be sent to the Land Bd to which we have referred 177/61.
ABd 31 Jany
TFE 31 Jany
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Yes, but unless the Land Board can throw any additional light on these transactions and I hardly expect they have the means of doing so, it will be best at once to send this very complete reply to the H.B. Compy.
It places the Compy & their Agent in a very unfavorable light. The charges are proved to be frivolous and vexatious, and the new money claims are really worthy of a pettifogging attorney and utterly unworthy of the Body which advances them, though unfortunately too much like other recent proceedings on their part.
N 31
Other documents included in the file
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Government Emigration Board
Park Street, Westminster
2 Feby
My dear Blackwood
We could add nothing to the Governor's explanation of the transactions complained of by the H.B.Co beyond the expression of an opinion that that explanation is complete. The Colonial Secy's letter is written with great moderation and clearness, and appears to me completely to dispose of the Manuscript image complaints of the Cos Agent. I should hope that if it is sent to the Co they will acknowledge that their Agent was in the wrong.
My report on the previous letter from the Co on this subject was sent in on Thursday last. I hope something will soon be done to bring the matter in dispute to a settlement before the Judicial Comme.
Very truly yours
TWC Murdoch
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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A.G. Dallas to Douglas, 8 November 1860, discussing the various complaints of the company in connection with their holdings in the colony, and forwarding a statement of claims in respect to land and money.
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W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, to Dallas, 5 December 1860, responding at length to the letter as noted above with an explanation of the government's position in the matter (15 pages).
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Colonial Office to H.H. Berens, Hudson's Bay Company, 15 February 1861, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosure and suggesting that the explanation of the governor was satisfactory.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
See Mr Murdoch's note to me, which is sufficient for us, I think, to send the Governor's despatch at once to the Hudson's Bay Co according to the Duke of Newcastle's minute on 917.
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 6 December 1860, CO 60:8, no. 917, 371. 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/B60102.html.

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