Foreign Office
May 8th 1852
Sir,
I transmit to you herewith Copies of a Letter and its Enclosures from the Hudson's Bay Company respecting the Proceedings of certain Adventurers at Queen Charlotte's Island, and I am directed by the Earl of Malmesbury to request that you will inform Secretary Sir John Pakington that His Lordship has signified to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty Her Majesty's Commands that the Commander in chief of Her Majesty's Naval Forces on the West Coast of America be instructed to take immediate stepsManuscript imagesteps to protect British Property and British Territory from violation by Foreigners.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
H.U. Addington

Herman Merivale Esq
&. &. &c
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
The Foreign Office appear to have done at once that which it has been in contemplation here to do. Presuming that that Office has apprized the Hudson's Bay Co of the orders given to the Admiralty it only remains for Sir J. Pakington to announce to Governor Douglas the steps taken by the F.O. for the protection of Q. Charlotte Island, & if it can be ascertained, what the Admy can do in the matter. You are aware that there are drafts in circulation with former papers on this subject.
ABd 11 May/52
A draft conveying similar instructions to the Admiralty from Sir J. Pakington is in circulation. It remains only to consider the Civil measures to be adopted.
As to the questions here asked by Gov. Douglas, whether American vessels trading to Q. Charlotte's Id would be liable to seizure, the answer I imagine is in the negative. See the opinion of the Law Advisers on the proceedings of the Govr of the Gambia, forwarded yesterday. Those gentlemen point out the serious consequences which may follow their own opinion.
HM May 13
Is the question as to legality of Seizing American Vessels under certain circes one for my decision. I apprehend not.
I presume my instructions to the Admlty shd still be sent—to which Dept does it belong strictly, to issue such instructions?
JSP 13
I had an interview with a Mr Greenall last Monday who made several suggestions worthy of consideration, one relating to Q. Charlotte's and Vancouvers Island, which I embodied in a short minute now in Sir J. Pakington's hands.
D 17
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, to Malmesbury, 6 May 1852, forwarding correspondence relating to the colony.
Manuscript image
Douglas to Moresby, 29 January 1852, informing him of the "projects entertained by certain adventurers of Oregon & California in reference to Queen Charlotte's Island."
Manuscript image
Ballenden to Barclay, Hudson's Bay Company, 7 March 1852, extract providing information of a vessel which had set sail from Olympia bound for Queen Charlotte Island.
Addington, Henry Unwin to Merivale, Herman 8 May 1852, CO 305:3, no. 4097, 329. 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/V525FO02.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)