Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Merivale, Herman 21 August 1854, CO 305:5, no. 7391, 180.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Murdoch writes to Merivale in response to previous correspondence on alterations to the provisions for “a Clergyman”
for Vancouver Island. Murdoch approves of the changes, which amount to the exchange of “Wilderness land” reservations
for “£400 per year, with a moderate residence and small glebe.”
The minutes consent to the clergyman-arrangements proposed previously by the HBC.
The file includes a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Colvile, which approves of the proposed arrangements for clergy on Vancouver Island.
Murdoch to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Colonial Land & Emigration Office
21st August 1854
Sir
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th Instant, enclosing two letters from the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company proposing an
alteration in the provision to be made for the support of a Clergyman in Van Couvers Island.
2. We learn from this letter that the provision heretoforeintended
intended to be made for a Clergyman was the reservation of a
certain portion of the Wilderness land, and it is now proposed
to substitute for this a money payment amounting in all to £400
a year, with a moderate residence and small glebe. We can have
no hesitation in recommending the approval of this allocation.
The remuneration of the Ministers of Religion by grants of Land
has been very commonly adopted in New Countries, but it has, we
believe, universallyfailed
failed—or only succeeded partially by
diverting the Clergyman from his proper duties to the pursuit of
Farming or land jobbing occupations.
intended to be made for a Clergyman was the reservation of a
certain portion of the Wilderness land, and it is now proposed
to substitute for this a money payment amounting in all to £400
a year, with a moderate residence and small glebe. We can have
no hesitation in recommending the approval of this allocation.
The remuneration of the Ministers of Religion by grants of Land
has been very commonly adopted in New Countries, but it has, we
believe, universallyfailed
failed—or only succeeded partially by
diverting the Clergyman from his proper duties to the pursuit of
Farming or land jobbing occupations.
H. Merivale Esq.
&c &c &c
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Annexed.
HM
Augt 21
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to A. Colvile, Hudson's Bay Company, 30 August
1854, expressing approval at the proposed arrangements for
payment of the clergy on Vancouver Island.