Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shepherd, Captain, HBC Governor John to Labouchere, Henry 31 March 1856, CO 305:7, no. 3010, 328.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2).
Shepherd writes to Labouchere requesting that Labouchere “do the Directors of the Hudson’s Bay Company justice, by acquitting them” of intentionally
suppressing information from the secretary of state. Shepherd then suggests the mistakes that the Directors made and how they will avoid the same
issues.
Shepherd writes to Labouchere acknowledging the receipt of Merivale’s letter regarding the occupation of San Juan Island. Shepherd commends Labouchere for doing “the Directors of the Hudson’s Bay Company justice, by acquitting them”
of the “intentional suppressing of information from the secretary of state for the
colonies.” But in the future the Colonial Office desires to be informed of any activities
“respecting the affairs of Vancouver's Island Colony and its dependencies.”
The minutes request and then agree that Merivale should send a copy to the Foreign Office.
Shepherd to Labouchere
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's
letter of the 22nd Instant, on the subject of the occupation of the
Island of San Juan in the Canal de Arro.
It is satisfactory to the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company to
learn that the proceedings of Governor Douglas have met with your
approbation.
I beg leave to assure you that you do the Directors of the Hudsons
Bay Company justice, by acquitting them of any intentional suppression
of information from the Secretary of State for the Colonies; but I take
this opportunity of observing, in explanation of the course pursued by
the Company in transmitting all the information they had on the subject
to the Foreign Office, that the Queen's Advocate
Advocate having, by direction of
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, communicated with the
Company on the subject of the occupation of the Islands in the Canal de Arro, arising out of the encroachments by subjects of the United States
of America, and it appearing to the Directors to be an international
question, they presumed that they were acting correctly in thus
addressing that Department.
Advocate having, by direction of
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, communicated with the
Company on the subject of the occupation of the Islands in the Canal de Arro, arising out of the encroachments by subjects of the United States
of America, and it appearing to the Directors to be an international
question, they presumed that they were acting correctly in thus
addressing that Department.
The Directors will in future adopt the course indicated by you, and
will communicate all the information which they may have to convey
respecting the affairs of Vancouver's Island Colony and its
dependencies, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
