Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
London,
15th April 1856
Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Elliot's letter, dated Downing Street, 4th April, stating that you would be happy to receive Sir George Simpson's report on the extension of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States to Vancouver's Island; and further, that you wish to be informed on what grounds the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company require to have the right of Coast and River Fishery on the North West Coast of America reserved to them.
In reply I have the honor to state that Sir George Simpson's report may be expected in about three weeks, and will be forthwith communicated to you.
With reference to the second point, I beg to inform you that the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company have no wish to have any right as against British subjects reserved to them, to which they are not entitled by their License of Trade, butManuscript imagebut as their servants are the only white people inhabiting those Coasts, I inadvertently made use of the expression "reserved to the Hudson's Bay Company" instead of "to British subjects."
I have the honor to be Sir
Your most obedt humble Servant
John Shepherd
Depy Govr

The Right Honble Henry Labouchere
&c &c &c
Colonial Office
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
I think it would be desirable to send to the F.O. a copy of the H.B.Co Letter of 20 March, of Mr Merivale's Letter of the 4th instt—and of this ansr to shew that Dept. the steps that have been taken by Mr Labouchere on the rect of the F.O. Letters of the 3rd and 15 ulto.
ABd 16/Ap
TFE 17 April
The answer Manuscript imageto our question is "inadvertence." This inadvertence,
shared in by the Board of Trade, has delayed the extension of the Reciprocity Treaty to N.W. America for two years—that is, supposing the Americans would have agreed to it. There being now no claim of right on the part of the H.B.C. the negociation can proceed—but we must await at present Governor Simpson's report?
HM Apl 18
I agree however with Mr Blackwood as to sending this correspe
to the Foreign office in the mean time.
I concur.
JB 21 Ap
HL 25 A
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Manuscript image
Draft, Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 8 May 1856, forwarding copy of the letter and related correspondence, for information.
8th May /56
Sir/
With reference to your letters of the 13 of June 1855, and the 15 of March last I am directed by Mr Secretary Labouchere to transmit to you for the information of the Earl of Clarendon copies of a correspondence with the Hudsons Bay Company
H.B.Co 20 March
C.O. 4 April
H.B.Co 15 April
relative to the extension of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States to Van Couver's Island.
I have &c
H.M.
Shepherd, Captain, HBC Governor John to Labouchere, Henry 15 April 1856, CO 305:7, no. 3481, 330. 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/V565MI12.html.

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