Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shepherd, Captain, HBC Governor John to Labouchere, Henry 10 October 1856, CO 305:7, no. 9185, 390.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (6), Other documents (1).
Shepherd forwards to Labouchere correspondence between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the HBC on
the subject of the boundary line between Vancouver Island and the United States.
The minutes agree that it was proper for the HBC to correspond with the Foreign Office
on the matter as it is an international boundary issue.
Enclosures include: a draft reply from Elliot to Shepherd acknowledging receipt; a “Memorandum by the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Committee
of the Hudson’s Bay Company, on the subject of a boundary line” which argues “at length”
that the boundary line should be the channel east of the San Juan Islands and suggesting Point Roberts be ceded to Great Britain; as well as six other documents concerning the boundary
line.
Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
10th October 1856
Sir
I have the honor to enclose for your information copy of a
correspondence between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and
the Hudson's Bay Company on the subject of the Boundary Line between the
territory of the United States and Vancouver's Island, as I believe that
it is your desire to be Kept fully informed on all points connected with
the affairs of that Island.
Minutes by CO staff
As the question of running the Boundary Line between the
Territories of the U. States & Great Britain in this quarter of America
is one of the effects of Treaty arrangement, & does not involve any
Governmental point in V. Couver's Island I considered that it was proper
for the F. Office, & not for us to consult the H.B.Co.
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"Memorandum by the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Committee of
the Hudson's Bay Company, on the subject of the Boundary Line between
the United States Continent and Vancouver's Island," 26 September 1856,
arguing at length that the proper boundary is the channel east of the
San Juan Islands; dening allegations that Arrowsmith ever showed the
boundary through the western channel; advising that the Commissioners "be
instructed to examine Douglas as evidence on this important matter"; and
suggesting that Point Roberts might be ceded to Great Britain.
Memo, Hudson's Bay Company to E. Hammond, Foreign Office,
29 September 1856, explaining that he had delayed forwarding the
enclosures because he was waiting a letter from John Arrowsmith, which
will be forwarded upon its receipt.
Extract, Douglas to Archibald Barclay, Secretary, Hudson's Bay
Company, 21 November 1853, discussing the current situation with
regard to the border dispute.
John Arrowsmith to William G. Smith, Secretary, Hudson's Bay
Company, 29 September 1856, detailing his sources of information and
reasons for locating the boundary on his map of 1853, denying he had
ever located it west of the San Juans, and enclosing a tracing of a map
prepared by John B. Preston, Surveyor General of Oregon, in October
1852 placing it in the same location.
Hammond to Shepherd, 4 October 1856, advising that Lieutenent Colonel Robinson of the Royal Engineers had been selected as "Her Majesty's Commissioner for laying
down the Boundary between the Coast of America and Vancouver's Island."