Colonial Despatches

Mr Merivale
This relates to a subject of great importance which will naturally obtain Sir E. Lytton's Attention—but the reestablishment of a system of Clergy Reserves on the N. American Continent sounds startling. Such a setting aside of land for the Clergy is of little value to them whilst the Colony has a sparse population; and when the Colony becomes inhabited & the land is wanted the reserves are a bone of contention & source of discord. I should think myself, that if any other means cd be devised of paying the Ministers of the Gospel, it wd be preferable to resort to them rather than to have recourse to Clergy Reserves.

I am not aware that the usage referred to has existed in any Australian colony—certainly not of late years.

Reservation of Land in B. Columbia for Religious and Educational purposes

I annex the correspondence which passed between the Archbishop of Canterbury and Sir E. Lytton on this subject last year.

I have nothing to add to my minute on the Archbishop's Letter; unless it be to say that on no occasion whatever has this office given the slightest encouragement to any body to suppose that H.M. Govt would or could set apart any lands in B. Columbia or Van Couver's Isld. for the support of an Anglican or other Church. Nor indeed has this Office taken any steps for the payment in any way of a Clergy in B. Columbia—the Bishop of the Colony being maintained by the means of Miss B. Coutts' munificent endowment, & the Clergy from the voluntary subscription of Religious Societies & private Individuals in this Country.

There wd however, be no objection, but in the infancy of the Colony quite the reverse, to the reservation in proper situations of Land for Educational purposes. A report is now in circulation from the Land Board on this very subject, & pointing out for what services—such as roads—parks—education—ground might be set aside. I think, therefore, that it wd be right to instruct the Governor to reserve land for educational purposes whenever the Archbishop of Canterbury or Other authority, which shall establish a well founded claim to the indulgence, shall have asked for it.

Mr Blackwood does not point out that such reservations are recommended for sites &c and not for the purpose of endowment. I think sites for Churches & Schools might very properly be reserved.

I am sorry that I was not sufficiently clear, but I really understood the Archbishop's object to be mainly for the endowment of religious bodies. And I further wrote my minute from recollection and without papers before me. Perhaps if I now add the following it will suffice for His Grace's purpose. Reserves might be made For public roads, or other internal communications whether by land or water, or for the use or benefit of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the Country, or for the purposes of military defence or as the sites of places for public worshipschools or other public buildings; or as places for the interment of the dead, or places for the recreation & amusement of the inhabitants of any Town or village, or as the sites of public quays or landing places on the Sea Coast or shores of navigable Streams, or for any other purpose of public safety, convenience, health or enjoyment. The passage I have quoted is taken from an Imperial Act 15 and 16 V.C. 36, & yr Grace has within the last day or so signed a despatch to the Govr of B. Columbia, & V.C. Id telling him that he is at liberty to reserve lands for the above purposes.

Draft, Lytton to Archbishop of Canterbury, 26 July 1858, acknowledging receipt of his letter and providing assurance that his proposal would receive due consideration.