Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Leonard, H. B. to Labouchere, Henry 15 February 1858, CO 305:9, no. 1657, 626.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Other documents (2).
Leonard requests financial assistance or a free land grant for himself and his “numerous
grown up family” to settle on Vancouver Island.
The minutes regard Leonard as a “desirable settler” but regret that “whilst the Settlement belongs to the Hudson’s
Bay Company land can only be purchased.”
Leonard to Secretary of State
30 Frances St. Woolwich S.E.
15 February 1858
Sir,
I have the honour to request you will be pleased to inform
me whether you will extend "the remission of purchase money of
land to Naval and Military Officers" to the Colony of
Vancouver's Island as I am desirous of emigrating there with a
numerous grown up family, and know from actual experience of the
Colony that without that assistance from Government it would be
impossible to succeed as a settler without a large capital.
I have to apologize for having trespassed on your time but
it is a matter of the greatest importance to me, and I have no
other means of obtaining the information.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your most obedient humble
Servant
H.B. Leonard
Captain Royal Marines Half
Pay
Your most obedient humble
Servant
H.B. Leonard
Captain Royal Marines Half
Pay
The Right Honourable The Colonial Secretary Downing Street, London
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This person might prove a very desirable settler, for his antecedents as a British Officer, & his family are alike advantageous to a young place. But whilst the Settlement belongs to the Hudson's Bay Company land can only be purchased.
This person might prove a very desirable settler, for his antecedents as a British Officer, & his family are alike advantageous to a young place. But whilst the Settlement belongs to the Hudson's Bay Company land can only be purchased.
ABd
18/F
Mr Merivale
I apprehend that the proper answer to this letter is that the privilege of a remissionof
of purchase money in favor of Military
and Naval Officers has not been extended to Vancouvers Island.
I apprehend that the proper answer to this letter is that the privilege of a remissionof
of purchase money in favor of Military
and Naval Officers has not been extended to Vancouvers Island.
TFE
19 Feby
The answer I think should simply be to inform this officer that
the regulations on this head do not extend to Vanc. I. the soil
of which has been granted to the H B Company, but that his
letter has been transmitted to the Company. And send the
Company copy of the correspe accordingly. Annex draft.
HM
F 19
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to John Shepherd, Hudson's Bay Company, 25 February 1858, forwarding copy of correspondence with Leonard.