Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Berens, Henry Hulse to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 15 March 1860, CO 305:15, no. 2877, 413.
Abstract
Berens, Henry Hulse to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 15 March 1860, CO 305:15, no. 2877, 413.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Berens to Newcastle
Hudson's Bay House
15 March 1860
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Mr
Merivale of the 12th Instant, in which he informs me that your
Grace, after reconsidering the question with respect to the rights of
the Hudson's Bay Company over certain lands held by them in
Vancouver's Island, can only abide by your conclusion previously
announced, namely, that an authoritative decision on the subject
should be obtained from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Such
Such being your Grace's determination, it only remains to myself and
my Colleagues to submit. We are consequently ready to take such
steps as may be necessary in order to bring the subject, with as
little delay as possible, before the Judicial Committee; and if the
statement already prepared and submitted to your Grace with reference
to the land in British Columbia be approved of, an addition can be
made to it as regards the Land in Vancouver's Island.
Minutes by CO staff
We cannot answer this as it seems to me, until we have the reply of
the Law Advisers to our letter of the 6th ulto on 532: which
reply has been rather long delayed. Answer the Company that their
"statement" has been submitted to those officers: & that until they
answer the reference, his Grace is unable to communicate further with
the Co. but hopes the delay will not be long.
Since I minuted as above, the answer of the Law Advisers to the Brit.
Columbia question has arrived. See 3093. I now annex to 3093 [a] draft
answer to both together.
See 3091 (not 3093).
N
23
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Berens, 23 March 1860, suggesting that the
company should petition the Queen, setting forth specifically
their land claims in British Columbia and Vancouver Island.