I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
Mr Under-Secretary
                  Merivale's letter of the 
23rd ultimo, intimating that your Grace was
               advised that the best course to be taken with a view to bringing the
               pending questions before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
               would be, that this Company should present petitions to Her Majesty
               stating their grounds of claim, and praying specifically for the
               relief to which they consider themselves entitled.
               
               I now beg to transmit, herewith, to Your Grace, the statement of the
               grounds upon which this Company rest 
their
their claim to the Lands in
               
Vancouver's Island which were in their possession before the Grant
               made to them of that Colony; and no time will be lost in the
               preparation and presentation of the Petitions in connection with
               these claims.