Mitchell to Newcastle
Lombard St.
London E.C.
March 13th 1860 His Grace The Duke of Newcastle Colonial Office, Westminster
My Lord Duke
Having a wish to settle as an agriculturist in Vancouvers Island, will your grace permit me to enquire what facilities the Goverment afford to bona fide settlers in that colony, for the acquirement of land &c? and whether the joint interests of the British Government & the Hudsons Bay Coy. are likely soon to cease—and the island to be placed under the same regulations as the adjoining colony of Columbia. [One line cut off microfilm] me with a copy of the suveyor's reports and Index maps of the districts [of] Victoria, North & South Saanich; Lake; Esquimault; Metchosin; Highland, & Sookes, already survey[ed]?
I shall also deem it a favour to be informed whether the Governor is making or about to make Roads on the survey'd districts, & where? and whether it is the present intention of the Goverment to assist emigration to this colony & Columbia.
My sole object being to gain all the information necessary to enable me to decide on the prudence of any proposed step. I trust your grace will not think me intrusive. All the information likely to be of service Manuscript imagewill be fully appreciated by
My Lord Duke
Your obedt Servt
H. Mitchell
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
I annex a similar application to this and the answer which was returned to it. With respect to Maps—there is one of certain Districts published for the use of Emigrants—& the Writer can of course have a Copy.
VJ 17 March
Answer accordingly.
TFE 17 March
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Fortescue to Mitchell, 30 March 1860, advising of the current situation with repect to land sales in Vancouver Island and sending copies of the colonization circular and surveyor's report.
Mitchell, H. to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 13 March 1860, CO 305:15, no. 2825, 600. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V606M01.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)