Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Irving, John to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 23 September 1861, CO 305:18, no. 8628, 409.
Abstract
Irving, John to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 23 September 1861, CO 305:18, no. 8628, 409.
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Irving to Newcastle
Permit me briefly to lay before Your Grace the following
particulars relatively to a purchase of Land made by me in
Vancouver's Island.
By a letter from Mr Joseph Pemberton, Colonial Surveyor, dated
Victoria, Vancouver's Island December 12 1859 an allotment was
made to me of 159 Acres of Land in the North Saanich district,
being part of 200 acres for which I had applied at the price of
£1 p[er] acre.
I paid £50 down
on account of this purchase which has been duly
ackn[owledged] by Governor Douglas. I wrote at a later period
to the Colonial Surveyor respecting the [remainder?]
of the Land to be allotted beyond the 159 Acres but received no
reply. I have thus become a purchaser of Land at £1 p acre, in
good faith that no subsequent act of the Colonial Legislature
would interfere with the [then?]
existing appraisement of Land, so as to depreciate its actual
value.
on account of this purchase which has been duly
ackn[owledged] by Governor Douglas. I wrote at a later period
to the Colonial Surveyor respecting the [remainder?]
of the Land to be allotted beyond the 159 Acres but received no
reply. I have thus become a purchaser of Land at £1 p acre, in
good faith that no subsequent act of the Colonial Legislature
would interfere with the [then?]
existing appraisement of Land, so as to depreciate its actual
value.
This, however, has recently been accomplished by the Pre-emption
system, and a reduction of the Government price to
4/2 per acre
with extraordinary facilities for payment.
4/2 per acre
with extraordinary facilities for payment.
It is but too obvious that this measure must be ruinously
injurious; and would be most unjust to the original purchasers
of Land, unless some provisional compensation were made.
I would therefore respectfully prefer a claim for the
restitution of the Sum of Fifty Pounds £50 Sterling paid by me
as already explained, the Government taking back the 159 acres
of Land so far allotted me.
May I further solicit an early answer from
Your Grace on this
subject and in the meantime I remain
Your Grace on this
subject and in the meantime I remain
With much respect
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's Most obedient and Humble Servant
John Irving
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's Most obedient and Humble Servant
John Irving
Blenheim House
nr Ross Herefordshire
September 23, 1861
nr Ross Herefordshire
Minutes by CO staff
At once.
[The following minute is crossed out:]
And inform him meantime that the matter is not one on wh the S.
of S. can give any ans to his letter witht communicatg
with the Govr.
FR
26/8 [9]
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Emigration Commissioners, 27 September 1861, forwarding copy of the letter for observations and suggestions.