I am clear that you need not take any
special receipt from the H.B.C
o but the Treasury by whom I
suppose the payment will be made, will of course require a receipt
which will contain some general statement of the object of the
payment. At least that is my impression of their practice. But after
so long a debate I quite agree with you that the payment should
be
made at once. Of course a deed of reconveyance of
Vancouvers Island
will here be necessary, and a question may arise as to the expense of
the deed. But I should imagine there can be no doubt that as both
the original grant and the reconveyance were made on public grounds
the expenses must be borne by the public.
[P.S.] Would you let your Messenger take the enclosed Papers to Park
Street the first time he goes there.