<persName ref="prs:colvile_a"><surname>Colvile</surname>, <forename>Andrew</forename> <forename>Wedderburn</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:newcastle"><surname>Pelham-Clinton</surname>, <forename>Henry</forename> <forename>Pelham</forename> <forename>Fiennes</forename></persName> 8 November 1853, CO 305:4, no. 10908, 278. Colvile addressee Newcastle

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Colvile, Andrew Wedderburn to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 November 1853, CO 305:4, no. 10908, 278.The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.6, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V535HB15.html. CO 305:04 CO 305 4 10908 278 V.I. 1853 registered 10 November co_305_04_00281r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Public Offices document. Minutes (2).

This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.

Andrew Colvile writes to Newcastle to acknowledge a previous letter, sent from Merivale to Barclay, that discussed freedom of trade, with everything but spirituous liquors, on Vancouver Island. To this end, Colvile reports that the HBC does not exercise or claim the right to exclusive trade with Aboriginal people, and adds that any further Government declaration on trade would drive such commerce to the Country on the Continent. Colvile argues that for the settlers and Aboriginal populations the only permanently useful employment would be in hiring Aboriginal labour in forestry, farming, and fishing.

The minutes agree to wait for the arrival of Douglas’s answer to previous despatches on the subject, before responding to this declaration on the part of the Hudson's Bay Comp[any].

 Colvile, Andrew Wedderburn
Hudson's Bay House
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
Colvile to Newcastle 10908, CO 305/4, p. 278; registered 10 November
Hudson's Bay House
November 8th 1853 My Lord Duke,

I have the honour to acknowledge Mr Merivale's letter of the 27th Ultimo addressed to Mr Barclay Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company stating that Her Majesty's Government have under their consideration the propriety of authorizing freedom of trade within the settled parts of Vancouver's Island, subject to restrictions as to the sale of spirituous liquors, and that your Grace will be happy to receive such observations as the Hudson's Bay Company may think proper to submit to you upon this subject.

In reply to which, I have to observe, that the Company does not claim the right to, and has notexercised exercised any exclusive dealings with the Indians of Vancouver's Island since it became a Colony, neither has there been any restriction on the freedom of trade as regards the Indians or any other parties.

This state of matters is so well known in the Island that any further declaration or proceeding of Her Majesty's Government would appear to be unnecessary, and if such were to be made, it might be construed to be something in addition to what already exists, and lead to employing the Indians to carry on traffic with the Country on the Continent, contrary to the rights of the Company under their License of Trade.

The only way in which traffic with the Indians can be really and permanently useful to the Settlers, and at the same time beneficial to the Indiansis is by the employment of Indian labour in cutting down wood to clear the Country, in the cultivation of the soil, and in fishing; a course to which it has been the policy of the Company to give every encouragement.

Having submitted these observations, I have only to add that the Company will not object to any course which your Grace may consider proper to direct, having due regard to their rights under the License of Trade.

I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's mo: obedient humble Servant A. Colvile Governor His Grace The Duke of Newcastle &c &c &c
Mr Merivale If this declaration on the part of the Hudson's Bay Compy is deemed satisfactory it would appear unnecessary to move further in the matter till we receive an answer to the Despatch N 12 of 22 Octr addressed to the GovrGovernor of Van Couver's Island? VJ 10 Nov
Wait for an answer to that despatch at all events? HM N 10 FP 11 N 12