<persName ref="prs:morton_ta"><surname>Morton</surname>, <forename>Thomas</forename> <forename>A.</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:lytton_egeb"><surname>Lytton</surname>, <forename>Edward</forename> <forename>George</forename> <forename>Earle</forename> <forename>Bulwer</forename></persName> 27 December 1858, CO 305:9, 643. Morton addressee Lytton

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Morton, Thomas A. to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 27 December 1858, CO 305:9, 643.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/V586M02.html. CO 305:09 CO 305 9 643 V.I. 1858 registered 18 January 1859 co_305_09_00643r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (2), Other documents (1).

Morton asks for land grants on Vancouver Island and any information concerning the disposal of land.

The minutes would put Morton in touch with the HBC if he resided in England.

Enclosed is a draft from Merivale to Morton advising that the system for the disposal of public lands at Vancouver Island has not yet been precisely arranged, but that there would be no free grants of land.

 Morton, Thomas A.
Carbondale, Jackson C. Illinois
Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
Morton to Lytton 608/59, CO 305/9, p. 643; registered 18 January 1859
Carbondale, Jackson C. Illinois
December 27/58 To the Right Honorable Sir Ewdwould Lytton Bulwer [Lytton] Respected Sir,

Several families (from England & from my own native Country, Scotland) residing in this State, & belonging to the Baptist Church, of which I have been for the last Seven years pastor, are desirous of removing with me to the Co[a]st of the Pacific, and we would feel under obligations to you, for any information you may have it in your power to give about "Vancouver Island". Our object is a quiet, healthy, home, where we may live by industry, & gather round in an intelligent & religious community. Besides any information you may be able to give concerning the climate & the adaptation of the Soil of that Island, for farming purposes, will you have the kindess to inform us, how much land Her Gracious Majesty will be pleased to grant to each family settling there, to each family, as a homestead; & to each child, as a home to them, when they come of age? For it will be a long & very expensive journey. We shall have to take cattle with us from the States, & to put up with, at first, many hardships, yet for the Sake of our families, we are willing to undertake, & to endure much. My family, consists of eight children, six of them boys, and I am therefore not only anxious to have a home for them, but to take along with us a sufficient number of families as will enable us at once, to organize a church, & establish a school, for their education.

Be pleased to pardon the liberty I have taken, in troubling you with these particulars &, believe me,

Honorable Sir, Your Mo[st] obt & humble Servant Thomas A. Morton
Mr Elliot If the Writer was in this Country the course would be to refer him to the Hudson's Bay Company, but he is in the States & I do not know that we have any Official information as to the soil & Climate of VanCouvers Island to give him. With respect to land he should be informed that it is not at present at the disposal of H.M. GovtGovernment—and when it is, it will not, I presume, be granted but sold by Auction? VJ 19 Jan
I annex a draft. TFE 28/1
Draft, Merivale to Morton, 1 February 1859, advising that the system for the disposal of public lands at Vancouver Island "has not yet been precisely arranged," but that there would be no free grants of land.