Berens to Newcastle

I have the honour to transmit a Copy of a letter which I have
addressed to the Right Honble the Secretary of State for Foreign
affairs on the subject of the establishment which the Hudson's Bay
Company possess on the Island of San Juan, in the Straits of Arro.

Your Grace is no doubt aware that the establishment in question was
formed by this Company, not with a view to advantage or profit to
themselves, but at the instigation of Her Majesty's Government, and
for the purpose of securing the Island of San Juan to the Crown, by
the formation of a permanent establishment thereon belonging to
British subjects.

It is unnecessary that I should on this occasion trouble your Grace
by entering, in detail, into a history of the formation of this
establishment, as the circumstances have on several occasions been
communicated to Her Majesty's Government, but as I learn on
application at the Foreign Office that the question is one which
ought to be referred to the Colonial Department, I venture
respectfully to request your Grace to inform me what Her Majesty's
Government consider that the Hudson's Bay Company ought to do. Are
they to continue to hold the Island for the benefit of, and at the
expense of Her Majesty's Government, or are the Government disposed
to see the Island abandoned by the only British subjects established
there?

Your Grace will permit me to add that it is of great importance that
a decision should be come to on the subject with the least possible
delay as, in common with my fellow Directors, I feel that in justice
to the Hudson's Bay Company, we cannot continue to maintain the
establishment if our doing so is to be at the expense of the
Proprietors of the Company.