Shepherd to Labouchere

With reference to my letter of the 15th Ultimo, I have now the
honor to enclose for your information, Extract of a letter received from
Sir George Simpson, under date Lachine, 11th April 1856, relative to
the proposed Reciprocity Treaty between Her Majesty's Government and
that of the United States on the North West Coast of America.

From the long experience which Sir George Simpson has had in all
matters connected with the native Tribes of America, and from his
personal knowledge of the locality to which it is proposed to extend the
Treaty, the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company deem his opinion
deserving of much consideration, and they have come to the conclusion
that, so far as the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company, and, I may
add, of the native Tribes on the North West Coast, are concerned, it is
not desirable that the provisions of the Treaty should be extended
beyond the limits of the Colony of Vancouver's Island.

Should the counter proposition alluded to in Mr Cramptons Despatch of the 18th February be made by the Government of the United
States, I respectfully beg, on the part of the Hudson's Bay Company,
that the same be not allowed by Her Majesty's Government.