Berens to Newcastle

I have the honour of transmitting, herewith, a Copy of a Memorial

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addressed to the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company
by the Reverend Edward Cridge of Vancouver's Island praying that steps
may be taken for the completion of the Title deeds of a piece of Land
at Victoria, known as the "Church Reserve", in order that the land in
question may be at once conveyed to parties who will hold it in trust
for the benefit of the Christ Church, Victoria District Church.
I have also the honour to transmit a Copy of a letter addressed to me
by the Bishop of Columbia recommending the said Memorial to the
favourable consideration of the Hudson's Bay Company.

The land in question forms part of the 3084 acres claimed by this
Company as belonging to them prior to the Grant to them of the
Island. It is situated in the centre of the Town of Victoria, and
comprises not only the site of the principal Church, but also the
Public Cemetery, and an extensive section set apart as a glebe for
the Clergyman. It appears that until the Conveyance be completed the
Church and Burying Ground cannot be consecrated, nor can the rest of
the ground be made available for the purposes for which it was
originally set apart.

As far as this Company are concerned I and my Colleagues are prepared
to give effect to our original intention by executing a Conveyance,
but before proceeding in the matter we think it necessary that the
subject should be brought under the notice of your Grace, and that,
in whatever steps it may be considered advisable to take we may have
the consent and concurrence of Her Majesty's Government.

There are several points which appear to require consideration.
When the Company agreed to set apart the ground for the Church, the
Church intended was, undoubtedly, the Church of England, but a
portion of the Ground has since been transformed into a Cemetery, and
has been used for that purpose by all denominations of Christians,
without reference to whether they belonged to the Church of England,
or were Roman Catholics or Dissenters of any other description.
Supposing, therefore, that in Your Grace's opinion it were desirable
that the Glebe and site of the Church should be conveyed, as
originally intended, to the Church of England, it appears to us that
it may create great discontent in the community if the Cemetery, so
long used generally, should also be made over to that Church. It is
in these circumstances that we have thought it necessary to bring the
subject under your Grace's notice.

We would, therefore, be glad to know, if it is the opinion of Her
Majesty's Government that the Conveyance of the land in question
should be made, at once, for the benefit of the Church of England?
Should it be conveyed to trustees, and if so, in what form, and who
are to be the Trustees appointed? Should the Cemetery also be
conveyed for the exclusive use of the Church of England, or for the
benefit of Christians in general? And if the latter—Who are to be
the Trustees for that purpose?

The wish of myself and my Colleagues is to complete the title of the
Church without further delay, but we feel that if we did so,
unadvisedly, it might create some confusion hereafter, and as our
object in troubling Your Grace in the matter is to prevent that
confusion we hope to be excused.