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FILE: 1848-02-05_Ward_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V485AD01.txt
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I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you, for the information of Earl Grey, the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr Cunard, suggesting that on Land being granted on
Vancouver's Island, that the Coal Mines there should be reserved for the
use of the Crown.



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FILE: 1848-02-14_Fitzgerald_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486F01.txt
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With reference to the conversation I held with you on the 12th
instant, I have the honor to submit the following observations; and to request that you will bring them under Lord Greys notice, at your Earliest Convenience.

The Government of the United States of America has entered into a
contract with a commerical house in New York, by which the latter
undertakes to convey the Mails, for a period of ten years, by means of
Steam Vessels, between Panama and the Columbia River, and the
intermediate ports of Pt St Blas, Mazetalan, Acapulco, San
Francisco, Monterey, &c. There are three steamers of 1000 tons each now
building at New York for the purpose, and it is said they are to be
completed in December next. In order to perform this contract a supply
of 20,000 tons of Coal will be required, yearly. The New York company
offer to contract with an English House for this supply of coal to be
sent from England.
The Pacific Steam Navigation Company have two Steamers continually running from Valparaiso to Panama; touching at all intermediate ports.
It is said this Company is willing to contract for a supply of 2000 Tons
of Coal annually, to be landed at Panama. Moreover, the supply of coal
required by her Majesties Steamers in the Pacific Ocean, will it is
probable, continually increase.
It is obvious that all this coal could be supplied at a far
lower cost from Vancouvers Island than from England.
For a statement of the nature and Capabilities of the coal in
Vancouvers Island, I beg to refer you to a dispatch from Rear Adml
Sir G. Seymour, Enclosing a letter from Commander Gordon, of HMS.
Cormorant, dated sometime in Feby 1847. which is in the Admiralty.
It is now proposed to form a Company to work the Coal in
Vancouvers Island.
It is necessary however, in the first place to know upon
what terms her Majesties Government will grant the right of working the
coal.
In the second place; it will be obvious to Lord Grey, that an
undertaking Such as that contemplated will involve the necessity of
transporting a large population of English to Vancouvers Island. The
number of Seamen alone will be considerable, and the population
necessary to produce food for their subsistence must also be numerous:
besides it is probable that any depot for shipping in this situation
would attract considerable numbers of whale ships to the Island. It is
plain, then, that, in the event of the proposed Company being formed,
Vancouvers Island will become the resort of a consi=derableconsiderable number of Her
Majesties subjects; and that it will be essential to the comfort and
convenience of the population, and to the Security of the speculation,
that a Government should be established on the Island contemporaneously with the first formation of the Colony. It will therefore be very
desirable to know Lord Greys views on this point.
Lastly, apart from the profit to be gained by working the
coal, of which, from the Statements here given, there seems to be a
reasonable prospect, Lord Grey is aware that there are various reasons
why a colony in that Part of British America is desirable. I shall not
trouble you with any remarks on this head, as I have fully stated the
case in a letter to Mr Hawes dated 11. June 1847. It is a matter for
his Lordships consideration whether the establishment of a colony could not be most readily effected through the agency of such a company as
that now proposed &. whether (referring to my letter of 11. June) it would
not be wise to grant the whole Island to such a company binding them by
their charter to effect the colonization in a certain Manner
I am not able at present to state who will be the principal parties
in forming this company. When the time shall arise I hope such names
will appear as shall place the scheme above the risk of failure.
The possibility of forming a company at all will, however, depend
on the view Lord Grey may take of the above questions



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FILE: 1848-02-16_Pelly_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V485HB01.txt
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I have looked over the Correspondence I have had wwith Lord Grey & yourself on the subject of Colonizing the part of NA to NoNorthof Lat
49 — You will on reference to your papers find it all, in the following
Letters, to the last of which, mine of the 5 March 1847, I have not
received any reply. You no doubt have had more applications on the
subject than I have but several parties have been with me particularly
Mr Fitzgerald who is quite hot about Coals.



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FILE: 1848-02-21_Fitzgerald_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486F02.txt
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Referring to the letter I had the honor to addressing to you, dated
the 14th inst;, respecting the formation of a Colony in Vancouvers Island, I beg leave now to enclose a paper, which has been printed for private Circulation.
I have to request that you will be so kind as to take the Earliest
opportunity of bringing both this, and my former letter, under the
notice of Earl Grey.
It is obviously of greatest importance to know the intentions of
Her Majesty's Government, at the present moment; whether they are about to
give the right of working the Coal to the Hudsons Bay Company, or
whether they are prepared to listen to the proposals of any other
Company formed for the purpose Specified in the Enclosed Circular; and
if so upon what terms the grant will be made, or lastly whether it be
contemplated to keep the mines in the property of the Crown.
Without having some information on these points, there is no means
of ascertaining whether it be worth while to proceed with the formation
of a Company or not.



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FILE: 1848-02-24_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB02.txt
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I wish much before Sir Geoe Simpson goes into the Interior from
Canada (where he now is) to give him all the Information I can
respecting the Intentions of Government as to the Territory No of Lat 49
in reply to my Letters of Colonization. I am more anxious on this
subject from an Interview I have had with Mr Fitzgerald & the
Enclosed proposal to Form a Company for Working the Coal and
Establishing a Colony in Vancouvers Island which I rec.received two days ago—
The Letters which I have written and rec.received from your Lordship & Mr
Hawes & to which on reference will bring the whole subject before you
are as before. If your Lordship would wish me to wait on you I shall
have much pleasure at any time & believe me to be My Lord,



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FILE: 1848-03-04_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB03.txt
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I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Mr Hawes dated Febry 25th,
acquainting me that he is desired to remind me of my letter of
March 5th 1847,
in which I submitted for Your Lordships consideration an application, on
the part of the Hudson's Bay Company, for a grant of all the Territories
belonging to the Crown which are situated to the North and West of
Ruperts Land.
Mr Hawes also states that in an interview which I had with Your Lordship subsequently to that application I was informed that the proposal I had made was too extensive for Her Majesty's Government to entertain.
In the interview to which allusion is made, Your Lordship did not
appear to me to express yourself so decidedly as to lead me to believe
that Her Majestys Government had made up their minds on the subject,
and therefore I did not consider what then fell from Your Lordship as an
answer to my official letter of the 5th March. I regret this
misapprehension, and shall now proceed to the consideration of that part
of Mr Hawes' letter now before me, in which he says that he is
directed by your Lordship to state that, if I am prepared to submit
another scheme which shall be more limited and definite in its object,
and yet embrace a plan for the colonization and government of
Vancouver's Island, Her Majesty's Government will be ready to give their
attentive and immediate consideration to such proposal.
As far as the Hudsons Bay Company are concerned, all that they
would require would be the very limited grant of lands which I had in
view in my letter to Your Lordship of the 7th September 1846. To
such a grant Mr Hawes informed me, in his letter of 14th December
1846, Your Lordship was prepared to assent on behalf of Her Majesty's
Government, provided Her Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General should
be of opinion that the acceptance of it by the Company would be
consistent with their Charter.

The opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General in the
affirmative was forwarded to you on the 22d January 1847, and
on the 2d February I received a letter from Mr Hawes stating
that Your Lordship was then "ready to receive and consider the
Draft of such a Grant as the Company would desire to receive of
lands belonging to the British Crown in the Oregon Territory".
In my reply to that communication, dated March 5, and with
reference to what from some casual conversations with Your
Lordship I had conceived was your opinion, I proposed a grant
which might appear extensive, but I did this not with the view
of obtaining for the Hudsons Bay Company any advantage, for, as
I have already said, they as a Company require no more for the
purpose of carrying on their trade than was asked in my letter
of the 7th September 1846, and assented to by Your Lordship.
When I understood that you were desirous that a part or the
whole of the country recently confirmed to Great Britain should
be colonized, I was induced to propose that the whole should be
included in a grant to the Hudsons Bay Company, because I was
persuaded that the colonization would be much more Successfully
conducted under the auspices of the Company, than it could be in
any other manner, as I foresaw serious difficulties should
different parts of the territory be colonized under different
authorities.
As to the territory lying eastward of the Rocky Mountains and between the Arctic Sea and the Company's territories, (from which it is separated by no defined or definable boundary) though its addition to
the grant gives the latter a formidable appearance in point of extent,
it is little better than a barren waste. It is besides inaccessible
except through the Company's territories or by crossing the Rocky Mountains from the Westward.
My object in proposing this tract of country to form a part of the
grant was that its annexation to Ruperts Land, held of the Crown as of the Manor of East Greenwich in free and common Soccage and not in
Capite or Knights Service, would place the whole territory north of
49 the American boundary line under under one governing power, and thereby simplify any arrangements respecting any part or parcel of the same; but
if Your Lordship should be still of opinion that the grant is too
extensive, the Hudsons Bay Company are willing that it should be limited
to the territory north of 49, bounded on the East by the Rocky Mountains, or even to Vancouver's Island alone. In fact the Company are ready and willing to give every assistance in their power to promote
colonization, and in any way in which Your Lordship may be of opinion
that their services can be made available towards that important object.

On that part of Mr Hawes's letter in which it is assumed that the value of the coal on Vancouvers Island will form a material consideration on the part of the Hudsons Bay Company in any negociation
that may take place on this subject, I have only to observe that the
Company expect no pecuniary advantage from colonizing the Territory in
question. All monies received for land or minerals would be applied to
purposes connected with the improvement of the country and therefore, if
the grant is to be clogged with any payment to the Mother Country, the
Company would be under the necessity of declining it.



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FILE: 1848-03-04_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB04.txt
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No 10
I have to acknowledge the rect of your private letter of the
25th Feb; which came with Mr Hawes' official Letter of the same date. I certainly understood in the conference I had with Your Lordship on the
subject of Colonizing the Territory No of 49, that you considered my
proposition too large, and I expected a modification of it from your
Lordship, but I am quite ready to admit that I was in error in this
expectation. I shall therefore briefly state why I asked for so
extensive a Grant.
In considering the subject I did not see how the Territory west of
the Rocky Mountains could properly be separated into parts for the purpose of Colonization. If I had confined myself to the Islands West
of the Continent or to Vancouver's Island alone, then other settlements might have been made on the Main Land or on some of the Islands, under a
different Authority, & the want of Unity in the ruling power would
probably have been attended with some diversity of purpose and conflict of Interests, real or apparent, which it was desirable to avoid as
tending to impede the object in view.
Then again the Company, by their Licence of Exclusive Trade from
the Crown, which has still more than Eleven years to run, have had
virtual possession of all this Territory for nearly thirty years. It is
studded from end to end with their trading posts, and they have acquired
great influence with the Natives, which I thought a matter well worthy
of consideration in any plan that might be formed for colonizing the
country. After much reflection, and looking at the question in its
various bearings, I was convinced that a Grant having Colonization for
its object should, in order to carry out that object effectually,
comprehend the whole of the Territory West of the Rocky Mountains.
This was the extent of the Grant which I had originally intended
to propose should be given to the Comp; but it was suggested to me that,
in the event of such a grant being obtained, the Territory lying East of
the Rocky Mountains, & No of the Company's Territories, which may be
considered as a sort of debateable land, would be in an isolated
position, there being no access to it except through the Company's
territories, or by way of the Rocky Mountains through the Country comprehended in the grant proposed.
Under these Circumstances, and as it formed part of the Territories
over which the Royal licence of Exclusive Trade extended, I thought it
best that it should be included in the Grant, but really caring very
little whether it were so or not.
I am very glad to learn that your Lordship is exceedingly Anxious
for the Colonization of Vancouver's Island. I have no doubt that your Lordship as a statesman must feel the importance of a Settlement on this
part of the Pacific, where Great Britain has none, and the Americans,
having one already on the Wallamette, are proposing to take measures of establishing another on the opposite side of the Straits to Vancouver's
Island, and are building large Steamers for communication with the
district. I shall not occupy Your Lordship's time by offering my views
of the Nationality of the object any further than to say they are in
accordance with those of your Lordship.

Such being the Case, the
Company would accept of any Grant, even for the Island of Vancouver
alone, to effect the object, but for the reasons I have given I think
you will be of opinion with me, that it should be more extensive. By
the Charter of the H B Comp. power is given to them to appoint &
establish Governors & all other officers to govern these Territories and
a Council for the several respective places where the Comp. have
plantations, factories, Colonies &c and to judge all persons who shall
live under them in all Causes whether Civil or Criminal &c &c; all which
rights are recognised by the Acts of 1 & 2 Geo 4 Cap 66, so that at once,
by making such a Grant, all the powers of Jurisdiction vested in the
Comp. would come into operation over the whole Territory. As the Company
have officers at Vancouver who are competent to hold temporarily the
situations of Governors & of Councillors, no new Legislative measures
would be in the first instance at all necessary, and any subsequent one that might be found requisite would be arranged with the settlers or
other persons who might be disposed to associate together for the
purpose of bringing Land into cultivation, working Mines of Coal, or
whatever Else the Country might produce.
Thus the Hudsons Bay Comp. having an Allotment of Land for the
purposes of their Fur Trade might, as they now do in the Columbia, Cut
Timber, catch and preserve Salmon, & export the same to the Sandwich
Islands. The Puget Sound Association, in the same way, might cultivate
land either in connection with their Establishments at Nisqually & the Cowlitz, or (in the Event of the Americans taking these lands under the Treaty) transfer all their farming operations to Vancouver Island, or
take up the working of Coal, and, if there were any probability of
profit, convey it to Panama & other places as proposed in the pospectus
I enclosed in my last.
The Hudsons Bay Company would not desire to derive any pecuniary
benefit from Grants for these purposes, as the proceeds of all such
Grants would be applicable only to the objects of Colonization. The
security of their property from American aggression would be the
advantage they would expect to derive from the contemplated plan.
I fear, my Lord, you will think me very prolix, as my proposition
lies in a Nutshell.
Great Britain has a Territory bounded on the South principally by
the 49th parallel of Latitude (the boundary between it and the United
States); on the West by the Pacific Ocean, from 49° to 54°, and
thence to 60° by a Strip of Russian Territory (20 leagues in breadth
and following the sinuosities of the Coast); from 60° to the Polar
Sea in about 70° likewise by Russian Territory; on the No by the
Polar Sea; and on the East by the Atlantic Ocean. A large portion of
this has been granted to the Hudsons Bay Comp., in which they can
Establish Colonies, Governments, Courts of Justice &c &c, and over the
whole of the remainder (with the Exception of Canada) by a Grant from
the Crown under an Act of Parliament they enjoy the Exclusive rights of
Trade. I propose that the privileges which they possess under the Grant
of Rupert's Land should be extended over the whole Territory in
question. Your Lordship may feel a difficulty, (however Expedient it
may be) under the present feeling in favour of Free Trade, to make so
extensive a Grant to any Company, though the Hudsons Bay Company did
virtually possess, in addition to what they have asked for, the
Exclusive right of Trade over all the disputed territory west of the
Rocky Mountains from the Lat of 42° — the Mexican Boundary — to 49°; but I think this feeling may be met by an Agreement on their
part to relinquish to the Country, at the Expiration of their present
Licence of Exclusive Trade, all advantages derived from the Colonization
of those parts not within the original Grant to the Hudsons Bay Comp., without receiving any Compensation on that acct, beyond the Cost
Value of any improvements which at the time of such relinquishment might
have been Effected, as was proposed with respect to the limited Grant
referred to in Mr Hawes' Letter of the 14 Decr. Indeed as far as I am concerned (and I think the Comp. would concur if any great National
benefit could be Expected from it) I would be willing to relinquish the
whole of the Territory held under the Charter on Similar terms to those
which it is proposed the East India Comp. shall receive on the
Expiration of their Charter, namely, securing to the Proprietors an
Interest on their Capital of Ten per Ct.



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FILE: 1848-04-15_Freeland_to_Grey_V486F06.txt
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Your Lordship being Her Most Gracious Majesty's Secretary of State
for the Colonies I beg to ask you
1st If there are any obstacles in the way of a Colony being
formed in Vancouvers Island.
2nd If such obstacles if there anythere are any Could be removed by
legislative enactment and if your Lordship would give a Scheme for
Colonising that and the neighbouring Continent your powerful support.—
An answer to these questions would oblige



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FILE: 1848-04-15_Merivale_to_Hawes_V485HB05.txt
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This is the draft grant of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's
Bay Company. I have not suggested any alteration of importance,
except striking out the Grant of jurisdiction, which is done in
red-ink. Perhaps this is to be regretted, but on looking into the Statutes it
appeared to me that it would require an Act of Parliament to effect this
object. Without going into details, the Chief obstacle is the Act
1st & 2nd Geo: IV c: 66, which establishes Courts of Judicature
&c for North West America, and saves the rights of the Hudson's Bay
Company only in their Charter Territory. I pointed out this to Mr
Maynard, the Solicitor of the Company, and the result is the letter
"No 979 North America", which I forward herewith, in which he says,
that the authorities at Hudson's Bay House prefer relying on Govern==mentGovernment to appoint some of their own people to the necessary offices.
The result will be that The Hudson's Bay Company will legally
possess
1. In Rupert's Land, i.e. the territory East of the Rocky
Mountains — Proprietorship of Soil, Jurisdiction and Exclusive Trade,
under the original grant of Charles II as usually under==stoodunderstood.
2. In the North West territory, between the Rocky Mountains and
the Pacific, — exclusive trade only, without land or jurisdiction : under
the License of 1838 : which will expire in 1859.
3. In Vancouver's Island, the Land under this grant, the exclusive trade under the License of 1838, but no jurisdiction.
It is to be observed, that the Grant is simple and without any
conditions like the original grant of Charles II. This, therefore,
requires to be considered. If it is intended to impose either any terms
in respect of Colonizing, or any Royalty on Coal or other Mines, this, I
apprehend, must be done in the grant. But I do not suggest this: on
the first point I collected Lord Grey's opinions rather to be, that the
Company should be left unfettered: on the second, inasmuch as the
Company must apply to Government to have any Civil Government
established, it may be enough to wait until the necessity arises to
impose on them terms for maintaining it?



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FILE: 1848-05-17_Maynard_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V485HB06.txt
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I have communicated with the Authorities at Hudsons Bay House, &
they think that it will answer the purpose if the proposed Grant be
confined to the Cession to the CCompany of Vancouver's Island, without
touching the Question of Jurisdiction, & they can then afterwards apply
to the Government to appoint some of their officers to be Justices, &
Company to grant also a Commission of oyer & terminer under the
provisions of the Act of 43 Geo 3d. I believe it is intended under
any Circumstance to adopt this course in reference to the portion of the
Oregon territory which is not to be granted to the CCompany.



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FILE: 1848-05-30_Dundas_to_Colonial_Office_V486D01.txt
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In accordance with your request that I should transfer to paper
the subject of our conversation on Saturday with regard to the
advantages or disadvantages that would accrue to a colony on
Vancouver's Island, under the jurisdiction or superintendence of
the Hudson's Bay Company I beg to submit the following.
Having during my late period of Service in the Pacific been for
upwards of two years em-ployedemployed on that part of the North West Coast
generally known as the Hudson's Bay Territory, the greater part of which
has been spent within the limits of Fort Vancouver their great Western
Depot, I have had every opportunity of observing, not only how all their
arrangements were managed but the spirit which pervaded their whole
system, and which I have no hesitation in saying would be wholly, and
totally inapplicable to the nursing of a young Colony, with the hopes of
ever bringing it to maturity. And my opinion only accords with that
which I have heard universally expressed by all disinterested
individuals who have had an opportunity of visiting not only these
regions, but their Settlements in Hudson's Bay and on the Red River.
There has always appeared to me an overbearingly illiberal
usurpation of power on the part of the H.B. Co to which every better
feeling has invariably been Sacrificed, and which has rendered their
line of conduct in many instances most irregular and unjustifiable,
however necessary this System may have been found when dealing with
Savages, it could not but prove repugnant to the feelings of the
Colonists. And the facility which in this case would be offered them of
leaving the island, would doubtless be taken advantage of, and the
Colony after dwindling into insignificance would become but another
dependance wholly at the mercy of the Hudsons Bay Co.
That this powerful Company have the ability to form advantageous
Settlements in these unfrequented parts, there is not a doubt, but when
their trade is wholly carried on with the Aborigines, is it to be
supposed, that they would aid in the advancement of civilization when
from time immemorial, it has been proved that the progress of the one has
ever been made at the expence of the other? And should the Natives
cease to exist, why, their occupation is gone. It is only a natural
conclusion then to arrive at that the efforts which the Hudsons Bay
Company are putting forward to obtain either a direct or indirect
influence in Vancouvers Island are with the Sole motive of protracting
to as late a period as possible a monopoly which they have so long
enjoyed, and which could not benefit the country, the only object of
establishing a Settlement in Such a distant quarter. The Puget's Sound
Company are doubtless equally anxious for Hudsons Bay jurisdiction but
it must be at the same time remembered that these two Companies are so
wholly incorporated in each other, and their interests are mutually
blended, their object being to engross all those other available Sources
of revenue to which the free trade is not im-mediatelyimmediately applicable.
Were it necessary to corroborate what I have now stated, I might
quote instances which have come under my immediate observation but I believe it to be unnecessary as there has never been but one opinion on the subject.
With regard to the Natural advantages of the island, my impression
is that they are highly favourable for the establishment of a Colony, the climate is a most desirable one, and comparing it, with that of this
Country in-finitelyinfinitely more equable, it is as healthy as could be wished for
and seems to Suit the European Constitution admirably, and though fever
and ague are very prevalent on the main land yet from the absence of low
and marshy ground they are unknown here. Water however is not wanting
and can always be obtained in sufficient quantity, as a proof of which
there are beaver on the island, whose aquatick propensities are too well known to be commented on.
To give a correct description of the island would entail a task,
which I do not hesitate to confess I am incompetent of performing, as its
interior has never been explored, and in fact it has only been
penetrated at one point to the extent of twenty miles, the shores
however have been very frequently visited, in the course of trafficking
with the Indians2. and from such sources of information a very Satisfactory conclusion may be arrived at.
Vancouver's is an island about two hundred and fifty miles long, and sixty five its extreme breadth at any part, although in many places it
does not exceed the half of that, in its general appearance it is
mountainous and thickly wooded, the Western or sea coast being the most
precipitous
As the Straits of de Fuca are entered its wild aspect gradually
diminishes until within some fifteen or twenty miles of Victoria the
Company's only Settlement on the island — here it presents a most favourable view, the dark pine forest giving way to plains and open park
land studded with fine oaks, this continues with some exceptions along
the Coast bordering the Canal de Arra and gulph of Georgia running up in
a North Westerly direction offering many eligible spots for agricultural
operations. The Navigation here is considered difficult at times even
for Steam vessels, owing to the rapidity and irregularity of the
currents, but when it is remembered that Vancouver found his way through
here in Safety, it cannot be doubted but that these difficulties will
dissapear before advancing civilization and science. To compensate
however for the Casual disadvantages in the navigation the whole coast
abounds in most excellent harbours which can scarcely be equalled in any
island of Similar extent, and where the most Secure inlets are wanting
numerous Small islets afford the Mariner a safe anchorage and protection
from the weather. With regard to the minerals as yet coal is only known
to exist here, but sanguine hopes are entertained that there are others,
lead and tin having been discovered in Queen Charlottes island which is little more than a degree to the Northward —
 The coal was quite accidentally discovered from the vein having
been seen on the beach at low water, a quantity of this although taken
almost from the surface has been satisfactorily tried on board the
Company's Steamer Beaver on several occasions, the situation of this
mine is about twenty-five miles from the entrance of Queen Charlottes
Sound, and could be reached by sailing vessels with perfect ease,
entering from the Northward. The timber which is here to be met with
consists almost exclusively of the gigantic pine in different varieties.
There are also oak ash and such other trees as are to be met with in
this country, although they bear but a small proportion. The pine is
most available for ships spars and the more Northerly the climate the
more valuable they are.
I have as yet said nothing about the Soil there are conflicting
opinions as to its being very available for agricultural purposes and I
have very lately seen it publically stated, that there was such a thin
surface over rock as to render it perfectly unavailable, but I think
that, that is rather a sweeping assertion. That the ground is in many
places stony there is no doubt but with a little labour they can be
removed, and there remains as rich a soil as the farmer can desire.
So little being known of the interior of the island as I have
already observed, it would be difficult to form a very correct estimate
of the number of its inhabitants, but from the knowledge of the
existence of nine tribes on the coast, averaging Seven hundred men to a
tribe, a sufficiently ac-curateaccurate approximation may be arrived at, by stating the whole to amount to about ten thousand which however I should
think it did not exceed. They are for the most part generally friendly
to Strangers, although not wholly perhaps to be depended upon, yet a
simple demonstration of force has always been found to keep them in
check. They subsist chiefly on fish, but likewise take a great quantity
of game, all of which are easily procured and are in great abundance;
they even venture after the whale in their light canoes and that animal
frequents the Straits of de Fuca, and gulph of Georgia during the
Season, great numbers are caught, I was informed on good authority, as
many as a hundred had been taken during the year. This of Course has
been found a very productive sport.
The subject of transporting emigrants across the isthmus of Panama,
having been suggested as a less expensive method than Conveying them
around Cape Horn, I would beg to observe as far as my experience allows
me that the latter must certainly prove the more economical of the two.
Allowing fifty days as the passage of a Sailing vessel from England to
Vera Cruz3. and that from Panama to Vancouver's Island to be sixty which would be the probable amount taking into consideration the prevailing
winds, add to which ten days occupied in transporting the Emigrants and
their baggage across the isthmus — the amount would be one hundred and
twenty. Now the whole journey round the Cape would scarcely occupy more
than one hundred and forty, this certainly would show a saving of
twenty days, but when taking into consideration the expences of
Conveyance overland, and the two sets of vessels which it would of
course require, independently of no small inconvenience to the Emigrants
attending their trans-hipmenttranshipment, I doubt not but that the longer route would eventually be the more preferable



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FILE: 1848-06-02_Fitzgerald_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486F03.txt
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I am anxious to draw your attention once more to the Subject of
Vancouvers Island.
Subsequently to the last conversation I had the honor of holding
with Mr Hawes and yourself I was informed by Sir J.H. PelleyPelly that the Government had determined to give the Island to the Hudsons Bay
Company. Understanding that the matter was settled, I gave up all
intention of taking any further part in this, because I did not believe
that the Hudsons Bay Comy could, or would, effect the colonization of
the Country. In consequence, however, of what passed between a friend
of mine and Sir J H PelleyPelly, I waited upon that Gentleman. He then
offered to make us a grant of all the Coal Mines, upon terms which he
specified in detail, and promised at the same time to assist us in
procuring the Capital necessary to commence working the mines. I was
therefore induced by these liberal promises to take up the scheme again,
and I expected that we should be able to sail in the Course of the
Summer. Gentlemen having been sent over from New York with the object
of entering into arrangements for procuring the supply of Coal for the
steamers about to run on the N.W. Coast, it was essential that our
plans should be arranged as speedily as possible. But on waiting upon
Sir J H PelleyPelly, in order to bring matters to a final settlement, He
informed me that Sir George Simpson had been in communication with Mr
Aspinwall, the owners of the Steamers destined to run on the NW. coast,
and had issued orders that the coal Mines in Vancouver's Island should
be immediately occupied, with a view to supplying coal to the steamers.
Sir J H PelleyPelly therefore declined to say any thing more, untill he had
communicated with Sir G. Simpson, which could not be earlier than next
September. When I represented to Sir J H PelleyPelly that some
arrangements should be made at once, and that the opportunity for
securing a Sale for the coal would otherwise be lost; and that I had
been working for the proposed colony for some time, on the strength of
his promises, Sir J H PelleyPelly denied having made any promise or offer
whatsoever!
Now I only trouble you with these facts, because I think it of
importance that Earl Grey should be aware of what dependance is to be
placed on the promises of the Governor of the HBCompany and of the
consequence of the step about to be taken, of putting the HB Company in
possession of Vancouver Island.
I beg you will believe that I have no interest in the affair,
farther than that which attaches to a Subject upon which I have bestowed
considerable time and Attention; and in proposing to undertake the
management of the coal speculation, I did so, only because it offered me
the means of carrying into effect my scheme of founding a Successful
Colony. But I bring these facts under your notice, for the information
of Earl Grey, because they are sufficient Evidence that Sir J.H
PelleyPelly's professions of liberality and disinterestedness in offering to
colonize the country, are utterly insincere: And I have been warned,
on all hands, that I should find this out at last. The Hudsons Bay
Company want to get the island into their own hands in order that they
may prevent any Colony there, except of their own servants and
dependants. I am anxious that Earl Grey should be informed, that there
is no one who is acquainted with the System of the HB Company, who does not coincide in this opinion.
I cannot refrain from expressing an Earnest hope that Earl Grey
will pause in taking any final step in this matter, untill he has
availed himself of the information to be derived from indifferent and
independant witnesses, for example, the officers of HMS's CormoratCormorant,
Modeste, America &c &c as well as from other persons who are intimately
acquainted, with the proceedings of the Compy.
There is not a servant of the Company who would not leave the
Service at the first opportunity; and there is not one of those who have
left, who does not loudly condemn the conduct and policy of the Company
The servants of the HBCo in the Oregon are a poor and ignorant
class, chiefly of the lowest order of the Scotch. They are not well
paid, and the Comy having the monopoly of all the supply of the
necessaries of life, they are bound in a state of practical slavery to their masters.
Now it will be perfectly manifest to Earl Grey, that the HBCompany
are unable to found an independant colony, because no independant man,
no gentleman, will ever settle under their sway. They will, if they get
the island, Extend their present system. They will get a large
settlement of labourers and workmen who will be little better than
slaves. All the Capital will be in their own hands. But surely that is
not the sort of Colony which His Lordship desires to be formed, as the
representative and model of British power in the Pacific Ocean.
There is another mode of ascertaining what the HBCompany are likely
to do. What have they done in their vast possessions on the East Side
of the Rocky Mountains? Have they produced one Single Contented thriving or prosperous Settlement, in any part of their vast estates?
They have not.
Moreover is not Colonization opposed to the interests of the HBCo.
necessarily? Must it not interfere with their monopoly of the Fur
trade, and still more with their import trade of manufactured goods, on
which they make such vast profits?
If Vancouvers Island gets into the Hands of that Company, His Lordship may be assured that no colony will ever exist there.

In urging upon Lord Grey the Strong reasons which present
themselves, for pausing before giving this Island to the HB Company, I
assume that His Lordship is well aware of its daily increasing
importance to Great Britain. Prospects of extensive steam communication
to all parts of the Pacific Ocean, are rapidly opening. A Project is
even now entertained of running steam ships from Calefornia to China,
and a route is proposed by which the London mail from Canton may be
conveyed in 45 days. Mr Enderby's plan for extending the whale
Fishery will bring a considerable number of ships into the northern
aeas, and that gentleman contemplates leaving a part of them to refit in
Vancouvers Island.
It does then seem to be running a great risk, to place the fortunes
of such an Enterprise in the hands of a Comy, notoriously close and narrow in their policy, exclusively commercial in their character and
objects, and whose interests are, of necessity, diametrically opposed to
those of an independant Settlement.
Nor is it to be forgotten that the Charter of Trade which the
Company possess will expire in 10. or 12. years; and, in the event of the Government then refusing to renew it, it is not easy to see what legitimate or beneficial position the Company will occupy, as the proprietors of a
tract of land on the N.W. Coast. It would be even doubtful whether
they could continue, in such circumstances, to exist as a Company any
longer.
In offering these observations I am aware I have no claim
whatsoever upon his Lordships attention, further than that I have
bestowed considerable time and attention on the subject on which I
speak.
I have no rival Scheme to propose. I did indeed formerly bring
under your notice the advantages to be gained by forming a company
for the purpose of Colonizing the Country. But I know how difficult
it is, in the present state of money affairs in Europe to obtain
capital, or to form a company: and though I have my own opinion how the
object in view may be effected, I do not wish to trouble you with any
observations, further than what are warranted by the immediate object of
this letter, viz:, to do whatever I can, to prevent the Country, which
has been for so long a time a matter of so much interest to myself,
falling into such hands as would for ever annihilate its usefulness for
the purposes of Colonization.



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FILE: 1848-06-06_Fitzgerald_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486F04.txt
================================================================================

Since I saw you on Saturday I have received a letter of which I
enclose you a copy for the information of Earl Grey respecting the
character of the Hudson's Bay Company on the N.W. Coast of America.

The writer was for many years in the service of the Company as the
Capt of one of their vessels, but having some independant property
now commands a barque of his own.
His statements fully bear out my own. No one who has taken the
trouble to enquire will give a different opinion.



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-06-30_Fitzgerald_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486F05.txt
================================================================================

I have not troubled you so often on the subject of Vancouvers
Island, without being ready to make a definite proposal as to what
should be done, in the event of Earl Grey refusing, (as all who are
interested in the country most earnestly hope will be the case,) to
grant the territory to the Hudsons Bay Company
It is my intention in this letter briefly to state, and Earnestly
to urge of the consideration of Earl Grey, that proposal.
I am the more anxious to do so, because I have received an
intimation that Messers Aspinwall of New York are willing to enter into
a contract to take a supply of coal, upon the basis of an arrangement
which I proposed to them some time ago (when I anticipated being a
Satisfactory arrangement with the Hudsons Bay Company about the coal.) and
which would, I believe, render it possible to work the Mines with
profit. Mr Aspinwall being satisfied, as I understand with the
evidence offered him that the coal is of a kind suitable for the
purposes of Steam Navigation.
On the one hand, then, in bringing this scheme before the public,
we can shew that there is every probability of success which the most
favorable mercantile Speculation can afford; but, on the other, I am
perfectly convinced that it will be impossible to secure the Confidence
and support of the public, until it is definitely known what HM Government
intend to do in the matter.
I am quite aware that it is the custom of the Colonial office, not
to take the initiative, but to wait until some definite scheme is
proposed by parties able to execute the same; but I do hope, that Earl
Grey, will consider that a feeling of general insecurity exists, owing
to the state of affairs, and that, although there is no want of money at
present, there is a great disinclination to invest it, Except upon ample
security; and that His Lordship will, for these reasons, and for the
urgent political expediency of founding a Colony on the N.W. Coast of
America, consent, on the present occasion, to depart from the policy
hitherto adopted and to state what the Crown will do with respect to
Vancouvers Island. And I hope this, because I assume that there is no real advantage in concealing the policy of the Government, and that the
same terms which Earl Grey would offer to one applicant for the
territory, are open to all.
If Earl Grey will promise that, supposing a company of Colonists
formed, Consisting of a certain number of persons, and possessing a certain
amount of Capital, intending to convey themselves to the Island, and
capable of doing so, — a charter of incorporation will in that case be at
once granted; by which charter,

(1) Vancouvers Island will be granted to the Company,

(2) A free Municipal System will be guaranteed (if with
right to elect their own Governor, so much the better.)

(3) The terms will be specified on which the company is to
dispose of land to settlers.
If, I say, Earl Grey would promise this, then there would be
positivebe a positive and practical scheme to lay before the country and I for one
believe that there would be no further obstacle to forming the Colony.
The Coals in that case would belong to the Company, and it could
Either work them with its own Capital, or borrow Money on what would
then be good security, to do so, or let them on lease to be worked by
private enterprise.
At any rate you would have a Company on the spot, whose sole
interest it would be to colonize the Island as rapidly as possible.
If this is not done, either the Hudsons Bay Company will have the
island, when there will be an End to all Colonization, or else the
Country will remain barren, and the Greatest opportunity yet offered for
the foundation of a Colony will be lost forever.
In the mean time the United States will be all powerful on those
Coasts, and we Shall be unable to Compete with them.
Hoping you will bring this letter under Earl Greys notice at
your Earliest Convenience.



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FILE: 1848-07-20_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB08.txt
================================================================================

With reference to Your Lordship's communication made to me through Mr MerivalMerivale under the date of the 13th March last,
and to the various interviews with which you have favoured me since that
time, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, for Your Lordship's
approval, the draft of the Grant of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay Company in the form in which it has been settled under your
directions by Mr MerivalMerivale and the Company's Solicitors.



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-08-07_Ley_to_None_V485PA01.txt
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That an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, that She will
be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this
House, a Copy of Correspondence between the Chairman of the Hudson's Bay
Com-panyCompany, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, relative to the
Colonization of Vancouver's Island.



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FILE: 1848-08-14_Ley_to_None_V485PA02.txt
================================================================================

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that She will
be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this
House, Copies of a Despatch to the Admiralty, from Rear Admiral Sir
George Seymour, dated Her Majesty's ship Collingwood, Valparaiso, the
8th day of February 1847:
Of a Despatch from Commander Gordon, dated Her Majesty's Steam
sloop Cormorant, NesguallyNisqually, the 7th day of October 1846, to Captain J.A.
Duntze, of Her Majesty's ship FesguardFisgard, being an Inclosure in the last:
Of a Letter dated Fort Vancouver, the 7th day of September 1846.
signed Peter KeenSkene Ogden and James Douglas, addressed to Captain
Duntze, of Her Majesty's ship FesguardFisgard:
Of a Report by Lieutenants WaneWarre and Vavasour, dated the 1st day of November 1845, addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
Of a Report from Lieutenant Vavasour, dated March 1846, addressed
to Colonel Holloway, of the Royal Engineers, Canada:
And, of the Instructions sent by the Admiralty to the Commanding
Officer, or any other Officer on the Pacific Station, relative to the
Coals in Vancouver's Island; and of the Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Admiralty, on the same subject.



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-08-16_Ley_to_None_V485PA03.txt
================================================================================

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that She will
be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this
House, Copies or Extracts of a Despatch to the Admiralty, from Rear
Admiral Sir George Seymour, dated Her Majesty's ship Collingwood,
Valparaiso, the 8th day of February 1847:
Of a Despatch from Commander Gordon, dated Her Majesty's Steam
sloop Cormorant, NesguallyNisqually, the 7th day of October 1846, to Captain
J.A. Duntze, of Her Majesty's ship FesguardFisgard, being an Inclosure in the
last:
Of a Letter dated Fort Vancouver, the 7th day of September 1846, signed Peter KeenSkene Ogden and James Douglas, addressed to Captain
Duntze, of Her Majesty's ship FesguardFisgard:
Copies or Extracts of a Report by Lieutenants WaneWarre and
Vavasour, dated the 1st day of November 1845, addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, relating to soil, climate, minerals, and harbours:
Copies or Extracts of a Report by Lieutenant Vavasour, dated March 1846, addressed to Colonel Holloway, of the Royal Engineers, Canada, to the same effect:"

And, of the Instructions sent by the Admiralty to the Commanding
Officer, or any other Officer on the Pacific Station, relative to the
Coals in Vancouver's Island; and of the Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Admiralty on the same subject.



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-08-16_Palmerston_to_Clerk_V485FO01.txt
================================================================================

Vancouver's Island.
Coll Office letter of
Augt 23/48.
I think this is a matter on which as it concerns a Colony it is rather for Ld
Grey to decide, & the best thing will be to send this Book to
the Col Off to enable him to do so.



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FILE: 1848-08-22_Martin_to_Grey_V486M01.txt
================================================================================

If you will permit me to prepare a report on the Hudson Bay
terry & Vancouver's island I will endeavour to merit the confidence
of your Lordship.
The expense would of course be defrayed by the Hudson Bay Compy.
The preparation of the report need not impede the Colonization
of Vancouver Isd



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-08-22_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB09.txt
================================================================================

I enclose for your Lordships Information an Copy Extract of a
despatch received by last Mail from Sir Geoe Simpson dated June
24/48 Sir Geoe has returned to Montreal from the Interior and brings a favourable Acct of the state of the Country at Red River



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FILE: 1848-08-24_Lefevre_to_None_V485PA04.txt
================================================================================

Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament
Assembled That an humble Address be Presented to Her Majesty to request
that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to Order that there be laid
before this House,
"Copy of the Correspondence between the Chairman of the Hudson's
Bay Company and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, relative to the
Colonization of Vancouver's Island."
Ordered, That the said Address be Presented to Her Majesty by
the Lords with White Staves.



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FILE: 1848-08-25_Enderby_to_Grey_V486E01.txt
================================================================================

The recent discussions in Parliament on the subject of Vancouver's
Island induce me to trouble your Lordship with a few remarks suggestive
of a means whereby two important national objects may be accomplished
and made to subserve each other: I allude to the re-establishment of
the British Southern Whale Fisheries and the Colonization of Vancouver's
Island.
Her Majesty's Government have afforded myself and brothers
every encouragement and facility for prosecuting the Whale Fisheries
from the Auckland Islands, in pursuance of the plan developed in my
pamphlet, and we have only been prevented from carrying out the project
by unexpected causes; these being, first, the delay occasioned by a
fruitless 〜 negotiation arising out of proposals made to us on the part of
the South Sea Company, but which they afterwards found could not, owing
to peculiar circumstances, be fulfilled; and Secondly, the disturbed
State of Monetary and Commercial affairs which supervened, and has
rendered abortive all attempts to come before the public with the view
to the formation of a Company. —
On referring to my pamphlet Your Lordship will perceive that I have
alluded to and contemplated carrying on the Fishery in the North as well
as in the South Pacific Ocean; and although certainly we do not require
any […] fixed Station, in the former of those Seas at which to refresh our
Vessels, this still, if, as I infer, Her Majesty's Government considers it
important that Vancouver's Island should be Colonized, and we can be assured of obtaining there the means of refreshing our crews and taking
in supplies of Stores, &c., we should not only feel ourselves bound, but
should find it our interest to make that island the place of rendezvous
for our Ships, in the same manner that the Sandwich islands (which have
sprung into great importance and prosperity in consequence) are the
general rendezvous for American Whalers. —
It is impossible to imagine how VanCouver's Island, considering its
remote position and great distance from the Mother-Country, can be of
any commercial advantage, or made to hold out any inducement to parties
to locate themselves there as Settlers, unless by being adapted to the
purposes of a Whaling Station; and Your Lordship will perceive from the
enclosed Copy of a letter from me to Sir Henry Pelly (written some
Months since, and in consequence of Sir Henry Pelly having himself been
the first to moot the subject in a conversation between us) that the
idea of Colonizing Vancouver's Island by making it a Whaling Station in
connexion with our own is not new to me. —
As, then, it would appear that Her Majesty's Government contemplate
urging the Hudson's Bay Company to colonize Vancouver's Island, I would
respectfully suggest to Your Lordship that the end in question might be
at once attained by the Hudson's Bay, or Puget Sound Company (of which
latter, I believe, Sir Henry Pelly is Chairman, and which has a large
Capital whereof not more than about one-third is paid up) effecting a
junction of interests with us. If, therefore, Your Lordship should
think favourably of the proposition I have hazarded, I do not doubt but
your Lordship's recommendation of it to the Companies referred to would
have great weight, and be attended with a satisfactory result, as it is
obvious that such an arrangement as that contemplated would be mutually
beneficial to all parties. —



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FILE: 1848-08-31_Crowder_and_Maynard_to_Pelly_V485HB10.txt
================================================================================

We have considered the question proposed by you as to the best and
most efficient manner of appointing Justices of the Peace to Act within
the Territory newly granted to the Hudson's Bay Company, and other
Territories be==longingbelonging to them, and we are of opinion that application
should be made to Her Majesty for that purpose, as it appears to
us that Her Majesty has not only an undoubted right to appoint
such Justices, but can 
moreover confer upon them an extensive Civil and
Criminal Jurisdiction which, if appointed in any other manner, they would
not possess.
The question depends on the construction of the Acts of 43rd Geo.
3. Ch. 138 and 1st & 2nd Geo: 4 ch 66. taken in connexion with the
charters granted to the Company.—
By the first of these Acts, being "An Act for extending the
Jurisdiction" of the Courts of Justice in the Provinces" of Lower and
Upper Canada" &c, it was provided that all Crimes and offences committed
in the Indian Territories, and other parts of America not within the
limits of Lower or Upper Canada, should be tried as if committed within
the Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada, and the Governor or Lieutenant
Governor of Lower Canada was empowered by his Commission to nominate
Justices of the Peace for the Indian Territories not within the
Provinces, but such Justices to act for the purpose only of hearing
crimes and offences and committing the offenders to safe custody in
order to their being conveyed to Lower Canada to be dealt with according
to law, and such offences were to be tried in the Province of Lower
Canada or, under certain circumstances, in the Court of the Province of
Upper Canada.—

At a subsequent period, doubts appear to have arisen whether the
provisions of the Act of 43rd Geo. 3. ch 138. extended to the
Territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, and these doubts were at length
removed by the 1st & 2nd Geo: 4 ch 66, "An Act for regulating" the
Fur Trade and establishing a" Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction within"
certain parts of N. America."— The last mentioned Act expressly declared
that the clauses of the 43rd Geo 3. Ch. 138 should apply to the
Territories of the Hudson's Bay Company — The Governor or Lieutenant
Governor of Lower Canada was not deprived of his power to appoint
Justices of the Peace possessing the limited Jurisdiction before
mentioned — This power remained unrepealed, but certain powers of a
much more extensive nature were granted to His Majesty.— By the
10th Section of the Act 1 & 2 Geo 4. ch 66. His Majesty was empowered
to issue his Commission from time to time to any persons to act as
Justices of the Peace within any of the Territories before mentioned, and
and by the
by the 11th Section he was further empowered by Commission
under the Great Seal to authorize the persons so appointed
by him Justices of the Peace, to hold Courts of Record for the
trial of Criminal Offences and misdemeanours, and also of Civil causes,
and by the 12th Section, it was provided that such Courts should be
constituted as to the number of Justices and as to the places within
which they were to have Jurisdiction, as His Majesty should from time to
time direct, the only restriction imposed being that they should not
interfere in Capital cases, nor in any Civil Case where the amount
in issue exceeded £200. The Justices of the Peace appointed by the Crown
under this Act have also certain important duties assigned them for
facilitating the administration of Justice, which those appointed by the
Governor of Lower Canada would not be com==petentcompetent to discharge.—
The powers which the last mentioned Act conferred on the Crown, are
not, as it seems to us, in any manner affected by the recent Grant of
Van Couvers Island to the Hudson's Bay Company — That Grant expressly
recites both the Acts of Parliament, and thereby virtually continues
them with respect to the new Grant — We are of opinion, however, that
even if there had been no such recitals, all the powers given to the
Crown by the Act of 1st and 2nd Geo: 4. ch 66, would have still
continued in full force and operation and that nothing but
most express and unambiguous words to that effect could prevent
their being exercised.—
It is not necessary therefore to apply to the Governor of
Lower Canada to appoint Justices of the Peace, and it would not be
desirable to do so, as their powers would be of a very limited
character.— We would recommend an application to the Government at Home
for the nomination of such Justices and for a Commission or Commissions
under the Great Seal empowering them to hold Courts, according to the
terms of the 10th 11th and 12th sections of the above mentioned
Act of 1st & 2nd Geo 4. Ch 66.—



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FILE: 1848-09-04_Martin_to_Colonial_Office_V486M02.txt
================================================================================

I am preparing a report on the Hudson Bay territories & Vancouvers island — in the hope that it may be of some use to Lord Grey.
I shall feel obliged by 
being permitted to refer to any public documents there may be in this office on the subject.



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FILE: 1848-09-09_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB11.txt
================================================================================

I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Secretary Hawes's
letter of the 4th Instant, stating that it is your Lordships
opinion that there should be introduced into the Grant a formal
condition that the Hudson's Bay Company will be prepared to
sell land to persons desiring to settle on Vancouver's Island on
reasonable terms, and that the whole price received for the land
so disposed of by them together with any receipts on account of
coals or other minerals should, after making a fair deduction
for profit to the Company, be applied in the colonization of
Vancouver's Island, and that Your Lordship would suggest (as you
did when I had the honour of an interview with your Lordship a
few days ago) that a deduction of 10 pper cent from the gross
amount received for land and minerals might be regarded as
affording a fair remuneration to the Company, and further, that a
stipulation to that effect should be inserted in the Grant.
At the interview to which I have already alluded, Your Lordship
did not, as I understood you, consider that an express
stipulation to the above effect in the grant would be necessary,
but that a written acknowledgement of the understanding would be
deemed sufficient. At the same time I beg to assure your
Lordship that I have no objection to the introduction of the
condition into the Grant. I request however that you will send
me a draught of the condition for my consideration and approval.
I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that on Wednesday last
I laid before a General Court the correspondence on the Grant printed by
order of the House of Commons, and mentioned the additional condition
and that the Court unanimously adopted the following resolution: "That
upon the formal execution of the Grant, a copy of which has now been
read to the Court the Governor and Committee be authorised to accept
the same and to make sub-grants on such terms and conditions as they
think fit." I therefore now only wait till I receive the Grant to
commence operations.



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-09-13_Pelly_to_Grey_V485HB12.txt
================================================================================

In the letter which I had the honour to address to Your Lordship
under the date of the *9th Instant, I confined myself to
answering your communication of the 4th. I now beg leave to
draw your Lordship's attention to your letter of the †31st July,
in which you state that you would direct the draft of a
commission and instructions for the Governor of the proposed
settlement in Vancouver's Island to be prepared without delay and communicated to me, intimating at the same time that you
would be glad to receive from me an expression of my opinion as
to the person who may most properly be recommended to Her
Majesty for the office of Governor.
In accordance with your Lordship's wish, I take the liberty of
recommending Mr James Douglas, the gentleman whose Report on
Vancouver's Island appears among the papers relating to that Island laid before Parliament.
Mr Douglas is a man of property, a Chief Factor of the Hudson's
Bay Company, and a member of the Board at Fort Vancouver for Managing
the Company's affairs in the country westward of the Rocky Mountains.
I do not propose this as a permanent appointment, but merely as a
temporary expedient until the colony can afford to pay a Governor
unconnected with the Hudson's Bay Company.

I also beg leave to submit for your Lordship's consideration the
names of the following gentlemen whom I think well qualified to
hold commissions of the Peace under the Act of 1st and 2d Geo. 4th c. 66.

The Rev. Robert John Staines

Peter Skene Odgen

James Douglas

John Work

Archibald McKinlay

William Fraser Tolmie

James Murray Yale

Alexander Caulfield Anderson

Richard Grant

John Tod

Donald Manson

George Traill Allan

John Kennedy

Dugald McTavish



================================================================================
FILE: 1848-09-14_Hamilton_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V485AD02.txt
================================================================================

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a Letter received by my Lords from
Mr Montgomery Martin, requesting to be allowed access to certain despatches received by the Admiralty, on the subject of Vancouver's Island; and my Lords request that you will lay Mr Martin's
application, together with the dispatches alluded to, (herewith sent in
original) before Earl Grey, and move his Lordship to favor my Lords with his opinion, whether these documents should be placed in Martins hands.
The despatches being in original it is requested that they may be returned.



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FILE: 1848-09-14_Martin_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486M03.txt
================================================================================

In reply to your letter of the 13th Inst I beg to state that the points on which I seek information refer to the territories & procee-dingsproceedings of the Hudson Bay Compy, — & to the topography, resources &
climate of Vancouver's island.
These important subjects are contained I believe in — 1st Letter from Sir JH Pelly to EarlEarl Grey 24 April enclosing report & Appendix on Isbisters Memorial.
2nd Colonel Crofton's report
3rd Lord Elgins — Do

4th LtsWarre & Vavasours report on Vancouver's island.
My object being the elu-cidationelucidation of truth, I trust Earl Grey will
permit me to refer to the above mentioned documents, or, to any others of a public nature bearing on the same subject.



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FILE: 1848-09-24_Ryan_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V486R01.txt
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I have been moving about and did not receive your notes of the
19h & 23d until last night — I return all the papers you sent me. — The additions to the Grant are what we agreed upon when I saw you and
will carry out the arrangements proposed in Mr Hawes' letter of the 4th of Sepr and assented to by Sir John Pelly in his letter of the 9th — The reservation of land required for the formation of naval establishments was mentioned at the meeting of the Committee as desired by Lord Auckland and it was agreed that a reservation of land for the purpose should be introduced into the Grant —
With respect to the suggestion made by MrFitzgerald — the first
as you state has been anticipated — The second is I think deserving of some consideration, I am disposed to think Mr Fitzgerald has put a right construction on the terms of the Grant, and I think it questionable whether the Company should be allowed to exercise the […] exclusive right of fishing. Perhaps without altering the terms of the Grant Sir J. Pelly would have no objection to give a written
acknowledgement that it was to be understood that the Colonists were not to be deprived of the right of fishing — As to the third & last suggestion— it seems to me exceedingly unlikely that the Company will accept the Grant if liable to be dispossessed at any time by the local legislature and I do not see how we could reasonably propose such terms.
The committee of the Privy Council have only to consider the terms & conditions of the grant not the propriety of making […] a grant an grant MrFitzgerald who is opposed to the Governt making any grant to the Company with some shew of reason suggested terms which cannot be
accepted __. Any papers you wish to send me will reach me if sent through the Ruling Board. —



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FILE: 1848-10-19_Hamilton_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V485AD03.txt
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I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to state
for the information of Earl Grey that it is their Lordships intention to send a Steam Vessel and a Sloop of War, under an Officer of scientific
Acquirements, (to be placed under the command of Rear Admiral Hornby in the Pacific) to Vancouver's Island, for the purpose of general Survey
and careful examination, and My Lords request to be favored with any suggestions or wishes that Lord Grey may desire to make on the subject.



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FILE: 1848-10-26_Martin_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V486M04.txt
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I solicit permission from Earl Grey to add to my exposition of the
Hudson Bay question — the amendments which have been made on the draft
Charter for Vancouver's island, — & I have the honor to request that you will do me the favor to move His Lordship accordingly.



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FILE: 1848-11-03_Barclay_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V485HB13.txt
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I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
25th Ult stating that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty intend
to send a steam vessel and a sloop of war to Vancouver's Island for the purpose of general survey and careful examination.



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FILE: 1848-11-08_Grant_to_Under-Secretary_of_State_V486G01.txt
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Permit me to apologize for the liberty which I as a stranger take
in addressing you; Having however in pursuance of an in=tentionintention to
emigrate to Vancou=ver'sVancouver's Island, agreed to purchase a certain quantity of
land from the Hudson's Bay Company, & having engaged labourers at the
rate of 6 for every hundred acres purchased, who are to be sent out in a
vessel chartered by the Hudson's Bay Company on the 30th instant, I
shall feel much obliged if you will be kind enough to inform me whether
the island is so far made over to the Hudson's Bay Company as to justify
my purchasing land from them, & being at the expence (for I am to be at
the sole expence) of sending out emigrants to cultivate that land. The
price paid for land is £1 pr acre, nine tenths of which Sir J. Pelly
informed me would be spent on the colony for its benefit, he further
fixed a charge of 2/6 pr ton on such coal as should be exported by
Colonists, also a charge of 10/ pr load on whatever Wood should be
exported, allowing colonists the use of whatever wood they re=quiredrequired for
domestic purposes.
He further gave me the appoint=mentappointment of Surveyor of the island, lea=vingleaving salary amts of surveys to be made &c. to be fixed on arrival
in the island. Sir J. Pelly also informed me that the island sd at
present be governed by a governor & ten councillors, one of which
councillors, he gave me to understand he had appoint=edappointed me, as also a
magistrate, justice of the peace &c. May I take the liberty of
enquiring from you as under Secretary for the Colonies, whether it is in
the powers of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Compy to make all
these appointments, conditions &c, concerning the sale of land in
Vancouver's island, & whether I as a private indi=vidualindividual anxious to go
out to that part of the world, should apply myself to the Hudson's Bay
Company or to Her Majesty's Government.



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FILE: 1848-11-17_Grant_to_Hawes_Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_V486G02.txt
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I have the honor to acknowledge the rect of your official letter
of the 15th inst acquainting me with the decisions of Earl Grey, as
to my queries regar=dingregarding the Grant by the Crown of Vancouver's island to
the Hudson's Bay Compy
I refrain from expressing my individual opinions as to the policy
pursued in this instance by Her Majesty's Government, I cannot however
avoid stating what I know to be a fact, that the grant of Vancouver's
Island to the Hudson's Bay Compy will be the means of instantaneously checking the intended emigration to that island, of several Scottish
gentlemen who were otherwise prepared to embark with all the "materials"
which would be likely to bring about successful colonization.
As I myself purpose carrying out my intention of starting thither
very shortly, taking with me a Clergy=manClergyman of the Church of Scotland, &
some mechanics, la=bourerslabourers, &c. I trust I may be permitted respectfully
to record my petition, a petition in which I am convinced I shall be
seconded by every embryo emigrant to Vancouver I. That it may please Her
Majesty's Government, to exercise their power of revoking within the
limits of this New Colony all such priviliges of exclusive trade as have
been granted to the Hudson's Bay Company in certain other parts of
British North America. The High price of land that settlers will have
to pay amtg in all to abt £ 2"4. pr acre, is surely in itself a
sufficient evil, to this will be added the overwhelming competition with
a powerful Company against which individualindividual colonists will have to strive
in every departmentdepartment of culture or traffic; Heavy RoyaltiesRoyalties like that
on the exportation of timber, viz 10/ pr load, being sufficient to
annihilate any proposed traffic in that commodity are to be charged on
all kinds of available produce; and if even their settlers are debarred,
by the continuancecontinuance of a monopoly, from availing themselves of one of the
principal natural resources of the island, so crushing a check may be
given to the exertions of private enterprises, as materially do impede
the success of any effort at Public improvement in the Colony. I have
to apologize for the great liberty I take in making these suggestions and



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FILE: 1848-11-18_Pelly_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V485HB14.txt
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I have the honour to acknowledge the rect of yours of yesterday
with a Copy of the Grant as now printed in Draft. I have no objection
to the words in Red Ink being added
I send herewith a rough draft of what is proposed to be issued to
the Public by the Directors of the Hudsons Bay Company as soon as they
officially receive the Grant of Vancouvers Island —
The Resolutions have not been finally settled and I send them to
you for Lord Greys Information & to know whether he sees any objection
to them or wishes any alteration made 
Perhaps Lord Grey may think the
HBC take too much on themselves in refering to the Government of the
Colony but the Purchasers of the Land from them should be informed in
some way how they are to be governed at First and that ultimately there
will be a representative Assembly which with the concurrence of the
legislative Council and the Assent of the Crown will have the power to
make such modifications of the constitution as the Interests of the
colonists may appear to require 
And I have thought that as the Grant
of the Island is made to the Company without any conditions thanother than
those of revoking the Grant at the End of 5 Years or of reenteringreentering at
the Expiration of the Grant of exclusive Trade Should resolve and make
the Government a condition on which the Sale of Land would be made &
which I think would be a certain relief to the Colonial Department 
At the same time I am quite ready to consider any other view Lord Grey may
have on the subject and am—



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FILE: 1848-12-23_Bathurst_to_Merivale_Permanent_Under-Secretary_V485CO01.txt
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With reference to Earl Grey's Letter to the Lord President of the
Council of the 2nd September last enclosing the Draft of a Charter granting the Island called Vancouver's Island in North America to the
Hudson's Bay Company, & copies of a correspondence relating thereto, in
order that such grant might be referred to the Committee of Council
appointed for the Consideration of all matters relating to Trade and
Foreign Plantations; I am directed by the Lord President to transmit to
you an Order of Her Majesty in Council of the 31st October last
approving a Report of such Committee in this matter, & I have to request
that you will lay the same before Lord Grey.



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FILE: 1848_Martin_to_Elliot_Assistant_Under-Secretary_V486M05.txt
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Has Lord Grey given his consent for the publication of the
additions to the Vancouver's island Charter.?



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FILE: 1848_Unknown_to_Unknown_V485HB07.txt
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