I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's
letter of the 6th Instant, requesting me to furnish the
Colonial Department with a Return (from the earliest period of
the possession of Vancouvers Island Colony by the Hudsons Bay
Company) of all land in Vancouver's Island sold to any individual
or Company, with the names of such person or Company, the extent
to which such lands are under cultivation, and the localities in
which they are situated.

In compliance with this request I beg to enclose a Return
setting forth the quantity of land sold, the names of the
several purchasers, and the Districts in which such Sales 
have
been effected, made up to the 10th October 1857, being the
latest date to which the Hudson's Bay Company have received
returns of Land Sales from the Colony.

I beg at the same time to state that the Company have no
information as to the extent of land which has been brought
under cultivation.