No. 41

In another despatch I have authorized you to adopt 4s/2d
per acre
as the upset price of all Country Lands in Vancouver's Island, the same
price, after once the land has been offered to sale without being
purchased, to become a fixed price at which it may be disposed of
without further auction. By the present despatch I have the honor to
authorize you to apply the same course of proceeding to the Public Lands
in British Columbia.

So far as regards the occupation of land with a right of
preemption, you are aware from the Duke of Newcastle's despatch No 23
of the 7th of May that

His Grace has suspended his opinion until
receiving a report expected from you on the subject of Captain Clarke's
scheme. The wish of the Government will be to adopt such plan as,
whilst it shall guard against abuses and against an undue appropriation
of land by individuals who have not the means of turning it to real
account, shall at the same time be best suited to the circumstances of
British Columbia.