Berens to Newcastle

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Fortescue's
letter of the 10th August in reference to the Hudson's Bay Company's
claim on Her Majesty's Government in connexion with the Grant of
Vancouver's Island; and, in reply, I feel it incumbent on me to state
that the subject matter therein contained is of such importance that
I am unwilling to take upon myself the responsibility of answering it
without the assistance of my Co. Directors, who happen at this season
to be absent from London. I would therefore request that the
correspondence may be allowed to remain in abeyance for the present.

I have the pleasure to inform Your Grace that I have again received
advices from the Company's representative in Vancouver's Island
confirming what he had before stated as to his refusal to make
further advances to the Colony, but at the same time remarking that
much inconvenience may arise to the Colony from withholding all
assistance to it.