Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Pelly, John Henry
to Merivale, Herman 18 November 1848, CO 305:1, no. 2148, 273.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Pelly sends along to Merivale, and through him to Grey, a rough draft of proposed resolutions for the HBC's colonizing grant for Vancouver Island. Pelly requests Grey's views on the resolutions.
This file encloses a draft of HBC resolutions related to royalties, fishing rights, religious instruction, mining,
and more. It contains extensive revisions and marginalia.
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
than
those of revoking the Grant at the End of 5 Years or of reentering 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—
whether he sees any objection
to them or wishes any alteration madePerhaps 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
than
those of revoking the Grant at the End of 5 Years or of reentering 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—
H B He
Nov 18/48H Merivale Esqr
Minutes by CO staff
Put by: these "resolutions" have been since altered in
consequence of verbal communication.
HM
D/2
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Draft resolutions by the Hudson's Bay Company related to royalties
and fishing rights in Vancouver Island, no date, extensively revised and notated.
Footnotes
- No signature given. It is likely Blackwood's minute entry.