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Correspondence (private letter)
Grant, Walter Colquhoun to Hawes, Benjamin 8 November 1848, CO 305:1, no. 2091, 547.

Abstract
Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (4), Other documents (2), Marginalia (2).
Grant writes Grey to confirm that Grant's various and recent investments, both monetary and labour, are valid in light of Pelly and the HBC's level of granted power in the colony of Vancouver Island.
In the minutes, Merivale reiterates to Hawes the HBC's legal position, and breadth and structure of power, in the colony.
One enclosure is a letter of acknowledgement from Hawes to Grant, and the other is Hawes to Grant again, this time advising that the HBC grant is near completion.
Junr United Service Club
Novr 8.
2091 — Vancouver's Island

Sir
1Ackd 8. Nov
Permit me to apologize for the liberty which I as a stranger take in addressing you; Having
2Ansd 15 Nvo / 48.
however in pursuance of an intention to emigrate to Vancouver's Island, agreed to purchase a certain quantity of land from the Hudson's Bay Coy, & 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 Coy on the 30th instant,Manuscript image 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 Coy 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 wd be spent on the colony for its benefit, he further fixed a charge of 2/6 pr ton on such coal as shd be exportedManuscript image by Colonists, also a charge of 10/ pr load on whatever Wood shd be exported, allowing colonists the use of whatever wood they required for domestic purposes.
He further gave me the appointment of Surveyor of the island, leaving 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 appointed me, as also a magistrate, justice of the peace &c. MayManuscript image 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 individual anxious to go out to that part of the world, should apply myself to the Hudson's Bay Coy or to Her Majesty's Government.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Yr most obedt Servt
W. Colqn Grant
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Copy, Hawes to Grant, 8 November 1848, acknowledging his letter and saying that an official answer would follow.
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Hawes
I am inclined to think this gentleman might be answered by shortly explaining the actual state of the case, viz. that the land is actually granted to the HBC and Sir J. Pelly they have consequently power to make grants: That their recommendations of persons to fill situations of trust in the colony would merit every attention on the part of Govt although they have not the direct power of making such appointments: That the H.B.C. have suggested instructions to the be given to the Governor which have not as yet been fully considered & approved in thisManuscript image office, but that although the negociations between the Company & Government cannot, on that account, be said to be wholly at an end, yet Ld Grey has you has no Lord Grey has no do reason to doubt that the colonization of the island will proceed under the Company's auspices?
HM N 9
N. 9. At all events parties thus obtaining land wd have their rights respected by the Govt even if all negotiations failed between the Cy & this Depart
BH
G. 10/
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Hawes to Grant, 15 November 1848, advising that the grant of Vancouver Island to the Hudson's Bay Company was all but formally completed.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale.
Can the land be said to have been actually granted to the Company as the Letters Patents have not yet passed the Council?
VJ
I think Mr Jadis is right & have altered accordingly.
HM
Footnotes
  1. This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.
  2. This faint text runs perpendicular to and through main body text; see image scan.
People in this document

Grant, Walter Colquhoun

Grey, Henry George

Hawes, Benjamin

Jadis, Vane

Merivale, Herman

Pelly, John Henry

Organizations in this document

Hudson's Bay Company

Places in this document

Vancouver Island