Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Berens, Henry Hulse to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 18 September 1862, CO 305:19, no. 9392, 497.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (6), Other documents (5).
Berens informs Newcastle that the HBC will accept the government's offer of
£32,500 to resolve the company's claim for compensation for costs incurred while it
was responsible for administering Vancouver Island.
Berens to Newcastle
18 September 1862
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Elliots letter of
the 11th instant, in which it is proposed on the part of your Grace
that the difference between the sum demanded by the Hudsons Bay
Company in respect to the settlement of their outlays in Vancouver's
Island and that offered byHer
Her Majestys Government
being £5,000 that that difference should be divided and the sum payable to the Company
be thus raised from £30,000 to £32,500.
Her Majestys Government
being £5,000 that that difference should be divided and the sum payable to the Company
be thus raised from £30,000 to £32,500.
In reply I beg to state that although in conjunction with my
colleagues in the Direction of this Company I still adhere to the
justice of the claim originally advanced by this Company I am
prepared on their behalf and my own to agree to the compromise
suggested by your Grace in order to bring the affair at once to an
amicable settlement.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
1 Recommend the Treasury to make this payment—to which they have assented by anticipation. 2 Inform Mr Berens of the request made to the Treasury. 3 I do not know that it is absolutely necessary, but it might perhaps be a prudent precaution to obtain either from or through Mr Walcott some carefully prepared rect for the Co to sign.
1 Recommend the Treasury to make this payment—to which they have assented by anticipation. 2 Inform Mr Berens of the request made to the Treasury. 3 I do not know that it is absolutely necessary, but it might perhaps be a prudent precaution to obtain either from or through Mr Walcott some carefully prepared rect for the Co to sign.
ABd
22 S
On the receipt of this letter, I consulted with Sir F. Rogers on the
third point above thrown out by Mr Blackwood. We did not think that
any special receipt at the Land Board was called for. The Treasury
will of course take a receipt for the money when they pay it, with a
brief description of the purpose for which it is paid. The words
employed in our letter to the Treasury will probably be used by them
for this purpose.
But Sir F. Rogers thought that before asking for the issue of the
money, we had better ascertain from Mr Murdoch that there were not
any acts on the part of the Company which ought to be done
simultaneously. Mr Murdoch has answered in the negative.
I have therefore prepared the requisite drafts to the Treasury and
the Company, and have ventured to despatch the letters at once, as I
feel sure that theDuke
Duke of Newcastle would wish, that after agreeing
to the compromise, they should have no reason to complain of delay in
getting their money. A draft to the Governor is annexed.
Duke of Newcastle would wish, that after agreeing
to the compromise, they should have no reason to complain of delay in
getting their money. A draft to the Governor is annexed.
TFE
27 Septr
Quite right.
N
29
Other documents included in the file
I am clear that you need not take any
special receipt from the H.B.Co but the Treasury by whom I
suppose the payment will be made, will of course require a receipt
which will contain some general statement of the object of the
payment. At least that is my impression of their practice. But after
so long a debate I quite agree with you that the payment should
be
made at once. Of course a deed of reconveyance of Vancouvers Island
will here be necessary, and a question may arise as to the expense of
the deed. But I should imagine there can be no doubt that as both
the original grant and the reconveyance were made on public grounds
the expenses must be borne by the public.
be
made at once. Of course a deed of reconveyance of Vancouvers Island
will here be necessary, and a question may arise as to the expense of
the deed. But I should imagine there can be no doubt that as both
the original grant and the reconveyance were made on public grounds
the expenses must be borne by the public.
[P.S.] Would you let your Messenger take the enclosed Papers to Park
Street the first time he goes there.
Minutes by CO staff
Elliot to Frederick Peel, 26 September 1862, forwarding copy of the acceptance of the Hudson's Bay Company and asking that the Paymaster
General be instructed to advance the agreed upon sum as soon as possible.
Elliot to Berens, 26 September 1862, advising that the Treasury had
been asked to provide the payment without delay.
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 119, 1 October 1862,
informing him that after
protracted discussions,the government and the HBC have agreed that a payment of £32,500 will settle the company's claim for compensation for costs incurred while it was responsible for administering Vancouver Island.
Minutes by CO staff
In case the transaction is closed before the next mail, the last
sentence of this should be altered so as to say that the payment "has been" made, instead of being "about to be" made.
sentence of this should be altered so as to say that the payment "has been" made, instead of being "about to be" made.
TFE
27/9