§ MR. WYLDsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If Her Majesty's Government have acquiesced in the arrangements for the reconstruction of the Hudson's Bay Company; if Her Majesty's Government have received from the Government of Canada any remonstrance against the attempts of the Hudson's Bay Company to exercise authority over territories claimed by the Province of Canada?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that an arrangement had lately been come to by which the stock of the Hudson's Bay Company was transferred in a great measure to new proprietors, but 434 that arrangement was one which did not require any interference on the part of Her Majesty's Government, With respect to the latter part of the Question of the hon. Gentleman, no remonstrance whatever had been received from Canada on the subject. He might, however, take that opportunity of saying, that in consequence of a doubt suggested in another place as to the legality of the transaction referred to, his noble Friend (the Duke of Newcastle), although entertaining no doubt himself, consulted the Law Officers of the Crown, and they gave it as their opinion that the transaction was perfectly legal.