The EARL of LINCOLNasked the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether a Commission had been appointed, either by the Secretary of State for the Colonies or by the Governor General of Canada, to inquire into the complaints of Mr. Isbister, and others, against the present government of the Red River Settlement, or against the Hudson's Bay Company generally; and whether, if no inquiry were now pending, he would lay on the table of the House any correspondence which had taken place on the subject? Also, whether a grant had been made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay Company; and, if so, what was to be the form of government; what regulations had been made as to the working of coals and minerals; and what stipulations had been entered into as to the future colonisation of the island? Also, whether there would be any objection to lay on the; table of the House copies of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Hudson's Bay Company on this subject, and of the charter, if any granted to the company?
§ MR. HAWES, in answer to the noble Lord's first question, begged to state that in the course of last year certain complaints were made at the Colonial Office against the Hudson's Bay Company generally by Mr. Isbister, who was over in this country; which complaints were referred to the Hudson's Bay Company, with a request that they would answer the various allegations. These answers, however, when received, not being altogether satisfactory, and his noble Friend at the head of the Colonial Office feeling that the whole subject required more investigation, the original complaint and answers were intrusted to Lord Elgin, the Governor General of Canada, whose attention was specially directed to the whole question. About a fortnight ago an answer had been received from Lord Elgin, who stated that he had found great difficulty in instituting the inquiry which he had been called upon to make, and in obtaining correct information on the subject, which, considering the distance of the territory, was not to be wondered at; but, as a general result, his Lordship stated that his opinion was favourable to the government of the Hudson's Bay Company. An opportunity had since been taken by a Queen's officer, who was going out to the Red River Settlement, to protect the public peace, and who was instructed to inquire into all the allegations, and to report. At the present moment, therefore, he thought it would be hardly just to the Hudson's Bay Company to lay the correspondence on the table.