For the purposes previously set forth - has
obtained this vast and priceless dominion for a payment of only
300,000l., on the award of Earl Granville; and the Pacific
Railway, by reason of that great possession, has been completed and
opened.
But there is much to record between the period of purchase and the sale
to Canada.
I here give to the reader some letters of the Duke's relating to these
negotiations generally: -
"DOWNING STREET,
"14 Augt. 1862.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I am glad to tell you that since I received your letter of Saturday
last, the Hudson's Bay Company has replied to my communication, and has
promised to grant land to a company formed under such auspices
as those with whom I placed them in communication. The question now
is - what breadth of land they will give, for of course they
propose to include the whole length of the line through their
territory. A copy of the reply shall be sent to Mr. Baring, and I hope
you and he will be able to bring this concession to some practical
issue.
"I was quite aware of the willingness of the Company to sell
their whole rights for some such sum as 1,500,000l. I
ascertained the fact two months ago, and alluded to it in the House of
Lords in my reply to a motion by Lord Donoughmore. I cannot, however,
view the proposal in so favourable a light as you do. There would be no
immediate or direct return to show for this large outlay, for of
course the trade monopoly must cease, and the sale of land would for
some time bring in little or nothing - certainly not enough to pay for
the government of the country.
"I do not think Canada can, or if she can ought to, take
any large share in such a payment. Some of her politicians would no
doubt support the proposal with views of their own, - but it would be a
serious, and for some time unremunerative, addition to their very
embarrassing debt.
"I certainly should not like to sell any portion of the
territory to the United States - exchange (if the territory were
once acquired) would be a different thing, - but that would not help
towards the liquidation of the purchase-money.
"I admire your larger views, and have some tolerably large ones
in this matter of my own, but I fear purchase of this great territory
is just now impracticable.
"I am, yours sincerely,
"NEWCASTLE.
"Edwd. Watkin, Esq."
This letter was written in the educational period. The doubts came from
the officials of the Colonial Office. I removed them.
"Downing Street,
"17 Novr. 1862.
"My dear Mr. Watkin,
"I send you the 'route' from the Pacific to Canada, which I promised.
"I cannot vouch for it; but it comes from an unusually well-informed
quarter, and I incline to think it is much nearer accuracy than such
information as represents the obstacles to be almost insuperable.
