, 1853-10-29

be expected fom this class, and il has in
/ fact already pretty well reached its limits in
| this direction. Moreover even these per
sons, if deriving NJ profit from employment
in the Company's service, or expecting
none, would, in all probability, have them
| S Ives prepared 10 settle in Oregon nay
with many The induccment has proved loo
stI ong, for many Of the Company's former
servants, Of the higher a. well as the lower
class, have di,cddy established themselves
ttherr, abandoning the British allegiance, for
this purpose whereas, if the Colony Of
Vancouyers Island had been put upon the
footing now pray ed for, there is no doubt
they might still have r,mainod loyal, and
attacked subjects of Great Britain.
Under present circumstance, these causes
must continue to opel ate with undiminished
strength 10 the dcplolable relardaton Of the
settlement OF this Colony your petitioners
therefore humbly beg 10 express their most
anxious and lrrvent hopes, as loyal British
subjects, and solicitous both for the welfare
of this their adopted home, aud for the honor
and prosperity Of England and her Empire,
! That your Honorable House will graciously
drisn to take such measures as may be
necessary to place the Colony in such i'm
proved circumstances, and such favorable
condition. as may remove the obstacles
which now prevent its further settlement,
and letler the enterprise Of its present in
habhapts.
Your petitioners believe that the British
public have become aware Of tie peculiar
advantages, as regards position, soil climate
and resources in general Of Vancouver's
Island, and therefore they venture TO repeat
their earnest hope, that speedy and prompt
action may be taken by your Honorable
House in lis behalf.
If your petitioners may be allowed 10 cx-
press their sense of what specific changes
are necessary, in addition 10 what they have
already venturCd to ask, they would most
rcsln ctlully recommend and implore that
the Imperial GOvernmenl,-having taken
the Colony under IFS own immediate man
agcmcnt, in accordance with the unani-
nous wishes Of its inhabitants, who, living
on the spot, most deeply feel the urgent
necessity of such a step,-should appoint
governor with his subordinate funclionaries,
10 be paid for The present by the Home
| Government that reliable courts of JUS
ticr, presided over by efficient and upright
judges, should be- instituted that the ex-
rcuIive council should be separate from the
legislative that the majority Of the lcgis-
latiye council should be elective Tor four
years, by such of the Colonlsts as hold not
less than two hundred acres of land that
a house of Assembly, consisting Of nine, to
commence with, should be Immediately
called, 10 be reelected every three ye lrs -
thai the elective franchise, (now fixed 10 be
enjoyed by persons holding twenty acres ol
land), should be extended SO as 10 DO exer-
cised by all persons posses sod, for their own
use and benefit, Of land, in the counties
worth GI0 sterling, or in the towns worth
EGO sterling, or occupying houses, paying
rent TO the amount of G10 sterling per an
NUN, or assesst d al the yearly value Of flO
sterling, providing that in the case of m
occupant, who shall BE- the renter merely,
he shall not enjoy the elective franchise,
until he has b,en a resident householder,
not less than one full year, before the time
Of voting and, finally, that the price Of
land shall moi be more than les per acre,
payable, at the option Of the purchaser, in
five equal annual installmenls, the first years
inslallmcnt to be paid on his being put in
possession, with interest at 8 per ccnium
per annum, until all is paid, when the title
deed shall be delivered.
Your petitioners are satisfied that the
adoption Of these measures would give a
pa,. n Al oslon;.I;nr, ;tnn,,lso 40 th.. nrooroec
of the Colony, and that its consequent adj
vancement in wealth and prosperity would
very soon relieve the mother country from
all charges, on account Of its administration
or internal defences also they are assured
that, these las they venture to think, rpa-
sonable) requests Of your petitioners being
graciously acceded 10, the happiness and
welfare Of the Colonsts'will be established
on a firm basis, their loyalty and attachment
TO Her Majesty and the mother country
cherished and strengthened, and Nancou-
ver's Island become, what Nature has ad
mirably fitted her for, an important and
brilliant addition 10 the Colonial Empire oi
Great Britain.
With these views, and leaving TO the
wisdom Of Parliament TO adopt such meas
ures as may lead to the desirable results
which your petitioners have so much at
heart, they solemnly and earnestly pray
your Honorable House to turn their gra-
cious and immediate attention to the pres
ent wants and grievances of the Colony of
Vancouver's Island, and your petitioners
will ever pray. Signed by
JNo. Ton, NJ. C., Landed Proprietor and
Chief Trader to the II. B. Co.;
WV. FRAsrE ToLMlE, Landed Proprie
tor and Chief Trader to the II. B. Co.
JAMES CoorrR, NJ e. and Landed Pro.
prietOr;
RUDK. FTNLAYsoN, NJ C., Landed Pro.
rIictor. nud Chief Trader 10 thc II n Cn