CO885-(10-11) — Page 25

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885

10 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMÍSSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

We are therefore of opinion that Her Majesty's Government is warranted in resisting this claim, and we cannot discover why it should have consented to refer a subject of this nature to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

But if that step has been agreed on, the proper course of procedure will in our opinion be that the company should present a petition to Her Majesty stating the grounds of claim, and praying specifically the relief to which it conceives that it is entitled. The course to be adopted by the Crown as to proofs or admissions must depend mainly on the allegations made by the company.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,

&o.

&o.

&o.

We have, &c. (Signed) RICHARD BETHELL.

WILLIAM ATHERTON.

8092.

MY LORD DUKE,

No. 7.

(SIERRA LEONE.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Lincoln's Inn, March 20, 1860. We are honoured with your Grace's commands, signified in Mr. Merivale's letter of the 18th of February last, in which he stated that he was directed by your Grace to request that we would peruse the draft of an Order in Council and Proclamation for annexing the Island of Bulama to the Colony of Sierra Leone, and to inform your Grace whether in our opinion the said instruments were sufficient in point of law.

Mr. Merivale was also pleased to state that the Island of Bulama was ceded by the native chiefs to the Crown of Great Britain in 1792 by a deed of cession, of which copy was annexed, and the right to it had been since that time asserted by Her Majesty's Government, as would appear by the printed Despatch of Governor Macdonald, also annexed, although up to that time no regular Government had been established there.

Mr. Merivale was also pleased to state that the immediate reasons for the present measure were explained by a Despatch of the 11th of March last, of which copy was enclosed.

In obedience to your Grace's commands we have the honour to

Report

That we have perused the accompanying drafts of the proposed Order in Council and Proclamation for annexing the Island of Bulama to the Colony of Sierra Leone, and that in our opinion the said instruments are sufficient in point of law and proper to be submitted to Her Majesty,

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,

Aro.

&o.

&o.

We have, &c.

(Signed) RICHARD BETHELL.

WILLIAM ATHERTON.

916278-158. 25,-2/86.