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diff --git a/42279-0.txt b/42279-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2aa603b --- /dev/null +++ b/42279-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20439 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42279 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the numerous original illustrations. + See 42279-h.htm or 42279-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42279/42279-h/42279-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42279/42279-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/cu31924028902216 + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + A list of corrections will be found at the end of the + e-book. + + + + + + [Illustration: LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL + _Present Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company_.] + + +THE GREAT COMPANY + +Being a History of the Honourable Company of Merchants-Adventurers +Trading into Hudson's Bay + +by + +BECKLES WILLSON + +With an Introduction by +Lord Strathcona And Mount Royal +Present Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company + +With Original Drawings by Arthur Heming +and +Maps, Plans and Illustrations + + + + + + + +New York +Dodd, Mead & Company +1900 + +Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one +thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, by the Copp, Clark Company, +Limited, Toronto, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture. + + + + + TO + THE RIGHT HONOURABLE + SIR WILFRID LAURIER, G.C.M.G., + + TO WHOSE GENEROUS SUGGESTION AND CONTINUED + ENCOURAGEMENT IS SO LARGELY DUE THE + COMPILATION OF THESE ANNALS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Praiseworthy as the task is of unifying the scattered elements of our +Canadian story, yet it will hardly be maintained that such historical +studies ought not to be preceded by others of a more elementary +character. Herein, then, are chronicled the annals of an institution +coherent and compact--an isolated unit. + +The Hudson's Bay Company witnessed the French dominion in Northamerica +rise to its extreme height, decline and disappear; it saw new colonies +planted by Britain; it saw them quarrel with the parent State, and +themselves become transformed into States. Wars came and +passed--European Powers on this continent waxed and waned, rose and +faded away; remote forests were invaded by loyal subjects who erected +the wilderness into opulent provinces. Change, unceasing, never-ending +change, has marked the history of this hemisphere of ours; yet there +is one force, one institution, which survived nearly all conditions +and all _régimes_. For two full centuries the Hudson's Bay Company +existed, unshorn of its greatness, and endures still--the one enduring +pillar in the New World mansion. + +In pondering the early records of the Company, one truth will hardly +escape observation. It did not go forth amongst the savages with the +Bible in its hand. Elsewhere, an old axiom, and true--first the +missionary, then the soldier, then the trader. In the case of the +Company, this order has been reversed. The French associations in +Canada for the collection and sale of furs were preceded by the +Jesuits--brave, fearless, self-denying--whose deeds form the theme of +some of Parkman's most thrilling pages. + +A few years since, in the solitudes of the West, two European tourists +were struck by the frequency with which they encountered a certain +mystic legend. Eager to solve its meaning, they addressed a half-breed +lounger at a small station on the Canadian Pacific Railway. + +"Tell us, my friend," they said, "what those three letters yonder +signify. Wherever we travel in this country we encounter 'H. B. C.' We +have seen the legend sewn on the garments of Indians; we have seen it +flying from rude forts; it has been painted on canoes; it is inscribed +on bales and boxes. What does 'H. B. C.' mean?" + +"That's _the Company_," returned the native grimly, "Here Before +Christ." + +Might not the first missionary who, in 1818, reached York Factory +contemplate his vast cure, and say: Here, bartering, civilizing, +judging, corrupting, revelling, slaying, marching through the +trackless forest, making laws and having dominion over a million +souls--_here before Christ!_ + +It is probable a day is at hand when all this area will be dotted with +farms, villages and cities, a time when its forests will be uprooted +and the plains of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory tilled by +the husbandman, its hills and valleys exploited by the miner; yet, +certain spots in this vast region must ever bear testimony to the +hunter of furs. Remote, solitary, often hungry and not seldom +frozen--the indomitable servant of the Great Fur Company lived here +his life and gave his name to mountain, lake and river. + +Whatsoever destiny has in store for this country, it can never +completely obliterate either the reverence and admiration we have for +brave souls, or those deeper feelings which repose in the bosoms of so +many Canadian men and women whose forefathers lent their arms and +their brains to the fur-trade. The beaver and the marten, the fox and +the mink, may soon be as extinct as the bison, or no more numerous +than the fox and the beaver are to-day in the British Isles; but this +volume, imperfect as it is, may serve as a reminder that their +forbears long occupied the minds and energies of a hardy race of men, +the like of whose patience, bravery and simple honest careers may not +soon again be seen. + +He who would seek in these pages the native romance, the vivid colour, +the absorbing drama of the Great North-West, will seek, I fear, in +vain. My concern has been chiefly with the larger annals of the +Hudson's Bay Company, its history proper, which until now has not been +compiled. + + TORONTO, 27th June, 1899. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Mr. Beckles Willson has asked me to write a short introduction for his +forthcoming book on the Hudson's Bay Company, and it gives me great +pleasure to comply with his request. + +It is gratifying to know that this work has been undertaken by a young +Canadian, who has for some years had a laudable desire to write the +history of what he appropriately calls "The Great Company," with whose +operations the development of the Western parts of Canada has been so +closely connected. + +The history of the Company during the two centuries of its existence +must bring out prominently several matters which are apt now to be +lightly remembered. I refer to the immense area of country--more than +half as large as Europe--over which its control eventually extended, +the explorations conducted under its auspices, the successful +endeavours, in spite of strenuous opposition, to retain its hold upon +what it regarded as its territory, its friendly relations with the +Indians, and, finally, the manner in which its work prepared the way +for the incorporation of the "illimitable wilderness" within the +Dominion. + +It is not too much to say that the fur-traders were the pioneers of +civilization in the far West. They undertook the most fatiguing +journeys with the greatest pluck and fortitude; they explored the +country and kept it in trust for Great Britain. These fur-traders +penetrated to the Rocky Mountains, and beyond, into what is now known +as British Columbia, and even to the far north and northwest, in +connection with the extension of trade, and the establishment of the +famous "H. B. C." posts and forts, which were the leading features of +the maps of the country until comparatively recent times. The names of +many of these early explorers are perpetuated in its rivers and +lakes; and many important Arctic discoveries are associated with the +names of officers of the Company, such as Hearne, Dease, and Simpson, +and, in later times, Dr. John Rae. + +The American and Russian Companies which were seeking trade on the +Pacific Coast, in the early days of the present century, were not able +to withstand the activity and enterprise of their British rivals, but +for whose discoveries and work even British Columbia might not have +remained British territory. For many years the only civilized +occupants of both banks of the Columbia River were the fur-traders, +and it is not their fault that the region between it and the +international boundary does not now belong to Canada. Alaska was also +leased by the Hudson's Bay Company from Russia, and one cannot help +thinking that if that country had been secured by Great Britain, we +should probably never have heard of the Boundary Question, or of +disputes over the Seal Fisheries. However, these things must be +accepted as they are; but it will not, in any case, be questioned that +the work of the Company prepared the way for the consolidation of the +Dominion of Canada, enabling it to extend its limits from the Atlantic +to the Pacific, and from the international boundary to the far north. + +The principal business of the Company in the early days was, of +course, the purchasing of furs from the Indians, in exchange for arms, +ammunition, clothes and other commodities imported from the United +Kingdom. Naturally, therefore, the prosperity of the Company depended +largely upon good relations being maintained with the Indians. The +white man trusted the Indians, and the Indians trusted the white man. +This mutual confidence, and the friendly relations which were the +result, made the transfer of the territory to Canada comparatively +easy when the time for the surrender came. It is interesting to note +also, that while intent upon trading with the Indians, the Company did +not neglect the spread of civilizing influences among them. The result +of their wise policy is seen in the relations that have happily +existed since 1870 between the Government and the Indians. There has +been none of the difficulties which gave rise to so many disasters in +the western parts of the United States. Even in the half-breed +disturbance in 1869-70, and in that of 1885, the Indians (with very +few exceptions) could not be induced to take arms against the forces +of law and order. + +Although the Red River settlement was inaugurated and carried out +under its auspices, it has been stated, and in terms of reproach, that +the Company did not encourage settlement or colonization. The +statement may have an element of truth in it, but the condition of the +country at the time must be borne in mind. Of course, the fur trade +and settlement could not go on side by side. On the other hand, until +the country was made accessible, colonization was not practicable. +Settlers could not reach it without the greatest difficulty, even for +many years after the transfer of the territory took place, or get +their produce away. Indeed, until the different Provinces of Canada +became federated, and were thus in a position to administer the +country and to provide it with the necessary means of communication, +the opening up of its resources was almost an impossibility. No single +province of Canada could have undertaken its administration or +development, and neither men nor money were available, locally, to +permit of its blossoming out separately as a Colony, or as a series of +Provinces. + +The work of the Company is still being continued, although, of course, +under somewhat different conditions. The fur trade is quite as large +as ever it was, and the relations of the Company are as cordial as of +old with the Indians and other inhabitants in the districts remote +from settlement, in which this part of the business is largely carried +on. It has also adapted itself to the times, and is now one of the +leading sources of supplies to the settlers in Manitoba, the +North-West Territories, and British Columbia, and to the prospectors +and miners engaged in developing the resources of the Pacific +province. Besides, it has a very large stake in the North-West, in the +millions of acres of land handed over to it, according to agreement, +as the country is surveyed. In fact, it may be stated that the +Hudson's Bay Company is as inseparably bound up with the future of +Western Canada as it has been with its past. + +There are, of course, many other things that might be mentioned in an +introduction of this kind, and there is room especially for an +extended reference to the great and wonderful changes that have been +apparent in Manitoba, the North-West Territories, and British +Columbia, since, in the natural order of things, those parts of Canada +passed out of the direct control of the Company. The subject is so +fascinating to me, having been connected with the Company for over +sixty years, that the tendency is to go on and on. But the different +details connected with it will doubtless be dealt with by Mr. Beckles +Willson himself much better than would be possible in the limited time +at my disposal, and I shall therefore content myself with stating, in +conclusion, that I congratulate the author on the work he has +undertaken, and trust that it will meet with the success it deserves. +It cannot fail to be regarded as an interesting contribution to the +history of Canada, and to show, what I firmly believe to be the case, +that the work of the Hudson's Bay Company was for the advantage of the +Empire. + + [Illustration: SIGNATURE OF LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL.] + + LONDON, June 23rd, 1899. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE. + + CHAPTER I.--1660-1667. + + Effect of the Restoration on Trade -- Adventurers at Whitehall -- + The East India Company Monopoly -- English Interest in North + America -- Prince Rupert's Claims -- The Fur Trade of Canada -- + Aim of the Work. 17 + + CHAPTER II.--1659-1666. + + Groseilliers and Radisson -- Their Peregrinations in the + North-West -- They Return to Quebec and Lay their Scheme before + the Governor -- Repulsed by him they Proceed to New England -- + And thence Sail for France, where they Endeavour to Interest M. + Colbert. 23 + + CHAPTER III.--1667-1668. + + Prince Rupert -- His Character -- Serves through the Civil War + -- His Naval Expedition in the West Indies -- Residence in + France -- And ultimately in London -- He receives Groseilliers + and introduces him to the King. 35 + + CHAPTER IV.--1668-1670. + + The Prince Visits the _Nonsuch_ -- Arrival in the Bay -- Previous + Voyages of Exploration -- A Fort Commenced at Rupert's River -- + Gillam's Return -- Dealing with the Nodwayes -- Satisfaction of + the Company -- A Royal Charter granted. 44 + + CHAPTER V.--1668-1670. + + Danger Apprehended to French Dominion -- Intendant Talon -- Fur + Trade Extended Westward -- News of the English Expedition + Reaches Quebec -- Sovereign Rights in Question -- English + Priority Established. 52 + + CHAPTER VI.--1671. + + First Public Sale at Garraway's -- Contemporary Prices of Fur + -- The Poet Dryden -- Meetings of the Company -- Curiosity of + the Town -- Aborigines on View. 60 + + CHAPTER VII.--1671-1673. + + Mission of the Père Albanel -- Apprehension at Fort Charles -- + Bailey's Distrust of Radisson -- Expedition to Moose River -- + Groseilliers and the Savages -- The Bushrangers Leave the + Company's Service -- Arrival of Governor Lyddal. 69 + + CHAPTER VIII.--1673-1682. + + Progress of the Company -- Confusion as to the Names and Number + of the Tribes -- Radisson goes to Paris -- His Efforts to + Obtain Support there, and from Prince Rupert, in England, Fail + -- Arrival of M. de la Chesnaye -- With his help Radisson + Secures Support -- And Sails for Quebec -- Thence Proceeds with + Two Ships to Attack the English Ports in Hudson's Bay -- His + Encounters with Gillam's Expedition from London, and his Son's, + from New England. 80 + + CHAPTER IX.--1682-1683. + + Death of Prince Rupert -- The Company's Difficulty in Procuring + Proper Servants -- Radisson at Port Nelson -- The two Gillams + -- Their Meeting -- Capture of the New England Party -- The + First Scotchman in the Bay -- Governor Bridgar Carried off + Prisoner -- Indian Visitors to the Fort -- Disasters to the + Ships -- The French Burn the Island Fort -- Radisson's Harangue + to the Indians -- Return to France. 94 + + CHAPTER X.--1684-1687. + + Hays writes to Lord Preston -- Godey sent to Radisson's + lodgings -- La Barre's strenuous efforts -- Radisson Returns to + the English -- He leaves for the Bay -- Meets his nephew, + Chouart -- Fort Bourbon Surrendered to the Company -- + Radisson's dramatic Return to London. 112 + + CHAPTER XI.--1683-1686. + + Feigned Anger of Lewis -- He writes to La Barre -- Importance + Attached to Indian Treaties -- Duluth's Zeal -- Gauthier de + Comportier -- Denonville made Governor -- Capture of the + _Merchant of Perpetuana_ -- Expedition of Troyes against the + Company's Posts in the Bay -- Moose Fort Surrendered. 125 + + CHAPTER XII.--1686-1689. + + The French Attack upon Fort Rupert -- Governor Sargeant + Apprised -- Intrepidity of Nixon -- Capture of Fort Albany -- + Disaster to the _Churchill_ -- The Company Hears the ill News -- + Negotiations for Colonial Neutrality -- Destruction of New + Severn Fort -- Loss of the _Hampshire_ -- The Revolution. 134 + + CHAPTER XIII.--1689-1696. + + Company's Claims Mentioned in Declaration of War -- Parliament + Grants Company's Application for Confirmation of its Charter -- + Implacability of the Felt-makers -- Fort Albany not a Success + in the hands of the French -- Denonville urges an Attack upon + Fort Nelson -- Lewis Despatches Tast with a Fleet to Canada -- + Iberville's Jealousy prevents its Sailing to the Bay -- + Governor Phipps Burns Fort Nelson -- Further Agitation on the + part of the French to Possess the West Main -- Company Makes + another Attempt to Regain Fort Albany -- Fort Nelson + Surrendered to Iberville -- Its Re-conquest by the Company. 146 + + CHAPTER XIV.--1696-1697. + + Imprisoned French Fur-Traders Reach Paris -- A Fleet under + Iberville Despatched by Lewis to the Bay -- Company's four + Ships precede them through the Straits -- Beginning of a Fierce + Battle -- The _Hampshire_ Sinks -- Escape of the _Dering_ and + capture of the _Hudson's Bay_ -- Dreadful Storm in the Bay -- + Losses of the Victors -- Landing of Iberville -- Operations + against Fort Nelson -- Bailey Yields -- Evacuation by the + English. 158 + + CHAPTER XV.--1698-1713. + + Petition Presented to Parliament Hostile to Company -- + Seventeenth Century Conditions of Trade -- _Coureurs de + Bois_ -- Price of Peltries -- Standard of Trade Prescribed -- + Company's Conservatism -- Letters to Factors -- Character of + the Early Governors -- Henry Kelsey -- York Factory under the + French -- Massacre of Jérémie's Men -- Starvation amongst the + Indians. 169 + + CHAPTER XVI.--1697-1712. + + Company Seriously Damaged by Loss of Port Nelson -- Send an + Account of their Claims to Lords of Trade -- Definite Boundary + Propositions of Trade -- Lewis anxious to Create Boundaries -- + Company look to Outbreak of War -- War of Spanish Succession + Breaks Out -- Period of Adversity for the Company -- Employment + of Orkneymen -- Attack on Fort Albany -- Desperate Condition of + the French at York Fort -- Petition to Anne. 187 + + CHAPTER XVII.--1712-1720. + + Queen Anne Espouses the Cause of the Company -- Prior's View of + its Wants -- Treaty of Utrecht -- Joy of the Adventurers -- + Petition for Act of Cession -- Not Pressed by the British + Government -- Governor Knight Authorized to take Possession of + Port Nelson -- "Smug Ancient Gentlemen" -- Commissioners to + Ascertain Rights -- Their Meeting in Paris -- Matters Move + Slowly -- Bladen and Pulteney return to England. 198 + + CHAPTER XVIII.--1719-1727. + + The South Sea Bubble -- Nation Catches the Fever of Speculation + -- Strong Temptation for the Company -- Pricking of the Bubble + -- Narrow Escape of the Adventurers -- Knight and his + Expedition -- Anxiety as to their Fate -- Certainty of their + Loss -- Burnet's Scheme to Cripple the French -- It Forces them + Westward into Rupert's Land. 208 + + CHAPTER XIX.--1687-1712. + + Hudson's Bay Tribes Peaceful -- Effect of the Traders' Presence + -- Depletion of Population -- The Crees and Assiniboines -- + Their Habits and Customs -- Their Numbers -- No Subordination + Amongst Them -- Spirituous Liquors -- Effect of Intemperance + upon the Indian. 217 + + CHAPTER XX.--1685-1742. + + Errant Tribes of the Bay -- The Goose Hunt -- Assemblage at + Lake Winnipeg -- Difficulties of the Voyage -- Arrival at the + Fort -- Ceremony followed by Debauch -- Gifts to the Chief -- + He makes a Speech to the Governor -- Ceremony of the Pipe -- + Trading Begun. 230 + + CHAPTER XXI.--1725-1742. + + System of Licenses re-adopted by the French -- Verandrye Sets + Out for the Pacific -- His Son Slain -- Disappointments -- He + reaches the Rockies -- Death of Verandrye -- Forts in Rupert's + Land -- Peter the Great and the Hudson's Bay Company -- + Expeditions of Bering -- A North-West Passage -- Opposition of + the Company to its Discovery -- Dobbs and Middleton -- + Ludicrous distrust of the Explorer -- An Anonymous Letter. 240 + + CHAPTER XXII.--1744-1748. + + War again with France -- Company takes Measures to Defend its + Forts and Property -- "Keep Your Guns Loaded" -- Prince + "Charlie" -- His Stock in the Company Confiscated -- Further + Instructions to the Chief Factors -- Another Expedition to + Search for a North-West Passage -- Parliament Offers Twenty + Thousand Pounds Reward -- Cavalier Treatment from Governor + Norton -- Expedition Returns -- Dobbs' Enmity -- Privy Council + Refuse to Grant his Petition -- Press-gang Outrages -- Voyage + of the _Seahorse_. 257 + + CHAPTER XXIII.--1748-1760. + + Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry Appointed -- Aim of the + Malcontents -- Lord Strange's Report -- Testimony of Witnesses + -- French Competition -- Lords of Plantations Desire to + Ascertain Limits of Company's Territory -- Defeat of the + Labrador Company -- Wolfe's Victory -- "Locked up in the Strong + Box" -- Company's Forts -- Clandestine Trade -- Case of Captain + Coats. 269 + + CHAPTER XXIV.--1763-1770. + + Effect of the Conquest on the Fur-trade of the French -- + Indians again Seek the Company's Factories -- Influx of + Highlanders into Canada -- Alexander Henry -- Mystery + Surrounding the _Albany_ Cleared Up -- Astronomers Visit Prince + of Wales' Fort -- Strike of Sailors -- Seizure of Furs -- + Measures to Discourage Clandestine Trade. 286 + + CHAPTER XXV.--1768-1773. + + Reports of the "Great River" -- Company Despatch Samuel Hearne on + a Mission of Discovery -- Norton's Instructions -- Saluted on + his Departure from the Fort -- First and Second Journeys -- + Matonabee -- Results of the Third Journey -- The Company's + Servants in the Middle of the Century -- Death of Governor + Norton. 299 + + CHAPTER XXVI.--1773-1782. + + Company Suffers from the Rivalry of Canadians -- Cumberland + House Built -- Debauchery and License of the Rivals -- + Frobisher Intercepts the Company's Indians -- The Smallpox + Visitation of 1781 -- La Pérouse appears before Fort Prince of + Wales -- Hearne's Surrender -- Capture of York Fort by the + French -- The Post Burned and the Company's Servants carried + away Prisoners. 314 + + CHAPTER XXVII.--1783-1800. + + Disastrous Effects of the Competition -- Montreal Merchants + Combine -- The North-Westers -- Scheme of the Association -- + Alexander Mackenzie -- His two Expeditions Reach the Pacific -- + Emulation Difficult -- David Thompson. 327 + + CHAPTER XXVIII.--1787-1808. + + Captain Vancouver -- La Pérouse in the Pacific -- The Straits + of Anian -- A Fantastic Episode -- Russian Hunters and Traders + -- The Russian Company -- Dissensions amongst the Northmen -- + They Send the _Beaver_ to Hudson's Bay -- The Scheme of + Mackenzie a Failure -- A Ferocious Spirit Fostered -- Abandoned + Characters -- A Series of Outrages -- The Affair at Bad + Lake. 344 + + CHAPTER XXIX.--1808-1812. + + Crisis in the Company's Affairs -- No Dividend Paid -- Petition + to Lords of the Treasury -- Factors Allowed a Share in the + Trade -- Canada Jurisdiction Act -- The Killing of MacDonnell + -- Mowat's Ill-treatment -- Lord Selkirk -- His Scheme laid + before the Company -- A Protest by Thwaytes and others -- The + Project Carried -- Emigrants sent out to Red River -- Northmen + Stirred to Reprisal. 361 + + CHAPTER XXX.--1812-1815. + + The Bois-Brulés -- Simon McGillivray's Letter -- Frightening + the Settlers -- A Second Brigade -- Governor McDonnell's + Manifesto -- Defection of Northmen to the Company -- + Robertson's Expedition to Athabasca -- Affairs at Red River -- + Cameron and McDonell in Uniform -- Cuthbert Grant -- Miles + McDonnell Arrested -- Fort William -- News brought to the + Northmen -- Their confiscated account-books -- War of 1812 + concluded. 383 + + CHAPTER XXXI.--1816-1817. + + A New Brigade of Immigrants -- Robert Semple -- Cuthbert + Grant's Letter -- The De Meuron Regiment -- Assembling of the + Bois-Brulés -- Tragedy at Seven Oaks -- Selkirk at Fort William + -- McGillivray Arrested -- Arrest of the Northmen -- Selkirk + Proceeds to Red River. 404 + + CHAPTER XXXII.--1817-1821. + + The English Government Intervenes -- Selkirk at Red River -- + Makes a Treaty with the Indians -- Hostilities at Peace River + -- Governor Williams makes Arrests -- Franklin at York Factory + -- The Duke of Richmond Interferes -- Trial of Semple's + Murderers -- Death of Selkirk -- Amalgamation. 423 + + CHAPTER XXXIII.--1821-1847. + + The Deed Poll -- A Governor-in-Chief Chosen -- A Chaplain + Appointed -- New License from George IV. -- Trade on the Pacific + Coast -- The Red River Country Claimed by the States -- The + Company in California -- The Oregon Question -- Anglo-Russian + Treaty of 1825 -- The _Dryad_ Affair -- Lieutenant Franklin's two + Expeditions -- Red River Territory Yielded to Company -- + Enterprise on the Pacific. 436 + + CHAPTER XXXIV.--1846-1863. + + The Oregon Treaty -- Boundary Question Settled -- Company + Proposes Undertaking Colonization of North America -- Enmity + and Jealousy Aroused -- Attitude of Earl Grey -- Lord Elgin's + Opinion of the Company -- Amended Proposal for Colonization + Submitted -- Opposition of Mr. Gladstone -- Grant of Vancouver + Island Secured, but Allowed to Expire in 1859 -- Dr. Rae's + Expedition -- The Franklin Expedition and its Fate -- Discovery + of the North-West Passage -- Imperial Parliament Appoints + Select Committee -- Toronto Board of Trade Petitions + Legislative Council -- Trouble with Indians -- Question of + Buying Out the Company -- British Government Refuses Help -- + "Pacific Scheme" Promoters Meet Company in Official Interview + -- International Financial Association Buys Company's Rights -- + Edward Ellice, the "Old Bear." 459 + + CHAPTER XXXV.--1863-1871. + + Indignation of the Wintering-Partners -- Distrust and + Misgivings Arise -- Proposals of Governor Dallas for the + Compensation of the Wintering-Partners in Exchange for their + Abrogation of Deed Poll -- Threatened Deadlock -- Position of + those in Authority Rendered Untenable -- Failure of Duke of + Newcastle's Proposals for Surrender of Territorial Rights -- + The Russo-American Alaskan Treaty -- The Hon. W. McDougall's + Resolutions -- Deputation Goes to England -- Sir + Stafford-Northcote becomes Governor -- Opinion of Lord + Granville as to the Position of Affairs -- Lack of Military + System Company's Weakness -- Cession now Inevitable -- Terms + Suggested by Lord Granville Accepted -- First Riel Rebellion -- + Wolseley at Fort Garry. 481 + + CHAPTER XXXVI.--1821-1871. + + The Company still King in the North-West -- Its Forts Described + -- Fort Garry -- Fort Vancouver -- Franklin -- Walla Walla -- + Yukon -- Kamloops -- Samuel Black -- Mountain House -- Fort + Pitt -- Policy of the Great Company. 497 + + The Hudson's Bay Posts. 509 + + + APPENDIX. + + Royal Charter Incorporating the Hudson's Bay Company 515 + + The Alaska Boundary 527 + + Governors of the Hudson's Bay Company 531 + + Deputy-Governors of the Hudson's Bay Company 532 + + + INDEX 533 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. + + Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal FRONTISPIECE. + + FACING PAGE + + Prince Rupert 32 + + Original Charter of The Great Company 48 + + Capt. Godey and Radisson 112 + + Marching out of the English Garrison 160 + + The Massacre of Jérémie's Men 192 + + The Bushranger and the Indians 337 + + Dog Brigade in the Far North 304 + + Tracking Canoes up the Rapids 368 + + Murder of Governor Semple 416 + + Sir George Simpson 432 + + Sir George Simpson receiving a Deputation 464 + + Interior Hudson's Bay Post 496 + + + ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT. + + PAGE + + Early Map of North America 19 + + Radisson 25 + + Chart of Hudson's Straits 30 + + Prince Rupert 36 + + English Map of 1782 57 + + The Beaver 60 + + Arms of the Hudson's Bay Co. 67 + + Type of Early Trading Post 71 + + Bark Canoe of Indians on Hudson's Bay 74 + + Landing of Iberville's Men at Port Nelson 155 + + Ships on Hudson's Bay 160 + + French Encampment 163 + + Capture of Port Nelson by the French 167 + + Trading with the Indians 171 + + A Coureur des Bois 173 + + An Early River Pioneer 178 + + Facsimile of the Company's Standard of Trade 181 + + French Map of the Bay and Vicinity 215 + + Indian Tepee 218 + + An Assiniboine Indian 219 + + Indian with Tomahawk 220 + + Esquimau with Dogs 223 + + Modern Type of Indian 231 + + Type of Cree Indian 234 + + An Old Chief 237 + + Maldonado's Strait of Anian 246 + + Lapie's Map of 1821 247 + + Plans of York and Prince of Wales Forts 262 + + Map showing the Hays River 265 + + Fort Prince of Wales 281 + + A Blackfoot Brave 289 + + Alexander Henry 291 + + Dobbs' Map, 1744 301 + + Visit to an Indian Encampment 315 + + Indian Trappers 318 + + Ruins of Fort Prince of Wales 322 + + Sir Alexander Mackenzie 330 + + A Portage 337 + + De L'Isle's Map, 1752 345 + + The Rival Traders 353 + + York Factory 355 + + Lord Selkirk 372 + + Stornaway 380 + + A Bois-Brulé 384 + + Fort George (Astoria) 387 + + Arrival of the Upland Indians 388 + + On the way to Fort William 390 + + The Company's Ships in 1812 392 + + Fort Douglas, Red River 394 + + Scene of Red River Tragedy 411 + + Vicinity of Fort Douglas 414 + + Board Room, Hudson's Bay House 438 + + Red River Cart 441 + + Fur Train from the far North 446 + + Sir George Back, R.N. 451 + + Thomas Simpson 454 + + Hudson's Bay Company's Trade Tokens 458 + + Hudson's Bay Employees on their Annual Expedition 460 + + Opening of Cairn on Point Victory 467 + + Discovery of Relics of Franklin Expedition 468 + + Fort Prince of Wales 477 + + Fort Garry 482 + + Arrival of Hudson's Bay Ships at York Factory 498 + + Fort Pelly 499 + + Fort Simpson 501 + + York Factory 502 + + Father Lacombe 504 + + Gateway to Fort Garry 507 + + Sketch Map of South-East Alaska 527 + + + + +THE GREAT COMPANY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +1660-67. + + Effect of the Restoration on Trade -- Adventurers at Whitehall + -- The East India Company Monopoly -- English interest in North + America -- Prince Rupert's claims -- The Fur Trade of Canada -- + Aim of the Work. + + +That page in the nation's history which records the years immediately +following the Restoration of the Stewarts to the English throne, has +often been regarded as sinister and inauspicious. Crushed and broken +by the long strain of civil war, apparently bankrupt in letters, +commerce and arms, above all, sick of the restraints imposed upon them +by the Roundheads, the nation has too often been represented as +abandoning itself wholly to the pursuit of pleasure, while folly and +license reigned supreme at court. The almost startling rapidity with +which England recovered her pride of place in the commercial world has +been too little dwelt upon. Hardly had Charles the Second settled down +to enjoy his heritage when the spirit of mercantile activity began to +make itself felt once more. The arts of trade and commerce, of +discovery and colonization, which had languished under the Puritan +ascendancy, revived; the fever of "Imperial Expansion" burst out with +an ardour which no probability of failure was able to cool; and the +court of the "Merry Monarch" speedily swarmed with adventurers, eager +to win his favour for the advancement of schemes to which the chiefs +of the Commonwealth would have turned but a deaf ear. + +Of just claimants to the royal bounty, in the persons of ruined +cavaliers and their children, there was no lack. With these there also +mingled, in the throng which daily beset the throne with petitions for +grants, charters, patents and monopolies,--returned free-booters, +buccaneers in embryo, upstarts and company-promoters. Every London +tavern and coffee-house resounded with projects for conquest, trade, +or the exploitation of remote regions. + +From the news-letters and diaries of the period, and from the minutes +of the Council of Trade and the Royal Society, one may form an +excellent notion of the risks which zealous capital ran during this +memorable decade. + +For two centuries and more mercantile speculation had been busy with +the far East. There, it was believed, in the realms of Cathay and +Hindustan, lay England's supreme market. A large number of the marine +expeditions of the sixteenth century were associated with an +enterprise in which the English nation, of all the nations in Europe, +had long borne, and long continued to bear, the chief part. From the +time of Cabot's discovery of the mainland in 1498, our mariners had +dared more and ventured oftener in quest of that passage through the +ice and barren lands of the New World which should conduct them to the +sunny and opulent countries of the East. + +[Sidenote: English right to Hudson's Bay.] + +The mercantile revival came; it found the Orient robbed of none of its +charm, but monopoly had laid its hand on East India. For over half a +century the East India Company had enjoyed the exclusive right of +trading in the Pacific between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, +and the merchants of London therefore were forced to cast about for +other fields of possible wealth. As far as North America was +concerned, the merest reference to a map of this period will reveal +the very hazy conception which then prevailed as to this vast +territory. Few courtiers, as yet, either at Whitehall or Versailles, +had begun to concern themselves with nice questions of frontier, or +the precise delimitation of boundaries in parts of the continent which +were as yet unoccupied, still less in those hyperborean regions +described by the mariners Frobisher, Button and Fox. To these +voyagers, themselves, the northern half of the continent was merely a +huge barrier to the accomplishment of their designs. + + [Illustration: EARLY MAP OF NORTH AMERICA.] + +Yet in spite of this destructive creed, it had long been a cardinal +belief in the nation that the English crown had by virtue of +Cabot's, and of subsequent discoveries, a right to such territories, +even though such right had never been actively affirmed.[1] + +In the year 1664 the King granted the territory now comprised in the +States of New York, New Jersey and Delaware to his brother, the Duke +of York, and the courtiers became curious to know what similar mark of +favour would be bestowed upon his Majesty's yet unrewarded cousin, +Prince Rupert, Duke of Cumberland and Count Palatine of the Rhine.[2] + +The Duke of York succeeded in wresting his new Transatlantic +possession from the Dutch, and the fur-trade of New Amsterdam fell +into English hands. Soon afterwards the first cargo of furs from that +region arrived in the Thames. + +Naturally, it was not long before some of the keener-sighted London +merchants began to see behind this transaction vast possibilities of +future wealth. The extent of the fur-trade driven in Canada by the +French was no secret.[3] Twice annually, for many years, had vessels +anchored at Havre, laden with the skins of fox, marten and beaver, +collected and shipped by the Company of the Hundred Associates or +their successors in the Quebec monopoly. A feeling was current that +England ought by right to have a larger share in this promising +traffic, but, it was remarked, "it is not well seen by those cognizant +of the extent of the new plantations how this is to be obtained, +unless we dislodge the French as we have the Dutch, which his present +Majesty would never countenance." + +Charles had little reason to be envious of the possession by his +neighbour Lewis, of the country known as New France. + +[Sidenote: French fur-trade.] + +Those tragic and melancholy narratives, the "Relations des Jesuites," +had found their way to the English Court. From these it would seem +that the terrors of cold, hunger, hardships, and Indian hostility, +added to the cost and difficulties of civil government, and the +chronic prevalence of official intrigue, were hardly compensated for +by the glories of French ascendancy in Canada. The leading spirits of +the fur-trade then being prosecuted in the northern wilds, were well +aware that they derived their profits from but an infinitesimal +portion of the fur-trading territory; the advantages of extension and +development were perfectly apparent to them; but the difficulties +involved in dealing with the savage tribes, and the dangers attending +the establishment of further connections with the remote interior, +conspired to make them content with the results attained by the +methods then in vogue. The security from rivalry which was guaranteed +to them by their monopoly did not fail to increase their aversion to a +more active policy. Any efforts, therefore, which were made to extend +the French Company's operations were made by Jesuit missionaries, or +by individual traders acting without authority. + +Such, in brief, was the state of affairs in the year 1666 when two +intrepid bushrangers, employees of the old Company,[4] dissatisfied +with their prospects under the new _régime_, sought their way out from +the depths of the wilderness to Quebec, and there propounded to the +Intendant, Jean Talon, a scheme for the extension of the fur-trade to +the shores of Hudson's Bay. This enterprising pair saw their project +rejected, and as a sequel to this rejection came the inception and +establishment of an English association,[5] which subsequently +obtained a charter from the King, under the name and title of "The +Governor and Company of Merchants-Adventurers trading into Hudson's +Bay." + +To narrate the causes which first led to the formation of this +Company, the contemporary interest it excited, the thrilling +adventures of its early servants, of the wars it waged with the +French and drove so valiantly to a victorious end; its vicissitudes +and gradual growth; the fierce and bloody rivalries it combated +and eventually overbore; its notable expeditions of research by +land and sea; the character of the vast country it ruled and the +Indians inhabiting it; and last but not least, the stirring and +romantic experiences contained in the letters and journals of the +Great Company's factors and traders for a period of above two +centuries--such will be the aim and purpose of this work. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] "The great maritime powers of Europe," said Chief Justice +Marshall, "discovered and visited different parts of this Continent at +nearly the same time. The object was too immense for any of them to +grasp the whole; and the claimants were too powerful to submit to the +exclusive or unreasonable pretensions of any single potentate. To +avoid bloody conflicts, which might terminate disastrously to all, it +was necessary for the nations of Europe to establish some principle +which all would acknowledge and which would decide their respective +rights as between themselves. This principle, suggested by the actual +state of things, was, 'that discovery gave title to the Government by +whose subjects or by whose authority it was made, against all other +European governments, which title might be consummated by +possession.'" + +[2] "Prince Rupert, we hear, is of no mind to press his Plantation +claims until this Dutch warre is over. A Jamaica pattent is spoke +of."--_Pleasant Passages_, 1665. + +[3] As early as 1605, Quebec had been established, and had become an +important settlement; before 1630, the Beaver and several other +companies had been organized, at Quebec, for carrying on the fur-trade +in the West, near and around the Great Lakes and in the North-West +Territory; that the enterprise and trading operations of these French +Companies, and of the French colonists generally, extended over vast +regions of the northern and the north-western portions of the +continent; that they entered into treaties with the Indian tribes and +nations, and carried on a lucrative and extensive fur-trade with the +natives. In the prosecution of their trade and other enterprises these +adventurers evinced great energy, courage and perseverance. They had, +according to subsequent French writers, extended their hunting and +trading operations to the Athabasca country. It was alleged that some +portions of the Athabasca country had before 1640 been visited and +traded in, and to some extent occupied by the French traders in Canada +and their Beaver Company. From 1640 to 1670 these discoveries and +trading settlements had considerably increased in number and +importance. + +[4] In 1663 the charter of the Compagnie des Cents Assocés, granted by +Richelieu in 1627, was ceded to the Crown. In 1665 the new Association +"La Compagnie des Indes Occidentals" received its charter. + +[5] "Several noblemen and other public-spirited Englishmen, not +unmindful of the discovery and right of the Crown of England to those +parts in America, designed at their own charge to adventure the +establishing of a regular and constant trade in Hudson's Bay, and to +settle forts and factories, whereby to invite the Indian nations (who +live like savages, many hundred leagues up the country), down to their +factories, for a constant and yearly intercourse of trade, which was +never attempted by such settlements, and to reside in that +inhospitable country, before the aforesaid English adventurers +undertook the same."--_Company's Memorial_, 1699. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +1659-1666. + + Groseilliers and Radisson -- Their Peregrinations in the + North-West -- They Return to Quebec and lay their Scheme before + the Governor -- Repulsed by him they Proceed to New England -- + And thence Sail for France, where they Endeavour to Interest M. + Colbert. + + +The year 1659, notable in England as the last of the Puritan +ascendancy and the herald of a stirring era of activity, may be +reckoned as the first with which the annals of the Great Company are +concerned. It is in this year that we first catch a glimpse of two +figures who played an important part in shaping its destinies. Little +as they suspected it, the two intrepid fur-traders, Groseilliers and +Radisson, who in the spring of that year pushed their way westward +from Quebec to the unknown shores of Lake Superior, animated in this, +as in all their subsequent exploits, by a spirit of adventure as well +as a love of gain, were to prove the ancestors of the Great Company. + +[Sidenote: Groseilliers' first marriage.] + +Medard Chouart, the first of this dauntless pair, was born in France, +near Meaux, and had emigrated to Quebec when he was a little over +sixteen years old. His father had been a pilot, and it was designed +that the son should succeed him in the same calling. But long before +this intention could be realized he fell in with a Jesuit, returned +from Canada, who was full of thrilling tales about the New France +beyond the seas; and so strongly did these anecdotes, with their +suggestion of a rough and joyous career in the wilderness, appeal to +his nature, that he determined to take his own part in the glowing +life which the priest depicted. In 1641 he was one of the fifty-two +_emigrés_ who sailed with the heroic Maissoneuve from Rochelle. Five +years later we find him trading amongst the Hurons, the tribe whose +doom was already sealed by reason of the enmity and superior might of +the Iroquois; and at the close of another year comes the record of his +first marriage. The bride is Etienne, the daughter of a pilot, Abraham +Martin of Quebec, the "eponymous hero" of that plateau adjoining +Quebec where, a century later, was to take place the mortal struggle +between Wolfe and Montcalm. + +It was probably soon after this marriage that Chouart adopted the +title "des Groseilliers," derived from a petty estate which his father +had in part bequeathed to him. + +Not long did his wife survive the marriage; and she died without +leaving any legacy of children to alleviate his loss. But the young +adventurer was not destined to remain for any length of time +disconsolate. Within a year of his wife's death, there arrived in the +colony a brother and sister named Pierre and Marguerite Radisson, +Huguenots of good family, who had been so persistently hounded in +France by the persecution which sought to exterminate their community, +that the one key to happiness had seemed to them to lie beyond the +seas. No sooner had their father died than they bade farewell to +France and sailed for Canada, there to start a new life amidst new and +more tranquil surroundings. + +With this couple young Groseilliers soon struck up an acquaintance; +and so rapidly did the intimacy ripen that before long he was united, +to the sister in matrimony, and to the brother in a partnership for +the pursuit of commercial adventure. The double union proved doubly +fortunate; for Marguerite seems to have made a well-suited wife, and +Pierre, though in birth and education superior to Groseilliers, was no +whit less hardy and adventurous, nor in any respect less fitted for +the arduous tasks which their rough life imposed upon them. The two +speedily became fast friends and associates in enterprise, and thus +united they soon took their place as the leading spirits of the +settlement at Three Rivers. Here, in 1656, Radisson married for the +first time, his bride being a Mlle. Elizabeth Herault, one of the few +Protestant young women in the whole of Canada. Groseilliers, who had +been long disgusted at the priestly tyranny of which he had seen so +much in Canada, probably needed but little inducement to embrace the +Protestant religion, if indeed this had not been stipulated upon at +the time of his marriage. At all events, we now find him reputed to be +among the Protestants of the Colony; some of whom were, in spite of +the bitter prejudice against them, the boldest and most successful +spirits the fur-trading community of that period had to show. + + [Illustration: RADISSON. + (_After an old print._)] + +[Sidenote: Radisson weds Miss Kirke.] + +Radisson, like Groseilliers,[6] had the misfortune to lose his wife +soon after their marriage; but, like his comrade, he too sought +consolation in a fresh marriage. This time he allied himself with the +daughter of a zealous English Protestant, who afterwards became Sir +John Kirke. It was to the brothers of this Kirke that the great +Champlain, thirty years before, had surrendered Quebec. + +With this introduction to the characters of the two remarkable men +whose fortunes were to become so closely entwined with that of the +Hudson's Bay Company, we may pass to their early efforts to extend the +fur-trade beyond those limits which the distracted and narrow-minded +officers of the Compagnie des Cent Assocés, thought it necessary to +observe. + +Reaching the shore of Lake Superior in the early summer of 1659, +Radisson and Groseilliers travelled for six days in a south-westerly +direction, and then came upon a tribe of Indians incorporated with the +Hurons, known as the Tionnontates, or the Tobacco Nation. These people +dwelt in the territory between the sources of the Black and Chippeway +rivers, in what is now the State of Wisconsin, whence, in terror of +the bloody enmity of the Iroquois, they afterwards migrated to the +small islands in Lake Michigan at the entrance of Green Bay. + +During their temporary sojourn with this branch of the unhappy Hurons +the two pioneering traders heard constant mention of a deep, wide, and +beautiful river--comparable to the St. Lawrence--to the westward, and +for a time they were half tempted by their ever-present thirst for +novelty to proceed in that direction. Other counsels, however, seem to +have prevailed; for instead of striking out for the unknown river of +the west they journeyed northward, and wintered with the +Nadouechiouecs or Sioux, who hunted and fished among the innumerable +lakes of Minnesota. Soon afterwards they came upon a separate band of +war-like Sioux, known as the Assiniboines, a prosperous and +intelligent tribe, who lived in skin and clay lodges and were +"familiar with the use of charcoal." + +[Sidenote: A Route to the Bay.] + +From these Assiniboines, Radisson and Groseilliers first heard of the +character and extent of that great bay to the north, named by the +English marine explorers "Hudson's Bay," which was to be the scene of +their later labours; and not only did they glean news of its nature, +but they also succeeded in obtaining information as to the means of +reaching it. + +In August, 1660, the two adventurers found their way back to Montreal, +after over a year's absence. They were accompanied by three hundred +Indians, and in possession of sixty canoes laden with furs, which they +undertook to dispose of to the advantage of the savages and +themselves. As they had anticipated, they found the little colony and +its leaders deeply interested in their reports of the extent and +richness of the fur-producing countries to the westward, as well as +in their description of the unfamiliar tribes inhabiting that region. +The sale of the furs having resulted in a handsome profit, +Groseilliers announced to his brother-in-law his intention of making +the journey on his own account. There was no dearth of volunteers +eager to embark in the enterprise, and from those who offered their +services he chose six Frenchmen--_coureurs des bois_ or bushrangers; +and having provided himself with an ample outfit, turned his footsteps +once more to the prairies of the west, while Radisson went to rejoin +his wife and sister at Three Rivers. + +On the eve of his departure the Jesuit Fathers, distrusting +Groseilliers' religious proclivities and suspecting that he might +attempt to influence the Assiniboines, insisted upon one of their +number accompanying him. The priest chosen for this arduous mission +was the aged missionary Réné Ménard, who, in spite of his physical +frailty was still undaunted by any prospect of peril; though he was, +on this occasion, prevailed upon to allow his servant Guérin to +accompany him. It was the priest's last journey. When Groseilliers +again reached Montreal, after a season in the wilderness as prosperous +as its forerunner, he bore the mournful news that Ménard had been +massacred and his body, beyond question, devoured by a fierce band of +Indians. + +This voyage, besides showing lucrative results, also proved a +memorable one for Groseilliers, inasmuch as it was during his winter's +sojourn with the distant Assiniboines that he acquired information +which affected his whole subsequent career. There can be no question +that it was the knowledge he obtained from this tribe of a convenient +route to Hudson's Bay, by way of Lake Superior, and of a system of +trade with the tribes dwelling on or in proximity to that unknown sea, +that caused him to set out once again in May, 1662, for the west. He +was accompanied by ten men, all of whom were disaffected towards the +powers which then controlled the fur-trade in New France, and the +combination of good fortune and _esprit de corps_ among his followers +proved so successful that when, after a year's absence, he returned +to the eastern colonies, the number of furs he brought back was +sufficiently great to render a simultaneous disposal of all the packs +inadvisable. He adopted the wise course of dividing them into three +consignments, and these were sold respectively at Montreal, Three +Rivers, and Quebec. Henceforward, but one idea possessed +Groseilliers--a journey to the great fur-lands of the north. It should +be his life's work to exploit the fur-trade of Hudson's Bay. Already +he saw himself rich--richer even than the merchant-princes of old +Rochelle. + +[Sidenote: A new fur Company.] + +But alas for his plans, the official laxity and dissensions which had +made it possible for himself and others thus to infringe with +impunity, the general monopoly granted by the King came to a sudden +end. A fresh patent for a new Company was issued by the Crown; a new +Governor, M. d'Avagour, entered upon the scene, and the rigorous +measures enacted against private traders drove many of these over to +the English and the Dutch. + +A commission from M. d'Avagour, dated the 10th of May, 1663, conveyed +permission to one M. Couture to remove with five men to the bottom of +the Great Bay to the North of Canada, consequent upon the requisition +of some Indians, who had returned to Quebec to ask for aid to conduct +and assist them in their affairs. This same Couture afterwards +certified, or the French Government certified in his stead, that he +really undertook this voyage, and "erected anew upon the lands at the +bottom of the said Bay a cross and the arms of the King engraved on +copper, and placed between two plates of lead at the foot of a large +tree." Much justifiable doubt has been cast upon this story, and at a +much later period, when French and English interests were contesting +hotly for the sovereignty of the territory surrounding Hudson's Bay, +an expedition was sent in search of the boasted memorials, but no +trace of the cross or the copper escutcheon could be found. There +seems every probability that the allegation, or the subsequent +statement of an allegation of this description, was false. + +Groseilliers had thus to reckon with the new fur-trading proprietors +of Quebec, who were to prove themselves less complaisant than the old. +They instantly interdicted traders from going in search of peltries; +reasoning that the produce would ultimately find its way into their +hands, without the need of any such solicitation. And though +Groseilliers persistently explained to them that their policy of +interdiction was really a short-sighted one; that the Indians could +not be always depended upon to bring their own furs to the Company's +mart; and that no great time would elapse before the English or Dutch +would push their way westward to Lake Superior, and so acquire an +unequalled opportunity of developing the resources of the northern +regions; neither his criticism and advice (founded on personal +knowledge of the unstable Indian character) nor the apprehensions of +rivalry, which he showed good grounds for entertaining, had any power +to move the officials of the Hundred Associates. Neither argument, +entreaty, nor prognostications of danger would induce them to look +with any favour upon Groseilliers' project, or even entertain his +proposals. + +[Sidenote: Groseilliers in Boston.] + +Groseilliers afterwards hinted that it was prejudice against his +adopted religion which really lay at the bottom of this complete +rejection of his scheme, and also accounted for the Company's refusal +to avail themselves of his services, otherwise than as a mere salaried +servant. It was at this juncture that he sought the advice of +Radisson, and it is not unlikely that it was the counsels of his +brother-in-law which induced him to resolve upon a bold step in the +furtherance of his cherished project. It was well-known that the +English colonists settled in New England were putting forth the +strongest efforts to secure a share of the fur-trade of the North. +Their allies, the redoubtable Iroquois, had upon several occasions +way-laid and plundered the Huron tribes, who were conveying their +cargoes to Quebec and Montreal, and had delivered these into the hands +of the English. Farther westward, the Dutch were indefatigable in +their endeavours to divert the fur-traffic of the North from the St. +Lawrence to the Hudson. But the Dutch had been vanquished by the +English; New Amsterdam was now New York; and it was English brains +and English money which now controlled the little colony and the +untravelled lands which lay beyond it. It was to the English, +therefore, that the indomitable adventurer now determined to apply. +Madame Radisson had relatives in Boston; her father was an intimate +friend of the Governor. Relying on such influences as these, but still +more on the soundness of his project, Groseilliers made his way to +Boston by way of Acadia. + + [Illustration: A CHART OF HUDSON'S STREIGHTS AND BAY OF DAVIS + STREIGHTS, AND BAFFIN'S BAY; AS PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1668. ] + +Early in 1664 we find the Mother Superior of the Ursuline Nuns at +Quebec writing thus of Groseilliers: + +"As he had not been successful in making a fortune, he was seized with +a fancy to go to New England to better his condition. He excited a +hope among the English that he had found a passage to the Sea of the +North." + +The good Mother Superior was deceived. It was no part of Groseilliers' +plan to seek a passage to the Sea of the North; but one can hardly +doubt that he found it highly politic that such a report should obtain +currency in Quebec. The fur-trade of the North, and the fur-trade +alone, was Groseilliers' lode-stone; but in spite of all it had cost +him to acquire the knowledge he already possessed, he was ready to +abandon the land and fresh water route, and seek the shores of +Hudson's Bay from the side of the Atlantic Ocean. + +Doubtless many causes operated to alter his original plan; but there +can be little question that the most potent was the opposition of the +Canadian Company. Yet had the sea route not existed, even the +opposition of the Company would not have sufficed to baulk him of a +fulfilment of his designs. He would not have been the first French +trader, even at that early day in the history of the rival colonies, +to circumvent his countrymen, and, taking advantage of their confined +area of activity, to conduct negotiations with the Indians surrounding +the most distant outposts of their territory. The proceeding would +have been hazardous had the Company possessed the force necessary to +assert its rights to the trade of the whole northern and north-western +country; but the new company would not as yet possess the force. The +most real danger Groseilliers had to fear was that, if he persisted in +his endeavours to draw away the trade of the northern tribes, he might +be outlawed and his property, and that of his brother-in-law Radisson, +confiscated. Groseilliers had left his wife and his son in Canada, and +he therefore went to work with considerable caution. + +It has been asserted, and perhaps with excellent point, that +Groseilliers may have been very powerfully influenced in the +abandonment of his land and fresh water route by obtaining an entirely +new idea of the configuration of northern North America. In the maps +which were likely at that time to have found their way to Quebec, the +northern regions are but very dimly defined; and with the knowledge of +geography gained only from these maps Groseilliers could hardly have +realized the accessibility of the approach by sea. It seems likely +therefore that the change of route was not even thought of until +Groseilliers had had his interview with Radisson; it was probably +Radisson--with his superior geographical knowledge and more thorough +comprehension (through his kinship with the Kirkes, all famous +mariners) of the discoveries made by the English in the northern +parts--who advocated the sea-route. The idea must have grown upon him +gradually. His countrymen took it for granted that the whole northern +country was theirs, apparently assuming the sole mode of access to be +by land. The sea route never seems to have occurred to them, or if +they thought of it at all, it was dismissed as dangerous and +impracticable for purposes of commerce. The configuration of the +northern country, the form and extent of the seas, certainly the +character of the straits and islands, were to them little known. +Secure in what they regarded as nominal possession, forgetful that +English mariners had penetrated and named these northern waters, the +officials of the Canada Company were content to pursue a policy of +_laissez faire_ and to deprecate all apprehensions of rivalry. + +Singular coincidence! More than a century was to elapse and another +Company with ten times the wealth, the power, the sovereignty wielded +by this one: not French--for France had then been shorn of her +dominion and authority--but English, scorning the all-conquering, +all-pervading spirit of mercantile England, was to pursue the same +policy, and to suffer the loss of much blood and treasure in +consequence of such pursuit. + +[Sidenote: Groseilliers finds no patrons.] + +In Boston, the main difficulty which Groseilliers encountered was a +scarcity of wealth. His scheme was approved by many of the leading +spirits there, and his assertions as to the wealth of the fur-bearing +country were not doubted. But at that period the little Puritan colony +was much put to it to carry out projects for its own security and +maintenance, not to mention plans for enrichment much nearer home. And +it was pointed out to him that so long as schemes which were regarded +as essential to safety could only be with difficulty supported, no +pecuniary assistance could be rendered for an extraneous project, +however promising its nature.[7] + + [Illustration: PRINCE RUPERT. + (_After the painting by Sir P. Lely._)] + +There were in Boston at this time, however, four personages whom the +King had sent as envoys, in 1664, to force the Dutch to evacuate +Manhattan, and who were also a kind of commission instructed to visit +the English colonies, and to hear and rule their complaints. They were +Richard Nichols, Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick. +One of these, Colonel Carr, it is said, strongly urged Groseilliers to +proceed to England and offer his services to the King. + +[Sidenote: Zachary Gillam.] + +Although, therefore, he was unable to secure there the patronage he +desired, Groseilliers' visit to Boston was not quite barren of profit. +He fell in besides with an intelligent sea-faring man, Zachary Gillam, +who was then captain and part-owner of a small vessel, the _Nonsuch_, +with which he plied a trade between the colony and the mother country. +Gillam expressed himself eager to assist in the project as far as lay +in his power, and offered his services in case an equipment could be +found. A long correspondence passed between Groseilliers and his +brother-in-law in Canada, the latter very naturally urging that as the +New England project had failed, it would be advisable not to seek +further aid from the English, but that, as nothing was to be expected +from the Canada Company, or the merchants of Canada, it would be as +well to journey to France, and put the matter before the French Court. + + +Groseilliers seems to have agreed to this; and he wrote back begging +Radisson to join him in Boston with the object of accompanying him to +France. In June, 1665, both the adventurers set sail in the _Nonsuch_ +for Plymouth, whence in all likelihood they proceeded direct to Havre. + +It would be unprofitable, and at best but a repetition, to describe +the difficulties Groseilliers and his brother-in-law met with in +Paris, the petitions they presented and the many verbal +representations they made. In the midst of their ill-success Colonel +Carr came to Paris. There is extant a letter of his to Lord Arlington. +"Having heard," says he, "by the French in New England of a great +traffic in beavers" to be got in the region of Hudson's Bay, and +"having had proofs of the assertions" of the two adventurers, he +thought "the finest present" he could make to his majesty was to +despatch these men to him. + +The ambassador pondered on this and at last decided to entrust +Groseilliers with a letter to a certain prince--a friend of his--and a +patron of the Arts and Sciences. Leaving Radisson despondent in Paris, +therefore, the other adventurer crossed the Channel and found himself, +with a beating heart, for the first time in the English capital. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] Each writer seems to have followed his own fancy in spelling our +hero's name, I find Groiseliez, Grozeliers, Groseliers, Groiziliers, +Grosillers, Groiseleiz, and Groseillers. Charlevoix spells it +Groseilliers. Dr. Dionne, following Radisson's Chouard, writes +Chouart. But as Dr. Brymner justly observes "he is as little known by +that name as Voltaire by his real name of Arouet, he being always +spoken of by the name of des Groseilliers, changed in one affidavit +into 'Gooseberry.'" The name literally translated is, of course, +Gooseberry-bushes. + +[7] For example, the adjoining colony of Connecticut had appealed to +them for help in their laudable enterprise of despoiling the Dutch of +their possessions. Raids upon the territory and trading-posts +controlled by the Dutch were a constantly recurring feature in the +history of those times, and nearly the whole of the zeal and substance +remaining to the English colonists in Connecticut and Virginia, after +their periodical strifes with the Indians, were devoted to forcing the +unhappy Hollanders to acknowledge the sovereignty of King Charles of +England. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +1667-1668. + + Prince Rupert -- His Character -- Serves through the Civil War + -- His Naval Expedition in the West Indies -- Residence in + France -- And ultimately in London -- He receives Groseilliers + and introduces him to the King. + + +It was a fortunate chance for Medard Chouart des Groseilliers that +threw him, as we shall see, into the hands of such a man as Rupert, +Prince of England and Bohemia. + +A dashing soldier, a daring sailor, a keen and enlightened student, a +man of parts, and at the age of forty-seven still worshipping +adventure as a fetish and irresistibly attracted by anything that +savoured of novelty, there was perhaps no other noble in England more +likely to listen to such a project as the Canadian was prepared to +pour into his ear, no prince in the whole of Europe more likely to +succumb to its charm. + +Rupert may, on good grounds, be considered one of the most remarkable +men of that age. He was the third son of the King of Bohemia by the +Princess Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter of James I. In common with +most German princes he had been educated for the army; and, as he used +to observe himself in after years, there was no profession better +fitted for a prince provided he could be allowed to fight battles. It +was a maxim of his that the arts of patience, of strategy, and +parleying with the enemy should be left to statesmen and caitiffs; and +it can be said with truth of Rupert that no one could possibly have +acted more completely in accordance with his rule than himself. "Than +Prince Rupert," wrote a chronicler at his death, "no man was more +courageous or intrepid. He could storm a citadel but, alas, he could +never keep it. A lion in the fray, he was a very lamb, tho' a fuming +one, if a siege was called for." + + [Illustration: PRINCE RUPERT. + (_After a painting by Vandyke._)] + +Youthful, high-spirited and of comely appearance, Rupert found his way +to England during his twentieth year to offer his services to his +royal uncle, King Charles I. The country was then on the brink of a +civil war. Parliament had proved refractory. The Puritan forces had +already assembled; and in a few months the first blow was struck. The +young Prince placed himself at the head of a troop of cavaliers and +soon all England was ringing with the fame of his exploits. On more +than one occasion did Cromwell have reason to remember the prowess of +"fiery Prince Rupert." + +[Sidenote: The Great Company's Founder.] + +Such dashing tactics and spontaneous strategy, however, could not +always prevail. He was charged with the defence of Bristol, with what +result is a matter of common historical knowledge. His own observation +on this episode in his career is an admirable epitome of his +character, as comprehensive as it is brief, "I have no stomach for +sieges." + +Charles wrote him a letter of somewhat undue severity, in which he +exhibited all the asperity of his character as well as his ignorance +of the situation. Perhaps if he had realized that the circumstances +would have rendered the retention of Bristol impossible even to a +Caesar or a Turenne, he might have written in a more tolerant strain; +but it is not very probable. In any case the letter cut Rupert to the +heart. + +Before his final overthrow Charles, indeed, relented from his +severity, and created his nephew Earl of Holdernesse and Duke of +Cumberland, granting him also a safe conduct to France, which was +honoured by the Parliamentary leaders. + +Thenceforward for a few years Rupert's career is directly associated +with the high seas. On the revolt of the fleet from the control of the +Commonwealth he made his way on board of one of the King's vessels, +and figured in several naval battles and skirmishes. But even here the +result was a foregone conclusion. The bulk of the ships and crews +still remaining loyal were rapidly captured or sunk, and the remnant, +of which Rupert assumed command, was exceedingly small. He began by +sailing to Ireland, whither he was pursued by Popham and Blake, who +very quickly blocked him up in the harbour of Kinsale. But the Puritan +captains were deceived if, as it appears, they fancied the Prince an +easy prey. Rupert was no more the sailor than he had been the soldier +to brook so facile a capture. He effected a bold escape, just under +their guns. But realizing his helplessness to engage the Puritan fleet +in open combat, he inaugurated a series of minor conflicts, a kind of +guerilla warfare, which, to our modern notions, would best be +classified under the head of privateering, to use no harsher term. + +[Sidenote: A resemblance to piracy.] + +The Spanish Main was at that period an excellent ground for operations +of this kind, and with very little delay Rupert was soon very busy +with his small but gallant fleet in those waters. Here the commander +of the little _Reformation_ and his convoys spent three years with no +little pecuniary profit to himself and crew. On more than one occasion +his exploits in the neighbourhood of the West Indies bore no distant +resemblance to piracy, as he boarded impartially not only English, +Dutch and Spanish ships, but also those flying the English colours. +Howbeit on one occasion, being advised that the master of one craft +was a Frenchman, he generously forebore to reap the profits of his +valour out of respect to the monarch with whom both his cousins, +Charles and James, had found a refuge. He insisted that the plunder +should be restored. On the whole, however, Rupert seems to have had +little conscience in the matter. The mere excitement of such +adventures alone delighted him, although it would scarce have +satisfied his crews. There is reason to suppose that he himself was +not actuated primarily by the mere love of gain. It is known that +several of his captains returned with large fortunes; Rupert's own +profits were long a matter for conjecture. Even at his death they +could not be approximately ascertained; for while he left a goodly +fortune, comprising jewels valued at twenty thousand pounds, much of +this fortune was acquired legitimately since these stirring days of +his youth; and no small part was derived from his share in the +Hudson's Bay Company. + +The exiled prince, in whose name Rupert was always extremely careful +to conduct his depredations on the prosperous commerce of the West +Indies, does not appear himself to have derived much material +advantage therefrom. It was true the terror of his name was already +industriously spread in those waters, and this perhaps was some +consolation for the contempt with which it was regarded by the +insolent and usurping Puritans. In a newspaper of the period, +"Pleasant Passages," I find under date of October 15, 1652, the +following quaint comment: + +"Prince Rupert hath lately seized on some good prizes and he keeps +himself far remote; and makes his kinsman, Charles Stuart, make a leg +for some cullings of his windfalls." + +[Sidenote: Loss of the "Reformation."] + +Rupert after a time transferred the scene of his operations to the +Azores, where after some collisions with the Portuguese, he met with a +catastrophe so severe as to compel him to permanently desist from his +predatory operations. A violent storm came on, and the _Reformation_ +and his entire fleet perished, no fewer than 360 souls being lost on +the flagship. It was with difficulty that the Prince and twelve of his +companions, including his brother Maurice, escaped with a portion of +the treasure. A contemporary news-writer records that Rupert had +landed at Nantes with ten thousand pounds or so, "'tis said by those +best informed. The King hath sent his carriage to meet him at +Orleans." + +Charles, who was of course the King mentioned, was then in high hopes +of obtaining funds from his cousin Rupert, which might enable him to +make an effort for the recovery of his crown. But the king, minus a +throne, was destined to be disappointed. Rupert did not yet seem +prepared to disgorge, acting, it is easy to see, on advice.[8] + +"No money for his Majesty out of all this," forms the burden of +numerous letters written by the faithful Edward Hyde, afterwards to +become the Lord Chancellor Clarendon. + +"The money the King should have received!" he complains, in an epistle +addressed to Sir Richard Browne. "Why, Rupert is so totally governed +by the Lord Keeper, Sir Edward Herbert, that the King knows him not. +The King hasn't had a penny, and Rupert pretends the King owes him +more than ever I was worth." + +Hyde had no love for the Lord Keeper of the exiled court; but +according to several contemporary writers, the buccaneering Prince +looked upon Herbert as "an oracle," (to quote the diarist Evelyn) and +chose for a time at least to spend most of his gains in his own way. + +But Rupert did not persist in the course suggested by his friend +Herbert. Soon afterwards he is announced to have made Charles a +present of two thousand pounds, for which the King expressed his +profound satisfaction by attaching him immediately to the royal +household. + +A little later, in 1654, there is recorded the following, printed in +the "Loyal Gentleman at Court." + +"Prince Rupert flourishes highly here, with his troop of blackamoors; +and so doth his cousin Charles, they having shared the money made of +his prize goods at Nantz." + +[Sidenote: Rupert's Secretary.] + +It was in this year that Rupert seems to have engaged one William +Strong, a cavalier who had lost all he possessed, to replace John +Holder as his private secretary, a circumstance worthy of mention, +inasmuch as it was Strong who was to figure later as the intermediary +between his master and the adventurer Groseilliers in London. + +There is a passage of this period which describes Rupert as he +appeared in Paris, "a straight and comely man, very dark-featured," +probably owing to exposure in warm climates, "with jet black hair and +a great passion for dress." He is often referred to in news-letters +and diaries of the time under the sobriquet of the "Black Prince." + +"Our Black Prince Ruperte" records one, "has had a narrow escape from +drowning in the Seine; but by the help of one of his blackamoors +escaped." + +This was perhaps the period of the closest friendship between Charles +and his Bohemian cousin; inasmuch as a decided coolness had already +arisen on the part of the exiled monarch and his brother, the Duke of +York. This coolness at length terminated in a quarrel, and a +separation in the ensuing year at Bruges. Indeed, the Duke advised +Rupert to have no further dealings with his royal brother, a +proposition which the Prince wisely, and fortunately for himself, +neglected to entertain, for had he acted otherwise, it is extremely +doubtful if at the Restoration he would have been in a position to +demand any favours at the monarch's hands. James, probably on this +score, never afterwards professed much cordiality towards his kinsman, +Rupert. + +[Sidenote: A patron of commerce.] + +In the years between 1656 and 1665, Rupert spent much of his time in +cultivating science and the arts. There are a hundred evidences of his +extraordinary ingenuity. A mere list of his devices and inventions, as +printed at his decease in 1682, almost entitles him to be considered +the Edison of his day, a day in which inventors were rare. Yet in the +period before the outbreak of the Dutch war his activity was by no +means limited to the laboratory which he had constructed for himself +in Kings' Bench Walk, Temple, or to his study at Windsor. None could +have exhibited greater versatility. In April, 1662, he was sworn a +member of the Privy Council; he also became a member of the Tangier +Commission; and in December of the same year he was unanimously +elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He already cut a prominent +figure as a patron of commerce, being appointed a member of the +Council of Trade, and taking an active part in the promotion of +commerce with Africa as a member of the Royal African Company. + +With all his sympathies and activities, however, it is very clear that +Rupert did not enjoy very great favour at Court. He was suspected of +holding his royal cousin in not very high esteem, and of entertaining +pronounced opinions on the subject of the royal prerogative; whatever +the cause, his influence at Whitehall was not always fortunate. Seeing +his councils neglected on several occasions, he kept aloof, and the +courtiers, taking as they supposed their cue from their master, made +light of his past achievements, finding in his surrender of the city +of Bristol, a specially suitable subject for their derision. + +In 1664 we find in Pepys' Diary that Rupert had been "sent to command +the Guinny Fleet. Few pleased, as he is accounted an unhappy [_i.e._, +unlucky] man." As a consequence of these sentiments, which Rupert was +soon destined by his valour to alter, one Captain Holmes was sent +instead. Nevertheless it was known at Court that Rupert desired a +naval employment, and as the authorities found that their estimate of +his abilities was not mistaken, he was in 1666 selected to command the +fleet against the Dutch, in conjunction with the Duke of Albemarle. +His conduct was most exemplary. On one occasion he wrested a victory +from the Dutch, and again in the month of June beat them soundly, +pursuing them into their own harbour. Returning to England on the +cessation of hostilities, he found himself in much higher favour at +Court. But with a single exception, which I will proceed to relate, +Rupert sought no favours at the hands of his royal relations from this +moment until the day of his death. He was content to pursue an even +career in comparative solitude, a circumstance for which a serious +physical ailment, which soon overtook and for a time threatened his +life, was no doubt in some measure responsible. The fire which +distinguished his youth was exchanged, we are told, for good temper +and sedateness. He was credited with writing an autobiography, but if +the report be true, it is a pity there remains no tangible evidence of +such an intention. It is certain that his correspondence was so large +as to entail the continuous employment of a secretary, William Strong; +but prior to the inception of the Hudson's Bay project, it probably +related almost entirely to his chemical and scientific researches and +achievements. + +In May, 1667, the Prince's secretary opened a letter from Lord +Preston, then English ambassador at Paris, intimating that one M. des +Groseilliers, a Canadian fur-trader, would be the bearer of an +introductory letter from himself to his highness. He was convinced +that the French were managing the fur-trade of New France very +clumsily, and he added that Monsieur des Groseilliers seemed as much +disaffected towards the new company lately chartered by the French +king as towards the old. There is no reason, in the writer's opinion, +why English men of commerce should not avail themselves of +opportunities and instruments, such as the weak policy of their rivals +now afforded, for obtaining a share in the northern fur-trade. + +[Sidenote: Rupert sends for Groseilliers.] + +Unfortunately Rupert was at first unable to see the adventurer who had +travelled so far. The cause of the delay is not quite clear, but it +appears plausible to suppose that it was due to the Prince's illness. +He had already undergone the operation of trepanning, and it was found +necessary to still continue treatment for the disease to which he had +been subject. At any rate it was a fortnight or three weeks before the +first interview took place, and the Prince and the French trader did +not meet until the 4th of June. The result of this interview was that +Prince Rupert promised his credit for the scheme. Three days later he +sent for Groseilliers, who found on his arrival in the Prince's +apartments several gentlemen, among whom Lord Craven, Sir John +Robinson and Mr. John Portman appear to have been numbered. In a week +from this conference both Radisson, Groseilliers and Portman travelled +to Windsor Castle at the request of the Prince. There is no record of +what then passed, but there is mention of a further meeting in a +letter written by Oldenburgh, the secretary of the Royal Society to +Robert Boyle, in America. + +"Surely I need not tell you from hence" he wrote, "what is said here +with great joy of the discovery of a north-west passage by two +Englishmen and one Frenchman, lately represented by them to his +Majesty at Oxford and, answered by the grant of a vessel to sail into +Hudson's Bay and channel into the South Sea." + +From this it would appear that Radisson was then popularly supposed to +be an Englishman, probably on account of his being Sir John Kirke's +son-in-law, and also that the matter was not settled at Windsor, but +at Oxford. + +Then came a long delay--during which there is nothing worthy of +record. It was too late to attempt a voyage to the Bay in 1667, but +during the autumn and winter Groseilliers and Radisson could console +themselves with the assurance that their scheme had succeeded. + +For at last the adventurers had met with a tangible success. A ship +was engaged and fitted out for them; and it was none other than that +commanded by their Boston friend, Captain Zachary Gillam. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[8] "We have another great officer," records "Pleasant Passages" in +another budget of news from Paris, "Prince Ruperte, Master of the +Horse." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +1668-1670. + + The Prince Visits the _Nonsuch_ -- Arrival in the Bay -- + Previous Voyages of Exploration -- A Fort Commenced at Rupert's + River -- Gillam's Return -- Dealing with the Nodwayes -- + Satisfaction of the Company -- A Royal Charter Granted. + + +Early in the morning of the 3rd of June, 1668, without attracting +undue attention from the riparian dwellers and loiterers, a small +skiff shot out from Wapping Old Stairs. The boatman directed its prow +towards the _Nonsuch_, a ketch of fifty tons, then lying at anchor in +mid-Thames, and soon had the satisfaction of conveying on board in +safety his Highness Prince Rupert, Lord Craven, and Mr. Hays, the +distinguished patrons of an interesting expedition that day embarking +for the New World. Radisson was to have accompanied the expedition but +he had met with an accident and was obliged to forego the journey +until the following year. + +All hands being piped on deck, a salute was fired in honour of the +visitors. Captain Zachary Gillam and the Sieur des Groseilliers +received the Prince, and undertook to exhibit, not without a proper +pride, their craft and its cargo. Subsequently a descent was made to +the captain's cabin, where a bottle of Madeira was broached, and the +success of the voyage toasted by Rupert and his companions. The party +then returned to Wapping, amidst a ringing cheer from captain and +crew. By ten o'clock the _Nonsuch_ had weighed anchor and her voyage +had begun. + +The passage across the Atlantic was without any incident worthy of +record. The vessel was fortunate in encountering no gales or rough +seas. The leisure of Groseilliers and Captain Gillam was employed +chiefly in discussing the most advantageous landfall, and in drawing +up plans for a settlement for fort-building and for trade with the +tribes. By the 4th of August they sighted Resolution Isle, at the +entrance of Hudson's Straits. They continued fearlessly on their +course. During their progress the shores on either hand were +occasionally visible; and once a squall compelled them to go so near +land as to descry a band of natives, the like of whom for bulk and +singularity of costume, Groseilliers and the captain had never clapped +eyes upon. They were right in judging these to be Esquimaux. + +[Sidenote: The "Nonsuch" in the Bay.] + +On the seventh day of their passage amongst those narrow channels and +mountains of ice which had chilled the enthusiasm and impeded the +progress of several daring navigators before them, the forty-two souls +on board the _Nonsuch_ were rewarded with a sight of Hudson's Bay.[9] + +Already, and long before the advent of the _Nonsuch_, Hudson's Bay had +a history and a thrilling one. + +In 1576 Sir Martin Frobisher made his first voyage for the discovery +of a passage to China and Cathay by the north-west, discovering and +entering a strait to which he gave his name. In the following year he +made a second voyage, "using all possible means to bring the natives +to trade, or give him some account of themselves, but they were so +wild that they only studied to destroy the English." Frobisher +remained until winter approached and then returned to England. A +further voyage of his in 1578-79 made no addition to the knowledge +already derived. + +Six years later Captain John Davis sailed from Dartmouth, and in that +and succeeding voyages reached the Arctic circle through the straits +bearing his name. He related having found an open sea tending +westward, which he hoped might be the passage so long sought for; but +the weather proved too tempestuous, and, the season being far +advanced, he likewise returned to a more hospitable clime. After this +there were no more adventures in this quarter of the world until 1607, +when Captain Hudson explored as far north as 80 degrees 23 minutes. On +his third voyage, two years later, he proceeded a hundred leagues +farther along the strait, and arriving at the Bay resolved to winter +there. + +Hudson was preparing for further exploration when Henry Green, a +profligate youth, whom he had taken into his house and preserved from +ruin by giving him a berth on board without the knowledge of the +owners, conspired with one Robert Ivett, the mate, whom Captain Hudson +had removed, to mutiny against Hudson's command. These turned the +captain, with his young son John, a gentleman named Woodhouse, who had +accompanied the expedition, together with the carpenter and five +others, into a long-boat, with hardly any provisions or arms. The +inhuman crew suffered all the hardships they deserved, for in a +quarrel they had with the savages Green and two of his companions were +slain. As for Ivett, who had made several voyages with Hudson, and was +the cause of all the mischief, he died on the passage home. Habbakuk +Prickett, one of the crew, who wrote all the account we have of the +latter part of the voyage, was a servant of Sir Dudley Diggs. Probably +his master's influence had something to do with his escape from +punishment. + +[Sidenote: Henry Hudson's fate.] + +This was the last ever seen or heard, by white men, of Henry Hudson, +and there is every likelihood that he and the others drifted to the +bottom of the Bay and were massacred by the savages. + +In the year of Hudson's death Sir Thomas Button, at the instigation of +that patron of geographical science, Prince Henry, pursued the dead +hero's discoveries. He passed Hudson's Straits and, traversing the +Bay, settled above two hundred leagues to the south-west from the +straits, bestowing upon the adjacent region the name of New Wales. +Wintering in the district afterwards called Port Nelson, Button made +an investigation of the boundaries of this huge inland sea, from him +named Button's Bay. + +In 1611 came the expedition of Baffin; and in 1631 Captain James +sailed westward to find the long-sought passage to China, spending the +winter at Charlton Island, which afterwards became a depot of the +Company. Captain Luke Fox went out in the same year, but his success +was no greater than his predecessors in attaining the object of his +search. He landed at Port Nelson and explored the country round about, +without however much advantage either to himself or to his crew. When +the _Nonsuch_ arrived a quarter of a century had passed since an +European had visited Hudson's Bay. + +After much consultation, the adventurers sailed southward from Cape +Smith, and on Sept. 29 decided to cast anchor at the entrance to a +river situated in 51 degrees latitude. The journey was ended; the +barque's keel grated on the gravel, a boat was lowered and Gillam and +Groseilliers went promptly ashore. The river was christened Rupert's +River,[10] and it being arranged to winter here, all hands were ordered +ashore to commence the construction of a fort and dwellings, upon +which the name of King Charles was bestowed. Thus our little +ship's-load of adventurers stood at last on the remotest shores of the +New World; all but two of them strangers in a strange land. + +[Sidenote: The first Fort.] + +For three days after their arrival Groseilliers and his party beheld +no savages. The work of constructing the fort went on apace. It was, +under Groseilliers' direction, made of logs, after the fashion of +those built by the traders and Jesuits in Canada; a stockade enclosing +it, as some protection from sudden attack. The experienced bushranger +deemed it best not to land the cargo until communication had been made +with the natives; and their attitude, friendly or otherwise, towards +the strangers ascertained. No great time was spent in waiting; for on +the fourth day a small band of the tribe called Nodwayes appeared, +greatly astonished at the presence of white settlers in those parts. +After a great deal of parleying, the Indians were propitiated by +Groseilliers with some trifling gifts, and the object of their +settlement made known. The Indians retired, promising to return before +the winter set in with all the furs in their possession, and also to +spread the tidings amongst the other tribes. + +The autumn supply proved scanty enough; but the adventurers being well +provisioned could afford to wait until the spring. + +Groseilliers' anticipations were realized; but not without almost +incredible activity on his part. He spent the summer and autumn, and +part of the ensuing winter, in making excursions into the interior. He +made treaties with the Nodwayes, the Kilistineaux, the Ottawas, and +other detachments of the Algonquin race. Solemn conclaves were held, +in which the bushranger dwelt--with that rude eloquence of which he +was master, and which both he and Radisson had borrowed from the +Indians--on the superior advantages of trade with the English. Nor did +his zeal here pause; knowing the Indian character as he did, he +concocted stories about the English King and Prince Rupert; many a +confiding savage that year enriched his pale-face vocabulary by adding +to it "Charles" and "Rupert," epithets which denoted that transcendent +twain to whom the French bushranger had transferred his labours and +his allegiance. + +The winter of 1668-69 dragged its slow length along, and in due course +the ground thawed and the snow disappeared. No sooner had the spring +really arrived than strange natives began to make their appearance, +evincing a grotesque eagerness to strike bargains with the whites for +the pelts which they brought from the bleak fastnesses. By June it was +thought fit that Captain Gillam should return with the _Nonsuch_, +leaving Groseilliers and others at the fort. Gillam accordingly sailed +away with such cargo as they had been able to muster, to report to the +Prince and his company of merchants the excellent prospects afforded +by the post on Rupert's River, provided only the Indians could be made +aware of its existence, and the French trade intercepted. + + [Illustration: THE ORIGINAL CHARTER OF THE GREAT COMPANY. + (_From a Photograph._)] + +[Sidenote: Groseilliers' presence of mind.] + +Chouart des Groseilliers in all his transactions with the natives +exhibited great hardihood of speech and action; and few indeed were +the occasions which caught him unawares. It happened more than once, +for instance, that some of the wandering Algonquins or Hurons +recognized in this smooth-tongued leader of the English fort the same +French trader they had known at Montreal, and the French posts on the +western lakes, and marvelled much that he who had then been loudly +crying "up King Lewis and the Fleur-de-lis," should now be found +surrounded by pale-faces of a different speech, known to be the allies +of the terrible Iroquois. Groseilliers met their exclamations with a +smile; he represented himself as profoundly dissatisfied with the +manner in which the French traders treated his friends the Indians, +causing them to travel so far and brave such perils to bring their +furs, and giving them so little in return. "Tell all your friends to +come hither," he cried, "and King Charles will give you double what +King Lewis gives." + +In August, 1669, a gun was heard by Groseilliers and his English and +native companions. With great joy the bushranger ran from the fort to +the point of land commanding the Bay, thinking to welcome back Gillam +and the expected _Nonsuch_. But as the vessel came nearer he saw it +was not the _Nonsuch_, and for a moment he was dismayed, uncertain +whether or not to make himself known. But the colour of the flag she +carried reassured him; he caused a fire to be made, that the attention +of those on board might be attracted by the smoke; and was soon made +aware that his signal had been seen. The sloop headed up Rupert's +River, and a boat containing three men was lowered from her side. +Greater still was Groseilliers' joy when he recognized amongst the +approaching party in the boat his brother-in-law, Pierre Radisson. +These two sturdy children of the wilderness embraced one another with +great affection and set to work diligently to barter. The _Nonsuch_ +arrived safely in the Thames in the month of August. + +[Sidenote: Satisfaction of the Adventurers.] + +It would be difficult to exaggerate the satisfaction of the company +of London merchants at hearing the results of their first venture. +They had taken counsel together, and considering the importance of +securing a charter of monopoly from the King to be paramount, Prince +Rupert was persuaded to use his good offices to this end. + +Charles was doubtless relieved to hear that his cousin Rupert desired +no greater favour. He expressed himself ready to grant such a patent, +provided the Lord Chancellor approved. A charter was accordingly drawn +up forthwith at the instance of the Prince, in the usual form of such +charters; but the winter of 1669-70 elapsed without its having +received the royal assent. Indeed it was not until the second day of +May that Prince Rupert, presenting himself at Whitehall, received from +the King's own hands one of the most celebrated instruments which ever +passed from monarch to subject, and which, though almost incessantly +in dispute, was perpetuated in full force throughout two +centuries.[11] + +[Sidenote: The Charter.] + +This document was granted to Prince Rupert and seventeen nobles and +gentlemen, comprising the Duke of Albemarle,[12] Earls Craven and +Arlington, Lord Ashley,[13] Sir John Robinson, Sir Robert Vyner, Sir +Peter Colleton, Sir Edward Hungerford, Sir Paul Neele, Sir John +Griffith, Sir Philip Carteret, Knights and Baronets; James Hays, John +Kirke, Francis Wellington, William Prettyman, John Fenn, Esquires, and +John Portman, "Citizen and Goldsmith," incorporated into a company, +with the exclusive right to establish settlements and carry on trade +at Hudson's Bay. The charter recites that those adventurers having, at +their own great cost, undertaken an expedition to Hudson's Bay in +order to discover a new passage into the South Sea, and to find a +trade for furs, minerals and other commodities, and having made such +discoveries as encouraged them to proceed in their design, his Majesty +granted to them and their heirs, under the name of "The Governor and +Company of Merchants-Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay," the power +of holding and alienating lands, and the sole right of trade in +Hudson's Strait, and with the territories upon the coasts of the same. + +They were authorized to get out ships of war, to erect forts, make +reprisals, and send home all English subjects entering the Bay without +their license, and to declare war and make peace with any prince or +people not Christian. + +The territory described as Rupert's Land consisted of the whole region +whose waters flowed into Hudson's Bay. It was a vast tract--perhaps as +vast as Europe--how much vaster was yet to be made known, for the +breadth of the Continent of North America had not yet been even +approximately ascertained. For all the Adventurers knew the Pacific +Ocean was not distant more than one hundred miles west of the Bay. + +In the same merry month of May the _Prince Rupert_ set sail from +Gravesend, conveying a new cargo, a new crew, and a newly appointed +overseer of trade, to the Company's distant dominions. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] The proportions of this inland sea are such as to give it a +prominent place among the geographical features of the world. One +thousand three hundred miles in length, by six hundred miles in +breadth, it extends over twelve degrees of latitude, and covers an +area not less than half a million square miles. Of the five basins +into which Canada is divided, that of Hudson's Bay is immeasurably the +largest, the extent of country draining into it being estimated at +three million square miles. To swell the mighty volume of its waters +there come rivers which take their rise in the Rocky Mountains on the +west, and the Labrador wilderness on the east; while southward its +river roots stretch far down below the forty-ninth parallel, reaching +even to the same lake source whence flows a stream into the Gulf of +Mexico. A passing breath of wind may determine whether the ultimate +destiny of the rain drop falling into the little lake be the bosom of +the Mexican Gulf or the chilly grasp of the Arctic ice-floe. + +[10] Known afterwards as Nemiscau by the French. + +[11] See Appendix. + +[12] The second Duke, Charles' old friend, General George Monk, known +to all the leaders of English history as the brave restorer of the +King, afterwards created Duke of Albemarle, died in the year the +charter was granted. + +[13] Lord Ashley, the ancestor of the present Earl of Shaftsbury, and +one of the ruling spirits of the reign of Charles II., will also be +remembered as the Achitophel of Dryden. + + "A man so various that he seemed to be + Not one; but all mankind's epitome." + +Arlington, another of the Honourable Adventurers, was also a member of +the celebrated Cabal. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +1668-1670. + + Danger Apprehended to French Dominion -- Intendant Talon -- Fur + Trade Extended Westward -- News of the English Expedition + Reaches Quebec -- Sovereign Rights in Question -- English + Priority Established. + + +[Sidenote: French activity.] + +Although neither the Governor, the Fur Company nor the officials of +the Most Christian King at Quebec, had responded favourably to the +proposals of Groseilliers, yet they were not long in perceiving that a +radical change in their trade policy was desirable. Representations +were made to M. Colbert and the French Court. It was even urged that +France's North American dominions were in danger, unless a more +positive and aggressive course were pursued with regard to extension. +These representations, together with the knowledge that the Dutch on +the south side of the St Lawrence and in the valley of the Hudson had +unexpectedly acknowledged allegiance to the King of England, +determined Lewis to evince a greater interest in Canadian affairs than +he had done hitherto. + +Mezy was recalled, to die soon afterwards; and Daniel de Remin, +Seigneur de Courcelles, was despatched as Provincial Governor. A new +office was created, that of Intendant of Justice, Police and Finance; +and Jean Talon--a man of ability, experience and energy--was made the +first Intendant. Immediately upon his arrival, he took steps to +confirm the sovereignty of his master over the vast realms in the +West; and to set up the royal standard in the region of the Great +Lakes. + +In 1668 Talon returned to France, taking with him one of those hardy +bushrangers (_coureurs de bois_) who passed nearly the whole of their +lives in the interior and in the company of the Hurons. This man seems +to have cut a very picturesque figure. He had been scalped, and bore +about his person many grim mutilations and disfigurements, to bear +witness to his adventures amongst unfriendly tribes. He accompanied +Talon in the capacity of servant or bodyguard, and appears to have had +little difficulty in making himself an object of infinite interest to +the lackeys and concierges of Paris. On the Intendant's return to +Canada, this daring personage, Peray by name, is alluded to as Talon's +most trusted adviser with regard to the western country and the tribes +inhabiting it. In one of the Intendant's letters, dated February 24th, +1669, he writes that Peray had "penetrated among the western nations +farther than any Frenchman; and had seen the copper mine on Lake +Huron. This man offers to go to that mine and explore either by sea, +or by the lake and river--such communication being supposed to exist +between Canada and the South Sea--or to the Hudson's Bay." + +French activity had never been so great in the new world as in the +years between Groseilliers' departure from Quebec and the period when +the English fur-traders first came in contact with the French on the +shores of Hudson's Bay, thirteen years later. + +In the summer of 1669, the active and intelligent Louis Joliet, with +an outfit of 4,000 livres, supplied him by the Intendant, penetrated +into an unknown region and exhibited the white standard of France +before the eyes of the astonished natives. + +This also was the period which witnessed the exploits of La Salle, and +of Saint Lusson. Trade followed quickly on their heels. In March, +1670, five weeks before the charter was granted to the Great Company, +a party of Jesuits arriving at Sault Ste. Marie found twenty-five +Frenchmen trading there with the Indians. These traders reported that +a most lucrative traffic had sprung up in that locality. Coincident +with the tidings they thus conveyed to Talon, the Intendant learnt +from some Algonquins who had come to Quebec to trade, that two +European vessels had been seen in Hudson's Bay. + +[Sidenote: Colbert and the Company.] + +"After reflecting," he wrote to Colbert, "on all the nations that +might have penetrated as far north as that, I can only fall back on +the English, who, under the conduct of one named Groseilliers, in +former times an inhabitant of Canada, might possibly have attempted +that navigation, of itself not much known and not less dangerous. I +design to send by land some men of resolution to invite the +Kilistinons,[14] who are in great numbers in the vicinity of that Bay, +to come down to see us as the Ottawas do, in order that we may have +the first handling of what the savages bring us, who, acting as retail +dealers between ourselves and those natives (_i.e._, the Kilistinons), +make us pay for this roundabout way of three or four hundred leagues." + +The rivalry of French and English north of the St. Lawrence had begun. +With that rivalry began also from this moment that long series of +disputes concerning the sovereignty of the whole northern territories, +which has endured down to our own generation. + +[Sidenote: A much vexed controversy.] + +Few historical themes have ever been argued at greater length or more +minutely than this--the priority of discovery, occupation, and active +assumption of sovereignty over those lands surrounding Hudson's Bay, +which for two centuries were to be held and ruled by the Hudson's Bay +Company. The wisest jurists, the shrewdest intellects, the most +painstaking students were destined to employ themselves for over a +century in seeking to establish by historical evidence, by tradition +and by deduction, the "rights" of the English or of the French to +those regions. + +A great deal of importance has been attached to the fact that in 1627 +a charter had been granted by Lewis XIII. to a number of adventurers +sent to discover new lands to the north of the River of St. Lawrence. +The clause of the charter reads as follows:--"Le fort et habitation de +Quebec, avec tout le pays de la Nouvelle France dite Canada, tant le +long des Cotes depuis la Floride que les predecesseurs Rois de Sa +Majeste ont fait habiter en rangeant les Cotes de la Mer jusqu'au +Cercle Artique pour latitude, et de longitude depuis l'Ile de +Terreneuve tirant a l'ouest au Grand Lac dit la Mer douce et au dela +que de dans les terres, et le long des Rivieres qui y passant et se +dechargent dans le fleuve dit St. Laurent, ou autrement la grande +Riviere du Canada, et dans tous les autres fleuves qui se portent a la +mer." But most writers have omitted to verify the fact that in this +charter to the French Company, the only portions of land granted to +the French Company are the lands or portions of lands which had +already been occupied by the Kings of France, and the object of the +charter was simply to give them an exclusive right of trade therein. +Thus it was clearly indicated that the charter did not go further than +the land occupied by the predecessors of Lewis XIV. + +"New France was then understood to include the whole region of +Hudson's Bay, as the maps and histories of the time, English and +French, abundantly prove." This is a broad assertion, which is not +supported by the early discoverers nor by the historians of that time. +Charlevoix in his history described New France as being an exceedingly +limited territory. There is in l'Escarbot a description which shows +that at that time the whole territory known as New France extended but +a few miles on each side of the St. Lawrence. Charlevoix says +regretfully at that time that the giving up of this territory did not +amount to much, as New France was circumscribed by very narrow limits +on either side of the St Lawrence. + +When an examination is made into the facts of the voyages and +expeditions alleged to have been undertaken by the French prior to +1672, it is difficult to arrive at any but a certain conclusion--that +the French claims had no foundation in fact. + +It was then asserted, and long afterwards repeated, that Jean Bourdon, +the Attorney-General in 1656, explored the entire coast of Labrador +and entered Hudson's Bay. For this assertion one is unable to find any +historical support; certainly no record of any kind exists of such a +voyage. There is a record in 1655, it is true, that Sieur Bourdon, +then Attorney-General, was authorized to make a discovery of _Mer du +Nord_; and in order to comply with that _arrét_ of the Sovereign +Council at Quebec, he actually made an attempt at such discovery. +Bourdon left Quebec on May 2nd, 1657, and an entry in the records +proves his return on August 11th of the same year. It is manifestly +impossible that such a voyage could have been accomplished between +these dates. But a reference to this business in the Jesuit relations +of the succeeding year is sufficiently convincing.[15] + +It is there recorded that on the "11th of August, there appeared the +barque of M. Bourdon, which having descended the Grand River on the +north side, sailed as far as the 55th degree, where it encountered a +great bank of ice, which caused it to return, having lost two Hurons +that it had taken as guides. The Esquimaux savages of the north +massacred them and wounded a Frenchman with three arrows and one cut +with a knife." + +Another statement employed to strengthen the French claim to +sovereignty was, that Father Dablon and Sieur de Valiere were ordered +in 1661 to proceed to the country about Hudson's Bay, and that they +accordingly went thither. All accounts available to the historian +agree that the worthy father never reached the Bay. + +[Sidenote: La Couture's mythical voyage.] + +Another assertion equally long-lived and equally ill-founded, was to +the effect that one Sieur La Couture, with five men, proceeded +overland to the Bay, and there took possession of it in the King's +name. There is no account of this voyage in _Charlevoix_, or in the +"Relations des Jesuites," or in the memoir furnished by M. de +Callieres to the Marquis de Denonville. This memoir, which was penned +in 1685, or twenty-one years after the time of which it treated, set +forth that La Couture made the journey for purposes of discovery. +Under the circumstances, particularly owing to the strong necessity +under which the French were placed to find some shadow of right for +their pretensions, M. de Callieres' memoir has been declared +untrustworthy by competent authorities. + + [Illustration: ENGLISH MAP OF 1782.] + +In 1663, Sieur Duquet, the King's Attorney for Quebec, and Jean +L'Anglois, a Canadian colonist, are said to have gone to Hudson's Bay +by order of Sieur D'Argenson, and to have renewed possession by +setting up the King's arms there a second time. Such an order could +hardly have been given by D'Argenson, because he had left Canada on +September 16th, 1671, two years before this pretended order was given +to Sieur Duquet. + +[Sidenote: French falsehoods and fallacies.] + +It has been attempted to explain the silence of the "Relations of the +Jesuits" concerning Bourdon's voyage, by asserting that they were +naturally anxious that members of their own society should be the +pioneers in discovery, and that therefore many important discoveries +were never brought to light in their relations because they were not +made by Jesuits. It is enough to say that such an argument cannot +apply to the voyage of Dablon. He was a Jesuit, a man in whom the +interests of the society were centred, and if a voyage had been made +by him, no doubt a great deal of prominence would have been given to +it. On the contrary, in the third volume of the "Jesuit Relations," +1662, we find this Jesuit, Father Dablon, describing an unsuccessful +voyage that he made. There can be no doubt that he attempted a voyage. +A portion of this relation is written by himself, and he calls it, +"Journal du Premier Voyage Fait Vers la Mer du Nord." The first +portion of it is most important and conclusive, as showing that De +Callieres, in his memoir to M. De Seignely, twenty-one years +afterwards, must have been speaking from hearsay, and without any +authentic documents on which to base his assertions. Dablon says that +the highest point which he did reach was Nekauba, a hundred leagues +from Tadoussac, and that subsequently he returned; and this is from a +report of this journey written by himself. Some have attempted to +raise a doubt as to the identity of the Dablon in De Callieres' +memoir, with the Dablon of the "Relations des Jesuites." But at the +end of one of the volumes is a complete list of all the Jesuits, +pioneers both of the faith and in the way of discovery, and there is +only one Dablon mentioned. Another inaccuracy of this memoir is as to +the trip of Duquet, under an order said to have been given by Sieur +D'Argenson. There can be no doubt that at the time this pretended +order was given, D'Argenson had left Canada. + +On the whole it may be as well for the reader to dismiss the French +pretensions. They are no longer of interest, save to the +hair-splitting student of the country's annals: but in their day they +gave rise to a wilderness of controversy, through which we in the +twentieth century may yet grope vainly for the light. For all +practical purposes the question of priority was settled forever by the +Ontario Boundary Commission of 1884. Let us turn rather to behold to +what account the Honourable Adventurers turned their new property. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] Kristineaux, Crees. + +[15] Jean Bourdon was of the Province of Quebec; he was well known to +the Jesuits and trusted by them. He subsequently accompanied Father +Jacques on an embassy to Governor Dongan, the Governor of the Province +of New York. + +In Shea's _Charlevoix_, Vol. III, pp. 39, 40, it is stated that Père +Dablon attempted to penetrate to the northern ocean by ascending the +Saguenay. Early in June, two months after they set out, they found +themselves at the head of the Nekauba river, 300 miles from Lake St. +John. Warned of the approach of the Iroquois, they dared not proceed +farther. In the New York Historical Documents (p. 97) there is an +account of Dablon from the time of his arrival in Canada in 1655. He +was immediately sent missionary to Onondaga, where he continued with a +brief interval until 1658. In 1661 he set out overland for Hudson's +Bay, but succeeded only in reaching the head waters of the Nekauba, +300 miles from Lac St. Jean. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +1671. + + First Public Sale at Garraway's -- Contemporary Prices of Fur + -- The Poet Dryden -- Meetings of the Company -- Curiosity of + the Town -- Aborigines on View. + + +On the seventeenth day of November, 1671, the wits, beaux and +well-to-do merchants who were wont to assemble at Garraway's +coffee-house, London, were surprised by a placard making the following +announcement:--"On the fifth of December, ensuing, There Will Be Sold, +in the Greate Hall of this Place, 3,000 weight of Beaver Skins,[16] +comprised in thirty lotts, belonging to the Honourable, the Governour +and Company of Merchants-Adventurers Trading into Hudson's Bay." + + [Illustration: THE BEAVER.] + +Such was the notice of the first official sale of the Company. Up to +this date, the peltries brought back in their ships had been disposed +of by private treaty, an arrangement entrusted chiefly to Mr. John +Portman and Mr. William Prettyman, both of whom appear to have had +considerable familiarity with the European fur-trade. The immediate +occasion of this sale is a trivial matter. The causes lying behind it +are of interest. + +Among the numerous houses which cured and dealt in furs at this +period, both in London and Bristol, there were none whose business +seems to have been comparable, either in quantity or quality, to that +of the great establishments which flourished in Leipsic and Amsterdam, +Paris and Vienna. Indeed, it was a reproach continually levelled at +the English fur-dressers that such furs as passed through their hands +were vastly inferior to the foreign product; and it is certain that it +was the practice of the nobles and wealthier classes, as well as the +municipal and judicial dignitaries, for whose costume fur was +prescribed by use and tradition, to resort not to any English +establishment, but to one of the cities above-mentioned, when desirous +of replenishing this department of their wardrobe. Hitherto, then, the +Company had had but little opportunity of extending its trade, and but +little ground to show why an intending purchaser should patronize its +wares. But the superiority both in the number and quality of the skins +which now began to arrive seems to have encouraged the directors to +make a new bid for public custom; and as the purchasing public showed +no disposition to visit their warehouses they determined to take their +wares to the public. + +[Sidenote: First sale well attended.] + +This sale of the Company, however, the first, as it subsequently +proved, of a series of great transactions which during the past two +centuries have made London the centre of the world's fur-trade, did +not take place until the twenty-fourth of January. It excited the +greatest interest. Garraway's was crowded by distinguished men, and +both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, besides Dryden, the +poet, were among the spectators. There are some lines attributed to +him, under date of 1672, which may have been improvised on this +occasion. + + "Friend, once 'twas Fame that led thee forth + To brave the Tropic Heat, the Frozen North, + Late it was Gold, then Beauty was the Spur; + But now our Gallants venture but for Fur." + +A number of purchases seem to have been made by private parties; but +the bulk of the undressed beaver-skins probably went to fur merchants, +and there is good reason to believe that the majority found their way +into the hands of Portman and Prettyman. Beaver seems on this occasion +to have fetched from thirty-five to fifty-five shillings--a high +figure, which for a long time was maintained. But the Company showed +considerable sagacity by not parting with its entire stock of furs at +once. Only the beaver-skins were disposed of at this sale; the +peltries of moose, marten, bear and otter were reserved for a separate +and subsequent auction. + +[Sidenote: Meeting at John Horth's.] + +Prior to its incorporation, and for a year afterwards, the Company +does not seem to have pursued any formal course with regard to its +meetings. At first, they met at the Tower, at the Mint, or at Prince +Rupert's house in Spring Garden. Once or twice they met at Garraway's. +But at a conclave held on November 7th, 1671, it was resolved that a +definite procedure should be established with regard both to the time +and place of meeting, and to the keeping of the minutes and accounts. +These latter, it was ordered, were forthwith to be rendered weekly to +the General Court, so that the adventurers might be conversant with +all sales, orders and commissions included in the Company's dealings. +Employees' accounts were also to be posted up; and the same regulation +was applied to the lists of goods received for the two ships then +lying in the Thames. It was further decreed that the weekly meetings +should take place at Mr. John Horth's office, "The Excise Office," in +Broad Street, pending the building of a "Hudson's Bay House." + +Soon afterwards, a "General Court" of the adventurers was held, at +which the Prince, Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, Sir Peter Colleson, +Sir Robert Viner, Mr. Kirke and Mr. Portman were in attendance. We +catch a thoroughly typical glimpse of Prince Rupert at this meeting; +sober business was not at all to his taste, and at a very early stage +in the proceedings he feigned either indisposition or another +appointment, and took his departure. A hint, however, may possibly +have been given to him to do so, for, no sooner was the door closed +behind him, than his friend Lord Ashley introduced a very delicate +topic which was entered into by all those present. It concerned +nothing less than Prince Rupert's profits, which up to this time seem +to have been very vaguely defined. + +Lord Ashley spoke for the Prince and he seems to have demanded some +definite payment besides a share in the enterprise; but there is no +record of an agreement or of any exact sum, nor is there any basis for +the conjecture that his share was ten thousand pounds. The charter of +monopoly was an important one, and the King certainly not the man to +fail in appreciating its value; but how much he did out of good will +to his kinsman, and how much out of consideration for his own profit, +will never be known. A perusal of the vast quantity of manuscript +matter which exists relating to this arrangement leads to the +conclusion that Charles sold the charter out of hand. And indeed one +pamphleteer, intent on defaming the Company in 1766, even goes so far +as to profess actual knowledge of the sum paid to his Majesty by the +adventurers. Upon a consideration of all the speculations advanced, I +have come to the conclusion that it is highly improbable that the King +received any immediate pecuniary advantage whatever on account of the +charter. There is no shadow of evidence to support the charge; and +there is at least some presumptive evidence against it. Charters were +both commonly and cheaply given in those days. Even where +consideration was given, the amount was insignificant. In 1668, for +example, Charles transferred the province of Bombay, which had come to +the British Crown as portion of the dower of Catherine of Braganza, to +the East India Company for an annual rent of no more than £10. On the +whole then the data, such as they are, strongly favour the belief that +he granted the charter simply in the cause of friendship and at the +urgent instance of his cousin; while, as an additional motive, it was +probably also urged upon him that a charter boasting the royal +signature would be a virtual assertion of his dominion over territory +which was always somewhat in dispute. + +Prince Rupert himself in any case was paid a lump sum by the +adventurers, but the amount will probably never be known. + +The early meetings of the Company seem to have been largely occupied +in considering the question of cargoes. This was, no doubt, a very +important business. The Company appear to have had two precedents +which, in part, they naturally adopted, those of the Dutch (or West +India Company) and the French Company. The East India Company's +practice could have afforded them little assistance. They also struck +out a line for themselves, and in their selection of goods for the +purposes of barter they were greatly guided by the advice of Radisson, +who had a very sound conception of the Indian character. From the +first the Company rejected the policy of seeking to exchange glass +beads and gilded kickshaws for furs. Not that they found it +inexpedient to include these trifles in their cargoes: for we read in +one of the news-letters of 1671, speaking of the doings at +Garraway's:-- + +"Hither came Mr. Portman, to whom, reports says, is entrusted the +purchase of beads and ribbons for the American savages by the new +Adventurers, and who is charged with being in readiness to bargain for +sackfuls of child's trinkets as well as many outlandish things, which +are proper for barter. He takes the rallying in great good-humour." + +[Sidenote: Solid character of the merchandise.] + +Long before the Company was thought of, the manufacture of beads and +wampum for the New England trade had been going on in London. But +beads and jewellery, it was argued, were better suited for the African +and East Indian trade. It was Radisson who pointed out with great +propriety that the northern tribes would become most useful to the +Company if they were provided with weapons for killing or ensnaring +the game, as well as with the knives, hatchets and kettles, which were +indispensable for dressing it, and for preparing pemmican. And his +advice was taken on this, as on most other points. Thus for the +_Prince Rupert_ and the _Imploy_, which were to sail in the following +spring, the following cargo was prescribed by Radisson and Captain +Gillam:-- + + 500 fowling pieces, and powder and shot in proportion. + 500 brass kettles, 2 to 16 gallons apiece. + 30 gross of knives. + 2,000 hatchets. + +But it is curious to note how this list of exports was continually +added to. For instance, one of the Company on one occasion rose at the +weekly meeting and stated that he had been told by an experienced +Indian trader that scarlet cloth was very highly esteemed among the +Indians. + +"I hear," said he, "that an Indian will barter anything he possesses +for a couple of yards of scarlet cloth and a few dyed feathers." + +Whereupon, the chairman turned to the original adventurer in the +region controlled by the Company. + +"What does Mr. Radisson say to this?" + +"I think," said Mr. Radisson, "that the honourable adventurer does not +understand the Indian trade as well as I do. He forgets that Indians +are of many races; and that what will suit the case and attract the +cupidity of an Indian far to the south, will have little effect on the +northern tribes. An Iroquois would think more of a brass nail than of +twenty yards of scarlet cloth. In the north, where we have built a +factory, the Indians are more peaceful; but they do not care much for +kickshaws and coloured rags. They, too, esteem powder and shot and the +means of discharging them. But they are just as fond, particularly +Eskimaux, of knives and kettles and hatchets." + +On a subsequent occasion, a third as many again of these implements +were taken as cargo. + +[Sidenote: Ships besieged by peddlers.] + +In the meantime, it was not to be supposed that the rumours of the +great value put upon petty merchandise by the hyperborean savages, +could fail to excite the cupidity of London merchants and dealers in +these things. The ships that sailed in the spring of 1671 were +besieged by peddlers and small dealers, who were prepared to +adventure their property in the wilds. Not only the ships, but the +houses selected for the Company's meetings were beset with eager +throngs, praying the adventurers, collectively and individually, to +act as middlemen for their trumpery merchandise. + +Not only did the ships and the place of meeting suffer siege, but as +many as thirty persons shipped out to Hudson's Bay in the first two +voyages after the granting of the charter, while twenty-one of them +returned in the next two vessels fully determined, apparently, to +repeat a journey which had proved so lucrative. + +To abate this nuisance, it was enacted that no persons would +"hereafter be employed to stay in the country or otherwise but by +consent of the Committee, nor any goods be put aboard the ships but +with their knowledge and consent, to the end that the ships be not +hereafter pestered as they were the last voyage." + +This enactment may have had its rise in the dishonesty of these +self-appointed adventurers. On several occasions on unshipping the +cargo, boxes and barrels containing valuable furs would be found +missing, or their loss would coincide with the disappearance of a +reprobate who had joined the ship without a character. + +Thus we read in the minutes that at one meeting it was ordered that +enquiry be made as to sixty beaver skins, "very good and large, packed +up with the others, in one of the casks, which were not found." One +Jeremiah Walker, a second mate and supercargo was required to state +which cask they were taken in, and his cross-examination reveals the +loose and unbusiness-like methods then in vogue. + +Nothing could be more entertaining than the character of these +meetings, as compared with a modern board-meeting of a joint stock +enterprise. A great air of mystery was kept up. The novelty of the +undertaking was so great as to imbue the committee with a high sense +of the importance and interest of their weekly conclaves. The length +of the speeches bears witness to this spirit. A member had been known +to speak for a whole hour on the edifying theme as to whether the furs +should be placed in barrels or boxes. + + [Illustration: ARMS OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.] + +Vague rumours of these secret proceedings permeated the town. They +became a standing topic at the places where men foregathered. To the +popular imagination, the north was a land of fable. The denizens of +those countries were invested with strange attributes and clothed in +weird and wonderful garments. The Hudson's Bay Company dealt with +picturesque monarchs and a fierce, proud and noble people, whose +ordinary attire was the furs of sable, of ermine, of fox, and of +otter; who made treaties and exacted tributes after the fashion of the +ceremonial East. Petty chiefs and sachems were described as kings and +emperors; the wretched squaws of a redskin leader as queens. It was, +perhaps, only natural for a generation which banqueted its imagination +on the seductive fable of a North-West Passage to confuse the Red +Indians of North America with the inhabitants of the East; a very long +period was to pass away before the masses were able to distinguish +between the tawny-skinned Indian of the North American continent and +the swarthy servants of the East India Company. Nor were the masses +alone sinners in this respect. The Indians of Dryden, of Congreve, of +Steele, and even of writers so late as Goldsmith no more resembled the +real Red-men than the bison of the western prairies was akin to the +buffalo of the Himalayas. + +For such reasons as these, the Adventurers kept their ways and their +superior knowledge with superior discretion to themselves. + +[Sidenote: Capital of the Company.] + +It was never known in the seventeenth century what actually +constituted the original capital of the Adventurers. So small was it +that when, in the course of the Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry in +1749, nearly eighty years after the Company had received its charter, +the figures were divulged, the pettiness of the sum occasioned +universal surprise. Each adventurer was apparently required to pay +£300, sterling; and the gross sum was divided into thirty-four equal +shares. Besides Prince Rupert's "sundry charges" (the euphemism +employed to describe the sum paid him for his interest in obtaining +the charter), his Highness was offered a share amounting to one equal +share. "He having graciously signified his acceptance thereof," says +the secretary in the minute-book, "credit given him for three hundred +pounds." The capital thus stood at £10,500. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[16] The beaver, amphibious and intelligent, had for centuries a +considerable place in commerce: and also a celebrity of its own as the +familiar synonym for the common covering of a man's head, and here the +animal becomes historic. By royal proclamation in 1638, Charles I., of +England, prohibited the use of any material in the manufacture of hats +"except beaver stuff or beaver wool." This proclamation was the +death-warrant of beavers innumerable, sacrificed to the demands of the +trade. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +1671-1673. + + Mission of the Père Albanel -- Apprehension at Fort Charles -- + Bailey's Distrust of Radisson -- Expedition to Moose River -- + Groseilliers and the Savages -- The Bushrangers Leave the + Company's Service -- Arrival of Governor Lyddal. + + +While the Honourable Company of Adventurers was holding its meetings +in Mr. Alderman Horth's house, and gravely discussing its huge profits +and its motley wares, an event was happening some thousands of miles +away which was to decide the fate, for some years at least, of the two +picturesque figures to whom the inception of the whole enterprise was +due. + +In August, 1671, M. Talon, the Intendant of New France, sent for a +certain Father Albanel and a young friend of his, the Sieur de St. +Simon, and after embracing them sent both forth on a perilous mission +to the North. They were directed to "penetrate as far as the Mer du +Nord; to draw up a memoir of all they would discover, drive a trade in +fur with the Indians, and especially reconnoitre whether there be any +means of wintering ships in that quarter." Such were the injunctions +bestowed upon these hardy spirits on the eve of their errand. To recur +to a theme already touched upon, if the French Government of the day +had previously caused visits to be made to Hudson's Bay in the manner +described several years later, all this knowledge would have been +already acquired; and there would have been no necessity to despatch +either priest or layman thither to make that discovery anew. + +[Sidenote: Father Albanel's journey.] + +In the "Jesuit Relations" for 1672 is found Father Albanel's own +narration of his journey: + +"Hitherto this voyage had been considered impossible for Frenchmen, +who, after having undertaken it three times and not having been able +to surmount the obstacles, had seen themselves to abandon it in +despair of success. What appears as impossible is found not to be so +when it pleases God. The conduct of it was reserved to me after +eighteen years' prosecution that I had made, and I have very excellent +proofs that God reserved the execution of it for me, after the +singular favour of a sudden and marvellous, not to say miraculous, +recovery that I received as soon as I devoted myself to this mission +at the solicitation of my Superior; and in fact I have not been +deceived in my expectation; I have opened the road, in company with +two Frenchmen and six savages." Thus it is made apparent that so far +as the Jesuits, pioneers of this country, were concerned, no knowledge +of any of their compatriots having penetrated to Hudson's Bay had ever +reached them. The letter that M. Talon was writing to his royal master +is proof that he, too, was unaware of any prior discovery. No doubt +remains that the worthy priest and the young chevalier, his servant, +were the first party travelling overland from Quebec to penetrate into +those regions and to behold that vast expanse of water. + +The little band of English at Fort Charles, under Charles Bailey, who +had been sent out as Governor of Rupert's Land by the Company, were +soon made aware of the proximity of the French, and no one seems to +have been more affected by the news than Radisson and Groseilliers. +The two brothers-in-law indulged in many anxious surmises. Radisson +offered to go and find out who the intruders were, but the Governor by +no means favoured the idea. In those days, when national rivalries and +prejudices were so intense, and especially so among the English middle +classes, Bailey seems to have felt a great deal of distrust with +regard to the two Frenchmen; and he early made up his mind to let them +know his opinion and feel his authority. The two parties were +continually at loggerheads; the Frenchmen naturally resenting the +Governor's unjust suspicions, and the Governor retorting by a +ponderous irony and a surly and continual surveillance of their speech +and movements. + +[Sidenote: Rivals on the scene.] + +In the following year, 1673, the occupants of the Company's post, at +Rupert's River, were made aware of the neighbourhood of their trade +rivals in no pleasant manner. The Indians of the country round about +began to show signs of disaffection. On being questioned, some of the +more friendly ones were induced to betray the cause. They had been +informed by the Frenchmen, who in that and the previous years had +reached the shores of the Bay, distant some twenty or thirty leagues, +that the English were not to be trusted, that their firearms were +bewitched, and their religion was that of the evil one. Peaceably +inclined, the Nodwayes, who were the principal inhabitants of that +region, fell an easy prey to the proselytism of the indomitable +Jesuits, and many of their younger braves had journeyed to Quebec and +taken part in the mission services there, and at Montreal, before the +arrival of Dablon in their midst. But they were readily adaptable to +the racial and commercial antagonisms of their teachers; and late in +1673 Governor Bailey was informed that they contemplated an attack on +the fort. + + [Illustration: TYPE OF EARLY TRADING POST. + (_From an old print._)] + +On this, the Company's servants began the task of strengthening their +frail defences. The Governor alleged that he had received instructions +from England to despatch Groseilliers to the other side of the Bay, +called the "West Main." Radisson sought to accompany his kinsman, but +was met with a peremptory refusal. This action by no means increased +the amity between him and his rather stupid and choleric superior. +Nevertheless the winter passed without any open exhibition of +hostility between the two men; and it seemed likely that no +difficulties would arise while the cold weather continued. The ground +was, however, still covered with snow when several Indians appeared +and asked to be allowed to take up their abode at the east end of the +fort, that they might be ready for trade in the spring. Bailey, with +his customary sagacity in such matters, suspected some treachery in +this; but on the active expostulations of Radisson the simple request +was granted, and the Indians immediately proceeded to erect their +wigwams. On the 25th of March, when the thaw commenced, six savages, +announcing themselves as ambassadors from Kas-Kidi-dah, the chief of +the tribe, (referred to by Bailey's secretary as "King Cusciddidah,") +came to herald the approach of that potentate. It so chanced that both +the Governor and Radisson were absent, having gone out to reconnoitre +and to obtain an addition to their now slender stock of meat. In all +these little expeditions the Governor and Radisson were inseparable. +The former swore privately he could never bring himself to trust the +fort in the hands of a Frenchman; and, although there was no reason +whatever to apprehend such consequences, the Governor constantly acted +as if any such show of confidence on his part would emphatically +jeopardize the interests of the Company. + +[Sidenote: Governor Bailey's distrust.] + +King Cusciddidah arrived on the following day. "His Majestie brought a +retinue with him," records Thomas Gorst, the Governor's secretary, +"but very little beaver, the Indians having already sent their best to +Canada." + +In the absence of the Governor, the occupants of the fort regarded +Captain Cole as their superior. Cole did not place much confidence in +the pacific mien of the savages surrounding the fort, and a guard was +kept up night and day. Under cover of darkness two sailors were +despatched to find the Governor; but scarcely had they departed on +their quest than Cusciddidah proposed that two of his Indians should +go on the same errand. The acting commandant of the fort could not +well decline this offer, and on the 31st of March the second party +returned, bringing with them the Governor. To the surprise of all +Radisson did not accompany him. No explanation was offered; but the +next day the rumour ran that they had quarrelled in the wilderness, +that from words they came to blows, and that finally Radisson had +attempted to shoot the Governor. + +Filled with a natural alarm, Groseilliers made several attempts to +obtain from Bailey the true story of the affair, but the Governor +declined to affirm or confirm anything, saying that he had no doubt +Groseilliers knew quite as much of the matter as himself. +Groseilliers' anxiety, however, was considerably lessened when at a +formal conference with the Indian king, held at the latter's wigwams +near the fort, he learnt that the French had made a settlement not +above eight days' journey from Rupert's River. Hither, in effect, +Radisson had repaired; and afterwards from thence made his way back to +Quebec. Of his subsequent adventures mention will be made later in the +narrative. + +[Sidenote: First French rivalry.] + +Cusciddidah openly demanded the English protection. He declared his +apprehension of being attacked by other Indians, whom the French had +animated against the English and all who dealt with them. He even gave +a description of the fort the French had erected on the banks of Moose +River, and the contents of its store-house. Already the French were +resorting to many artifices to hinder the natives from trading with +the heretic pale-faces; they gave higher value for the furs brought +them, and lost no opportunity of instilling into the minds of the +Indians a far from flattering opinion of their trade rivals, the +English. + +One hearer received these tidings with complete equanimity. That which +surprised and confounded his companions, filled the bosom of Chouart +des Groseilliers with a secret joy. The Governor's high-handed +deportment had oppressed, if it had not angered him; and he had, +together with his brother-in-law, begun to suspect that this policy of +enmity was dictated by a desire to rid himself and the Company of +them both. But in the proximity of the French he found a weapon of +great utility in his relations with the Governor, his superior +officer. + +On the third of April a council was held, to debate upon the +advisability of the Company's agents removing from Rupert's to Moose +River, thus to prevent their traffic being intercepted by the French. +The Governor adopted a tone of great cordiality towards Groseilliers, +and listened with deference to his advice. Groseilliers boldly +counselled giving up the present fort and establishing themselves +close to the French. Bailey, much to Captain Cole's astonishment, +instantly approved of the plan. In vain did Cole protest against the +course as dangerous; the Governor professed his confidence in +Groseilliers' wisdom, and ordered the sloop to be got ready for the +journey. + + [Illustration: BARK CANOE OF INDIANS ON HUDSON'S BAY.] + +In the meantime the Indians in the neighbourhood of Fort Charles +continued building their wigwams. They raised their wauscohegein or +fort so near the English that the palisades joined. As their numbers +increased, Groseilliers advised putting off their own expedition until +the savages were gone hunting, so that Fort Charles and those left in +charge might not be surprised in their absence. On the 20th of May, +seven canoes containing more subjects of Cusciddidah arrived, bringing +the news to the English that few, if any, Upland Indians might be +expected to visit them that season, the French having persuaded them +to journey with their goods to Canada instead. Indeed, said they, the +tribes had already left, so that even if the English expedition were +made, it would be fruitless. + +At this depressing intelligence Bailey again sought Groseilliers' +advice, and this being still in favour of advancing to Moose River, it +was adopted. Before the departure, on the 27th of May, a band of about +fifty men, women and children appeared, anxious to trade; but instead +of furs they offered wampum, feathers, and a few small canoes, for +none of which merchandise the Company's agents had need. They were of +the nation called Pishapocanoes, a tribe allied to the Esquimaux, and +like them, a "poor, beggarly people; by which," adds one of the party, +"we may perceive the French ran away with the best of the trade." + +Everything being now in readiness, the expedition started, but without +Bailey. The Governor, at the last moment, decided to remain behind at +Fort Charles and await their return. + +[Sidenote: First visit to Moose River.] + +The voyage across the Bay was made in safety, and on the very day of +landing at the mouth of Moose River, a band of Tabiti Indians were +encountered, from whom they obtained about two hundred pelts. The +chief of this band denied that the French had bribed them or the other +Indians not to trade with the English. They declared that as yet their +intercourse had been almost entirely with the Jesuits, one of whom was +Father Albanel, who had merely urged them to live on terms of +friendship with the nations in league with the French. The chief +blamed the English for trading with such pitiful tribes as +Cusciddidah's and the Pishapocanoes, advising them instead to settle +at Moose River, where, he asserted, the Upland Indians would come and +trade with them. + +One curious incident occurred in the course of this parley. The Tabiti +chief, who had been for some time looking rather sharply at +Groseilliers, suddenly broke off the intercourse. When Captain Cole +demanded the reason, the chief declared that it was on Groseilliers' +account, whom he had recognized as the Frenchman with whom he had had +dealings many years before. Groseilliers, nothing loth, stepped +forward, and declared that the chief might possess himself in easiness +on that score, as he was now to all intents and purposes an +Englishman; and that he would always trade with the Tabitis as such. + +"But you drove hard bargains," returned the chief. "You took our +silkiest, softest and richest furs, and you gave us but beads and +ribbons. You told us the skins of the sable, and marten, and beaver +were of little account to you, whereas the English give us, and the +French traders as well, guns and hatchets in exchange." + +This harangue does not seem to have particularly disconcerted +Groseilliers; he was an old Indian trader; he returned a polite +answer, renewing his expressions of amity. Nevertheless, it made a +profound impression upon the other members of the party, who reported +to Bailey on their return that the Indians thought Groseilliers too +hard on them, and refused to deal with him. Indeed, they did not +scruple to assert that the comparative failure of their expedition was +owing to Groseilliers' presence; that both the Tabitis and the +Shechittiwans, hard by, were really possessed of peltries which they +chose to conceal. + +[Sidenote: Bailey at Moose River.] + +On hearing this intelligence, Bailey himself was induced to set out +for Moose River. By rare good fortune, he found the Tabitis reinforced +by a numerous band of Shechittiwans, who had journeyed thither some +fifty leagues and were eager to trade. From this tribe, the Governor +procured no fewer than fifteen hundred skins on very good terms. +Charmed with his adventure, he decided to pursue his course, discover +the Chechouan River, and thence coast along the west shore of the Bay, +to Port Nelson, where there was, as yet, no fort. + +On the 18th of July, he arrived at Chechouan River, "where no +Englishman had been before," but secured little or no beaver. He +treated with the chief of the tribe he found there and with his son, +who exacted from him a promise that he would come with a ship and +trade the next year. In return, they assured him they would provide a +quantity of beaver and induce the Upland tribes to travel thence. +Hardly had the sloop departed than, on the 27th, it ran upon a mass of +floating ice and narrowly escaped foundering. This catastrophe +precipitated the Governor's return to Rupert's River. He arrived to +find Groseilliers and his protégé Gorst at daggers drawn, and the +factors, traders and sailors almost at the point of mutiny, and all +this because they objected to serve under a Frenchman. + +[Sidenote: Jesuit priest at Fort Charles.] + +Bailey now seems to have made up his mind what course to pursue with +regard to Groseilliers; but if anything were wanting to complete his +decision, he had not long to wait. On the next day but one, that is to +say the 30th of August, a messenger came to him to announce the +arrival of a canoe. In it was a Jesuit missionary, accompanied by one +of Cusciddidah's own sons. The worthy priest was in a sorry condition +with regard to his apparel, most of which he had either been robbed of +or been compelled to barter for food during his long sojourn in the +wilderness. He had left Quebec during the preceding October, but had +been detained for many months owing to the impassability of the route. +He bore with him letters; one of them for Mr. Bailey from the Governor +of Quebec. This epistle seems to have given Bailey a great deal of +pleasure, and as a communication from one great man to another, he +caused it to be publicly read out in the fort. The French Governor +desired Bailey to treat the priest civilly "on account of the amity +between the two crowns"; and the bearer of this letter had no reason +to complain of a lack of hospitality. He was clothed and entertained +with great kindness. + +Unhappily, on the very evening of his arrival, the Governor was made +aware that the Jesuit had brought other letters, and that these had +been delivered into the hands of Groseilliers. Always suspicious, he +now became convinced of treachery. He saw in this harmless visit of a +pious missionary a deep-laid plot to capture the fort and allow it to +be pillaged by the hostile Indians. He ordered Groseilliers to appear +before him. But Groseilliers was not to be found, and Gorst returned +to say that both the Frenchmen were out walking together. Bailey, +taking several men with him, now went himself in search of the pair; +he confronted Groseilliers, and hurled a host of accusations at his +head. To these accusations, all ill-founded and ill-advised, +Groseilliers very promptly responded by knocking the Governor down. He +then returned calmly to the fort, demanded his wages and possessions, +and calling three of the Indians to his side, including the young +brave who had accompanied the priest, set off valiantly into the +wilderness. In due time he reached Quebec, where he rendered a +faithful account to the authorities of what had transpired. He also +forwarded to England, by way of New England, a minute account of his +experiences, which was duly read out at one of the meetings of the +Company. + +The Jesuit, who had offered to proceed with Groseilliers, had been +detained. He seems to have made himself very useful to the English in +their dealings with the Indians, although he was thoroughly +distrusted, as was to be expected, by the Governor. + +[Sidenote: Arrival of the "Prince Rupert."] + +On the 24th of September, a sloop was descried in the river, which, +with joy, they soon made out to be the _Prince Rupert_, just arrived +from England. She was commanded by Captain Gillam, and with her came +the new Governor, William Lyddal, to supersede Bailey. Captain Gillam +reported that the sister-ship, the _Shaftesbury_, commanded by Captain +Shepherd, was likewise at the mouth of the river. The new Governor's +commission and instructions being read, all hands were immediately put +to work, with the intention of unloading and reloading the ships for +the return voyage immediately. Bailey seems to have expressed the +greatest anxiety to proceed to London without delay; but at length he +was induced to listen to reason. It was pointed out to him that the +season would be far spent before the work of equipment could be +properly concluded. After several councils, it was resolved that they +should winter at Rupert's River; and no effort was made to unload the +vessels until the following spring. In the meantime, the crews were +not idle. Under Lyddal's direction they found employment in cutting +timber and building houses, more particularly a bake-house and a +brew-house, which latter added greatly to the comfort of the fort. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +1673-1682. + + Progress of the Company -- Confusion as to the Names and Number + of the Tribes -- Radisson goes to Paris -- His Efforts to + Obtain Support there, and from Prince Rupert, in England, Fail + -- Arrival of M. de la Chesnaye -- With his help Radisson + Secures Support -- And Sails for Quebec -- Thence Proceeds with + Two Ships to Attack the English Ports in Hudson's Bay -- His + Encounters with Gillam's Expedition from London, and his Son's, + from New England. + + +Rapidly advancing in prosperity and reputation, and possessed of a +basis of credit which gave it a welcome sense of solidity, the Company +now renewed its efforts to extend its trade and settlements. The +weekly meetings in Mr. John Horth's house, which were so full of +mystery to the public, continued to bear fruit; and at length a +regular system was determined for the organization and government of +its distant dependencies. + +[Sidenote: Ignorance of the geography of Hudson's Bay.] + +All ships bound for Hudson's Bay were now ordered to visit Charlton +Island, which lies about forty miles from the mouth of Rupert's River, +in the extreme south of the Bay; and the island was also made a +rendezvous whither all factors were to bring all their merchandise for +the purpose of loading the Company's ships. The geography of the +district had hitherto, in spite of the researches of a long series of +explorers, beginning with Frobisher, and ending with Fox, remained +obscure. But the Company's servants had not been idle, and the +Adventurers were soon in possession of carefully drawn charts, and +maps of the straits, the Bay itself, and the lands surrounding it. +They kept themselves also well-advised by lists, drawings, and +detailed descriptions, of the tribes inhabiting the territories +granted to them under the charter; and the discussions which went on +over this subject were not lacking in humour. It is worth observing +that for a great many years during the early history of the Company, +its Governors, captains, chief factors, chief traders, and the rank +and file of its employees could never by any chance agree, either as +to the number or the characteristics of the aborigines. In concocting +their reports many were animated purely by love of romance: others +relied too implicitly on the tales told by the Indians themselves; +others may be credited with being the victims of their own +imaginations. Nor could the lists enumerating the tribes boast more +consistency. Extracts from those of two governors may be given here +for purposes of comparison:-- + + NATIONS VISITING HUDSON'S BAY. + + Bailey, 1673: Lyddal, 1678: + + Esquemos, Askimows, + Nodwayes, Odwayes, + Twegwayes, Twagions, + Pankeshones, Paggarshows, + Noridgewelks, Narchuels, + Abenekays, Penkayes, + Micmacks, Micmackes, + Kilistinons, Crilistinons, + Assinapoils, Ossa-poets, + Cuchneways, Kitchenayes, + Algonkins, Algonkings, + Outaways, Otawayes, + Outagamis. Wattagamais. + +No wonder, therefore, that the Adventurers in England were puzzled, +and that at one of their later meetings Prince Rupert was forced to +exclaim: + +"Gentlemen, these Indians" (each member had been supplied with +Governor Nixon's list) "are not our Indians. 'Fore God, out of the +nineteen I see only five we have dealt with before." + +Another worthy member declared, on a similar occasion that the tribes +frequenting the Bay were more volatile than the Bedouins. "These are +not men, but chameleons"--was the remark of another adventurer. + +[Sidenote: Confusion of tribes.] + +The chief cause of the confusion lay in the variations of spelling. +More than a century was to elapse before a common orthography was +adopted, and in the interval it was impossible to fix the tribes by +name with certainty. The name of no tribe perhaps underwent such +vicissitudes of spelling and pronunciation as that described by the +earliest Jesuit pioneers as the Ossa-poiles, which in our own day are +known as the Assiniboines. They were in process of time the Poeles, +Poets, the Pedlas, the Semplars, Oss-Semplars, Essapoils and the +Simpoils.[17] + +At a general court held to consider the action of Governor Bailey, the +majority of the adventurers professed themselves rejoiced at having +been quit of the services of the Sieurs Groseilliers and Radisson; yet +there were not wanting others to openly regret the treatment these two +men had received. As may be supposed, the most fervent of their +advocates and defenders was Sir John Kirke, whose daughter had married +Radisson, and who himself had lately been knighted by the king. He +predicted some disaster to the Company from having dismissed these two +faithful servants, and he was loud and persistent in asserting the bad +faith and unjust suspicions of Bailey. + +While the affairs of the Company were proceeding tranquilly at home, +the conduct and employment of one of these two bushrangers was more +enlivening. Chouart was passing his time in inactivity at Three +Rivers. But his brother-in-law, after several ineffectual endeavours +to establish a northern rivalry to the Company, had offered his +services to the French Navy. This career, which at that period must +have been, even for him, sufficiently eventful and exciting, was cut +short by ship-wreck in 1679. Losing all his property, even to his +clothing, Radisson made his way first to Brest and then to Paris. The +Vice-Admiral and Intendant of the Fleet having written in his favour, +the Court was pleased to grant him a sum of one hundred crowns, and +hope was also held out to him that he would be honoured by the command +of a frigate. In the meantime he was accorded leave to go to England +to fetch his wife. + +[Sidenote: Radisson in France.] + +Madame Radisson, otherwise Mistress Mary Kirke, appears to have caused +her husband a great deal of mortification and numerous disappointments. +There is no doubt that her continued residence in England, in spite of +her husband's return to the French service, made him an object of +suspicion to the French Court. Once when he endeavoured, in a +memorable interview with Colbert, to press upon that Minister his +scheme for ousting the English from Hudson's Bay, the Minister +responded coldly: + +"M. Radisson, you are suspected of being in league with the English, +your father-in-law is one of the members of the English Company; and +your wife resides under his roof." + +"I made him understand," declared Radisson long afterwards, "that, +though married, I was not master of my wife. Her father would by no +means consent to my bringing her to France with me." + +These rebuffs determined him to make an attempt to better his worldly +condition elsewhere. A true soldier of fortune, patriotism appears to +have had little weight with him; he was as ready to serve under the +English as the French. He returned to find his father-in-law more +placable. Sir John had at this time certain claims against the French; +and he doubtless fancied that Radisson might assist him in preferring +these at the French Court. He took occasion to ask his father-in-law +what chance there remained to him of again securing employment under +the Company. "None, sir," replied Kirke, "both Bailey, Lyddal and +others are against you and have poisoned the minds of their employers. +Prince Rupert is, however, your friend, and also Captain Gillam; but +one dislikes to speak openly, and the other dare not." + +Acting on this intelligence, Radisson resolved to see Rupert. The +prince received him kindly enough; he took pains to show him his +collection of mezzotints, and to explain some of his scientific +curiosities. He even went so far as to condole with Radisson on the +treatment he had received. But he had to point out that the temper of +the Company was such that he feared it would be in vain for him to +exercise his interest for his visitor's reinstatement. + +[Sidenote: Plan to dislodge the Company.] + +Radisson, disappointed of his hopes, and frustrated in his desire to +return with his wife, did not meet with a warm welcome on the other +side of the Channel. Colbert received him with black looks; and the +suspicions which gathered about him were now strengthened rather than +dissipated. In this extremity he repaired to the Marquis de Seignely, +to whom he set forth substantially the same plan which he had +cherished for years, of opening out the trade of the North, with the +additional attraction now of dislodging the English from a commerce +which had already proved vastly profitable. Seignely listened with +interest, and requested time to reflect on the matter. At the second +interview Radisson was not overwhelmed with disappointment, for he had +expected no other issue; he was told flatly that he was regarded by +the king as little better than a traitor; and that his Canadian +project met with universal distrust. + +The outlook seemed discouraging indeed, when happily at this juncture +there arrived in Paris M. de la Chesnaye, who was in charge of the +fur-trade in Canada, as the head of the Compagnie du Nord. This event +proved Radisson's salvation. He learned with great rejoicing that La +Chesnaye's visit to France was actuated by a desire to report upon the +intrusion of the English Company. La Chesnaye proved a true friend; he +evinced himself most heartily in favour of the Government securing the +services of Radisson in establishing a rival establishment, on the +principle of those of the Company to which he had formerly been +attached. + +Many consultations took place, both Seignely and Chesnaye listening +with great interest while Radisson explained the equipment and +merchandise of the Hudson's Bay Company, which he strongly advised +should be taken as a pattern in all practical extensions of the French +fur-trade in those regions. + +[Sidenote: Radisson assisted by the Jesuits.] + +The only difficulty now presenting itself was to find money for the +enterprise. The exchequer of the Court was at a low ebb; and it had a +thousand calls upon its charity and liberality. Radisson must wait +even for the few hundred crowns he so sadly needed for his passage to +New France and his personal needs. There was, however, one force in +France which could always be approached with a good courage when any +enterprise in a new country required support, and always with success. +It was the power which, though it had endured a thousand +disappointments and sacrificed a thousand lives, and as many fortunes, +in the attempt to teach the Gospel of Jesus in the wilderness, had +adhered without wavering to its faith in the ultimate victory of the +Cross over the savage nature of the Indians. No adventurer, if he had +but a sufficiently plausible story, need turn away empty-handed from +the door of the Jesuits. To the Jesuits of Paris Radisson presented +himself as a good Catholic seeking to subvert the designs of the +heretic English. He applied for assistance, and he was at length +rewarded for his pains by a sum of five hundred crowns. + +But nearly two years had passed before this assistance was procured. +Radisson's debts had accumulated; his creditors were clamouring about +him, threatening him with the sponging-house; no effort to elude them +met with success, and at length he found himself at Rochelle, with +scarce twenty crowns in his pocket over and above the cost of his +passage. It was then that he made the resolve to reimburse the +Jesuits, "if he should live to be worth so great a sum," and it is +interesting to discover that two years later he kept his word. At +present he could only trust to La Chesnaye, who was anxiously awaiting +his arrival in Quebec. Thither Radisson arrived on the 25th of +September, 1681. + +La Chesnaye showed much joy at seeing his friend; for in truth his own +plans for seeking to share the northern trade of the English were +nearly ripe. He declared that there was no time to be lost; but that +in spite of the urgency of the matter the greatest circumspection +would have to be observed, as Frontenac by no means desired to +compromise the king without first seeing his way clear. + +But if the Governor whose career was about to close was punctilious, +the Intendant Duchesneau was not. He had already dispatched a memoir +to his superior relating to Hudson's Bay, and to what he believed to +be the French rights there. + +[Sidenote: Duchesneau protests against English encroachments.] + +"They" (the English) he wrote, "are still on Hudson's Bay on the north +and do great damage to our fur-trade. The farmers [of the revenue] +suffer in consequence by this diminution of the trade at Tadoussac, +and throughout the entire country, because the English drive off the +Outaoua nations. For the one and the other design they have two forts +on the said Bay--the one towards Tadoussac and the other at Cape +Henrietta Marie, on the side of the Assinibonetz. The sole means to +prevent them succeeding in what is prejudicial to us in this regard +would be to drive them by main force from that Bay, which belongs to +us. Or, if there would be an objection in coming to that extremity, to +construct forts on the rivers falling into the lakes, in order to stop +the Indians at these points." + +The zealous Intendant declared that should King Lewis adopt the +resolution to arrange with the Duke of York for his possessions in +that quarter, "in which case Boston could not resist," Canada would be +ruined, "the French being naturally inconsistent and fond of novelty." + +Finding, however, that they could obtain no official recognition of +the enterprise, La Chesnaye at length resorted to a transparent +fiction in order to account for Radisson's departure--a subterfuge +which was the more necessary since many had begun to suspect his +destination and urged the Governor to do nothing which would bring +down on them the enmity of the English and their allies, the Iroquois. +He requested the Governor, if he would not countenance an expedition +with license to trade on the shores of the Bay, to grant Radisson +formal permission to return to France by way of New England in a +vessel belonging to the Government of Acadia, which at that moment +lay in the St. Lawrence ready to sail. + +It was arranged privately that after his departure Radisson should +proceed in this vessel only as far as Isle Percée in the Gulf, near +the mouth of the river, and there await his kinsmen Groseilliers, his +nephew Chouart, and the two ships which La Chesnaye was even then +busily fitting out. Thus all official cognizance of the expedition +would be avoided. + +[Sidenote: Company's enemies leave Quebec.] + +The terms agreed upon were, that in return for La Chesnaye's +equipment, Radisson and Groseilliers were, provided certain conditions +were carried out, to receive jointly half the profits of the venture, +and La Chesnaye the other half. What these conditions were can only be +guessed; but beyond all question, they concerned the capture or +spoliation of the English trading posts on the Bay. Radisson took with +him his nephew, Jean Baptiste, who had passed nearly the whole of his +life among the Indians as a _coureur de bois_; the pilot, Pierre +Allemand, and an old bushranger named Godefrey, who was well +acquainted with the Indians of the northern regions. Groseilliers was +to remain behind until the spring, when he was to have the command of +the smaller of the two vessels. On the 4th of November the advance +guard of the expedition directed against the Company's establishment +in Hudson's Bay left Quebec. + +In the following spring the rendezvous was kept at the island named. +Radisson is found complaining bitterly of the character of the vessels +_St. Pierre_ and _St. Anne_. The former he describes as an old craft +of 50 tons only, "with twelve men of a crew, including those with me. +There were goods enough for the trade aboard her," he adds, "but so +scanty a supply of provisions that if I had not been so deeply engaged +I should not venture on the enterprise." + +[Sidenote: Rejected advice of Radisson and Groseilliers.] + +If his case was scarcely hopeful, that of his brother-in-law was far +worse. The latter's vessel could boast but little more than half the +tonnage, and while her crew was larger by three men, she carried even +fewer supplies. But Radisson and Groseilliers were not men to shrink +from any enterprise because it seemed hazardous. They had led bold, +reckless lives, and their spirits rose at the prospect of danger. It +was afterwards alleged of this pair that one great cause of their +disagreement with the Company was their absolute inability to remain +quiet and content in the enjoyment of a regular traffic. Such a career +seemed to their bold, energetic dispositions worthier of drapers' +apprentices. It is said they counselled the Company not to think of +establishing one or two trading posts and expect the Indians to come +to them for trade, but to push on in the wilderness to the north and +west, building new depots and stirring up the hunters to greater +activity and more profitable results. Had this advice been followed, +the exploration of the great North-West would not only have been +anticipated by almost a century; but by the occupation of its +territory, the great evils of a later day would have been averted; nor +would anyone in England have challenged the Company's right to an +exclusive trade in the regions granted by its charter. + +But the Company was soon to learn that its earliest pioneers and +forerunners were not to be cast off with impunity. The two bushrangers +experienced considerable difficulty at the outset in propitiating and +calming the fears of their crews, who were terrified, and not without +reason, at the prospect of a voyage of 900 leagues in such craft as +the _St. Pierre_ and the _St. Anne_, and amidst rough water and ice. +But they at length succeeded and effected a start. + +After nineteen days the crew of Groseilliers' ship mutinied. +Groseilliers' attempts to appease them seemed about to end in signal +failure when the man on watch cried out that a vessel was in sight to +windward. Groseilliers seized his opportunity; "See!" he cried, +pointing to the distant barque, "yonder is one of the English Company, +laden with the profits of their trade in the Bay. Every man has his +pocket full of gold and his stomach full of rum; and we shall have the +same if we are not cowards enough to abandon our voyage." + +After innumerable episodes, some of which almost ended in tragic +consequences, Radisson at last, on the 26th of August, arrived on the +west coast of Hudson's Bay. On the following day he was joined by his +brother-in-law in the _St. Anne_ at the mouth of a river named by the +Indians Ka-kirka-kiouay, translated by Radisson as "who goes, who +comes." + +Twelve days before their arrival another ship had entered this same +river, commanded by none other than Captain Gillam, and having on +board John Bridgar, commissioned as Governor of the new settlement at +Port Nelson. + +Having thus entered the river, they advanced fifteen miles up stream, +and Radisson then left Groseilliers to build a fort, while he himself +departed in search of savages with whom to trade. With him he took his +nephew and Godefrey, all three being well armed with muskets and +pistols. In the course of eight days they accomplished forty leagues +and attained the upper part of the river, though without meeting a +single savage. On the eighth day, however, their eyes were rejoiced by +the sight of a large encampment of Indians, who, while not especially +rich in furs, were eager to conclude a treaty with the French, and to +encourage their settlement in the country. Radisson now decided to +return, accompanied by some of the savages, and on the 12th day of +September rejoined his brother-in-law, whose fort he found pretty well +advanced. + +[Sidenote: The younger Gillam discovered.] + +Hardly had he returned when the sudden booming of a cannon startled +the settlement. It was the first time the Indians had ever heard the +sound, and they expressed much astonishment and apprehension. While +the two adventurers hastened to re-assure their allies, they were +themselves hardly less disturbed. Radisson made up his mind to +immediately ascertain whence the firing came and with this intention +he embarked in a canoe and went to the mouth of the river. In passing +to the opposite bank of the stream, and while in the vicinity of a +small island, they perceived signs of European habitation. A tent had +been erected, and at that moment a log house was being built. After a +stealthy reconnoitre, lasting the whole night, Radisson and his +companions advanced boldly in the morning from the opposite shore in +their canoe. The islanders were engaged in making a repast when +Radisson attracted their attention. Speaking first to them in French, +and finding that none of them understood, he thereupon addressed them +in English. He asked them what was their business in those parts. + +Their leader quickly responded: "We are English, and come for the +beaver trade." + +"By whose authority," asked Radisson; "do you possess a commission?" +The other replied that he did not himself possess such a document, but +that his father did, and that he and his companions hailed from New +England. Whereupon Radisson, still seated in his canoe at some +distance from the shore, informed them that they had not a shadow of +right to be in those regions, which he himself had discovered and +settled for the French some years before. He drew upon his imagination +so far as to intimate that he was at that moment in command of a large +force of Frenchmen near at hand, who would effectually maintain the +sovereignty of King Lewis and his exclusive trading right in this +territory; and he concluded his harangue, which was delivered almost +at the top of his voice, by advising the party of New Englanders to +embark as soon as possible and to return from whence they came. + +Before any reply could be made, a cry broke from the lips of both the +leaders. The canoe had touched the bank, and they recognized one +another. The New Englander was the son of Radisson's old friend +Gillam; and, as may be supposed, he possessed a very high admiration +for a man of whom he had heard so much. They speedily embraced, but +Radisson is careful to inform us that he did not entirely trust his +young friend. When young Gillam's ship appeared at the mouth of the +river, and he was invited to go on board, he did so, but he took the +precaution of insisting upon two Englishmen being left as hostages on +shore. It was not without misgivings that, as he neared the vessel in +their canoe, he observed the captain posting the English emblem and +likewise discharging a number of cannon shots. + +"I told him," says Radisson, "that it was not necessary to fire any +more, for fear of causing jealousy amongst our people, who might show +themselves hostile. He proposed that we should negotiate together. I +promised that I would persuade our other officers to consent that, +since the season was already too far advanced for them to withdraw, he +should pass the winter where he was without their doing him any +mischief." + +In short Radisson was resolved at all costs to keep up appearances. He +even went so far as to grant Gillam formal permission to continue +building his house, "barring fortifications," and to guarantee him +against insults from the Indians, over whom he professed to have +absolute power. The two men parted on good terms; and perhaps Gillam's +complaisance was well-advised. Radisson confesses that had the English +shown themselves refractory or exhibited any disposition to assert +rights over the country, it was his firm intention to concert a plan +for seizing their ship, which he observes, was an "excellent prize" +inasmuch it held no commission or warrant to trade from any power. + +It afterwards appeared that this enterprise of the New England ship +was set on foot by Gillam senior, who, dissatisfied with his profits +under the Company, sought to adventure an expedition on his own +account from Boston. He was destined to pay the penalty for this +indiscretion. + +Happy at having come out of this encounter so easily, Radisson and his +party re-embarked in their canoe and struck out northwards. Another +surprise was in store for them. A ship under full sail was on the +point of entering the river. More strategy was necessary. The party +regained the shore and instantly kindled a huge bonfire, upon which +they cast grass and leaves so as to produce a thick column of smoke. +Their purpose was to attract the attention and arrest the progress of +the vessel and in this they succeeded. Believing they had come upon an +Indian settlement, and anxious to reconnoitre before proceeding +farther, the parties aboard the ship cast anchor immediately and so +remained motionless in the channel all night. + +[Sidenote: Arrival of Bridgar.] + +Early in the morning they saw that a boat was being lowered from the +ship, and while it was filling with occupants Radisson made ready to +receive them. Each of his party was posted, armed, at the entrance to +the wood, while Radisson himself walked down to the shore to greet the +strangers. + +They were soon within hail. Radisson set up a loud cry, Indian +fashion, for the purpose of eliciting a response. He was disappointed +in this; for the boat approached steadily and silently; there was a +movement of the oars, but most of the figures appeared stern and +motionless. The boat grounded ten yards from where Radisson stood with +folded arms, and a general attitude of defiance. One of the crew had +got a leg over the side of the boat when our bushranger cried out in a +loud voice: + +"Hold, in the King's name." And then presenting his carbine, "I forbid +you to land." + +The occupants of the boat were astonished. + +"Who are you?" they asked, "and what is your business?" + +"I am a Frenchman," was the answer, delivered in English; "and I hold +this country for his Most Christian Majesty, King Lewis!" + +Radisson signalled to his followers, who emerged from their retreat, +making a brave show of their weapons. The coup seemed destined to be +successful. The leader of the boat party, visibly impressed, remained +standing up in his craft without any attempt on the part of his +followers to land. + +"I beg to inform you, gentlemen, that we hail from London. Our ship +yonder is the _Prince Rupert_, belonging to the honourable Hudson's +Bay Company and commanded by Captain Zachary Gillam." + +"You arrive too late. This country is already in the possession of the +King of France, and its trade belongs to the Northern Company of +Canada." + +A short dispute succeeded. Suddenly changing his tactics, Governor +Bridgar, for it was no other, feigned acquiescence, admitted that +after all Radisson might be right, and requested the privilege of +landing and saluting him. + +[Sidenote: The Bushranger's mendacity.] + +The two leaders now conversed amicably. Radisson took occasion to +elaborate the narrative to which he had recently treated young Gillam, +without, however, mentioning the circumstance of his having met the +latter. He did not scruple to allege a lengthy residence in the +region, detailing his forces, both French and Indian, with a fine +display of exactitude. Commenced on shore, the interview was +transferred to the ship; Radisson, while accepting Bridgar's +hospitality, took care to keep, as before, two or three hostages on +land. On board the _Prince Rupert_ he embraced Gillam, and listened +with a real interest to the tidings he had to convey of what had been +happening in Europe, and of the affairs of the Company. For himself, +he readily volunteered the information that he and his brother-in-law +Groseilliers had two fine large vessels in the vicinity, while the +third was shortly expected. He likewise made no secret of the fact +that a huge fort was being constructed hard by in the interests of the +French Company. In all of these statements Governor Bridgar professed +absolute credence, whatever may have been his private opinion of their +value. + +In reality, however, he was not deceived; and if it had not been for +Radisson's precaution as to the hostages, there is some reason to +believe he would have detained his guest on board the Company's ship +to ruminate for a while on his treachery to the Company. Even allowing +for the truth of Radisson's assertions regarding the occupation by the +French of Port Nelson and the surrounding neighbourhood in large +numbers, Bridgar was not to be dissuaded by mere words from his +intention to establish a factory there. He had every confidence in the +Company's rights; and he determined to carry out his instructions to +the letter. + +No sooner had Radisson departed, therefore, than a majority of the +people on board the _Prince Rupert_ landed and commenced building a +fort. + +The French party hiding in the woods spied on their movements; and +before rejoining their comrades at their own settlement they had the +privilege of seeing the erection of Fort Nelson, the fourth +establishment of the Company in the Hudson's Bay territories, well +under way. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[17] Also known to-day as the Stone Indians. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +1682-1683. + + Death of Prince Rupert -- The Company's Difficulty in Procuring + Proper Servants -- Radisson at Port Nelson -- The two Gillams + -- Their Meeting -- Capture of the New England Party -- The + First Scotchman in the Bay -- Governor Bridgar Carried off + Prisoner -- Indian Visitors to the Fort -- Disasters to the + Ships -- The French Burn the Island Fort -- Radisson's Harangue + to the Indians -- Return to France. + + +[Sidenote: Death of Prince Rupert.] + +On the 28th of November, 1682, at his house in Spring Garden, died the +first Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. The prince had been in +ill-health for some time, he was in his sixty-third year; and he had +lived a stirring and adventurous life. His demise occasioned general +regret, more amongst the people than at Court; for, as a writer of +that day observed, "he had of late years proved a faithful counsellor +to the King, but a greater patriot to English liberty; and therefore +was towards his latter end neglected by the Court to that degree that +nothing passed between him and his great relations but bare civilities +in the common forms." On the sixth of the ensuing month his body was +privately interred among others of the Royal Family in a vault in +Westminster Abbey. + +A week later there was held a General Court of the Company, at which +the Duke of York was chosen to succeed Rupert in the governorship. +Besides the Duke himself, his Royal Highness the Duke of Albemarle, +Lord Arlington and Mr. Hays, all delivered enthusiastic panegyrics on +the deceased prince, rightly attributing to his zeal, judgment and +enterprise, the successful establishment of the Company. And the +meeting then adjourned out of regret for the dead Governor without +proceeding to further business. + +More than fifteen years had elapsed since Medard Chouart des +Groseilliers had first fired Prince Rupert with his project of +founding a great fur-traffic in the unknown and unexplored regions of +the New World. The prince had lived to see that project succeed even +beyond his most sanguine expectations. Now, at his death, the Company +owned four ships; and after all the cost of its plant, its ships and +its equipment had been paid, it was returning an annual profit of two +hundred per cent. on its capital. It was well-known that his Highness +favoured greater activity, and one of his last acts had been to sign +the commission of John Bridgar as Governor of the new settlement at +Port Nelson. But during his own Governorship, the Company, feeling, no +doubt, that they must balance the Prince's zeal for adventure with +considerable caution, opposed the policy of rapid expansion with +somewhat excessive prudence; and it was only after his death that they +felt confident in pursuing a more vigorous and enterprising plan of +commerce. + +Under date of April 27th, 1683, while the drama between the French and +English was being enacted at Port Nelson, the following instructions +were addressed to Governor Sargeant, regarding trade with the +interior: "You are to choose out from amongst our servants such as are +best qualified with strength of body and the country language to +travel and to penetrate into the country, and to draw down the Indians +by fair and gentle means to trade with us." + +But the Company was to learn that the parsimony which then +characterized its policy was not calculated to foster the success of +its aims. The majority of the men it sent out from England could not +be classified under the head of adventurous spirits, ready to dare all +for mere excitement and the prospect of gain. They were for the most +part young men gifted with no more aptitude for the work in the +wilderness than a disinclination to pursue their callings at home. No +small number were dissatisfied apprentices; one William Evans had been +a drawer at the Rainbow Inn; Portman had sent his scullion. + +Even at that early day the staffs employed on the plantations were +recruited from amongst the very class least competent to exploit those +regions. The majority of the applicants for employment in the +Company's service in the seventeenth century were not men of character +and vigour, or even of robust physique, but rather hare-brained +artisans of the wild, dare-devil type, whose parents and friends +foresaw for them, if London or Bristol formed the sphere of their +talents, a legal and violent rather than a natural termination of +their respective careers. + +[Sidenote: Company's encouragement requested.] + +Sargeant's response to the foregoing injunction certainly served to +enlighten his superiors. "I shall not be neglectful," he wrote, "as +soon as I can find any man capable and willing to send up into the +country with the Indians, to endeavour to penetrate into what the +country will and may produce, and to effect their utmost in bringing +down the Indians to our factory; but your Honours should give good +encouragement to those who undertake such extraordinary service; or +else I fear that there will be but few that will embrace such +employment." + +The rebuke may have been just; but it seems to have given offence to +some of the more pompous members of the Company; and Sargeant was +desired not to cast any further reflection on his employers in his +communications to them. Nevertheless, the Company was soon to learn +the value of a less niggardly policy. + +Meanwhile for ten days the two ex-employees, Radisson and +Groseilliers, gave no further evidence to the English at the new +settlement on Nelson River of their presence. But on the tenth day +their curiosity and uneasiness regarding the conduct of the English +Governor, Bridgar, and the other servants of the Company, had reached +such a pitch that it was decided without further consideration that +Radisson should start off at once to reconnoitre their behaviour. The +actual distance between Fort Bourbon, on the Hays River, and the +Company's factory on Nelson River was not above fifty miles; but owing +to the dangerous character of the river, and the necessity for delay +before an attempt could be made to cross it, Radisson and his party +consumed fourteen days on the journey. + +[Sidenote: Bridgar's credulity.] + +On their arrival on the 3rd of February, one of the first objects to +attract their attention was the _Prince Rupert_, stuck fast in the ice +and mud about a mile from where the factory was being erected. At the +same time they met the Governor, who was out on a hunting expedition +with the chief mate of the vessel. Satisfying himself that no +treachery was intended, Radisson accepted Bridgar's invitation to +enter the log-house which he had caused to be built for his own +occupation. Radisson introduced one of the Frenchmen who accompanied +him as the captain of an imaginary ship, which he averred had arrived +from France in his behalf. "Mr. B. believed it and anything else I +chose to tell him," remarks Radisson naively, "I aiming always to +prevent him from having any knowledge of the English interloper." +While engaged in the pleasing diversion of drinking each other's +health, a number of musket shots were fired. The crew of the vessel +not taking any notice of this, the bushranger concluded that those on +board were not on their guard and might readily be surprised. + +With this condition uppermost in his mind, the Frenchman quitted +Bridgar, having first allayed any suspicion which might have naturally +arisen as to the intention of the party. The latter went boldly on +board the ship, and no hindrance being offered, their leader had a +colloquy with Captain Gillam. The latter, while he received the visit +civilly enough, found occasion to let Radisson know that he was far +from entirely trusting him. When his visitor suggested that he was +running a great risk in allowing the _Prince Rupert_ to remain +grounded, Gillam bluntly requested Radisson to mind his own business, +adding that he knew perfectly well what he was doing--a boast which, +as the sequel showed, was certainly not well founded. Radisson was +determined not to be put out of temper, and so run risk of spoiling +his plans. + +Winter, even in all its rigour, seems to have had no terrors for our +indomitable bushranger. For the next two months, as we shall see, he +continued to scour backwards and forwards through the country, +inspiring his followers and urging them onward to the prosecution of a +plan which was obvious to them all. After parting from Gillam the +elder, who had not the faintest suspicion that his son was in the +locality, Radisson at once started to parley with Gillam, the +younger. + +When he had regained the island which he had left, he was instantly +made aware that the New Englanders had been considerably less idle +than the Company's servants; having completed a very creditable fort +and mounted it with six pieces of cannon. With Benjamin Gillam, our +bushranger passed off the same subterfuge with which he had hoodwinked +Zachary. He spoke fluently of his newly arrived ship and her cargo and +crew, and to cap his narrative, proceeded to introduce her captain, +who was none other than the old pilot, Pierre Allemand, who, from the +description still extant of his appearance, looked every inch the +bold, fierce and uncompromising mariner. He had a great deal to tell +Benjamin likewise of the Company's post near by, which he said +contained forty soldiers. + +"Let them be forty devils," exclaimed Gillam, junior, "we have built a +good fort and are afraid of nothing." + +Whereupon Radisson gently reminded him that according to his agreement +he was to have built no fort whatever. In reply to this Benjamin +begged his visitor not to take umbrage at such a matter, as he never +intended to dispute the rights of the French in the region; and the +fort was merely intended as a defence against the Indians. + +[Sidenote: A manoeuvre of Radisson's.] + +As the evening wore on, a manoeuvre suggested itself to Radisson. He +resolved to bring father and son together. No sooner had he formed +this amiable resolve than he revealed to Benjamin Gillam the proximity +of the _Prince Rupert_ and her commander, and described the means by +which an encounter might be effected without eliciting the suspicions +of Governor Bridgar or any of the Company's servants. It consisted +briefly in young Benjamin's disguising himself as a Frenchman and a +bushranger. The scheme met with the young man's hearty approbation and +the details were settled as Radisson had designed. + +On the following day the party set out through the snow. Arriving at +the point of land opposite to which the Company's ship lay, Radisson +posted two of his best men in the woods on the path which led to the +factory. He instructed them to allow the Governor to pass should he +come that way, but that if he returned from the ship unaccompanied or +prior to their own departure they were to seize and overpower him on +the spot. With such precautions as these, Radisson felt himself safe +and went on board the _Prince Rupert_ accompanied by Gillam. He +introduced his two companions into the captain's room without any +notice on the part of Gillam the elder, and the mate and another man +he had with him. Leaning across the table, upon which was deposited a +bulky bottle of rum, Radisson whispered to the honest captain that he +had a secret of the highest importance to communicate if he would but +dismiss the others. Gillam readily sent away the mate, but would not +dismiss his second attendant until Radisson, again in a whisper, +informed him that the black-bearded man in the strange head-gear was +his son. + +[Sidenote: Meeting of father and son.] + +After communicating this intelligence the pair had their own way. The +next few moments were devoted to embraces and to an interchange of +news, for Captain Gillam and Benjamin had not met for two years. The +sire could not refrain from imparting to his son that he was running a +great risk; he declared it would be ruinous to him if it got to the +Governor's ears that there was any collusion between them. Radisson +again professed his friendship, but added that in his opinion neither +of the parties had any right to be where they were, he having taken +possession for the King of France. "This territory is all his Most +Christian Majesty's," he said. "The fort we have built yonder we call +Fort Bourbon, and none have any right here but such as own allegiance +to Lewis XIV." He observed that nothing would cause a rupture of the +friendly relations now subsisting between French and English but the +trade in peltries, trade which he had too great reason to fear they +hoped to initiate with the Indians in the spring. + +The elder Gillam coolly responded that the ship he commanded, and the +spot on which they were then assembled, luckily belonged not to +himself, but to the Hudson's Bay Company. + +"With regard to the trade, gentlemen," said he, "you have nothing to +fear from me. Even though I don't carry a solitary beaver back to the +Thames, I shall not trouble myself, being sure of my wages." + +[Sidenote: Gillam nearly betrayed.] + +This interview was prolonged. The healths of the Kings of France and +England, Prince Rupert and M. Colbert (quite in ignorance of the death +of the two last named) were drunk with zeal and enthusiasm. In the +midst of all this, that which Radisson had anticipated, occurred. +Governor Bridgar, notified of Radisson's return, came to the ship in +hot haste. On his joining the group, he remarked meaningly that the +fort the French had constructed must be nearer than he had been given +to think, since its commandant could effect so speedy a return. He +evinced himself very uneasy in mind concerning the Frenchman's +intentions. Before their departure, young Gillam came very near being +betrayed. He was partially recognized by one of the traders who +accompanied the Governor. But the matter passed off without serious +consequences. + +None too soon did the party return to young Gillam's fort on the +island, for a tremendous blizzard ensued, sweeping the whole country, +and forcing Radisson to remain for some days within doors. As soon as +the storm had subsided, however, Radisson started off, declining +Gillam's offer of his second mate to accompany him back to the French +settlement. + +"I managed to dissuade him," he writes, "having my reasons for wishing +to conceal the road we should take. On leaving we went up from the +fort to the upper part of the river, but in the evening we retraced +our steps and next morning found ourselves in sight of the sea, into +which it was necessary to enter in order to pass the point and reach +the river in which was our habitation. But everything was so covered +with ice that there was no apparent way of passing farther. We found +ourselves, indeed, so entangled in the ice that we could neither +retreat nor advance towards the shore to make a landing. It was +necessary, however, that we should pass through the ice or perish. We +remained in this condition for four hours without being able to +advance or retire and in great danger of our lives. Our clothes were +frozen on us and we could only move with difficulty; but at last we +made so strong an attempt that we arrived at the shore, our canoe +being all broken up. Each of us took our baggage and arms, and marched +in the direction of our habitation without finding anything to eat for +three days, except crows and birds of prey, which are the last to +leave these countries." + +Fort Bourbon was reached at length. After reporting to his +brother-in-law all that had passed, Groseilliers was not long in +counselling what was best to be done. In his opinion the first thing +necessary was to secure possession of young Gillam's ship. Time +pressed and the spring would soon be upon them, bringing with it the +advent of the Indians. He argued that delay might prove fatal, +inasmuch as Bridgar might at any moment learn of the presence of the +New England interlopers; and in that event he would probably make an +effort to capture their fort and add their forces to his own. If this +were done, the success of the French in overpowering the English +traders would be slight and their voyage would have been undertaken +for nothing. + +[Sidenote: Calamity to the Company's ship.] + +It was therefore agreed that Groseilliers should remain in charge of +the fort, while his kinsman should immediately return to Nelson River. +In a few days they parted once more, Radisson setting out with a fresh +party and thoroughly resolved upon action. The first discovery he +made, on arriving at the scene of his proposed operations, was that +the Company's ship, the _Prince Rupert_, was frozen fast in the ice, +and must inevitably perish when the spring floods came. He also +speedily ascertained that the Governor, by no means relishing his +presence in the vicinity, was already planning measures to thwart, if +not to capture, his rivals, for he had sent out two sailors charged +with the task of discovering the exact whereabouts of the French and +the extent of their strength and equipment. + +These two spies Radisson promptly captured--no difficult task indeed, +for they had lost their way and were half-frozen and almost famished. +The anticipated fate of the _Prince Rupert_ was not long delayed. The +tidings shortly reached Radisson that she was a total wreck, and with +it came also the news of the loss of her captain, the mate and four +sailors. A subsequent report, however, declared that Gillam had +escaped with his life. + +Receiving this intelligence, Radisson presented himself before the +Governor to see how he was affected by such a calamity. + +He found Bridgar drinking heavily, but resolved to keep up appearances +and to withhold from the French any knowledge of what had happened. He +affected to believe the ship safe, merely observing that she had +shifted her position a few leagues down the river. Radisson asserts +that at this time the Company's factory was short of provisions. It is +impossible that this could have been the case. The assertion was +probably made to cover his own depredations on the stores of the +Company. + +Parting from the Governor, Radisson presented himself before Gillam +the younger, to whom he did not as yet choose to say anything +concerning his father and the loss of his ship. Under various +pretences he induced Gillam to pay him a visit at Fort Bourbon. The +latter does not seem at this time to have been aware of the intention +of the French towards him. But he was soon to be undeceived. + +[Sidenote: Radisson's threats.] + +"I remained quiet for a month," says Radisson, in the course of his +extraordinary narrative, "treating young Gillam, my new guest, well +and with all sorts of civilities, which he abused on several +occasions. For having apparently perceived that we had not the +strength I told him, he took the liberty of speaking of me in +threatening terms behind my back, treating me as a pirate and saying +that in spite of me he would trade in spring with the Indians. He had +even the hardihood to strike one of my men, which I pretended not to +notice; but, having the insolence later, when we were discussing the +privileges of New England, to speak against the respect due the best +of kings, I treated him as a worthless dog for speaking in that way +and told him that, having had the honour to eat bread in his service, +I would pray to God all my life for his Majesty. He left me, +threatening that he would return to his fort and that when he was +there I would not dare to speak to him as I had done. I could not +expect to have a better opportunity to begin what I had resolved to +do. I told this young brute then that I had brought him from his fort, +that I would take him back myself when I pleased, not when he wished. +He answered impertinently several times, which obliged me to threaten +that I would put him in a place of safety if he was not wiser. He +asked me then if he was a prisoner. I said I would consider it and +that I would secure my trade since he threatened to interrupt it. I +then withdrew to give him time to be informed by the Englishmen how +his father's life was lost with the Company's ship, and the bad +situation of Mr. Bridgar. I left in their company a Frenchman who +understood English, unknown to them. When I had left, young Gillam +urged the Englishman to fly, and to go to his master and assure him +that he would give him six barrels of powder and other supplies if he +would undertake to deliver him out of my hands. The Englishman made no +answer, but he did not inform me of the proposition that had been made +him (I had learned that from the Frenchman, who had learned everything +and thought it was time to act for my security)." + +In the evening Radisson said nothing of what he knew of the plot. He +asked those in his train if the muskets were in their places, which he +had put around to act as guarantee against surprise. At the word +_musket_ young Gillam, who did not know what was meant, grew alarmed +and, according to Radisson, wished to fly, believing that it was +intended to kill him. But his flight was arrested by his captor, who +took occasion to free him from his apprehension. The next morning, +however, the bushranger's plans were openly divulged. He told Gillam +that he was about to take his fort and ship. + +"He answered haughtily that even if I had a hundred men I could not +succeed, and that his people would have killed more than forty before +they could reach the palisades. This boldness did not astonish me, +being very sure that I would succeed in my design." + +[Sidenote: Hays' Island fort.] + +Having secured Gillam the younger, it was now necessary to secure the +fort of which he was master. The intrepid Frenchman started for Hays' +Island with nine men, and gaining an entrance by strategy, he cast off +the mask of friendship and boldly demanded the keys of the fort and +the whole stock of arms and powder. He added that in the event of +their refusal to yield he would raze the fort to the ground. No +resistance seems to have been attempted, and Radisson took formal +possession of the place in the name of the King of France. This +ceremony being concluded, he ordered Jenkins, the mate, to conduct him +to the ship, and here formal possession was taken in the same fashion, +without any forcible objection on the part of the crew. Some +explanation of this extraordinary complaisance, if Radisson's story of +the number of men he took with him be true, may be found in the +commander's unpopularity, he having recently killed his supercargo in +a quarrel. + +Nevertheless, Benjamin Gillam was not to be altogether without +friends. + +A certain Scotchman, perchance the first of his race in those regions, +which were afterwards to be forever associated with Scottish zeal and +labours, wishing to show his fidelity to his chief, escaped, and +eluding the efforts of the fleetest of the French bushrangers to catch +him, he arrived at Fort Nelson and told his tale. The Governor's +astonishment may be imagined. He had hitherto no inkling of the +presence of the New England interlopers, and although his captain and +fellow-servant was not equally ignorant, Gillam had kept his counsel +well. The Governor decided at once to head a party of relief, in which +he was seconded by the elder Gillam, who was at the moment only just +recovering from illness caused by exposure during the shipwreck. The +_Susan_ was their first point of attack. Under the cover of night they +made a determined effort to recapture her for the Company. It is +possible that the attempt might have succeeded had not Radisson, +suspecting the move, despatched his entire available force at the same +time and completely overpowered the Governor's men. He thought at +first sight that Bridgar himself was among his prisoners, but the +Governor was not to be caught in that fashion; he had not himself +boarded the ship. The Scotchman who accompanied him, however, was not +so fortunate; he fell into Radisson's hands and suffered for his zeal. +He was tied to a post and informed that his execution would take place +without ceremony on the morrow. The sentence was never carried out. +For Radisson, after exposing his prisoner to the cold all night in an +uncomfortable position, seems to have thought better of his threat, +and after numerous vicissitudes the Scot at length regained his +liberty. + +Reinforcements for the French now arrived from Groseilliers. Believing +himself now strong enough to beard the lion in his lair, Radisson +decided to lose no more time in rounding off his schemes. First, +however, he saw fit to address a letter to the Governor asking him if +he "approved the action of the Company's people whom he held +prisoners, who had broken two doors and the storeroom of his ship, in +order to carry off the powder." + +Bridgar's reply was that he owed no explanation to a renegade employee +of the Company. Radisson had not been sincere in his professions, and +he had dealt basely and deceitfully with him in preserving silence on +the subject of the interlopers. "As I had proper instructions," +concluded Bridgar, in a more conciliatory strain, "on setting sail +from London to seize all ships coming to this quarter, I would +willingly have joined hands with you in capturing this vessel. If you +wish me to regard you as sincere you will not keep this prize for your +own use." + +The other's response was rapid and masterly. He marched upon Fort +Nelson with twelve men, and by the following nightfall was master of +the English establishment. This feat nearly drove the unhappy Governor +to despair, and he sought solace by applying himself to the rum cask +with greater assiduity than ever. In the frame of mind thus +superinduced, John Bridgar, the first Governor of Port Nelson, was +carried off a prisoner to Fort Bourbon. + +This post was built of logs, as the others had been, but there was a +bastion of stone at one end facing the river. It occupied, as nearly +as one may now ascertain, the site upon which was afterwards reared +York Factory. But in the course of the seventy years following the +post was shifted slightly from site to site, when the exigencies of +fire and other causes of destruction demanded a new building. + +A few days after the Governor's arrival at Fort Bourbon, the first +Indians began to appear with provisions, which were now beginning to +be very sorely required. To the chief of this band Radisson related +the story, properly garnished, of his exploits, realizing well how +such things appeal to the savage heart. While the Indians were +pondering upon his valour, great was their surprise to behold about +the fort, a number of English, whom Radisson had made prisoners; and +upon learning that there were others at York Factory and Hays' Island, +they very handsomely offered 200 beavers for permission to go thither +and massacre them. This offer Radisson wisely declined; but it seems +clear that he did his best to stir up enmity amongst his Indian +friends against the English. In this he was not entirely successful. +Good news travels fast, too; and the Indians had got wind of Bridgar's +boast that rather than see the trade pass into the hands of the French +it was his intention to offer six axes for a beaver and as much +merchandise in proportion. + +They had, besides, reason to believe in the superior generosity of the +English traders as compared with the French. + +[Sidenote: Destruction of La Chesnaye's vessels.] + +It was now April, 1683. On the 22nd a disaster little foreseen by +Radisson or Groseilliers occurred, which involved the destruction of +their own frail ships. The _St. Pierre_ and the _St. Anne_ had been +hauled into a small stream as far as possible in the woods and there +sheltered by a knoll. At ten o'clock on the night named all at Fort +Bourbon were awakened by a frightful noise, caused by the breaking up +of the ice. The occupants of the fort rushed outside to find the +waters everywhere rising with almost incredible rapidity; and the +masses of ice blocking up the mouth of the creek caused a complete +general submersion. La Chesnaye's two vessels offered no strong +resistance to the flood, and presently began to crack and splinter in +all parts. In a few hours all that remained sound were the bottoms, +clinging fast to the ice and mud. + +A similar fate was apprehended for the New England ship, and Radisson +made all haste thither. She was saved only by his adopting the +suggestion of Bridgar, that the ice be carefully cut all about the +_Susan_, as he had heard of Governor Bailey doing on a previous +occasion. The ice once cut, the vessel was only pushed by the strength +of the floes to one side, where she remained aground with little +damage. + +The chief concern of the leaders of the French now was to get the +English safely out of the country as soon as possible, before the +arrival of the Company's ships. To this end Radisson and Groseilliers +offered them the hull of the _St. Anne_ which, they believed, could +with industry be patched up with new timber sufficiently well to +withstand a voyage. When the English saw that these were the best +terms they could expect, and that if they were left at the mercy of +the Indians a much worse fate might be in store for them, they set to +work with a will. The labour proved arduous, and they had suffered +terribly. Four had died from cold and hunger, and two had been +poisoned from having rashly drunk of a liquor they had found in the +medicine-room chest, without knowing its nature; another had had his +arm broken quite recently by a musket shot while out hunting. The +Governor felt that his sole hope lay in the expected ships of the +Company. He seems to have always adopted a high tone in dealing with +the French, even to the last. He declared to Radisson that it was only +one of three things that could oblige him to abandon the place, "the +order of his masters, force, or famine." Groseilliers now counselled +burning the island fort, in order to do away with the necessity of +keeping perpetual guard there, and of always taking precautions to +protect themselves against the Governor's intrigues. + +This advice was acted upon forthwith; the fort was burned and a small +lodge erected to accommodate such of the New Englanders as had not +been carried to Fort Bourbon, or were not at work on the hull of the +wrecked ship. + +[Sidenote: Arrival of the Indians.] + +Early in May the Indians began to appear in great numbers. +Bridgar--who, divested of his command and robbed of his stores, was +now allowed at large--heard of their arrival with joy. He seems to +have believed that their chiefs would not repudiate their treaties +with the Company. He hoped in any case to be granted the privilege of +a conference with them, but in this he was quickly undeceived. + +Radisson went forward to meet the Indians, who had come well loaded +with peltries and who were much perturbed at discovering the helpless +state of the Governor and the ascendancy of the French. But they +showed no disinclination to trade with the latter, in spite of their +solemn covenant, provided Groseilliers and his brother-in-law would do +so on the same terms as the English. Both the bushrangers, however, +seem to have been determined to put an immediate stop to what they +termed folly. Let the Company give six axes for a beaver if it chose; +for themselves they would countenance no such wantonness; two would +suffice. + +The tribe being assembled and having spread out their customary gifts, +consisting of beaver tails, smoked moose tongues and pemmican, one of +the leading braves arose and said:-- + +"Men who pretend to give us life, do you wish us to die? You know what +beaver is worth and the trouble we have to take it. You call +yourselves our brothers and yet will not give us what those give who +make no such profession. Accept our gifts, and let us barter, or we +will visit you no more. We have but to travel a hundred leagues and we +will encounter the English, whose offers we have heard." + +On the conclusion of this harangue, silence reigned for some moments. +All eyes were turned on the two white traders. Feeling that now or +never was the time to exhibit firmness, Radisson, without rising to +his feet, addressed the whole assemblage in haughty accents. + +"Whom dost thou wish I should answer? I have heard a dog bark; when a +man shall speak he will see I know how to defend my conduct and my +terms. We love our brothers and we deserve their love in return. For +have we not saved them all from the treachery of the English?" + +[Sidenote: Radisson overawes the Indians.] + +Uttering these words fearlessly, he leapt to his feet and drew a long +hunting knife from his belt. Seizing by the scalp-lock the chief of +the tribe, who had already adopted him as his son, he asked, "Who art +thou?" To which the chief responded, as was customary, "Thy father." + +"Then," cried Radisson, "if that is so, and thou art my father, speak +for me. Thou art the master of my goods; but as for that dog who has +spoken, what is he doing in this company? Let him go to his brothers, +the English, at the head of the Bay. Or he need not travel so far: he +may, if he chooses, see them starving and helpless on yonder island: +answering to my words of command." + +"I know how to speak to my Indian father," continued Radisson, "of the +perils of the woods, of the abandonment of his squaws and children, of +the risks of hunger and the peril of death by foes. All these you +avoid by trading with us here. But although I am mightily angry I will +take pity on this wretch and let him still live. Go," addressing the +brave with his weapon outstretched, "take this as my gift to you, and +depart. When you meet your brothers, the English, tell them my name, +and add that we are soon coming to treat them and their factory yonder +as we have treated this one." + +The speaker knew enough of the Indian character, especially in affairs +of trade, to be aware that a point once yielded them is never +recovered. And it is but just to say that the terms he then made of +three axes for a beaver were thereafter adopted, and that his firmness +saved the Company many a cargo of these implements. His harangue +produced an immediate impression upon all save the humiliated brave, +who declared that if the Assiniboines came hither to barter he would +lay in ambush and kill them. + +The French trader's reply to this was to the Indian mind a terrible +one. + +"I will myself travel into thy country," said he, "and eat sagamite in +thy grandmother's skull." + +While the brave and his small circle of friends were livid with fear +and anger, Radisson ordered three fathoms of tobacco to be +distributed; observing, contemptuously, to the hostile minority that +as for them they might go and smoke women's tobacco in the country of +the lynxes. The barter began, and when at nightfall the Indians +departed not a skin was left amongst them. + +[Sidenote: Departure of the English.] + +It was now time to think of departure. As absent men tell no tales, it +was decided to despatch Bridgar and his companions first. But at the +last moment some trouble seems to have arisen as to which vessel the +English should have to convey them to more hospitable shores. Bridgar +himself would have preferred to go in the ship, and at first his +passage had been arranged for in that craft; but it was at length +settled that he should be carried with the brothers-in-law in their +barque. + +After numerous vicissitudes, which would need a volume to describe, +the _St. Anne_ arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. + +At Tadoussac was a trading post belonging to the French: and the sight +of it seems to have inspired either one or both of these +conscienceless adventurers with the idea of lightening their load of +furs, which consisted of above two thousand skins, though this cargo +only represented about one-third of the number they had actually +secured by cheating, robbery and intrigue in the country of the Bay. + +Having in this nefarious manner disposed of about half of La +Chesnaye's property jointly with themselves, they again set sail and +arrived at Quebec on the 26th of October. + +Immediately on their arrival they went to report themselves to M. de +la Barre, the Governor, La Chesnaye being fortunately, or +unfortunately, absent in Montreal. The Governor thought proper to +return the _Susan_ to the New England merchants, with a warning not +to send again to the place from which she had just come, and the +Company's ill-starred Governor, Bridgar, together with young Gillam, +sailed on board her for New England. + +"We parted," says Radisson with that matchless audacity of statement +for which his narrative deserves to be famous, "on friendly terms; and +he (Bridgar) could testify that I let him know at the time my +attachment; and yet, that I wished still to act as heartily in the +service of the King and the nation as I wished to do for France." + +This hardly tallies with Bridgar's evidence before the Company, that +Radisson was "a cheat, a swindler, and a black-hearted, infamous +scoundrel," and that he was "a born intriguing traitor." As for the +elder Gillam, he was heard to declare, when he had at length arrived +on the frail and half-rotten craft which bore him and his unhappy +comrades to New England, that he would not die happy until his "hangar +had dipped into the blood of the French miscreant, Radisson." + +[Sidenote: Radisson and Groseilliers leave Quebec.] + +Quebec soon got too hot for both of the brothers-in-law. Between the +unfortunate La Chesnaye, who saw himself some thousand crowns out of +pocket, and the Governor, who had received orders from France to +despatch to the Court the two adventurers who seemed bent on making +trouble between the two crowns, Radisson and Groseilliers decided to +leave Quebec, which they did in about a fortnight after their arrival. + +The exact date of their departure was the 11th of November, 1683, and +it was effected on board a French frigate which had brought troops to +the colony. But though the captain of the frigate made all haste, the +frail and shattered _St. Anne_, with Captain Gillam on board, arrived +in Europe before them; and soon England was ringing with his story of +the dastardly encroachment of the French into the realms of the +Company at Port Nelson.[18] + +FOOTNOTE: + +[18] The material for the two last chapters has been derived chiefly +from a pamphlet entitled "French Villainy in Hudson's Bay"; Radisson's +own narrative, and the "Journal" of Gillam, the elder, supplied to +Dongan. Radisson's narrative, divided into two parts, is written in a +clear, legible character, and evinces that its author was a person of +some education. The first part is in English, and was long the +property of Samuel Pepys. Some years after Pepys' death, the +manuscript was purchased for a trifle by Rawlinson, the bibliophile. +The second part, recounting the voyages to Hudson's Bay in 1682-84, is +half in French and half in English; it is now in the Bodleian library. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +1684-1687. + + Hays writes to Lord Preston -- Godey sent to Radisson's + lodgings -- La Barre's strenuous efforts -- Radisson returns to + the English -- He leaves for the Bay -- Meets his nephew + Chouart -- Fort Bourbon surrendered to the Company -- + Radisson's dramatic return to London. + + +[Sidenote: Lord Preston informed of the return of Radisson and +Groseilliers.] + +Lord Preston, who, in the year 1684, held the post of Ambassador +Extraordinary of King Charles II. at the Court of Versailles, was +advised of the return to Paris of the bushranger Radisson in these +terms:-- + + "My Lord: It has just reached our ears and that of his Royal + Highness the Duke of York, Governor of the Honourable Hudson's + Bay Company, that the person who has caused all the recent + trouble in the Hudson's Bay regions whereby our merchants have + suffered so much at the hands of the French, is at this moment + in Paris. As it is much in the interests of the nation as of + the Company that there should be no repetition of these + encroachments and disturbances, it might be advantageous for + your Lordship to see this Mr. Radisson who, it is believed, + could be brought over again to our service if he were so + entreated by your Lordship. His Royal Highness, together with + the other Honourable partners, are convinced from his previous + conduct that it matters little to Mr. Radisson under whose + standard he serves; and that, besides, he is secretly well + disposed toward us, and this in spite of his late treacherous + exploits which have given great offence to the nation and + damage to the Company." + + [Illustration: CAPTAIN GODEY'S VISIT TO RADISSON. + (_See page 112._)] + +This private note was signed by Sir John Hays and Mr. Young on behalf +of the Company. On its receipt by Lord Preston, he at once sent his +attaché, Captain Godey, to seek out Radisson and make overtures to +him. On the third floor of a house in the Faubourg St. Antoine, +surrounded by a number of his relations and boon companions, the +dual traitor was discovered, deeply engaged in drinking healths and in +retailing his adventures to the applause of an appreciative circle. +Upon the walls and mantelpiece of the apartment, and such meagre +furniture as it boasted, were disposed numerous relics and trophies, +bespeaking a thirty years' career in the Transatlantic wilderness. + +[Sidenote: Radisson's appearance in Paris.] + +"Radisson himself," remarks Godey, "was apparelled more like a savage +than a Christian. His black hair, just touched with grey, hung in a +wild profusion about his bare neck and shoulders. He showed a swart +complexion, seamed and pitted by frost and exposure in a rigorous +climate. A huge scar, wrought by the tomahawk of a drunken Indian, +disfigured his left cheek. His whole costume was surmounted by a wide +collar of marten's skin; his feet were adorned by buckskin moccasins. +In his leather belt was sheathed a long knife." Such was the picture +presented by this uncouth, adventurous Huguenot, not merely in the +seclusion of his own lodgings, but to the polished and civilized folk +of Paris of the seventeenth century. What were the projects harboured +in this indomitable man's mind? In spite of his persistent intrigues +it is to be doubted if he, any more than Médard Chouart des +Groseilliers, was animated by more than a desire to pursue an exciting +and adventurous career. Habitually holding out for the best terms, he +does not appear to have saved money when it was acquired, but spent it +freely. When he died he was in receipt of a pension from the Company, +so far insufficient to provide for his manner of living that they were +forced to pay his remaining debts. + +Unabashed by the surroundings thus presented to him, Captain Godey +announced himself, shook hands with the utmost cordiality with +Radisson, and pleaded to be allowed to join in the convivial +proceedings then in progress. The better to evince his sincerity, +without further ceremony he accepted and drank as full a bumper of bad +brandy and applauded with as much heartiness as any man of the party +the truly astonishing tales of their host. + +Godey was the last of the guests to depart. + +"Look you," said he, when he and Radisson were alone together, "you, +monsieur, are a brave man, and it does not become the brave to harbour +vengeance. Nor does it become a brave nation to think hardly of any +man because of his bravery, even though that nation itself be a +sufferer. You know," he pursued, "what is said about you in England?" + +Radisson interrupted his guest by protesting with warmth that he +neither knew nor cared anything about such a matter. + +"It is said, then," answered Godey, "that you have been a traitor to +the king, and that there is no authority or defence for your conduct. +You and Groseilliers, whilst professing friendship for the English +Company have done them great injury, and endangered the peace between +the two crowns." + +"I am sorry," rejoined Radisson, "but all that I and my brother-in-law +have done, is to be laid at the door of the Hudson's Bay Company. We +wished honestly to serve them, but they cast us away as being no +longer useful, when now they see what it is they have done, and how +foolishly they have acted in listening to the counsels of Governor +Bridgar. We really bear them no ill-will, neither the Company nor his +Royal Highness."[19] + +[Sidenote: Godey's report.] + +The gallant emissary reported the tenor of this conversation forthwith +to his master, and both were agreed as to the sort of man they had to +deal with. Godey expressed himself convinced that there would be +little difficulty in inducing Radisson to return to the Company's +service. On this advice Preston at once wrote off to Mr. Young, +telling him not to further press the Company's memorial to the King, +nor to seek to have the French Court take cognizance of, and award +recompense for, the wrongs done the English interests. "Radisson has +done this thing out of his own head, and he is the one man competent +to undo it. He is, I learn, well-disposed to the English, and there is +no reason, if proper overtures be made him, why he should not do more +for the English interests in that region than he has yet done." + +At the same time La Barre, the French Governor, was urged to make the +most strenuous efforts to retain the advantages for the French by the +two adventurers. A royal despatch of August 5th, 1683, and signed by +Lewis himself, had already been sent, in these words:-- + + "I recommend you to prevent the English as much as possible + from establishing themselves in Hudson's Bay, possession + whereof was taken in my name several years ago; and as Colonel + d'Unguent,[20] appointed Governor of New York by the King of + England, has had precise orders on the part of the said King to + maintain good correspondence with us and carefully to avoid + whatever may interrupt it, I doubt not the difficulties you + have experienced will cease for the future." + +Lewis was by no means desirous of rendering the position of his fellow +monarch over the Channel uncomfortable. He was disposed to yield in a +small matter when he had his own way in most of the large ones. Had +Charles yielded to French representations about Port Nelson he would +have given great offence to his brother the Duke of York. Indeed, +there is little doubt that had the Company not boasted members of such +distinction, or the patronage of royalty, the French would have at +this juncture forced their demands and overwhelmed the English +possession. Radisson appears to have got wind of the situation and +this was, perhaps, to him a greater argument for returning to the +service of the power likely to be most permanent in Hudson's Bay. He, +however, hung about idle in Paris for some weeks, in a state of +indecision. Had M. de Seignely exerted his full powers of persuasion, +he might have induced our bushranger to remain in the service of +Lewis. But no such inducement was offered. There is some reason to +believe that M. de Seignely undervalued Radisson; but in any case the +apathy of the Court influenced his actions. + +The bushranger was, on the other hand, exhorted to return to his first +engagement with the English, Lord Preston assuring him that if he +could in reality execute what he proposed, he would receive in England +from his Majesty, from his Royal Highness, from the Company, and from +the nation, "every sort of good treatment and entire satisfaction." +The Duke's especial protection was also guaranteed. Radisson, none too +punctilious, at length made up his mind as to the course he would +pursue. + +"I yielded," says he, "to these solicitations and determined to go to +England forever, and so strongly bind myself to his Majesty's service, +and to that of those interested in the nation, that no other cause +could ever detach me from it." + +[Sidenote: Radisson decides to join the English.] + +But in order that he might have an excuse for his conduct, the very +day that he arrived at this decision he is found writing to the French +Minister demanding a certain grant in the north-west of Canada as an +alternative to a former proposal that "in consideration of his +discoveries, voyages and services he should be given every fourth +beaver, trapped or otherwise caught in those territories." M. de +Seignely had no suspicion of the depth of Radisson's duplicity. The +minister thought him "a vain man, much given to boasting, who could do +much harm, and had therefore best have his vanity tickled at home." + +Up to the very eve of his departure, April 24, 1684, he was a daily +attendant on the minister or his subordinates of the Department of +Marine and Commerce. He was not always favoured with an audience; but +when listened to spoke vaguely of fitting out and equipping vessels +for trade on voyages similar to those he had already undertaken. His +_naiveté_, to use no harsher term, is remarkable. + +"In order," says he, "that they should not suspect anything by my +sudden absence, I told them I was obliged to take a short trip into +the country on friendly family matters. _I myself made good use of +this time to go to London._" + +He arrived in the English capital on the 10th of May, and immediately +paid his respects to Mr. Young. The project for regaining possession +of York Factory was canvassed. Radisson estimated that there would be +between fifteen and twenty thousands beaver skins in the hands of his +nephew, awaiting shipment. The partners appeared more than satisfied, +and Radisson met with a most cordial reception. He was assured that +the Company had entire confidence in him, and that their greatest +regret was that there had been any misunderstanding between them. They +would, it was declared on their behalf, make all amends in their +power. + +For a few weeks the Hudson's Bay bushranger found himself a lion. He +was presented to the King in the course of a _levee_. Charles listened +with the greatest assumption of interest to the adventurer's account +of himself, and to his asseverations of loyalty and good will. +Radisson in the evening was taken to the play-house in the suite of +his Royal Highness, and there by his bizarre attire attracted almost +as much attention amongst the audience as the play itself. + +"To the Duke's Play-house," writes John Selwyn to his wife, "where +Radisson, the American fur-hunter, was in the Royal box. Never was +such a combination of French, English and Indian savage as Sir John +Kirke's son-in-law. He was not wont to dress so when he was last here, +but he has got him a new coat with much lace upon it, which he wears +with his leather breeches and shoes. His hair is a perfect tangle. It +is said he has made an excellent fortune for himself." + +[Sidenote: Radisson's departure for Hudson's Bay.] + +After a number of conferences with the partners, Radisson finally +departed from Gravesend on May 17. Three ships set sail, that in which +Radisson was embarked being named the _Happy Return_. The elements +being favourable, the little fleet reached the Straits more speedily +than usual. The chief figure of this expedition, who had never borne a +part in any joint enterprise without being animated by jealousy and +distrust, found here ample scope for the exercise of his +characteristic vices. During nearly the entire period of the voyage he +evinced a perpetual and painful apprehension that one of the other +ships carrying officials and servants of the Company would, with +malicious intentions, arrive before him. + +His first concern on awaking in the morning was to be assured that the +companion vessels were in sight, and although the _Happy Return_ was +the most sluggish sailor of the trio, yet to such good purpose were +plied the bushranger's energies and promises that her commander's +seamanship made her a capital match for the others. + +But just before their destination was reached contrary winds, currents +and masses of floating ice brought about a separation, and Radisson +began to be assailed more than ever by the fear that the English +servants would arrive on the ground, overwhelm his nephew and the +other French without his assistance, and thus frustrate all his plans +for claiming sole credit. And in truth this fear was very nearly +justified. Twenty leagues from Port Nelson the ship got blocked amidst +the masses of ice, and progress, except at a raft's pace, became out +of the question. In this dilemma, Radisson demanded of the captain a +small boat and seven men. His request being granted, it was launched, +and after undergoing forty-eight hours' fatigue, without rest or +sleep, the entrance to Nelson River was reached. Imagine Radisson's +surprise, as well as that of his companions, on beholding two ships at +anchor, upon one of which, a complete stranger to them, floated the +Royal Standard of England. + +[Sidenote: The presence of the French made known.] + +It was the English frigate which had entered at Port Nelson. The other +ship was the _Alert_, commanded by Captain Outlaw, having brought out +the Company's new Governor, William Phipps, the previous season. +Radisson boldly headed his boat for this vessel, and when he drew +near, perceived Bridgar's successor, with all his people in arms, on +the quarter-deck. The Governor, in a loud voice, instantly demanded to +know who Radisson was. Upon his making himself and his allegiance +known, they decided to permit him to board the Company's ship. The +bushranger first made it his care to be informed how the land lay, and +he was inwardly rejoiced to learn that the Governor and his men had +not dared to land, out of fear for the French and Indians, who were +considered hostile to the English interests. This was precisely the +situation Radisson most desired; a thought seems to have struck him +that after all, his nephew, Chouart, might prove intractable, and by +no means so easily won over as he had anticipated. It therefore +behooved him to act with adroitness and circumspection. Taking with +him two men, Radisson proceeded up country in the direction of the +abandoned York Factory, hourly hoping that they might discover +something, or at least they should make someone hear, or see a +friendly Indian, by firing musket shots or making a smoke. The attempt +was not fruitless, as he tells us, for after a while they perceived +ten canoes with Indians coming down the river. "At first," he says, "I +thought some Frenchmen might be with them, whom my nephew might have +sent to discover who the new arrivals were." Upon this supposition +Radisson severed himself from his comrades, and going to meet the +savages he made the usual signs to them from the bank, which the +Indians at first seemed to respond to in no amiable spirit. Albeit, on +addressing them in their own tongue, he was immediately recognized, +the Indians testifying by shouts and playful postures to their joy at +his arrival. He quickly learned from them that his nephew and the +other Frenchmen were above the rapids, four leagues from the place +where they then were. They had expected Groseilliers would accompany +Radisson, and when they expressed surprise that this was not the case, +Radisson did not scruple to tell them that Groseilliers awaited him at +a short distance. + +"But what," asked Radisson, "are you doing here? What brings you into +this part of the country and in such numbers?" + +The savage leader's sudden confusion betrayed him to Radisson. The +circumstance of the Indians voluntarily seeking trade with the English +greatly simplified the situation. + +"Look you," said he, heartily, at the same time calling to Captain +Geyer, who was in ambush hard by, "I am glad to find you seeking trade +with the English. I have made peace with the English for the love of +our Indian brothers; you, they and I are to be henceforth only one. +Embrace us, therefore, in token of peace; this (pointing to Geyer) is +your new brother. Go immediately to your son at the fort yonder and +carry him these tidings and the proofs of peace. Tell him to come and +see me at this place, while the others will wait for me at the mouth +of the river." + +It should be mentioned that the chief of this band had previously +announced himself as young Chouart's sire, according to the Indian +custom. He now readily departed on his mission. + +Radisson passed an anxious night. The sun had been risen some hours +before his eyes were gladdened by the sight of a canoe, in which he +descried Chouart. The young man's countenance bore, as well it might, +an expression of profound amazement; and at first hardly the bare +civilities of relationship passed between the pair. Chouart waited +patiently for his uncle to render an explanation of the news which had +reached him. Silently and slowly they walked together, and after a +time the prince of liars, traitors, adventurers and bushrangers began +his account of his position. + +Radisson states that his nephew immediately acquiesced in his scheme. +A memoir penned in 1702, the year of Radisson's death, by M. Barthier, +of Quebec, asserts that the young man received with the utmost +disgust, and flatly declined to entertain, his relative's proposals. +He expressed, on the other hand, the greatest grief on hearing the +news; for he had begun to believe that it was through their efforts +that the dominion of the king had been extended in that region. Now it +appeared that this labour had all been in vain. It was only his love +for his mother, Radisson's sister, which prevented an open rebellion +on the part of Chouart against the proposed treachery. + +[Sidenote: Chouart surrenders to Radisson.] + +No rupture took place; the stronger and more crafty spirit prevailed. +Chouart surrendered on the following day his command of the fort. He +had, he complained, expected a far different fate for the place and +his men. The tattered old _fleur de lis_ standard brought by the _St. +Anne's_ captain from Quebec was lowered and the English emblem, with +the device of the Company, run up in its stead. All the forces were +assembled and amidst cheers for King Charles and the Honourable +Adventurers, the Company's Governor took formal possession. + +But the French bushrangers and sailors watched these proceedings with +melancholy dissatisfaction, not, perhaps, as much from patriotic +motives as from the frailty of their own tenure. They could no longer +be assured of a livelihood amongst so many English, who bore +themselves with so haughty a mien. + +Radisson proceeded to make an inventory of all the skins on hand, +together with all those concealed in _caches_ in the woods. The +results showed 239 packages of beaver, or about 12,000 skins, together +with merchandise sufficient to barter for seven or eight thousand +more. Instructions were now given by Radisson, the Governor remaining +passive, to have all these goods taken in canoes to the ships. + +It now only remained for the bushranger to accomplish one other object +before setting sail with the cargo for England. Radisson speaks of +himself as having a secret commission, but no authority can be found +for his statement. It involved the retention in the Company's service +of his nephew and the other Frenchmen; but even assuming that Radisson +were armed with any such instructions, the plan was not likely to +enjoy the approval of Governor Phipps, who, if he were at the outset +of his term of office determined upon any one thing, it was that Fort +Nelson should be cleared of Frenchmen. Exactly how this was to be +arranged was not quite clear, especially as there was yet no open +rupture between the two authorities. But for such a rupture they had +not long to wait. They were destined on the very eve of his departure +to be involved in a quarrel. + +[Sidenote: Dispute between Radisson and the Governor.] + +Some years before an Assiniboine chief named Ka-chou-touay had taken +Radisson to his bosom and adopted him as his son with all the +customary ceremonies. This formidable chief, who had been at war with +a neighbouring tribe at the time of his adopted son's arrival in the +country, now put in an appearance. Instead of the joy Radisson +expected it was with reproaches that he was greeted. Ka-chou-touay +informed him that a brother chief of his, named La Barbé, with one of +his sons, had been killed while expostulating with a party of English. +The consequences of this rash action might be so grave that Radisson +felt it to be his duty to resort to the Governor and demand that his +servants should be punished for the crime, or else he would not be +answerable for the consequences. The Governor does not appear to have +taken Radisson's demand in good part, declining altogether to +intervene in the matter. The other now proceeded to commands and +threats. He asserted that as long as he remained in the country the +Governor was his subordinate, which greatly angered that official and +high words passed. + +The task the Governor had set himself was by no means easy, especially +if he wished to avoid bloodshed. But the plan of overpowering and +disarming the French was finally accomplished through strategy. All +were escorted aboard the ship, even to Chouart himself, and on the +fourth of September sail was set. + +On this voyage Radisson's state of mind rivalled that which he had +experienced when outward bound. His late anxiety to be the first upon +the scene at Port Nelson was paralleled now by his desire to be the +first in London. If happily, the Company should first hear an account +of what had transpired from himself, he felt convinced full measure of +justice would be done him. If, on the other hand, Governor Phipps' +relation were first received there was no knowing how much prejudice +might be raised against him. + +Great as was his impatience, he managed to hide it with adroitness, so +that none save his nephew suspected the intention he shortly executed. +The captain, crew and Company's servants left the ship leisurely at +Portsmouth. Those going up to London lingered for the coach, but not +so with Radisson, who instantly made his way to the post-house, where +he hired a second-rate steed, mounted it and, without the courtesy of +an adieu to his late comrades, broke into a gallop, hardly restrained +until London bridge was reached. + +[Sidenote: Phipps' letter to the Company.] + +His arrival took place close upon midnight, but late as was the hour, +he took no thought of securing lodging or of apprising his wife of +his advent. He spurred on his stumbling horse to the dwelling of Mr. +Young, in Wood Street, Cheapside. The honourable adventurer had +retired for the night, but, nevertheless, in gown and night-cap +welcomed Radisson with great cordiality. He listened, we are told, +with the greatest interest and satisfaction to the bushranger's tale, +garnished with details of his own marvellous prowess and zeal for the +Company. Nor, perhaps, was Radisson less satisfied when, on attaining +his own lodging, he pondered on the day's exploits. He slumbered +little, and at eleven o'clock Young was announced, and was ushered in, +declaring that he had already been to Whitehall and apprised the Court +of the good news. His Majesty and his Royal Highness had expressed a +wish to see Radisson, the hero of these great doings, and Young was +accordingly brought to escort the bushranger into the Royal presence. +It was a triumph, but a short-lived one. Radisson had hardly left the +precincts of the Court, his ears still ringing with the praises of +King and courtiers, than the Deputy-Governor, Mr. Dering, received +Phipps' account of the affair, which was almost as unfair to Radisson +and the part he had played in the re-capture of Port Nelson, as +Radisson's own account was flattering. + +On the receipt of the report, a General Court of the Adventurers was +held on September 26th. By the majority of members the bushranger was +hardly likely to be accorded full justice, for great offence had been +given by his presentation at Court and the extremely informal manner +of his arrival. Despite the friendliness of Hays, Young and several +other partners, Radisson was not again granted a position of authority +in the Company's service. + +In the meanwhile young Chouart, being detained in England against his +wish, decided to write to Denonville and propose to accompany his +uncle to Port Nelson and make his escape and gain Quebec by land. The +Governor forwarded this letter to Paris and demanded permission to +promise fifty pistoles to those who would seize the traitor Radisson +and bring him to Quebec. The minister complied. But in March, 1687, +he had had no success. "The misfortune," says the minister, "that the +man Radisson has done to the colony, and that he is still capable of +doing if he remains longer amongst the English, should oblige +Denonville and Champagne to make every effort to seize him and so +judgment will be held out." Radisson did, it is true, make another +voyage to Hudson's Bay, but his sojourn was of brief duration, and a +plot set on foot to seize him failed. + +Not long afterwards, "Peter Raddison" is found to be in receipt of a +pension of ten pounds a month from the Company, which he continued to +enjoy for many years to the time of his death at Islington, in 1702. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] As an example of the absurd legends current some years later, and +perpetuated, I am sorry to say, to a later day, it would be hard to +match this, from La Potherie: + +"He (Preston) promised to Godey, one of his domestics, to create him +perpetual secretary of the Embassy, providing he engaged Radisson in +his party. Godey, the better to succeed, promised Radisson his +daughter in marriage, whom he (Radisson) espoused." (La Potherie, Vol. +I, p. 145.) Godey was _aide-de-camp_ to Preston; he may have had a +daughter, but Radisson certainly did not espouse her, inasmuch as he +was already married to Sir John Kirke's daughter, who was still +living. + +[20] This is M. de la Barre's quaint fashion of spelling Dongan. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +1683-1686. + + Feigned Anger of Lewis -- He writes to La Barre -- Importance + Attached to Indian Treaties -- Duluth's zeal -- Gauthier de + Comportier -- Denonville made Governor -- Capture of the + _Merchant of Perpetuana_ -- Expedition of Troyes against the + Company's Posts in the Bay -- Moose Fort Surrendered. + + +When the news of the expedition of 1684 reached the Court of +Versailles, Lewis professed anger that the peace between the two +crowns should be broken even in that remote corner of the world. He +related the discussion which had taken place between the English +ambassador and himself with regard to Radisson's treachery. He had +been happy, he said, to inform King Charles's representative that he +was unwilling to afford his "brother of England" any cause of +complaint. Nevertheless, as he thought it important to prevent the +English from establishing themselves in that river, it would be well +to make a proposal to the commandant at Hudson's Bay that neither +French nor English should have power to make any new establishments. + +Long before that he had written to Governor La Barre, in no measured +terms, demanding of him what he meant by releasing the Boston vessel, +the _Susan_, without calling on the Intendant, or consulting the +sovereign council. + +"You have herein done," said he, "just what the English would be able +to make a handle of, since in virtue of your ordinance you caused a +vessel to be surrendered which ought strictly to be considered a +pirate, as it had no commission; and the English will not fail to say +that you so fully recognized the regularity of the ship's papers as to +surrender it." + +[Sidenote: Duluth in the West.] + +Simultaneously with the receipt of this letter from his monarch, there +came to the perplexed Governor a letter from the Sieur Duluth, stating +that at great expense of presents he had prevented the western tribes +from further carrying their beaver trade to the English. He had, it +appeared, met the Sieur de la Croix with his two comrades, who had +presented the despatches in which the Governor had urged him to use +every endeavour in forwarding letters to Chouart, at Nelson River. + +"To carry out your instructions," wrote Duluth, "there was only +Monsieur Péré, who would have to go himself, the savages having all at +that time withdrawn into the interior." He added that Péré had left +during the previous month, and doubtless at that time had accomplished +his mission. Duluth invariably expressed himself with great confidence +on the subject of the implicit trust which the savages reposed in him. +More than once in his letters, as well as in verbal messages forwarded +to his superiors, he boasted that before a couple of years were out +not a single savage would visit the English at Hudson's Bay. To this +end they had bound themselves by the numerous presents they had +received at his hands; and he was assured that they would not go back +on their word. + +As with Duluth so with the other officials, pioneers and emissaries +amongst the French, great importance was attached to treaties and +compacts with the aborigines. Every endeavour was made to obtain the +good-will and amity of the Indians. + +[Sidenote: French and English relations with the Indians.] + +Perhaps nothing exhibits so powerfully the totally differing attitude +and motives of the Company, compared with the French traders, than the +manner in which, in those early times, the Red man was trusted and +believed by the one and distrusted and contemned by the other. One may +peruse neither the narratives of the Jesuits nor of the traders +without an emotion of awe at the simple faith of those pioneers in the +honesty and probity of the Red men. To the very end, when disaster +succeeding disaster overwhelmed the propaganda of Loyola amongst the +northern tribes and exterminated its disciples, we read of the +Frenchman trusting to the word and deferring to the prejudices of his +Indian brother. It was as if the latter were indeed of a common +steadfastness and moral nature with his own. Contrast that trait in +the English character which is exhibited in his early dealings with +inferior and black peoples in India and Africa, to that he has +retained to the present day. Never was the contrast greater than +during the acute conflict of English and French interests in Hudson's +Bay at this time. The early governors and traders almost without +exception openly despised the Indian and secretly derided his most +solemn counsels. August treaties were set aside on the most flimsy +pretexts, and if the virtues of the savages were too highly esteemed +by the French, they were on the other hand perhaps much too cheaply +held by their rivals. + +But to whatever extent they may have held themselves bound by compacts +of this kind, the Company's officials were not so foolish as to doubt +their potency amongst savages. Thus we find that from the years 1682 +to 1688 the Company regularly instructed its servants to enact the +strongest treaties with the "captains and kings of the rivers and +territories where they had settlements." "These compacts," observes +one of the Company's servants, "were rendered as firm and binding as +the Indians themselves could make them. Ceremonies of the most solemn +and sacred character accompanied them." + +Duluth had already built a fort near the River à la Maune, at the +bottom of Lake Nepigon, and thither he expected at least six of the +northern nations to resort in the spring. Lest this should not be +sufficient for the purpose he designed building another in the +Christineaux River, which would offer an effectual barrier to the +expansion of the English trade. With characteristic zeal Duluth, in a +letter written at this time, concluded with these words: + +"Finally, sir, I wish to lose my life if I do not absolutely prevent +the savages from visiting the English." + +But with every good will to serve his monarch and stifle in infancy +the growing trade of the Hudson's Bay Company in the northern regions, +Duluth vastly undervalued the forces of circumstance as well of +enterprise at the command of the enemy. The plans of the French were +destined to be confounded by the unforeseen and treacherous action of +Radisson and Chouart in the following year. + +"What am I to do?" now became the burden of La Barre's appeals to the +King. The young priest who acted as his secretary at Quebec was kept +perpetually writing to Versailles for instructions. His letters are +long, and filled with explanations of the situation, which only served +to confuse his superiors. Fearful of offending the English on one hand +and thereby precipitating New France in a war with New England, and on +the other of arousing the resentment of the colonists by a supine +behaviour, the unhappy Denonville was in an unpleasant dilemma. + +"Am I to oppose force to force?" he asks in one letter. "Am I to +venture against those who have committed these outrages against your +Majesty's subjects at sea? It is a matter in which your Majesty will +please to furnish me with some precise and decisive orders whereunto I +shall conform my conduct and actions." + +[Sidenote: Lewis unwilling to oppose the English.] + +But the Most Christian King was by no means anxious to quarrel with +his cousin Charles either for the dominion of, or the fur-trade +monopoly in, the north. Charles was in possession of a handsome +subsidy paid out of the exchequer of Lewis. Europe was spectator of +the most cordial relations between these two monarchs, relations which +are described by more than one candid historian as those commonly +subsisting between master and vassal. That tempest of indignation +which was to break over England in the reign of Charles's successor +would have not so long been deferred had but a real knowledge of the +"good understanding and national concord" been known to Englishmen at +large. + +Under the circumstances it is not surprising that Lewis concluded to +do nothing. It was not that opportunities to regain what was lost were +lacking. An old soldier, Gauthier de Comportier, who with a number of +other patriots had learned of the jeopardy in which French interests +lay in the north, presented a memoir to the King offering, if a grant +were made him, to win all back from the English and to establish three +posts on the Bourbon River. The grant was refused. + +A change then came which altered the aspect of affairs. + +In February, 1685, Charles II. died, and the Duke of York, second +Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, ascended the throne of England. +Lewis was not the last to perceive that the accession of James would +cause but little real difference, as the latter and himself were bound +together by ties as strong as had bound Charles, yet saw at the same +time that full advantage might safely be reaped from the change of +monarchs. Proceedings were instantly therefore set on foot to retrieve +the fortunes of the French in the fur countries. + +The conduct of Groseilliers and Radisson had deeply offended the +inhabitants of Quebec. An excited populace burnt the pair in effigy, +and a decree was issued for their arrest should they at any time be +apprehended, and for their delivery to those whom they had betrayed. +But it was the anger of La Chesnaye and his associates of the Company +which was especially strong. An expedition which they had sent out to +Port Nelson, with the intention of collecting the wealth in peltries, +returned to the St. Lawrence without so much as a single beaver. + +The success of the English made some decided action on the part of the +French inevitable. La Barre was recalled and his successor, the +Marquis de Denonville, determined to take matters into his own hands, +rather than see the interests of New France in the Bay suffer. He +relied upon the success of the expedition to atone for the boldness of +the initiative, but his action was not taken without repeated warnings +addressed to the Minister. "All the best of our furs, both as to +quality and quantity, we must expect to see shortly in the hands of +the English." If the English were not expelled they would secure all +the fat beaver from an infinite number of tribes in the north who were +being discovered every day; besides abstracting the greater portion of +the peltries that ordinarily reached them at Montreal through the +Ottawas, Assiniboines and other tribes.[21] + +[Sidenote: The French capture a Company's ship.] + +In the month of July, 1685, two ships belonging to the French Company, +returning in disappointment to Canada from Port Nelson, met, at the +mouth of the Straits, one of the Hudson's Bay Company's vessels named +the _Merchant of Perpetuana_, commanded by one Edward Humes. She was +bound for York Fort with a cargo of merchandise and provisions. No +time was lost on the part of the French in intercepting her. Captain +Humes not surrendering with sufficient alacrity to please the enemy, +the _Merchant of Perpetuana_ was boarded and forcibly possessed in the +name of King Lewis. Several English sailors lost their lives. The +vessel having been seized in this manner, her prow was headed for +Quebec, where her master and crew were summarily cast into gaol. + +After a miserable confinement, lasting eleven months, the sufferings +of Captain Humes ended with his death, and the other prisoners, +exposed to the insults and indignities of the Quebec populace, were +ultimately sent away to Martinique on board their own ship, and there +sold as slaves. The mate, Richard Smithsend by name, managed to +escape. Upon reaching London the tale he unfolded to his employers +excited general indignation. A memorial of the outrage, couched in +vigorous language, was presented to the King, but James, resolved not +to give offence to his friend and ally the Most Christian King, took +no notice of the matter. + +Amongst the French in Canada there were not wanting bold spirits to +follow up this daring stroke. Chief amongst them, not merely for the +character of his achievements, but for his uncommon and romantic +personality, was the Chevalier de Troyes. This Canadian nobleman, who +was of advanced years, was a retired captain in the army. He believed +he now saw an opportunity to win a lasting distinction, and to rival, +and perhaps surpass, the exploits of Champlain, Lusson, Frontenac and +the other hero-pioneers of New France. Scholarly in his tastes, and +frail of body, though by profession a soldier, he emerged from privacy +on Christmas Eve, 1685, and asked of the Governor a commission to +drive the English utterly from the Northern Bay. + +The authority the old soldier sought for was granted. He was empowered +to "search for, seize and occupy the most advantageous posts, to seize +the robbers, bushrangers and others whom we know to have taken and +arrested several of our French engaged in the Indian trade, whom we +order him to arrest, especially the said Radisson and his adherents +wherever they may be found, and bring them to be punished as +deserters, according to the rigour of the ordinances." The rigour of +the ordinances was death. + +Fourscore Canadians were selected to form part of the expedition +against the Hudson's Bay Company's posts by the Chevalier de Troyes. +For his lieutenants, the leader chose the three sons of a nobleman of +New France named Charles Le Moine. One, the eldest, a young man of +only twenty-five, was to bear an enduring distinction in the annals of +France as one of her most able and intrepid naval commanders. This was +the Sieur d'Iberville. His brothers, taking their names, as he had +done, from places in their native land, were called the Sieurs de +Sainte Hèlène and de Marincourt. Thirty soldiers were directly +attached to the Chevalier's command, veterans who had, almost to a +man, seen service in one or other of the great European wars. That +they might not be without the ministrations of religion, Father +Sylvie, a Jesuit priest, accompanied the expedition. + +[Sidenote: Expedition of de Troyes.] + +"The rivers," writes a chronicler of the Troyes expedition, "were +frozen and the earth covered with snow when that small party of +vigorous men left Montreal in order to ascend the Ottawa River as far +as the height of land and thence to go down to James' Bay." At the +beginning of April they arrived at the Long Sault, where they prepared +some canoes in order to ascend the Ottawa River. From Lake +Temiscamingue they passed many portages until they reached Lake +Abbitibi, at the entrance or most southern extremity of which they +built a small fort of stockades. After a short halt they continued +their course towards James' Bay. + +The establishment first doomed to conquest by Troyes and his +companions was Moose Factory, a stockade fort having four bastions +covered with earth. In the centre was a house forty feet square and as +many high, terminating in a platform. The fort was escaladed by the +French late at night and the palisades made short work of by the +hatchets of their bushrangers. + +Amongst the garrison none appears to have attempted a decent defence +save the chief gunner, who perished bravely at his post of duty.[22] A +cry for quarter went up and the English were made prisoners on the +spot. They were sixteen in number, and as the attack was made at night +they were in a state of almost complete undress. Troyes found in the +fort twelve cannon, chiefly six and eight-pounders, three thousand +pounds of powder and ten pounds of lead. + +[Sidenote: Capture of Moose Factory.] + +It is worthy of record that the capture was effected with an amount of +pomp and ceremony calculated to strike the deepest awe into the hearts +of those fifteen unhappy and not too intelligent Company's +apprentices, who knew nothing of fighting nor had bargained for +anything so perilous. For so small a conquest it was both preceded and +followed by almost as much circumstance as would have sufficed for the +Grand Monarque himself in one of his theatrical sieges. The Chevalier +announced in a loud voice that he took possession of the fort and +island "in the name of his Most Christian Majesty the Most High, Most +Mighty, Most Redoubtable Monarch Lewis XIV. of the Most Christian +Name, King of France and Navarre." In obvious imitation of Lusson, a +sod of earth was thrice raised in the air, whilst a cry of "Vive le +Roi" rang out over those waters wherein were sepultured the bodies of +Henry Hudson and his men. + + * * * * * + +NOTE.--The career of the Chevalier de Troyes ended abruptly and +tragically in 1687, when he and all his men, to the number of ninety, +were massacred at Niagara. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[21] Our Frenchmen have seen quite recently from Port Nelson some +Indians who were known to have traded several years ago at Montreal. +The posts at the head of the Bay Abbitibi and Nemisco can be reached +through the woods and seas; our Frenchmen are acquainted with the +road. But in regard to the posts occupied by the English in the River +Bourbon or Port Nelson it is impossible to hold any posts below them +and convey merchandise thither except by sea. Some pretend that it is +feasible to go thence overland; but the river to reach that quarter +remains yet to be discovered, and when discovered could only admit the +conveyance of a few men and not of any merchandise. In regard to +Hudson's Bay, should the King not think proper for enforcing the +reasons his Majesty has for opposing the usurpation of the English on +his lands, by the just titles proving his Majesty's possession long +before the English had any knowledge of the country, nothing is to be +done but to find means to support the Company of the said Bay, formed +in Canada, by the privilege his Majesty has been pleased this year to +grant to all his subjects of New France; and to furnish them for some +years with a few vessels of 120 tons, well armed and equipped. I hope +with this aid our Canadians will support this business, which will +otherwise perish of itself; whilst the English merchants, more +powerful than our Canadians, will with good ships continue their +trade, whereby they will enrich themselves at the expense of the +Colony and the King's revenue.--Despatch of Denonville, 12th November, +1685. + +[22] Iberville declares that he split his head into fragments. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +1686-1689. + + The French Attack upon Fort Rupert -- Governor Sargeant + Apprised -- Intrepidity of Nixon -- Capture of Fort Albany -- + Disaster to the _Churchill_ -- The Company Hears the ill News + -- Negotiations for Colonial Neutrality -- Destruction of New + Severn Fort -- Loss of the _Hampshire_ -- The Revolution. + + +Undecided whether to next attack Fort Rupert or Fort Albany, the +Chevalier de Troyes was prompted to a decision through learning that a +boat containing provisions had left Moose Factory on the previous day +bound for Rupert's River. Iberville was therefore sent with nine men +and two bark canoes to attack a sloop belonging to the Company then +lying at anchor at the mouth of the latter river with fourteen souls +aboard, including the Governor. To accomplish this stroke it was +necessary to travel forty leagues along the sea coast. The road was +extremely difficult and in places almost impassable. A shallop was +constructed to carry a couple of small cannon, and on the 25th of June +Troyes left for Fort Rupert. + +St. Hèlène was sent on in advance to reconnoitre the establishment. He +returned with the information that it was a square structure, flanked +by four bastions, but that all was in a state of confusion owing to +repairs and additions then being made to the fort. The cannon had not +yet been placed, being temporarily accommodated outside on the slope +of a redoubt. + +Before the attack, which could only have one issue, was made by the +land forces, Iberville had boarded the Company's sloop, surprised +captain and crew, and made all, including Governor Bridgar, prisoners. +Four of the English were killed. + +After this exploit Iberville came ashore, rejoined his superior and +overpowered the almost defenceless garrison of Fort Rupert. + +The French forces now united, and St Hèlène having been as successful +as his brother in securing the second of the Company's ships, all +embarked and sailed for the remaining post of the Company in that part +of the Bay. + + * * * * * + +Neither Troyes nor Iberville knew its precise situation; but a little +reconnoitring soon discovered it. Fort Albany was built in a sheltered +inlet forty yards from the borders of the Bay. Two miles to the +north-east was an _estrapade_ on the summit of which was placed a seat +for a sentinel to sight the ships expected from England and to signal +them if all was well. But on this morning, unhappily, no sentinel was +there to greet with a waving flag the Company's ship, on the deck of +which young Iberville stood. + +[Sidenote: Attack on Fort Albany.] + +Two Indians, however, brought Governor Sargeant tidings of the +approach of the enemy, and his previous successes at Moose and Rupert +rivers. The Governor immediately resolved upon making a bold stand; +all was instantly got in readiness to sustain a siege, and the men +were encouraged to behave with fortitude. Two hours later the booming +of cannon was heard, and soon afterwards a couple of skirmishers were +sighted at a distance. Despite the Governor's example, the servants at +the fort were thrown into the greatest confusion. Two of their number +were deputed by the rest to inform the Governor that they were by no +means disposed to sacrifice their lives without provision being made +for themselves and families in case of a serious issue. They were +prevailed upon by the Governor to return to their posts, and a bounty +was promised them. Bombardment by the French soon afterwards began, +and lasted for two days, occasionally replied to by the English. But +it was not until the evening of the second day that the first fatality +occurred, when one of the servants was killed, and this brought about +a mutiny. Elias Turner, the chief gunner, declared to his comrades +that it was impossible for the Governor to hold the place and that, +for his part, he was ready to throw himself on the clemency of the +French. Sargeant overhearing this declaration, drew his pistol and +threatened to blow out the gunner's brains if he did not return to +his post, and this form of persuasion proved effective. The French now +profited by the darkness to bring their cannon through the wood closer +to the fort; and by daybreak a series of heavy balls struck the +bastions, causing a breach. Bridgar and Captain Outlaw, then at Fort +Albany, were convinced that the enemy was undermining the powder +magazine, in which case they would certainly be blown up. + +The French from the ship had thrown up a battery, which was separated +from the moat surrounding the fort by less than a musket shot. None +ventured to show himself above ground at a moment of such peril. A +shell exploded at the head of the stairway and wounded the cook. The +cries of the French could now be distinctly heard outside the +fort--"Vive le Roi, vive le Roi." In their fright and despair the +English echoed the cry "Vive le Roi," thinking thereby to propitiate +their aggressors. But the latter mistook the cry for one of defiance, +as a token of loyalty to an altogether different monarch, and the +bullets whistled faster and thicker. Sargeant desired to lower the +flag floating above his own dwelling, but there was none to undertake +so hazardous a task. Finally Dixon, the under-factor, offered to show +himself and propitiate the French. He first thrust a white cloth from +a window and waved a lighted torch before it. He then called in a loud +voice, and the firing instantly ceased. The under-factor came forth, +fully dressed, and bearing two huge flagons of port wine. Walking +beyond the parapets he encountered both Troyes and Iberville, and by +the light of a full moon the little party of French officers and the +solitary Englishman sat down on the mounted cannon, or on the ground +beside it, broached the two flagons and drank the health of the two +kings, their masters. + +"And now, gentlemen," said Dixon, "what is it you want?" + +"Possession of your fort in the name of his Most Christian Majesty, +King Lewis XIV." + +Dixon, explaining that he was not master there, offered to conduct +this message to Sargeant, and in a very short time the French +commanders were seated comfortably within the house of the Governor. +The demand was again preferred, it being added that great offence had +been given by the action of the English in taking captive three French +traders, the previous autumn, and keeping them prisoners on ground +owned and ruled by the King of France. For this reason reparation was +demanded, and Sargeant was desired at once to surrender the fort. The +Governor was surprised at such extreme measures, for which he was +totally unprepared, but was willing to surrender upon terms of +capitulation. On the following morning these were arranged. + +[Sidenote: Capitulation of the fort.] + +It was agreed that Sargeant should continue to enjoy all his personal +effects; and further, that his deputy, Dixon, three domestics and his +servant, should accompany him out of the fort. It was also agreed that +Troyes should send the clerks and servants of the Company to Charlton +Island, there to await the arrival of the Company's ships from +England. In case of their non-arrival within a reasonable time, Troyes +promised to assist them to such vessel as he could command for the +purpose. The Frenchman also gave Sargeant the provisions necessary to +keep him and his companions from starvation. All quitted the fort +without arms, save Sargeant and his son, whose swords and pistols hung +at their sides. The Governor and his suite were provided with passage +to Hays Island, where he afterwards made his escape to Port Nelson. +The others were distributed between Forts Moose and Albany, and were +treated with considerable severity and hardship. + +Having attended to the disposition of his prisoners and their +property, Troyes, accompanied by Iberville, departed on 10th August +for Montreal. The gallant Chevalier and his associates would have been +glad to have pursued their successes, by crossing the Bay and +capturing York Factory. But although two ships belonging to the +Company had fallen to their lot, yet they could find none competent to +command them. The distance between Albany and Port Nelson was by water +two hundred and fifty leagues, and the road overland was as yet +unknown to the French. But it was not their purpose that it should +long remain so. In a letter to his official superior at Quebec, +Denonville, pursuing his way amongst the tribes of the Upper +Mississippi region, boasted that the next year would not pass without +their becoming acquainted with it. + +Wherefore Troyes suffered himself to be prevailed upon by Iberville, +and be content with the victories already won. They carried with them +in their journey more than 50,000 beaver as a trophy of their arms. +Many of the Hudson's Bay Company's servants were employed in bearing +the spoils. Along the dreary march several of these unhappy captives +were killed through the connivance of the French with the Indians; and +the survivors reached Quebec in a dreadfully emaciated and halt +condition. + +Troyes' victories were ludicrously exaggerated: his return, therefore, +was attended with much pomp. + +[Sidenote: French prisoners taken by the "Churchill."] + +Ignorant of Troyes and his conquests, the Company sent out its annual +expedition as usual in 1687. In the autumn of this year the +_Churchill_ was caught in the ice near Charlton Island. Iberville was +quickly apprised of this mishap, and sent a party of four across the +ice to reconnoitre. They appear to have been somewhat careless, for, +while one sank down from utter exhaustion, the others were surprised +by the Company's crew, seized and bound. One of the three, however, +managed to escape the fate of his companions, who were manacled and +placed in the bottom of the ship's hold, where they passed the winter. + +But the three Frenchmen enjoyed no monopoly of misfortune. The captain +of the ship, while hunting on the island in the early days of spring, +lost his life by drowning; and there were numerous minor calamities. +In May, preparation was made for departure, and as the English were +short-handed the two Frenchmen were forced to lend their aid. This +they did willingly, glad to exchange the open air of heaven for that +of the hold of the ship. One day, while most of the crew were aloft, +one of the Frenchmen, perceiving only two of his captors on deck, +furtively secured an axe. With this implement he silently split the +skulls of both men, and then ran to release his comrade temporarily +chained below. The pair seized fire-arms which they came upon in a +corner of the hold, and brandishing these in skilful fashion, they +suddenly changed from captives into masters. In opprobrious terms and +with violent gesticulations they dared the crew to come down from the +rigging, or indeed to lay a hand upon the fringe of a shroud; and +while one watched with two drawn pistols in hand the shivering seamen +in the shrouds and rigging, the other steered the ship towards +Rupert's River. How long this drama might have lasted it is hard to +say, for within a few hours Iberville and his ship hove in sight. He +had fitted out an expedition to rescue his men as soon as the ice +would permit, and now came and took charge of the _Churchill_ and all +on board. + +[Sidenote: News of the disaster reaches England.] + +The tidings of this expedition of the Chevalier Troyes, following +close upon the harrowing tale of Smithsend, the mate of the _Merchant +of Perpetuana_, excited the Adventurers to a pitch of fury. An +extraordinary general meeting was held and London was placarded with +an account of the outrages. A news-letter was issued at the Company's +expense detailing the events, and carrying them into the remotest +parts of the kingdom. Lord Churchill, who had succeeded King James in +the governorship of the Company, personally presented a petition of +the outraged Company of Adventurers to the King, wherein it was prayed +"that James would be pleased to afford them his Royal assistance and +Protection and that Your Majesty will demand and procure satisfaction +to be made them for all losses and damages they have suffered as well +formerly as by this last invasion." + +It is now necessary to mention what had been happening between the two +crowns between 1685 and 1688. + +In the first named year, in response to the pressure brought to bear +upon both by their subjects, James had agreed with Lewis to appoint a +joint commission to examine into the disputes between the two nations +and, if possible, effect a pacific settlement. + +Their respective possessions in America were giving the two Crowns so +much trouble and expense that they were ready to welcome any +arrangement which would reduce the burden. War between England and +France in the old days had been a simple matter, confined to +contiguous territory of whose geography and physical features they +knew something. But now the mother countries could not offer each +other hostilities without a score or so of their offspring colonies +springing at each other's throats. + +If war between France and England could only be confined to war +between France and England, and not be allowed to spread itself over +innumerable savage tribes and dependencies in North America, it was +felt that a great end would thereby be gained. + +[Sidenote: Negotiations for Colonial neutrality.] + +The point sought by both kings was to make America neutral. Such a +thing would have been excellent, had it but been possible. But the +futility of such an arrangement was instantly made manifest. Both +races in America were too eager and too anxious to reap the advantages +of war. It was not likely that the Colonial English would allow a rich +prize to pass them, only to be seized a hundred leagues farther east +by the home authorities. The Colonial French were not to be expected +in time of war to suffer tamely from competition in the fur-trade, +when the very principles of their allegiance urged them to forcible +retaliation. + +Even without the episode of the _Merchant of Perpetuana_ the rivalry +between the two nations for the fur-trade was so bitter as to be a +perpetual danger to peace. For this reason, and in order to mark some +delimitation to the trade of the two countries, the joint commission +had sat and examined into the matter. + +On the sixth of November, 1686, a treaty of neutrality had been +concluded between the two kings. It stipulated for a "firm peace, +union and concord, and good understanding between the subjects" of +James and Lewis. No vessels of either sovereign were thereafter to be +employed in attacking the subjects of the other in any of the +colonies. No soldiers of either king stationed in any of the colonies +were to engage in any act of hostility such as giving aid or succour +to men, or provisions to savages, at war with one another. But the +fourth article of this treaty was productive of much confusion and +misunderstanding. + +"It has been agreed," it ran, "that each of the said kings shall hold +the domains, rights, pre-eminences in the seas, straits and other +waters of America which, and in the same extent, of right belongs to +them; and in the same manner which they enjoy at present." + +Now, at the very moment this treaty was signed, the French, by the +victory of Troyes, were in possession of Fort Albany and the English +still held Port Nelson. As the liberty of navigation was not disturbed +by the Treaty it would appear that the French retained the right to +sail in the Bay. + +Commissioners were appointed to consider the carrying out of the +treaty, the Sieurs Barillon and Bonrepas acting on behalf of France, +and Lords Sutherland, Middleton and Godolphin for James. To these +commissioners the Company presented a further memorial, which dwelt +upon their grievances "for five years past, in a time of peace and +good correspondence between the two crowns." + +[Sidenote: Impracticability of the Treaty.] + +These commissioners appear to have done their best to arrange matters +satisfactorily; but such a result was impossible under the conditions. +They were privately instructed by their respective masters to agree to +hold the trade of Port Nelson in common. Such a proposal was extremely +impracticable, as that well-informed subject, Denonville, made haste +to inform his royal master. The proximity of the English, he declared, +in such a remote part would be a certain source of hostility on both +sides, and a dangerous temptation for numbers of "libertines," whom +the least dissatisfaction would induce to take refuge at Port Nelson. + +The "libertines" he thus alluded to were the bushrangers, who were +already giving the French great trouble and uneasiness through their +wild, undisciplined habits and their freedom from restraint. +Denonville added that the Hudson's Bay Company, paying higher prices +for beaver than the French could do, would always have a preference, +and consequently would almost monopolize the trade. It was therefore +better, in his opinion, to effect a compromise in the Bay, restoring +the three forts Troyes had taken in exchange for Port Nelson, which, +so he stated, was worth more than the other three together for trading +purposes. Besides, on the first rupture, it would be very easy to +retake them by an overland march, as Troyes had done. + +But such proposals on the part of the French were indignantly rejected +by the English Company. There was, therefore, nothing for it but a +_modus vivendi_, under which no further encroachments in the Bay were +to be made by either party. + +But whatever the intent of the negotiations, there was nothing to +compel the parties directly interested to observe them. The elated +French Company was too much inclined to retain what Troyes had wrested +from the English to adhere to sophistries and weak-kneed arguments. It +engaged Iberville to return to Fort Albany, upon which establishment +it had bestowed the name of St. Anne, and repulse the English should +their ships arrive and endeavour to land. Captain Moon, returning from +Port Nelson, did make an attempt with twenty-four men to surprise the +French. He built a station some eight miles distant; but Iberville +heard of it, marched thither with great despatch, and pursued them for +twenty miles. He then made preparations for seizing Captain Moon's +ship, embarking upwards of forty men in canoes and small boats for +this purpose. But those aboard her defeated his intention in the +night, by setting her on fire and making their escape to the shore, +where they rejoined their companions and made the best of their way +overland to New Severn, a fort which had been erected in the previous +year as a means of drawing trade away from the French conquerors in +the eastern parts of the Bay. + +Iberville was not long ignorant of the retreat of those who had +escaped him; nor of the prosperity which attended the new factory. He +arrived before New Severn in October, 1689, obtained its surrender +and took the Company's Governor prisoner. + +Amongst the Governor's papers which he seized was a letter from the +secretary of the Company, ordering him, on behalf of the partners, to +proclaim the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen of England, +showing that the chief spirits of the Company were not unfriendly to +those who precipitated the Revolution. + +Glorying in this new exploit, Iberville now returned to Fort St. Anne, +just in time to behold the spectacle of two strange ships standing off +in the Bay. + +The presence of these vessels was explained by the Company having sent +out an expedition, comprising eighty-three men of both crews, with +instructions to land on an island close to the Chechouan River and +establish a fort, from whence they could sally forth to the +re-conquest of Fort Albany. But already the winter had overtaken them, +and the two vessels were locked in the ice. Their fort was, however, +pretty well advanced, and they had landed a number of pieces of +cannon. Iberville lay in ambush and, watching his opportunity, when +twenty-one of the English were proceeding for a supply of stores to +the ship, intercepted them. The whole party fell into the hands of the +French; and Marincourt, with fourteen men, now began to reconnoitre +the forces on the island. A brisk cannonading ensued between the two +parties. After this had lasted some days Iberville found means to +summon the Company's commander to surrender, threatening him with no +quarter if he deferred compliance. + +[Sidenote: Surrender of the Company's ships to the French.] + +[Sidenote: Iberville's treacherous plan.] + +To this the Governor responded that he had been given to understand on +his departure from London that there was a treaty in force between the +two Crowns, and that it occasioned him much astonishment that the +French paid so little heed to it. Iberville's response was not exactly +truthful, for he declared that whether a treaty existed or not he had +not been the first to invade it; and that in any case he could waste +no time in parley. The Governor replied that his force was still a +strong one; but that he would not be averse to surrender if Iberville +would agree to reimburse the Company's officers out of the proceeds of +their store of furs; and also accord them a vessel wherewith to sail +away. This stipulation was granted; Iberville grimly remarking that it +was extraordinary what a large number of officers there were for so +small a company of men. He had already captured the captain of one of +the vessels and the surgeon; and there now remained thirteen others +who thus escaped scot-free from the clutches of the French. The amount +of wages demanded was close upon two thousand pounds. All the others +were made prisoners, including the pilots, of whom it is said there +were a number who had been despatched by the Admiralty to acquire a +knowledge of the Bay and Straits. All were carried off by Iberville to +Quebec, and Marincourt left behind with thirty-six men to guard the +two posts. The young commander did not this time proceed overland, but +having got possession of the Company's ship, the _Hampshire_, he +sailed northward for the Straits. He had scarcely reached the latitude +of Southampton Island when an English ship hove in sight, proceeding +in his direction. They came so close together as to exchange speech. +Iberville had taken the precaution to hoist the English flag, and the +presence of the prisoners caused implicit belief in his friendly +pretensions. He learned that young Chouart, Radisson's nephew, was on +board, and declares that he longed to attack openly the Company's +ship, but the insufficiency of his force to guard the prisoners +prevented him taking this course. He had, however, recourse to a +stratagem which nearly succeeded. The captain of the other ship agreed +to sail together in company through the Straits, and on the first +clear weather to pay a visit to Iberville's ship. It was, it is almost +needless to observe, the Frenchman's intention to seize the guileless +Englishman and his companions the moment they had reached his deck. +But storms intervening, this project fell through. The ships separated +and did not meet again. + +The Hudson's Bay Company was not a little puzzled at the non-arrival +of the _Hampshire_, which had been spoken thus happily in Hudson's +Straits. For a long time the vessel was believed to be lost; as, +indeed, she was, but not quite in the manner apprehended by her +owners. Possession was not regained for some years; and when the +_Hampshire_ sailed again for the Bay it was to encounter there +complete destruction in battle. + +As has been foreshadowed, in 1689 an event occurred which had been +brewing ever since James had relinquished the governorship of the +Company for the governorship of his subjects at large. William of +Orange landed at Plymouth, and the Revolution in England put a new +king on the English throne. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +1689-1696. + + Company's Claims Mentioned in Declaration of War -- Parliament + Grants Company's Application for Confirmation of its Charter -- + Implacability of the Felt-makers -- Fort Albany not a Success + in the hands of the French -- Denonville urges an Attack upon + Fort Nelson -- Lewis Despatches Tast with a Fleet to Canada -- + Iberville's Jealousy prevents its Sailing to the Bay -- + Governor Phipps Burns Fort Nelson -- Further Agitation on the + part of the French to Possess the West Main -- Company Makes + another attempt to Regain Fort Albany -- Fort Nelson + Surrendered to Iberville -- Its Re-conquest by the Company. + + +Upon William the Third's accession to the throne, the Company renewed +its claims to its property, and for reparation for the damages it had +suffered at the hands of the French in time of peace. + +"As to the article of the Company's losses, it will appear," it said, +"by a true and exact estimate, that the French took from the Company, +in full peace between 1682 and 1688, seven ships with their cargoes, +and six forts and factories, from which they carried away great stores +of goods laid up for trading with the Indians. The whole amounts to +£38,332 15s." + +To such effect was this memorial presented to the King that William +caused the hostile proceedings of Lewis in the Company's territory to +be inserted in one of the articles of his Declaration of War, in these +words:-- + + "But that the French King should invade our Caribbee Islands + and possess himself of our territories of the Province of New + York and Hudson's Bay, in hostile manner, seizing our forts, + burning our subjects' houses and enriching his people with the + spoil of our goods and merchandises, detaining some of our + subjects under the hardships of imprisonment, causing others to + be inhumanly killed, and driving the rest to sea in a small + vessel without food or necessaries to support them, are + actions not even becoming an enemy; and yet he was so far from + declaring himself so, that at that very time he was negotiating + here in England, by his Ministers, a treaty of neutrality and + good correspondence in America." + +Much has been made by later writers, hostile to the Company, of a +circumstance which soon afterwards took place. + +[Sidenote: The Company's charter confirmed.] + +Owing to the state of public feeling in England towards the Stewarts +at the time of the Revolution, the Company, keenly alive to the fact +of the exiled king's having been so recently its Governor, sought at +the beginning of William's reign to strengthen its position by an Act +of Parliament for the charter granted by Charles II. Why, have asked +its enemies, if the Company had the utmost confidence in its charter +did it resort to the Lords and Commons to have it confirmed? And why +was this confirmation limited to but seven years? I have already +answered the first question; as to the second, the Company itself +asked for no longer period. The proceeding was no secret; it was done +openly. Parliament made but one stipulation, and that at the instance +of the Felt-makers' Company; that the adventurers "should be obliged +to make at least two sales of 'coat beaver' annually, and not +exceeding four. These should be proportioned in lotts of about £100 +sterling each, and not exceeding £200. In the intervals of public +sales the Company should be debarred from selling beaver by private +Contract, or at any price than was sett up at the last Publick sale." + +The Company asked for a confirmation of its charter by Parliament as a +prudent course in uncertain times; and also in order to more firmly +establish its claim to reparation for damages. The nation's +representatives saw no reason why they should not issue a +confirmation; there being none, save the Felt-makers, to oppose it. + +[Sidenote: The Company increases its capital.] + +The charter being confirmed, it was decided that the nominal capital +of the Company should be increased to £31,500, several good reasons +being put forward in committee for thus trebling the stock. These +reasons are quaintly enumerated as follows: + +I--That the Company have actually in Warehouse above the value of +their first original stock. + +II--That they have set out an Expedition this Yeare in their Shipps +and Cargoe to more than the Value of their First Stock again; the +trading of which Goods may well be estimated, in expectation as much +more. + +III--That our Factories at Port Nelson River and New Severne are under +an increasing Trade; and that our Returns in Beavers this yeare (by +God's Blessing) are modestly expected to be worth 20,000_l._ + +IV--Our Forts, Factories, Guns and other Materials, the prospect of +new Settlements and further Trade, are also reasonably to be estimated +at a considerable intrinsic Value. + +V--And lastly, our just Expectancy of a very considerable reparation +and satisfaction from the French and the close of this War and the +restoring our places and Trade at the Bottom of the Bay; which upon +proof, hath been made out above 100,000_l._ + +Some years later the Treaty of Ryswick, in securing to the French the +fruits of Iberville's victory, powerfully affected for ill the +fortunes of the Company. Nevertheless, the whole nation was then in +sympathy with its cause, knowing that but for the continued existence +of the Honourable Adventurers as a body corporate the chances of the +western portion of the Bay reverting to the English were small. + +But the Felt-makers were implacable. They would like to have seen the +beaver trade in their own hands. At the expiration of the seven years +for which the confirmation was allowed, they again, as will be shown, +evinced, yet vainly, their enmity. + +Because this parliamentary confirmation was limited to so short a +period, some writers have conjectured that at the expiration of that +period the charter ceased to be valid. So absurd a conclusion would +scarcely appear to stand in need of refutation. Could those who +pretend to draw this inference have been ignorant that if some of the +rights conferred by the charter required the sanction of Parliament, +there were other rights conferred by it which required no such +sanction, because they were within the prerogative of the Crown? Even +assuming that at the end of the term for which the act of William and +Mary was passed, such of the provisions of the charter (if there could +be found any such) as derived their efficacy only from parliamentary +support should be considered inefficient, still all the rights similar +to those of the charters for former governments and plantations in +America would continue to exist. That they were so regarded as +existing is made evident by the repeated references to them in various +subsequent international treaties and acts of Parliament. King George +and his advisers completely recognized the Company as proprietors of a +certain domain. In establishing the limits of the newly-acquired +Province of Canada, it was enacted that it should be bounded on the +north by "the territory granted to the Merchants-Adventurers of +England trading into Hudson's Bay," a boundary which by statute was +long to subsist. + +Fort Albany did not prove a success in the hands of the French. The +Quebec Company were losing money, and they had no ships. They were, +besides, severely handicapped by physical conditions, owing to the +inaccessibility of the Bay by land and the impracticability of +carrying merchandise by the overland route. It seemed clear that, +after all, the trade of the Bay could only be made profitable by +sea.[23] The French were consequently most anxious to exchange the +forts on James' Bay for Fort Nelson, because they were aware that +better furs were to be had in the north; and because it would enable +them to intercept the tribes who hunted about Lake Nepigon. + +[Sidenote: Denonville plans the capture of Fort Nelson.] + +Denonville is now found writing long despatches to Seignely, assuring +him that their affairs at Hudson's Bay would prosper if the Northern +Company continued to co-operate with and second the designs of +Iberville, whose fixed resolve was to go and seize Fort Nelson. For +that purpose Denonville regarded it as necessary that the Minister +should inform M. de Lagny that the King desired the capture of that +fort, and to "furnish Iberville with everything he requires to render +his designs successful." The Governor himself thought one ship added +to those they had captured in 1689 from the English would suffice. He +sought to obtain for Iberville some honourable rank in the navy, as +this would, he urged, excite honourable emulation amongst the +Canadians who were ready to follow the sea. Denonville suggested a +lieutenancy, adding his opinion that his young friend was "a very fine +fellow, capable of rendering himself expert and doing good service." +The plea of the Governor was successful and Lewis was pleased to +confer upon Iberville the rank of lieutenant in the French Royal Navy, +the first distinction of the kind then on record. It fired the blood +and pride of not a few of the Canadian youth, one Peter Gauthier de +Varennes amongst the rest. Many years later he, under the name of +Verandrye, was the first of the great pioneers through the territories +of the Great Company. + +All negotiations for an exchange of forts having fallen through, the +_Compagnie du Nord_ determined to make a valiant attempt to obtain +their desires by force. For this purpose they made powerful +application to the Court; and in the autumn of 1691 their petition +resulted in the arrival at Quebec of Admiral Tast with no fewer than +fourteen ships. + +It was said in Quebec that while Lewis XIV. surprised his enemies by +his celerity in taking the field in Europe, the vessels sent out to +America by his order always started two or three months too late for +Canada and the Bay. This tardiness, it was declared, was the sole +cause of all the losses and want of success attending French +enterprises in that part of the New World.[24] + +However this may be, there was beyond question another and not less +potent reason for the failure which overtook the proposed expedition +of Tast on behalf of the Northern Company. Iberville's successes had +up to this moment tended to bolster up the waning popularity of the +Company in Canada. This popular hero had just returned from the Bay +with 80,000 francs value in beaver skins, and 6,000 livres in small +furs, but he now refused point blank to have anything to do with the +expedition. He did not care to share such glory and profit as he might +obtain with his own followers, with the Company and Admiral Tast. + +Without this powerful auxiliary and the support of the populace, +Tast's fleet abandoned its expedition to the Bay, and sailed away to +Acadia and Newfoundland. + +[Sidenote: Burning of Fort Nelson.] + +Nevertheless, while Governor Phipps was in charge of Fort Nelson this +year, a French frigate belonging to the enemy appeared at the entrance +of Bourbon River. As it chanced that nearly the whole of his garrison +were absent from the fort on a hunting expedition, it seemed to the +Governor that armed resistance would be futile. Rather, therefore, +than allow the fort to pass again into the hands of the French under +circumstances so humiliating, he resolved to burn it, together with a +large part of its merchandise, valued at about £8,000, well knowing +that without the merchandise the French could not procure furs from +the Indians. + +Whilst the flames of the fort were ascending, Phipps and three men he +had with him retreated into ambush and established themselves with +some Indians in the interior. + +The Frenchman landed, saw the perdition of his hopes in the ruin of +the fort and its contents, and returned to the ship with a few +hatchets and knives as the sole trophy of his enterprise. + +On the arrival of the Company's ship in the spring however, York +Factory was re-built stronger and on a larger scale than before. + +Iberville at this time finds great cause of complaint in the fact of +the French Company's poverty, and its inability to occupy the region +after it had been won for them. More than a single ship was required; +and a larger number of men in the vicinity of Fort Nelson would have +served to keep the English off perpetually. + +In 1693 the Northern Company petitioned Pontchartrain, who had +succeeded Seignely at Court, respecting operations in the Bay. The +Company declared that it could hold everything if it were only enabled +to seize Fort Nelson; but that continued hostilities and losses had so +weakened it as to oblige it to have recourse to his Excellency to +obtain sufficient force in a suitable time to drive out the English. + +In another petition it is alleged that this "single fort which remains +in the possession of the English is of so much importance that the +gain or loss of everything in Hudson's Bay depends upon it. The +Company's establishment in Quebec, to carry on this commerce, claims +anew the protection of your Excellency, that you may give it a +sufficient force to enable it to become master of Fort Nelson, which +the English took by an act of treason against this Company in time of +peace. This they hope from the strong desire which you have for the +aggrandizement of the kingdom, and from your affection for this +colony." + +Iberville crossed over to France, and met with a warm reception at +Versailles. He unfolded his plans for the capture of Fort Nelson, +stated what force he would require for this desirable purpose, and was +promised two ships in the following spring.[25] Highly gratified with +his success, he departed for home in the _Envieux_. + +[Sidenote: The English regain Fort Albany.] + +The Hudson's Bay Company now made another effort to regain its fort at +Albany. Three powerfully armed ships wintered at Fort Nelson and +sailed thither in the spring of 1693.[26] From all accounts that had +been received, it was not believed that the rival French Company was +in a position to maintain a very strong force for an all-winter +defence, especially since the alienation of Iberville. Forty men were +landed, and approaching the post were met by a brisk fire, which +failed to check the English advance. Much to their own astonishment, +they were permitted to close upon the fort without check, and a ruse +was suspected. A cautious entrance was therefore made: the premises +were found apparently deserted. But at length, in a corner of the +cellar, emaciated and covered with rags, a human being a victim to +scurvy was discovered. His arms and legs were fastened together, and a +heavy chain kept him close to the wall. While they were marvelling at +this discovery, some of the sailors came to inform the captain that +three Frenchmen had been seen at a distance flying as fast as their +legs would carry them. Captain Grimington was not long left in doubt +as to the facts: these three Frenchmen had formed the garrison of the +fort St Anne. The unlucky wretch they now beheld was a bushranger who, +in a paroxysm of rage, had murdered the surgeon at the fort. +Horrified, on recovering his reason, at what he had done, and fearing +that the only witness of the deed, Father Dalmas, would betray him to +the rest, he slew the priest also. The latter, with his expiring +breath, disclosed his murderer, and the French, then ten in number, +had chained the criminal in the cellar, not themselves relishing the +task of his summary execution. + +Iberville did not leave Quebec until the tenth[27] of August, and +arrived at Fort Nelson, September 24th. Almost immediately he +disembarked with all his people, also with cannons, mortars and a +large quantity of ammunition. Batteries were thrown up about five +hundred yards from the palisades, and upon these guns were +mounted.[28] A bombardment now took place, lasting from the 25th of +September to the 14th of October, when the governor was forced to +surrender, owing to the danger of a conflagration as well as to the +loss of several of his best men. On this occasion young Henry +Kelsey[29] showed great bravery, and a report of his gallantry being +forwarded to the Company, he was presented with the sum of forty +pounds as a token of their appreciation. This youth was destined to be +long in the service of the Company, as first in command at Fort +Nelson. + + [Illustration: LANDING OF IBERVILLE'S MEN AT PORT NELSON. + (_From an old print._)] + +[Sidenote: Iberville takes Fort Nelson.] + +Iberville accomplished his entry on the fifteenth of October. The +French standard was hoisted and the fort christened Bourbon, and it +being St. Theresa's Day, the river was given the name of that saint. +The enemy did not come out of this business unscathed; they having +lost several of their men, including a brother of Iberville. + +Some of the English were kept prisoners, while others made their way +as best they could to New Severn and Albany. At the time of the +surrender, the fort was well furnished with merchandise and +provisions, and this circumstance induced the French to remain for the +winter, before returning to France. + +On the 20th of the following July, Iberville departed for the straits +in his two vessels, the _Poli_ and _Salamandre_. He left sixty-seven +men under the command of La Forest. Martigny became lieutenant, and +Jérémie was appointed ensign, with the additional functions of +interpreter and "director of commerce." + +La Forest and his men were not long to enjoy security of trade and +occupation however. A meeting of the Hudson's Bay Company was held the +moment these outrages were reported. The King was besought to send a +fleet of four ships to the rescue and recapture of Fort Nelson. But it +was too late to sail that year. News of the proposed despatch of an +English fleet having reached France, Serigny was sent in June, 1696, +with two of the best craft procurable at Rochelle. Sailing three days +before the English, the two French ships arrived two hours too late. +It was instantly perceived that they were no match for the English, +and accordingly they discreetly withdrew. As the Company's vessels +occupied the mouth of the river, there was no safe landing place at +hand. Both ships set sail again for France; but one, the _Hardi_, was +destined never to reach her destination. She probably ran against ice +at the mouth of the straits and went to the bottom with all on board. + +[Sidenote: Fort Nelson surrenders to the English fleet.] + +The English commenced the attack on the fort August 29th. On the +following day it was decided to land, and the French, seeing the +strength of their force, had no alternative but surrender. Perchance +by way of retaliation for the affairs of Albany and New Severn, the +provisions of capitulation[30] were disregarded; all the French were +made prisoners and carried to England. Possession was taken of a vast +quantity of furs, and the English returned, well satisfied with their +exploit; but not ignorant of the difficulties which surrounded the +maintenance of such a conquest. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[23] It has been truly observed that the protracted and bloody contest +between the French and English for the possession of the Bay was the +result of a desire of the Governor to have access to those waters, and +the resolve of the latter to defeat this purpose. "The truth is," says +Mr. Lindsay, "the fur trade was only profitable when carried on by +water." At Quebec or Three Rivers forty beaver skins made a canoe +load. A single canoe load of northern furs was worth six of the +southern. + +[24] Charlevoix. + +[25] Although by this action the French Court directly participated in +and lent its support to the hostilities against the English, yet to +all intents and purposes the war was between two commercial +corporations. + +The ruling spirits of the Northern Company were not unaware of the +importance and power of the enemy they had to deal with. In a pamphlet +published in France in 1692 there is amusing testimony to the +consideration in which the London Company was held by the French. + +"It is composed," says this authority, "of opulent merchants and +noblemen of the first quality; and it is known that the King himself +is part proprietor, having succeeded to that emolument with the other +belongings to King James II. So great are its profits that each member +is worth at least £5,000 English sterling above what he was before he +embarked in the fur traffic. There can be no secrecy about its +intention, which is to subvert and subjugate the whole northern +Country to its sway." + +[26] The expedition which thus wrested away from the French all the +forts at the bottom of the Bay was in charge of Captain Grimington, an +experienced naval officer, who had seen service in the late wars. + +I have not been able to ascertain Grimington's fate, but in the +Company's minute-book, under date of 19th of May, 1714, I find the +following entry:-- + +"Mrs. Ann Grimington, widow of Captain Michael Grimington, deceased, +having delivered in her petition to the Company, the same was read, +and considering her poverty and the faithful services her husband +performed for the Company, the Committee agreed to allow the said Mrs. +Grimington twelve shillings per month for her subsistence, which the +secretary is ordered to pay her every first Monday in the month, to +commence the first Monday in June next. Interim, the secretary is +ordered to pay her twenty shillings as charity, which is afterwards to +be taken out of the poor-box." This is sufficiently strong evidence of +the state into which the Company had fallen. + +[27] To illustrate the divergence of authorities in such matters, I +may mention that while Jérémie, who took part in this expedition, +calls the two ships the _Poli_ and _Charente_, in which he is followed +by Abbé Ferland. Father Marest, the aumonier of the crew, refers to +the second ship as the _Salamandre_. His relation is entitled "Le +Voyage du _Poli_ et _Salamandre_." In the letter of Frontenac to the +French minister (November 5, 1694) it is stated that Serigny commanded +the _Salamandre_. _La Potherie_ observes that the ships sent out in +1694 were the _Poli_ and _Salamandre_. Furthermore, he declares, they +sailed the 8th of August; Frontenac states the 9th, and Jérémie the +10th (_Jour de St. Laurent_). _La Potherie_ and Jérémie agree on the +date of their arrival, September 24th, although Ferland says it was +the 20th. + +[28] Jérémie gives us a detailed description of the fort in his +"Relation." He says it was composed of four bastions, which formed a +square of thirty feet, with a large stone house above and below. In +one of these bastions was the storeroom for furs and merchandise, +another served for provisions; a third was used by the garrison. All +were built of wood. In a line with the first palisade there were two +other bastions, in one of which lodged the officers, the other serving +as a kitchen and forge. Between these two bastions was a +crescent-shaped earthworks sheltering eight cannon, firing eight-pound +balls, and defending the side of the fort towards the river. At the +foot of this earthworks was a platform, fortified by six pieces of +large cannon. There was no butt-range looking out upon the wood, which +was a weak point; all the cannon and swivel-guns were on the bastions. +In all, the armament consisted of thirty-two cannon and fourteen +swivel-guns outside the fort and fifty-three inside; on the whole, +calculated to make a stalwart defence. + +[29] Kelsey was the earliest English explorer in the North-West. +Mention of his achievements will be found in the course of Chapter XV. + +[30] Allen sent home to his superiors a copy of the capitulation +proposals of the French Commandant. This document is not without +interest. It is headed:-- + + CAPITULATION OF FORT YORK, 1696. + + Articles of capitulation between William Allen, + Commandant-in-Chief at Hays, or St. Therese River, and Sieur G. + de la Forest, Commandant at Fort York or Bourbon, August 31, + 1696. + + I consent to give up to you my fort on the following + conditions:-- + + 1. That I and all my men, French as well as Indians, and my + English servant, shall have our lives and liberty granted to + us, and that no wrong or violence shall be exercised upon us or + whatever belongs to us. + + 2. We shall march out of the fort without arms, to the beat of + the drum, match lighted, ball in mouth, flags unfurled, and + carry with us the two cannon which we brought from France. + + 3. We shall be transported altogether, in our own vessel, to + Plaisance, a French Port in New Newfoundland. We do not wish to + give up the fort till we have embarked, and we shall keep the + French flag over the fort till we march out. + + 4. If we meet with our vessels there shall be a truce between + us, and it shall be permitted to transport us with whatever + belongs to us. + + 5. We shall take with us all the beaver skins and other + merchandise obtained in trade this year, which shall be + embarked with us upon our vessels. + + 6. All my men shall embark their clothes and whatever belongs + to them without being subject to visitation, or robbed of + anything. + + 7. In case of sickness during the voyage, you shall furnish us + with all the remedies and medicines which we may require. + + 8. The two Frenchmen, who ought to return with the Indians, + shall be received in the fort on their return, where they shall + be treated the same as the English, and sent to Europe during + the same year, or they shall be furnished with everything + necessary to take them to Rochelle. + + We shall have the full exercise of our religion, and the Jesuit + priest, our missionary, shall publicly perform the functions of + his ministry. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +1696-1697. + + Imprisoned French Fur-Traders Reach Paris -- A Fleet under + Iberville Despatched by Lewis to the Bay -- Company's four + Ships precede them through the Straits -- Beginning of a Fierce + Battle -- The _Hampshire_ Sinks -- Escape of the _Dering_ and + capture of the _Hudson's Bay_ -- Dreadful Storm in the Bay -- + Losses of the Victors -- Landing of Iberville -- Operations + against Fort Nelson -- Bailey Yields -- Evacuation by the + English. + + +The French prisoners captured in the Company's expedition of 1696 +suffered an incarceration of nearly four months at Portsmouth. No +sooner had their liberty been regained than they boarded a French brig +bound for Havre, and on arrival in Paris lost little time in making +known the condition of affairs at Hudson's Bay. Lewis and his +Ministers, gazing upon this emaciated band of traders and bushrangers, +could hardly refrain from taking immediate action to retrieve the +situation. Precisely following the tactics of their enemy in the +previous year, they engaged four men-of-war; which fleet was +despatched to join Iberville, then at the port of Placentia in +Newfoundland. The Court was well aware that there was no one man so +thoroughly equipped at all points in knowledge of the Bay, and the +conditions there of life and warfare, as this hero. Consequently, +although numerous enough, all other offers to lead the expedition were +rejected. + +On the arrival of the French ships at Placentia, Iberville took +command, embarking in the _Pelican_, of fifty guns. The others were +the _Palmier_, the _Weesph_, the _Pelican_, and the _Violent_.[31] + +But Fort Nelson was not to be captured without a struggle. + +[Sidenote: Meeting of the French and English ships.] + +At almost the very moment the French fleet sailed, there departed from +Plymouth four of the Company's ships, the _Hampshire_, the _Hudson's +Bay_, the _Dering_, and _Owner's Love_, a fire-ship, the two former +having been participants in the conquest of the previous year. The +Company's fleet entered the straits only forty hours before the ships +of the French; and like them was much impeded by the ice, which was +unusually troublesome. Passage was made by the enemy in the English +wake. The _Profound_, commanded by Duqué, pushed past the currents, +taking a northerly course, which brought her commander into full view +of two of the Company's ships. Shots were exchanged; but owing to the +difficulties engendered by the ice, it was impossible to manoeuvre +with such certainty as to cut off the Frenchman's escape. While this +skirmish was in progress, Iberville in the _Pelican_ succeeded in +getting past the English unknown to them, and reached the mouth of the +Nelson River in sight of the fort. His presence, as may be imagined, +greatly surprised and disturbed the Governor and the Company's +servants; for they had believed their own ships would have arrived in +season to prevent the enemy from entering the straits. Several rounds +of shot were fired as a signal, in the hope that a response would be +made by the Company's ships which they hourly expected in that +quarter. + +On his part the French commander was equally disturbed by the +non-arrival of his three consorts, which the exigencies of the voyage +had obliged him to forsake. Two days were passed in a state of +suspense. At daybreak on the fifth of September three ships[32] were +distinctly visible; both parties joyfully believed they were their +own. So certain was Iberville, that he immediately raised anchor and +started to join the newcomers. He was soon undeceived, but the +perception of his mistake in no way daunted him. + +The Company's commanders were not prepared either for the daring or +the fury of the Frenchman's onslaught. It is true the _Pelican_ was +much superior to any of their own craft singly, being manned by nearly +two hundred and fifty men, and boasting forty-four pieces of cannon. +The Company's ships lined up, the _Hampshire_ in front, the _Dering_ +next, with the _Hudson's Bay_ bringing up the rear. + + [Illustration: "HAMPSHIRE." "HUDSON'S BAY." "DERING."] + +[Sidenote: A fierce battle in the Bay.] + +The combatants being in close proximity the battle began at half-past +nine in the morning. The French commander came straight for the +_Hampshire_, whose captain, believing it was his enemy's design to +board, instantly lowered his mainsheet and put up his fore-top-sail. +Contact having been by these means narrowly evaded, the scene of +battle suddenly shifted to the _Pelican_ and the _Dering_, whose +mainsail was smitten by a terrific volley. At the same time the +_Hudson's Bay_, veering, received a damaging broadside. The Company's +men could distinctly hear the orders shouted by Iberville to both +ships to discharge a musket fire into the _Dering's_ forecastle, but +in this move he was anticipated by the English sailors, who poured a +storm of bullets in upon the Frenchman, accompanied by a broadside of +grape, which wrought havoc with her sails. While the cries of the +wounded on the _Pelican_ could be distinctly heard, all three of the +Company's ships opened fire, with the design of disabling her rigging. +But the captain of the _Hudson's Bay_, seeing that he could not engage +the _Pelican_, owing to Iberville's tactics, determined to run in +front of her and give her the benefit of a constant hull fire, +besides taking the wind from her sails. Iberville observed the +movement; the two English vessels were near; he veered around, and by +a superb piece of seamanship came so near to the _Hampshire_ that the +crew of the latter saw that boarding was intended. Every man flew out +on the main deck, with his pistol and cutlass, and a terrific +broadside of grape on the part of the Englishman alone saved him. + + [Illustration: THE EVACUATION OF FORT NELSON. + (_See page 166._)] + +The battle raged hotter and fiercer. The _Hampshire's_ salvation had +been only temporary; at the end of three hours and a half she began to +sink, with all sails set. When this occurred, Iberville had ninety men +wounded, forty being struck by a single broadside. Notwithstanding +this, he decided at once to push matters with the _Hampshire's_ +companions, although the _Pelican_ was in a badly damaged state, +especially the forecastle, which was a mass of splinters. + +The enemy made at once for the _Dering_, which, besides being the +smallest ship, had suffered severely. She crowded on all sail and +managed to avoid an encounter, and Iberville being in no condition to +prosecute the chase, returned to the _Hudson's Bay_, which soon +surrendered. Iberville was not destined, however, to reap much +advantage from his prize, the _Hampshire_. The English flag-ship was +unable to render any assistance to her and she soon went down with +nearly all on board.[33] + +To render the situation more distressing, no sooner had some ninety +prisoners been made, than a storm arose; so that it became out of the +question to approach the shore with design of landing. They were +without a long-boat and each attempt to launch canoes in the boiling +surf was attended with failure. + +[Sidenote: A great storm.] + +Night fell; the wind instead of calming, grew fiercer. The sea became +truly terrible, seeking, seemingly, with all its power to drive the +_Pelican_ and the _Hudson's Bay_ upon the coast. The rudders of each +ship broke; the tide rose and there seemed no hope for the crews whose +destiny was so cruel. Their only hope in the midst of the bitter blast +and clouds of snow which environed them, lay in the strength of their +cables. Soon after nine o'clock the _Hudson's Bay_ and its anchor +parted with a shock. + +"Instantly," says one of the survivors, "a piercing cry went up from +our forecastle. The wounded and dead lay heaped up, with so little +separation one from the other that silence and moans alone +distinguished them. All were icy cold, and covered with blood. They +had told us the anchor would hold; and we dreaded being washed up on +the shore stiff the next morning." + +A huge wave broke over the main deck and the ship rocked desperately. +Two hours later the keel was heard to split, and the ship was hurled +rudderless to and fro in the trough of the sea. + +By the French account, matters were in no more enviable state aboard +the _Pelican_; Iberville, however, amidst scenes rivalling those just +described, did his best to animate his officers and men with a spirit +equalling his own. + +"It is better," he cried, "to die, if we must, outside the bastions of +Fort Bourbon than to perish here like pent sheep on board." + +[Sidenote: Terrible plight of the shipwrecked French.] + +When morning broke, it was seen by the French that their ship was not +yet submerged, and it was resolved to disembark by such means as lay +in their power. The Company's servants were more fortunate. The +_Hudson's Bay_ had drifted eight miles to the south of the fort, and +was wrecked on a bank of icy marshland, which at least constrained +them to wade no deeper than their knees. The French, however, were +forced to make their way through the icy water submerged to their +necks, from the results of which terrible exposure no fewer than +eighteen marines and seamen lost their lives. Once on shore they +could not, like the English, look forward to a place of refuge and +appease their hunger with provisions and drink. They were obliged, in +their shivering, half frozen state, to subsist upon moss and seaweed, +but for which indifferent nourishment they must inevitably have +perished. + +The Company's garrison witnessed the calamities which were overtaking +the French, but not knowing how great their number, and assured of +their hostility, did not attempt any acts of mercy. They perceived the +enemy camped in a wood, less than two leagues distant, where, building +several large fires they sought to restore their spirits by means of +warmth and hot draughts of boiled herbs. + + [Illustration: "The enemy camped in a wood where, building several + large fires, they sought to restore their spirits."] + +While the fort was being continually recruited by survivors of the two +wrecked ships, the other three French vessels had arrived on the +scene. The fourth, the _Violent_, lay at the bottom of the Bay, having +been sunk by the ice. The _Palmier_ had suffered the loss of her helm, +but was fortunate in not being also a victim of the storm. The French +forces being now united, little time was lost by Iberville in making +active preparations for the attack upon the fort. + +On the 11th, the enemy attained a small wood, almost under the guns of +the fort, and having entrenched themselves, lit numerous fires and +made considerable noise in order to lend the impression to the English +that an entrenchment was being thrown up. This ruse was successful, +for the Governor gave orders to fire in that direction; and Iberville, +seizing this opportunity, effected a landing of all his men and +armaments from the ships. + +[Sidenote: Iberville demands surrender of the fort.] + +The fort would now soon be hemmed in on all sides, and it were indeed +strange if a chance shot or fire-brand did not ignite the timbers, and +the powder magazine were not exploded. Governor Bailey was holding a +council of his advisers when one of the French prisoners in the fort +gave notice of the approach of a messenger bearing a flag of truce. He +was recognized as Martigny. The Governor permitted his advance, and +sent a factor to meet him and insist upon his eyes being bandaged +before he would be permitted to enter. Martigny was conducted to where +the council was sitting and there delivered Iberville's message, +demanding surrender. He was instantly interrupted by Captain +Smithsend, who, with a great show of passion, asked the emissary if it +were not true that Iberville had been killed in the action. In spite +of Martigny's denials, Smithsend loudly persisted in believing in +Iberville's death; and held that the French were in sore straits and +only made the present attack because no other alternative was offered +to desperate men to obtain food and shelter. Bailey allowed himself to +be influenced by Smithsend, and declined to yield to any of Martigny's +demands. The latter returned, and the French instantly set up a +battery near the fort and continued, amidst a hail of bullets, the +work of landing their damaged stores and armaments. Stragglers from +the wreck of the _Hudson's Bay_ continued all day to find their way to +the fort, but several reached it only to be shot down in mistake by +the cannon and muskets of their own men. On the 12th, after a hot +skirmish, fatal to both sides, the Governor was again requested, this +time by Sérigny, to yield up the fort to superior numbers. + +"If you refuse we will set fire to the place, and accord you no +quarter," was the French ultimatum. + +"Set fire and be d----d to you!" responded Bailey. + +He then set to work, with Smithsend, whose treatment at the hands of +the French in the affair of the _Merchant of Perpetuana_ was still +vividly before him, to animate the garrison. + +"Go for them, you dogs!" cried Bailey, "Give it to them hot and heavy; +I promise you forty pounds apiece for your widows!" + +Fighting in those days was attended by fearful mortality, and the +paucity of pensions to the hero's family, perhaps, made the offer seem +handsome. At any rate it seemed a sufficient incentive to the +Company's men, who fought like demons.[34] + +A continual fire of guns and mortars, as well as of muskets, was kept +up. The Canadians sallied out upon a number of skirmishes, filling the +air with a frightful din, borrowing from the Iroquois their piercing +war-cries. In one of these sallies St. Martin, one of their bravest +men, perished. + +Under protection of a flag of truce, Sérigny came again to demand a +surrender. It was the last time, he said, the request would be +preferred. A general assault had been resolved upon by the enemy, who +were at their last resort, living like beasts in the wood, feeding on +moss, and to whom no extremity could be odious were it but an exchange +for their present condition. They were resolved upon carrying the +fort, even at the point of the bayonet and over heaps of their slain. + + +Bailey decided to yield. He sent Morrison to carry the terms of +capitulation, in which he demanded all the peltries in the fort +belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. This demand being rejected by +the enemy, Bailey later in the evening sent Henry Kelsey with a +proposition to retain a portion of their armament; this also was +refused. There was now nothing for it but to surrender, Iberville +having granted an evacuation with bag and baggage. + +[Sidenote: Evacuation of the English.] + +At one o'clock on the following day, therefore, the evacuation took +place. Bailey, at the head of his garrison and a number of the crew of +the wrecked _Hudson's Bay_, and six survivors of the _Hampshire_, +marched forth from Fort York with drums beating, flag flying, and with +arms and baggage. They hardly knew whither they were to go; or what +fate awaited them. A vast and inhospitable region surrounded them, and +a winter long to be remembered for its severity had begun. But to the +French it seemed as if their spirits were undaunted, and they set +forth bravely. + +The enemy watched the retreat of the defeated garrison not without +admiration, and for the moment speculation was rife as to their fate. +But it was only for the moment. Too rejoiced to contemplate anything +but the termination of their own sufferings, the Canadians hastened to +enter the fort, headed by Boisbriant, late an ensign in the service of +the Compagnie du Nord. Fort Nelson was once more in the hands of the +French.[35] + + [Illustration: CAPTURE OF FORT NELSON BY THE FRENCH. + (_From a Contemporary Print appearing in M. de la Potherie's + "Relation."_)] + +The Company, too, was debarred from any attempt at reconquest, +because of the Treaty[36] just concluded at Ryswick, which yielded the +territory which had been the scene of so much commerce, action and +bloodshed to the subjects of the Most Christian King. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[31] A young Irishman, Edmund Fitz-Maurice, of Kerry, who had embraced +the Church, and had served with James's army at the Battle of the +Boyne, accompanied the expedition in the character of chaplain. He is +alluded to by the French chronicler of the affair as "Fiche-Maurice de +Kieri de la Maison du Milord Kieri en Irlande." + +[32] The fourth, the fire-ship _Owner's Love_, was never more heard +of. It is supposed that, separated from the others, she ran into the +ice and was sunk, with all on board. + +[33] Thus was concluded what was, in the opinion of the best +authorities, French and English, one of the fiercest and bloodiest +battles of the war. + +"Toute la Marine de Rochefort croient que ce combat a ete un des plus +rudes de cette Guerre," says La Potherie. + +[34] "Ils avoient de tres habile cannoniers," Jérémie, an eye-witness, +was forced to confess. + +[35] "Ainsi le dernier poste," Garneau exclaims, "que les English +avaient dans le baie d'Hudson tombé en notre pouvoir, et la France +resta seule maitresse de cette region." (Tome II., p. 137.) + +But Garneau overlooked the three forts in James' Bay retaken by the +English in 1693; one of which, Fort Anne or Chechouan, he mistook for +Fort Nelson. At any rate Fort Albany or Chechouan remained in +possession of the Company from 1693; and they never lost it. + +It was unsuccessfully attacked by Menthel in 1709. + +[36] So strongly has the Treaty of Ryswick been interpreted in favour +of France, that some historians merely state the fact that by it she +retained all Hudson's Bay, and the places of which she was in +possession at the beginning of the war. The commissioners having never +met to try the question of right, things remained _in statu quo_. Now, +whatever the commissioners might have done, had they ever passed +judgment on the cause the Treaty provided they should try, they could +not have given Fort Albany to the British, for it was one of the +places taken by the French during the preceding peace, and retaken by +the British during the war, and, therefore, adjudged in direct terms +of the Treaty itself to belong to France. Thus, then, it will be seen, +declared the opponents of the Company, that the only possession held +by the Hudson's Bay Company during the sixteen years that intervened +between the Treaty of Ryswick and the Treaty of Utrecht was one to +which they had no right, and which the obligations of the Treaty +required should be given up to France.--_Report of Ontario Boundary +Commission._ + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +1698-1713. + + Petition Presented to Parliament Hostile to Company -- + Seventeenth Century Conditions of Trade -- _Coureurs de Bois_ + -- Price of Peltries -- Standard of Trade Prescribed -- + Company's Conservatism -- Letters to Factors -- Character of + the Early Governors -- Henry Kelsey -- York Factory under the + French -- Massacre of Jérémie's Men -- Starvation amongst the + Indians. + + +Before the news of the catastrophe could reach England, in April, +1698, there was presented to Parliament a petition appealing against +the confirmation of the privileges and trade granted to the Company in +1690. + +The principal reason alleged for this action was the exorbitant price +of beaver which it was contended turned away an immense amount of +Indian trade, which reverted to the French in Canada. + +Another reason given was the undesirable monopoly which caused English +dealers, while paying the highest prices for beaver, to get the worst +article; the best travelling to Russia and other continental +countries. In this petition, concocted by enemies of the Company +envious of its success, it was insinuated that the Company's trade had +been of no use save to increase the practice of stock-jobbing. + +[Sidenote: The Company replies to its enemies.] + +To this the Company made reply that "it was well known that the price +of beaver had decreased one-third since its own establishment; and +that themselves, far from hindering the trade, encouraged it by every +means in their power, being anxious to be relieved of an over-stocked +commodity." Herein they referred to the enormous quantity of furs +stored in their warehouse, for which, during the stringency of +continued trade they were obliged to retain and pay repeated taxes +upon.[37] As for sending goods to Russia it was only of late years +that the Company had extended its trade to that and other foreign +countries and for no other cause than that reasonable prices could not +be obtained in England. + +Although two London guilds, the Skinner's Company and the Felt-makers' +Company, joined issue with the Honourable Adventurers, the fate of the +petition was sealed. On account of the misfortunes which had overtaken +the Company, together with the presence of other and weightier +matters, for Parliamentary consideration, the petition was laid on the +table, and from the table it passed to the archives, where, together +with the Act of 1690, it lay forgotten for a century and a half. + +It will be diverting, at this juncture in the general narrative, to +glance at seventeenth century conditions of life and commerce in the +domain of the Company. + +[Sidenote: Method of trade with the Indians.] + +Even at so early a period as 1690 was the method of transacting trade +with the Indians devised and regulated. The tribes brought down their +goods, beaver skins, martens, foxes and feathers, to the Factory and +delivered them through a small aperture in the side of the storehouse. +They entered the stockade three or four at a time; trading one by one +at the window over which presided the traders. The whole of the actual +trading of the Factory was in the hands of two officials known as +traders. None other of the Company's servants at any fort were +permitted to have direct intercourse with the Indians, save in +exceptional circumstances. The trade was chiefly carried on in summer +when the rivers were free from ice, although occasionally the natives +in the immediate region of the factories came down in winter; the +factors never refusing to trade with them when they so came. No +partiality was shown to particular tribes, but the actual hunters were +favoured more than those who merely acted as agents or carriers. It +was not unusual for the chief factors, as the Governors came to be +called after 1713, to make presents to the chiefs in order to +encourage them to bring down as many of their tribe the ensuing year +as possible. + + [Illustration: TRADING WITH THE INDIANS.] + +Before the era of the standard of trade, it was customary at all the +forts, as it was at one or two long afterwards, for remuneration for +the furs of the savages to be left at the chief factor's discretion. +Many things conspired to alter the values from season to season, and +even from day to day, but no cause was so potent as the contiguous +rivalry of the French. When the French were close at hand in the +vicinity of Fort Nelson, as they were from 1686 to 1693, the price of +beaver would fluctuate with surprising rapidity. It should be borne in +mind that the western country at this period, and for long afterwards, +was frequented by roving, adventurous parties of _coureurs des bois_, +whose activity in trade tended to injure the Company's business. Even +an enactment prescribing death for all persons trading in the interior +of the country without a license, had proved insufficient to abate +their numbers or their activity. + +[Sidenote: Activity of "coureurs des bois."] + +The Hudson's Bay Company seem to have some cognizance of this state of +affairs, and were wont to put down much of the depredations it +suffered at the hands of the French to the unkempt multitude of +bushrangers. In one document it describes them as "vagrants," and La +Chesnaye, who had been the leading spirit of the Quebec Company, was +ready to impute to them much of the woes of the fur-trade, as well as +the greater part of the unpleasant rivalries which had overtaken the +French and their neighbours. One day it would be carried like +wild-fire amongst the tribe who had come to barter, that the French +were giving a pound of powder for a beaver; that a gun could be bought +from the English for twelve beaver. In an instant there was a stampede +outside the respective premises, and a rush would be made for the +rival establishment. Fifty miles for a single pound of powder was +nothing to these Indians, who had often journeyed two whole months in +the depth of winter, endured every species of toil and hardship in +order to bring down a small bundle of peltries; nor when he presented +himself at the trader's window was the Indian by any means sure what +his goods would bring. He delivered his bundles first, and the trader +appraised them and gave what he saw fit. If a series of wild cries and +bodily contortions ensued, the trader was made aware that the Indian +was dissatisfied with his bargain, and the furs were again passed back +through the aperture. This was merely a form; for rarely did the +native make a practical repentance of his bargain, however +unsatisfactory it might appear to him. It is true the Indian was +constant in his complaint that too little was given for his furs; but +no matter what the price had been this would have been the case. Apart +from dissatisfaction being an ineradicable trait in the Indian +character, the contemplation of the sufferings and privations he had +undergone to acquire his string of beads, his blanket, or his hatchet, +must have aroused in him all his fund of pessimism. + +In 1676 the value of the merchandise exported did not exceed £650 +sterling. The value of the furs imported was close upon £19,000. + + [Illustration: A "COUREUR DES BOIS."] + +[Sidenote: Prices paid for furs.] + +In 1678 the first standard was approved of by the Company on the +advice of one of its governors, Sargeant, but it does not appear to +have been acted upon for some years. The actual tariff was not fixed +and settled to apply to any but Albany fort, and a standard was not +filed at the Council of Trade until 1695. It originally covered +forty-seven articles, later increased to sixty-three, and so remained +for more than half a century. At first, as has been noted in an +earlier chapter, the aborigines were content with beads and toys, and +no doubt the bulk of the supplies furnished them might have continued +for a much longer period to consist of these baubles and petty +luxuries had not the policy of the Company been to enrich the Indians +(and themselves) with the arms and implements of the chase. Gradually +the wants of the savages became wider, so that by the time, early in +the eighteenth century, the French had penetrated into the far western +country, these wants comprised many of the articles in common use +amongst civilized people. The standard of trade alluded to was +intended to cover the relative values at each of the Company's four +factories. Yet the discrepancy existing between prices at the +respective establishments was small. In 1718 a blanket, for example, +would fetch six beavers at Albany and Moose, and seven at York and +Churchill. In nearly every case higher prices were to be got from the +tribes dealing at York and Churchill than from those at the other and +more easterly settlements, often amounting to as much as thirty-three +per cent. This was illustrated in the case of shirts, for which three +beavers were given in the West Main, and only a single beaver at East +Main. The Company took fifteen beavers for a gun; whereas, when +Verandrye appeared, he was willing to accept as small a number as +eight. Ten beavers for a gun was the usual price demanded by the +French. It may be observed that a distinguishing feature of the French +trade in competition with the Company was that they dealt almost +exclusively in light furs, taking all of that variety they could +procure, the Indians bringing to the Company's settlements all the +heavier furs, which the French refused at any price, owing to the +difficulty of land transportation. These difficulties, in the case of +the larger furs, were so great that it is related that upon +innumerable occasions the savages themselves, when weakened by hunger, +used to throw overboard all but mink, marten and ermine skins rather +than undergo the painful labour of incessant portages. + +It must not be inferred, however, that the factors ever adhered +strictly in practice to the standard prescribed and regulated from +time to time by the Company. The standard was often privately doubled, +where it could be done prudently, so that where the Company directed +one skin to be taken for such or such an article, two were taken. The +additional profit went into the hands of the chief factor, and a +smaller share to the two traders, without the cognizance of the +Company, and was called the overplus trade. + +[Sidenote: Stationary character of the Company's trade.] + +Occasionally, far seeing, active spirits amongst its servants strove +to break through the policy of conservatism which distinguished its +members; but where they succeeded it was only for a short period; and +the commerce of the corporation soon reverted to its ancient +boundaries. But this apparent attitude is capable of explanation. The +Company were cognizant, almost from the first, that the trade they +pursued was capable of great extension. One finds in the minute-books, +during more than forty years from the time of Radisson and +Groseilliers, partner after partner arising in his place to enquire +why the commerce, vastly profitable though it was, remained stationary +instead of increasing. + +"Why are new tribes not brought down? Why do not our factors seek new +sources of commerce?" A motion directing the chief factor to pursue a +more active policy was often put and carried. But still the trade +returns, year after year, remained as before. Scarce a season passed +without exhortations to its servants to increase the trade. "Use more +diligence," "prosecute discoveries," "draw down distant tribes," form +the burden of many letters. + +"We perceive," writes the Company's secretary in 1685 to Sargeant, +"that our servants are unwilling to travel up into the country by +reason of danger and want of encouragement. The danger, we judge, is +not more now than formerly; and for their encouragement we shall +plentifully reward them, when we find they deserve it by bringing down +Indians to our factories, of which you may assure them. We judge +Robert Sandford a fit person to travel, having the linguæ and +understanding the trade of the country; and upon a promise of Mr. +Young (one of our Adventurers) that he should travel, for which +reason we have advanced his wages to £30 per annum, and Mr. Arrington, +called in the Bay, Red-Cap, whom we have again entertained in our +service; as also John Vincent, both which we do also judge fit persons +for you to send up into the country to bring down trade." To this the +Governor replied that Sandford was by no means disposed to accept the +terms their Honours proposed, but rather chose to go home. "Neither he +nor any of your servants will travel up the country, although your +Honours have earnestly desired it, and I pressed it upon those +proposals you have hinted." + +[Sidenote: Character of the Company's Factors.] + +I have already shown why the Company's wishes in this respect were not +fruitful; that the character of the men in the Company's employ was +not yet adapted to the work in hand. Its servants were not easily +induced to imperil their lives; they gained little in valour or +hardihood from their surroundings. They were shut up in the forts, as +sailors are shut up in a ship, scarcely ever venturing out in winter, +and hardly ever holding converse with a savage in his wild state. In +vain, for the most part, were such men stirred to enterprise; and so +this choice and habit of seclusion grew into a rule with the Company's +employees; and the discipline common to the ship, or to contracted +bodies, became more and more stringent. The Company's policy was +nearly always dictated by the advice of their factors, but it can be +shown that these were not always wise, dreading equally the prospect +of leading an expedition into the interior, and the prestige which +might ensue if it were entrusted to a subordinate. + +A discipline ludicrous when contrasted with the popular impression +regarding the fur-trader's career, was maintained in the early days. +It was the discipline of the quarter-deck, and surprised many of the +youth who had entered the Company's employ expecting a life of +pleasure and indulgence. Many of the governors were resembled, Bridgar +and Bailey being surly, violent men, and were, indeed, often chosen +for these qualities by the Company at home. + +It is singular but true, that in the days of our ancestors a choleric +temper was considered an unfailing index of the masterful man. In +both branches of the King's service, on sea and on land, there seemed +to have been no surer sign of a man's ability to govern and lead, than +spleen and tyranny; and many an officer owed his promotion and won the +regard of the Admiralty and the War Office by his perpetual exhibition +of the traits and vices of the martinet. One of the Company's +governors, Duffell, was wont to order ten lashes to his men on the +smallest provocation. Another named Stanton, the governor at Moose +Factory, declared he would whip any man, even to the traders, without +trial if he chose; and this declaration he more than once put into +practice. The whipping of two men, Edward Bate and Adam Farquhar, at +Moose Factory, almost occasioned a mutiny there. The death of one +Robert Pilgrim, from a blow administered by the chief factor, created +a scandal some years later in the century. It was the practice of the +early governors to strike the Indians when they lost their own tempers +or for petty offences. + +[Sidenote: Life at the Company's factories.] + +It is diverting to compare nineteenth century life at the factories, +on its religious, moral and intellectual side, to what obtained in the +early days. In Governor Stanton's time, out of thirty-six men only six +were able to read. There was neither clergyman nor divine worship. The +men passed their time in eating and sleeping. Occasionally, Indian +squaws were smuggled into the fort, at the peril of the governor's +displeasure, for immoral purposes. The displeasure of the governor was +not, however, excited on the grounds of morality, for it was nearly +always the case that the governor had a concubine residing on the +premises or near at hand; and it was observed in 1749 by a servant of +thirty years' standing in the Company's employ, that at each fort most +of the half-breed children in the country claimed paternity of the one +or other of the factors of the Company. + + [Illustration: AN EARLY RIVER PIONEER.] + +To return to the question of the extension of trade, there were from +time to time governors and servants who evinced a zeal and love for +adventure which contrasted favourably with that of their fellows. +Their exploits, however, when compared with those of the hardier race +of French-Canadian bushrangers were tame enough. In 1673 Governor +Bailey summoned all the servants of the fort to appear before him, and +informed them that it was the Company's wish that some amongst them +should volunteer to find out a site for a new fort. Three young men +presented themselves, two of whom afterwards became governors of the +Company. The names of these three were William Bond, Thomas Moore and +George Geyer. Some years later Bond was drowned in the Bay; but his +two companions continued for some years to set an example which was +never followed; and of which they seem finally to have repented. +Indeed, almost without exception, once a fort was built the servants +seem to have clung closely to it; and it was not until the year 1688 +that a really brave, adventurous figure, bearing considerable +resemblance to the bushrangers of the past, and the explorers of the +future, emerges into light. + +[Sidenote: Kelsey's Voyage.] + +Henry Kelsey, a lad barely eighteen years of age, was the forerunner +of all the hardy British pioneers of the ensuing century. He is +described as active, "delighting much in Indians' company; being never +better pleased than when he is travelling amongst them." Young as he +was, Kelsey volunteered to find out a site for a fort on Churchill +River. No record exists of this voyage; but a couple of years later he +repeated it, and himself kept a detailed diary of his tour. + +In this journal the explorer states that he received his supplies on +the 5th of July, 1691. He sent the Assiniboines ten days before him, +and set out for Dering's Point to seek the remainder of their tribe. +At this place it was the custom for the Indians to assemble when they +went down the coast on trading expeditions. Kelsey soon overtook them, +and accompanied them to the country of the Naywatamee Poets, the +journey consuming fifty-nine days. He travelled first by water +seventy-one miles from Dering's Point, and there beached his canoes +and continued by land a distance of three hundred and sixteen miles, +passing through a wooded country. At the end of this came prairie +lands for forty-six miles, intersected by a small shallow river +scarcely a hundred yards wide. Crossing ponds, woods and champaign for +eighty-one miles more, discovering many buffalo and beavers, the young +explorer retraced his steps fifty-four miles, and there met the tribe +of which he was in search. Kelsey did not accomplish this journey +without meeting with many adventures. On one occasion the Naywatamee +Poets left him asleep on the ground. During his slumber the fire burnt +the moss upon which he was lying and entirely consumed the stock of +his gun, for which he was obliged to improvise from a piece of wood +half dry. On another occasion, he and an Indian were surprised by a +couple of grisly bears. His companion made his escape to a tree, while +Kelsey, his retreat cut off, hid himself in a clump of high willows. +The bears perceiving the Indian in the branches made directly for +him, but Kelsey observing their action levelled his gun and killed one +of the animals, the other bear bounding towards the place from which +the shots came, and not finding the explorer, returned to the tree, +when he was brought down by Kelsey's second shot. Good fortune +attended this exploit, for it attained for the young man the name +among the tribes of Miss-top-ashish, or "Little Giant." He returned to +York Factory after this first expedition, apparelled after the manner +of his Indian companions, while at his side trudged a young woman with +whom he had gone through the ceremony of marriage after the Indian +fashion. It was his wish that Mistress Kelsey should enter with her +husband into the court, but this desire quickly found an opponent in +the Governor, whose scruples, however, were soon undermined when the +explorer flatly declined to resume his place and duties in the +establishment unless his Indian wife were admitted with him. + +Thus, then, it is seen that in 1691, forty years before Verandrye's +voyages of discovery, this young servant of the Hudson's Bay Company, +had penetrated to no slight extent into the interior. He had crossed +the Assiniboine country, seen for the first time among the English and +French the buffaloes of the plain, he had been attacked by the grisly +bears which belong to the far west; and in behalf of the Hudson's Bay +Company had taken possession of the lands he traversed, and secured +for his masters the trade of the Indians hitherto considered hostile. + +Although the Governor hoped that the encouragement noted in the case +of Kelsey, together with the advance of salary, would stimulate other +young men to follow his example, yet, strange to say, none came +forward. The day of the Henrys, the Mackenzies, the Thompsons and the +Frobishers had not yet dawned. + +For many years after this the Company was in constant apprehension +that its profits would be curtailed by tribal wars. + +[Sidenote: Effect of Indian wars on the Company's business.] + +"Keep the Indians from warring with one another, that they may have +more time to look after their trade," was a frequently repeated +injunction. "If you prevent them from fighting they will bring a +larger quantity of furs to the Factory," they wrote on one occasion to +Geyer. The Governor admitted the premise, "but," said he, "perhaps +your Honours will tell me how I am going to do it." The Company +devoted a whole meeting to consider the matter, and decided that +nothing was easier, provided their instructions were implicitly +obeyed. + + [Illustration: FAC-SIMILE OF COMPANY'S STANDARD OF TRADE.] + +"Tell them what advantages they may make," they wrote; "that the more +furs they bring, the more goods they will be able to purchase of us, +which will enable them to live more comfortably and keep them from +want in a time of scarcity. Inculcate better morals than they yet +understand; tell them that it doth nothing advantage them to kill and +destroy one another, that thereby they may so weaken themselves that +the wild ravenous beasts may grow too numerous for them, and destroy +them that survive." If Geyer delivered this message to the stern and +valorous chiefs with whom he came in contact, they must have made the +dome of heaven ring with scornful laughter. He was obliged to write +home that fewer savages had come down than in former seasons because +they expected to be attacked by their enemies. The Company then +responded shortly and in a business-like manner, that if fair means +would not prevail to stop these inter-tribal conflicts, that the +nation beginning the next quarrel was not to be supplied for a year +with powder or shot "which will expose them to their enemies, who will +have the master of them and quite destroy them from the earth, them +and their wives and children. This," adds the secretary, and in a +spirit of true prophecy, "must work some terror amongst them." + +[Sidenote: The French at Michilimackinac.] + +A potent cause contributed to the lack of prosperity which marked Port +Nelson under the French _régime_. It was the exploitation of the west +by an army of traders and bushrangers. The new post of Michilimackinac +had assumed all the importance as a fur-trading centre which had +formerly belonged to Montreal. The French, too, were served by capable +and zealous servants, none more so than Iberville himself, the new +Governor of the Mississippi country.[38] His whole ambition continued +to be centred upon driving out the English from the whole western and +northern region, and destroying forever their trade and standing with +the aborigines, and none more than he more ardently desired the +suppression of the _coureur de bois_. "No Frenchmen," he declared, +"should be allowed to follow the Indians in their hunts, as it tends +to keep them hunters, as is seen in Canada; and when they are in the +woods they do not desire to become tillers of the soil." + +At the same time the value of the bushrangers to the French _régime_ +was considerable in damaging the English on the Bay. + +"It is certain," observed one of their defenders, "that if the +articles required for the upper tribes be not sent to Michilimackinac, +the Indians will go in search of them to Hudson's Bay, to whom they +will convey all their peltries, and will detach themselves entirely +from us." + +The bushrangers penetrated into the wilderness and intercepted the +tribes, whose loyalty to the English was not proof against liquor and +trinkets served on the spot, for which otherwise they would have to +proceed many weary leagues to the Bay. + +The Company began to experience some alarm at the fashion the trade +was sapped from their forts at Albany and Moose.[39] The Quebec +Company was in the same plight with regard to Port Nelson. + +[Sidenote: The Western Company.] + +An association of French merchants, known as the Western Company, +sprang up in the early days of the eighteenth century and many forts +and factories were built in the Mississippi region. Its promoters +expected great results from a new skin until now turned to little +account, that of bison, great herds of which animal had been +discovered roaming the western plains. M. de Juchereau, with +thirty-four Canadians, established a post on the Wabash, in the name +of the Western Company. Here, he writes, he collected in a short time +fifteen thousand buffalo skins. + +From 1697 to 1708 a series of three commandants were appointed, one of +whom now administered the affairs at Fort Bourbon, which however never +assumed the importance which had attached to it under the English +rule. + +There is one romantic episode which belongs to this period, serving to +relieve by its vivid, perhaps too vivid, colouring, the long +sombreness of the French _régime_. It was the visit in 1704 of an +officer named Lagrange and his suite from France. In the train of this +banished courtier came a number of gallant youths and fair courtesans; +and for one brief season Fort Bourbon rang with laughter and revelry. +Hunting parties were undertaken every fine day; and many trophies of +the chase were carried back to France. Have ever the generations of +quiet English servants and Scotch clerks snatched a glimpse, in their +sleeping or waking dreams, of those mad revels, a voluptuous scene +amidst an environment so sullen and sombre? + +In the year 1707 Jérémie, the lieutenant, obtained permission of the +Company to return to France on leave. He succeeded in obtaining at +court his nomination to the post of successor to the then commandant, +Delisle. After a year's absence he returned to Port Nelson, to find +matters in a shocking state. No ships had arrived from France, and +stores and ammunition were lacking. A few days after his arrival, +Delisle was taken seriously ill, and expired from the effects of cold +and exposure. + +For a period of six years Jérémie continued to govern Fort Bourbon, +receiving his commission not from the Company but direct from the King +himself, a fact of which he seems very proud. + +Jérémie's tenure of office was marked by a bloody affair, which +fortunately had but few parallels under either English or French +occupation. Although the tribes in the neighbourhood were friendly and +docile, they were still capable, upon provocation, to rival those +Iroquois who were a constant source of terror to the New England +settlers. + +In August, 1708, Jérémie sent his lieutenant, two traders and six +picked men of his garrison to hunt for provisions. They camped at +nightfall near a band of savages who had long fasted and lacked +powder, which, owing to its scarcity, the French did not dare give +them. + +[Sidenote: Indian Treachery.] + +Round about these unhappy savages, loudly lamenting the passing of the +English dominion when powder and shot was plenty, were the heaps of +furs which to them were useless. They had journeyed to the fort in all +good faith, across mountain and torrent, as was their custom, only to +find their goods rejected by the white men of the fort, who told them +to wait. When the French hunting party came to encamp near them, +several of the younger braves amongst the Indians crept up to where +they feasted, and returned with the news to their comrades. The tribe +was fired with resentment. Exasperated by the cruelty of their fate, +they hatched a plan of revenge and rapine. Two of their youngest and +comeliest women entered the assemblage of the white men, and by +seductive wiles drew two of them away to their own lodges. The +remaining six, having eaten and drunk their fill, and believing in +their security, turned to slumber. Hardly had the two roysterers +arrived at the Indian camp than instead of the cordial privacy they +expected, they were confronted by two score famished men drawn up in +front of the lodges, knives in hand and brandishing hatchets. All +unarmed as they were, they were unceremoniously seized and slain. As +no trace was ever found of their bodies, they were, although denied by +the eye-witness of the tragedy, a squaw, probably devoured on the +spot. The younger men now stole again to the French camp and massacred +all the others in their sleep, save one, who being wounded feigned +death, and afterwards managed to crawl off. But he, with his +companions, had been stripped to the skin by the savages, and in this +state, and half-covered with blood, he made his way back to the fort. +The distance being ten leagues, his survival is a matter of wonder, +even to those hardy men of the wilderness. + +The Governor naturally apprehended that the Indians would attempt to +follow up their crime by an attack upon the fort. + +As only nine men remained in the garrison, it was felt impossible to +defend both of the French establishments. He therefore withdrew the +men hastily from the little Fort Philipeaux near by, and none too +quickly, for the Indians came immediately before it. Finding nobody in +charge they wrought a speedy and vigorous pillage, taking many pounds +of powder which Jérémie had not had time to transfer to Bourbon. + +The condition of the French during the winter of 1708-9 was pitiable +in the extreme. Surrounded by starving, blood-thirsty savages, with +insufficient provisions, and hardly ever daring to venture out, they +may well have received the tidings with joy that the indomitable +English Company had re-established a Factory some leagues distant, and +were driving a brisk trade with the eager tribes. + +It was not until 1713 that the French Fur Company succeeded in +relieving its post of Fort Bourbon. It had twice sent ships, but these +had been intercepted on the high seas by the English and pillaged or +destroyed. The _Providence_ arrived the very year of the Treaty of +Utrecht. + +[Sidenote: Starvation amongst the Indians.] + +But wretched as was the case of the French, that of the Indians was +lamentable indeed. A few more years of French occupation and the +forests and rivers of the Bay would know its race of hunters no more. +Many hundreds lay dead within a radius of twenty leagues from the +fort, the flesh devoured from their bones. They had lost the use of +the bow and arrow since the advent of the Europeans, and they had no +resource as cultivators of the soil; besides their errant life forbade +this. Pressed by a long hunger, parents had killed their children for +food; the strong had devoured the weak. One of these unhappy victims +of civilization and commercial rivalries, confessed to the commandant +that he had eaten his wife and six children. He had, he declared, not +experienced the pangs of tenderness until the time came for him to +sacrifice his last child, whom he loved more than the others, and that +he had gone away weeping, leaving a portion of the body buried in the +earth. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[37] "Six or seven times over," the Company say in their reply. + +[38] After the battle of Port Nelson, Iberville had returned to France +leaving Martigny in command of the Fort. His subsequent career may be +read elsewhere; the Bay was no longer to be the theatre of his +exploits. He perished in 1707 at Havana. + +[39] At Albany they were surrounded by the French on every side, a +circumstance which greatly sapped their commerce. Yet, even at this +period, the importation of beaver and other peltries from the single +fort remaining to them was above thirty thousand annually. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +1697-1712. + + Company Seriously Damaged by Loss of Port Nelson -- Send an + Account of their Claims to Lords of Trade -- Definite Boundary + Propositions of Trade -- Lewis anxious to Create Boundaries -- + Company look to Outbreak of War -- War of Spanish Succession + breaks out -- Period of Adversity for the Company -- Employment + of Orkneymen -- Attack on Fort Albany -- Desperate Condition of + the French at York Fort -- Petition to Anne. + + +The Treaty of Ryswick[40] had aimed a severe blow at the prosperity of +the Company,[41] in depriving them of that important quarter of the +Bay known as Port Nelson. + +Although now on the threshold of a long period of adversity, the +Merchants-Adventurers, losing neither hope nor courage, continued to +raise their voice for restitution and justice. Petition after petition +found its way to King, Commons, and the Lords of Trade and +Plantations. + +[Sidenote: The Company's claims.] + +In May, 1700, the Company were requested by the Lord of Trade and +Plantations to send an account of the encroachments of the French on +Her Majesty's Dominion in America within the limits of the Company's +charter; to which the Company replied, setting forth their right and +title, and praying restitution. + +It has been stated, and urged as a ground against the later +pretensions of the Hudson's Bay Company, that at this time they were +willing to contract their limits. While willing to do this for the +purpose of effecting a settlement, it was only on condition of their +not being able to obtain "the whole Straits and Bay which of right +belongs to them." + +"This," remarked a counsel for the Company in a later day, "is like a +man who has a suit of ejectment, who, in order to avoid the expense +and trouble of a law suit, says, 'I will be willing to allow you +certain bounds, but if you do not accept that I will insist on getting +all my rights and all that I am entitled to.'" + +The Company's propositions soon began to take a definite form. + + THE COMPANY'S CLAIMS AFTER THE TREATY OF RYSWICK. + + [_To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of Trade and + Plantations._] + + The limits which the Hudson's Bay Company conceive to be + necessary as boundaries between the French and them in case of + an exchange of places, and that the Company cannot obtain the + whole Streights and Bay, which of right belongs to them, + viz.:-- + + 1. That the French be limited not to trade by wood-runners, or + otherwise, nor build any House, Factory, or Fort, beyond the + bounds of 53 degrees, or Albany River, vulgarly called + Chechewan, to the northward, on the west or main coast. + + 2. That the French be likewise limited not to trade by + wood-runners, or otherwise, nor build any House, Factory, or + Fort, beyond Rupert's River, to the northward, on the east or + main coast. + + 3. On the contrary, the English shall be obliged not to trade + by wood-runners, or otherwise, nor build any House, Factory, or + Fort, beyond the aforesaid latitude of 53 degrees, or Albany + River, vulgarly called Chechewan, south-east towards Canada, on + any land which belongs to the Hudson's Bay Company. + + 4. As also the English be likewise obliged not to trade by + wood-runners, or otherwise, nor build any House, Factory, or + Fort, beyond Rupert's River, to the south-east, towards Canada, + on any land which belongs to the Hudson's Bay Company. + + 5. As likewise, that neither the French or English shall at any + time hereafter extend their bounds contrary to the aforesaid + limitations, nor instigate the natives to make war, or join + with either, in any acts of hostility to the disturbance or + detriment of the trade of either nation, which the French may + very reasonably comply with, for that they by such limitations + will have all the country south-eastward betwixt Albany Fort + and Canada to themselves, which is not only the best and most + fertile part, but also a much larger tract of land than can be + supposed to be to the northward, and the Company deprived of + that which was always their undoubted right. + + And unless the Company can be secured according to these + propositions, they think it will be impossible for them to + continue long at York Fort (should they exchange with the + French), nor will the trade answer their charge; and therefore + if your lordships cannot obtain these so reasonable + propositions from the French, but that they insist to have the + limits settled between [Albany and] York and Albany Fort, as in + the latitude of 55 degrees or thereabouts, the Company can by + no means agree thereto, for they by such an agreement will be + the instruments of their own ruin, never to be retrieved. + + By order of the General Court, + + WM. POTTER, _Secretary_. + + Confirmed by the General Court of } + the said Company, 10th July, 1700.} + +The adventurers were, they said, not indisposed to listen to reason. +They proposed limits to be observed by the two nations in their trade +and possessions in the Bay. But should the French be so foolish as to +refuse their offer, then they would not be bound by that or any former +concession, but would then, as they had always theretofore done, +"insist upon the prior and undoubted right to the whole of the Bay and +straits." + +[Sidenote: Lewis proposes boundaries.] + +The Court of Versailles was now most anxious to delimit the boundaries +of the respective possessions of the two countries in the Bay. To this +end, proposals were exchanged between the two crown governments. One +alternative proposed by the French Ambassador was that the Weemish +River, which was exactly half way between Fort Bourbon and Fort +Albany, should mark the respective limits of the French on the east, +while the limits of New France on the side of Acadia should be +restricted to the River St. George. + +This proposition having been referred to them, the Board of Trade and +Plantations discouraged the scheme. The Hudson's Bay Adventurers it +said, challenged an undoubted right to the whole Bay, antecedent to +any pretence of the French. It was, therefore, requisite that they +should be consulted before any concession of territories could be made +to the Most Christian King or his subjects. + +The Company pinned their hopes to an outbreak of hostilities,[42] +which would enable them to attempt to regain what they had lost. A +protracted peace was hardly looked for by the nation. In answer to +Governor Knight's continual complaints, to which were added those of +the dispossessed Geyer, the Company begged its servants to bide their +time; and to exert themselves to the utmost to increase the trade at +Albany, and Moose, and Rupert's River. + +"England," says the historian Green, "was still clinging desperately +to the hope of peace, when Lewis, by a sudden act, forced it into war. +He had acknowledged William as King in the Peace of Ryswick, and +pledged himself to oppose all the attacks on his throne. He now +entered the bed-chamber at St. Germain, where James was breathing his +last, and promised to acknowledge his son at his death as King of +England, Scotland and Ireland." + +[Sidenote: Outbreak of the war between England and France.] + +Such a promise was tantamount to a declaration of war, and in a moment +England sprang to arms. None were so eager for the approaching strife +as the Honourable Merchants-Adventurers. They expressed their opinion +that, while their interests had undoubtedly suffered at the peace of +1697, they were far from attributing it to any want of care on the +part of his Majesty. Their rights and claims, they said, were then +"overweighed by matters of higher consequence depending in that +juncture for the glory and honour of the King." + +Yet a dozen more years were to elapse before they were to come into +their own again; and during that critical period much was to happen to +affect their whole internal economy. The value of the shares fell; the +original Adventurers were all since deceased, and many of their heirs +had disposed of their interests. A new set of shareholders appeared on +the scene; not simultaneously, but one by one, until almost the entire +personnel of the Company had yielded place to a new, by no means of +the same weight or calibre.[43] + +Mention has already been made of the manner in which the Company +devoted its thought and energy to its weekly meetings. Not even in +the gravest crises to which the East India Company was subjected, was +there a statute more inconvenient or severe, than the following: +"Resolved and ordered by the Committee, to prevent the Company's +business from being delayed or neglected, that for the future if any +member do not appear by one hour after the time mentioned in the +summons and the glass run out, or shall depart without leave of the +Committee, such member shall have no part in the moneys to be divided +by the Committee, and that the time aforesaid be determined by the +going of the clock in the Court-room, which the Secretary is to set as +he can to the Exchange clock; and that no leave shall be given until +one hour after the glass is run out." + +But out of their adversity sprung a proposition which, although not +put into effect upon a large scale until many years afterwards, yet +well deserves to be recorded here. To stem the tide of desertions from +the Company's service, caused by the war, and the low rate of wages, +it was in 1710 first suggested that youthful Scotchmen be +employed.[44] + +[Sidenote: Employment of Scotchmen in the service.] + +The scarcity of servants seems to have continued. In the following +year greater bribes were resorted to. "Captain Mounslow was now +ordered to provide fifteen or sixteen young able men to go to H. B. +This expedition for five years, which he may promise to have wages, +viz.: £8 the 1st year; £10 the 2nd; £12 the 3rd and £14 for the two +last years, and to be advanced £3 each before they depart from +Gravesend." The result of this was that in June, 1711, the first batch +of these servants came aboard the Company's ship at Stromness. But +they were not destined to sail away to the Bay in their full numbers. +Overhauled by one of Her Majesty's ships, eleven of the young men were +impressed into the service. For many years after this incident it was +not found easy to engage servants in the Orkneys. + + [Illustration: "The younger men now stole again to the French camp + and massacred all the others in their sleep." + (_See page 185._)] + +Captain Barlow was governor at Albany Fort in 1704 when the French +came overland from Canada to besiege it. The Canadians and their +Indian guides lurked in the neighbourhood of Albany for several days +before they made the attack, and killed many of the cattle that were +grazing in the marshes. A faithful Home Indian (as those Crees in the +vicinity were always termed), who was on a hunting excursion, +discovered those strangers, and correctly supposing them to be +enemies, immediately returned to the fort and informed the governor of +the circumstance. Barlow, while giving little credit to the report, +yet took immediately every measure for the fort's defence. Orders were +given to the master of a sloop hard by to hasten to the fort should he +hear a gun fired. + +In the middle of the night the French came before the fort, marched up +to the gate and demanded entrance. Barlow, who was on watch, told them +that the governor was asleep, but he would go for the keys at once. +The French, according to the governor, on hearing this, and expecting +no resistance, flocked up to the gate as close as they could stand. +Barlow took advantage of this opportunity, and instead of opening the +gate opened two port-holes, and discharged the contents of two +six-pounders into the gathering. This quantity of grape-shot +slaughtered great numbers of the French, and amongst them their +commander, who was an Irishman. + +A precipitate retreat followed such an unexpected reception; and the +master of the sloop hearing the firing proceeded with the greatest +haste to the spot. But some of the enemy, who lay in ambush on the +river's bank, intercepted and killed him, with his entire crew. + +Seeing no chance of surprising the fort, the French retired +reluctantly, and did not renew the attack; although some of them were +heard shooting in the neighbourhood for ten days after their repulse. +One man in particular was noticed to walk up and down the platform +leading from the gate of the fort to the launch for a whole day. At +sundown Fullerton, the governor, thinking his conduct extraordinary, +ventured out and spoke to the man in French. He offered him lodgings +within the fort if he chose to accept them; but to such and similar +proposals the man made no reply, shaking his head. Fullerton then +informed him that unless he would surrender himself as his prisoner he +would have no alternative but to shoot him. In response to this the +man advanced nearer the fort. The governor kept his word, and the +unhappy Frenchman fell, pierced by a bullet. No explanation of his +eccentric behaviour was ever forthcoming, but it may be that the +hardships he expected to encounter on his return to Canada had +unbalanced his mind, and made him prefer death to these while scorning +surrender. + +[Sidenote: Desperate condition of the French at Fort York.] + +It was some solace to know that their French rivals were in trouble, +and that York Factory had hardly proved as great a source of profit to +the French Company as had been anticipated. The achievements of +Iberville and his brothers had done little, as has been shown, to +permanently better its fortunes. To such an extent had these declined, +that the capture, in 1704, of the principal ship of the French Company +by an English frigate, forced these traders to invoke the assistance +of the Mother Country in providing them with facilities for the relief +of the forts and the transportation of the furs to France. In the +following year, the garrison at Fort Bourbon nearly perished for lack +of provisions. The assistance was given; but two years later it was +discontinued, because they could no longer spare either ships or men. +Although both were urgently needed for defence against the New +Englanders. Owing to the enormous increase of unlicensed bushrangers, +the continued hostilities and the unsettled state of the country, no +small proportion of the entire population chose rather to adventure +the perils of illicit trade in the wilderness, than to serve the king +in the wars at home.[45] Unaccustomed for so long a period to till the +soil, their submission was not easily secured, no matter how dire the +penalties. + +Finding their continual petitions to the Lords of Trade ineffectual, +the Company now drew up a more strongly worded one and presented it +to Queen Anne herself. The memorial differed from any other, inasmuch +as the Company now lay stress for the first time on some other feature +of their commerce than furs. + +"The said country doth abound with several other commodities (of which +your petitioners have not been able to begin a trade, by reason of the +interruptions they have met with from the French) as of whale-bone, +whale-oil (of which last your subjects now purchase from Holland and +Germany to the value of £26,000 per annum, which may be had in your +own dominions), besides many other valuable commodities, which in time +may be discovered." + +If the French, it was argued, came to be entirely possessed of +Hudson's Bay, they would undoubtedly give up whale fishing in those +parts, which will greatly tend to the increase of their navigation and +to their breed of seamen. + + When your Majesty, in your high wisdom, shall think fit to give + peace to those enemies whom your victorious arms have so + reduced and humbled, and when your Majesty shall judge it for + your people's good to enter into a treaty of peace with the + French King, your petitioners pray that the said Prince be + obliged by such treaty, to renounce all right and pretensions + to the Bay and Streights of Hudson, to quit and surrender all + posts and settlements erected by the French, or which are now + in their possession, as likewise not to sail any ships or + vessels within the limits of the Company's charter, and to make + restitution of the £108,514, 19s. 8d., of which they robbed and + despoiled your petitioners in times of perfect amity between + the two Kingdoms. + +This petition seems actually to have come into the hands of the Queen +and to have engaged her sympathy, for which the Honourable Adventurers +had to thank John Robinson, the Lord Bishop of London. This dignitary, +_persona grata_ in the highest degree to the sovereign, was also a +close personal friend of the Lake family, whose fortunes[46] were long +bound up with the Hudson's Bay Company. The Company was asked to state +what terms it desired to make. In great joy they acceded to the +request. + + TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF TRADES AND + PLANTATIONS. + + _The Memorandum of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of + England trading into Hudson's Bay:_ + + That for avoiding all disputes and differences that may, in + time to come, arise between the said Company and the French, + settled in Canada, they humbly represent and conceive it + necessary-- + + That no wood-runners, either French or Indians, or any other + person whatsoever, be permitted to travel, or seek for trade, + beyond the limits hereinafter mentioned. + + That the said limits began from the island called Grimington's + Island, or Cape Perdrix, in the latitude of 58½° north, which + they desire may be the boundary between the English and the + French, on the coast of Labrador, towards Rupert's Land, on the + east main, and Novia Britannia on the French side, and that no + French ship, bark, boat or vessel whatsoever, shall pass to the + northward of Cape Perdrix or Grimington's Island, towards or + into the Streights or Bay of Hudson, on any pretence whatever. + +[Sidenote: Demand of the Company.] + + That a line be supposed to pass to the south-westward of the + said Island of Grimington or Cape Perdrix to the great Lake + Miscosinke, _alias_ Mistoveny, dividing the same into two parts + (as in the map now delivered), and that the French, nor any + others employed by them, shall come to the north or + north-westward of the said lake, or supposed line, by land or + water, or through any rivers, lakes or countries, to trade, or + erect any forts or settlements whatsoever; and the English, on + the contrary, not to pass the said supposed line either to the + southward or eastward. + + That the French be likewise obliged to quit, surrender and + deliver up to the English, upon demand, York Fort (by them + called Bourbon), undemolished; together with all forts, + factories, settlements and buildings whatsoever, taken from the + English, or since erected or built by the French, with all the + artillery and ammunition, in the condition they are now in; + together with all other places they are possessed of within the + limits aforesaid, or within the Bay and Streights of Hudson. + + These limits being first settled and adjusted, the Company are + willing to refer their losses and damages formerly sustained by + the French in time of peace, to the consideration of + commissioners to be appointed for that purpose. + + By order of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, + trading into Hudson's Bay. + + Hudson's Bay House, 7th of February, 1711-12. + + +A LIST OF FORTS FROM 1668 TO 1714. + + 1. Rupert, called by the French St. Jacques. Founded 1668 by + Gillam. Taken by the French under Troyes and Iberville, July, + 1686. Retaken by the English, 1693. + + 2. Fort Monsippi, Monsonis, St. Lewis and Moose Fort, taken by + Troyes and Iberville 20th June, 1686. Retaken 1693. + + 3. Fort Chechouan, St. Anne or Albany, taken by de Troyes and + Iberville in 1686. Retaken 1693. + + 4. New Severn or Nieu Savanne, taken by Iberville, 1690. + + 5. Fort Bourbon, Nelson or York. Founded 1670. Taken by the + French, 1682, acting for English, 1684. Retaken by Iberville + 12th October, 1894. Retaken by the English 1696, and by the + French, 1697. Retaken by the English, 1714. + + 6. Fort Churchill, 1688. + + 7. East Main. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[40] By the Treaty of Ryswick, Great Britain and France were +respectively to deliver up to each other generally whatever +possessions either held before the outbreak of the war, and it was +specially provided that this should be applicable to the places in +Hudson's Bay taken by the French during the peace which preceded the +war, which, though retaken by the British during the war, were to be +given up to the French. Commissioners were to be appointed in +pursuance of the Treaty to determine the rights and pretensions which +either nation had to the places in Hudson's Bay. But these +commissioners never met. The commissioners must, however, have been +bound by the text of the Treaty wherever it was explicit. They +_might_, said the Company's opponents, have decided that France had a +right to the whole, but they could _not_ have decided that Great +Britain had a right to the whole. They would have been compelled to +make over to France all the places she took during the peace which +preceded the war, for in that the Treaty left them no discretion. The +following are the words of the Treaty:--"But the possession of those +places which were taken by the French, during the peace that preceded +this present war, and were retaken by the English during the war, +shall be left to the French by virtue of the foregoing article." Thus +the Treaty of Ryswick recognized and confirmed the right of France to +certain places in Hudson's Bay distinctly and definitely, but it +recognized no right at all on the part of Great Britain; it merely +provided a tribunal to try whether she had any or not. + +[41] "Therefore, we shall proceed to inform your Lordships of the +present melancholy prospects of our trade and settlement in Hudson's +Bay, and that none of his Majesty's plantations are left in such a +deplorable state as those of this Company, for by their great losses +by the French, both in times of peace as well as during the late war, +together with the hardships they lie under by the late Treaty of +Ryswick, they may be said to be the only mourners by the peace. They +cannot but inform your Lordships that the only settlement that the +Company now have left in Hudson's Bay (of seven they formerly +possessed) is Albany Fort, vulgarly called Checheawan, in the bottom +of the said Bay, where they are surrounded by the French on every +side, viz., by their settlements on the lakes and rivers from Canada +to the northwards, towards Hudson's Bay, as also from Port Nelson (Old +York Fort) to the southward; but beside this, the Company have, by the +return of their ship this year, received certain intelligence that the +French have made another settlement at a place called New Severn, +'twixt Port Nelson and Albany Fort, whereby they have hindered the +Indians from coming to trade at the Company's factory, at the bottom +of the Bay, so that the Company this year have not received above +one-fifth part of the returns they usually had from thence, insomuch +that the same doth not answer the expense of their expedition." + +[42] The Company being by these and other misfortunes reduced to such +a low and miserable condition, that, without his Majesty's favour and +assistance, they are in no ways able to keep that little remainder +they are yet possessed of in Hudson's Bay, but may justly fear in a +short time to be deprived of all their trade in those parts which is +solely negotiated by the manufacturers of this kingdom. Upon the whole +matter, the Company humbly conceive, they can be no ways safe from the +insults and encroachments of the French, so long as they are suffered +to remain possessed of any place in Hudson's Bay, and that in order to +dislodge them from thence (which the Company are no ways able to do) a +force of three men-of-war, one bomb-vessel, and two hundred and fifty +soldiers besides the ships' company will be necessary, whereby that +vast tract of land which is of so great concern, not only to this +Company in particular, but likewise to the whole nation in general, +may not be utterly lost to this kingdom. + +[43] The Duke of York's (James II.) share, however, was retained by +his heirs up to 1746. + +[44] Captain John Merry is desired to speak with Captain Moody, who +has a nephew in the Orkneys, to write to him to provide fifteen or +sixteen young men, about twenty years old, to be entertained by the +Company, to serve them for four years in Hudson's Bay, at the rate of +£6 per annum, the wages formerly given by the Company.--From the +Company's Order Book, 29th February, 1710. + +[45] "This country," it was remarked in 1710, "is composed of persons +of various character and different inclinations. One and the other +ought to be managed, and can contribute to render it flourishing." + +[46] I find the following in the minute books, under date of 24th +March, 1714. "It was resolved that the Committee when they meet Friday +come Senuit, do agree to wait on the Lord Bishop of London, in order +to return him the thanks of this Company for the care that has been +taken of them by the Treaty of Ryswick." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +1712-1720. + + Queen Anne Espouses the Cause of the Company -- Prior's View of + its Wants -- Treaty of Utrecht -- Joy of the Adventurers -- + Petition for Act of Cession -- Not Pressed by the British + Government -- Governor Knight Authorized to take Possession of + Port Nelson -- "Smug Ancient Gentlemen" -- Commissioners to + Ascertain Rights -- Their Meeting in Paris -- Matters move + slowly -- Bladen and Pulteney return to England. + + +At last the Company had triumphed. Its rights had been admitted; the +Queen and her ministers were convinced of the justice of its +claims.[47] Peace, long and anxiously awaited, began to dawn over the +troubled horizon. Lewis and his courtiers had long sickened of the +war: and at the Flemish town of Utrecht negotiations were on foot for +a cessation of hostilities and the adjustment of differences between +the crowns of England and France. + +The view which Matthew Prior, the English plenipotentiary, took of the +Company's rights was not one, however, inspired by that body. He +wanted the trade of the country, rather than the sovereignty. + +"I take leave to add to your lordship," he observes at the end of a +communication addressed to the Secretary of State, "that these +limitations are not otherwise advantageous or prejudicial to Great +Britain than as we are both better or worse with the native Indians; +and that the whole is a matter rather of industry than of dominion." + +These negotiations finally resulted in a treaty signed on the 31st of +March (O.S.), 1713, by which the whole of Hudson's Bay was ceded to +Great Britain without any distinct definition of boundaries, for the +determining of which commissioners were to be appointed. + +[Sidenote: Effect of the Treaty on the Company.] + +On the news of the conclusion of the Treaty, the Adventurers were +filled with joy. The Committee was in session when a messenger came +hot haste from Whitehall to bear the glad tidings. A General Court was +convoked for several days later. Plans were concerted for securing the +very most that the circumstances would allow. It was necessary to +secure the Act of Cession which it was supposed would be issued by +Lewis, ceding to Great Britain the places on Hudson's Bay, the Company +being regarded merely in the light of sub-ordinary subjects. Many of +the members wished to press at once for pecuniary compensation, but +the wiser heads agreed that this would best be a matter for subsequent +negotiation. Many thought indeed that perhaps there need be no haste +in the matter, as the interest on the original estimate of damages, +already nearly double the principal, was growing daily at an enormous +rate. + +"As to the Company's losses," says a memorandum of this year, "it will +appear by a true and exact estimate that the French took from the +Company in full peace between 1682 and 1688 seven ships, with their +cargoes, and six forts and caches in which were carried away great +stores of goods laid up for trading with the Indians. The whole +amounts to £38,332 15s., and £62,210 18s. 9d. interest, computed to +1713." + +[Sidenote: Company's claim for compensation.] + +Under date of 30th July, 1714, occurs the following: "The Committee +having received a letter from the Lords Commissioners of Trade, and +they desiring their attendance on Tuesday next, and to bring in +writing the demands of the Co. for damages rec'd from the French in +times of peace pursuant to the 10th & 11th Articles of the Treaty of +Utrecht. Upon which the Secretary is ordered to Copy out the Abstract +of the whole damage sustained, amounting to with Interest the sum of +£100,543-13-9; as likewise the particulars in these small volumes in +order to present the same to the Commission of Trade on Wednesday +next." + +It does not seem to have been doubted but that the Queen, if +petitioned, would grant the Company's request in time to send an +expedition to the Bay that very year.[48] + +But while vessels were being acquired, fitted out and loaded with +cargoes, the Company was wise enough not to run the risk of falling +into a trap. Nothing was to be done without the fullest royal +authority. + +It is worthy of remark as illustrating how much the Company trusted +the Canadian authorities, Bolingbroke (May 29, 1713) reminded the Duke +of Shrewsbury (then at Paris) that in Pontchartrain's letter to the +Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada, the latter was directed to +yield the forts and settlements belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company: +"But this order the Merchants thought would hardly fulfil their +requirements. They were despatching two ships to the Bay. It would +therefore be better if his grace obtained direct order to M. Jérémie +in duplicate." + +[Sidenote: No Act of Cession.] + +But the Act of Cession eagerly awaited by the Company was not +forthcoming. The Queen's advisers were wiser than anybody else. Lord +Dartmouth's letter[49] of the 27th May, 1713, enclosing the petition +of the Hudson's Bay Company, shows what was the design in not +accepting an Act of Cession from the French King. Her Majesty insisted +only upon an order from the French Court for delivering possession; +"by which means the title of the Company was acknowledged, and they +will come into the immediate enjoyment of their property without +further trouble." + +The summer of 1713 came on apace, and it was soon too late to think of +occupying Port Nelson that year. But all was made ready for the next. +On the 5th of June, 1714, many of the Adventurers hied themselves to +Gravesend, to wish Governor Knight and his deputy, Henry Kelsey, +godspeed. "The Committee," we read in the minutes, "delivered to +Captain Knight, Her Majesty's Royal Commission, to take possession +(for the Company) of York Fort, and all other places within the Bay +and Straits of Hudson. Also another Commission from Her Majesty +constituting him Governor under the Company, and Mr. H. Kelsey, Deputy +Governor of the Bay and Straits of Hudson, aforesaid." + +Knight took with him, likewise, "the French King's order under his +hand and seal, to Mons. Jérémie, Commander at York Fort, to deliver +the same to whom Her Majesty should appoint, pursuant to the Treaty of +Utrick." + +Knight's eyes, now dimmed with age, were gladdened by the sight of +Port Nelson, on the 25th of July. Jérémie was already advised by the +French ship, and no time was lost in evacuation. A bargain was made +for such buildings and effects as the French had no further use for, +which had been beforehand arranged. "From his particular regard for +the Queen of Great Britain, the King will leave to her the artillery +and ammunition in the forts and places in Hudson's Bay and Straits, +notwithstanding the urgent reasons His Majesty has to withdraw them, +and to appropriate them elsewhere." The cannon were accordingly left. + +[Sidenote: Regulation of boundary.] + +By Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht it was proposed, in order to +avoid all further conflict and misunderstanding, that commissioners +should be appointed to regulate the boundaries of Hudson's Bay and the +extent of the trade thereof, which should be enjoyed by each.[50] But +no great haste was apparent on the part of France to secure this end. +For several years nothing was done in the matter, save and except the +persistent exchange of letters between the two ambassadors. There is a +letter of Bolingbroke's which evinces the feeling current in +diplomatic circles at the time. + +"There is nothing more persistent in the world," he says, "than these +claims of the Hudson's Bay Company. We are desirous greatly to see all +these smug ancient gentlemen satisfied; but notwithstanding we are +unable to budge an inch. The truth of the business seems to me to be +that the French are always hoping that their ultimate concessions will +be less and the English that these concessions will be vastly more. As +for ourselves we have no desire to play with frost; and I for one +shall be relieved to see this question thawed out without further +delay." + +Lewis had consented, at the time of the Peace, to afterwards name two +commissioners who should give possession to such of the English, as +proved that they were actual proprietors, or the heirs of proprietors +of those who had in a former time possessed property in the Bay. This +seemed to provide for the Company's rights in a manner most +satisfactory. + +[Sidenote: Appointment of a Commission.] + +Nevertheless matters dragged on, and it was not until 1719 that a +practical movement was made. On the 3rd of September of that year, +Daniel Pulteney and Martin Bladen, Lords of Trade, were appointed +Commissioners in response to the appointment by Lewis of the Mareschal +Comte d'Estrees and the Abbé Dubois, Minister and Secretary of State. +Pulteney was an Indian merchant, and Bladen had been an officer in the +army. + +The Lords of Trade having made the suggestion, the Company now wished +their Governor, Sir Bibye Lake, to go over to Paris the "more +earnestly to solicit and prosecute the claims of the Honourable +Adventurers." + +"It is by this Committee desired most humbly of the Governor to accept +and undertake this journey and to manage the Company's affairs there, +as he shall judge most conducive to their interest and advantage. +Which, being signified to the Governor, he did, to the great +satisfaction of the Committee readily undertake and accept the same. +It was ordered that the Governor have liberty to take with him such +person or persons to France as he shall think fit." + +Lake accordingly joined Bladen and Pulteney, and was permitted to take +a silent part in the conference. + +It was intended that this Commission, meeting in Paris, should have +power to settle generally the boundaries between the English and +French possessions in America. But this was soon seen to be +impracticable. The settlement of these matters was too vast and +complicated for the Commission to deal with; and the Lords of Trade +instructed Bladen, on his setting out, to deal only with the Hudson's +Bay territories. It is significant that private instructions of a +similar nature were at the same time conveyed to the French +Commissioners by the Court. + +The Commissioners finally met. Perhaps it would be a pity if Bladen's +own quaint account of what followed were allowed to perish:-- + + On Saturday last, my Lord Stair and I met Marechal d'Estrees + and Abbé Dubois. Our time was spent in preparatory discourses + concerning the intent of the 10th article of the Treaty of + Utrecht, relating to the boundaries of Hudson's Bay; and at our + next meeting, which will be to-morrow at my Lord Stair's House, + we design to give in the claim of the Hudson's Bay Company, in + writing, with some few additions pretty material for their + service, in case the Abbé Dubois his health will allow him to + be there, which I fear it will not, for he is confined at + present to his bed. + +[Sidenote: Martin Bladen's description of the Commission.] + + But I confess, I cannot help thinking it will be to a very + little purpose to puzzle ourselves about setting boundaries, by + treaty, in the North of America, if the French have so concise + a way of fixing theirs in the south, without asking our + concurrence; it is to be hoped they will have the modesty to + recede from this new acquisition, but in the meantime I cannot + help saying this gives me no very good relish either of their + friendship or discretion. + + I cannot leave this subject without observing how much it + imports us to be upon our guard in our American Colonies. It + were to be wished that the several Governments of His Majesty's + plantations would pay the respect they owe to their + instructions, and if those of Barbados for some time past had + observed theirs, relating to Santa Lucia, the settlement of a + hundred French families there could never have been put upon us + at this day as a proof of their right to that island. + +There is, further, much talk of a "multiplicity of books and papers +necessary to be read," and of "arduous labours" in going over maps, +charts and memoirs, which, however numerous, "are not to be depended +on."[51] + +While this initial work was going on, one of the adventurers was +entreating his fellows at a Company meeting in London, to take note of +a scheme which the French had been insidiously attempting for the +previous four years to utterly destroy not only the Company's trade, +but all the English colonies as well. He proceeded to read a private +letter from a relation in the colony of Pennsylvania in which it was +shewn that the Mississippi Company required close watching. + +"Its leaders are egged on by the Jesuits, and will stop at no bloody +measures to draw down trade from the Indians. Their projects must +inevitably succeed if we are not watchful." + +This was put forward as one potent reason why the French were +complaisant about yielding us the Bay itself. It was but the shell +they would surrender, whilst preserving to themselves the kernel. + +This letter from the Pennsylvanian had its effect upon the +easily-alarmed adventurers, for they lost no time in communicating +their apprehensions to the Lords of Trade. + +The matter was sent forward to Bladen and Pulteney. "It were heartily +to be wished," the Company observed, "that in imitation of our +industrious neighbours the French, some means can be determined upon +to extend the trade in furs southwards." + +In response, Bladen imparted a brilliant idea. He suggested that St. +Augustine might be "reduced at a small cost," and advantage taken +thereby of the war then in progress with Spain. + +Matters went on in Paris as badly as could be. The English +commissioners lost all patience. Nothing was in the air but John Law +and his Mississippi scheme. The three distinguished Englishmen, +Bladen, Pulteney and Lake, were dined and feted: but were at length +disgusted with the whole business.[52] The "smug ancient gentlemen," +as Bolingbroke had irreverently dubbed the Honourable Adventurers, +were not to be satisfied in regard to the delimitation of boundaries +and at this time. But perhaps even they had less interest in Hudson's +Bay at heart than new interests which had dramatically arisen much +nearer home. + +Governor Lake was sent for suddenly from London, and Bladen and +Pulteney were not long in following him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[47] THE LORDS OF TRADE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH. + _To the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth._ + + MY LORD,--In obedience to Her Majesty's commands, signified to + us, we have considered the enclosed petition from the Hudson's + Bay Company to Her Majesty, and are humbly of opinion that the + said Company have a good right and just title to the whole Bay + and Streights of Hudson. + + Since the receipt of which petition, the said Company have + delivered us a memorial, relating to the settlement of + boundaries between them and the French of Canada, a copy + whereof is enclosed, and upon which we take leave to offer, + that as it will be for the advantage of the said Company that + their boundaries be settled, it will also be necessary that the + boundaries between Her Majesty's colonies on the continent of + America and the said French of Canada be likewise agreed and + settled; wherefore we humbly offer these matters may be + recommended to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiaries at Utrecht. + + We are, + My Lord, + Your Lordship's most obedient, and most humble servants, + WINCHELSEA, + PH. MEADOWS, + CHAS. TURNER, + GEO. BAILLIE, + ARTH. MOORE, + FRA. GWYN. + + Whitehall, February 19th, 1711-12. + +[48] THE COMPANY'S PETITION TO QUEEN ANNE FOR ACT OF CESSION. + + _To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty_:-- + + The humble petition of the Governor and Company of Adventurers + of England trading into Hudson's Bay, sheweth: + + That your petitioners, being informed that the Act of Cession + is come over, whereby (among other matters thereby concerted) + the French King obliges himself to restore to your Majesty (or + to whom your Majesty shall appoint to take possession thereof) + the Bay and Streights of Hudson, as also all forts and edifices + whatsoever, entire and demolished, together with guns, shot, + powder and other warlike provisions (as mentioned in the 10th + article of the present treaty of peace), within six months + after the ratification thereof, or sooner, if possible it may + be done. + + Your petitioners do most humbly pray your Majesty will be + graciously pleased to direct the said Act of Cession may be + transmitted to your petitioners, as also your Majesty's + commission to Captain James Knight and Mr. Henry Kelsey, + gentleman, to authorize them, or either of them, to take + possession of the premises above mentioned, and to constitute + Captain James Knight to be Governor of the fortress called Fort + Nelson, and all other forts and edifices, lands, seas, rivers + and places aforesaid; and the better to enable your petitioners + to recover the same, they humbly pray your Majesty to give + orders that they may have a small man-of-war to depart with + their ships, by the 12th of June next ensuing, which ship may + in all probability return in the month of October. + + And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. + + By order of the Company. + per WM. POTTER, SECRETARY. + +[49] "MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,--The Queen has commanded me to transmit +to you the enclosed petition of the Hudson's Bay Company, that you may +consider of it and report your opinion what orders may properly be +given upon the several particulars mentioned. In the meantime I am to +acquaint you that the places and countries therein named, belonging of +right to British subjects, Her Majesty did not think fit to receive +any Act of Cession from the French King, and has therefore insisted +only upon an order from that Court for delivering possession to such +persons as should be authorized by Her Majesty to take it; by this +means the title of the Company is acknowledged, and they will come +into the immediate enjoyment of their property without further +trouble." + +[50] In 1714 the Hudson's Bay Company sent a memorandum to the Lords +Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, accompanied by a map in which +they claimed that the eastern boundary should be a line running from +Grimington's Island through Lake Miscosinke or Mistassinnie, and from +the said lake by a line run south-westward into 49 degrees north +latitude, as by the red line may more particularly appear, and that +that latitude be the limit; that the French do not come to the north +of it, nor the English to the south of it. + +[51] MR. BLADEN TO MR. DELEFAYE. + + PARIS, November 11th, 1719, N.S. + +On Wednesday last, my Lord Stair and I delivered to the Marechal +d'Estrees the demand of the Hudson's Bay Company, with respect to +their limits, and by comparing the enclosed, which is a copy of that +demand, with the instruction upon his head, you will perceive the same +has been fully complied with. + +So soon as I shall have the French Commissary's answer to our demand, +I shall likewise take care to transmit you a copy of it, to be laid +before their Excellencys the Lord Justices. + +[52] PARIS, May the 4th, N.S., 1720. + + MR. PULTENEY TO MR. SECRETARY CRAGGS. + +My Lord Stair has spoke to the Regent, who said immediately that the +conferences shall be renewed whenever we please; His Excellency then +desired His Royal Highness would appoint a day, which he promised to +do. This is what the Regent has promised my Lord Stair once every +week, for four or five months past, without any effect, and his +Excellency does not expect any more from the promise now, though +possibly a conference may be appointed for form sake. I have been here +near six months, and have seen only one conference, which was +appointed by my Lord Stanhope's desire. I think there had been two +conferences before I came; at the first of them the commissions were +read, and at the second my Lord Stair and Mr. Bladen gave in a +memorial about the limits of the Hudson's Bay Company, to which no +answer has been made. I must own that I never could expect much +success from this commission, since the French interests and ours are +so directly opposite, and our respective pretensions interfere so much +with each on the several points we were to treat about; but that the +French have not been willing to entertain us now and then with a +conference, and try how far we might be disposed to comply with a +conference, and try how far we might be disposed with any of the views +they had in desiring the commission, cannot, I should think be +accounted for, but by supposing they knew we came prepared to reject +all their demands, and to make very considerable ones for +ourselves.... I shall expect your further direction as to my stay or +return; I cannot help owning I heartily wish for the latter, but I +shall always submit to what His Majesty likes best, and shall only +desire in this case that I may have a supply from the treasury, since +I have not had the good fortune to be concerned in either of the +Misiseppis. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +1719-1727. + + The South Sea Bubble -- Nation Catches the Fever of Speculation + -- Strong Temptation for the Company -- Pricking of the Bubble + -- Narrow Escape of the Adventurers -- Knight and his + Expedition -- Anxiety as to their Fate -- Certainty of their + Loss -- Burnet's Scheme to Cripple the French -- It Forces them + Westward into Rupert's Land. + + +The cause of the Governor's recall lay in the existence of a crisis +which promised a happy issue. It arose through the venality of some of +the Company's directors, who were victims of the South Sea fever. + +[Sidenote: South Sea Company.] + +The South Sea Company, whose extraordinary success gave rise to a +thousand joint stock enterprises equally unsound and fatuous, owed its +origin to Harley, Earl of Oxford, in 1711, who in return for the +acceptance of a government debt of £10,000,000 granted to a number of +merchants a monopoly of the trade to the South Seas. + +At that time the most extravagant ideas prevailed concerning the +riches of South America. "If," it was said, "the Hudson's Bay Company +can make vast moneys out of the frozen North, what can be done with +lands flowing with milk and honey?" The South Sea Adventurers +carefully fostered all the current notions, spreading likewise the +belief that Spain was ready to admit them to a share of its South +American commerce. + +In 1717 this Company advanced to the English Government five more +millions sterling, at an interest of six per cent. Their shares rose +daily. Even the outbreak of war with Spain, which destroyed all hope +in the minds of sensible persons of any share in the Spanish traffic, +did not lessen the Company's popularity. In Paris, John Law's +Mississippi Bubble burst, ruining thousands, but, far from being +alarmed at this catastrophe, it was universally believed that Law's +scheme was sound, but had been wrecked through unwise methods. In May, +1720, the South Sea Company proposed to take upon themselves the +entire national debt of upwards of £30,000,000 upon a guarantee of +five per cent. per annum for seven and one-half years, at the end of +which period the debt might be redeemed if the Government chose, or +the interest reduced to four per cent. The nation was dazzled; +Parliament accepted the offer; and the Company's stock rose steadily +to 330 on April 7, falling to 290 on the following day. + +[Sidenote: A fever of speculation.] + +This day in April witnessed a change in methods on the part of the +South Sea directors. Until then the scheme had been honestly promoted; +but the prospect of enormous wealth was too near to be permitted to +escape. It became thenceforward, until the crash, the prime object of +the directors, at no matter what cost or scruple, to maintain the +fictitious value of the shares. By May 28, £100 shares were quoted at +550; three days later they had reached 890. The whole nation caught +the fever; the steadiest merchants turned gamblers. Hardly a day +passed without a new swindling concern being started as a joint stock +company. + +Meanwhile several of the Hudson's Bay Merchants-Adventurers looked on +with envious eyes. The desire was great to embark in so tempting a +scheme, and the opportunity to cast inflated shares on the market +almost too great to withstand. + +But for many weeks the temptation was resisted. At last, at a meeting +early in August, the chief director came before a general court of the +Adventurers with a scheme by which each partner could either retire +with a moderate fortune or remain an active participant, and reap the +benefit of an infusion of public capital. + +The scheme was simplicity itself, to modern notions; but that it was +not so regarded by some of the Adventurers themselves may be gathered +from the following passage from a letter of Mrs. Mary Butterfield, one +of the owners of the Company's stock. + +"I cannot tell you how it is to be done, for that passes my wit; but +in short, the value of our interests is to be trebled without our +paying a farthing; and then to be trebled again if the business is to +the publick taste, and we are told it cannot fail to be." + +[Sidenote: Plan to reorganize the Company.] + +It was late in August before the scheme was detailed. It was explained +that the Company's assets in quick and dead stock and lands were +£94,500. With this as a basis, it was proposed to enlarge the stock to +the sum of £378,000, dividing this into 3,780 shares of £100 each. +Before this could be carried out, however, the existing stock, being +but £31,500, or 315 shares, was to be made and reckoned 945 shares of +£100 value each. By such means a result of £94,500 actual capital +would appear. A majority of partners favoured the scheme, and the +proposal was carried amidst the greatest enthusiasm. Its purpose was +to unload the stock at an inflated figure, far even in excess of that +actually named by its promoters. Had it succeeded and the flotation +been carried out, it would have doubtless administered a death-blow to +the Company as then organized, and would probably have involved the +revocation of its charter in view of what was soon to occur. But the +plan met with a sudden arrest by an event which then happened, and +which in beggaring multitudes altered the whole disposition of the +public with regard to joint stock enterprises. + +A general impression had gained ground that the South Sea Company's +stock had attained high-water mark, and so many holders rushed to +realize that the price fell, on June 3rd, to 640. The directors were +not yet ready for their _coup_. Agents were despatched by them to buy +up and support the market, and the result was that by nightfall of +that day the quoted price was £750. By means of this and similarly +unscrupulous devices, the shares were sent, early in August, to 1,000. +This was the long-awaited opportunity. Many of the directors sold out; +a general anxiety began to prevail and the shares began to drop. In +view of this change in affairs, the Hudson's Bay Company's meeting for +September 3rd was deferred. On the 12th, South Sea shares were selling +at 400, and the decline continued. The country was thrown into the +greatest excitement, and by the time December had arrived, Parliament +had been hastily summoned to consider the calamity. + +With what happened subsequently, to the authors and participators in +this celebrated joint stock swindle, it is not my present purpose to +deal, except to say that the Hudson's Bay Company was saved in the +nick of time from sharing the fate of its neighbour and rival. A +meeting on the 23rd of December was held, at which it was resolved +that the "said subscription be vacated; and that the Company's seal be +taken off from the said instrument." + +Nevertheless one permanent result remained. The capital had been +trebled, and it was now further resolved that each subscriber should +have £30 of stock "for each £10 by him paid in." This trebled, the +total capital stood, at the beginning of 1721, at £94,500. + +The Company had had a narrow escape. To what extent its shares would +have been inflated may be conjectured; but it is certain that it could +not have avoided being swept into the vortex and sharing the same fate +which overtook so many of its commercial contemporaries. Its enemies +were on the watch, and they would have proved relentless. The +revocation of its charter would have accomplished its final downfall. +Already the Company was being assailed because it had not complied +with one of the provisions named in that instrument: that of making +search for a north-west passage. + +It was not, however, to quiet these reproaches, so persistently +levelled at it, that a year before the bursting of the South Sea +Bubble an expedition was actually set on foot to accomplish the +long-deferred exploration. + +Knight, the Company's aged Governor at York Factory, had long listened +to the tales of the Indians concerning the copper mines to the north; +and resolved, on his return to England, to bring the matter before the +Company. This he did, but it was by no means an easy matter to induce +the Adventurers to consent to the expense of further exploration. +Nevertheless Knight's insistence prevailed, more especially as, +besides the profitable results to be obtained through such a voyage, +he was careful to point out that the Company were expected by their +charter to undertake such an expedition. + +[Sidenote: Expedition to explore the north-west passage.] + +In 1719 the Company, therefore, fitted out two ships for the purpose +of discovery north of Churchill. One of these, called the _Albany_, a +frigate, was commanded by George Barlow, whom we have already seen as +Deputy-Governor at Albany in 1704, when the French failed to capture +that post. The other, named the _Discovery_, a sloop, under David +Vaughan. But the command of the expedition itself was entrusted to +Knight, who was a man of great experience in the Company's service, +who had been for many years Governor of different Factories in the +Bay, and who had made the first settlement at Churchill River. + +Nevertheless, in spite of the experience Knight possessed of the +Company's business, and its methods of trade with the Indians, there +was nothing to lead any one to suppose him especially adapted for the +present enterprise, having nothing to direct him but the slender and +imperfect accounts which he, in common with many other of the +Company's servants had received from the Indians, who, as we have +seen, were at that time little known and less understood. + +But these disadvantages, added to his advanced years, he being then +nearly eighty, by no means deterred his bold spirit. Indeed, so +confident was he of success and of the material advantages which would +accrue from his impending discoveries, that he caused to be made, and +carried with him, several large iron-bound chests, wherein to bestow +the gold dust and other treasures which he "fondly flattered himself +were to be found in those parts." + +The first paragraph of the Company's instructions to Knight on this +occasion was as follows:-- + + 4th June, 1719. + TO CAPTAIN JAMES KNIGHT. + + SIR,--From the experience we have had of your abilities in the + management of our affairs, we have, upon your application to + us, fitted out the _Albany_ frigate, Captain George Barlow, and + the _Discovery_, Captain David Vaughan, Commander, upon a + discovery to the northward; and to that end have given you + power and authority to act and do all things relating to the + said voyage, navigation of the said ship and sloop only + excepted; and have given orders and instructions to our said + Commanders for that purpose. You are, with the first + opportunity of wind and weather, to depart from Gravesend on + your intended voyage, and by God's permission to find out the + Straits of Anian, and to discover gold and other valuable + commodities to the northward. + +Knight departed from Gravesend on board the _Albany_, and proceeded on +his voyage. The ships not returning to England that year no uneasiness +was felt, as it was judged they had wintered in the Bay. Besides, both +were known to have on board a plentiful stock of provisions, a house +in frame, together with the requisite tools and implements, and a +large assortment of trading goods. Little anxiety was therefore +entertained concerning their safety for fifteen months. But when New +Year's Day, 1721, arrived, and neither ship nor sloop had been heard +from, the Company became alarmed for their welfare. + +By the ship sailing to Churchill in June they sent orders for a sloop +then in the Bay, called the _Whalebone_, John Scroggs, master, to go +in search of the missing explorers. But the _Whalebone_ was cruising +about in the north of the Bay at the time, on the Esquimaux trade, and +returned to Churchill at so advanced a season of the year as to defer +the execution of the Company's wishes until the following summer. + +[Sidenote: Anxiety as to the fate of the expedition.] + +The north-west coast was little known in those days, so it is not +singular that Scroggs, on board the little _Whalebone_, finding +himself encompassed by dangerous shoals and rocks, should return to +Prince of Wales' Fort little the wiser regarding the fate of the two +ships. He saw amongst the Esquimaux, it is true, European clothing and +articles, as in a later day Rae and McClintock found souvenirs of the +Franklin tragedy; but these might have been come by in trade, or even +as the result of an accident. None could affirm that a shipwreck or +other total calamity had overtaken Knight and his companions. + +Many years elapsed without anything to shed light on the fate of this +expedition. At first, the strong belief which had so long prevailed +in Europe of a north-west passage by way of this Bay, caused many to +conjecture that the explorers had found that passage and had gone +through it into the South Sea. But before the voyages of Middleton, +Ellis, Bean, Christopher and Jobington had weakened this belief it was +known that Knight, Barlow and the crews of the two ships had been +lost. Proofs of their fate were found in the year 1767, as will appear +in a later chapter of this work. + +An important circumstance now transpired which was not without effect +upon the Company's trade; and which, for a time, gave the Adventurers +great uneasiness. + +In 1727 Burnett had been appointed to the Governorship of New York. +Finding that the French in Canada were in possession of all the Indian +fur-trade of the north and west, which was not in the Hudson's Bay +Company's hands, and that the New Englanders and Iroquois were +trafficking with the Iroquois, he determined to take a bold step with +a view to crippling the French. + +[Sidenote: Attempt of New England to secure the fur-trade.] + +It had long been understood that the chief support of New France was +in the fur commerce; and upon enquiry it was found that the traders, +of Quebec and Montreal, were chiefly supplied with European +merchandise for barter from the New York merchants, from whom they +procured it upon much easier terms than it could possibly be got from +France. With this knowledge, the Governor resolved to foster the +fur-trade of his colony by inducing direct transactions with the +Indians. He procured an Act in the Assembly of the colony, prohibiting +the trade in merchandise from New York. The colonial merchants were, +not unnaturally, up in arms against such a measure; but Burnett, bent +upon carrying his point, had their appeal to King George set aside and +the Act confirmed by that monarch. + + [Illustration: CONTEMPORARY FRENCH MAP OF THE BAY AND VICINITY.] + +By this measure, trade at once sprang up with the Western Indians, +since the French had no goods to offer them in any way to their liking +at a reasonable price. Intercourse and familiarity ensued moreover in +consequence; a fortified trading post was built at Oswego, which not +only drew away trade from the French, at Michilimackinac and St. +Marie, but from Albany and Moose as well. + +[Sidenote: Boundaries between French and English territory.] + +It has been observed that the ancient boundaries of Canada or New +France were circumscribed by the Treaty of Utrecht, and that it is +difficult to determine precisely the new boundaries assigned to it. +The general interpretation adopted by the British geographers, as the +country gradually became better known from that time up to the final +cession of Canada, was that the boundary ran along the high lands +separating the waters that discharged into the St. Lawrence from those +that discharge into Hudson's Bay to the sources of the Nepigon River, +and thence along the northerly division of the same range of high +lands dividing the waters flowing direct to Hudson's Bay, from those +flowing into Lake Winnipeg, and crossing the Nelson, or (as it was +then known) the Bourbon River, about midway between the said Lake and +Bay, thence passing to the west and north by the sources of Churchill +River; no westerly boundary being anywhere assigned to Canada. This +and other measures could have but one result: to make the French +traders and the Government of New France perceive that their only hope +to avert famine and bankruptcy lay in penetrating farther and farther +into the west, in an effort to reach remote tribes, ignorant of true +values and unspoilt by a fierce and ungenerous rivalry. + +It seems fitting to reserve the next chapter for a consideration of +who and what the tribes were at this time inhabiting the territories +granted by its charter to the Great Company; together with their +numbers, their modes of life and relations with the factories. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +1687-1712. + + Hudson's Bay Tribes Peaceful -- Effect of the Traders' Presence + -- Depletion of Population -- The Crees and Assiniboines -- + Their Habits and Customs -- Their Numbers -- No Subordination + Amongst Them -- Spirituous Liquors -- Effect of Intemperance + upon the Indian. + + +Let us imagine for a moment that the Hudson's Bay Company had held +traffic with the fierce and implacable Iroquois, the Mohawks or the +courageous and blood-thirsty tribes of the Mississippi, instead of +with the Crees and Assiniboines. How different would have been its +early history! What frail protection would have been afforded by the +forts and wooden palisades, often not stronger than that last fort of +the Jesuits in the Huron country, the inmates of which were +slaughtered so ruthlessly, or that other at Niagara, where the +Chevalier de Troyes and ninety of his companions perished to a man. + +But the Red men of the Company's territories, compared to these, were +pacific. Occasionally want or deep injustice drove them to acts of +barbarism, as we have seen in the case of the massacre at York Factory +under Jérémie's _régime_; but on the whole they had no marked enmity +to the white men, and long displayed a remarkable and extremely +welcome docility. + +[Sidenote: Character of the Assiniboines.] + +"The Assinibouels," remarked Jérémie, "are humane and affable; and so +are also all those Indians with whom we have commerce in the Bay, +never trading with the French but as their fathers and patrons. +Although savages, they are foes to lying, which is extraordinary in +nations which live without subordination or discipline. One cannot +impute to them any vice, unless they are a little too slanderous. They +never blaspheme and have not even a term in their language which +defines an oath." + +If we are to believe the early traders and explorers, the Red man of +Rupert's Land spoke a tongue by no means difficult for an Englishman +to master. Yet if these same traders really took the trouble to master +it, as they alleged, their knowledge certainly brought little order +into the chaos of tribal nomenclature. + + [Illustration: INDIAN TEPEE.] + +The custom of fantastic names for the Indians was long continued. More +than one instance occur of the impropriety with which the +French-Canadians named the Indians. They called one tribe Gros +Ventres, or Big Bellies, and that without any known reason; they being +as comely and well-made as any other tribe. "They are very far," says +one trader, "from being remarkable for their corpulency." This tribe +also came to be known as the Fall Indians. + +[Sidenote: Indian country.] + +Jérémie observed that the Ouinebigonnolinis inhabited the sea-coast. +The Poaourinagou country was inhabited by the Miskogonhirines or +Savannah, who made war with the Hakouchirmions. Twelve leagues above +York Factory was situated the River Oujuragatchousibi, while far +beyond dwelt the Nakonkirhirinons. + +One might readily suspect one commandant of drawing upon his +imagination when he speaks of such nations as the Unighkillyiakow, +Ishisageck Roanu, the Twightwis Roanu, the Oskiakikis, Oyachtownuck +Roanu, Kighetawkigh Roanu, and the Kirhawguagh Roanu. + + [Illustration: AN ASSINIBOINE INDIAN.] + +In the seventeenth century, the districts about the Great Lakes were +rather thickly populated. Certain regions which at the opening of the +eighteenth century were but thinly sprinkled by inhabitants, once had +boasted numerous tribes. For when the first missionaries visited the +south of Lake Superior in 1668, they found the country full of +inhabitants. They relate that, about this time, a band of Nepisingues, +converts to the Jesuitical teaching, emigrated to the Nepigon country. +By 1785 few of their descendants were said to exist, and not a trace +amongst them of the religion espoused by their ancestors. + +As to the Lake of the Woods district, before the smallpox, in 1781, +ravaged this country and completed what the Nodwayes by their warfare +had gone far to accomplish, this part of the country was very densely +inhabited. + +One of the Company's factors reported, in 1736, that a tribe lived +beyond the range of mountains, who had never known the use of +fire-arms, for which reason they were made slaves of by the +Assiniboines and Crees. He declared he had beheld several of this +tribe "who all wanted a joynt of their little finger, which was cut +off soon after birth." + +"The Migichihilinons, that is the Eagle Ey'd Indians," reported +Middleton, one of the Company's captains, "are at two hundred Leagues +Distance; the Assinibouels inhabit the West and North; they are +reputed to be the same Nation because of the great affinity of their +language. The name signifies Men of the Rock. They use the Calumet and +live at two hundred and fifty Leagues Distance. They paint their +Bodies, are grave and have much Phlegm, like _Flemings_." He also +enumerates the Michinipic Poets, or Men of Stone, of the Great Lake; +but I am inclined to think these two are of the same tribe. + + [Illustration: INDIAN WITH TOMAHAWK.] + +[Sidenote: The Crees.] + +The Crees, or Christineaux, were the earliest as well as the most +numerous tribe which had dealings with the Company. They sprang from +the same stock as the Ojibways, Chippewas or Saulteurs, who with the +Assiniboines inhabited the vast interior of the country to the west of +the Bay. Their language, according to one of the early traders, was +less copious and expressive than their mother tongue. They were +deficient in many direct terms for things, often expressing themselves +in approximate phrases, whereas the Ojibways would have an exactly +corresponding term ready at command. The Crees appear not to have +possessed the custom of totems, so that it was often difficult for +members of the tribe to trace their ancestry back for more than two +or three generations. + +[Sidenote: Their mode of living.] + +In their ideas of creation the Crees and the Saulteurs resembled, and +the early traders and bushrangers learnt gradually that both nations +owned a mythology of no mean proportions. Nain au Bouchaw, the God of +the Saulteurs, was known as "Wee-sue-ha-jouch," amongst the Crees; but +the tales they told concerning him were by no means clear and +distinct, nor in such general currency. The Crees were divided into +two groups: those inhabiting the plains, and the denizens of the +woods; the latter being far the most enterprising and useful to the +trade of the Company. The tents of the Crees, like those of the other +tribes in Rupert's Land, were of dressed leather, erected by means of +poles, seventeen of which latter were required for the purpose, two +being tied together about three feet from the top. The whole formed +nearly a circle which was then covered with buffalo, moose, or red +deer skins, well sewn together, nicely cut to fit the conical figure +of the poles. An opening was then arranged above to let out the smoke, +and admit the light. Such tents were of good size, commonly measuring +twenty feet in diameter. A fire was kindled in the centre, around +which a range of stones was placed to keep the fire compact. The Crees +were fond of self-adornment, and were much addicted to false hair. +Their morals at first greatly shocked the servants of the Company, and +in the early reports sent home from York Factory much stress was laid +upon the need for enlightenment in this regard amongst the savages. +Polygamy was common, but not universal. The first wife was considered +as mistress of the tent, ruling all the others, often with a rod of +iron, and obliging them to perform all the drudgery. + +The names of the children were always given to them by their parents, +or some near relative. Those of the boys were various, and generally +derived from some place, season or animal. The names of the female +children, amongst the northern Indians, were chiefly taken from some +part or property of a marten, such as the White Marten, the Black +Marten, the Summer Marten, the Marten's Head, the Marten's Foot, the +Marten's Heart, the Marten's Tail, etc.[53] + +The exact number of Crees at the time of the Company's advent, is +difficult to compute. Even at that time they were dispersed over a +vast extent of country, mixing with the Assiniboines and other nations +with whom they were on terms of peace. In 1709 appeared an estimate +that there were not less than a million members of the Cree Nation. +From what source was derived this striking conclusion is not given. + +It may be laid down as a general rule that all contemporary estimates +as to the population of the Indian tribes which were necessarily +founded upon hearsay prior to actual penetration into their country +are fanciful and totally unreliable. Perhaps the most significant fact +which Parkman brought home to the masses of his readers, was the +astounding discrepancy between current conception of the numbers of +the various tribes, particularly the Iroquois, and that attested and +corroborated by the acute research of scholars, and by the testimony +of contemporaries. In 1749 the Company thought the number of the Crees +to be about 100,000, men, women and children. A half century later +they had diminished to about 14,000, although, in 1810, Henry can find +only about 300 tents full of Crees capable of furnishing less than +1,000 men. In this calculation, however, he did not include the Crees +who lived north of Beaver River. The Crees were, for the most part, +quiet and inoffensive, and their personal appearance not entirely +prepossessing; and although compared with the wilder and more valiant +tribes to the south and east, their carriage and deportment was +inferior, still they were gifted with activity, and prominent, wiry +figures and intelligent countenances. + +[Sidenote: The Assiniboines.] + +The next numerous tribe was the Assiniboine, or Stone Indians, who it +is believed originated with the Sioux or Nodwayes. But owing to some +misunderstanding between the bands they separated, and some half +century before the first fort was built by the Company they were in +possession of a vast extent of prairie country near the Red River, and +thence running westward. The region they inhabited may be said to +commence at the Hare Hills, near Red River, and running along the +Assiniboine to the junction of the north and south branches of the +Saskatchewan. They were generally of a moderate stature, slender and +active. In complexion they were of a lighter copper colour than the +Crees, with more regular features. Moreover they were readily +distinguished from the latter by a different head-dress. + + [Illustration: ESQUIMAU WITH DOGS.] + +Other tribes trading with the Company were the Sioux, Blackfeet, +Blood, Slave and Crow Indians. There were also the Esquimaux, with +whom a traffic in the north was carried on chiefly for whalebone, +ivory and oil. + +"I have often," wrote Captain Coats, "thought this people of the +lineage of the Chinese, in the many features I see in them, their +bloated flatt faces, little eyes, black hair, little hands and feet, +and their listlessness in travelling. They are very fair, when free +from grease, very submissive to their men, very tender to their +children, and indefatigable in the geegaws to please their men and +children." + +They owned no manner of government or subordination. The father or +head of the family obeyed no superior nor any command, and he himself +only gave his advice or opinions. Consequently it was rarely that any +great chief ever existed, and then only in time of war. It is true +that when several families went to war, or to the factories to trade, +they chose a leader, but to such a one obedience was only voluntary; +everyone was at liberty to leave when he pleased, and the notion of a +commander was soon obliterated. + +Merit alone gave title to distinction; such merit as an experienced +hunter could boast, or one who possessed knowledge of communication +between lakes and rivers, who could make long harangues, was a +conjurer, or had a large family. Such a man was sure to be followed by +several Indians when they happened to be out in large parties. They +likewise followed him down to trade at the settlements, although upon +such occasions he was forced to secure their attendance by promises +and rewards, as the regard paid to his ability was of too weak a +nature to command subjection. In war a mutual resentment forced their +union for perpetrating vengeance. + +The Hudson's Bay Indian's method of dividing time was by numbering the +nights elapsed or to come. Thus, if he were asked how long he had been +on his journey, he would answer, "so many nights." From the nocturnal +division he proceeded to lunar or monthly reckoning, twelve to a year, +all of these moons being symbolical of some remarkable event or +appearance. + +Their method of computing numbers was abstruse, they reckoning chiefly +by decades: two-tens, three-tens, ten-tens. A few units over or under +were added or subtracted, thirty-two being three-tens and two over. If +they reckoned any large number a skin or stick was laid down for +every ten, and afterwards tied in a bundle for the aggregate. + +[Sidenote: Intelligence of the Indians.] + +The servants of the Company were not a little astonished at the +wonderful intuition of the Indian, which enabled him to forego the +advantage to be derived from a compass, and yet to rarely miss his +way. The trees, he knew, were all bent to the south, and the branches +on that side were larger and stronger than on the north, as was also +the moss. To apprise his women of the spot where the game was killed, +he broke off branches here and there, laying them in the path with +their ends pointed in the requisite direction. + +In winter, when the braves went abroad they rubbed themselves all over +with bear's grease or beaver oil, treating in this fashion, too, the +furs they wore. + +"They use," says one trader, "no milk from the time they are weaned, +and they all hate to taste Cheese, having taken up an opinion that it +was made of Dead Men's Fat." They were fond of prunes and raisins, and +would give a beaver skin for twelve of them to carry to their +children, and also for a Jew's-harp or a tin trumpet. They were great +admirers of pictures or prints, giving a beaver for bad prints, and +"all toys were jewels to them." + +A trader at a little later period writes: "Having been fortunate +enough to administer medical relief to one of these Indians during +their stay, I came to be considered as a physician, and found that was +a character held in high veneration," and goes on to add that their +solicitude and credulity as to drugs and nostrums had exposed them to +gross deceptions on the part of the agents of the Hudson's Bay +Company. One of the chiefs informed him that he had been at the Bay +the year before and there purchased a quantity of medicines which he +would allow his visitor to inspect. Accordingly, he fetched a bag +containing numerous small papers, in which he found lumps of white +sugar, grains of coffee, pepper, allspice, cloves, tea, nutmegs, +ginger, and other things of the kind, sold as specifics against evil +spirits and against the dangers of battle. These compounds were said +to give power over enemies, particularly the white bear, of which the +Indians in those latitudes were much afraid; others were infallible +against barrenness in women, against difficult labour, and against a +variety of other afflictions. + +[Sidenote: Superstition of the Indians.] + +It is related that some Indians, who were employed in the vicinity of +York Factory in a goose hunt, were so influenced by superstition that +they firmly believed the devil, with hideous howlings, frequented +their tent every night. They came in a most dejected state to the +factory and related a lamentable tale to the Governor, setting forth +with much pathos, the distress they were being subjected to by his +Satanic majesty. So overcome were they that they kept large fires +burning all night, sleeping only in the day time. One of the Red men +declared that he had discharged his gun at the monster, but unluckily +missed. The devil was described as of human shape, with a capacity for +enormous strides. The governor treated the victims to a little brandy, +and as if by magic their courage rose. Investigation that same night +disclosed that the Satan was neither more nor less than a huge +night-owl. + +The same trader also declares he found a number of small prints, such +as in England were commonly sold to children, but which amongst the +Indians were each transformed into a talisman for the cure of some +evil or for procuring some delight. He even gives the mottoes on some +of these, and their specific uses: No. 1--"A sailor kissing his +mistress on his return from sea." This worn about the person of a +gallant attracted, though concealed, the affections of the sex! No. +2--"A soldier in arms." Such a talisman poured a sentiment of valour +into its possessor and gave him the strength of a giant! + +It was alleged that by means of such commodities many customers were +secured to the Company, nor is there reason to doubt it. "Even those +Indians who shortened their voyage by dealing with us, sent forward +one canoe laden with beaver-skins to purchase articles of this kind at +Cumberland House." Henry adds that he was wise enough not to dispute +their value. + +As time went on the Indians began to relinquish many of the habits and +customs, and even the appearance they presented, before the advent of +the white traders. Being in constant communication with the factories, +they became semi-civilized, and took on many of the outer +characteristics of the European. They brought in year after year the +spoils of the chase in strict confidence, and there exchanged them for +the necessaries of life, which they no longer provided for themselves. +To all intents and purposes the tribes were in the pay of the Company, +or lived upon their bounty. It was, therefore, to be expected that all +originality would be lost amongst them. + +The principal things necessary for the support and satisfaction of the +Indian and his family in the middle of the eighteenth century were: a +gun, hatchet, ice chisel, brazil fob, knives, files, flints, powder +and shot, a powder horn, a bayonet, a kettle, cloth, beads, etc. + +It was early found that alcohol was a very dangerous element to +introduce amongst the savages. Talon had presented the unhappy colony +of New France with a statute removing all the penalties and ordinances +of which justice and the authorities had made use to repress the +disorders caused by the too great quantity of liquor given to the +Indians. + +[Sidenote: Liking of the Indians for liquor.] + +The inclination of the Indians for intoxication, it was pointed out to +Colbert by an ecclesiastic who sought to alter the condition of +affairs, is much stronger than that of the people of Europe. They +have, urged he, greater weakness in resisting it. "If in a bourgade +there be liquor freely accessible to the Indians, they usually all +become intoxicated--old, young, great and small, women and children, +so that there is hardly one left sober. If there were liquor +sufficient to last two days, drunkenness invariably continued two +days. If enough for a week, it would last a week; if for a month, it +would last a month. This," said the good priest, "is what we do not +see in Europe--a whole city get drunk, nor see it continue in that +state for weeks and months." It may readily be perceived that those +who wish to strike a bargain favourable to themselves with the +Indians, had only to resort to liquor, and by that means, without +regard to their own salvation or that of the savages, could generally +procure what they desired at a small expenditure. + +An Indian, it was said early in the next century, would barter away +all his furs, nay even leave himself without a rag to cover his +nakedness, in exchange for that vile, unwholesome stuff called English +brandy. + +The Company in England having decided not to employ liquor in its +traffic with the Indians, the temptation was strong upon Colbert and +the French to resort to it. At one of its meetings, in 1685, the +Company listened to a paper describing the methods in vogue by the +French traders at the important post of Tadoussac. At this fort or +factory, for more than twenty years previously, it was the custom to +allow an Indian a quart of wine; this fluid, although it boasted such +a title, hardly merited it. It was composed of one part of brandy to +five parts of water; a proportion which fluctuated, it is true, but +chiefly in respect of more water. To this more or less fiery liquid +was given at a little later date the name high wine; and high wine +figured largely in the dealings of both French and English with the +Indians for more than two centuries. If an Indian desired more than +the regulation quart, he was put off until another time. The necessary +moderation was thus secured, and the trade suffered no injury. Colbert +expressed himself as afraid that if the Quebec Company did not employ +liquor the Indians would carry their beavers to the Dutch. He need +not, however, have troubled himself with this apprehension, as it was +the Iroquois alone who could go there, and the French of Quebec did +small trade with this hostile nation. It was asserted that the French +would not lose five hundred skins a year by preserving the moderation +necessary for Christianity, and the good morality of the colony. + +[Sidenote: Effect of intoxication on the Indians.] + +Excess of liquor frequently made Europeans merry and gay; on the +Indian, however, it had a contrary effect. Under its influence he +recalled his departed friends and relations, lamenting their death +with abundance of tears. Should he be near their graves he would often +resort thither and weep there. Others would join the chorus in a song, +even though quite unable to hold up their heads. It was not uncommon +for them to roll about their tents in a fit of frenzy, frequently +falling into the blazing fire. Quarrelling then was common: an ancient +disagreement, long forgotten, being revived. The chiefs had often the +prudence, when matters were going this way, to order the women to +remove all offensive weapons out of the tent. But one weapon, very +effective, the teeth, still remained; and it was not unusual to see +several braves the next morning without a nose, an ear, or a finger. +In affrays such as these, no respect whatever was paid to the ties of +blood, brothers and sisters often fighting with great spirit and +animosity. At the conclusion of one of these encounters early in the +eighteenth century, an Indian entered York Factory one morning and +desired to be admitted to the surgeon. He was conducted to the +surgeon's room; he saluted its inmate in broken English, with "Look +here, man; here my nose," at the same time holding out his palm, which +contained half that desirable facial adjunct. This he desired the +surgeon, having a mighty opinion of the faculty, to restore. The man's +nephew had, it seems, bit it off; he declared he felt no pain, nor was +he sensible of his loss till awaking the next morning he found the +piece lying by his side. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[53] "Matonabbee," says Hearne, "had eight wives, and they were all +called Martens." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +1685-1742. + + Errant Tribes of the Bay -- The Goose Hunt -- Assemblage at + Lake Winnipeg -- Difficulties of the Voyage -- Arrival at the + Fort -- Ceremony followed by Debauch -- Gifts to the Chief -- + He makes a Speech to the Governor -- Ceremony of the Pipe -- + Trading Begun. + + +The tribes to the west of the Bay led an erratic life. They were +without horses, and it was their custom never to remain above a +fortnight in one spot, unless they found plenty of game. + +When they had encamped, and their lodges were built, they dispersed to +hunt, meeting in the evening when they had procured enough to maintain +them during the day. It was not their custom to travel more than three +or four miles from their lodges, but when scarcity of game was +encountered they would remove a league or two farther off. In this +fashion they traversed the whole forest region, hardly missing a +single day winter or summer, fair or foul, but always employed in some +kind of chase. + +[Sidenote: The Indians as hunters.] + +The Indians were ruthless slaughterers of animals at the earliest +period at which they were known to the servants of the Company. +Whether they happened to be under the pinch of necessity or enjoying +themselves in all the happiness of health and plenty, it was their +custom to slay all they could. They boasted a maxim that the "more +they killed, the more they had to kill." Such an opinion, although +opposed to reason and common sense, was clung to with great +pertinacity by them. The results of this indiscriminate slaughter were +obvious; and to such a pitch of destitution were the tribes often +brought that cannibalism was not infrequent amongst them. + +The species of game, such as marten, squirrel and ermine, got by traps +and snares, were generally caught by the women and children. When the +men had slain their elks, deer, or buffalo, or foxes, they left it +where it fell, leaving the squaws to fetch it to the lodges the next +day, taking care to cut off the titbits or tender morsels, such as +tongues, for their own immediate pleasure. + + [Illustration: MODERN TYPE OF INDIAN.] + +A great part of the factory provisions consisted of geese killed by +the Indians. For this purpose the factors supplied the latter with +powder and shot, allowing them the value of a beaver skin for every +ten geese killed. Accordingly, after the Indian had got his supply, he +set off from his tent early in the morning into the marshes, where he +sat himself down with great patience, difficult of imitation by the +Company's men, and there, sheltered by willows, waited for the geese. +These were shot flying, and so dexterous were the braves at this +sport that a good hunter would kill, in times of plenty, fifty or +sixty a day. Few Europeans were able to endure the cold, hunger and +adversity which often marked these excursions. + +[Sidenote: Meeting at Lake Winnipeg.] + +The nations coming from a distance to York Factory were wont to +assemble in May at Lake Winnipeg to the number of perhaps fifteen +hundred. The chief would then harangue the men, representing their +wants, and exhort the young men to exert themselves to the utmost to +reach the fort with all their skins and to secure good terms from the +white men. Each family then made a feast, in the course of which they +fixed upon those of their number who were to undertake the journey. +During the progress of the wassail which then reigned, it was +customary for speeches to be made, new alliances formed and old ones +strengthened. The morrow was spent in building the birch bark canoes, +in which the northern tribes had attained great proficiency; and being +at last ready for the voyage, the leaders of the expedition were +chosen, and all was ready to start. + +It was never exactly ascertained how many actually participated in +these trading expeditions; the number was regulated by the +circumstance of the tribes being at peace or at war, and also whether +disease raged amongst them. It may be taken, roughly speaking, that +six hundred canoes containing one thousand persons, not counting +women, came down annually to York Factory, with furs to trade. + +No regularity marked their voyage, each striving to be foremost, +because those proceeding first had the best chance of procuring food. +During the voyage each leader canvassed, with all manner of art and +diligence, for braves to join his party. Some were influenced by +presents, and others by promises, for the more canoes each petty +leader had under his command the greater he appeared at the factory. + +[Sidenote: Difficulties of the journey.] + +Throughout their progress the Indians were obliged to go ashore for +several hours daily, which caused great delay in their progress. +Their canoes were small, holding only two men and a pack of one +hundred beaver skins, with not much room for provisions. Had their +canoes been larger their voyages would undoubtedly have been less +protracted, and they would have been able to transport a greater +cargo. Often great numbers of skins were left behind. + +A good hunter of these nations could kill six hundred beavers in the +course of a season; he could carry down to the factory rarely more +than one hundred, using the remainder at home in various ways. +Sometimes he hung them upon branches of trees by way of votive +offering upon the death of a child or near relation; often they were +utilized as bedding and bed coverings; occasionally the fur was burnt +off, and the beast roasted whole for food at banquets. + +These annual journeys were beset by much hardship and suffering even +at the best of times. + +The testimony of at least one Governor is significant. "While," said +he, "it is the duty of every one of the Company's servants to +encourage a spirit of industry among the natives, and to use every +means in their power to induce them to procure furs and other +commodities for trade ... at the same time, it must be confessed that +such conduct is by no means for the real benefit of the poor Indians; +it being well-known that those who have the least intercourse with the +factories, are by far the happiest.... It is true that there are few +Indians but have once in their lives, at least, visited the fort, and +the hardships and dangers which most of them experienced on those +occasions have left such a lasting impression on their minds, that +nothing can induce them to repeat their visits." + +Arriving near their journey's end, they all put ashore; the women +going into the woods to gather pine-brush for the bottom of the tents, +while the leaders smoked together and arranged the procession to the +factory. This settled, they re-embarked, and soon after arrived before +the post of the Company; if there happened to be but one captain, his +situation was in the centre of all the canoes; if more than one, they +placed themselves at the wings, their canoes being distinguished by a +small flag hoisted on a stick and placed astern. Arriving within two +hundred yards of the palisade, they discharged their fowling pieces by +way of compliment to the Governor, who returned the salute by firing +off two or three small cannon. The men of the tribe seldom concerned +themselves with taking out the bundles, except occasionally when the +younger ones assisted the women. + + [Illustration: TYPE OF CREE INDIAN.] + +[Sidenote: Arrival at the Fort.] + +The factor being now informed that the Indians had arrived, the trader +was sent to introduce the leaders into the fort. Chairs were placed in +the trading-room for the visitors, and pipes introduced. During the +first part of the ceremony the leader puffed great clouds of smoke, +but said little; but the tobacco in the bowl becoming low, he began to +be more talkative. Fixing his eyes immovably on the ground, he +informed the factors how many canoes he had brought, and what tribes +he had seen; he enquired after the health of his hosts, and declared +he is glad to see them. When this speech was concluded the Governor +bade the chief and his party welcome, informing him that he had good +goods and plenty, that he loved the Indians, and they might count upon +his kindness to them. The pipe was then removed, and the conversation +became general. + +During this visit the chief was dressed out at the Company's expense. +He was furnished with a coarse cloth coat, red or blue, lined with +baize, and white regimental cuffs; a waistcoat and breeches of baize. +This suit was ornamented with orris lace. He was likewise presented +with a white or checked cotton shirt, stockings of yarn, one red and +the other blue, and tied below the knee with worsted garters; his +moccasins were sometimes put on over these, but he as freely walked +away in bare feet. His hat was of coarse felt and bedecked with three +ostrich feathers, of various colours. A worsted sash was fastened to +its crown; a small silk handkerchief drawn about his neck, and thus +attired, the chief strutted up and down delighted. + +His second in command also claimed attention. He was given a coat, but +not a lined one; a shirt and a cap such as was worn by sailors of the +period. The guests once equipped, bread and prunes were forthcoming +and set before the chief; and of these confections he took care to +fill his pockets before they were carried out. These were followed by +a two-gallon keg of brandy, pipes and tobacco for himself and +followers. + +It was now high time to think of returning to the camp, but this exit +was not to be undertaken without further marks of the favour and +esteem with which the chief was held by the Company. His conduct from +the fort was effected in state. In front a halberd and ensign were +borne; next came a drummer beating a march, followed by several of the +factory servants bearing bread, prunes, pipes, tobacco, brandy, etc. +Behind these came the "King," "Captain," or chief, with stately tread, +and erect, smoking his pipe and conversing with the factors at his +side. Afterwards came the "Lieutenant," "Prince," relative or friend, +who had accompanied the chief. + +The tent was found ready for their reception, strewn with clean pine +brush and beaver coats placed for them to sit. The brandy was +deposited on the ground, and the chief gave orders for its +distribution. After this the factor left, none too soon, however, for +all were soon plunged into a brutal state of intoxication. "It is +fifty to one," writes one trader, "but some one is killed before +morning. They give loose rein to every species of disorderly +tumult--all crying, fighting, and dancing." + +About 1735, a party of Indians came down to trade, and the first day +of their arrival, as was their invariable custom, got vilely drunk. +While thus inebriated, they fought, not noisily, but silently, in the +darkness. When morning dawned, two corpses, in a fearful state of +mutilation, were found stretched on the ground in pools of blood. + +[Sidenote: Ceremony of the pipe.] + +After this debauch, which lasted about two or three days, the sobered +braves took to the calumet of peace. The stem of this pipe was three +or four feet long, decorated with pieces of lace, bears' claws, +eagles' talons, and the feathers of the most beautiful birds. The pipe +being affixed to the stem, the factor took it in both hands, and with +great gravity rose from his chair and pointed the end of the stem to +the east or sunrise, and then to the zenith, and to the west, and then +perpendicularly to the Nadir. After this he took three or four hearty +whiffs and then presented it to the chief, and so on round the whole +party, the women excepted. When the tobacco was consumed, the factor +took the pipe again and twirling it three times round his head, laid +it with great deliberation on the table. A great Ho! was thereupon +emitted from the mouths of the assemblage.[54] + +This ceremony being over, a further gratuity of bread and prunes was +distributed, and the chief made a speech, which one trader has +reported, after this style. + + [Illustration: AN OLD CHIEF. + (_From a Photograph._)] + +"You told me last year to bring many Indians to trade, which I +promised to do. You see, I have not lied, here are many young men come +with me; use them kindly, I say; let them trade good goods, I say. We +lived hard last winter and were hungry; powder being short measure and +bad, I say. Tell your servants to fill the measure, and not put their +thumbs within the brim; take pity on us, take pity on us, I say. + +"We paddle a long way to see you; we love the English. Let us trade +good black tobacco, moist and hard twisted; let us see it before it +is opened. Take pity on us, take pity on us, I say. + +"The guns are bad, let us trade light guns, small in the hand and +well-shaped, and locks that will not freeze in the winter, and red +gun-cases. Let the young men have more than measure of tobacco, cheap +pattees, thick and high. + +"Give us good measure of cloth; let us see the old measure. The young +men love you by coming so far to see you. Give them good goods; they +like to dress and be fine; do you see?" + +As soon as the chief had finished the above speech, he, with his +followers, proceeded to examine the guns and tobacco; the former with +a most minute attention. This over, they traded with furs +promiscuously, the leader being so far indulged as to be admitted into +the trading-room all the time if he desired it. + +[Sidenote: Varieties of beaver.] + +The beaver thus received by the chief trader and stored at the factory +pending its shipment to England in the Company's ships, was classified +into eight varieties. The first was the fat winter beaver, slain in +winter, which was valued at five shillings and sixpence a pound. The +second sort was the fat summer beaver, worth two shillings and +ninepence. Next came in order the dry winter beaver, and the Bordeaux, +both worth three shillings and sixpence. The dry summer beaver, not +much valued, about one shilling and ninepence. Sixth came the coat +beaver, as it was called, which brought four shillings and sixpence. +The Muscovite, dry beaver of a fine skin, covered with a silky hair; +it was worn in Russia, where the short fur was combed away and +manufactured into fabric, leaving only the hair; this fetched four and +sixpence; and lastly on the list figured the Mittain beaver, which +were utilized in the manufacture of mittens, being worth one shilling +and ninepence. + +It was reported that in the year 1742 the natives were so discouraged +in their trade with the Company that many found the peltry hardly +worth the carriage, and the finest furs sold for very little. When the +tribes came to the factory in June they found the goods much higher +in price, and much in excess of the standard they were accustomed to. +According to Joseph la France, a French-Canadian voyageur, they gave +but a pound of gunpowder for four beavers, a fathom of tobacco for +seven beavers, a pound of shot for one, an ell of coarse cloth for +fifteen, a blanket for twelve, two fish-hooks or three flints for one, +a gun for twenty-five, a pistol for ten; a common hat with white lace +cost seven beavers, an axe four, a bill-hook one, a gallon of brandy +four, a chequered shirt seven; "all of which sold at a monstrous +profit, even to two thousand per cent." + +It was a fact, nevertheless, that notwithstanding such discouragement +the two expeditions of Indians who visited York and Churchill that +year brought down two hundred packs of one hundred each, that is to +say twenty thousand beaver skins. As to the other Indians who arrived +from another direction, they carried three hundred packs of one +hundred each, which made a total of fifty thousand beavers, besides +nine thousand martens. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[54] All this ceremony has a significance of its own. Interpreted, it +said: "Whilst the sun shall visit the different parts of the world and +make day and night; peace, firm friendship and brotherly love shall be +established between the English and the Indians, and the same on the +latter's part. By twirling the pipe over the head, it was further +intended to imply that all persons of the two nations, whosoever they +were, shall be included in the friendship and brotherhood, then +concluded or renewed." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +1725-1742. + + System of Licenses re-adopted by the French -- Verandrye sets + out for the Pacific -- His son slain -- Disappointments -- He + reaches the Rockies -- Death of Verandrye -- Forts in Rupert's + Land -- Peter the Great and the Hudson's Bay Company -- + Expeditions of Bering -- A North-West Passage -- Opposition of + the Company to its Discovery -- Dobbs and Middleton -- + Ludicrous distrust of the Explorer -- An Anonymous Letter. + + +It has already been observed how fearful had grown the demoralization +of the Indians, chiefly through the instrumentality and example of the +_coureur des bois_. This class seemed daily to grow more corrupt, and +bade fair to throw off the last vestige of restraint and become merged +in all the iniquity, natural and acquired, of the savage races. We +have seen, too, how the missionaries intervened, and implored the +civil authorities to institute some sort of reform. It was at their +solicitation that the Government of Canada at length decided to +re-adopt the system of licenses, and to grant the privileges of +exclusive trade to retired army officers, to each of whom they +accorded a certain fur-bearing district by way of recompense for +services rendered by him. In order that the trader might be protected +against hostile assault, permission was given to establish forts in +certain places suitable for their construction. + +One of the French Canadian youth, whom the exploits of Iberville +against the Hudson's Bay Company had fired with a spirit of emulation +and who was head and shoulders above all that race of soldiers turned +fur-traders, who now began to spread themselves throughout the great +west--was Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verandrye. + +[Sidenote: Sieur de Verandrye.] + +This gallant soldier and intrepid explorer, to whose memory history +has as yet done but scant justice, was born at Three Rivers on the +17th of November, 1685. At an early age he embraced the profession of +arms, and at twenty-four fought so valorously against Marlborough's +forces at Malplaquet that, pierced by nine wounds, he was left for +dead upon the field of battle. Recovering, however, he returned to the +colony, and at twenty-seven married the daughter of the Seigneur +d'Isle Dupas, by whom he had four sons. These sons were all destined +to be associated with their father in the subsequent explorations in +Rupert's Land and the west. + +At the hour when Verandrye was seized with his zeal for exploration +and discovery, the Company's rivals already possessed numerous posts +established by Iberville, Duluth, Frontenac and Denonville, and a host +of lesser lights, in the west. Of one of these, on the shores of Lake +Nepigon, at the extreme end of Lake Superior, Verandrye had been given +the command. + +[Sidenote: Verandrye sets out to explore the West.] + +While at this fort, a rumour had reached him of a mighty river flowing +into the great ocean. Credulous of the truth of this report, borne to +him by the Indians, Verandrye lost little time in communicating it to +a friend, Father de Gonor, at Michilimackinac. It was shortly +thereafter carried to Governor Beauharnois, who was induced, but not +without much pleading, to grant Verandrye fifty men and a missionary +for the purposes of exploration. But, although he had thus far +succeeded, the only pecuniary aid upon which the explorer could rely +was from the fur-trade. He was accordingly given a license to trade, +and on the strength of this concession, certain merchants advanced him +an outfit. He set out and arrived at Rainy Lake in September, 1731, +traversed it, and erected a fort near the site of the present Fort +Francis of a later day, to which he gave the name of St. Peter. + +A year later he built another fort on the western shore of the Lake of +the Woods, and in 1733 paddled down to the mouth of the Winnipeg River +to the lake of that name. Crossing Lake Winnipeg, he ascended the +Assiniboine River and constructed Fort Rouge.[55] + +In 1738 the explorer's three sons, under their sire's instructions, +made their way up the Assiniboine and built Fort la Reine, on the site +of the present Portage la Prairie. + +Well may it be said that the five years from 1733 to 1738 were years +of cruel grief and disappointment for Verandrye. He had been +struggling on to a realization of his dream in spite of the bitterest +discouragements. One of his sons had been slain by the Sioux; he was +without funds; fur-trading being with him only a subsidiary +employment. His men lacking both courage and faith became +unmanageable, and Verandrye addressed the most affecting letters to +his monarch in France, who looked upon him and his schemes coldly. +Those merchants, who had advanced him money, loaded him with their +distrust, perpetually harassed him for returns, and loudly demanded +his recall, so that he was forced to stand still and engage in barter +when his whole soul cried aloud for him to press on in his path and +reach the Pacific. + +[Sidenote: Verandrye's son reaches the Rockies.] + +Verandrye divided his little party in the spring of 1742 and ascended +the Souris River. Those who came to be familiar with the territory in +a later day, when it was frequented by traders, might well appreciate +what were the perils these pioneers encountered, and what dangers they +escaped when they finally left the country of the peace--leaving +Ojibways at Red River, and struck off into the land of the Sioux, a +tribe then, from their ferocity to the whites, called the "tigers of +the plains." But they were to go still farther. Already the eldest son +of the explorer had reached the tribe of the Mandans in the Missouri, +but owing to inability to obtain guides his party had been forced to +return. He was again despatched by his father, this time in company +with the younger son, known as the Chevalier, and two other Frenchmen +into the unknown country to the west. This little band of four made a +journey of several hundred miles, entering into a league with one of +the nations into whose country they penetrated, to lead them to the +great Western Ocean. On the first day of January, 1743, they beheld, +the first amongst white men, the eastern spurs of the northern Rocky +Mountains. But here the Bow Indians, their guides, deserted them, and +surrounded by hostile tribes, the party was forced to return. It was +in this same year that the elder Verandrye, scarred and gaunt from his +long wanderings in the wilderness, presented himself at Quebec to +confront his enemies and traducers. They had represented as making an +enormous fortune and leading an idle life, he who could point proudly +to having taken possession of the country of the Upper Missouri for +Lewis XV., and who had built a score and more of forts in the unknown +regions of the West. + +"If 40,000 livres of debt that I have over my head," said Verandrye +bitterly, "are an advantage, then I can compliment myself on being +very rich, and I would have been much more so in the end, if I had +continued." + +His license was given to another who, however, made a poor showing by +means of it, and it was not until Beauharnois's successor investigated +Verandrye's claims that the explorer received some recognition at +court. He was given a captaincy and the Cross of St. Lewis. + +But the explorer had not waited for this. He had been pushing on in +his work, and in 1748 ascended the Saskatchewan. The progress of the +French was marked by more forts, one in Lake Dauphin and another +called Bourbon at the extremity of his discoveries. Verandrye was +about to cross the Rocky Mountains when death overtook him, on the 6th +of December, 1749. + +The sons of Verandrye were eager to continue his work and attain at +last the Pacific. But Bigot, the Intendant, was not their friend; he +had other plans, and the Verandryes were deposed by favourites with +not half their ability or their claims to honours and rewards. But +they had paved the way and now the French were reaping the profits of +the fur-trade in the North-West on a great scale. + +[Sidenote: Verandrye's work.] + +Thus were successively established, from 1731 to 1748, by Verandrye +and his sons, Fort St. Pierre on Rainy Lake; Fort St. Charles on the +Lake of the Woods; Fort Maurepas near the mouth of the Winnipeg; Fort +Dauphin, on the north-west extremity of Lake Manitoba; Fort la Reine, +on the southern extremity of the last-named lake; Fort Rouge, at the +confluence of the Assiniboine and Red River; Fort Bourbon, at the head +of Lake Winnipeg; Fort Poskoyae, on the Saskatchewan, and Fort Lacerne +(Nipawi), at the forks of the said river. + +In 1752, some years prior to the conquest of Canada, a relative of +Verandrye, named Niverville, established Fort Jonquiere at the foot of +the mountains.[56] Which of all these forts were to pass, after many +vicissitudes, into the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company, we shall see +in the course of subsequent pages. Verandrye and his compeers chose +their sites with great care and ability; so that it was rarely that +their successors were able to improve upon them. On the foundations or +charred remnants of the French forts, should the structures themselves +have perished, the English fur-traders, when they came, reared anew +their posts. + +While thus the French were pressing forward from the south and east at +the same moment, a new rivalry threatened to spring up in the far +north-west. + +[Sidenote: Russia looks toward the New World.] + +The eighteenth century broke upon an abated zeal of the Spaniards in +extending their discoveries and dominions in the New World. Almost +contemporaneously, the threads they threw down were grasped by another +power, which the zeal and energy of one man had suddenly transformed +from a collection of savage, barbarous tribes into a great nation. +Having achieved conquest over his neighbours and the cohesion of his +new empire, Peter the Great turned his attention to a hardly inferior +task. None knew as yet whether the two great continents, Asia and +North America, united on the north-east. During Peter's residence in +England, not the least of the institutions interesting him was the +Hudson's Bay Company. A letter from Peter is quoted by a Russian +writer, in which he alludes to the English rivalry for these trades +"which had so long been the monopoly of Muscovy fur-hunting and +fur-gathering." Doubtless even at this time he was speculating upon +the chances of Russia competing with England for the fur traffic of +the New World. But before such a competition could be brought about +the question of the geographical connection between Asia and America +must be settled. When he had been in Holland in 1717, he had been +urged by some of the most eminent patrons of discovery amongst the +Dutch to institute an expedition of investigation. But again other +matters intervened; although in 1727 two Russian officers were +equipped and in readiness to start overland when they were recalled +for service in Sweden. + +Not until he was on his death-bed did Czar Peter pen with his own hand +the instructions to Admiral Aproxin which bore fruit later. It was +then, too, that the idea, according to Lestkof, was discussed of a +Russian Fur Company, similar in its methods and organization to the +Hudson's Bay Company. + +Peter directed first that one or two boats with decks should be built +at Kamschatka, or in the vicinity; that with these a survey should be +made of the most northerly coasts of his Asiatic Empire, to determine +whether they were or were not contiguous to America. Also that the +persons to whom the expedition might be entrusted should endeavour to +ascertain whether there was any port in those regions belonging to +Europe, and to keep a strict look-out for any European ship, taking +care also to employ some skilful men in making enquiries regarding the +names and situation of the coasts which they discovered. They were to +keep an exact journal and to transmit it to St. Petersburg. + +Peter died, but the Empress Catherine, his successor, was equally +favourable to the scheme, and gave orders to fit out the expedition. +To Captain Vitus Bering was entrusted the command. Under him were two +lieutenants, Martin Spangberg and Alexi Tchirikoff; and besides other +subalterns were several excellent ship-carpenters. + + [Illustration: MALDONADO'S "STRAIT OF ANIAN," 1609.] + +On February 5, 1735, they set out from St. Petersburg, and on March 16 +arrived at Tobolsk, the capital of Siberia. + +[Sidenote: Bering's discoveries.] + +Bering returned from his first voyage satisfied that he had reached +the utmost limits of Asia, and that no junction with America existed. +Some years elapsed, and in 1741 Bering, Spangberg and Tchirikoff again +volunteered. This expedition was destined to prove fatal to the +explorer; he got lost in a fog, intense cold prevailed, scurvy broke +out amongst the men, and on a little island in Bering's Sea he +breathed his last. + + [Illustration: LAPIE'S MAP, 1821.] + +Although many years were to elapse before the Russians took any more +active steps, they had, by virtue of Bering's discoveries, got a +footing on the North American Continent, and were thus already +neighbours, if not yet rivals, of the Hudson's Bay Company. + +"It is very evident," wrote one of the contemporary chroniclers, "that +for upwards of two centuries and a half an opinion has prevailed +amongst the most knowing and experienced persons, that there is a +passage to the north-west, and this built partly upon science, partly +upon tradition. Now, it is very hard to conceive how such an opinion +should maintain its credit if it was not founded in reality; for it is +an old and true maxim that specious opinions endure but a short time, +whereas truth is everlasting." + +For many years the notion of a north-west passage had slept; but in +1737 it again attracted public attention. In that year Arthur Dobbs, a +gentleman of some means and of scientific bent, made formal +application to the Hudson's Bay Company that a search be undertaken. +Upon his representations the Company sent forth two of their ships +upon the quest. These, the _Churchill_ and the _Musquash_ went, +however, no farther north than latitude 62° 15' and returned without +seeing anything worthy of notice, save "a number of small islands, +abundance of black whales, but no very great tides, the highest about +two fathoms, the flood coming from the northward." + +There had been for a great many years in the Company's employ an able +mariner, Captain Christopher Middleton. For some reason or other +Middleton had become dissatisfied with their service and one of his +friends placed him in communication with the patron of discovery, +Dobbs, and a close correspondence ensued.[57] + +Dobbs was eager to employ Middleton in a search for the long-sought +straits. This was by no means an easy matter. In the first place the +Company flatly declined to participate in the scheme, alleging that +they had already done enough in that direction[58] and that the whole +idea was a fallacy. + +There was no north-west passage to India, and the sooner the public +mind divested itself of the folly of supposing one existed the better +it would be for the public purse and the public wisdom. + +The Company pointed out that if Middleton should winter at either of +the Company's factories it might drive the natives to trade with the +French, who were always on the alert; and trade so lost would never +return or be regained. They begged the Admiralty to restrain Captain +Middleton from interfering with the Company's trade and invading their +property and rights. + +Dobbs, however, secured from the Admiralty for Middleton's use the +bomb ketch _Furnace_, which, with another small vessel, the _Welcome_, +was ready to sail early in June. + +[Sidenote: The Company opposes further exploration.] + +So opposed do the Company appear to have their domains meddled with by +these fruitless explorations that they sent out a letter to their +Governor at Churchill, which was the most convenient harbour for the +explorers to winter in, not to receive Middleton into their fort. +Dobbs and his friends getting wind of this, complained to the +Admiralty, who wrote to the Honourable Adventurers in a tone of +decided reproof, observing that even if Middleton were to receive +assistance and provisions, payment would be made for these to the +Company on the return of the expedition to England. + +After deliberating for some time, the Company thereupon wrote to the +Lords of the Admiralty, saying that they had sent a further letter to +Governor Norton requiring him to extend the necessary hospitality to +Middleton. That the sort of hospitality the Company was prepared to +dispense was not of too warm a character may be adjudged from the +following: + + HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, LONDON, May 15, 1741. + + _Mr. James Isham and Council_, + _Prince of Wales' Fort, Churchill River_: + + GENTLEMEN,--Notwithstanding our orders to you, if Captain + Middleton (who is sent abroad in the Government's service to + discover a passage north-west) should by inevitable necessity + be brought into real distress and danger of his life and loss + of his ship, in such case you are then to give him the best + assistance and relief you can. + +A duplicate of this was put in Middleton's possession, who still +dissatisfied, rushed off instantly with it to Whitehall. It was deemed +necessary to apply to the Lords of the Regency that the Secretary of +State might, by their orders, write to the Company to request the +assistance they refused to the Admiralty. The Company, thus hemmed in, +gave a letter couched in a more friendly style. + +"It is plain," remarks a contemporary writer, "that the Company +believe there is a passage, which they want to conceal; for otherwise +it would have been their interest to have the attempt made. If not +found there would have been an end to prosecuting it any further, and +they might probably have enjoyed their trade to the Bay, without its +being coveted or enquired into." + +Middleton owned to Dobbs that just before his departure the Company +had endeavoured to bribe him with an offer of £5,000 to return to +their service, or that if he was determined to go, to pursue the +voyage by Davis' Straits, or by any other way than the west of the +Bay. They alleged that it would cost the Company that amount to +support their right against the Crown and against private adventurers, +and that "as he had been their friend, and knew all their concerns, it +would be better to give him that sum than to give it to their +lawyers." The Company did not deny that such an offer had been made by +two or three of the committee privately. + +[Sidenote: Middleton explores for a north-west passage.] + +Middleton now proceeded on his journey in quest of the famed +north-west passage. It is charged that on his arrival in the Bay he +never once went ashore or sent his boat to search for any inlet or to +try the tide. He tried the current in latitude 63° 20', and found it +very rapid, in spite of the fact that there existed a great deal of +ice to the northward. Its presence compelled him to stand off from +shore until he passed Cape Dobbs, beyond which he found an opening +northwestward. In this opening he sought shelter for three weeks. + +[Sidenote: Trouble between Middleton and his men.] + +No voyage of discovery since the world began was ever made under such +circumstances. Numerous members of the crew, who had got wind of the +situation, were filled, or professed to be filled, with distrust of +their captain. Caring nothing about the voyage itself or the object +for which it was undertaken, they entered with zeal a hundred times a +day into plots to make the commander's life unbearable. The supposed +passage was christened the "Forbidden Straits," and the crews vastly +amused themselves with Middleton's supposed discomfiture. Several were +very nearly yard-armed for spreading reports that the captain had +purposely sailed past the straits. Sometimes the captain merely +laughed at the views of his subordinates; at other times, it is said, +he flew into a temper, and indulged in threats and abuse. Once, when +from the number of whales and the breadth and depth of the river, word +sped from mouth to mouth that it was a strait they were in, and no +river, "he rated several of them for pretending to say so against his +opinion, saying his clerk was a double-tongued rascal, that he would +cane the lieutenant, broomstick the master, and lash any others who +would concern themselves about the voyage." It was, moreover, charged +against Middleton that he interdicted the keeping of private journals, +and that if any disobeyed this order he threatened to break open their +boxes and get possession of such records. Once when the lieutenants +and masters were absent down the river to look for a cove for the +ships, Middleton grimly observed that he supposed the former would +bring back "some romantick account of a strait or passage." +Nevertheless, for his part, he would not take the ships a foot +farther. Intrigue characterized the whole of this voyage of discovery. + +The officers of both the _Furnace_ and the _Discovery_ took turns in +making jaunts into the country. On the 8th of August, Captain +Middleton, the clerk, gunner, and carpenter went ashore at Cape +Frigid, and after pacing some fifteen miles into the country, +returned, to find the ship drifted, although it lacked some hours of +high water. Rankin and the men on board from this had become convinced +that it was the effects of the flood from the supposed strait. The +captain laughed them to scorn, and said that if it came from any +strait at all it was Hudson's Strait. + +Two northern Indians were taken on board the _Discovery_, and +Thompson, the surgeon, who could speak some of the southern tongue, +began busying himself making a vocabulary of their language. At this +innocent occupation he was observed by Middleton, who threatened to +"crop him" in case he persisted. When they reached Marble Island, +although the two Indians were desirous of going to England, he put the +pair ashore in a bad boat they were ignorant of how to manage. The +supplications of the unhappy savages were useless to turn the +Company's captain from his purpose. In vain they told him that the +island was three leagues from the mainland, and a hundred miles from +their own country; that it was inhabited by the Esquimaux, their +enemies. + +"The Captain gave them some provisions, ammunition, hatchets and +toys. The excuse he made for not bringing them to England was, that +upon his return his friends might be out of the Admiralty, and as he +had no orders to take them home, they would be left a charge upon +him." This was plausible, but Middleton's detractors did not rest +there. They accused the captain of saying that he was afraid the +Indians, when they learned to speak English, would be talking of the +copper mine and the north-west passage, and would thereby put the +public to the expense of sending out more ships in quest of it. "And +this, no doubt," commented Dobbs, "was the true reason for that piece +of cruelty, for he thought if they came to England he should _not be +able to conceal the passage_." + +On Middleton's return, after his quest, he was accused of saying, "My +character is so well established as a discoverer that no man will +ever, hereafter, attempt to discover the north-west passage." + +[Sidenote: Middleton returns without discovering the passage.] + +He certainly received a cordial invitation from the Government, the +Admiralty and the Court. Immediately upon his arrival in London he +communicated with several of the partners of the Hudson's Bay Company. +The preparation of his journal occupied for a time his leisure. "He +himself," says Dobbs, "had got great reputation from the Royal Society +for his observations upon cold; and for what he had discovered had got +a medal from them. He was upon good terms with the Lords of the +Admiralty, and was to dedicate his charts and discoveries to the King +and noblemen of the first rank as well as to the Lords of the +Admiralty." That the Lords of the Admiralty were perfectly satisfied +with his conduct, there is every reason to believe, as in the +following year Middleton was placed in command of the _Shark_, a +sloop. All this naturally put him into a position to serve those under +him. All his recommendations for promotion only strengthened the +suspicions gathering in the mind of Dobbs and his fellow-patrons. "He +had recommended also his lieutenant, and thought none other on board +had weight enough to impeach his proceedings, which, if they failed +in, would ruin their characters; so that securing his officers, he +thought all things would be safe amongst the crew. But Middleton was +not one to forget the patron and prime mover of the expedition, whom +he endeavoured to propitiate by sending him an abstract of his +journal. This abstract seemed, to Dobbs, to be so full of +contradictions and discrepancies, that he wrote to the explorer to +send him, if possible, the journal itself. He had scarcely dispatched +this communication when he received a letter from Lanrick, "a +gentleman who had been bred a scholar," who had accompanied Middleton +on the voyage. It was substantially the same account rendered by the +captain, with this added paragraph: + +"Sir,--This account I should have sent you before now but that the +Captain, for reasons to himself best known, desired that none of us +should say anything about it relating to the discovery for a little." + +This very natural desire on the part of an explorer, about to become +an author, seems to have been fraught with deep and incriminating +significance to Dobbs. After a short time the whole of Middleton's +journal reached him; it appeared to confirm all Dobbs's presentiments. + +[Sidenote: Suspicion attaches to Middleton.] + +Dobbs and the other patrons were therefore convinced that Middleton +had played them false for the Hudson's Bay Company; and their belief +in a north-west passage was strengthened rather than weakened. In +their report, after going over the whole account of the voyage +furnished them, they were especially severe upon Middleton. "His whole +conduct," they said, "from his going to Churchill until his return to +England, and even since his return, it will appear plainly that he +intended to serve the Company at the public expense, and contrived +everything so as to stifle the discovery, and to prevent others from +undertaking it for the future so as to secure the favour of the +Company and the reward they said they promised him before he began the +voyage." + +An informer appeared, who testified that Middleton had declared in +presence of the others at a council held at York Factory, Churchill, +that he "should be able to make the voyage, but none on board should +be any the wiser and he would be a better friend to the Company than +ever." + +Middleton was charged in public with neglect in having failed to +explore the line of coast which afforded a probability of a passage to +the north-west. The principal points at issue appear to have been in +respect to the discovery by Middleton, of the Wager River, Repulse +Bay, and the Frozen Strait. In this century Sir Edward Parry has +remarked: "The accuracy of Captain Middleton is manifest upon the +point most strenuously argued against him, for our subsequent +experience has not left the smallest doubt of Repulse Bay and the +northern part of the Welcome being filled by a rapid tide flowing into +it from the eastward through the Frozen Strait." Dobbs, fully +impressed with a conviction that the captain's story of the Frozen +Strait was all chimera, as well as everything Middleton had said +concerning that part of the voyage, confidently insisted on the +probability of the tide finding its way through Wager River, or at +least through some arm of the sea communicating with that inlet from +the westward.[59] + +One detail only was lacking to render the situation farcical--an +anonymous letter. This reached Dobbs on the 21st of January, and ran +in this absurd vein:-- + + "This script is only open to your Eyes, which have been sealed + or closed with too much (we cannot say Cunning) Artifice, so as + they have not been able to discover our Discoverer's Pranks. + All Nature cries aloud that there is a Passage, and we are sure + there is one from Hudson's Bay to Japan. Send a letter directed + to Messieurs Brook and Cobham, who are Gentlemen who have been + the Voyage, and cannot bear so Glorious an Attempt, should die + under the Hands of Mercenary Wretches, and they will give you + such pungent reasons as will awaken all your Industry. They + desire it may be kept secret so long as they shall think fit; + they are willing to venture their Lives, their Fortunes, their + All, in another attempt; and they are no inconsiderable + persons, but such as have had it much at heart ever since they + saw the Rapidity of Tides in the Welcome. The frozen straits is + all Chimera, and everything you have yet read or seen + concerning that part of our Voyage, We shall send you some + unanswerable Queries. Direct for us at the Chapter Coffee + House, St Paul's Churchyard, London." + +It was now clear that Middleton's voyage had been made in vain, and +that another would shortly be attempted. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[55] This fort has been thought to have been in the neighbourhood of +Selkirk, Manitoba. But Verandrye would not have abandoned such an +advantageous position as that which the meeting of the two rivers +afforded at the modern Winnipeg. + +[56] On the site of Fort Jonquiere, a century later, Captain +Brisebois, of the Mounted Police, founded a post bearing his name. +This post has given way to-day to the well-built and thriving town of +Calgary. + +[57] In one of his letters, dated 21st of January, 1737, Middleton +held that the Company thought it their interest rather to prevent than +forward new discoveries in that part of the world. "For that reason +they won't suffer any of our journals to be made public," he adds. +Than which certainly no observation could be truer. + +[58] A LIST OF VESSELS FITTED OUT BY THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY ON +DISCOVERY OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. + + 1719--_Albany Frigate_, Capt. George Barlow, sailed from England + on or about 5th June. Never returned. + _Discovery_, Capt. David Vaughan, sailed from England on or + about 5th June. Never returned. + + 1719--_Prosperous_, Capt Henry Kelsey, sailed from York Fort, June + 19th. Returned 10th August following. + _Success_, John Hancock, master, sailed from Prince of Wales' + Fort, July 2nd. Returned 10th August. + + 1721--_Prosperous_, Capt. Henry Kelsey, sailed from York Fort, + June 26th. Returned 2nd Sept. + _Success_, James Napper, master, sailed from York Fort, June + 26th. Lost 30th of same month. + + 1721--_Whalebone_, John Scroggs, master, sailed from Gravesend, + 31st May; wintered at Prince of Wales' Fort. + + 1722--Sailed from thence 21st June. Returned July 25th following. + + 1737--_The Churchill_, James Napper, master, sailed from Prince of + Wales' Fort, July 7th. Died 8th August; and the vessel + returned the 18th. + _The Musquash_, Robert Crow, master, sailed from Prince of + Wales' Fort, July 7th. Returned 22nd August. + + +[59] "On looking through the correspondence at the Admiralty, it is +impossible not to be struck with the straightforward manliness, +candour and honesty of purpose exemplified by Captain Middleton +throughout this trying business. It was a cruel attack."--Sir John +Barrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +1744-1748. + + War again with France -- Company takes Measures to Defend its + Forts and Property -- "Keep your guns loaded" -- Prince + "Charlie" -- His Stock in the Company Confiscated -- Further + Instructions to the Chief Factors -- Another Expedition to + Search for a North-West Passage -- Parliament Offers Twenty + Thousand Pounds Reward -- Cavalier Treatment from Governor + Norton -- Expedition Returns -- Dobbs' Enmity -- Privy Council + Refuse to Grant his Petition -- Press-gang Outrages -- Voyage + of the _Seahorse_. + + +[Sidenote: War with France.] + +In the year 1740 the state of affairs in Europe seemed to point to war +between England and France. England had declared war against Spain, +and although for a time Lewis XV. and his ministers sympathized with +the latter country, they endeavoured to avoid being drawn into a +conflict with her powerful neighbour and hereditary enemy across the +Channel. Yet such a conflict seemed inevitable, when by degrees +Spanish commerce became shattered under the blows of King George's +navy. Apprehensive that England would wrest from Spain her colonies, +France resolved to take sides with Spain. In 1744 war was declared, +and hostilities, which had been in abeyance for thirty-one years, at +once recommenced in the transatlantic possessions of both crowns. + +It was therefore decided at a general court of the Adventurers, at +which no fewer than seventy were present, to take measures to avoid a +repetition of the disasters of fifty years previously. They felt that +their enemies were now many, who would be glad to see them driven from +the Bay, and that less assistance might be expected from the +Government than at any of the crises which had previously overtaken +them. We have seen to what this was due. It now behooved the Company +to gird up its loins, and if the foe came, to strike, and strike with +force. + +It was the Hudson's Bay Company against France and Spain. The incident +of Louisburg alone saved the Company from destruction. + +To illustrate the temper of the Company instructions were immediately +drawn up by the Committee, and despatched to the chief factors in the +Bay. The one addressed to Joseph Isbister and Council at Albany Fort +was dated the 10th of May, 1744. + +"The English and French having declared war," it ran, "against each +other, and the war with Spain still continuing, we do hereby strictly +direct you to be always on your guard, and to keep a good watch, and +that you keep all your men as near home as possible. + +[Sidenote: Bellicose instructions from the Company.] + +"We do also direct that you fix your cannon in the most proper places +to defend yourselves and annoy an enemy, after which you are to fire +each cannon once with powder to see how they prove, and instruct your +men to the use of them without firing; and that you keep them +constantly loaded with powder and ball, ready for service. You are +also to keep your small arms loaded and in good order and at hand, to +be easily come at; and that those loaded arms be drawn or discharged +once a month, and be well cleaned; and you are to exercise your men +once a week till they are well disciplined and afterwards once a +month. And you are also to keep a sufficient number of your trading +guns loaded and at hand in case of an attack; and if there be any +Indians that you can confide in, and will be of service in your +defence, we recommend it to you to employ them in such manner as you +think proper. + +"We have wrote to the factory at Moose River, that in case they have +any intelligence of the French coming down that river to attack them, +they are immediately to send you notice thereof, that you may make the +necessary preparations for your defence, and that there be a constant +correspondence and intelligence between each factory for the safety of +both. + +"As we rely on the courage and conduct of Mr. Isbister, our chief, in +case of an attack from the enemy, which, if done at all on your +factory, we apprehend it will be by land in the winter, from Canada; +in which case the enemy not being able to bring down any cannon with +them, we doubt not of your frustrating their designs and repulsing +them. + +"In case you are attacked at Henly House, and notwithstanding a +vigorous resistance you should have the misfortune to be overpowered, +then you are to nail up the cannon, blow up the House, and destroy +everything that can be of service to the enemy, and make the best +retreat you can to the factory." The letters to the other Governors +were in similar strain. + +The Company directed Isbister to get "the best information you can +from the trading Indians, whether the French are making any +preparations to come down to the factory, or have lodged any +provisions, stores or ammunition at certain distances from their +supply. We also direct you, for your better security, at all times to +keep two Indians in the factory with civil and kind usage, and send +them out every morning for intelligence, to a proper distance, so that +they may return in the evening; and provided that they do not return +that it be an alarm to you, and that you thereupon prepare yourselves +for a vigorous defence. But," it was added, "you must not, upon any +consideration, let those Indians have the least knowledge of the use +you intend to make of their not returning." + +[Sidenote: Letters of marque to the Company's ships.] + +At the Company's urgent request letters of marque were granted to the +_Prince Rupert_ against both France and Spain. The _Prince Rupert_ was +one hundred and eighty tons burthen, and the crews were full of +expectation that the voyage would yield them a prize of some sort or +another. But they were destined not merely to be disappointed, but to +be given a great fright into the bargain. When in the neighbourhood of +Davis' Straits, where a whale fishery was established, several large +vessels were sighted. They seemed to the Company's captain undoubtedly +French men-of-war. Filled with fear, he immediately turned round in +his tracks and bore away as fast as his sails could carry him, and +after beating about for a time managed to pass through the straits +unobserved. So convinced were the Company on the return of its ship in +the autumn that the French were lying in wait for its ships at the +straits, they sought the Admiralty with a request for a convoy to York +Fort, to return with its vessels the following autumn. + +A convoy was granted, but it was hardly necessary. Louisburg had +fallen, and all the strength the French could muster was being +directed in an attempt to win back that fortress from the English. No +French ships could therefore be spared to cruise north of latitude +fifty in North America. + +[Sidenote: Confiscation of Prince Charlie's stock.] + +One consequence of the war with France was a revival of the hopes of +the Jacobites. In 1744 Charles Edward, the grandson of James II., was +placed by Lewis in command of "a formidable armament," and in the +following year the young Pretender placed his foot on a little island +of the Hebrides, where for three weeks he stood almost alone. But the +Highland blood was fired; the clans rallied to the standard of "Prince +Charlie," and when he began his march on Edinburgh, several thousand +Scottish zealots had rallied to his standard. "James the Eighth" was +proclaimed at the Town Cross of the capital, and when his troops and +the English regiments met at Preston Pans, in September, the latter +were defeated with heavy loss. But although this victory swelled his +numbers it did not bring the Lowlanders and English to fight for him. +"Hardly a man," we are told, "had risen in his support as he passed +through the districts where Jacobitism boasted of its strength. The +people flocked to see his march as if it had been a show. Catholics +and Tories abounded in Lancashire, but only a single squire took up +arms." The knell of Jacobitism was rung, and after a brief success the +English forces fell upon Prince Charles Edward at Culloden Moor, and +cut his little army to pieces. Fifty of his followers and adherents in +England ascended the scaffold; Lords Lovat, Balmerino and Kilmarnock +were beheaded, and over forty noblemen and gentlemen were attainted by +Act of Parliament. Scarcely a month had elapsed from Charles Edward's +escape to France after his romantic adventures, when a motion was +submitted to the Governor and Company of Adventurers in England +trading into Hudson's Bay, ordering the confiscation of the stock held +by the heir of the second Governor of the Company, King James II. The +exiled monarch had never relinquished his share, and under the name of +"John Stanion" the dividends had always reached him. But the Jacobite +rising affected his fellow-adventurers' complaisance, and by 1746 +"John Stanion" had ceased to figure as an active partner of the +Company.[60] + +Under date of 3rd of May, 1745, the Company wrote to Governor Isbister +and Council, at Albany Fort, to say that they had "augmented the +complement of men (as you desired) at your Factory and Moose Fort, +that in case of need you may assist each other, and thereby we hope +you will be enabled to baffle the designs of the enemy. + +"We do direct," it pursued, "that not only a continual correspondence +be kept between you and Moose Fort, but that you correspond with the +Factory at Slude River, York Fort, and Prince of Wales' Fort as often +as you can, and if under any apprehensions of an attack, to give +immediate notice to Moose Fort. We still recommend your diligence in +getting intelligence and information of the designs of the French." + +[Sidenote: Further instructions to Company's officials.] + +It also urged Governor Pilgrim and Council, at Prince of Wales' Fort, +"to keep a good watch, and your men near home, except those that are +guarding the battery at Cape Merry, but not to hinder a proper number +to be employed in providing a sufficient quantity of the country +provisions to prevent the complaint of those persons that murmur for +want of victuals; and we recommend sobriety, that you may be capable +of making a vigorous defence if attacked. + +"We again recommend your keeping the land, round the Fort and the +Battery at Cape Merry, free from everything that may possibly +conceal or shelter an enemy, that you may thereby prevent being +surprised. + +"We again direct that you keep up a general correspondence with all +the Factories, and get what intelligence you can of the designs of the +French." + + [Illustration: PLANS OF YORK AND PRINCE OF WALES' FORTS.] + +The course of events now bids us return to Dobbs and the renewed +endeavours to find a north-west passage through the Company's +territory. + +A number of public-spirited persons came forward for the prosecution +of the design. Parliament was urged to act in the matter, and a bill +was carried, offering a reward of twenty thousand pounds for the +discovery of the north-west passage. + +[Sidenote: Parliament and the North-West passage.] + +"Whereas," ran the Act, "the discovering of a north-west passage +through Hudson's Straits, to the Western American Ocean, will be of +great Benefit and advantage to the trade of this Kingdom; and whereas +it will be a great encouragement to Adventurers to attempt the same, +if a public reward was given to such person or persons as shall make a +perfect discovery of the said passage: May it therefore please your +Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's Most +Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords +Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament +assembled, and by the authority of the same, that if any ship or +vessel, ships or vessels belonging to any of his Majesty's subjects, +shall find out and sail through any passage by sea between Hudson's +Bay and the Western and Southern Ocean of America, the owner or owners +of such ship or ships, vessel or vessels as aforesaid, so first +finding out and sailing through the said passage, his or their +executors, administrators or assigns shall be entitled to receive and +shall receive as a reward for such discovery, the sum of twenty +thousand pounds." + +Parliament took care, however, to declare that nothing in the Act +should "in any ways extend or be construed to take away or prejudice +any of the estates, rights or privileges of or belonging to the +Governor and Company of Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay." + +With such encouragement, it was not long before a North-West +Association was formed for the raising of £10,000, which sum it was +thought would answer the necessary expense of the proposed expedition. +The ships bought by the Committee were one of one hundred and eighty +tons, called the _Dobbs' Galley_, and another of one hundred and forty +tons, to which the name of the _California_ was given. Each of these +vessels was got ready, and a sufficient quantity of stores and +provisions put on board. A cargo of merchandise, suitable for presents +to the natives was put on board, after assurance to the Hudson's Bay +Company that these would not be used for purpose of barter. The +command of the _Dobbs' Galley_ was entrusted to Captain William Moor, +an old servant of the Company; that of the _California_ being given to +Francis Smith. By way of encouragement, premiums were settled on +officers and crew, in case of success. Thus the captain was to have +£500, each of the mates £200, and every other officer and seaman a +reward suitable to his station. Over and above all this, in case they +were so fortunate as to take any prizes, such were to belong entirely +to them. + +[Sidenote: Expedition of the North-West Association.] + +On the 10th of May the expedition started. In order that they might +get safely beyond the British Isles without danger from the French +privateersmen, the Admiralty appointed a convoy to meet them at the +Island of Pomona, in the Orkneys. Judge of their surprise to find this +convoy commanded by Captain Middleton himself, on board the _Shark_. +Some days later the explorer of 1742 and the explorers of 1746 bade +farewell to one another. + +For some months the ships cruised about the Bay. At last, in +September, it was decided to set about preparations for wintering in +some part of Hays' River. This they found in a creek about five miles +above York Factory, on the south side of the stream. The locality was, +perhaps, hardly congenial in a social sense. + +[Sidenote: Governor Norton.] + +"The Governor," says one who accompanied the expedition as the agent +of the patrons,[61] "being now convinced of our intentions to winter +there, used his utmost endeavours that we might lay our ships below +the fort, in a place open to the sea, where they would have been in +all probability beat to pieces, either from the waves of the sea +setting in or the breaking of the ice; but as his arguments were of no +efficacy in persuading us, and finding himself disappointed in this, +as in his former scheme, being still resolved to distress us as much +as possible, he sent most of the Indians, whose chief employment is to +kill deer, geese, etc., into the country, on purpose that we might not +make use of them in that way, or be in any wise benefited by their +means." + + [Illustration: CONTEMPORARY MAP SHOWING THE HAYS' RIVER.] + +The charge that Governor Norton desired the destruction of the ships +is too absurd to refute at this late day; nevertheless there is +little doubt that the explorers believed it, and anything else their +inflamed imaginations and prejudices against the Company suggested. +Even when Norton designed to show them kindness, the design was +twisted into one of sinister shape. For instance, hearing that their +supply of liquor was short, when Christmas came around, he sent as a +present to the explorers, at the little log-house they had christened +Montague House, a couple of casks of brandy with which to make good +cheer. Soon afterwards scurvy broke out, and the disease was set down +immediately to the brandy. "Our people had been healthy enough +before," says Ellis. + +But even when the scurvy had carried off several of the men at +Montague House, Governor Norton was alleged to have refused both to +succour or to suggest a remedy. "The Indians were charged not to come +near us, or to furnish us with anything (and this out of consideration +for them), because we had a contagious distemper amongst us." Norton's +sole view in all his actions is represented to have been to hinder and +distress the explorers, "which," remarks the writer quoted, +philosophically, "is the encouragement that all are to expect who go +in search of a north-west passage _from such neighbours_." + +When spring came the expedition resumed its labours. It is said the +crews were full of alacrity and cheerfulness. One honest seaman, +"whose sole delight was a delicious dram," was so enthusiastic over +the discovery that "in the warm sincerity of his heart he could not +help saying, with a good, round oath, 'Now, I had rather find the +north-west passage than half an anchor of brandy!'" + +[Sidenote: Return of the expedition to England.] + +The summer was spent in coasting the whole north-west side of the Bay. +But, alas, the north-west passage so ardently and characteristically +desired by the "honest sea-man," was not found, and by the 14th of +October the expedition was back again in England, after an absence of +one year four months and seventeen days. The explorers and the patrons +might well have been discouraged from further attempts, albeit they +returned, we are told, "with clearer and fuller proofs, founded on +plain facts and accurate experiments, that such a passage existed." +Nevertheless, if the Company breathed easier on their return, it was a +temporary relief. A new trial was in store for the Honourable +Adventurers. + +In 1748, war still continuing with France and Spain, the Company again +issued strict orders to Governor Spence at Albany Fort to be always on +his guard, and "to keep a good watch and your men near home, but not +to hinder a proper number to be employed in providing a sufficient +quantity of the country provisions, particularly geese, which we find +you constantly employ the Indians only to kill for you, and which we +are dissatisfied with; that being such a material article, you ought +always to blend some of your people with the natives in the goose +seasons, that they may understand how to kill them, and thereby lessen +your dependence on the native hunters." + +To the Governor of Prince of Wales' Fort it directed that he should +"constantly keep his great guns loaded with powder and ball ready for +service during the time the rivers are open. You are also to keep your +small arms loaded and in good order, and at hand, to be easily come +at, which loaded arms and cannon are to be drawn once a month and well +cleaned, and to exercise your men as often as requisite, whom we +expect by this time are artists, not only in the use of small arms but +also of cannon, that the great expense we have been at in this +particular may answer the end proposed thereby in case of an attack. +You are also to keep a sufficient number of your trading guns loaded +and at hand, which charges are also to be drawn every month, and if +there be any Indians you can confide in, and will be of service to you +in your defence, we recommend it to you to employ them in such manner +as you think proper." + +Certainly if a French commander of even Iberville's power had appeared +before the forts of the Company in 1748 he would have met with a far +different reception to that which was offered to that champion in +1697. + +The Company suffered much from the press-gangs, from time to time, and +in eras of war the evil was almost intolerable. It was well-known that +the sailors in its employ were amongst the ablest and hardiest on the +high seas, which fact exposed them perpetually to the onslaughts of +the crimps and bullies. + +In 1739 the Company's vessel, the _Seahorse_, was intercepted by the +man-of-war _Warwick_, and seventeen men of the _Seahorse_ crew +captured by the press-gang for services in the navy. + +That the _Seahorse_ might not be totally without servants, a number of +incompetent landsmen were put aboard in their stead. Nevertheless, the +voyage was continued to the Bay, although not without great peril, not +arriving until 27th of September. The voyage of the disabled +_Seahorse_ was long a tradition in the Company's service. + +[Sidenote: Dobb's petition rejected by a Parliamentary committee.] + +By an Order-in-Council dated the 4th of February, 1748, a petition +from Arthur Dobbs and members of a committee appointed by the +subscribers for finding out a passage to the Western and Southern +Ocean of America, "was referred to the consideration of a committee of +Parliament." After hearing counsel for and against the Company, this +committee of two members decided that "considering how long the +Company have enjoyed and acted under this charter without interruption +or encroachment, we cannot think it advisable for his Majesty to make +any express or implied declaration against the validity of it till +there has been some judgment of a court of justice to warrant it." +Dobbs and his friends were enraged at this decision, and lost no time +in taking other steps. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[60] The name of John Stanion certainly appears in the list of +proprietors of Hudson's Bay stock, published in 1749, but it is +followed by the significant term _deceased_. + +[61] Henry Ellis. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +1748-1760. + + Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry Appointed -- Aim of the + Malcontents -- Lord Strange's Report -- Testimony of Witnesses + -- French Competition -- Lords of Plantations desire to + Ascertain Limits of Company's Territory -- Defeat of the + Labrador Company -- Wolfe's Victory -- "Locked up in the Strong + Box" -- Company's Forts -- Clandestine Trade -- Case of Captain + Coats. + + +[Sidenote: Parliamentary enquiry.] + +"Mr. Sharpe, the Company's solicitor," we read in the Company's +minute-books, under date of March 10th, 1748, "attending the Committee +acquainted them that a motion was yesterday made and carried in the +House of Commons to enquire into the state and condition of the +countries and trade of Hudson's Bay, and also the right the Company +pretend to have by charter to the property of the land, and exclusive +trade to those countries, and that a committee was appointed +accordingly." + +The Adventurers were not caught entirely unawares. They had expected +some such move on the part of their opponents, and now determined that +since they could not ward off the enquiry, they would take the best +means to present the most favourable statement of the Company's case +to the nation. A ransacking of books and records ensued; and a +rigorous search after facts bearing on the beneficent character of the +Company's rule and policy; and these proofs being at length ready, +were placed by the following December in the form of a memorial in the +hands of every member of the House of Commons. + +The enquiry aroused the greatest national interest. It began soon +after Christmas, 1748, and lasted for two months. + +[Sidenote: Plea of the malcontents.] + +What the malcontents desired is, perhaps, best explained in the words +of their prime mover: "By opening," said he, "the trade in the Bay, +many thousands more would be employed in trade, and a much greater +vent would be opened for our manufactures. Whereas all the gain we +have at present, whilst the trade is confined to the Company, is the +employment of one hundred and twenty men in all their factories, and +two or three ships in that trade, manned with perhaps one hundred and +twenty men in time of war, to enrich nine or ten[62] merchants at +their country's expense; at the same time betraying the nation, by +allowing the French to encroach upon us at the bottom of the Bay, +having given up by that means the greatest part of their trade there +to the French. It is, therefore, humbly submitted to the Government, +whether it is not just, as well as prudent, to open that trade to all +the British merchants, and resume at the same time the charter, so far +as to take from them all those lands they have not reclaimed or +occupied after seventy years possession, leaving them only their +factories, and such lands as they have reclaimed adjoining to them; +and to give grants as usual in other colonies to all who shall go over +to trade and make settlements in the country; for no grants were ever +intended to be made to them, to enable them to prevent other subjects +of Britain from planting colonies in those countries, which they +themselves would not plant or occupy; for such a power, instead of +being beneficial, would be the greatest prejudice to Britain, and is +become a general law in the colonies, that those who take grants of +land and don't plant them in a reasonable, limited time, forfeit their +rights to those lands, and a new grant is made out to such others as +shall plant and improve them; and if this grant be not immediately +resumed so far and the trade laid open, and some force be not sent to +secure our southern possessions in the Bay by the Government in case +there should be a French war, we shall see the French immediately +dispossess the Company of all their factories but Churchill, and all +these countries and that trade will be in the possession of the +French." So ran the argument of the Company's enemies. + +On the 24th of April, 1749, Lord Strange presented, on behalf of the +Select Committee, the report to Parliament. + +"The Committee," said he, "appointed to enquire into the state and +condition of the countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay and the trade +carried on there; and to consider how those countries may be settled +and improved, and the trade and fisheries there extended and +increased; and also to enquire into the right the Company of +Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay pretend to have, by charter, to +the property of lands and exclusive trade to those countries; have +pursuant to the order of the House, examined into the several matters +to them referred. + +"Your Committee thought proper, in the first place, to enquire into +the nature and extent of the charter granted by King Charles the +Second, to the Company of Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay; under +which charter the present Company claim as right to lands and an +exclusive trade to those countries; which charter being laid before +your Committee, they thought it necessary for the information of the +House to annex a copy thereof to this report." + +The charter, published now for the first time, was deemed to be valid. + +[Sidenote: Witnesses called by the committee.] + +The Committee had examined the witnesses in the case. These witnesses +were: Joseph Robson, who had been employed in the Bay for six years as +a stonemason; Richard White, who had been a clerk at Albany Fort and +elsewhere; Matthew Sargeant, who had been employed in the Company's +service and "understood the Indian language"; John Hayter, who had +been house carpenter to the Company for six years at Moose River; +Matthew Gwynne, who had been twice at Hudson's Bay; Edward Thompson, +who had been three years at Moose River as surgeon; Enoch Alsop, who +had been armourer to the Company at Moose River; Christopher +Bannister, who had been armourer and gunsmith, and had resided in the +Bay for twenty-two years; Robert Griffin, silversmith, who had been +five years in the Company's service; Thomas Barnet Smith, who went +over to Albany in 1741; Alexander Brown, who had been six years at +Hudson's Bay as surgeon; Captain Thomas Mitchell, who had commanded a +sloop of the Company. + +Besides the above witnesses there was, of course, Dobbs himself, who +was "examined as to the information he had received from a +French-Canadese Indian (since deceased) who was maintained at the +expense of the Admiralty, on the prospect of his being of service on +the discovery of a north-west passage." Dobbs "informed your Committee +that the whole of that discourse is contained in part of a book +printed for the witness in 1744, to which he desired leave to +refer."[63] There also appeared Captain William Moor, who had been +employed in Hudson's Bay from a boy; Henry Spurling, merchant, who had +traded in furs for twenty-eight years past, during which time he had +dealt with the Hudson's Bay Company; Captain Carruthers, who had been +in the Company's service thirty-five years ago; and Arthur Slater, who +had been employed by the Company on the East Main. + +The opposition endeavoured to show that one object aimed at in +granting a charter to the Hudson's Bay Company was to further the +discovery of the north-west passage. This of course was absurd. It was +charged that they had done almost nothing in this direction, which the +Adventurers on their part rebutted by furnishing Parliament with a +list of the ships they had fitted out for such a discovery. + +In the evidence before the Committee, it became clear that the +witnesses were not unanimous, especially concerning the probability of +finding a north-west passage. + +[Sidenote: Evidence as to a north-west passage.] + +The evidence of Edward Thompson, the ship surgeon on the _Furnace_, +for example, states that he has the "greatest reason to believe there +is one, from the winds, tides and black whales; and he thinks the +place to be at Chesterfield Inlet; that the reason of their coming +back was they met the other boat which had been five leagues farther, +and the crew told them the water was much fresher and shallower +there, but where he was the water was fifty fathoms deep, and the tide +very strong; the ebb six hours and the flood two, to the best of his +remembrance; that it is not common for the tide to flow only two +hours." He imagined it to be obstructed by another tide from the +westward. The rapidity of the tide upwards was so great that the spray +of the water flew over the bow of the schooner, and was "so salt that +it candied on the men's shoes, but the tide did not run in so rapid a +manner the other way." Captain William Moor, being asked if he +believed there was a north-west passage to the South Seas, said he +believed there was a communication, but "whether navigable or not he +cannot say; that if there is any such communication, 'tis farther +northward than he expected; that if it is but short, as 'tis but +probable to conclude from the height of the tides, 'tis possible it +might be navigable. It was the opinion of all the persons sent on that +discovery that a north-west wind made the highest tides." According to +Captain Carruthers, "he don't apprehend there is any such passage; but +if there is, he thinks it impracticable to navigate it on account of +the ice; that he would rather choose to go round by Cape Horn; and +that it will be impossible to go and return through such passage in +one year; and he thinks 'tis the general opinion of seamen, that there +is no such passage." In which opinion the seamen were in the right, +although Dobbs and his friends were long to hold the contrary. + +John Tomlinson, a London merchant, testified that he was a subscriber +to "the undertaking for finding a north-west passage, which +undertaking was dropped for want of money; that he should not choose +to subscribe again on the same terms; that he can not pretend to say +whether there is such a passage or not, or whether, if found, it could +ever be rendered useful to navigation." + +It was only to be expected that the merchants, having no share in the +Company's profits, should be, to a man, in favour of throwing open the +trade of Hudson's Bay. Tomlinson, for example, gave it out as his +opinion that if the charter were revoked more ships would be sent and +more Indians brought down to trade. "This is confirmed," said he, "by +the experience of the Guinea trade, which, when confined to a company, +employed not above ten ships, and now employs one hundred and fifty." +He moreover asserted that "the case of the Guinea trade was exactly +similar, where the ships are near one another, and each endeavours to +get the trade; and the more ships lie there the higher the prices of +negroes." + +[Sidenote: The Company's profits.] + +The Company was obliged, in the course of this enquiry, to divulge a +number of facts relating to its trade, which had until then remained +secret. Parliament was informed that the trade between London and +Hudson's Bay was carried on in 1748, and for some years previous, by +means of four ships; that the cost of the exports was in that year +£5,012 12s. 3d.; that the value of the sales of furs and other imports +amounted to £30,160 5s. 11d. As for the "charge attending the carrying +on of the Hudson's Bay trade, and maintaining their factories," it +was, in 1748, £17,352 4s. 10d. Thus a trade which involved only £5,000 +a year in exports brought back a return of £30,000. Even when the +outlay for working and maintenance of forts and establishments was +considered, there was, in dull times, a profit of forty per cent on +actual paid-up capital. + +With regard to French competition, many of the witnesses were most +emphatic. Robson, for instance, "thought that the beavers which are +brought down to the Company are refused by the French from their being +a heavy commodity; for the natives who come to trade with the Company +dispose of their small, valuable furs to the French, and bring down +their heavy goods to the Company in summer when the rivers are open, +which they sell, and supply the French with European goods purchased +from the Company." + +"The French," said Richard White, another witness, "intercept the +Indians coming down with their trade," he having seen them with guns +and clothing of French manufacture; and further an Indian had told him +that there was a French settlement up Moose River, something to the +southward of the west, at the distance, as the witness apprehended, +of about fifty miles. "The French deal in light furs, and take all of +that sort they can get, and the Indians bring the heavy to us. +Sometimes the Indians bring down martens' skins, but that is when they +don't meet with the French; but never knew any Indians who had met the +French bring down light furs. The French settlement on Moose River is +at Abbitibi Lake. The trade," concluded the witness, "might be further +extended by sending up Europeans to winter amongst the natives, which, +though the Company have not lately attempted, the French actually do." + +"The French," said another, "intercept the trade; to prevent which the +Company some time ago built Henley House,[64] which did, in some +measure, answer the purpose: but if they would build farther in the +country it would have a better effect. The French went there first, +and are better beloved; but if we would go up into the country the +French Indians would trade with us." + +[Sidenote: French encroachment on trade.] + +Another of the witnesses testified that he "has been informed by the +Indians that the French-Canadese Indians come within six score miles +of the English factories. The French Indians come to Albany to trade +for their heavy goods." He said he had heard Governor Norton say that +the "French ran away with our trade." "If," continued this witness, +Alexander Brown, "the trade was opened, the French would not intercept +the Indians, since in that case the separate traders must have +out-factories in the same manner the French have, which the Company +have not." Upon being asked by Lord Strange if "in case those +out-settlements were erected, whether the same trade could be carried +on at the present settlements?" the witness replied that "it would be +impossible, but that the trade would be extended, and by that means +they would take it from the French. That if these settlements were +near the French, they must have garrisons to secure them against the +French, and the Indians who trade with and are in friendship with +them (whom he distinguished by the name of French Indians)." + +Brown quoted Norton as saying, in the year 1739, "that the French had +a settlement at about the distance of one hundred or six score miles +from Churchill, which had been built about a year, and contained sixty +men with small arms." + +The result of the deliberations of the Committee of Enquiry was, on +the whole, favourable to the Company. The charter was pronounced +unassailable, and the Company had made out a good case against its +enemies. It had certainly permitted the encroachments of the French. +But the English Government of the day foresaw that French possession +of Canada was doomed, and the Company could make ample amends when the +British flag was unfurled at Quebec and at Montreal. + +The Company having come out of the ordeal unharmed,[65] the Lords of +Trade and Plantations thought it might as well settle in its own mind +the precise territory claimed by the Company under its charter. The +Company, on its part, was not forgetful that the French Government had +not yet paid its little bill, which having been running for over sixty +years, had now assumed comparatively gigantic proportions. + +[Sidenote: The Government asks the Company to define its territory.] + +Accordingly the Lords of Trade and Plantations, on the 25th of July, +1750, addressed a letter to the Company, representing that "as it was +for the benefit of the plantations that the limits or boundaries of +the British Colonies on the Continent of America should be distinctly +known, more particularly as they border on the settlements made by the +French, or any foreign nation in America, their Lordships desired as +exact an account as possible of the limits and boundaries of the +territory granted to the Company, together with a chart or map +thereof, and all the best accounts and vouchers they can obtain to +support the same, and particularly, if any, or what settlements have +been made by the English on the frontiers towards the lakes, and if +any, or what encroachments have been made, and at what period, and to +be exact in stating every particular in the history of whatever +encroachments have been made, which may serve to place the proceedings +in a true light, and confute any right which may at any time be +founded upon them." + +[Sidenote: Company's reply.] + +The Company replied, among other things, that the said Straits and +Bays "are now so well known, that it is apprehended they stand in no +need of any particular description than by the chart or map herewith +delivered; and the limits or boundaries of the lands and countries +lying round the same, comprised, as your memorialists conceive, in the +same grant, are as follows, that is to say: all the lands lying on the +east side or coast of the said Bay, and extending from the Bay +eastward to the Atlantic Ocean and Davis' Strait, and the line +hereafter mentioned as the east and south-eastern boundaries of the +said Company's territories; and towards the north, all the lands that +lie at the north end, or on the north side or coast of the said Bay, +and extending from the Bay northwards to the utmost limits of the +lands; then towards the North Pole; but where or how these lands +terminate is hitherto unknown. And towards the west, all the lands +that lie on the west side or coast of the said Bay, and extending from +the said Bay westward to the utmost limits of those lands; but where +or how these lands terminate to the westward is also unknown, though +probably it will be found they terminate on the Great South Sea, and +towards the south," they propose the line already set out by them, +before and soon after the Treaty of Utrecht, stating that the +Commissioners under that treaty were never able to bring the +settlement of the said limits to a final conclusion; but they urged +that the limits of the territories granted to them, and of the places +appertaining to the French, should be settled upon the footing above +mentioned. + +The Treaty of Utrecht stipulated that the French King should restore +to Great Britain in full right forever, Hudson's Bay, the Straits, and +all lands, rivers, coasts, etc., there situate. Further, that the +Hudson's Bay Company be repaid their losses by French hostile +incursions and depredations in time of peace. + +The Hudson's Bay Company now went farther and asked the Government to +insist that no French vessel should be allowed to pass to the north or +north-west of a line drawn from Grimington's Island and Cape Perdrix. + +One of the most feasible plans of the Company's foes seemed to be to +get hold of some adjacent territory, and from that vantage ground +gradually encroach on the chartered preserves. Such seems to have been +the scheme in July, 1752, when a petition was presented to the Lords +of Trade and Plantations, from "several London Merchants," who sought +a grant of "all that part of America lying on the Atlantic Ocean on +the east part, extending south and north from 52° north latitude from +the equinoctial line to 60° of the same north latitude, called +Labradore or New Britain, not at this time possessed by any of his +Majesty's subjects or the subjects of any Christian prince or state." + +On the receipt of this petition by the Government, the Hudson's Bay +Company was called upon to say whether it laid claim to this tract. In +their reply the Honourable Adventurers referred to the grant of +Charles II. of all rights to trade and commerce of those seas, etc., +within entrance of Hudson's Straits, and of all lands on the coasts +and confines thereof; Labrador throughout its whole extent, from 60° +north latitude to 52°, was therefore alleged to be within their +limits. + +The Company was already settled there, and had spent £10,000 on it. +Moreover, declared the Company, it was a barren land, with few beavers +or other furs of value. + +The Company suggested that the "London Merchants'" aim was to gain a +footing and draw off the Hudson's Bay Company's trade, which it hoped +would not be permitted. This hope of the Adventurers was realized, for +the petition of the London Merchants was not allowed.[66] + +France's fatal hour with respect to her sovereignty over Canada +rapidly approached. In December, 1759, the Company wrote as follows to +the Lords of Plantations:-- + + In prospect of an approaching Treaty of Peace between this + nation and France, and in the hope that the great success his + Majesty's arms have been blessed with, and the many + acquisitions that have been thereby gained from the enemy, will + enable his Majesty to secure to your memorialists satisfaction + for the injuries and depredations they have long since suffered + from the French, which stands acknowledged by treaty and are + stipulated to be made satisfaction for, but through the perfidy + of the enemy, and in disregard of the treaty have hitherto + remained unsatisfy'd; in which the honour of the nation as well + as justice to the individuals, loudly call for redress. + +Halifax and Soame Jenyns thereupon wrote to Pitt in these words: + + Sir,--The Governor and Company of Merchants trading to Hudson's + Bay having presented a memorial to us, stating their claims + with respect to limits and other matters provided for by the + Treaty of Utrecht, and praying that in case of a peace with + France, his Majesty would be graciously pleased to cause + satisfaction to be made to them with respect to such claims, + pursuant to the stipulations of the tenth and eleventh articles + of the said treaty; we beg leave to transmit to you the + enclosed copy of the said memorial for his Majesty's directions + thereupon. + +[Sidenote: Conquest of Canada.] + +While England went mad with joy over Wolfe's victory at Quebec, the +Company thought the time had, at last, come when the indemnity it +claimed so long should be exacted in the treaty of peace which could +not be long delayed. But its sanguine expectations were not destined +to be realized. In vain did the Governor wait at the door of Mr. +Secretary Pitts; in vain did Lord Halifax assure the Company's +secretary that he would make it his own personal business to have the +affair attended to. It was too late in the day.[67] With reason might +the Company's zealous secretary trace in the minutes: "Locked up this +day (November 22nd, 1759), in the Great Iron Chest, a Book containing +estimates of the Company's losses sustained from the French, from 1682 +to 1688." + +The "Great Iron Chest" was to hold the book for many a day, and though +the Company evinced a never-failing alacrity to produce it, yet never +was there to be inscribed the words "settled with thanks," at the foot +of this "little bill against the French." + +We have already been made familiar with the character of the Company's +forts in the Bay so late as the reign of Queen Anne. There had been +almost from the beginning a party amongst the Honourable Adventurers +favourable to the erection of strong forts, not built of logs with +bastions of stone, but of stone throughout, from the designs of +competent engineers. + +A few years after the Company had regained possession of York Factory, +it built (1718) a wooden fort at Churchill River, to which was given +the name of Prince of Wales. In 1730 it constructed another at Moose +River; and about the same time a small post, capable of containing +eight or ten men at Slude River, on the East Main. In 1720 Henley +House, one hundred and fifty miles up Albany River, was built to +contain a garrison of eight men, as a check to the Indians who carried +on a trade with the French. + +[Sidenote: Building of stone forts.] + +But the wooden fort Prince of Wales did not remain long. The +remembrance of their former posts destroyed by fire, and Iberville's +cannon, caused the Company at length to undertake the fortification on +a splendid scale of its best harbour, to safeguard what it designed to +be its principal _entrepôt_ from the French, as well as from the +Indians. Opposition was cried down, and the "fortification party," as +it was called, carried the day. A massive thirty-feet wide foundation +was begun at Churchill, from the plans of military engineers who had +served under Marlborough, and, after many vicissitudes, in 1734 Fort +Prince of Wales, one of the strongest forts on the continent, was +reared at the mouth of Churchill River. + + [Illustration: FORT PRINCE OF WALES.] + +It was the original intention to have the walls forty-two feet thick +at their foundation, but on account of the Governor's interference the +dimensions were reduced to twenty-five. It was afterwards found, +however, that there was a tendency to sink when cannon were fired +frequently from the walls, so one section was forthwith pulled down +and rebuilt according to original plans. Three of the bastions had +arches for storehouses, forty feet three inches by ten feet, and in +the fourth was built a stone magazine twenty-four feet long and ten +feet wide in the clear, with a passage to it through the gorge of the +bastion twenty-four feet long and four feet wide. + +The parapets were originally constructed of wood, supplied by denuding +the old fort, situated five miles up the Churchill River, the site of +which was first occupied in 1688; but in 1746 the Company began +erecting a stone parapet. Robson's plan shows that two houses, a +dwelling and office building, were erected inside the fort, and +incidentally he describes one of the two as being one hundred and +eighty-one feet six inches by thirty-three feet, with side walls +seventeen feet high and the roof covered with lead. + +In 1730 Moose, a new fort, was erected on the site of Moose Factory. +About the same time Richmond Fort was built on Whale River, but it did +not continue a great many years. I find, under date of 21st December, +1758, that "the Governor represented to the Committee that Richmond +Fort did not give a sufficient return to pay the most moderate charge +of supporting it," and it was "resolved that the Company's servants +and effects be withdrawn from there as soon as conveniently may be and +replaced at such of the Company's other factories as shall be found +needful." Further, it was "resolved that a factory with accommodation +for twelve men, with all convenience for trading goods stores, and +provisions, be built as early as possible in the year 1760, in the +most convenient place for that purpose on the north side of Severn +River and as high up as may be." + +At the same time it was ordered that the number of men for York Fort +and the new settlement to be made on the Severn River should be +forty-eight men. + +[Sidenote: Clandestine trade.] + +Clandestine trade was a constantly recurring feature of eighteenth +century life in the Bay. Charges were repeatedly preferred against the +Company's servants, and altogether scores were dismissed as a +punishment for this offence. It must be confessed that there was often +a temptation difficult to resist. Nothing seemed more natural for the +poor apprentice to trade his jack-knife, Jew's-harp or silk kerchief +with an Indian or Esquimau for a peltry; and the only reason, perhaps, +why private bartering was not indulged in more generally was the +certainty of detection. But with the Governors and traders and ship +captains, risk was reduced to a minimum. + +One of the most unfortunate examples was the case of Captain Coats. +This able mariner had been in the employ of the Company for a period +of many years. None was superior to him in knowledge of the Bay and +straits. Captain Coats had been twice shipwrecked, once in 1727, "when +near the meridian of Cape Farewell, when running through the ice with +a small sail, when two pieces of ice shutt upon us and sank our ship"; +and again in 1736, when he was entangled in the ice off Cape +Resolution, when his ship had her sides crushed in and sank in twenty +minutes. Coats drew up a journal for the use of his sons, containing +an elaborate description of the Bay and its approaches, together with +a great deal of relative matter; and this journal, which has received +the honour of publication by the Hakluyt Society, concludes by saying +that if these sons are neglected by the Hudson's Bay Company they are +at liberty, and "it is his will and command that every part be made +publick, for the use and benefit of mankind." + +There is herein, it is almost needless to say, no mention of the +captain's clandestine trading operations, which extended over a long +series of years, and which might never have been made known to the +Company had it not been for the sudden death of Pilgrim, who was +formerly governor at Prince of Wales and Moose Fort. A number of +private letters and papers reached England, incriminating Coats, but +they never reached the public; nor in 1752, were the Hakluyt Society +cognisant of the fate which overtook their author. "Of the writer," +remarks Sir John Barrow, who edited the volume, "the editor can learn +but little; nothing, in fact, is now known of Captain Coats, except +that he was in the Company's service as commander of one or other of +their ships from 1727 to 1751." He added that the memorial was +believed to exist in the Company's archives. + +Under date of November 28th, 1751, I find the following: "The Governor +having acquainted the Committee of this affair, and laid the letters +and papers before them, they were fully examined and the contents +thereof considered." Coats was then called in and told of the +information they had received, and the cause they had to suspect that +he had defrauded the Company by carrying on a clandestine trade +greatly to their prejudice and contrary to the fidelity he owed the +Company. + +[Sidenote: Case of Capt. Coats.] + +Coats at first endeavoured to excuse himself, but finding the proofs +contained in the letter papers (many of which were in his own +handwriting and signature) so strong in evidence against him, at last +owned he was guilty of the offence he was accused of and submitted +himself to the Company, and he was ordered to withdraw while his case +was considered. At the expiration of two hours the culprit was called +in and acquainted with his sentence, which was dismissal from the +service. He was ordered to deliver up the keys of the _King George_, +of which he was commander, together with the stores and the keys of +such stores in the warehouse in his custody belonging to the Company. + +The disgraced captain went home, and after a miserable existence of +some weeks, ended his life by his own hand. On the 20th of February, +there is a letter to the Company from his widow, Mary Coats, which was +read out to the Adventurers assembled. It prayed that the Committee +would "indulge her so far as to order the balance that shall appear +upon her late husband's account to be paid, and to permit her to have +the stores brought home, still remaining in the _King George_; the +profit of these, urged the widow, had always been enjoyed by every +master in the Company's services." Moved by the appeal, Widow Coats +was called in and informed that provided she delivered up to the +Company all the books, papers, charts or drafts belonging to her late +husband and now in her custody, she might expect to meet with the +favour of the Company. "For which she returned thanks and promised to +comply therewith." But the Hakluyt Society's publication of Coats' +journal is sufficient to show that his widow did not keep to the +strict letter of her word. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[62] The number of the Adventurers was, before the enquiry of 1749, a +mystery. By many it was charged that they were not above a dozen or +fifteen. + +[63] Dobbs's "Hudson's Bay," a hysterical work, which was throughout +an attack on Captain Christopher Middleton. + +[64] 1720 + +[65] On June 28th, 1749, at a Company's meeting, an account was made +of the cost of defending the Company's charter, upon the motion made +in the House of Commons. It amounted in the whole to only £755 5s. +10d., exclusive of Sharpe, the Company solicitor's services. + +[66] In refusing to advise the granting of a charter to the Company's +enemies, the Attorney-General, Sir Dudley Ryder, and the +Solicitor-General, Sir William Murray--afterwards Lord Mansfield--drew +up a lengthy and important paper, reviewing the charges against the +Company. Their conclusion was that either the charges were "not +sufficiently supported in point of fact, or were in great measure +accounted for from the nature and circumstances of the case." They +deemed the charter valid for all practical purposes. + +[67] "The Company being apprehensive that Mr. Secretary Pitts' +indisposition should deprive them of an opportunity of conferring with +him in due time, with respect to the Company's claim on the French +nation for depredations in times of peace before the Treaty of +Utrecht, resolved that a petition should be drawn up to his Majesty, +humbly representing such losses and damages, reciting the tenth and +eleventh article of the said treaty, and praying that his Majesty will +give his plenipotentiaries at the approaching congress for a treaty of +peace, such directions as will suffice for justice being done to the +Company by compensation for such losses. Also that the boundaries of +Hudson's Bay may be settled."--_Minute Book_, May 20th, 1761. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +1763-1770. + + Effect of the Conquest on the Fur-trade of the French -- + Indians again Seek the Company's Factories -- Influx of + Highlanders into Canada -- Alexander Henry -- Mystery + Surrounding the _Albany_ Cleared Up -- Astronomers Visit Prince + of Wales' Fort -- Strike of Sailors -- Seizure of Furs -- + Measures to Discourage Clandestine Trade. + + +[Sidenote: Effect of the Conquest.] + +The conquest of Canada by the English in 1760[68] had an almost +instantaneous effect upon the fur-trade of the French. The system of +licenses was swept away with the _régime_ of Intendants of New France. +The posts which, established chiefly for purposes of trade, were yet +military, came to be abandoned, and the officers who directed them +turned their disconsolate faces towards France, or to other lands +where the flag of the lily still waved. The English colonies were not +devoid of diligent traders ready to pursue their calling +advantageously: but they shrank from penetrating a country where the +enemy might yet lurk, a country of whose approaches, and of whose +aspect or inhabitants they knew nothing and feared everything. As for +the Indians themselves, they, for a time, awaited patiently the advent +of the French trader. Spring came and found them at the deserted +posts. They sought but they could not find; "their braves called +loudly, but the sighing trees alone answered their call." Despair at +first filled the bosoms of the Red men when they found that all their +winter's toil and hardships in the forest and over the trail had been +in vain. They waited all summer, and then, as the white trader came +not, wearily they took up their burdens and began their journey anew. + +For a wise Indian had appeared amongst them, and he had said: "Fools, +why do you trust these white traders who come amongst you with beads, +and fire-water and crucifixes? They are but as the crows that come and +are gone. But there are traders on the banks of the great lake yonder +who are never absent, neither in our time nor in the time of our +grandfathers and great-grandfathers. They are like the rock which +cannot be moved, and they give good goods and plenty, and always the +same. If you are wise you will go hence and deal with them, and never +trust more the traders who are like fleas and grasshoppers--here one +minute and flown away the next." + +More than one factor of the Company heard and told of this oft-spoken +harangue, and many there lived to testify to its effect upon the +assembled Indians. Not even was it forgotten or disregarded years +afterwards in the height of the prosperity of the Northmen, whose arts +of suasion were exercised in vain to induce the Red man to forego his +journey to York, Churchill or Cumberland. + +"No," they would say, "we trade with our friends, as our grandfathers +did. Our fathers once waited for the French and Bostonians to come to +their forts, and they lay down and died, and their squaws devoured +them, waiting still. You are here to-day, but will you be here +to-morrow? No, we are going to trade with the Company." + +And so they pressed on, resisting temptation, wayward, though loyal, +enduring a long and rough journey that they might deal with their +friends. + +[Sidenote: The "coureurs de bois."] + +Thus for some years the Company prospered, and did a more thriving +business than ever. But before, however, dealing with the new +_régime_, let us turn for a moment to the Canadian bushrangers and +voyageurs thus cut off from their homes and abandoned by their +officers and employers. Their occupation was gone--whither did they +drift? Too long had they led the untrammelled life of the wilderness +to adjust again the fetters of a civilized life in Montreal or Quebec; +they were attached to their brave and careless masters; these in many +instances they were permitted to follow; but large numbers dispersed +themselves amongst the Indians. Without capital they could no longer +follow the fur-trade; they were fond of hunting and fishing; and so by +allying themselves with Indian wives, and by following the pursuits +and adopting the customs of the Red men, themselves became virtually +savages, completely severed from their white fellows. + +But an influx of Scotch Highlanders had been taking place in Canada +ever since 1745, and some of these bold spirits were quick to see the +advantages of prosecuting, without legal penalty, a private trade in +furs. To these were added English soldiers, who were discharged at the +peace, or had previously deserted. How many of these were slain by the +aborigines, and never more heard of, can never be computed; but it is +certain that many more embarked in the fur-trade and fell victims to +the tomahawk, torch, hunger and disease than there is any record of. + +[Sidenote: Hostility of the Indians to the English.] + +It is certain, also, that the hostility of the tribes, chief amongst +them the Iroquois, to the English, was very great, and this hostility +was nourished for some years by the discontented bushrangers and +voyageurs. In the action of Pontiac at Detroit, and the surprise and +capture of Michilimackinac with its attendant horrors, there is +ample proof, both of the spirit animating the Indians, and the danger +which went hand in hand with the new trade in furs. + + [Illustration: A BLACKFOOT BRAVE. + (_Drawn by Edmund Morris, after photo._)] + +The first of these English traders at Michilimackinac to penetrate +into the west, where the French had gone, is said to be Thomas Curry. +This man, having by shrewdness and ability procured sufficient capital +for the purpose, engaged guides and interpreters, purchased a stock of +goods and provisions, and with four canoes reached Fort Bourbon, which +was situated at the western extremity of Cedar Lake, on the waters of +the Saskatchewan. His venture was successful, and he returned to +Montreal with his canoes loaded with fine furs. But he never expressed +a desire to repeat the performance, although it was not long before +his example was followed by many others. James Finlay was the first of +these; he penetrated to Nipawee, the last of the French posts on the +Saskatchewan, in latitude 53½, and longitude 103. This trader was +equally successful. + +[Sidenote: Henry's expedition.] + +After a career of some years in the vicinity of Michilimackinac, of a +general character, identical with that pursued a hundred years before +by Groseilliers, another intrepid trader, Alexander Henry, decided to +strike off into the North-West. He left "the Sault," as Sault Ste. +Marie was called, on the 10th of June, 1775, with goods and provisions +to the value of £3,000 sterling, on board twelve small canoes and four +larger ones. Each small canoe was navigated by three men, and each +larger one by four. On the 20th they encamped at the mouth of the +Pijitic. It was by this river, he tells us, that the French ascended +in 1750, when they plundered one of the Company's factories in the +bay, and carried off the two small pieces of brass cannon, which fell +again into English hands at Michilimackinac. But here Henry fell into +error; for it was by the River Michipicoten that the French went, and +the factory plundered of its adornments was Moose, not Churchill, and +the year 1756, not 1750. + +Henry himself was going on a sort of plundering expedition against +the Company, which was to be far more effective in setting an example +to others, than any the French had yet carried through. Everywhere as +he passed along there were evidences of the recent French occupation. + +To return to 1767, this year had witnessed a clearing up of the +mystery surrounding the fate of the _Albany_, the first of the vessels +sent by the Company to search for a north-west passage. + + [Illustration: ALEXANDER HENRY.] + +[Sidenote: Fate of the "Albany."] + +The Company was at that time carrying on a black whale fishery, and +Marble Island was made the rendezvous, not merely on account of the +commodious harbour, but because of the greater abundance of whales +there. Under these circumstances the boats, when on the lookout for +fish, had frequent occasion to row close to the island, which led to +the discovery, at the easternmost extremity, of a new harbour.[69] +Upon landing at this place, the crews made a startling discovery. They +found English guns, anchors, cables, bricks, a smith's anvil, and many +other articles lying on the ground, which, though they were very old, +had not been defaced by the hand of time, and which having been +apparently without use to the native Esquimaux, and too heavy to be +removed by them, had not been removed from the spot where they had +originally been laid a little farther inland. The whalers beheld the +remains of a frame house,[70] which, though half destroyed by the +Esquimaux for the wood and iron, yet could plainly be seen at a +distance. Lastly, when the tide ebbed in the harbour there became +visible the hulls of two craft, lying sunk in five fathoms of water. +The figurehead of one of these vessels, together with the guns and +other implements, was shortly afterwards carried to England. The +hypothesis of Governor Norton was instantly and only too correctly +espoused by the Company. On this inhospitable island, where neither +stick nor stump was, nor is to be seen, and which lies sixteen miles +from a mainland, no less inhospitable, perished Knight, Barlow, and +the other members of the exploring expedition of 1719. Thus was a fate +nearly half a century in the balance ascertained at last. + +Two years later some members of a whaling party landed at this same +harbour, and one of their number, perceiving some aged Esquimaux, +determined to question them on the matter. + +"This," says the narrator, "we were the better enabled to do by the +assistance of an Esquimau, who was then in the Company's service as a +linguist, and annually sailed in one of their vessels in that +character. The account received from these aged natives was 'full, +clear and unreserved,' and its purport was in this wise: + +"When the doomed vessels arrived at Marble Island, it was late in the +autumn of 1719, and in making the harbour through the ice, the larger +was considerably damaged. The party landed safely, however, and at +once set about building the house. As soon as the ice permitted, in +the following summer, the Esquimaux paid them a further visit, and +observed that the white strangers were largely reduced in number and +that the survivors were very unhealthy in appearance. According to the +account given by these Esquimaux, these were very busily employed, but +the nature of their employment they could not easily describe. It is +probable they were lengthening the long-boat or repairing the ship, +and to support this conjecture, forty-eight years later there lay, at +a little distance from the house, a quantity of oak chips, 'most +assuredly made by carpenters.'" + +Much havoc must have been thenceforward wrought among the explorers, +who could not repair their ship, which even may by this time have been +sunk; and by the second winter, only twenty souls out of fifty +remained. + +[Sidenote: Wretched death of Knight and his men.] + +That same winter, some of the Esquimaux had taken up their abode on +the opposite side of the harbour to the English, and frequently +supplied them with such provisions as they had, which consisted +chiefly of whale's blubber, seal's flesh and train oil. When the +spring advanced, the natives crossed over to the mainland, and upon +visiting Marble Island in the summer of 1721 found only five of the +white men alive, and those in such distress that they instantly seized +upon and devoured the seal's flesh and whale blubber, given them in +trade by their visitors, in a raw state. This occasioned a severe +physical disorder which destroyed three of the five; and the other +two, though very weak made shift to bury their dead comrades. These +two survivors eked out a wretched existence for many weeks, frequently +resorting to the summit of an adjacent rock, in the vain hope of +being seen by some relief party. But alas, they were doomed to a daily +disappointment; the Esquimaux themselves had little to offer them; and +at last they were seen by the wandering natives to crouch down close +together and cry aloud like children, the tears rolling down their +cheeks. First one of the pair died, and then the other, in an attempt +to dig a grave for his fellow. The Esquimau who told the story, led +the whalers to the spot and showed them the skulls and the larger +bones of the luckless pair, then lying above ground not a great +distance from the dwelling. It is believed that the last survivor must +have been the armourer or smith of the expedition, because according +to the account given by the aborigines, he was always employed in +working iron into implements for them, some of which they could still +show. + +There flourished in 1768 the body known as the "Royal Society for +Improving Natural Knowledge." This society wrote to the Company, +requesting that two persons might be conveyed to and from Fort +Churchill in Hudson's Bay, in some of the Company's ships, "to observe +the passage of Venus over the sun, which will happen on the 3rd of +June, 1769." It was desired that these persons might be maintained by +the Company, and furnished with all necessary articles while on board +and on shore. The Company was asked to furnish them with materials and +the assistance of servants to erect an observatory; the Society +engaging to recoup the Company's whole charge, and desiring an +estimate of the expense. + +[Sidenote: Astronomers at Hudson's Bay, 1769.] + +The Company expressed itself as "ready to convey the persons desired, +with their baggage and instruments, to and from Fort Churchill, and to +provide them with lodging and medicine while there, _gratis_, they to +find their own bedding." The Company demanded £250 for diet during the +absence of the astronomers from England, which would be about eighteen +months. The Adventurers recommended the Society to send the intended +building in frame, with all necessary implements, tools, etc., which +"will be conveyed upon freight, the Royal Society likewise paying for +any clothing that may be supplied the observers during their +residence in Hudson's Bay." + +It is interesting to record that the expedition was entirely +successful. The two astronomers went out to Prince of Wales' Fort, and +returned in the _Prince Rupert_, after having witnessed the transit of +Venus on the 3rd of June, 1769. + +Towards the middle of the century there had grown up a deep prejudice +and opposition towards the Hudson's Bay Company from the sailors and +watermen who frequented the Thames. + +It was alleged that the Company did nothing to make itself popular; +its rules were strict and its wages to seamen were low, albeit it had +never suffered very much from this prejudice until the return of the +Middleton expedition. Many absurd stories became current as to the +Company's policy and the life led by the servants at the factories. +These travellers' tales had been thoroughly threshed out by the +enquiry of 1749. The opponents of the Company had told their "shocking +narratives." It was only natural, perhaps, that these should be passed +about from mouth to mouth, and so become exaggerated beyond bounds. +Upon the discharge and death of Captain Coats a demonstration against +the Company had been talked of at Wapping and Gravesend, but nothing +came of it but a few hootings and bawlings as the ships sailed away on +their annual voyages to the Bay. + +By 1768, however, the dissatisfaction had spread to the Company's own +seamen, and now took an active form. The time was well chosen by the +malcontents, because the public were ready at that time to sympathize +with the movement for the amelioration of the conditions which +characterized the merchant service generally. + +[Sidenote: The Company's seamen strike.] + +A numerous body of seamen forcibly entered the Company's ships in the +River Thames, demanding that wages should be raised to 40s. per month. +They struck the topgallant masts and yards, and lowered the lower +yards close down, and got them in fore and aft. The consequence was +that the crews of the Company's ships and brigantine were compelled +to quit their vessels. + +The moment the tidings of this reached the Governor and Company it was +deemed advisable for the Deputy Governor, Thomas Berens and James +Fitzgerald, Esquires, to "attend his Majesty's principal Secretaries +of State, and such other gentlemen in the Administration as they shall +find necessary, and represent the urgent situation of the Company's +affairs in general." + +This was done forthwith, and the facts of the situation placed before +Viscount Weymouth and Sir Edward Hawke First Lord of the Admiralty. + +Secretary of State Weymouth appeared well disposed to do all the +service in his power to redress the present grievances; that a +memorial should be presented on the Company's behalf. + +While the memorial was being drawn up, the three captains acquainted +the Commissioners that under the present disturbances on the River +Thames, they should not be able to secure the seamen they had already +got, without allowing their sailors 40s. per month. It was then the +18th of May, and the Company considered that the lives of its servants +abroad, and the event of the intended voyage, would not admit of +delay. They therefore told their three captains, and the master of the +_Charlotte_, brigantine, that they would allow the sailors 35s. per +month from their respective entries to this day, inclusive, and 40s. +per month from this day for their voyage out and home. + +Hardly had this been done than a letter was received expressing Lord +Weymouth's great concern on being informed that the Company's ships +had been prevented from sailing until a promise was made to raise the +seamen's wages, and that some acts of violence had been committed to +effect their purpose. From the strong assurance his Lordship had +received that there was no danger of any obstacle to delay the +voyages, he was almost ready to doubt the rumour. + +Berens called on Weymouth and informed him that the Company's critical +situation had already obliged the Company to acquiesce in the demand +of 40s. per month for the seamen's wages. No acts of violence were +committed on board the Company's ship, other than that the crews were +daily forced against their inclination to join the rioters. + +The ships were at length got down to Greenwich and proceeded on their +voyage with despatch. + +But the Company was not yet out of the wood. Clandestine trade was to +be again its bogey. The disaffection had been temporarily arrested +amongst the sailors: but they were hardly prepared to learn that it +extended to the captains themselves, who had, however, the best of +reasons for concealing their feelings. When the ships came home in the +following year the Company received information that a seizure of furs +and other valuable goods brought from Hudson's Bay had been made since +the arrival of the Company's ships that season. Communication was +entered into with the Commissioners of Customs requesting a particular +account of such seizures either from the Company's ships or other +places, "in order that the Commissioners may pursue an enquiry for +detecting the frauds that have been committed to the prejudice of His +Majesty's Revenue and the interest of the Company." + +[Sidenote: Clandestine trade by the Company's captains.] + +Suspicion for the loss of numerous packages of furs now began to +fasten itself upon one of the Company's captains, Horner of the +_Seahorse_. Horner acknowledged that he was not altogether ignorant +that the furs had been abstracted from the hold of his ship. The +Company deliberated on his case, and it was "unanimously resolved that +the said John Horner be discharged from the Company's service." The +other captains were now called in and acquainted with the reasons for +Captain Horner's discharge. The Adventurers declared their +determination to make the like public example of all persons who +should be found to be concerned in clandestine trade. + +In the following year the Company came to a wise decision. Taking into +consideration the state of its trade and the many frauds that "have +been practised and detected," it was concluded that such frauds were +connived at by the Company's chief factors and captains, who were not +only privy thereto, but in consideration for some joint interest, +permitted this illicit trade to be carried on. + +[Sidenote: Salaries increased.] + +The Company seems to have thought that the chief factors and captains +might have been tempted to these nefarious practices by the smallness +of their respective salaries, and therefore in the hope of securing +their fidelity and encouraging diligence and industry, and the +extending of the Company's trade to the utmost to the benefit of the +Company and the revenue, it was decided that a salary of £130 per +annum be allowed the chief factors at York, Albany, and Prince of +Wales' Fort; also the factors about to be appointed at Moose Fort and +Severn House, "in lieu of former salaries, and all trapping +gratuities, and perquisites whatever, except a servant, which is to be +allowed to them as before." + +A gratuity was to be given to all chief factors of three shillings +upon every score of made beaver which they consigned and "which shall +actually be brought home to the Company's account." + +To the captains a gratuity was decreed of one shilling and sixpence +per score of made beaver which they should bring to the Company's +warehouse in good saleable condition. + +To prevent any loss from rioters or dissatisfied sailors the Company +decided, in 1770, to insure their ships and goods for the first time +in its history. The secretary made enquiries at the London Assurance +Office, and reported that the premium would be five per cent. per +annum on each ship during their being in dock, or on the River Thames +above Gravesend; and the same on the ships' stores while they +continued in the Company's warehouse at Ratcliff. Whereupon the +Company insured each of its three ships for £2,000, and the ships' +stores in the above warehouse for £3,000. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[68] France ceded to England "Canada with all its dependencies," +reserving only such part of what had been known as Canada as lay west +of the Mississippi. The watershed between the Missouri and the +Mississippi rivers had been the boundary between Canada and Louisiana +when both were owned by France, and by the treaty of 1763 the River +Mississippi was agreed to as the future boundary between the English +and French possessions in that quarter; the language of the treaty +being, "that the confines between [France and England] in that part of +the world shall be fixed irrevocably by a line drawn along the middle +of the River Mississippi from its source [etc.], to the sea." Very +soon after this treaty, viz., on 7th October, 1763, the Province of +Quebec was erected by Royal Proclamation, but the Province as then +constituted took in very little of what was afterwards Upper Canada +and what is now Ontario; the most north-westerly point was Lake +Nipissing; the whole of the territory adjacent to the great lakes was +excluded. In 1774 the boundaries of Quebec were enlarged by the Quebec +Act. That Act recited that "by the arrangements made by the said Royal +Proclamation a very large extent of territory, within which were +several colonies and settlements of subjects of France, who claimed to +remain therein under the faith of the said treaty, was left without +any provision being made for the administration of civil government +therein." The Act, therefore, provided that "all the territories, +islands and countries in North America belonging to the Crown of Great +Britain, bounded on the south by a line" therein described, "from the +Bay of Chaleurs to the River Ohio, and along the bank of the said +river, westward, to the banks of the Mississippi, and northward to the +southern boundary of the territory granted to the Merchants-Adventurers +of England trading into Hudson's Bay," etc., "be, and they are hereby, +during His Majesty's pleasure, annexed to and made part and parcel of +the Province of Quebec as created and established by the said Royal +Proclamation of the 7th October, 1763." + +[69] It is not a little singular that neither Middleton, Ellis, +Christopher, Johnston nor Garbet, all of which explorers had visited +Marble Island prior to 1767, and some of them often, ever discovered +this harbour. The actual discoverer was Joseph Stephens, commanding +the _Success_, a small vessel employed in the whale fishery. Two years +later Stephens was given the command of the _Charlotte_, a fine brig +of 100 tons, his mate then being Samuel Hearne, the explorer. + +[70] "I have seen," wrote Governor Hearne, "the remains of those +houses several times; they are on the west side of the harbour, and in +all probability will be discernible for many years to come." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +1768-1773. + + Reports of the "Great River" -- Company despatch Samuel Hearne + on a Mission of Discovery -- Norton's Instructions -- Saluted + on his Departure from the Fort -- First and Second Journeys -- + Matonabee -- Results of the Third Journey -- The Company's + Servants in the Middle of the Century -- Death of Governor + Norton. + + +[Sidenote: The "Great River."] + +Some northern Indians, who came to trade at Prince of Wales' Fort in +the spring of 1768, brought further accounts of the "Great River," as +they persisted in calling it, and also produced several pieces of +copper, as specimens of a mine long believed by the traders to exist +in the vicinity. This determined Governor Norton to represent it to +the Company as a matter well worthy their attention. As he went that +year to England, he was given the opportunity of doing so in person; +and in consequence of his representations, the Committee resolved to +despatch an intelligent person by land to observe the latitude and +longitude of the river's mouth, and to make a chart of the country +traversed, with such observations as might lead to a better knowledge +of the region. An intelligent mariner, Samuel Hearne, then in the +Company's employ as mate of the brig _Charlotte_, was selected for the +mission.[71] + +[Sidenote: Hearne's expedition of discovery.] + +Before starting on his journey in 1769, Hearne received full +instructions from Moses Norton, the Governor. He was provided with an +escort and was urged to cultivate, as he went, friendly relations with +the Indians. "Smoke your calumet of peace with their leaders in order +to establish a friendship with them." He was equipped with +instruments, and was required to take account of latitude and +longitude of the chief points visited; he was to seek for a north-west +passage through the continent. But a more immediate and practical +matter was dwelt upon in his letter. "Be careful to observe what mines +are near the river,[72] what water there is at the river's mouth, how +far the woods are from the seaside, the course of the river, the +nature of the soil, and the productions of it; and make any other +remarks that you may think will be either necessary or satisfactory. +And if the said river be likely to be of any utility, take possession +of it on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company by cutting your name on +some of the rocks, and also the date of the year, month, etc." + +Hearne promised to follow these instructions implicitly, and soon +after daybreak on the morning of the 6th of November, the occupants of +the fort assembled to witness the intrepid explorer's departure. A +salute of seven guns and a ringing cheer thrice repeated was +responded to by Hearne, already on his way, with a wave of his cap. + + [Illustration: DOBBS' MAP, 1744.] + +He had not gone far, however, when dissatisfaction broke out amongst +his party. First one Indian guide deserted him and then another; but +trusting to the fidelity of the rest Hearne pressed forward. At last, +nearly the whole party left him, taking at the same time several bags +of powder and shot, his hatchets, chisels and files. His chief guide, +Chaw-chin-ahaw, now advised the explorer to return, and announced his +own intention of travelling to his own tribe in the south-west. + +"Thus," says Hearne, "they set out, making the woods ring with their +laughter, and left us to consider our unhappy situation, nearly two +hundred miles from Prince of Wales' Fort, all heavily laden, and in +strength and spirits greatly reduced by hunger and fatigue." + +Mortifying as the prospect of return was, it was inevitable. They +arrived on the 11th of December, to the astonishment of Norton and the +Company's servants. + +[Sidenote: Second expedition.] + +But Hearne was not to be daunted. On the 23rd of February he again set +out with five Indians. This time his journey was a succession of short +stages, with intervals of a whole day's rest between. These intervals +were occupied in killing deer, or in seeking for fish under the ice +with nets. On one occasion they spent a day in building a more +permanent tent, where they waited for the flights of goose to appear. + +The course had been in a general north-western direction from the +Churchill River, but on the 10th of June the party abandoned the +rivers and lakes and struck out into the barren lands. The following +narrative by Hearne is interesting, because up to that moment no +servant of the Company had ever seen a live musk ox, that "now rare +denizen of the northern solitudes." + +"We had not walked above seven or eight miles before we saw three musk +oxen grazing by the side of a small lake. The Indians immediately went +in pursuit of them, and as some were expert hunters they soon killed +the whole of them. This was, no doubt, very fortunate, but to our +great mortification before we could get one of them skinned, such a +fall of rain came on as to put it out of our power to make a fire, +which, even in the finest weather, could only be made of moss, as we +were nearly a hundred miles from any woods. This was poor comfort for +people who had not broken their fast for four or five days. Necessity, +however, has no law, and having before been initiated into the method +of eating raw meat, we were the better prepared for this repast. But +this was by no means so well relished, either by me or the Southern +Indians, as either raw venison or raw fish had been; for the flesh of +the musk-ox is not only coarse and tough, but smells and tastes so +strong of musk as to make it very disagreeable when raw, though it is +tolerable eating when properly cooked. The weather continued so +remarkably bad, accompanied with constant heavy rain, snow and sleet, +and our necessities were so great by the time the weather permitted us +to make a fire, that we had nearly eaten to the amount of one buffalo +quite raw." + +[Sidenote: Hardships of the journey.] + +What severities of hardship were endured by our traveller may be +judged from his description. "We have fasted many times," he declares, +"two whole days and nights; twice upwards of three days, and once, +while at Shethaunee, near seven days, during which we tasted not a +mouthful of anything except a few cranberries, water, scraps of old +leather and burnt bones. On these pressing occasions I have frequently +seen the Indians examine their wardrobe, which consisted chiefly of +skin clothing, and consider what part could best be spared; sometimes +a piece of an old, half-rotten deerskin, and others a pair of old +shoes, were sacrificed to alleviate extreme hunger." + +It was while in the midst of these sufferings and bitter experiences, +which required all the traveller's courage to endure that a disaster +of a different order happened. It was the 11th of August. Hearne had +reached a point some five hundred miles north-west of Churchill. It +proving rather windy at noon, although otherwise fine, he had let his +valuable quadrant stand, in order to obtain the latitude more exactly +by two altitudes. He then retired to eat his mid-day meal. Suddenly he +was startled by a crash, and looking in the direction, found that a +gust of wind had overturned the instrument and sent it crashing to +earth. As the ground where it stood was very stony, the bubble, +sight-vane and vernier were entirely broken to pieces, and the +instrument thus destroyed. In consequence of this misfortune, the +traveller resolved to retrace his steps wearily back to Prince of +Wales' Fort. + +When he had arrived at Churchill River he had met the friendly chief, +Matonabee,[73] who at once, and with charming simplicity, volunteered +a reason for the troubles which had overtaken the white explorer. He +had taken no women with him on his journey. Said Matonabee: + +[Sidenote: The Indian's estimate of woman.] + +"When all the men are heavy-laden they can neither hunt nor travel to +any considerable distance; and in case they meet with success in +hunting, who is to carry the product of their labour? Women," added +he, "were made for labour; one of them carry or haul as much as two +men can do. They also pitch our tents, make and mend our clothing, +keep up our fires at night, and, in fact, there is no such thing as +travelling any considerable distance, or for any length of time, in +this country, without their assistance. Women," he observed again, +"though they do everything, are maintained at a trifling expense, for +as they always act as cooks, the very licking of their fingers in +scarce times is sufficient for their subsistence." + +Hearne did not reach the fort till towards the close of November. On +the 21st he thus describes the weather: "That night we lay on the +south shore of Egg River, but long before daybreak the next morning, +the weather being so bad, with a violent gale of wind from the +north-west, and such a drift of snow that we could not have a bit of +fire; and as no good woods were near to afford us shelter, we agreed +to proceed on our way, especially as the wind was on our backs; and +though the weather was bad near the surface we could frequently see +the moon and sometimes the stars, to direct us in our course. In this +situation we continued walking the whole day, and it was not until +after ten at night that we could find the smallest tuft of wood to put +up in; for though we well knew we must have passed by several +hummocks of shrubby wood that might have afforded us some shelter, yet +the wind blew so hard and the snow drifted so excessively thick that +we could not see ten yards before us the whole day." + +That night his dog, a valuable animal, was frozen to death, and after +that there was nothing for it but he must himself haul his heavy +sledge over the snowdrifts. + +Twice baffled, yet the intrepid explorer was far from being swerved +from his purpose. Not even the distrust of Norton, who wrote home to +the Company that Hearne was unfit for the task in hand, could +discourage him from making a third attempt. On this journey, his plan +was to secure the company and assistance of Matonabee, and three or +four of the best Indians under that chief; and this was put into +practice on the 7th of December, 1770. This time the departure took +place under different auspices. There was no firing of cannon from the +fort, no cheering, and no hearty Godspeeds from the Governor and his +staff. + +Again, similar adventures to those encountered the first two journeys +were met with. Hearne cultivated the friendship of strange, but not +hostile, savages as he went along. In one locality he took part in +"snaring deer in a pound," or large stockade. The rest of the winter +was spent in such a succession of advances as the weather and state of +the country permitted. In April it was possible to obtain supplies of +birch wood staves for tent poles, and birch rind and timber for +building canoes. Spring enabled the party to proceed with greater +rapidity, and at last a rendezvous at a place called Clowey was +reached. From this point the final dash for the Coppermine River, the +main object of the expedition, must be made. At Clowey some hundreds +of Indians joined the little party to proceed to the Coppermine, and +thus it grew suddenly into a military expedition, for the tribe was +bent on making war on the Esquimaux, should the latter be discovered. + +[Sidenote: The expedition reaches the Arctic.] + +The long-desired spot was attained at last. On the 14th of July Hearne +and his party looked out over the dancing surface of the Coppermine +River, and descending this stream to its mouth beheld the Arctic +Ocean. Hearne thus being the first white man to reach the northern sea +from the interior. + +Says the explorer: "In those high latitudes, and at this season of the +year, the sun is always at a good height over the horizon, so that we +not only had daylight, but sunshine the whole night; a thick fog and +drizzling rain then came on, and finding that neither the river nor +sea were likely to be of any use, I did not think it worth while to +wait for fair weather to determine the latitude exactly by an +observation. For the sake of form, however, after having had some +consultation with the Indians, I erected a mark and took possession of +the coast, on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company. I was not provided +with instruments for cutting on stone, but I cut my name, date of the +year, etc., on a piece of board that had been one of the Indian's +targets, and placed it in a heap of stones on a small eminence near +the entrance of the river, on the south side." + +"It is, indeed," remarks Hearne, "well known to the intelligent and +well-informed part of the Company's servants, that an extensive and +numerous tribe of Indians, called E-arch-e-thinnews, whose country +lies far west of any of the Company's or Canadian settlements, must +have traffic with the Spaniards on the west side of the continent; +because some of the Indians who formerly traded to York Fort, when at +war with those people, frequently found saddles, bridles, muskets, and +many other articles in their possession which were undoubtedly of +Spanish manufacture."[74] + +[Sidenote: Hearne returns to England.] + +Hearne went home to England and related his experiences in a paper +read before his employers, the Honorable Adventurers.[75] It was not +until some years later that it was discovered that he had, either in +ignorance or, according to one of his enemies named Dalrymple, "in a +desire to increase the value of his performance," placed the latitude +of the Coppermine at nearly 71 degrees north instead of at about 67½ +degrees. Hearne's own apology was that after the breaking of his +quadrant[76] on the second expedition, he was forced to employ an old +Elton quadrant, which had for thirty years been amongst the relics and +rubbish of Prince of Wales' Fort. But the geographical societies were +indignant at having been thus imposed upon. + +"I cannot help observing," wrote Hearne, "that I feel myself rather +hurt at Mr. Dalrymple's rejecting my latitude in so peremptory a +manner and in so great a proportion as he has done; because before I +arrived at Cange-cath-a-whachaga, the sun did not set during the whole +night, a proof that I was then to the northward of the Arctic circle." + +Hearne's journey, considering the epoch in which it was undertaken, +the life led by the Company's servants at the forts, and the terrible +uncertainties incident to plunging into an icy wilderness, with no +security against hunger or the attacks of savages, was greater than it +really appeared, and without doubt paved the way for the Company's new +policy. + +With the ship which brought Hearne over from England came a large +number of young Orkney Islanders. + +[Sidenote: Company employ Orkney Islanders.] + +The labouring servants, as has been seen, were first in 1712, and from +about 1775 onwards, procured from the Orkney Islands, their wages +being about £6 a year. They were engaged by the captains of the ships, +usually for a period of five years. Each servant signed a contract on +his entrance into the service to serve for the term and not to return +home until its expiration, unless recalled by the Company. He engaged +during his passage back to do duty as watch on board ship without +extra pay; but that which was the last and principal clause of the +agreement related to illicit trading. He was bound in the most solemn +manner not to detain, secrete, harbour or possess any skin or part of +a skin, on any pretence whatever; but on the contrary, he was to +search after and detect all persons who might be disposed to engage in +this species of speculation. Should he detect any such, he was to +expose them to the Governor. If contrary to this agreement, any +persons should be found bold enough to conceal any peltry or otherwise +infringe his contract, they were to forfeit all the wages due them by +the Company. Although a further penalty was nominally exacted under +the contract, that of a fine of two years' pay, it was rarely carried +into effect, and then only when the delinquent was believed to have +largely profited by his illegal transaction. + +In the early days when a servant's time expired and he was about to +return home, the Governor in person was supposed to inspect his chest, +even examining his bedding and other effects, to see that it contained +not even the smallest marten skin. An almost equally rigorous +surveillance attended the sending of private letters and parcels, not +merely in the Bay alone, but in London. In the latter case, the parcel +of clothing, etc., intended for the Company's distant servant, was +first obliged to be sent to the Hudson's Bay House, and there undergo +a careful examination for fear it should contain anything used in +private trade. + +During the time that the Indians were at the posts trading their +furs, the gates were continually kept closed, it being the regular +employment of one person to see that no one made his exit for fear he +should attempt a private barter with the Indians. While this rule was +rarely relaxed, yet it was not at all of the forts that a too strict +watch was kept on the movements of the employees. At York Fort, +however, during the eighteenth century, if a servant wished to take a +walk on a Sunday afternoon, at a time when no natives were trading, it +was first necessary to apply to the Governor for leave. + +Of the run of the Company's servants in the latter half of the +eighteenth century, a writer of that day has said of them: "They are a +close, prudent, quiet people, strictly faithful to their employers," +adding that they were "sordidly avaricious." + +Whilst these young Scotchmen were scattered about the country in small +parties amongst the Indians, their general behaviour won them the +respect of the savages, as well as procured them their protection. It +is a significant fact that for the first fifteen years of the new +_régime_ the Company did not suffer the loss of a single man, +notwithstanding that their servants were annually exposed to all the +dangers incident to the trade and times. + +[Sidenote: Character of the Company's traders.] + +It was observed that very few of the Canadian servants were to be +entirely trusted with even a small assortment of goods, unless some +substantial guarantee were first exacted. The chances were ten to one +that the master would be defrauded of the whole stock of merchandise, +often through the medium of the Indian women, who were quick to +perceive what an easy prey was the one and how difficult the other. +The French-Canadian traders were brave and hardy; apt in learning the +habits and language of the Indians; dexterous canoemen and of a +lively, not to say boisterous, disposition; but none of these +qualities, nor all together, were often the means of earning the +respect and trust of the natives. And it must not be imagined that +these talents and accomplishments were limited to the Canadians, even +in the earliest days of rivalry. + +"Though such may be the sentiments of their employers," wrote one of +the Company's factors, "let these gentlemen for a while look around +them and survey without prejudice the inhabitants of our own +hemisphere, and they will find people who are brought up from their +infancy to hardships, and inured to the inclemency of the weather from +their earliest days; they will also find people who might be trusted +with thousands, and who are much too familiarized to labour and +fatigue to repine under the pressure of calamity as long as their own +and their master's benefit is in view. I will further be bold to say +that the present servants of the Company may be led as far inland as +navigation is practicable, with more ease and satisfaction to the +owners, than the same number of Canadians." + +The former, it was noted, would be always honest, tractable and +obedient, as well from inclination as from fear of losing their +pecuniary expectations; whereas the latter, being generally in debt, +and having neither good name, integrity nor property to lose, were +always neglectful of the property committed to their charge. Whenever +difficulties arose there was never wanting some amongst them to impede +the undertaking. + +[Sidenote: The council at the forts.] + +The Governor at each factory occasionally had a person to act with +him, who was known as the second or under-factor. These, with the +surgeon and the master of the sloop, constituted a council, who were +supposed to deliberate in cases of emergency or upon affairs of +importance. Amongst the latter were classed the reading of the +Company's general letter, received annually and inditing a reply to +it; the encroachments of their French, at a later period, Canadian +rivals; or the misbehaviour of the servants. In these councils very +little regard, it seems, was paid to the opinion of the subordinate +members, who rather desired to obtain the Governor's favour by +acquiescence rather than his resentment by opposition. + +The Governors were appointed for either three or five years, and their +nominal salary was from £50 to £150 per annum, which the premium on +the trade often trebled and sometimes quadrupled. These officials +commonly reigned as absolute in their petty commands as Eastern +Nabobs; and as it was in a Governor's power to render the lives of +those under them happy or unhappy as they chose, it was only natural +that the inferior servants were most diligent in cultivating their +good will. It was out of the power, of course, for any aggrieved or +dissatisfied servant to return home until the ships came, and if he +then persisted in his intention, the payment of his wages was withheld +until the Company should decide upon his character, which was +furnished in writing by the Governor. Although the voice of an +inferior servant counted but little when opposed to the Governor, yet +there are few instances when the Company, in parting with a servant, +refused him his wages in full. + +It is an old axiom that austerity is acquired by a term of absolute +petty dominion, so that it is not remarkable that the Company's early +Governors were distinguished by this trait in the fullest degree. + +"I had an opportunity," wrote one former factor, "of being acquainted +with many Governors in my time. I could single out several whose +affability and capacity merited a better employment. Some I have known +who despised servility and unworthy deeds; but this was only for a +time, and while young in their stations." + +Such criticism, while doubtless unjust, had yet, applied generally, a +basis of truth. + +[Sidenote: Character of the trading governors.] + +Robson complains of a Governor at Churchill, in his time, who had a +thousand times rendered himself obnoxious to society. But perhaps the +Company had never in its employ a more eccentric and choleric official +than the governor who was in command of York Factory from 1773 to +1784. It is said of him that his bad name extended even across the +Atlantic and reached the Orkney Isles, where the malevolence of his +disposition became a by-word, and restrained many youths from entering +the Company's service. Intoxication seems to have been this Governor's +principal delight, and this was often gratified at the expense of +common prudence, as when the French captured York Factory in 1782; no +common spirits being on hand, he procured raw alcohol from the +surgeon, of which he drank several bumpers to raise his courage. + +Although most of the Company's early trading Governors were, in spite +of their tempers and habits, persons of education and intelligence, +yet there were occasional exceptions. One, Governor Hughes, was said +to be incapable of casting up a simple sum in addition; numeral +characters being almost unknown to him; nor was his success in writing +his own name greater. Yet his courage and business ability was beyond +question. + +It has already been observed that the Company were accustomed to treat +with much deference, and to place great reliance upon their chief +factors while these were at their posts in the Bay; yet it must not be +supposed that the same consideration was extended to them on their +return home. A Governor, it was said by one of the Company's servants, +might attend the Hudson's Bay House, and walk about their Hall for a +whole day without the least notice being taken of his attendance. It +is related that one such Governor, after having served the Company for +a matter of seventeen years, went home in 1782, expecting to reap in +person some of the rewards of his faithful service in the compliments +and attentions of the Adventurers as a body. But, to his chagrin, not +the slightest notice was taken of him, and he returned without having +even been introduced to a single partner. + +[Sidenote: Death of Governor Norton.] + +On the 29th of December, 1773, there died one of the notable +characters in the Bay, Governor Moses Norton. Norton was an Indian +half-breed, the son of a previous Governor, Richard Norton. He was +born at Prince of Wales' Fort, but had been in England nine years, and +considering the small sum spent on his education, had made +considerable progress in literature. At his return to the Bay, +according to Hearne, he entered into all the abominable vices of his +countrymen. He established a seraglio, in which figured five or six +of the most comely Indian maidens. Yet, although somewhat lax in his +morality himself, he seems to have been by no means indulgent to +others. To his own friends and relatives, the Indians and half-breeds, +it is said, he was "so partial that he set more value on, and showed +more respect to, one of their favourite dogs than he ever did to his +first officer." This is probably a spiteful exaggeration, but it is +certain that Norton, although a man of ability, was not very popular. +His great desire was to excite admiration for his skilful use of +drugs. "He always," declared one of the Governor's enemies, "kept +about him a box of poison to administer to those who refused him their +wives or daughters." With all these bad qualities, no man took greater +pains to inculcate virtue, morality and continence upon others; always +painting in the most glaring colours the jealous and revengeful +disposition of the Indians, when any attempt was made to violate the +chastity of their wives and daughters. + +His apartments at the fort were not only convenient, but had some +pretensions to elegance, and were always crowded with his favourites. +As this Governor advanced in years, his jealousy increased, and it is +said he actually poisoned two of his women because he thought they had +transferred their affections elsewhere. He had the reputation of being +a most notorious smuggler; but though he put many thousands into the +pockets of the Company's captains, he seldom put a shilling into his +own. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[71] From the good opinion we entertain of you, and Mr. Norton's +recommendation, we have agreed to raise your wages to £130 per annum +for two years, and have placed you in our council at Prince of Wales' +Fort; and we should have been ready to advance you to the command of +the _Charlotte_, according to your request, if a matter of more +immediate consequence had not intervened. + +Mr. Norton has proposed an inland journey, far to the north of +Churchill, to promote an extension of our trade, as well as for the +discovery of a north-west passage, copper mines, etc.; and as an +undertaking of this nature requires the attention of a person capable +of taking an observation for determining the longitude and latitude +and also distances, and the course of rivers and their depths, we have +fixed upon you (especially as it is represented to us to be your own +inclination) to conduct this journey with proper assistants. + +We therefore hope you will second our expectations in readily +performing this service, and upon your return we shall willingly make +you any acknowledgment suitable to your trouble therein. + +We highly approve of your going in the _Speedwell_ to assist in the +whale-fishery last year, and heartily wish you health and success in +the present expedition. + + We remain your loving friends, + + Bibye Lake, Deputy Governor. + John Anthony Merle. + Robert Merry. + Samuel Wegg. + James Winter Lake. + Herman Berens. + Joseph Sparrel. + James FitzGerald. + + +[72] "No man," says Hearne, "either English or Indian, ever found a +bit of copper in that country to the south of the seventy-first degree +of latitude, unless it had been accidentally dropped by some of the +far northern Indians on their way to the Company's factory." + +[73] "This leader," says Hearne, "when a youth, resided several years +at the above Fort and was not only a perfect master of the Southern +Indian language, but by being frequently with the Company's servants +had acquired several words of English and was one of the men who +brought the latest accounts of the Coppermine River. It was on his +information, added to that of one I-dot-le-ezry (who is since dead), +that this expedition was set on foot." + +[74] "I cannot sufficiently regret," wrote Hearne in 1796, "the loss +of a considerable vocabulary of the northern Indian language, +containing sixteen folio pages, which was lent to the late Mr. +Hutchins, then corresponding secretary to the Company, to copy for +Captain Duncan, when he went on discoveries to Hudson's Bay in the +year 1790. But Mr. Hutchins dying soon after, the vocabulary was taken +away with the rest of his effects and cannot now be recovered, and +memory, at this time, will by no means serve to replace it." + +[75] The Company had previously written thus to its servant, Mr. +Samuel Hearne:-- + +Sir,--Your letter of the 28th August last, gave us the agreeable +pleasure to hear of your safe return to our factory. Your journal and +the two charts you sent sufficiently convinces us of your very +judicious remarks. + +We have, naturally, considered your great assiduity in the various +accidents which occurred in your several journeys. We hereby return +you our grateful thanks, and to manifest our obligation we have +consented to allow you a gratuity of £200 for those services. + +[76] "Mr. Dalrymple, in one of his pamphlets relating to Hudson's Bay, +has been so very particular in his observations on my journey, as to +remark that I have not explained the construction of the quadrant +which I had the misfortune to break in my second journey to the North. +It was a Hadley quadrant, with a bubble attached to it for a horizon, +and made by Daniel Scatlif, of Wapping."--_Hearne._ + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +1773-1782. + + Company Suffers from the Rivalry of Canadians -- Cumberland + House built -- Debauchery and license of the Rivals -- + Frobisher Intercepts the Company's Indians -- The Smallpox + Visitation of 1781 -- La Pérouse appears before Fort Prince of + Wales -- Hearne's Surrender -- Capture of York Fort by the + French -- The Post Burned and the Company's Servants carried + away Prisoners. + + +The Company was not immediately advised of the ruinous proceedings of +the Montreal traders by its governors at York and Churchill. But at +length the diminution of trade became marked. The Indians continued to +bring in reports of other white traders speaking English, who +intercepted them and gave them trinkets and rum in exchange for their +furs. They declared they were conscious of having made a bad bargain +in not continuing onward to the Company's posts, but what could they +do? "The _Bostonnais_[77] was cunning and he deceived the Indian." At +last, in view of this, it was felt that further delay were folly. + +[Sidenote: Cumberland House built.] + +In the spring of 1773 instructions were sent out to Governor Norton to +despatch Hearne westward and establish a post in the interior. By this +time the rival Canadian traders had carried the trade beyond the +French limits, although, for reasons to be disclosed, all their +activity was in vain, so far as material results either to themselves +or their employers or capitalists were concerned, not to mention the +aborigines themselves. + +Hearne hit upon what he considered a good site for the new post at +Sturgeon Lake, on the eastern bank, in latitude 53°, 56 and longitude +102°, 15. The post prospered almost from its foundation. The +neighbouring tribes found that here were to be procured a larger and +better assortment of goods than the Canadians brought them, and +frequented it in preference.[78] + +For several years now a trade with the Indians had been carried on in +the footsteps of the French license-holders. + + [Illustration: VISIT TO AN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT.] + +What was to be expected when the character of the Montreal traders +themselves, and the commerce they prosecuted, was considered, soon +happened. This army of half-wild men, armed to the teeth, unhampered +by legal restraint, constantly drinking, carousing and quarrelling +amongst themselves, gradually spread over the north-west, sowing crime +and anarchy wherever they went. The country they traded in was so +distant, and their method of transportation so slow, that they were +fortunate if they reached their winter quarters without leaving the +corpses of several of their number to mark their path. + +Was it singular that trade carried on in such a fashion, and with +results so ruinous, should cause the "partners," as these unhappy +individuals, who had furnished the funds, were called, to contemplate +the future with dismay? Season after season the "winterers" returned +to the Grand Portage with the same tale; and season after season were +better profits promised, but never, alas, for their dupes, were these +promises fulfilled! + +[Sidenote: Frobisher intercepts Company's Indians.] + +Matters were thus going from bad to worse in this way, when one sober +and enterprising trader, Joseph Frobisher, resolved to leave the +beaten track and penetrate nearer to the Company's Factory, at +Churchill, than had yet been done. In the spring of 1775, as a band of +Indians were on their way as usual to Prince of Wales' Fort, they were +met by Frobisher, who caused them to halt and to drink and smoke with +him. The chiefs imagined he was one of the Company's factors, and +Frobisher did not choose to undeceive them. His wares being of a +better quality than those of his compeers, the Indians suffered +themselves to be persuaded to trade on the spot, which was at a +portage afterwards called by the Montreal traders La Traite, on +account of this episode. The Indians, nevertheless, resumed their +journey to Churchill River, where the indignation of Hearne and the +Council knew no bounds. He informed the Indians that a "scurvy trick" +had been played upon them; and so characterized it in his journal. A +few having still some of the heavier furs by them, were paid double, +as an encouragement to their future discrimination. Nevertheless, in +spite of all, the "scurvy trick" was repeated by Frobisher the +following year, both times securing enormous booty.[79] + +The difficulties and sufferings of these two undertakings, however, +affected him with a distaste for a repetition; but he sent his brother +Benjamin to explore the region still farther. This he accomplished, +going as far west as the Lake of Isle a la Crosse. + +The difficulties of transport are pointed out in letters of Frobisher +and McGill. The value of each canoe load, on arrival at +Michilimackinac, had been estimated, in 1780, to be £660 currency, +equal to $2,640, showing the cost of transport by the Ottawa to have +been $640 for each canoe; the value at Montreal having been $2,000. In +April, 1784, Benjamin Frobisher wrote that twenty-eight canoes were +ready to be sent off, valued at £20,000 currency, or $80,000, a sum +for each canoe largely in excess of the estimate of four years before. + +Frobisher's success in intercepting the Company's Indians induced +others to attempt a similar course. The idea was, of course, to give +goods of a better character, and to travel so far into the savage +country as to relieve the Indian, who always contemplated the annual +journey to the Company's post with repugnance of such necessity. In +1779 Peter Pond, an able, but desperate character, was the first to +attempt storing such goods as he could not bring back immediately, in +one of the wintering huts at Elk River, against his return the +following season. This imitation of a Company's post proved +successful, and led to its being repeated on a larger scale. + +But matters were not equally propitious with the vast bulk of the +peddlers, bushrangers, swashbucklers, and drunken half-breeds who were +comprised in the Canadian trading fraternity. A numerous crew of them +got from their winter quarters at Saskatchewan to the Eagle Hills in +the spring of 1780. Here they held high carouse amidst a body of +Indians as drunken, and much more noisy and abandoned, as themselves. +One of the traders becoming tired of the continued application of an +Indian for more grog, gave him a dose of laudanum. The savage +thereupon staggered a few steps away, lay down and died. A cry went up +from the man's wives, a skirmish ensued, and the sun went down on +seven corpses. One of the traders, two of his men, and four half-breed +voyageurs lost their lives, and the rest were forced to abandon their +all and take to flight. + + [Illustration: INDIAN TRAPPERS. + (_From "Picturesque Canada," by permission._)] + +The same spring, two of the Canadian posts on the Assiniboine River +were assailed during a quarrel. Several white men and a large number +of Indians were killed. + +[Sidenote: Terrible smallpox epidemic.] + +The fearful act of vengeance which might now have been meditated at +this juncture was never carried out, for in 1781 an epidemic of +smallpox broke out, wreaking a memorable destruction upon all the +Indians of Rupert's Land. + +It is worthy of remark, the extraordinary and fatal facility with +which this disease had always made headway among the aborigines of the +North American continent. There must have been some predisposition in +their constitutions which rendered them an easy prey to this scourge +of Europe. Later, when the boon, brought into Europe by Lady Mary +Montague arrested and partially disarmed the monster, smallpox had +wrought unmitigated havoc amongst whole tribes and circles of the Red +men, more than decimating the entire population and occasionally +destroying whole camps, while leaving scarcely more than one +shrivelled hag to relate to the Company's factors the fell tale of +destruction. + +The scourge which depopulated vast regions naturally cleared the +country of white traders. Two parties did, indeed, set out from +Montreal in 1781-82, with the avowed intention of making permanent +settlements on Churchill River and at Athabasca. But the smallpox had +not yet done its worst, and drove them back with only seven packages +of beaver. This season was a better one than the preceding for the +Company's factories; but an event now happened scarcely foreseen by +anyone. England and France had been again at war, but none had as yet +dreamt of a sea attack on the Company's posts in the Bay. Such a thing +had not happened for upwards of eighty years, and the conquest of +Canada seemed to so preclude its probability that the Adventurers had +not even instructed its governors to be on the alert for a possible +foe. + +Up to the era of the terrible smallpox visitation in 1782, the remote +Chippewas and far-off tribes from Athabasca and the Great Slave Lake, +travelling to Prince of Wales' Fort, must have gazed with wonder at +its solid masonry and formidable artillery. The great cannon whose +muzzles stared grimly from the walls had already been woven into +Indian legend, and the Company's factors were fond of telling how the +visiting Red men stood in astonishment for hours at a time before this +fortress, whose only parallel on the continent was Quebec itself. + +[Sidenote: French attack Fort Prince of Wales, 1782.] + +Fort Prince of Wales had been built, as we have seen, at a time when +the remembrance of burned factories and posts easily captured and +pillaged by French and Indians was keen amongst the Honourable +Adventurers. But that remembrance had long since faded; the reasons +for which the fort had been built had seemingly vanished. Wherefore +gradually the garrison waned in numbers, until on the 8th of August, +1782, only thirty-nine defenders[80] within its walls witnessed the +arrival of three strange ships in the Bay. Instantly the word ran from +mouth to mouth that they were three French men-of-war. All was +consternation and incredulity at first, quickly succeeded by anxiety. +Two score pair of English eyes watched the strangers, as pinnace, gig +and long-boat were lowered, and a number of swarthy whiskered sailors +began busily to sound the approaches to the harbour. As may be +believed, an anxious night was passed in the fort by Governor Samuel +Hearne and his men. Daybreak came and showed the strangers already +disembarking in their boats, and as the morning sun waxed stronger, an +array of four hundred troops was seen to be drawn up on the shore of +Churchill Bay, at a place called Hare Point. Orders were given to +march, and with the flag of France once more unfurled on these distant +sub-Arctic shores, the French attacking party approached the Company's +stronghold. + +When about four hundred yards from the walls they halted, and two +officers were sent on ahead to summon the Governor to surrender. The +French ships turned out to be the _Sceptre_, seventy-four guns, the +_Astarte_, and the _Engageante_, of thirty-six guns each, and the +force possessed besides four field guns, two mortars, and three +hundred bomb-shells. This fleet was in command of Admiral Pérouse. + +It appears that La Pérouse had counted on arriving just in time to +secure a handsome prize in the Company's ships, for which he had lain +in wait in the Bay. Hearne seems to have been panic-stricken and +believed resistance useless. + +To the surprise of the French, a table cloth snatched up by the +Governor was soon seen waving from the parapet of the fort. Fort +Prince of Wales had thus yielded without a shot being fired on either +side. + +The French admiral lost no time in transporting what guns he could +find to his ships, and replenishing his depleted commissariat from the +well-filled provision stores of the fort.[81] + +La Pérouse was both angry and disappointed at the escape of the +Company's ships and cargoes. One of these ships, bound for Fort +Churchill, he had met in the Bay and immediately sent a frigate in +pursuit. But Captain Christopher, by the steering of the French +frigate, judged rightly that her commander knew nothing of the +course, and so resorted to strategy. When night came he furled his +sails, as if about to anchor, a proceeding which the French captain +imitated. When he had anchored, the Company's vessel re-set her sails, +and was soon many leagues distant by the time the French fleet reached +Churchill River. + +Possession was followed by license on the part of the soldiers, and +the utter looting of the fort. An attempt was made, occupying two +days, to demolish it; but although French gunpowder was freely added +to the Company's store, yet the walls resisted their best efforts. + + [Illustration: RUINS OF FORT PRINCE OF WALES.] + +Of solid masonry, indeed, was Prince of Wales' Fort. The French +artillerymen could only displace the upper rows of the massive granite +stones, dismount its guns, and blow up the gateway, together with the +stone outwork protecting it. + +It has been remarked as strange that Hearne, who had proved his +personal bravery in his Arctic travels, should have shown such a +craven front on this occasion to the enemy. + +Indeed, Umfreville, who was himself taken prisoner at the capture of +the fort, declared that he, with others, were disgusted at the +Governor's cowardice. He asserted that the French were weak and +reduced in health after a long sea voyage, most of them wretchedly +clad, and half of the entire number barefoot. + +"I assume, your Honours," wrote John Townsend, "that had we shown a +front to the enemy, our fort would have outlasted their ammunition, +and then they would have been completely at our mercy." + +[Sidenote: Hearne blamed for surrendering.] + +The Company was very indignant at the conduct of Governor Hearne. They +demanded the reason of his not sending a scout overland to apprise the +Governor of York Factory of the enemy's proximity. To this Hearne +replied that he was given no opportunity, and that any such scout +would have been inevitably seized and slain. + +On the 11th of August the French fleet set sail for Port Nelson and +anchored there. One of the Company's ships was in the harbour at the +time, and the captain, perceiving the approach of three large ships, +and scenting danger, put out to sea in the night. He was instantly +pursued by a frigate, which obviously outsailed him. Whereupon Captain +Fowler tacked and made for the south in the hope of enticing the +Frenchman into shallow water. But her commander was by no means to +become so easy a prey to destruction, and refused to follow. + +On the following day the news was brought to the Governor that the +enemy was landing in fourteen boats, provided with mortars, cannon, +scaling ladders, and about three hundred men, exclusive of marines. + +York Factory at this time was garrisoned by sixty English and twelve +Indians. Its defence consisted of thirteen cannon, twelve and nine +pounders, which formed a half-moon battery in front; but it being +thought probable that the enemy would arrive in the night and turn +these guns against the fort, they were overturned into the ditch. On +the ramparts were twelve swivel guns mounted on carriages, and within +were abundance of small arms and ammunition. Besides, a rivulet of +fresh water ran within the stockades; and there were also thirty head +of cattle and as many hogs within the confines of the fort. + +On the 22nd, two Indian scouts were sent out to obtain intelligence; +these returned in about three hours with the information that, in +their judgment, the enemy were less than a league distant. Indeed they +had heard several guns fired in the neighbourhood of the fort; and at +sunset of that day all could plainly discern a large fire, presumably +kindled by the French about a mile and a half to the west. + +[Sidenote: French attack York factory.] + +At ten o'clock the next morning, the enemy appeared before the gates. +"During their approach," says one of those in the fort at the time, "a +most inviting opportunity offered itself to be revenged on our +invaders by discharging the guns on the ramparts, which must have done +great execution." + +Unhappily, the Governor was hardly the man for such an occasion. He +knew nothing of war, and had a wholesome dread of all armed and +equipped soldiery. He trembled so that he could scarcely stand, and +begged the surgeon, "for God's sake to give him a glass of liquor to +steady his nerves." There being none at hand, he swallowed a tumbler +of raw spirits of wine. This so far infused courage and determination +into his blood, that he peremptorily declared he would shoot the first +man who offered to fire a gun. Dismay took possession of many of the +Company's servants, and the second in command and the surgeon +endeavoured to expostulate. To avert this, the Governor caught up a +white sheet with his own hand and waved it from a window of the fort. +This was answered by the French officer displaying his pocket +handkerchief. + +Under the sanction of this flag of truce, a parley took place. The +Governor was summoned to surrender within two hours. + +But no such time was needed by the Governor; and the fort was most +ingloriously yielded in about ten minutes. In vain did the council +plead that this fort might have withstood the united efforts of double +the number of those by whom it was assailed in an attack with small +arms. In vain they demonstrated that from the nature of the enemy's +attack by way of Nelson River, they could not use their mortars or +artillery, the ground being very bad and interspersed with woods, +thickets and bogs. The Governor was resolved to yield the place, and +he carried out his intention much to the astonishment and satisfaction +of La Pérouse. + +[Sidenote: Unwise surrender.] + +The unwisdom of the surrender was afterwards made too apparent. It was +made to a half-starved, half-shod body of Frenchmen, worn out by +fatigue and hard labour, not a man of whom was familiar with the +country. It was perceived also, when it was too late, that the enemy's +ships lay at least twenty miles from the factory, in a boisterous sea. +Consequently, they could not co-operate with their troops on shore, +save with the greatest difficulty and uncertainty, and if the fort had +held out a few weeks it would have been impossible. The French troops +could have received no supplies but what came from the ships; and +cold, hunger and fatigue were working hourly in favour of the +Company's men. + +La Pérouse now issued orders for the fort to be evacuated and burned, +and the Company's people were taken prisoners. + +The Company suffered great loss by the capture of York Factory, which +had, as we have seen, remained in their possession since the Treaty of +Utrecht. The whole of the furs which had not yet been sent on board +the ship were destroyed, as well as a large quantity of stores, +implements and appliances which had been collecting for nearly seventy +years. + +This expedition had resulted in two cheap conquests for La Pérouse. +But the fortunes of war bade fair to alter the situation. The Company +sent in a bill to the British Government of many thousands of pounds +for failing to protect their fort on Churchill River; and when peace +was proclaimed, the French plenipotentiary agreed on behalf of his +master to settle this bill. + +Fort Prince of Wales was never rebuilt. Its ruins stand, to-day, to +mark the most northern fortress on the continent of North America, +scarcely inferior in strength to Louisburg or to Quebec. "Its site," +remarks Dr. Bell, "was admirably chosen; its design and armament were +once perfect; interesting still as a relic of bygone strife, but +useful now only as a beacon for the harbour it had failed to protect." +Although the French themselves sustained no loss from the English in +their brief campaign against the fort; yet, owing to the severity of +the climate and their own inexperience, they lost five large boats, a +considerable quantity of merchandise and fifteen soldiers who were +drowned in Hays' River after the surrender of the fort. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[77] The Eastern traders were always known by this title, as though +hailing from Boston, in contradistinction to the "King George men." + +[78] Upon the new post was bestowed the name of Cumberland House. + +[79] The following were the prices paid by the Company about 1780, at +its inland posts:-- + + A gun 20 Beaver skins. + A strand blanket 10 do. + A white do. 8 do. + An axe of one pound weight 3 do. + Half a pint of gunpowder 1 do. + Ten balls 1 do. + +The principal profits accrued from the sale of knives, beads, flint, +steels, awls and other small articles. Tobacco fetched one beaver skin +per foot of "Spencer's Twist," and rum "not very strong," two beaver +skins per bottle. + +[80] "What folly," asks one of the Company's servants, "could be more +egregious than to erect a fort of such extent, strength and expense +and only allow thirty-nine men to defend it?" + +[81] An account of Hearne's journey was found in MS. among the papers +of the Governor, and La Pérouse declares in his memoirs that Hearne +was very pressing that it should be returned to him as his private +property. "The goodness of La Pérouse's heart induced him to yield to +this urgent solicitation, and he returned the MS. to him on the +express condition, however, that he should print and publish it +immediately on his arrival in England." "Notwithstanding this," +observes Mr. Fitzgerald, "Hearne's travels did not appear until 1795, +_i.e._, twenty-three years after they were performed." This gentleman, +so distinguished in his zeal to prove a case against the Company, +evidently overlooks the circumstance of the gist of travels having +been issued in pamphlet form in 1773 and again in 1778-80. The volume +of 1795 was merely an application--the product of Hearne's leisure +upon retirement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +1783-1800. + + Disastrous Effects of the Competition -- Montreal Merchants + Combine -- The North-Westers -- Scheme of the Association -- + Alexander Mackenzie -- His two Expeditions Reach the Pacific -- + Emulation Difficult -- David Thompson. + + +[Sidenote: Competition of the Canadian traders.] + +For many years up to 1770, before the traders from Canada had +penetrated their territory, York Factory had annually sent to London +at least 30,000 skins. There were rarely more than twenty-five men +employed in the fort at low wages. In 1790 the Company maintained +nearly one hundred men at this post, at larger wages, yet the number +of skins averaged only about 20,000 from this and the other posts. The +rivalry daily grew stronger and more bitter. Yet from what has been +seen of the habits and character of the Canadian bushrangers and +peddlers, it is almost unnecessary to say that the Company's Scotchmen +ingratiated themselves more into the esteem and confidence of the +Indians wherever and whenever the two rivals met. The advantage of +trade, it has been well said, was on their side--because their honesty +was proven. But there was another reason for the greater popularity of +the Company amongst the natives, and it was that the principal +articles of their trading goods were of a quality superior to those +imported from Canada. + +The extraordinary imprudence and ill-manner of life which +characterized the Montreal traders continually offset the enterprise +and exertions of their employers. Many of these traders had spent the +greater portion of their lives on this inland service; they were +devoid of every social and humane tie, slaves to the most corrupting +vices, more especially drunkenness. So that it is not strange that +they were held in small esteem by the Indians, who, a choice being +free to them, finding themselves frequently deceived by specious +promises, were not long in making up their minds with whom to deal. + +"Till the year 1782," says Mackenzie, "the people of Athabaska sent or +carried their furs regularly to Fort Churchill, and some of them have +since that time repaired farther, notwithstanding they could have +provided themselves with all the necessaries which they required. The +difference of the price set on goods here and at the factory, made it +an object with the Chippewans to undertake a journey of five or six +months, in the course of which they were reduced to the most painful +extremities, and often lost their lives from hunger and fatigue. At +present, however, this traffic is, in a great measure, discontinued, +as they were obliged to expend in the course of their journey, that +very ammunition which was its most alluring object." + +[Sidenote: Montreal merchants combine.] + +But the Company was now threatened with a more determined and +judicious warfare by the better class of Canadian traders. The +enterprise had been checked, first by the animosity of the Indians, +and at the same time by the ravages of the smallpox, but during the +winter of 1783-4, the Montreal merchants resolved, for the better +prosecution of their scheme, to effect a junction of interests, by +forming an association of sixteen equal shares, without, however, +depositing any capital. The scheme was to be carried out in this way: +Each party was to furnish a proportion of such articles as were +necessary in the trade, while the actual traders, or "wintering +partners," of these merchants were to receive each a corresponding +share of the profits. To this association was given, on the suggestion +of Joseph Frobisher, the name of the North-West Company. The chief +management of the business was entrusted to the two Frobishers and +Simon McTavish, another Scotch merchant in Montreal. + +In May, 1784, accordingly, Benjamin Frobisher and McTavish went to the +Grand Portage with their credentials from the other partners in the +new undertaking. Here they met the bulk of the traders and voyageurs, +who were delighted to hear of the new scheme. These entered heartily +into the spirit of the undertaking, and that spring embarked for the +west with the merchandise and provisions brought them, with a lighter +heart than they had known for years, and with a determination to +profit by the disasters of the past. Not all of the chief traders, it +must be said, cast in their lots with the new company. Two, named Pond +and Pangman, opposed it; and finding a couple of merchants who were +willing to furnish sufficient capital, resolved to strike out for +themselves as rivals to the North-West company. This action +occasioned, as might be expected, great bitterness and disorder. +Nevertheless, it was the means of bringing to light a young Scotchman +from the Isles, whose name will be forever linked with the North-West. +His name was Alexander Mackenzie. + +[Sidenote: Alexander Mackenzie.] + +This young man had been for five years in the counting-house of +Gregory, one of the merchants who had allied themselves with the two +malcontents. It was now decided that Mackenzie should set out with +Pond and Pangman in their separate trading venture into the distant +Indian country. A more perilous business than this can scarcely be +imagined. Besides the natural difficulties, the party had to encounter +all the fiercest enmity and opposition of which the adherents of the +new association were capable. It is enough to say that after a fearful +struggle they forced the latter to allow them a participation in the +trade. But the feat which resulted in the coalition of the two +interests in 1787 cost them dear. One of the partners was killed, +another lamed for life, and many of their voyageurs injured. Yet the +establishment thus joined, and shorn of all rivals save the Great +Company, was placed on a solid basis, and the fur-trade of Canada +began to assume greater proportions than it had yet done under the +English _régime_. As this North-West concern was finally itself to +merge into the Company of which these chapters are the history, it +will not be unprofitable to glance at its constitution and methods, +particularly as the economic fabric was to be likewise transferred and +adapted to its Hudson's Bay rival. + + [Illustration: SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE.] + +[Sidenote: The North-West company.] + +It was then, and continued to be, merely an association of merchants +agreeing among themselves to carry on the fur-trade by itself, +although many of these merchants plied other commerce. "It may be +said," observes Mackenzie, "to have been supported entirely on credit; +for whether the capital belonged to the proprietor, or was borrowed, +it equally bore interest, for which the association was annually +accountable." The company comprised twenty shares unequally divided +and amongst the parties concerned. "Of these a certain proportion was +held by the people who managed the business in Canada and were styled +agents for the company. Their duty was to import the necessary goods +from England, store them at their own expense at Montreal, get them +made up into articles suited to the trade, pack and forward them and +supply the cash that might be wanting for the outfits." For all this +they received, besides the profit on their shares, an annual +commission on the business done. A settlement took place each year, +two of the partners going to Grand Portage to supervise affairs of +that growing centre, now outrivalling Detroit, Michilimackinac and +Sault Ste. Marie. The furs were seen safely to the company's warehouse +in Montreal, where they were stored pending their shipment to England. +This class were denominated agents for the concern. + +Then there was the other proprietary class--the actual traders, who +conducted the expeditions amongst the Indians and furnished no +capital. If they did amass capital by the trade they could invest it +in the company through the agents, but could never employ it +privately. There were several who from long service and influence who +had acquired double shares and these were permitted to retire from +activity, leaving one of such shares to whichever young man in the +service they chose to nominate, provided always he was approved by the +company. Such successions, we are told, were considered as due to +either seniority or exceptional merit. The retiring shareholder was +relieved from any responsibility concerning the share he transferred +and accounted for it according to the annual value or rate of the +property. Thus the trader who disposed of his extra share had no +pecuniary advantage from the sale, but only drew a continuous profit +from the share which as a sleeping partner he retained. + +[Sidenote: Partnership regulations.] + +By such means all the younger men who were not provided for at the +inception of the North-West company, or when they afterwards entered +into service, were likely to succeed to the situation and profits of +regular partners in the concern. By their contract they entered the +company's service as articled clerks for five or seven years. +Occasionally they succeeded to shares before the expiration of their +apprenticeship. None could be admitted as a partner unless he had +first served such apprenticeship to the fur-trade, therefore shares +were transferable only to the concern at large. As for the sleeping +partner he could not, of course, be debarred from selling out if he +chose, but if the transaction were not countenanced by the rest, his +name continued to figure in committee, the actual owner of the share +being regarded as merely his agent or attorney. A vote accompanied +every share, two-thirds constituting a majority. + +Such, in brief, was the remarkable constitution of this commercial +body--a constitution which was in those days wholly unique. By such +regular and equitable methods of providing for all classes of +employees, a zeal and independence was fostered. Every petty clerk +felt himself, as he was, a principal, and his loyalty and thrift +became assured forthwith. + +It has been argued, and not unjustly, that such a constitution was +obvious, that no great merit need be ascribed to its originators, that +it was evolved, so to speak, by the situation itself. The character of +the fur-trade at that time was such, the commerce so hazardous and +diffused over so vast a country, that without that spirit of emulation +thus evoked the new fur company must quickly have resolved itself into +its constituent particles. Nevertheless, shrewdness, courage and +foresight were demanded, and in the persons of these Canadian +Scotchmen were forthcoming. + +As for the value of the business in 1788, all the furs, merchandise, +provisions and equipments were worth the sum of £40,000. This might +properly be called the stock of the Company, for, as Mackenzie, who +was now one of its traders, remarked, it included, within the gross +expenditure for that year, the amount of the property unexpended, +which having been appropriated for that year's adventure, was carried +on to the account of the next season. + +So greatly did the new Company flourish that the gross amount of the +adventure ten years later, was close upon £125,000. But in that year, +1798, a change was to occur which will be dealt with in another +chapter. + +[Sidenote: Mackenzie's expedition to the Arctic.] + +In 1789 Mackenzie felt the time ripe to prosecute a journey towards +which his mind had long been directed--that journey overland to the +Pacific, in which Verandrye, as we have seen, had failed through the +hand of death. His commercial associates by no means relished the +enterprise; but Mackenzie's power and influence had now grown +considerable, and he found means this year to carry out his wish. On +the 3rd of June, 1789, Mackenzie set out from Fort Chipewyan, at the +head of Athabaska Lake, a station nearly midway between Hudson's Bay +and the Pacific. + +The young explorer had served here for eight years, and was familiar +with the difficulties he had to face, as well as aware of the best +methods of overcoming them. Taking with him four canoes, he embarked a +German and four Canadians with their wives in the first. The second +canoe was occupied by a northern Indian, called English Chief, who had +been a follower of Matonabee, Hearne's chief guide and counsellor. +This worthy was accompanied by his two wives. The third was taken up +by two sturdy young savages, who served in the double capacity of +hunters and interpreters; whilst the fourth was laden with provisions, +clothing, ammunition, and various articles designed as presents to the +Indians. This canoe was in charge of one of the North-West concern's +clerks, named La Roux. + +In such fashion and in such numbers did Mackenzie's party set forth +from Fort Chipewyan. By the 4th of June they reached Slave River, +which connects the Athabasca and Slave Lakes in a course of about 170 +miles; on the 9th of the same month they sighted Slave Lake itself. +During this part of the journey they had suffered no other +inconvenience than those arising from the attacks of the mosquitoes +during the heat of the day and the excessive cold, which characterizes +the nights in that country, especially in the hours near dawn. + +Skirting the shore they came to a lodge of Red Knife Indians, so +called from their use of copper knives. One of these natives offered +to conduct Mackenzie to the mouth of that river which was the object +of his search, as the Coppermine had been of Hearne's. Unhappily, so +numerous were the impediments encountered from drift ice, contrary +winds, and the ignorance of their guide (whom English Chief threatened +to murder for his incompetence), that it was the 29th of the month +before they embarked upon the stream which to-day bears the name of +the leader of the party who then first ascended it. + +[Sidenote: Journey down the Mackenzie River.] + +On quitting the lake, the Mackenzie River was found to take its course +to the westward, becoming gradually narrower for twenty-four miles, +till it dwindled to a stream half a mile wide, having a strong current +and a depth of three and a half fathoms. A stiff breeze from the +eastward now drove them on at a great speed, and after a run of ten +miles the channel widened gradually until it assumed the appearance of +a small lake. The guide confessed that this was the limit of his +acquaintance with the river. Soon afterwards they came in sight of the +chain of Horn Mountains, bearing north-west, and experienced some +difficulty in resuming the channel of the river. The party continued +the journey for five days with no interruption. On July 6th they +observed several columns of smoke on the north bank and on landing +discovered an encampment of five families of Slave and Dog-ribbed +Indians, who, on the first appearance of the white men, fled in +consternation to the woods. English Chief, however, called after them, +in a tongue they understood, and they, though reluctantly, responded +to his entreaties to return, especially when they were accompanied by +offers of gifts. The distribution of a few beads, rings and knives, +with a supply of grog, soon reconciled them to the strangers. But the +travellers were somewhat appalled to learn from these Indians of the +rigours of the journey which awaited them. These asserted that it +would require several winters to reach the sea, and that old age would +inevitably overtake the party before their return. Demons of terrible +shape and malevolent disposition were stated to have their dwellings +in the rock caves which lined the river's brim, and these were ready +to devour the hardy spirits who should dare continue their journey +past them. This information Mackenzie and his party endeavoured to +receive with equanimity; they staggered more at the narrative of two +impassable falls which were said to exist about thirty days march from +where they then were. + +But although the effect of these tales on the leader of the expedition +was not great, his Indians, already weary of travelling, drank all in +with willing ears. They could hardly be induced to continue the +journey. When their scruples were overcome, one of the Dog-ribbed +Indians was persuaded by the present of a kettle, an axe, and some +other articles, to accompany them as guide. But, alas, when the hour +for embarkation came, his love of home overbore all other +considerations, and his attempt to escape was only frustrated by +actually forcing him on board. + +Continuing their journey, they passed the Great Bear Lake River, and +steering through numerous islands came in sight of a ridge of snowy +mountains, frequented, according to their guide, by herds of bears and +small white buffalo. The banks of the river were seen to be pretty +thickly peopled with natives, whose timidity was soon overcome by +small gifts. From these Indians was procured a seasonable supply of +hares, partridges, fish and reindeer. The same stories of spirits or +manitous which haunted the stream, and of fearful rapids which would +dash the canoes in pieces, were repeated by these tribes. This time +they had a real effect. The guide, during a storm of thunder and +lightning, decamped in the night, and no doubt fled for home as +rapidly as his legs, or improvised canoe, could carry him. No great +difficulty, however, was experienced in procuring a substitute, and +after a short sail the party approached an encampment of Indians, +whose brawny figures, healthy appearance, and cleanliness were a great +improvement on the other tribes they had seen. From these Mackenzie +learnt that he must sleep ten nights before arriving at the sea. In +three nights, he was told, he would meet with Esquimaux, with whom +they had been at war, but were now at peace. + +It was evident that none in these parts had ever heard the sound of +fire-arms for, when one of Mackenzie's men discharged his +fowling-piece, the utmost terror took possession of them. + +When this intrepid pioneer through the lands of the Hudson's Bay +Company had reached a latitude of 67° 47´, a great range of snowy +mountains burst into view. Mackenzie, by this time, was convinced that +the waters on which the four frail barks were gliding must flow into +the Arctic Ocean. + +When within a few days of accomplishing the great object of the +journey, the attendant Indians sunk into a fit of despondency and were +reluctant to proceed. The new guide pleaded his ignorance of the +region, as he had never before penetrated to what he and his fellows +termed the Benahulla Toe.[82] Mackenzie, thereupon, assured them all +that he would return if it were not reached in seven days, and so +prevailed on them to continue the journey. + +The nights were now illumined by a blazing sun and everything denoted +the proximity of the sea. On landing at a deserted Esquimaux +encampment, several pieces of whalebone were observed; also a place +where train-oil had been spilt. Signs of vegetation grew rarer and +rarer. + +[Sidenote: The explorer reaches the Arctic.] + +On the 12th of July the explorer reached what appears to have been an +arm of the Arctic Sea. It was quite open to the westward, and by an +observation the latitude was found to be 69°. All before them, as far +as they could see, was a vast stretch of ice. They continued their +course with difficulty fifteen miles to the western-most extremity of +a high island, and then it was found impossible to proceed farther. +Many other islands were seen to the eastward; but though they came to +a grave, on which lay a bow, a paddle and a spear, they met no living +human beings in those Arctic solitudes. The red fox and the reindeer, +flocks of beautiful plover, some venerable white owls, and several +large white gulls were the only natives. + +But Mackenzie knew he had triumphed; for he had, as he stood on the +promontory of Whale Island, caught sight of a shoal of those marine +night monsters from whom the island then received its name. Before +returning, Mackenzie caused a post to be erected close to the +tents, upon which the traveller engraved the latitude of the spot, his +own name, the number of persons accompanying him, and the time they +spent on the island. + + [Illustration: THE BUSHRANGER AND THE INDIANS.] + + [Illustration: A PORTAGE.] + +On the 16th of July they set out on their long journey to the fort. On +the 21st, the sun, which for some time had never set, descended below +the horizon, and on that day they were joined by eleven of the +natives. These represented their tribe as numerous, and perpetually at +war with the Esquimaux, who had broken a treaty into which they had +seduced the Indians and had massacred many of them. On one occasion an +Indian of a strange tribe beyond the mountains to the west +endeavoured to draw for Mackenzie a map of that distant country with a +stick upon the sand. It was a rude production, but gave the explorer +an idea. The savage traced out a long point of land between two +rivers. This isthmus he represented as running into the great lake, at +the extremity of which, as he had been told by Indians of other +nations, there was built a Benahulla Couin, or White Man's Fort. + +"This," says Mackenzie, "I took to be Oonalaska Fort, and consequently +the river to the west to be Cook's River, and that the body of water +or sea into which the river discharges itself at Whale Island +communicated with Norton Sound." + +Mackenzie in vain endeavoured to procure a guide across the mountains; +the natives refused to accompany him. On the 12th of September the +party arrived in safety at Fort Chippewyan, having been absent one +hundred and two days. + +Taken in connection with Hearne's journey, this expedition was of +great importance as establishing the fact of an Arctic sea of wide +extent to the north of the continent. It seemed probable, also, that +this sea formed its continuous boundary. + +But the greater expedition of this intrepid fur-trader was yet to be +undertaken. His object this time was to ascend the Peace River, which +rises in the Rocky Mountains, and crossing these to penetrate to that +unknown stream which he had sought in vain during his former journey. +This river, he conjectured, must communicate with the ocean; and +finding it, he must be borne along to the Pacific. + +[Sidenote: Mackenzie sets out for the Pacific.] + +The explorer set out, accordingly, from Fort Chippewyan on the 10th of +October, 1792, pushing on to the remotest trading post, where he spent +the winter in a traffic for furs with the Beaver and Rocky Indians. +When he had despatched six canoes to Chippewyan with the cargo he had +collected, he engaged hunters and interpreters, built a huge canoe and +set out for the Pacific. This canoe, it may be mentioned, was +twenty-five feet long within, exclusive of the curves of stem and +stern, twenty-six inches hold and four feet nine inches beam. At the +same time it was so light that two men could carry it three or four +miles, if necessity arose, without stopping to rest. In such a slender +craft they not only stowed away their provisions, presents, arms, +ammunition and baggage to the weight of three thousand pounds, but +found room for Mackenzie, seven white companions and two Indians. Up +to the 21st of May the party encountered a series of such difficulties +and hardships that all save the leader himself were disheartened at +the prospect. The river being broken by frequent cascades and +dangerous rapids, it was very often necessary to carry the canoe and +baggage until the voyage could be resumed in safety; and on their +nearer approach to the Rocky Mountains the stream, hemmed in between +stupendous rocks, presented a continuance of fearful torrents and huge +cataracts. The party began to murmur audibly; and, at last, progress +came to a standstill. In truth, there was some reason for this +irresolution; further progress by water was impossible and they could +only advance over a mountain whose sides were broken by sharp, jagged +rocks and thickly covered with wood. Mackenzie despatched a +reconnoitring party, with orders to ascend the mountain and proceed in +a straight course from its summit, keeping the line of the river until +they could ascertain if it was practicable to resume navigation. + +While this party was gone on its quest, the canoe was repaired, and +Mackenzie busied himself in taking an altitude which showed the +latitude to be 56° 8'. By sunset the scouts had severally returned, +each having taken different routes. They had penetrated through thick +woods, ascended hills and dived into valleys, passed the rapids, and +agreed, that though the difficulties by land were appalling, this was +the only practicable course. Unattractive as was the prospect, the +spirits of the party rose as night closed in. Their troubles were +forgotten in a repast of wild rice sweetened with sugar; the usual +evening regale of rum renewed their courage, and followed by a night's +rest, they entered upon the journey next day with cheerfulness and +vigour. + +It is not to the purpose here to relate all that befell Mackenzie on +this memorable voyage, but, after many vicissitudes, towards the +close of June he reached the spot where the party were to strike off +across the country. + +[Sidenote: Journey in the mountain.] + +"We carried on our back," says Mackenzie, "four bags and a half of +pemmican, weighing from eighty-five to ninety-five pounds each, a case +with the instruments, a parcel of goods for presents weighing ninety +pounds, and a parcel containing ammunition of the same weight; each of +the Canadians had a burden of about ninety pounds, with a gun and +ammunition, whilst the Indians had about forty-five pounds weight of +pemmican, besides their gun--an obligation with which, owing to their +having been treated with too much indulgence, they expressed +themselves much dissatisfied. My own load, and that of Mr. Mackay, +consisted of twenty-two pounds of pemmican, some rice, sugar, and +other small articles, amounting to about seventy pounds, besides our +arms and ammunition. The tube of my telescope was also slung across my +shoulder, and owing to the low state of our provisions, it was +determined that we should content ourselves with two meals a day." + +About the middle of July Mackenzie encountered a chief who had, ten +years before, in a voyage by sea, met with two large vessels full of +white men, the first he had ever seen and by whom he was kindly +received. The explorer very plausibly conjectured that these were the +ships of Captain Cook. Thus the names of two of the world's great +explorers were, by that episode, conjoined. + +The navigation of the river, although interrupted by rapids and +cascades, was continued until the 23rd, when the party reached its +mouth. Here the river was found to discharge itself by various smaller +channels into the Pacific. + +The memorable journey was now finished, and its purpose completed. In +large characters, upon the surface of a rock under whose shelter the +party had slept, their leader painted this simple memorial: + +"Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada by land the 22nd of July, one +thousand seven hundred and ninety-three." + +Such was the inscription written with vermilion, at which doubtless +the simple aboriginal tribes came to marvel before it was washed away +by the elements. But its purport was conveyed to England in another +and more abiding character, which yet will not outlast the memory of +the achievement. Mackenzie and his followers had paved the way; almost +despite itself the Company must take possession, before long, of its +own; although much had arisen which rendered the task less easy than +if it had been undertaken immediately on the conquest, thirty years +before. + +[Sidenote: Turner's exploration.] + +The news of Mackenzie's journeys reaching London considerably +perturbed the Honourable Adventurers and undeniably diminished their +prestige. It was not that the Company did not wish to pursue discovery +and bring about a knowledge of the vast unknown regions which +appertained to it under the charter; it was for a long time +impracticable. In 1785 it had sent out orders to continue the +exploration of the west, begun by Hearne. A man had been despatched in +accordance with these instructions, but his courage, or his endurance, +had failed him, and he returned to Cumberland House without having +accomplished anything of note. For the five or six years ensuing, the +reports of the meetings of the Company are sufficient testimony to the +desire of the members to take an active part in seeking trade with +unknown tribes. But to effect this, men were necessary; and men of the +required character were not immediately forthcoming. It was not till +1791 that, after an animated correspondence with the Colonial Office, +a person was suggested for the enterprise who seemed to possess the +equipment adequate to the task. This was Turner, who sought a career +as an astronomer, and with him went Ross, one of the Company's clerks. +Both were badly furnished for an expedition of this kind, and taking +counsel among themselves, came to the conclusion that as they had to +make their way through parts unknown to the Hudson's Bay servants, it +would be as well to seek the assistance of the Northmen as well. From +Alexander Mackenzie, Turner obtained a letter to the factor in charge +of Fort Chippewyan, instructing him to offer the explorers every +facility and courtesy; and indeed so well were Turner and his +companion treated at this post that they passed the winter there. The +result of this expedition went to show that Lake Athabasca, instead of +being situated in proximity to the Pacific, was really distant nearly +a thousand miles. + +There were men enough for the work in hand if the Company had only +availed themselves of them. At the very moment when Mackenzie was +making his voyages, a youth was finishing his education at the Charter +House who had all the cleverness, force and intrepidity for the task +that all desired to see accomplished. His name was David Thompson. The +time having arrived when this youth should choose a career, his +inclination turned to travel in the unknown quarters of the globe, and +hoping that adventure of some sort would transpire for him in the +north-west of the New World, he signed as one of the clerks of the +Company, and set sail in 1794 for Fort Churchill. Arriving here, he +found himself "cribbed, cabined and confined." Governor Colen and +himself were little to their mutual liking, and still less of the same +mind, as Thompson had an ardent, energetic temperament, and was with +difficulty controlled. Yet during the summer of 1795, by reason of +continuous pleadings, he obtained permission to set out on a tour to +the west, and with an escort of one white clerk, an Irishman, and two +Indians, he travelled to Athabasca, surveying the country as he went +along. + +[Sidenote: David Thompson.] + +On his return from Athabasca, Thompson's term of service had expired, +and he was encouraged to apply for employment with the Northmen. They +desired to learn the position of their trading houses, chiefly with +respect to the 49th parallel of latitude, which had become, since the +treaty of 1792 with America, the boundary line between the possessions +of the two countries. For several years Thompson continued in the +service of the Company's rivals, surveying a considerable territory +and drawing up charts and maps, which were sent to the partners at +Fort William.[83] + +After Thompson came Simon Fraser and John Stuart, the names of both of +whom are perpetuated in the rivers bearing their names to-day. Fraser +is described by one of his associates as "an illiterate, ill-bred, +fault-finding man, of jealous disposition, but ambitious and +energetic, with considerable conscience, and in the main holding to +honest convictions." + +Both these men bore a chief share in establishing trading posts on the +other side of the Rocky Mountains, which are now associated with the +Hudson's Bay Company. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[82] White Man's Lake. + +[83] Of David Thompson we get a portrait from Mr. H. H. Bancroft. He +was, he says, "of an entirely different order of man from the orthodox +fur-trader. Tall and fine looking, with sandy complexion, with large +features, deep-set studious eyes, high forehead and broad shoulders, +the intellectual was set upon the physical. His deeds have never been +trumpeted as have those of some of the others; but in the westward +explorations of the North-West Company, no man performed more valuable +service or estimated his achievements more modestly. Unhappily his +last days were not as pleasant as fell to the lot of some of the worn +out members of the Company. He retired, almost blind, to Lachine +House, once the headquarters of the Company, where he was met with in +1831 in a very decrepit condition." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +1787-1808. + + Captain Vancouver -- La Pérouse in the Pacific -- The Straits + of Anian -- A Fantastic Episode -- Russian Hunters and Traders + -- The Russian Company -- Dissensions amongst the Northmen -- + They send the _Beaver_ to Hudson's Bay -- The Scheme of Mackenzie + a Failure -- A Ferocious Spirit Fostered -- Abandoned + Characters -- A series of Outrages -- The affair at Bad Lake. + + +When Mackenzie, in July, 1793, reached the Pacific by land from the +east, he had been preceded by sea only three years by Captain George +Vancouver, the discoverer of the British Columbian coast. The same +year Gray, sailing from Boston in 1790, entered the Columbia River +farther south. But the title of Muscovy to the northern coasts had +already been made good by several Russians since Bering's time, and +the Company's charter secured to them the lands drained by the Fraser, +Mackenzie, and Peace rivers, to the west. + +[Sidenote: La Pérouse in the Pacific.] + +So little, however, was the Russian title recognized for some time, +that when this unfortunate expedition of La Pérouse, with the frigates +_Boussole_ and _Astralabe_, stopped on this coast in 1787, that +doughty destroyer of York and Prince of Wales' Forts did not hesitate +to consider the friendly harbour in latitude 58° 36' as open to +permanent occupation. Describing this harbour, which he named Port des +François, he says that nature seemed to have created at this extremity +of the world a port like that of Toulon, but vaster in plan and +accommodation; and then, considering that it had never been discovered +before, that it was situated thirty-three leagues north-west of +Remedios, the limit of Spanish navigation, about two hundred and +eighty-four leagues from Nootka, and one hundred leagues from Prince +William Sound. The mariner records his judgment that "if the French +Government had any project of a factory on this coast no nation could +have the slightest right to oppose it." + + [Illustration: DE L'ISLE'S MAP, 1752.] + +Thus was Russia to be coolly dislodged by the French! There is little +doubt but that the Company, judging by its declarations in committee +some years afterwards, would have had something to say in the matter. +But La Pérouse and his frigates sailed farther on in their voyage and +never returned to France. Their fate for a generation remained +unknown, until their shipwrecked hulls were accidentally found on a +desert island in the South Pacific. The unfinished journal of this +zealous admiral had, however, in the meantime been sent by him +overland by way of Kamschatka and Siberia to France, where it was +published by decree of the National Assembly, thus making known his +supposed discovery and his aspirations. + +[Sidenote: Spanish claims.] + +Spain also had been a claimant. In 1775 Bodega, a Spanish navigator, +seeking new opportunities to plant the Spanish flag, reached a +parallel of 58° on this coast, not far from Sitka; but this supposed +discovery was not followed by any immediate assertion of dominion. The +universal aspiration of Spain had embraced this whole region at a much +earlier day, and shortly after the return of Bodega another enterprise +was equipped to verify the larger claim, being nothing less than the +original title as discoverer of the straits between America and Asia, +and of the conterminous continent under the name of Anian. Indeed, a +Spanish document appeared, which caused a considerable fluttering of +hearts amongst the Adventurers, entitled "Relation of the Discovery of +the Strait of Anian made by me, Captain Lorenzo Ferren Maldonado," +purporting to be written at the time, although it did not see the +light until 1781, when it immediately became the subject of a memoir +before the French Academy. This narrative of Maldonado has long since +taken its place with that of the celebrated Munchausen. + +The whole fantastic episode of Anian's Straits is worthy of mention in +a history of the Company and its lands. There is no doubt of the +existence of early maps bearing straits of that name to the north. On +an interesting map by Zoltieri, bearing the date of 1566, without +latitude or longitude, the western coast of the continent is here +delineated with straits separating it from Asia, not unlike Bering's +Straits in outline and with the name in Italian, Stretto di Anian; and +towards the south the coast possesses a certain conformity to that +which we now know. Below the straits is an indentation corresponding +to Bristol Bay; then a peninsula somewhat broader than Alaska, which +is continued in an elbow of the coast; lower down appear three +islands, not unlike Sitka, Queen Charlotte and Vancouver; and lastly, +to the south appears the peninsula of Lower California. After a time +maps began to record the Straits of Anian; but the substantial +conformity of the early delineation with the reality has always been +somewhat of a mystery.[84] + +The foundation of the story of Anian is said to lie in the voyage of +the Portuguese navigator, Caspar de Cortereal, in 1500-1505, who, on +reaching Hudson's Bay in quest of a passage to India, imagined he had +found it, naming his discovery "in honour of two brothers who +accompanied him." + +[Sidenote: Russians on the west coast.] + +Meanwhile Russian hunters and traders from Okhotsk were extending +their expedition from the north-east coast of Siberia to the +north-west coast of North America. A Russian Government expedition +started from Okhotsk in 1790, under the command of Captain Billings, +an Englishman in the Russian service, and to Captain Taryteheff, one +of the members, are due important researches on the hydrography and +ethnology of these countries. The first attempt at permanent +settlement was due to three Russian traders, Shelekoff and the two +Golikoffs, who fitted out two or three vessels to be sent to "the land +of Alaska, also called America; to islands known or unknown, for the +purpose of trading in furs; of exploring the country and entering into +relations with the inhabitants." Their first expedition started in +1781, and the first settlement was founded on the Island of Kodiak. +The authority of the Russian Government was thus established on this +and the adjacent islands. In 1790, Shelekoff, then residing in +Irkoutsk, sent out a merchant named Baranoff to govern the new +colony.[85] + +Thus the knowledge that they were being pressed in on opposite sides +by the Canadian traders on the south and east, and by Russians on the +north and west, reached the Company at the same time. As a matter of +fact, the knowledge of Baranoff's enterprise and the energy with which +it was being prosecuted did not come before the committee until +October, 1794; and it was in that very month that the report of +Mackenzie's journey reached them. + +The next few years were devoted to devising and considering schemes to +counteract these two growing competitors--to oppose the further +progress of the Russians on the one hand, and to combat the +North-Westers on the other. + +For twenty-seven years Baranoff continued to be the controlling mind +of the new Russian trading enterprise. Shelekoff died in 1795; and his +widow continued the business, and upon combining with the Milnikoff +Company it increased gradually in wealth. The charter of these joint +enterprises, to which the name of the Russian-American Fur Company was +given, was signed in August, 1798, and confirmed at St. Petersburg in +1799. That year witnessed the settlement of New Archangel, on the +island of Sitka. + +The consequences of this increased output were not, however, felt in +the fur-markets at Leipsic. Europe was convulsed by war, and Napoleon +had laid an embargo on British goods. The furs, therefore, accumulated +for several years in the stores of the Hudson's Bay Company without +finding a mart. + +From 1787 to 1817, for only a portion of which time the Russian +Company existed, the Unalaska district yielded upwards of 2,500,000 +seal skins alone. The number of other skins reported at times was +prodigious. + +But the time had not come for the Company to actively assert itself in +opposition to the Russians. + +It was paying dearly now for its short-sightedness in not availing +itself of the opportunities afforded by the conquest of Canada to +penetrate into its chartered domain. In the second year of the century +the Honourable Adventurers had been obliged to borrow £20,000 from the +Bank of England, hoping that the cessation of war in Europe, and the +quarrels of the rival Montreal traders in North America, would permit +the Company to regain the advantage it had lost. For in the autumn of +1798 the Company had received advices that its prosperous Canadian +rival had taken a new step in the conduct of its affairs. + +[Sidenote: Rival factions in the North-West Company.] + +Difficulties and dissensions had begun to breed in the ranks of the +Northmen. A few disaffected spirits spoke of secession and carried +their intentions into effect, but the stronger partners were reluctant +to break up an alliance which had proved so prosperous. But in the +closing year, but one of the century, the situation became intolerable +and when the partners met, as was their custom at the Grand Portage, +Mackenzie bluntly told his associates that he had resolved to quit the +Company. He was led to this decision by a personal quarrel between +himself and Simon McTavish, the chief of the North-West Company. +Opposing factions sprang into being, attaching themselves to both +Mackenzie and McTavish, the latter of whom strongly resented the way +in which he was treated at the annual meeting by the partisans of the +former, and each now determined to take his course thenceforward +untrammelled by the other. Mackenzie went to England, where he +published an account of his travels in the north-west and obtained the +honour of knighthood, and in 1801 returned to Canada. Here his friends +flocked about him, and there saw the light of a new organization, +officially entitled the New North-West Company, or Sir Alexander +Mackenzie & Co., but more popularly as the X. Y. Co. The two rival +Canadian associations now put forth all their strength to establish +their commerce in the unknown and unfrequented regions. One of the +old North-West employees, Livingston, who had already, in 1796, +established a post nearly 100 miles north of Slave Lake, undertook to +carry the trade still farther north. But this he was never destined to +accomplish. A few days out on this journey he was confronted by the +aborigines, who slew him and his companions. An expedition to the Bow +River, however, was more successful, and in the midst of many hostile +Indians a trading post was established there. Other proofs of +enterprise on the part of McTavish and his associates were not +wanting. + +The dissensions between the two companies so far do not appear to have +had a prejudicial effect on the traffic, for on the 30th October, +1802, Lieutenant Governor Milnes, in a dispatch to Lord Hobart,[86] +gives an account of the flourishing state of the fur-trade which so +far, he says, from diminishing, appears to increase. New tracts of +country had been visited by the merchants employed in this traffic, +which had furnished new sources of supply, a large proportion of the +furs taken in the North-West being brought to Quebec for shipment.[87] + +But, perhaps, a policy the most daring was pursued with regard to the +Hudson's Bay Company. It was not expected that either McTavish and his +allies, or the X. Y. concern would long be content to forego the +glory and profit attendant upon warfare at close quarters with the +Chartered Company. + +"What is there in their charter," they asked themselves, "which gives +them benefits we cannot enjoy? We shall see." + +[Sidenote: The Northmen at Hudson's Bay.] + +They provided for a most effectual demonstration. In the spring of +1803, they sent the _Beaver_, a vessel of one hundred and fifty tons, +to Hudson's Bay, with instructions to exploit commerce under the very +guns of the Company's forts. Hardly had the _Beaver_ got under way +than an overland expedition was sent by the old French trading route +of Lakes St. Jean and Mistassini, to the same quarter. The result was +the construction of two posts, one on Charlton Island, and the other +at the mouth of Moose River. The astonishment of the Company's +servants can be imagined, when upon looking out one fine morning, they +beheld a band of swarthy half-breeds, captained by Orkneymen, rearing +premises adjacent to their own, and bidding defiance to the ancient +charter of the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company. They were told by +their superiors not to be alarmed; the scheme of their rivals would +not succeed any more than had those of the Quebec companies who a +century before had sought to penetrate overland to the Bay. The +company could always undersell them then; and it could now, and did. +The confidence of the factors was justified, and the Indians merely +smiled at the Northmen and their goods, bidding them return to their +country, or betake themselves to the west, where the tribes were +ignorant and knew not the value of things. So, after a season or two, +the North-West concern abandoned Moose River and Charlton Island, and +sought other and more fruitful fields in the west. + +[Sidenote: The Fishery and Fur Company.] + +Mackenzie himself was in London actively engaged in promoting a scheme +of his own. He sought to get the British Government to constrain the +Hudson's Bay Company to grant licenses to a company of British +merchants, to be established in London under the name of "The Fishery +and Fur Company," which company, for the purpose of combining the +fishery in the Pacific with the fur trade of the interior from the +east to the west coasts of the Continent of North America, would at +once "equip whalers in England, and by means of the establishments +already made and in activity at Montreal on the east and advanced +posts and trading houses in the interior towards the west coast, to +which they might extend it and where other establishments to be made +at King George Sound, Nootka Island, under the protection of the +Supreme Government, and on the River Columbia and at Sea Otter Harbour +under the protection of the subordinate Government of these places, +would open and establish a commercial communication through the +Continent of North America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to +the incalculable advantage and furtherance both of the Pacific Fishery +of America and American Fur Trade of Great Britain, in part directly +and in part indirectly, through the channel of the possessions and +factories of the East India Company in China," etc., "it being +perfectly understood that none of these maritime or inland +establishments shall be made on territory in the possession of any +other European nation, nor within the limits of the United States of +North America or of the Hudson's Bay Company." The scheme, however, +failed. + +The death of McTavish, in 1804, brought about a reunion of the two +rival factions, and the North-West Company became stronger than ever. +They imitated the Chartered Company in establishing several of their +members in London as agents, who purchased the necessary merchandise +and saw it safely shipped, besides attending to the fur imports and +other regular business of the concern. + +[Sidenote: Coalition of the North-West and X. Y. Companies.] + +After the coalition of the old North-West and the X. Y. concern, and +the consequent suppression of all private adventurers in Canada, the +only rival of the Northmen in the Uplands was the Hudson's Bay +Company. It was alleged that thenceforward the ferocious spirit which +had been fostered among the clerks and servants of the two companies +by six years of continual violence was all turned against the Company. +It was said that not only was a systematic plan formed for driving +their traders out of all valuable beaver companies, but that hopes +were entertained of reducing the Company to so low an ebb as in time +to induce them to make over their chartered rights to their commercial +rival. With this intent, a series of aggressive acts was now begun and +carried on against the servants of the Company. + + [Illustration: THE RIVAL TRADERS.] + +The Hudson's Bay Company had witnessed the encroachment of the +traders, first French, then English, as well as the establishment and +growth of the North-West association, without taking any active steps +to forcibly restrain them. Many years was the competition carried on +without any violent breach of the peace on either side. Oftentimes +indeed did the rival traders meet in the wilderness at a deserted +camp, or at some remote portage, but they bore no personal enmity in +their hearts. They shook hands, smoked, broke meat together, and +parted--one with his beaver skins to the east, the other to the +north--to Cumberland or York Factory. Doubtless the North-West concern +at the beginning of the century possessed a powerful advantage in the +system of profits and deserved promotion, while the Company's +servants, unstimulated by any hope of additional reward or certain +promotion, was calculated to foster apathy, rather than zeal. + +[Sidenote: Murder of Labau.] + +It was claimed by the Company that the Northmen employed for their +purposes men of the most abandoned character who, as Sir Alexander +Mackenzie expressed it, "considered the command of their employer as +binding on them, and however wrong or irregular the transaction the +responsibility rested with the principal who directed them." One of +the first instances of collision occurred in the year 1800. In that +year Frederick Schultz, a clerk of the old Company, commanded a post +near Nepigon. Amongst his men was a young lad about nineteen years of +age named Labau, who understood English, and had in the course of the +preceding winter become intimate with the servants of the Hudson's Bay +Company, who occupied a post near the same place. Labau was attracted +to the Company's service and, when the traders on both sides were +preparing to leave their wintering ground, resolved to go down to York +Factory. Intelligence of this having reached Schultz, he sent his +interpreter to order Labau to return to his duty, accompanied by a +reminder that he was in debt to the North-West Company. The young man +responded by offering to remit the money he owed the Company, but +declared that he would not remain any longer in its service. This +answer being reported to Schultz he vehemently declared that if the +scoundrel would not come back willingly he would know what to do with +him. The doughty Northman took his dagger, carefully whetted it, and +having dressed himself in his best attire, went over to the Hudson's +Bay post. Here he found Labau, and asked him in a furious tone whether +he would come with him. The young man, being intimidated, faltered out +an affirmative, but watching his opportunity sought to make his +escape out of the room, but Schultz was too quick for him. He drew his +dagger and aimed a blow which Labau tried in vain to avoid. He was +stabbed in the loin, and expired the same evening. After this exploit, +when Schultz returned to the assembly of the Northmen at the Grand +Portage, he met with an indifferent reception, Labau being rather +popular amongst his fellow-servants. It was, therefore, not thought +advisable to employ Schultz any longer in that quarter, although this +was the only notice taken of the murder. The murderer came down in the +canoes of the North-West concern to Montreal, where he remained at +large and unnoticed for months. He was afterwards taken into the +service of the Company, employed in a different region, and after +several years settled down undisturbed in Lower Canada. + + [Illustration: YORK FACTORY. + (_From an old print._)] + +There can be no doubt that much of the success of the Northmen was due +to the indiscriminate manner in which they extirpated the animals in +the country, destroying all without distinction, whether young or old, +in season or out of season. The miserable natives, over-awed by the +preparation and power of the strangers, and dreading the resentment of +the Northmen, witnessed this destruction without daring to resist, +although they complained bitterly that their country was wasted as if +it had been overrun by fire. It is well known that the best season for +hunting all the fur-bearing animals is the winter. The fur in summer +is universally of inferior quality, and this, too, is the season when +wild animals rear their young. For both these reasons it seemed +desirable that the hunting should be suspended during the summer +months, and this was effectually procured when all the best hunters, +all the young and active men of the Indian tribes, were engaged in a +distant excursion. There was consequently a material advantage in +requiring them to leave their hunting grounds in summer, and come to +the factories on the coast for a supply of European goods. While this +was the practice, no furs were brought from home but those of prime +quality, and as the beaver and other valuable fur-bearing animals were +protected from injury during the most critical time of the year, the +breed was preserved, and the supply was plentiful. But when the +traders came to the interior, there to remain throughout the year, the +Indians were tempted to conceal their hunts through the season. They +were too improvident to abstain from killing the breeding animals or +their young. The cub was destroyed with the full-grown beaver, and the +consequence might readily have been foreseen. These valuable animals, +formerly so numerous, rapidly approached the point of complete +extermination. It was observed that the district in which they once +abounded, and from which large supplies were formerly obtained, soon +came to produce few or none. + +[Sidenote: Collision at Big Fall.] + +In autumn, 1806, John Crear, a trader in the service of the Hudson's +Bay Company (also on the establishment of Albany Factory), occupied a +post at a place called Big Fall, near Lake Winipic. One evening a +party of Canadians in two canoes, commanded by Mr. Alexander +MacDonnell, then a clerk of the North-West Company, arrived, and +encamped at a short distance. On the following morning four of Crear's +men set out for their fishing grounds, about a mile off, immediately +after which Mr. MacDonnell came to the house with his men, and +charging Crear with having traded furs with an Indian who was indebted +to the North-West concern, insisted on these furs being given up to +him. On Crear's refusal, MacDonnell's men broke open the warehouse +door. William Plowman, the only servant that remained with Crear, +attempted to prevent them from entering; but one of the Canadians +knocked him down, while another presented a gun at Crear himself. +Although MacDonnell prevented him from firing, the Canadian struck +Crear in the eye with the butt end of his gun, which covered his face +with blood and felled him to the ground. Mr. MacDonnell himself +stabbed Plowman in the arm with a dagger, and gave him a dangerous +wound. The Canadians then rifled the warehouse; the furs, being taken +in summer, were of little value; but they carried off two bags of +flour, a quantity of salt pork and beef, and some dried venison, and +also took away a new canoe belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. In +the following February MacDonnell sent one of his junior clerks with a +party of men, who again attacked Crear's house, overpowered him, beat +him and his men in the most brutal manner, and carried away a great +number of valuable furs. They also obliged Crear to sign a paper +acknowledging that he had given up the furs voluntarily, which they +extorted with threats of instant death if he should refuse. Mr. +Alexander MacDonnell had lately been promoted to the station of a +partner in the North-West concern. + +In the year 1806, Mr. Fidler was sent with a party of eighteen men +from Churchill Factory, to establish a trading post at Isle a la +Crosse, near the borders of the Athabasca country, but within the +territories of the Hudson's Bay Company. He remained there for two +years, sending a detachment of his people to Green Lake and Beaver +River. During the first winter he had some success, but afterwards he +was effectually obstructed. On many former occasions the officers of +the Hudson's Bay Company had attempted to establish a trade in this +place, which is in the centre of a country abounding in beaver, but +they had always been obliged to renounce the attempt. The methods used +with Mr. Fidler may explain the causes of this failure. + +Mr. John MacDonnell had been Mr. Fidler's competitor during the early +part of the winter, but (not being inclined to set all principles of +law and justice at defiance) was removed and relieved, first by Mr. +Robert Henry, and then by Mr. John Duncan Campbell. The North-West +concern having been established for many years at Isle a la Crosse +without any competition, had obtained what they call the attachment of +the Indians, that is to say, they had reduced them to such abject +submission that the very sight of a Canadian was sufficient to inspire +them with terror. In order that this salutary awe might suffer no +diminution, the post at Isle a la Crosse was reinforced with an extra +number of Canadians, so that the natives might be effectually +prevented from holding any intercourse with the traders of the +Hudson's Bay Company, and that the appearance of so very superior a +force, ready to overwhelm and destroy him, might deter Mr. Fidler from +any attempt to protect his customers. A watch-house was built close to +his door, so that no Indian could enter unobserved; a party of +professed batteilleurs were stationed here, and employed not only to +watch the natives, but to give every possible annoyance, night and +day, to the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company. Their fire-wood was +stolen, they were perpetually obstructed in hunting for provisions, +the produce of their garden was destroyed, their fishing lines taken +away in the night time, and their nets, on which they chiefly relied +for subsistence, cut to pieces. The ruffians who were posted to watch +Mr. Fidler, proceeded from one act of violence to another, and in +proportion as they found themselves feebly resisted, they grew bolder, +and at length issued a formal mandate that not one of the servants of +the Hudson's Bay Company should stir out of their house, and followed +up this with such examples of severity that Mr. Fidler's men refused +to remain at the post. They were compelled to leave it, and the +Canadians immediately burnt his house to the ground. + +[Sidenote: The robbery at Bad Lake.] + +A trader, William Corrigal, in the service of the Company, was +stationed, in May, 1806, with a few men at a place called Bad Lake, +not far from Albany Factory. Near this post was another occupied by a +much larger number of men in charge of a partner in the North-West +concern named Haldane. Five of the Canadians in his service watching +their opportunity broke into Corrigal's house about midnight when he +and his men were in bed. The ruffians immediately secured all the +loaded guns and pistols they could find, and one of them seizing the +Company's trader and presenting a pistol at his breast swore to shoot +him if he made any resistance. In the meantime the others rifled the +storehouse and took away furs to the number of 480 beaver. On their +departure Corrigal dressed himself and went immediately to Haldane, +whom he found up, and fully attired, to complain of the conduct of his +servants and to demand that the stolen property be restored. The +answer of the Northman was that "He had come to that country for furs, +and furs he was determined to have." The robbers were permitted to +carry away the stolen peltries to the Grand Portage where they were +sold, and formed part of the returns of the North-West concern that +year. A robbery of the same character took place at Red Lake a little +later in the year. This trading house was also under the charge of +Corrigal, and was forcibly entered by eight of the Northmen, armed +with pistols and knives; under threats to murder the servants of the +Hudson's Bay Company they carried off furs to the amount of fifty +beaver. Not long after this they forcibly broke open the same +warehouse and robbed it of a large quantity of cloth, brandy, tobacco +and ammunition. + +[Sidenote: Violence and robbery by the North-West Company.] + +In the year 1808 Mr. John Spence, of the Hudson's Bay Company, +commanded a post fitted out from Churchill's Factory at Reindeer Lake, +in the neighbourhood of which there was a station of the North-West +Company commanded by Mr. John Duncan Campbell, one of the partners. In +the course of the spring, William Linklater, in the service of the +Hudson's Bay Company, was sent out to meet some Indians, from whom he +traded a parcel of valuable furs. He was bringing them home on a hand +sleigh, and was at no great distance from the house, when Campbell +came out with a number of men, stopped him, demanded the furs, and on +being refused drew a dagger, with which he cut the traces of the +sledge, while at the same time one of his men took hold of Linklater's +shoes, tripped him up, and made him fall on the ice. The sledge of +furs was then hauled away to the North-West concern's house. Campbell +offered to Mr. Spence to send other furs in exchange for those which +he had thus robbed him of; but they were of very inferior value, and +the latter refused the compromise. The furs were carried away, and no +compensation was ever made. + +On a previous occasion, at Isle a la Crosse Lake (in the year 1805), +the same Campbell had attacked two of the servants of the Hudson's Bay +Company, and took a parcel of furs from them in the same way. Some of +the men from the Hudson's Bay House came out to assist their +fellow-servants, but were attacked by superior numbers of the +Canadians, and beaten off, with violence and bloodshed. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[84] See map, page 246. + +[85] To exhibit anew the exaggeration common to the acquisition of new +possessions, I may observe that Shelekoff reported that he had +subjected to the crown of Russia, "fifty thousand men in the Island of +Kodiak alone." But Lisiansky, who took a prominent part in the Russian +Company, remarks, in 1805, that "the population of the island, when +compared with its size, is very small." After the "minutest research" +at that time he found it amounted to only four thousand souls. + +[86] Canadian archives. + +[87] The tables enclosed in the dispatch show, first, the names and +numbers of the posts occupied in the Indian country (exclusive of the +King's posts), the number of partners, clerks and men employed, the +latitude and longitude of each post being also given. The grand total +shows that there were 117 posts, 20 partners, 161 clerks and +interpreters, 877 common men, in all of a permanent staff 1,058 men, +thus divided: Ninety-five in the territory of the United States from +the south side of Lake Superior to the division of the waters falling +into the Mississippi on the one side and Hudson's Bay on the other; +seventy-six on the waters falling into the St. Lawrence from the +Kaministiquia, and also from the St. Maurice; six hundred and thirty +on the waters falling into Hudson's Bay, and two hundred and +fifty-seven on the waters falling into the North Sea by the Mackenzie +River. Besides these there were eighty or one hundred Canadians and +Iroquois hunters, not servants, ranging free over the country and +about five hundred and forty men employed in canoes on the Ottawa +River. The average duties paid annually on landing in Britain amounted +to upwards of £22,000 sterling and the price paid for the furs +exported from Quebec in 1801, at the London sales, was £371,139 11s. +4d. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +1808-1812. + + Crisis in the Company's Affairs -- No Dividend Paid -- Petition + to Lords of the Treasury -- Factors Allowed a Share in the + Trade -- Canada Jurisdiction Act -- The Killing of MacDonnell + -- Mowat's Ill-treatment -- Lord Selkirk -- His Scheme laid + before the Company -- A Protest by Thwaytes and others -- The + Project Carried -- Emigrants sent out to Red River -- Northmen + Stirred to Reprisal. + + +England was again at war with France. Napoleon had placed an embargo +on English commerce, and to the uttermost corner of Europe was this +measure felt. Tons of the most costly furs, for which there was no +market, lay heaped in the Company's warehouse. The greatest difficulty +was experienced in procuring servants, especially seamen, and when +these were procured, they were often seized by a press-gang; shares +began to decline in value; numerous partners were selling out their +interests, and no strong man appeared at the head of affairs. + +In 1808 no dividend was paid, chiefly the result of the +non-exportation of the Company's furs to the Continent of Europe. +There were the accumulations of furs imported during 1806, 1807 and +1808 lying in the warehouse without prospect of sale. + +The pressure still continued and at last, in 1809, the Company was +driven to petition the Chancellor of the Exchequer for transmission to +Lords of the Treasury, setting forth the Company's position and its +claims on the nation. + +[Sidenote: The Company in difficulties.] + +"Accumulated difficulties," it said, "have pressed hardly on the +Company and we ask assistance to maintain a colony that till now has +found within itself resources to withstand the pressure of all former +wars and to continue those outfits on which six hundred Europeans and +their families and some thousands of native Indians depend for their +very existence. + +"We assure your worships that it was not until all those resources +were exhausted that we came to the resolution of making the present +application." + +The petition recited that after having received their charter the +Company had colonized such parts of newly granted territories as +appeared most convenient for carrying on their commerce with the +natives. This commerce "consisted in the barter of British +manufactures for the furs of animals killed by the different tribes of +Indians who were within reach of factories and gradually extended +itself till, as at the present moment, the manufactures of Great +Britain are borne by the traders of Hudson's Bay over the face of the +whole country from Lake Superior to the Athabasca. + +"The trade is at present pursued by the export of furs, gunpowder, +shot, woollens, hardware and other articles, which together with large +supplies of provisions for the factories, constitute an annual outfit +consisting wholly of British manufactures and British produce of from +£40,000 to £50,000, in return for which we receive the furs of bears, +wolves, foxes, otters, martens, beaver and other animals, together +with some oil and articles of inferior value. The cargoes are sold at +public sale. The beaver and some few inferior furs, together with the +oil, are bought for home consumption and sell for about £30,000, but +the fine furs were, till after the sale of 1806, bought by the fur +merchants for the fairs of Frankfort and of Leipsic for Petersburg, +and before the present war, for France. Since that year there has not +been a fur sold for exportation, and as a proof to your worships that +the deficiency of buyers did not arise from our holding back for a +higher market, we sold in 1806 for seven shillings per skin furs that +in the more quiet state of Europe in 1804 had brought us 20s. 3d., and +which for years previous to that time had sold for a similar price; +and other depreciation pervaded in about the same proportion the whole +of those furs calculated only for the foreign market, and in some +instances furs were sold for a less price than the duties we had paid +for them. + +"Since that period no orders have been received from abroad, and our +warehouses are filled with the most valuable productions of three +years' import that if sold at the prices of those years before the +closing of the ports on the Continent would have produced us at least +£150,000. + +"It may be objected to us, that we were improvident in pursuing under +such circumstances a trade which must so inevitably tend to ruin. But +a certainty that a considerable quantity of furs found their way to +New York, and an earnest zeal for the preservation of trade which by +the conduct of the Hudson's Bay Company had been secured to this +country for a century and a half, prompted us to every exertion to +maintain the footing we had established, and the annually increasing +amount of our trade gave us just grounds to look forward with +confidence to the opening of the northern ports of Europe as the +period when all our difficulties would cease; an event which, anterior +to the battles of Austerlitz or of Jena, was looked for with the most +sanguine expectation. + +"Above all were we impelled by the strongest motives to continue these +supplies which were necessary for the subsistence of six hundred +European servants, their wives and children, dispersed over a vast and +extended field of the North American Continent, and who would not be +brought to Europe under a period of three years as well as those upon +whom the many Indian nations now depend for their very existence. + +"The nations of hunters taught for one hundred and fifty years the use +of fire-arms could no more resort, with certainty, to the bow or the +javelin for their daily subsistence. Accustomed to the hatchet of +Great Britain, they could ill adopt the rude sharpened stone to the +purposes of building, and until years of misery and of famine had +extirpated the present race, they could not recur to the simple arts +by which they supported themselves before the introduction of British +manufactures. As the outfits of the Hudson's Bay Company consist +principally of articles which long habit have taught them now to +consider of first necessity, if we withhold these outfits, we leave +them destitute of their only means of support. The truth of this +observation had a melancholy proof in the year 1782, when from the +attack made upon the settlements by La Pérouse, and the consequent +failure of our supplies, many of the Indians were found starved to +death. + +[Sidenote: Petition of the Company.] + +"It was not only from the firm conviction that we felt of the +necessity of European manufactures to the present existence of whole +nations of North American Indians that we considered ourselves bound +by the most powerful ties to exert every effort in their favour; but +also that we might continue to them those advantages which would +result to their religious as well as civil welfare from the +progressive improvements, and a gradual system of civilisation and +education which we have introduced throughout the country; +improvements which are now diffusing the comforts of civilized life, +as well as the blessings of the Christian faith to thousands of +uninstructed Indians, and would in their completion, we can +confidently assert, have tended to the future cultivation of lands, +which from experiments we found capable of growing most of the grains +of Northern Europe, and from their climate adapted to the culture of +hemp and flax, and from the labour of those families who would have +been induced to settle at our factories, might soon have brought to +this country the produce of the boundless forests of pine that spread +themselves over almost the southern parts of our possessions. + +"To realize these not visionary schemes, but sure and certain plans, +founded upon the progressive civilization of the natives, were objects +not to be given up without the most urgent necessity, and the hope +that the ruler of the French Empire could not forever shut out our +trade from Europe, induced us to resort to every means within our +power to preserve the advantages resulting to ourselves and to the +Indians, and to the British nation. + +"We have exhausted those funds which we set apart for their +completion; we have pledged our credit till we feel, as honest men, +that upon the present uncertainty we can pledge it no farther, and we +throw ourselves upon your Worship's wisdom to afford us that temporary +assistance which we cannot ask at any other hands. + +"Were we to resort to the early history of our settlements, we might +lay the foundations of just claims upon the public to assist our +present wants. We could show instances of most destructive attacks by +the French upon our factories. Our forts and military works, mounted +with a numerous and expensive artillery for the defence of the colony +against their future operations, were destroyed and the guns ruined. +And particularly was a most grievous loss occasioned to us by the +predatory attack of La Pérouse about the conclusion of the American +War, which caused the distress to which we have above alluded. + +"Against these pressures when our trade flourished we were able to +hold up, and we found within ourselves those resources which defeated +the enemy's views and continued to Great Britain the trade we had +established. + +"And it is not until pressed to our last resort that we ask of your +Lordships that assistance with which we may confidently hope to +preserve our trade until the continent may be again opened, when we +shall be delivered from those difficulties under which we are now +sinking." + +The petition was signed by Wm. Mainwaring, Governor; Joseph Berens, +Deputy Governor; George Hyde Wollaston, Thomas Neave, Job Mathew +Raikes, Thomas Langley, John Henry Pelly, Benjamin Harrison, John +Webb. + +In April the Adventurers petitioned the King in Council to reduce +duties on furs to one-half, or trade must suffer extinction. No profit +was derivable, it said, on marten, wolf, bear, wolverine and +fisher-skins. + +To this petition the Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, +Whitehall, replied in the following February, that the memorial of the +Hudson's Bay Company contained no proposition on which the Lords of +this Council could "offer any opinion to the Lords of Treasury." + +[Sidenote: Small Government assistance.] + +As their petition was denied, the Company now boldly prepared a +request and asked for a loan of £60,000, and that time be extended for +paying the duties on furs imported until the continental market +re-opened. To this request an answer was returned, allowing twelve +months storage of furs free of duty and promising drawbacks as if +storage had only been for one year, but stating that there were no +funds out of which a loan could be made without special authority of +Parliament. + +It was clear that the Company was in very low water, and that some new +salutary policy was demanded. By way of a beginning, barter was +abolished as a basis of trade, and money payments ordered. At the same +time the Adventurers stole a leaf out of the book of the North-West +company, and new regulations, comprising thirty-five articles, were +made in the early months of 1810, for carrying on the business in +Hudson's Bay. + +The principle of allowing to their chief officers a considerable +participation in the profits of their trade was admitted. It was found +absolutely necessary to adopt some step of this sort, as nothing of +such a measure could be sufficient to stem the torrent of aggression +with which they had been assailed by the North-West company; and their +absolute ruin must have ensued if some effectual means had not been +taken, not only to rectify some of the abuses which had crept in under +the former system, but also to rouse their officers to a more +effectual resistance of the lawless violence practised against them. + +The total lack of jurisdiction in the Indian country, as the territory +which was the scene of the operations of the fur-traders was called, +permitted crime to go unpunished, and numerous representations were +made in respect to the evils of this practical immunity from +punishment. In Sir Alexander Mackenzie's letter of the 25th of +October, 1802, he says that, in view of the improbability of the two +companies amalgamating, a jurisdiction should be established as +speedily as possible, to prevent the contending fur companies from +abusing the power either might possess, so as to secure to each the +fruits of fair, honest and industrious exertion; it would also, he +believed, tend to put a stop to the increasing animosity between the +two companies. Mr. Richardson, of the other company, also pressed for +the establishment of a competent jurisdiction and instanced the case +of one of the clerks in his company who had killed a clerk of the +other in defending the property in his care. The young man had come to +Montreal to be tried, but there being no jurisdiction there for such +trial, "he remains in the deplorable predicament that neither his +innocence nor his guilt can be legally ascertained." He also proposed +that a military post should be established at Thunder Bay, on Lake +Superior, as an additional means of securing peace. + +Repeatedly had the Grand Juries of Quebec and Montreal called +attention to this want of jurisdiction. In one report the number of +people from the Canadas, chiefly from Lower Canada, was urged as one +reason for establishing in the Indian country a court of competent +jurisdiction for the trial of offences committed in these territories, +including Hudson's Bay. + +[Sidenote: Plea for establishment of jurisdiction.] + +"The very heavy expense," observes the report, "incident to the +conveyance of offenders from the Territory of Hudson's Bay to England, +with the necessary witnesses on both sides, and the cost of +prosecution and defence, must generally operate, either to prevent +recourse to a tribunal across the ocean, and thereby stimulate to +private retaliation and revenge, or where such course can or shall be +had, the guilty may escape punishment, and the innocent be sacrificed +from the distance of time and place of trial, the death or absence of +witnesses, or other causes; and the mind cannot contemplate without +horror the possible abuses to which such circumstances might give +rise; as in the instance of a prosecutor coming from and at a remote +day, when the accused may be destitute of pecuniary means, and the +exculpatory evidence may either be dead, removed, or be otherwise +beyond his reach, who at all events (however innocent he may finally +be found) will have undergone a long and painful confinement, far +removed from his family and connections, and perhaps ruinous to every +prospect he had in life." + +Sir Robert Milnes strongly supported the representation of the Grand +Jury, and added that "Under such circumstances every species of +offence is to be apprehended, from Trespasses to Murder," and also +that "the national character of the English will be debased among the +Indians, and the numerous tribes of those people will in consequence +thereof be more easily wrought upon by foreign emissaries employed by +the Enemies of Great Britain."[88] + +In consequence of these representations Lord Hobart promised that +immediate steps should be taken to remedy the existing state of +affairs. But Milnes became impatient for a decision, and writing in +September, 1803, to the Under-Secretary, he reminded him of the +promise, the great increase and extent of the fur-trade rendering such +an Act daily more necessary. The Act to give jurisdiction to the +Courts of Upper and Lower Canada had, however, been assented to on the +11th of the preceding month. + + [Illustration: VOYAGEURS TRACKING CANOES UP A RAPID.] + +[Sidenote: Canada Jurisdiction Act.] + +The first case brought to trial under the Act became celebrated. In +the autumn of 1809 William Corrigal was the trader at a Company's post +near Eagle Lake. On the 15th of September a party of North-Westers +established an encampment about forty yards from the Company's post, +under one of their clerks, Aeneas MacDonnell. In the evening an Indian +arrived in his canoe to trade with Corrigal and to pay a debt which he +owed him. As he was not able to defray the whole amount, Corrigal +accepted the canoe in part payment. The Indian requested that it might +be lent to him for a few days, which was agreed to; and the Indian +spent the night at the post with his canoe. In the morning he received +in advance some more merchandise, such as clothing for his family and +ammunition for his winter hunt. When he finally departed, three of the +Company's servants were sent down to the wharf with the canoe and the +goods. On their way they were observed by a number of Northmen, +including MacDonnell, who went immediately down to the lake, armed +with a sword and accompanied by a voyageur named Adhemer, armed with a +brace of pistols. Upon pretence that the unhappy Red man was indebted +to the North-West company, they proceeded to seize and drag away the +canoe and the merchandise to their own wharf. Corrigal observing this, +commanded two of his men, James Tate and John Corrigal, to go into the +water and prevent the seizure, and as they approached on this mission +MacDonnell drew his sword and struck two blows at Tate's head. The +latter was unarmed, and warded the blows with his wrist, which was +severely gashed. He then received another deep wound in the neck, +which felled him to the ground. In the meantime Adhemer had seized +John Corrigal (who was also unarmed) and presenting a cocked pistol at +his head, swore that if he went near the canoe he would blow out his +brains. + +Several of the Company's servants who were near the spot, perceiving +what was going on, and observing that the rest of MacDonnell's men +were collecting with arms, ran up to their own house, which was only +about forty or fifty yards from the lake, for weapons of defence. +MacDonnell next attacked John Corrigal, who to escape him ran into the +lake. Finding the water too deep, however, he was soon obliged to make +a turn towards the shore. His pursuer wading after him, aimed a blow +at him with his sword, cut his arm above the elbow and laid the bone +bare. He followed this up with a tremendous blow at his head, which +Robert Leask, one of the Company's servants, fortunately warded off +with the paddle of his canoe, which was cut in two by the blow. The +North-West leader in a fury now attacked another servant named Essen, +aimed a blow at him with his sword, which, however, only struck his +hat off. But in making his escape Essen fell into the water. Before he +could recover himself another Canadian aimed a blow at his head with a +heavy axe, which missed its aim, but dislocated his shoulder, so that +he could make no use of his arm for over two months after this +affray. + +[Sidenote: Killing of MacDonnell.] + +MacDonnell and Adhemer, the one with a drawn sword and the other with +a cocked pistol, continued to pursue several other of the Company's +servants towards the fort, when one of them, named John Mowat, whom +MacDonnell had previously struck with his sword, and was preparing to +strike again, shot MacDonnell on the spot. + +[Sidenote: Trial of Mowat.] + +MacDonnell's body was carried away, and the parties separated, +Corrigal fearing a further attack. On the 24th, a partner of the +North-West Company, named Haldane, arrived in a canoe with ten men, +and on the following day another partner, McLellan, also arrived. They +came to the gates of the stockades, behind which Corrigal and his men +had barricaded themselves, and demanded the man who had shot +MacDonnell. They declared that if the person was not immediately given +up they would either shoot every one of the Company's men, or get the +Indians to kill them, were it even to cost them a keg of brandy for +each of their heads! Mowat now stepped forward and acknowledged that +he was the man, and that he would shoot MacDonnell again in the same +circumstances. Much to his surprise the North-Westers announced their +intention of taking him and two witnesses down to Montreal for trial. +Mowat was thereupon put in irons. From the 2nd of October, when they +arrived at Rainy Lake, the unhappy man was generally kept in irons +from six in the morning till eight in the evening, and during the +night until the 14th of December. During the whole winter he was kept +in close confinement, and the two witnesses, Tate and Leask, who had +voluntarily accompanied him, were themselves subjected to much insult +and indignity, and were obliged to submit to every species of drudgery +and labour in order to obtain a bare subsistence. In June the whole +party, including Corrigal, arrived at Fort William, the chief +trading-post rendezvous of the North-Westers. Here Mowat was +imprisoned in a close and miserable dungeon, about six feet square, +without any window or light of any kind whatsoever, and when he +finally reached Montreal he was in a most pitiable condition. The +witnesses were seized on a charge of aiding and abetting the murder +of MacDonnell, and this upon the oath of one of the North-West +half-breeds. The Hudson's Bay Company had at this time no agent or +correspondent at Montreal or any place in Canada, and it was not until +the end of November that the Honourable Adventurers heard of the +prosecution being carried on against their servants. Immediate steps +were taken for their protection, and counsel engaged for the defence. +Mowat and his witnesses were indicted for murder. The grand jury found +a true bill against Mowat, but not against the others, and Tate and +Leask were accordingly discharged.[89] + +In spite of the evidence, the jury brought in a verdict of +manslaughter. The judge, however, had charged them to find it murder. +Mowat was sentenced to be imprisoned six months and branded on the +hand with a hot iron. After his discharge, two years from the time he +was first put in irons at Eagle Lake, Mowat proceeded from Canada to +the United States in order to return to England, but was never heard +of again. He is supposed to have been drowned by the breaking of the +ice in one of the rivers he had to cross on his way. + +[Sidenote: The Earl of Selkirk.] + +Such was the situation in the early years of the century. At this time +there rose a name destined to be of more than local fame, that of +Thomas Douglas, fifth Earl of Selkirk, a young man of benevolent +character, whose feelings had been deeply moved by the sufferings of +his countrymen in the Scottish Highlands. Nor was the nobleman's +compassion excited without cause. A compulsory exodus of the +inhabitants of the mountainous regions in the county of Sutherland was +in progress. The tale of expulsion of a vast number of poor tenantry +from the estates of the Duchess of Sutherland, which they and their +ancestors had looked upon as their own without the necessity of rent +and taxes, may be heard to-day from some white-haired old grandfather, +who had it from the lips of his sire, in the far north of Scotland. +The system of rents and land-management as it prevails to-day all over +the Highlands had only then been put in force, and the squatters were +driven to seek their homes as best they might in the remote and +sequestered places of the earth. Selkirk encouraged this emigration as +the only remedy; and having endeavoured in vain to secure the active +co-operation of the Government, resolved to settle a colony on waste +lands granted him in Prince Edward Island. The better to ensure +success, he went in person to oversee the whole enterprise. Gathering +together about eight hundred of these poor people, who bade a +melancholy farewell to their heather-robed hills, they arrived at +their future home early in September, 1803. + + [Illustration: LORD SELKIRK.] + +Selkirk visited Montreal in this and also in the following year on +matters connected with his philanthropic undertaking, and on both +occasions evinced the heartiest interest in the great territory to the +north-west which formed the theatre of action for the two rival +fur-trading companies. + +The Prince Edward Island colony continuing to prosper, Lord Selkirk +now conceived the plan of forming a colony on the banks of the Red +River, in Rupert's Land.[90] In order to execute his project with a +greater assurance of success, he again, in 1805, addressed the British +Government and nation, pointing out the successful issue of his colony +as an example of the excellent results which would attend a further +exodus of the superfluous population. + +Time went on and the execution of the plan being still in abeyance, +the great decline in Hudson's Bay stock suggested an idea to Selkirk. +He submitted the charter to several of the highest legal authorities +in England, and got from them the following: + +"We are of the opinion that the grant of the said contained charter is +good, and that it will include all the country, the waters of which +run into Hudson's Bay, as ascertained by geographical observations. + +[Sidenote: Legal opinion on the Company's charter.] + +"We are of opinion that an individual holding from the Hudson's Bay +Company a lease or grant in fee simple of any part of their territory, +will be entitled to all the ordinary rights of landed property in +England, and will be entitled to prevent other persons from occupying +any part of the lands; from cutting down timber and fishing in the +adjoining waters (being such as a private right of fishing may subsist +in), and may (if he can peaceably or otherwise in due course of law) +dispossess them of any buildings which they have recently erected +within the limits of their property. + +"We are of opinion that the grant of the civil and criminal +jurisdiction is valid, though it is not granted to the Company, but +to the Governor and Council at their respective establishments. We +cannot recommend, however, it to be exercised so as to affect the +lives or limbs of criminals. It is to be exercised by the Governor and +Council as judges, who are to proceed according to the laws of +England. + +"The Company may appoint a sheriff to execute judgments and do his +duty as in England. + +"We are of opinion that the sheriff, in case of resistance to his +authority, may collect the population to his assistance, and put arms +into the hands of his servants for defence against attack, and to +assist in enforcing the judgments of the courts; but such powers +cannot be exercised with too much circumspection. + +"We are of opinion that all persons will be subject to the +jurisdiction of the court, who reside or are found within the +territories over which it extends. + +"We do not think the Canada Jurisdiction Act (43 George III.) gives +jurisdiction within the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, the +same being within the jurisdiction of their own governors and +council.[91] + +"We are of opinion that the Governor (in Hudson's) might under the +authority of the Company, appoint constables and other officers for +the preservation of the peace and that the officers so appointed would +have the same duties and privileges as the same officers in England, +so far as these duties and privileges may be applicable to their +situation in the territories of the Company." This was signed by Sir +Samuel Ronully, Mr. Justice Holroyd, W. M. Cruise, J. Scarlett and +John Bell. There could be thus no question of Selkirk's right. The +Company's charter, amongst other provisions, expressly forbids all +English subjects from entering, without license or authority, upon the +territories of the Hudson's Bay Company. The Governor and Company only +are empowered to grant such authority and on them also is conferred +the right of establishing castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, +colonies, plantations, towns and villages, in any parts or places +within the limits of their territory. They had also the right of +sending ships of war, men or ammunition, to their colonies, +fortifications or plantations, and of appointing governors, commanders +and officers over them. + +Selkirk began by purchasing several thousand pounds worth of shares in +the Company. + +Late in 1810 he made a formal proposition to the Company, a +proposition previously made and rejected, for a settlement to be made +within its territory. This time some of the Honourable Adventurers +began to see that the scheme might be fraught with salvation for +themselves. + +Lord Selkirk was asked to lay before the committee the terms on which +he would accept a grant of land within the Hudson's Bay territories, +"specifying what restrictions he would be prepared to consent to be +imposed on the settlers." Also what security he would offer to the +Company against any injury to its trade or to its rights and +privileges. + +Lord Selkirk responded to this, and his proposals were agreed to, +subject to final approbation of a general court of all the +Adventurers. + +[Sidenote: Selkirk's project.] + +It now dawned upon the wiser spirits that here was being offered them +the means for the Company's salvation. Nevertheless, the traditional +opposition of the Company to any project of the kind still lingered, +and was not easily disposed of. For weeks the meetings in committee +resounded with appeals to "traditional policy," to "loyalty to the +noble, the ancient founders," to "a spirit of reverence for the +history of our Company," but all to no purpose. Selkirk was to carry +the day. A general court was convened, by public notice, in May 1811, +when the stockholders were informed that the Governor and Committee +considered it beneficial to their general interests to grant Lord +Selkirk 116,000 square miles of their territory, on condition that he +should establish a colony and furnish, on certain terms, from amongst +the settlers, such labourers as would be required by the Company in +their trade. + +In order to give the partners a further opportunity of making +themselves fully informed of the nature of the proposed measure, an +adjournment of the court took place. In the meanwhile notice was given +to all the stockholders that the terms of the proposed grant were left +at the secretary's office for their inspection. + +This interval was the opportunity of McGillivray and his friends. + +In certain quarters, no pains or misrepresentations were spared by +persons associated with the North-West Company to prejudice the public +mind against it. The newspapers teemed with falsehoods representing +the country as cold or barren, as a dreary waste or interminable +forest, unfit to be the abode of men and incapable of improvement. +Selkirk was accosted in Pall Mall by a friend who remarked: "By God, +sir, if you are bent on doing something futile, why do you not sow +tares at home in order to reap wheat, or plough the desert of Sahara, +which is nearer." + +Old servants of the Company came forward to dispel these calumnies, +and seeing their first falsehoods destroyed, Selkirk's enemies now +proceeded to follow new tactics. They spoke with feigned alarm +concerning the hostile disposition of the aborigines; they lamented +with affected sympathy and humanity the injuries and slaughters to +which the colonists would be exposed from the savages. + +At the adjourned meeting the proposition was again discussed amidst +the greatest excitement and tumult, and adopted. A memorial or protest +was however entered against the measure, bearing the signature of six +of the proprietors. + +[Sidenote: Opposition by agents of the North-West Company.] + +Of these six signing the protest, three were persons closely connected +with and interested in the rival commercial concerns of the North-West +Company of Montreal; and two of the three were, at the very moment, +avowed London agents of that association. These had become proprietors +of Hudson's Bay stock only eight and forty hours before the general +meeting. They were not indeed possessed of it long enough to entitle +them to vote at the meeting; but their names now being entered in the +Company's books, though the ink was scarcely dry with which they were +inserted, they felt themselves competent to formally raise their +voices in condemnation of those measures which the committee of +directors unanimously, and the general court by a great majority, had +approved of. + +Their design in acquiring the Company's stock was obvious. However +circuitous the stratagem might be, it was clear that they had thus +become proprietors of one commercial company for the purpose of +advancing the fortunes of another, and a rival concern.[92] The +stratagem did not altogether fail, for Lord Selkirk's agents were yet +to encounter much friction in distant quarters supposed to be +friendly, and required to be obedient to the orders of the Company. + +When the vote was taken, it was found that for the question there +appeared holders of stock valued at £29,937; against it, £14,823. The +Earl, himself, voted "for"--£4,087; the principal opponent of the +scheme being one William Thwaytes, whose interest was represented at +£9,233. + +At this meeting a memorial was read violently opposing the scheme, +signed by Thwaytes and four or five others. According to them, the +main objections were:--(_a_) Impolitic; (_b_) Consideration +inadequate; (_c_) Grant asked for very large proportion of Company's +holding, viz.: 70,000 square miles, or about 45,000,000 acres; (_d_) +Should be a public sale, if any, not a private contract with a member +of the Company; (_e_) No penalty for failure to find settlers; (_f_) +Colonization unfavourable to the fur-trade; private traffic would be +carried on with the United States of America. + +The Earl proposed to find a number of effective men as servants to the +Hudson's Bay Company in return for a grant of land, viz., two hundred +men for ten years, from 1812, who would every year be ready to embark +between May 1st and July 1st at an appointed place in Scotland. + +The Company were to pay wages to each man not exceeding £20. Should +the Earl fail, he agreed to forfeit £10 per man short of two hundred. +As to proposed grants of land to settlers, two hundred acres were to +be given to labourers or artificers; one thousand acres to a master of +a trading-house. The Company were, of course, to have full rights of +access to all the surrendered districts. + +[Sidenote: Earl Selkirk's proposal accepted.] + +The customs duties, exports and imports, payable by settlers were not +to exceed five per cent, at Port Nelson, unless it happened that a +higher duty was levied at Quebec. The duties so to be levied were to +be applied to the expense of Government police, communication between +Lake Winnipeg and Port Nelson, etc., and not to be taken as profits +for the Company. The show of hands was in favour of the proposal; but +a protest was handed in to the Governor by Thwaytes and others. In +spite of this, on the 13th of June, the deed was signed, sealed and +delivered by the secretary on behalf of the Company. + +The lands were defined by deed as situate between 52° 30' north +latitude and 102° 30' west longitude, a map being affixed to the +deed. + +In reading this protest, one who was ignorant of the true state of +affairs would have been led to believe that the partners concerned had +no object so dear to them as the welfare and prosperity of the +Hudson's Bay Company. These gentlemen appeared to be animated by the +most thorough devotion and zeal, as they stood together declaiming in +loud, earnest tones against the errors into which their beloved +Company was falling, and pouring out their sympathy to the emigrant +settlers who might be lured to their destruction by establishing +themselves on the lands so granted "out of reach," to employ their own +phrase, "of all those aids and comforts which are derived from civil +society;" and so it did truly appear to many then as it has done +since. But let us examine those signatures, and lo, the wolf obtrudes +himself basking in the skin of a lamb! + +The grant was thus confirmed. The opposition had found itself +powerless, and Selkirk was put into possession of a territory only +5,115 square miles less than the entire area of the United Kingdom of +Great Britain and Ireland.[93] + +The grant secured, Selkirk at once despatched agents to Ireland and +throughout the highlands of Scotland, to engage servants, some for the +Company's service, others for general labourers in the colony. These +last were known as "his lordship's servants," and were engaged for a +term of years, at the expiration of which they became entitled to one +hundred acres of land, free of cost. They were placed under the charge +of Miles McDonnell, who received a joint appointment from Selkirk and +the Company, as first Governor of the new colony. + +[Sidenote: Selkirk's immigrants arrive.] + +The first section of the immigrant party arrived at York Factory late +in the autumn of 1811.[94] This post was then in charge of William +Auld, who, as we have seen, occupied the position of Superintendent of +the Northern Department of Rupert's Land. After a short residence at +the fort, where they were treated in a somewhat tyrannical and +high-handed fashion by the Governor, who had scant sympathy for the +new _régime_, the party were sent forward to Seal Creek, fifty miles +up Nelson River. Governor McDonnell and one Hillier, in the character +of justice of the peace, accompanied them thither, and preparations +were at once made for the erection of a suitable shelter. + + [Illustration: STORNAWAY. + (_The Hebrides._)] + +McDonnell experienced a great deal of trouble during the winter with +the men under his charge, for a mutinous spirit broke out, and he was +put to his wits' end to enforce discipline. He put it all down to the +Glasgow servants. "These Glasgow rascals," he declared to Auld, the +Governor of York Factory, "have caused us both much trouble and +uneasiness. A more stubborn, litigious and cross-grained lot were +never put under any person's care. I cannot think that any liberality +of rum or rations could have availed to stop their dissatisfaction. +Army and navy discipline is the only thing fit to manage such fierce +spirits." + +But the Irish of the party were hardly more tractable. On New Year's +night, 1812, a violent and unprovoked attack was made by some of the +Irish on a party of Orkneymen, who were celebrating the occasion. +Three of the latter were so severely beaten that for a month the +surgeon could not report their lives entirely out of danger. Four of +the Irishmen concerned in this assault were sent back home. "Worthless +blackguards," records the Governor; "the lash may make them +serviceable to the Government in the army or navy, but they will never +do for us." + +On the subject of the Orkney servants of the Company all critics were +not agreed. Governor McDonnell's opinion, for instance, was not +flattering:-- + +"There cannot," he reported, "be much improvement made in the country +while the Orkneymen form the majority of labourers; they are lazy, +spiritless, and ill-disposed--wedded to old habits, strongly +prejudiced against any change, however beneficial. It was with the +utmost reluctance they could be prevailed on to drink the spruce juice +to save themselves from the scurvy; they think nothing of the scurvy, +as they are then idle, and their wages run on.... It is not uncommon +for an Orkneyman to consume six pounds or eight pounds of meat in a +day, and some have ate as much in a single meal. This gluttonous +appetite, they say, is occasioned by the cold. I entirely discredit +the assertion, as I think it rather to be natural to themselves. All +the labour I have seen these men do would scarcely pay for the +victuals they consume. With twenty-five men belonging to it, the +factory was last winter distressed for firewood, and the people sent +to tent in the woods."[95] + +[Sidenote: Opposition by the Nor'-Westers.] + +Meanwhile, leaving the shivering immigrants, distrustful of their +officers and doubtful of what the future had in store for them, to +encamp at Seal Creek, let us turn to the state of affairs amongst the +parties concerned elsewhere, particularly amongst the Nor'-Westers. +Simon McGillivray, who was agent in London for that Company, watched +all Selkirk's acts with the utmost distrust, and kept the partners +continually informed of the turn affairs were taking. He assured them +that Selkirk's philanthropy was all a cloak, designed to cover up a +scheme for the total extinction of the Hudson's Bay Company's rivals. +The colony was to be planted to ruin their trade. It was an endeavour +to check the physical superiority of the Nor'-Westers and by means of +this settlement secure to the Hudson's Bay Company and to himself, not +only the extensive and sole trade of the country within their own +territories, but a "safe and convenient stepping-stone for +monopolizing all the fur-trade of the Far West." + +The partners in Montreal were stirred to action. Regarding Lord +Selkirk's motives in this light, they warmly disputed the validity of +the Hudson's Bay Company's Charter and of the grants of land made to +him. It was decided to bring all the forces of opposition they +possessed to bear on this "invasion of their hunting grounds." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[88] Canadian Archives. + +[89] It has been noted that several partners of the North-West concern +were upon the grand jury which found the bill of indictment, and out +of four judges who sat upon the bench, two were nearly related to +individuals of that association. + +[90] Already, in April, 1802, Lord Selkirk had addressed a letter and +memorial to Lord Pelham, the Home Secretary, detailing the +practicability of promoting emigration to Rupert's Land. "To a colony +in these territories," he concluded, "the channel of trade must be the +river of Port Nelson." + +[91] In the course of a letter reporting on the disputes between the +Hudson's Bay Company and the North-Westers, Commissioner Coltman +attributed the disasters in the territories to the Company having held +in abeyance its right to jurisdiction and that this neglect was the +reason for passing the act of 1803. This letter is in the Canadian +Archives, _v._ Report 1892. + +[92] "I have," writes Sir Alexander Mackenzie from London, 13th April, +1812, "finally settled with that Lord (Selkirk). After having prepared +a bill to carry him before the Lord Chancellor, it was proposed to my +solicitor by the solicitor of his Lordship that one-third of the stock +that was purchased on joint account before I went to America, +amounting to £47,000, and the balance of cash in his Lordship's hands, +belonging to me, should be given up to me; of this I accepted, though +I might have obliged his Lordship to make over to me one-third of the +whole purchase made by him in this stock, which at one time I was +determined to do, having been encouraged thereto by the house of +Suffolk Lane and countenanced by that of Mark Lane. But these houses +thought it prudent to desist from any further purchases." + +Mackenzie says that by a verbal understanding with Mr. McGillivray, +his purchase of the Hudson's Bay stock belonged to the North-West +Company, and that, if Mr. McGillivray himself had been there, a sum of +£30,000 might have been invested in that stock, "all of which Lord +Selkirk purchased, and if he persists in his present scheme, it will +be the dearest he yet made. + +"He will put the North-West Company to a greater expense than you seem +to apprehend, and had the Company sacrificed £20,000 which might have +secured a preponderance in the stock of Hudson's Bay Co., it would +have been money well spent." + +[93] The district thus granted was called Assiniboia, a name +undoubtedly derived from the Assiniboine tribe and river, yet alleged +by some at the time to be taken from two Gaelic words "osni" and +"boia"--the house of Ossian. + +[94] "None of the young men," says McDonnell, "made any progress in +learning the Gaelic or Irish language on the voyage. I had some drills +of the people with arms, but the weather was generally boisterous, and +there were few days when a person could stand steady on deck. There +never was a more awkward squad--not a man, or even officer, of the +party knew how to put a gun to his eye or had ever fired a shot." + +[95] Governor McDonnell's observations are not always to be relied +upon. For instance, he says in one report, "I am surprised the Company +never directed a survey to be made of the coast on each side of +Hudson's Straits. From the appearance of the country there must be +many harbours and inlets for vessels to go in case of an accident from +ice, want of water, etc. We were often, ourselves, much in doubt for +the accomplishment of our voyage, and had we been under the necessity +of putting back, must have suffered for want of water. Two of the +ships, without any additional expense, might execute this survey on +the voyage out, with only the detention of a few days, one taking the +north and the other the south shore." Such a survey had been made as +early as 1728. Mention has already been made of Captain Coats, who, in +1739, prepared a chart of the Straits and Bay. To some of the older +captains in the service, the Straits were as well-known as the harbour +of Stromness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +1812-1815. + + The Bois-Brulés -- Simon McGillivray's Letter -- Frightening + the Settlers -- A second Brigade -- Governor McDonnell's + Manifesto -- Defection of Northmen to the Company -- + Robertson's Expedition to Athabasca -- Affairs at Red River -- + Cameron and McDonell in uniform -- Cuthbert Grant -- Miles + McDonnell arrested -- Fort William -- News brought to the + Northmen -- Their confiscated account-books -- War of 1812 + concluded. + + +[Sidenote: The Bois-Brulés.] + +There had lately been witnessed the rapid growth of a new +class--sprung from the loins of Red man and European. Alert, rugged, +turbulent, they evinced at the same time a passionate love of the life +and manners of the wilderness, and a fierce intractability which could +hardly fail to cause occasional uneasiness in the minds of their +masters. To this class had been given the name of Métis, or +Bois-Brulés. They were principally the descendants of the French +voyageurs of the North-West concern, who had allied themselves with +Indian women and settled down on the shore of some lake or stream in +the interior. Amongst these half-breeds hunters and trappers came, and +at a later period a number of Englishmen and Scotchmen, hardly less +strongly linked to a wild, hardy life than themselves. These also took +Indian wives, and they and their children spoke of themselves as +neither English, Scotch, or Indian, but as belonging to the "New +Nation." + +From 1812 to 1821 the North-West concern absorbed all the labours and +exacted the loyalty of the increasing class of Bois-Brulés. The +Hudson's Bay Company was exclusively an English company, and their +Scotch and English servants had left few traces of an alliance with +the aborigines. As the posts in the interior began to multiply, and +the men were thus cut off from the larger society which obtained at +York, Cumberland and Moose factories, and were thrown more upon their +own resources, a laxer discipline prevailed, and the example of their +neighbours was followed. A time was to come when the "Orkney +half-breeds" equalled in point of numbers those of the French +Bois-Brulés. + + [Illustration: A BOIS-BRULÉ.] + +There were yet few half-breeds of English extraction. The Bois-Brulés +were passionately attached to the North-West company, who were quick +to recognize their value as agents amongst the Indians. The idea of +nationality, so far from being frowned upon, was encouraged amongst +them. So much for the instruments which the Company proposed to employ +in Montreal. + +It was only natural that amongst this rude race there should arise a +leader, a half-breed to whose superior ability and natural advantages +was added an education in Montreal, the seat of the co-partnery. +Cuthbert Grant, which was the name this individual bore, was known far +and wide amongst the hunters and trappers of Rupert's Land, and +everywhere commanded homage and respect. He had risen to be one of the +most enterprising and valued agents of the Nor'-Westers, and was +constantly admitted to their councils. + +On the 22nd of May, 1811, at which period the matter was in embryo in +London, Simon McGillivray had frankly declared to Miles McDonnell, +agent to Lord Selkirk, that he was "determined to give all the +opposition in his power, whatever might be the consequences," because, +in his opinion, "such a settlement struck at the root of the +North-West company, which it was intended to ruin."[96] + +By way of argument, this gentleman took it upon himself to inform the +Hudson's Bay Company that the proposed settlement was foredoomed to +destruction, inasmuch as it "must at all times lie at the mercy of the +Indians," who would not be bound by treaties, and that "one North-West +Company's interpreter would be able at any time to set the Indians +against the settlers and destroy them." + +[Sidenote: Defections from the North-West Company.] + +Selkirk was now informed that there were several clerks who had been +many years in the service of the Northmen, and who were disaffected in +that service. They grumbled at not having been sooner promoted to the +proprietary--that the claims of the old and faithful were too often +passed over for those of younger men of little experience, because +they were related to the partners. The Earl was not slow to avail +himself of this advantage. It became a matter of importance to +persuade as many as possible of these dissatisfied spirits to join his +scheme, by the offer of large salaries, and several accepted his offer +with alacrity. Amongst the most enterprising was one Colin Robertson, +a trader who had often ventured his life amongst the tribes and +half-breeds, to forward the interests of his establishment. He +possessed a perfect knowledge of the interior and of the fur-trade, +and to him Lord Selkirk entrusted the chief management of the latter +for the Company. Robertson was well convinced of the superiority of +the Canadian voyageurs over the Orkneymen, in the management of +canoes, for example, and he proceeded to engage a number of them in +Montreal at a much higher wage than they had received hitherto. + +To Robertson's counsels must be ascribed much of the invigoration +which now began to mark the policy of the Company. His letters to the +Company were full of a common-sense and a fighting spirit. "Let us +carry the trade to Athabasca," he said; and he proceeded to +demonstrate how all rivalry could be annihilated. The strength and +weakness of his rivals were familiar to him, and he was well aware how +much depended on the Indians themselves. They could and would deal +with whom they chose; Robertson determined they should deal +henceforth, not with the North-West, but with the Hudson's Bay +Company. + +The Northmen had been for years continually pressing to the West. They +were doing a thriving trade on the Columbia River, in Oregon, where +they had a lucrative post; they had a post to the south of that in +California, and to the north as far as New Archangel. In the second +decade of the century the North-West Association had over three +hundred Canadians in its employ on the Pacific slope, sending three or +four ships annually to London by way of Cape Horn. In 1810 they had a +competitor in the post of Astoria, founded by John Jacob Astor, a +fur-monopolist of New York. Astor had made overtures to the North-West +partners, which had been declined; whereupon he induced about twenty +Canadians to leave them and enter his service. He despatched two +expeditions, one overland and the other by sea, around Cape Horn. But +the founder of Astoria had not foreseen that the breaking out of war +between Great Britain and America would upset all his plans. Fort +Astoria, in the fortunes of war, changed hands and became Fort George; +and although the post was, by the Treaty of Ghent, restored, the +Canadians and Scotchmen had returned to their old employers and +interests. In a few years the Hudson's Bay Company was to control the +chief part of the fur-trade of the Pacific Coast. + + [Illustration: FORT GEORGE. + (_Astoria--as it was in 1813._)] + +None of the Company's servants had yet penetrated as far west as +Athabasca. Yet it was the great northern department of Rupert's +Land--a country which, if not flowing with milk and honey, swarmed +with moose and beaver. To Athabasca, therefore, Robertson went. + +[Sidenote: The Company in Athabasca.] + +This first expedition was highly successful. Never had the natives +received such high prices for their furs. Seduced from their +allegiance to the Northmen, and dimly recalling the tales of their +sires, regarding whilom journeys to the posts of the Great Company, +they rallied in scores and hundreds round its standard. The news +spread far and wide. Other tribes heard and marvelled. They, too, had +listened to stories of the white traders, who far away, past rivers +and plain and mountain, sat still in their forts and waited for the +Red man to bring them furs. Now the Mountain was coming to Mahomet. +Many of them resolved to keep their furs until the traders from the +Bay came amongst them, too; and, gnashing their teeth, the Northmen +were compelled to give them still higher prices, if they would obtain +the goods of the savages, and secure their wavering loyalty. + + [Illustration: ARRIVAL OF THE UPLAND INDIANS.] + +Other measures became incumbent upon them to perform. They were +obliged to send double the quantity of merchandise into the interior, +and they were also to supply extra provisions to their own men, and to +raise their wages; while several clerks were elected partners. Cost +what it might, the Northmen were determined to fight to the end. + +It has been shewn in preceding pages how the step of removing from +Grand Portage had been anticipated as far back as 1785, when Edward +Umfreville was sent to reconnoitre a site for a new fort on British +territory. None appeared more suited to the purposes of the +Nor'-Westers than this; the river was deep and of easy access, and +offered a safe harbour for shipping. On the other hand, it was +situated in low, swampy soil; but by dint of great labour and +perseverance they succeeded in draining the marshes and in converting +to solidity the loose and yielding soil, accomplishing on a small +scale much of what Czar Peter was obliged to do on a large scale with +the foundation of Petersburg. + +[Sidenote: Fort William.] + +When all was finished, Fort William as it was called,[97] presented an +engaging exterior. It possessed the appearance of a fort, having a +palisade fifteen feet high, while the number of dwellings it enclosed, +gave it, from a distance, the appearance of a charming village. In the +centre of the spacious enclosure rose a large wooden building, +constructed with considerable pretensions to elegance, a long piazza +or portico, at an elevation of five feet from the ground and +surmounted by a balcony, fronting the building its entire length. The +great hall or saloon was situated in the middle of this building. At +each extremity of this apartment were two rooms, designed for the use +of the two principal agents, and the steward and his staff, the last +named official being a highly important personage. The kitchen and +servants' rooms were in the basement. On either side of the main +edifice was another of similar but less lofty extent, each divided by +a corridor running through its length and containing a dozen cosy +bedrooms. One was destined for the wintering partners, the other for +the clerks. On the east of the square stood another building similar +to the ones named, and applied to the same purpose; also a warehouse, +where the furs were inspected and packed for shipment. In the rear of +these were the lodging house of the guides, another fur warehouse, +and lastly, a powder magazine, a substantial structure of stone with a +metal roof. A great bastion, at an angle of the fort, commanded a view +of Lake Superior. There were other buildings to the westward, stores, +a gaol, workshops of the carpenter, cooper, blacksmith and tinsmith, +with spacious yards for the shelter, repair and construction of +canoes. Near the gate of the fort, which faced the south, were the +quarters of the physician and the chief clerks, and over the gates was +a guard-house. The river being of considerable depth at the entrance, +the Company had a wharf built extending the whole length of the fort, +for the discharge of the vessels it maintained on the lake, and for +the transport of its furs from Fort William to Sault Ste. Marie or +merchandise and provisions from the latter place to Fort William. The +land behind the fort and on both sides was cleared and under +cultivation. + + [Illustration: ON THE WAY TO FORT WILLIAM.] + +[Sidenote: The immigrants at Red River.] + +At the beginning of spring the "first brigade" of immigrants resumed +its journey to the Red River Valley, arriving at what is now known as +Point Douglas, late in August, 1812. Hardly had they reached this spot +than they were immediately thrown into the greatest fright and +disorder. A band of armed men, painted, disfigured and apparelled +like savages, confronted this little band of colonists and bade them +halt. They were told briefly that they were unwelcome visitors in that +region, and must depart. The colonists might have been urged to make a +stand, but to the terrors of hostile Indian and half-breed was added +that of prospective starvation, for none would sell them provisions +thereabouts. The painted warriors, who were North-West company Métis +in disguise, urged them to proceed to Pembina, where they would be +unharmed, and offered to conduct them there. They acquiesced, and the +pilgrimage, seventy miles farther on, was resumed. At Pembina they +passed the winter in tents, according to the Indian fashion, +subsisting on the products of the chase, in common with the natives. + +When spring came it was decided to again venture to plant the colony +on the banks of the Red River. Means were found to mollify their +opponents, and log-houses were built, and patches of prairie sown with +corn. A small quantity of seed wheat, obtained at Fort Alexander, +yielded them handsome returns at harvest time and the lot of the +settlers seemed brighter; but nevertheless they decided to repair to +Pembina for the winter, and saving their corn, live by hunting until +the spring. + +While affairs were thus proceeding with the colonists, Lord Selkirk, +in 1813, paid a visit to Ireland, where he secured a large number of +people as servants for the fur-trade and the colony, in addition to +those engaged in the Highlands.[98] + +Selkirk infused new life into the Company, and a number of plans for +its prosperity emanated from his brain. For a long time the Company +had had much at heart the erection of a new factory in place of York +Factory, but they had not thitherto had sufficient strength of hands +to accomplish this. Selkirk wrote to McDonnell that if the settlers +were employed in that object for the winter, the Company stood ready +to pay their wages. "Perhaps," he added, "it would be more advisable +to do this than to make an abortive attempt to reach the interior.... +I believe that I mentioned that I am anxious to have the soundings of +Nelson River taken, from Seal Island down to the open sea. I beg that +while you are at York, you will try to induce some of the officers of +the ships to go and make the survey. I will pay a handsome premium to +the individual who accomplishes it." + + [Illustration: THE COMPANY'S SHIPS IN 1812. + (_From the picture in Hudson's Bay House._)] + +[Sidenote: Irish colonists brought out.] + +On June 28, the Company's ships, the _Prince of Wales_ and the +_Eddystone_, sailed out of the little harbour of Stromness. They were +accompanied by two other vessels, one a brig bound for the Moravian +missions on the Labrador coast, and the other his Majesty's sloop of +war _Brazen_, as armed convoy. The voyage was by no means as +monotonous as such voyages usually were. On board the _Prince of +Wales_, typhoid fever of a virulent character broke out, causing a +panic and a number of deaths, marine funerals being a daily +occurrence. As for the _Eddystone_, an insurrection occurred; during +which the sailors and passengers between decks sought to obtain +possession of the ship and dispose of her, together with cargo and +effects to France or Spain, or to the ships or colonies of those +hostile countries. The captain was, however informed of the plan, and +immediately placed armed men to guard the hatches, loaded the quarter +gun with grape shot and coolly awaited the advent on deck of the +conspirators. These appeared in due course, but were quick to perceive +themselves completely non-plussed and retired below in confusion. + +On the 12th of August the little fleet found an anchorage in Churchill +River, in close proximity to the new fort Prince of Wales. Here the +immigrants were landed, and after a short rest were sent forward, some +on foot and others by boat, to a place known as Colony Creek. Here +they built log cabins, and in their weak, unacclimatized state, drew +together to pass the winter in those hyperborean regions. In order to +receive the scant rations dealt out to them by the Company at the +fort, they were obliged to perform a journey of thirty miles on +snowshoes each week. But the trials and hardships of the poor +wanderers, amongst which was the deprivation of the locks of their +guns "in order that they should not kill the Company's partridges," +came to an end in April, when their gun-locks were restored and they +took up their journey to York Factory, slaying innumerable game as +they went. Here they met from the Chief Factor, Cook, a hospitable +reception, and continuing their journeyings after a short halt, +reached Fort Douglas in the early autumn. Governor McDonnell welcomed +the members of this second brigade and proceeded to allot to each head +of a family one hundred acres of land and an Indian pony. A few days +later they were called together, and after each had been regaled with +a glass of spirits, he was furnished with a musket, bayonet and +ammunition. They were told they must offer an armed resistance to +their tormentors and aggressors should they again appear, and +admonished that the strong could dictate to the weak. Notwithstanding, +the colonists could not but marvel at the plentiful lack of +preparation for the agricultural pursuits which they had intended to +follow in this remote region. There were no farm implements, nor was +there metal of which these could be fashioned, unless it was the +formidable battery of field-guns, or the plentiful supply of muskets +and bayonets. At Fort Douglas, under the circumstances, the colonists +could remain but a short time; it was necessary for them to resort, +as their forerunners had done, to Pembina, so as to be within +convenient distance of the buffalo. + + [Illustration: FORT DOUGLAS, RED RIVER. + (_From a drawing by Lord Selkirk._)] + +In the spring of 1814, the colonists, after a winter rendered +miserable by the jealousy and unfriendliness of the Indians and +half-breeds, returned to Red River in a state of great destitution, +resolved never to return again to Pembina, no matter what their +circumstances. + +But a step had been taken during that winter by Governor McDonnell +which was to reverberate throughout the English-speaking world. +Incensed at the boycotting of the colonists and stirred to action by +their condition, he issued from Fort Daer, which was the Company's +post erected at Pembina, the following proclamation: + + Whereas, the Right Honourable Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, is + anxious to provide for the families at present forming + settlements on his lands at Red River and those on the way to + it, passing the winter at York and Churchill Forts in Hudson's + Bay, as also those who are expected to arrive next autumn, + rendering it a necessary and indispensable part of my duty to + provide for their support. In the yet uncultivated state of the + country, the ordinary resources derived from the buffalo and + other wild animals hunted within the territory, are not deemed + more than adequate for the requisite supply. + +[Sidenote: Governor McDonnell's proclamation.] + + Whereas, it is hereby ordered that no person trading furs or + provisions within the territory for the Honourable the Hudson's + Bay Company, or the North-West Company, or any individual or + unconnected traders or persons whatever, shall take any + provisions, either of flesh, fish, grain or vegetables, + procured or raised within the said territory, by water or land + carriage, for one twelvemonth from the date hereof, save and + except what may be judged necessary for the trading parties at + this present time within the territory, to carry them to their + respective destinations; and who may, on due application to me, + obtain a license for the same. + + The provisions procured and raised as above shall be taken for + the use of the colony; and that no loss shall accrue to the + parties concerned, they will be paid for by British bills at + the customary rates. And be it hereby further made known that + whosoever shall be detected in attempting to convey out, or + shall aid or assist in carrying out, or attempting to carry + out, any provisions prohibited as above, either by water or + land, shall be taken into custody and prosecuted as the laws in + such cases direct; and the provisions so taken, as well as any + goods and chattels, of what nature soever, which may be taken + along with them, and also the craft, carriages and cattle + instrumental in conveying away the same to any part out to any + settlement on Red River, shall be forfeited. + + Given under my hand at Fort Daer (Pembina), the 8th day of + January, 1814. + + (Signed) MILES McDONNELL, _Governor_. + (By order of the Governor). + + (Signed) JOHN SPENCER, _Secretary_. + +A copy of this proclamation was despatched in all haste to Fort +William, where the partners met in the spring. It excited the greatest +indignation and bitterness. It was now determined to seduce and +inveigle away as many of the colonists as could be induced to join the +North-West standard, and after they should have thus diminished their +means of defence, to exhort the Indians of Lac Rouge, Fond du Lac and +other places, to rise and destroy the settlement. It was likewise +their avowed intention to seize the Governor and carry him to Montreal +as a prisoner, by way of degrading the authority under which the +colony was established, in the eyes of the natives of that country. + +[Sidenote: Hostilities planned by the North-West concern.] + +Among the partners of the North-West concern who received their +instructions from this general annual meeting at Fort William, were +Duncan Cameron and Alexander McDonell, and these were the persons +selected by the partnership to superintend and execute the plans +entered into against the Red River colony. On the 5th of August the +last named person wrote to a fellow-partner at Montreal from one of +the portages lying between Lake Superior and the place of his winter +destination in the interior, to which he was then proceeding: "You see +myself, and our mutual friend, Mr. Cameron, so far on our way to +commence open hostilities against the enemy in Red River. Much is +expected from us, and if we believe some--perhaps too much. One thing +is certain, that we will do our best to defend what we consider our +rights in the interior. Something serious will undoubtedly take place. +Nothing but the complete downfall of the colony will satisfy some, by +fair or foul means--a most desirable object if it can be +accomplished. So here is at them, with all my heart and energy." + +McDonell and his co-partner accordingly proceeded towards their +destination, and arrived about the end of August at a trading post +(called by them Fort Gibraltar) belonging to the North-West concern, +situated at the Forks, within half a mile of the Red River settlement. +Cameron remained here during the winter, while his partner, McDonell, +proceeded farther into the interior, returning in the month of May +with a party of Cree Indians from a considerable distance, for a +purpose which is now obvious. + +Cameron, to whom his associates appear to have confided the task of +opposing, upon the spot, the further progress of colonization, was +well qualified to perform such a service. He began by ingratiating +himself amongst several of the heads of families in the settlement, +and being able to converse with many of them in their native Gaelic +tongue, by degrees he gained their confidence and good opinions. He +frequently invited them to his house, and, in short, took every means +to secure their favour. They saw no reason to suspect his intentions; +and thus the influence which he gradually acquired over many of their +members, during the autumn and winter, was artfully exerted to make +them discontented alike with their situation, their officers, and +their prospects. He alarmed them with constant reports which he stated +he had received from the interior, that the Indians from a distance +were coming in the spring to attack them; and that unless they placed +themselves under the protection of the North-West Company, and +accepted his offers to take them to Canada, they would never be able +to escape from the country or avoid the dangers surrounding them. + +[Sidenote: The North-West company causes discontent among the +settlers.] + +Prior to the departure of Cameron and McDonell from Fort William for +Red River, they had adopted the expedient of providing themselves with +British military uniforms. A military coat with a pair of epaulets, +the cast-off uniform of a major, which had previously adorned the +person of a factor named McLeod, now added to Cameron's dignity. He +pretended to bear the King's commission, as did also his companion; +and these two worthies occasionally rode around the country in +uniform, attended by a numerous suite of clerks and half-breeds, and +other servants of the North-West company on horseback. Such imposture +and assumed airs of authority would have evoked merely contempt or +laughter, but under the circumstances had great weight with the +ignorant settlers, who could not but help believing that Cameron and +his followers were sanctioned by Government in their position and +behaviour. The North-West agents now proceeded to put their plans into +execution. The immigrants were alternately bribed, cajoled and +threatened into abandoning their settlement on the Red River. To each +Cameron engaged to give a free passage to Canada (generally to +Montreal), a twelvemonth's supply of provisions _gratis_ for +themselves and families, while various sums, varying from £15 to £100, +were paid or promised to deserters. A pretext being found, Spencer, +the sheriff of the colony and a really valuable officer, was taken +prisoner under a warrant from a North-West partner, and after a +protracted detention sent overland to Montreal. + +During the interval between the autumn of 1814 and the spring of 1815, +a number of the settlers were seduced and instigated to disloyalty +against their benefactors and the Company. A large band of the +Bois-Brulés were, during this period, maintained and paraded in arms +under Cameron, who, now that the preparatory measures had reached this +stage, believed the time ripe for more decisive measures. + +Of the ruling spirit amongst the half-breed hordes, mention has +already been made. Cuthbert Grant now appeared on the scene and with +him some of his choicest dare-devil crew. The return of the settlers +to the colony had filled the minds of the Bois-Brulés with rage. The +contempt of the wild hunters of the plains for the peaceful tillers of +the soil was great. They scorned them for their manual labour; they +reproachfully termed them "the workers in gardens," and the phrase, +"pork-eaters," formerly applied to the voyageurs east of Fort William, +was now used derisively to the Scotch settlers. All now looked +forward to a grand gathering in the spring at "The Forks," to +administer a final blow to the infant colony. + +The disaffected settlers were therefore, during the temporary absence +of a number of those who still continued faithful to their contracts +and their duty, incited to rob and pillage a fort belonging to the +settlement, and of the cannon set out by the British Government for +its defence. Armed sentinels were placed at different doors to prevent +opposition, while a part of the Bois-Brulés and servants of the +Nor'-Westers, under the command of Cameron, were stationed in arms +within the distance of a few hundred feet for the purpose of giving +support to the plunderers in case their force should be insufficient. +Nine pieces of artillery were thus taken from the settlement and +delivered to the North-West party in waiting, who received them with +shouts of triumph and conveyed them to their headquarters, Fort +Gibraltar. To celebrate this exploit Cameron gave a ball and +entertainment to the parties engaged, on the following evening. + +[Sidenote: Attack on the settlement.] + +A camp was now established at a place called Frog Plain, about four +miles below the settlement, by the servants and partisans of the +North-Westers, under the command of McDonell. In June, 1815, after the +colony had been thereby deprived of the means of defence, and was in +great measure surrounded by its enemies, the whole force of Cameron's +post, consisting of half-breeds, servants and North-West clerks, +sallied forth to make a combined attack on the settlement. A sharp +fire of musketry was kept up for some time on the Governor's house and +adjacent buildings. In this attack only four persons belonging to the +settlement were wounded, but one died soon after. Several days passed, +the men encamped at Frog Plain received orders to march to the +settlement, where they erected a battery against the building called +the Government House, on which they planted a portion of the cannon +previously taken. After a series of attacks and skirmishes, Governor +McDonnell was obliged to surrender himself as a prisoner, and under a +warrant from a partner in the North-West company, sent to Montreal, +charged with an undue arrogance of authority to the detriment of the +fur-trade. + +But the North-Westers were not yet satisfied. The principal person of +the settlement (and one who also held the appointment, from the +Hudson's Bay Company, of Governor of the district) was, it is true, in +custody; but having got possession of him, peremptory orders were +issued to Cameron directing the remaining settlers to leave the Red +River. The most wanton acts of aggression followed on the part of +Alexander McDonell, who, after Cameron's departure with his prisoner, +succeeded to the command at the Forks. The colonists were frequently +fired on; the farm-house was broken open and pillaged; a number of +farm labourers were arrested; horses were stolen and cattle driven +away. On the 22nd of June, another attack with fire-arms was made upon +the Governor's house, but the fire was not returned by the dispirited +settlers, who now resolved to migrate. + +[Sidenote: Forced departure of the colonists.] + +An episode occurring on the very eve of their departure showed clearly +upon whose side the Indians of the interior were disposed to range +themselves. Two Saulteaux chiefs, with about forty warriors of that +nation, arrived at the settlement. Learning the condition of affairs +they went over to the North-Westers' fort, and endeavoured to prevail +upon McDonell to cease his persecution and allow the colonists to +remain. Naturally, their request was refused, although the Indian +numbers prevented the North-West official from laughing in their +faces. To McLeod, the Hudson's Bay factor at Fort Douglas, the Indians +expressed their regret; but considering the armament at the disposal +of their foes, could offer them merely the protection of an escort +down the river to Lake Winnipeg. The offer was thankfully accepted, +and under their Indian escort, the officers and remaining settlers, +amounting to about sixty, quitted the settlement, leaving McLeod and +three clerks behind. Having in this manner quitted their homes, they +proceeded in canoes to the mouth of the Red River, crossed Lake +Winnipeg and took up a new abode at a trading-post on Jack River +belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. + + [Illustration: THE FUR LOFT AT A HUDSON'S BAY POST.] + +The day following their departure, a party of North-West company +clerks, servants and half-breeds gathered at the spot, and setting +fire to the houses, the mill and the other buildings, burned them to +the ground. + +Great joy filled the breasts of the North-Westers assembled at Fort +William when these brave tidings were conveyed to their ear. These +tidings were accompanied by convincing proofs of the great victory +gained over the enemy, in the persons of one hundred and thirty-four +settlers, including men, women and children. They arrived about the +end of July and found many of the partners gathered to receive them. +The conduct of Cameron and McDonell met with the most enthusiastic +approval. They were again appointed to command at the same stations in +the interior, which they had charge of the previous season, with a +view to oppose any further attempt to restore the scattered colony on +Red River. + +[Sidenote: Treachery rewarded.] + +While, however, these marks of approbation were lavished upon the +heroes of this work of destruction, the subordinate agents were by no +means so liberally rewarded as they had reason to expect. They even +complained of being defrauded of their promised hire. Many of the +deserters from the colony, however, and those of the settlers whose +treachery had proved most useful to the Montreal Company, were well +rewarded for their services. One of the most interesting features of +this business well deserves to be rescued from oblivion. It is the +account-book captured in the following year by Lord Selkirk, together +with other papers and effects of the North-West Company at Fort +William, and despatched for safe-keeping to Hudson's Bay House, in +London. It shows that credits were given to forty-eight of these +persons for various articles which they had plundered from the +settlement and delivered to Cameron at Fort Gibraltar. These consisted +principally of implements of husbandry, working tools, horses, +muskets, guns, pistols, etc., etc. Thus in one of the pages appears a +credit "for five new guns, £10; for a new common pistol, 15s.; one old +gun, 15s.," etc., etc. At the bottom of these accounts were generally +added the amounts they were to receive, and did receive, as rewards +for their services against the settlement. Several thus obtained +larger sums than, in all probability, they had ever been possessed of +at any one period in the course of their lives. To many of their +accounts were also subjoined, in the handwriting of Cameron and +McDonell, brief abstracts of the services which these deserters had, +respectively, performed in promoting the destruction of the +settlement. + +As an illustration of this, honourable mention is made of one of them +(in the handwriting of Cameron) in this style: "This man joined our +people in February, was a great partisan and very useful to us ever +since, and deserves something from the North-West company, say five or +six pounds." Of another, "This man was also a great partisan of ours, +and made himself very useful to us; he lost his three years' earnings +with the Hudson's Bay Company for joining us, and he deserves, at +least, about £20." Of another (inscribed by Alexander McDonell): "He +was very desperate in our cause this spring and deserves three or four +pounds." There are other entries, as follows: "An active, smart +fellow. Left the Hudson's Bay Company in April last--a true partisan, +steady and brave. Took a most active part in the campaign this spring, +and deserves from £15 to £20. He has lost about £20 by leaving the +Hudson's Bay Company a month before the expiration of his contract." + +"This man left the Hudson's Bay Company in the month of April, owing +to which he lost three years' wages. His behaviour towards us has been +that of a true partisan--a steady, brave and resolute man; and was +something of a leading character among his countrymen, and deserves at +least about £20." + +[Sidenote: Leaves from the account book.] + +But the truest of all these "partisans" appears to have been one +George Campbell. This hitherto obscure personage was accordingly +conspicuously honoured, as well as rewarded, by the North-West +company. He was seated at table in their common hall at Fort William, +next to the partners, and above the clerks of the company. Enviable +distinction! But it was but as the shadow of a more tangible and, +doubtless, to its recipient, a more valued reward. By the direction of +the partnership he received a recompense of £100, paid to him by one +of the company's clerks. In the account-book above mentioned appears +Cameron's testimony to the merits of this hero. "This (George +Campbell) is a very decent man, and a great partisan, who often +exposed his life for the North-West company. He has been of very +essential service in the transactions of Red River, and deserves at +least £100, Halifax; and every other service that can be rendered him +by the North-West company. Rather than that his merit and services +should go unrewarded, I would give him £100 myself, although I have +already been a good deal out of pocket by my campaign to Red River." + +One would fain linger in the common-hall, at Fort William, the +barbaric splendour and even opulence of whose creature comforts have +been painted for us by another and more gifted hand. + +How deep the potations, how turbulent the revelry when the flushed +cohorts from Red River returned and took their places at the board, +conscious of a victory gained over their hated rivals, the +Merchants-Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay, and those miserable +colonists despatched by their Governor to begin the peopling of the +West! Moreover, tidings now came to swell their joy that the war +between Great Britain and America was ended, and so further relieved +their dread of disaster. But decisive as their triumph seemed, it was +short-lived. Even in the midst of this vulgar wassail the despised +settlers had returned, and affairs at Red River were shaping for a +tragedy. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[96] The precise spot was well chosen by Selkirk, had his object been +only the confusion and discomfiture of the North-Westers. It was the +great depot of the latter for the preparation of pemmican. Were the +region to become colonized it would slowly but surely cut off the +buffalo, from which pemmican was made, and eventually force the +North-Westers to import from Canada, at ruinous expense, the chief +part of the provisions requisite for their trading expeditions. + +[97] In honour of William McGillivray, principal partner of the +concern. + +[98] "It will never do," wrote Governor McDonnell to his chief, "to +take the colonists from among the Company's servants. The Orkneymen +are so averse to labour that they prefer the Company's service to +agriculture, and all being engaged in the name of the Company they +object to serve in the colony, thinking it a separate concern." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +1816-1817. + + A New Brigade of Immigrants -- Robert Semple -- Cuthbert + Grant's Letter -- The De Meuron Regiment -- Assembling of the + Bois-Brulés -- Tragedy at Seven Oaks -- Selkirk at Fort William + -- McGillivray Arrested -- Arrest of the Northmen -- Selkirk + proceeds to Red River. + + +A new brigade of emigrants had sailed from Stromness. Gloomy and +portentous was the prospect which greeted them on their arrival. They +beheld their comrades and fellow-countrymen of the previous brigade, +who had returned from their exile at Jack River, still gazing in +wretchedness upon the embers of their late dwellings, seeking to +rescue what produce remained in the earth for their winter's +subsistence. + +The ship which had brought out these immigrants had also carried an +able officer of the Company, Robert Semple, a man of parts and +culture, who had been appointed to the chief control of all the +factories in Rupert's Land. + +[Sidenote: Influence of the Nor'-Westers over the half-breeds.] + +The hostile feuds and lawless proceedings of the fur-trading +"partisans" had convulsed the whole Indian country throughout its +boundaries. The arrival of more immigrants only served to add fresh +fuel to the flame. It cannot be denied that between the two rival +companies the North-Westers possessed one dangerous advantage, viz., +the authority and influence they had over the half-breeds, their own +servants, and over many of the more dissolute Indians. "They had so +trained and influenced these," says, with great truth, one sober +trader writing of those times, "both in the school of mischief, rapine +and bloodshed, that no outrage which the unscrupulous ministers of a +lawless despotism could inflict was too extravagant to dread.[99] +Posts were pillaged, robberies committed, and valuable lives +sacrificed without remorse." + +Instead of settling down quietly and cultivating the soil on their +arrival, all the immigrants were quickly dispersed in search of a +precarious subsistence at Pembina and elsewhere, as had been the case +with the first unhappy brigade. They separated, to weather the storms +of winter as best they might, hunting and fishing amongst the savages, +and enduring every species of privation and suffering which fate could +inflict upon them. As soon, however, as the snows of winter were +melted, all re-assembled at the colony, and fell to with a will to the +task of tilling the ground, and sowing what, alas, the fowls of the +air were to reap. + +[Sidenote: Lord Selkirk arrives in Canada.] + +For a moment let us turn to Lord Selkirk. On the arrival of this +nobleman at New York on his way to Canada to support in person the +exertions of his colonists, he received intelligence of their +dispersion, and the capture of his lieutenant and agent. He +immediately proceeded to Montreal where he was apprised of the danger +with which the new arrivals were threatened as well as the distress +which had overtaken those settlers who had been brought into Canada. +The North-West Company had no further use for their services, the +expense of bringing them down having already proved sufficiently +burdensome. The alluring promises made on the banks of the Red River, +of lands, high wages, practical encouragement, were forgotten on the +shores of the St. Lawrence. Selkirk was determined upon a rigid +enquiry; and steps were taken by his agents in Upper and Lower Canada +to that end. While he was thus engaged, information arrived of the +re-establishment of the colony, both brigades of immigrants having +made a junction at Red River, on the departure of Cameron and +McDonell. Lord Selkirk, having despatched a messenger[100] into the +interior to advise the settlers of his speedy arrival amongst them, +now renewed his endeavour to obtain from the Governor of Canada, Sir +Gordon Drummond, some small military protection for the settlers. But +his application was refused. One, if not the principal, of the reasons +being that Drummond had no desire to lower his popularity by exerting +his influence against the partners of the North-West Company. The +attempt proving fruitless, a new resource offered itself, and this +Selkirk was not loath to seize. + +As a result of the termination of hostilities with America, the hired +European regiments of De Meuron, Watteville and the Glengarry +Fencibles in Canada were reduced. The privates, as well as their +officers, were entitled on their discharge to grants of lands in +Canada, and in the event of their accepting them, the members of the +two first-mentioned regiments were not to be sent back to Europe. A +proposition was put to them and agreed to with alacrity. + +[Sidenote: Regiment of De Meuron.] + +The regiments to which these men belonged were part of the body of +German mercenaries raised during the Napoleonic wars. Col. De Meuron, +one of the most illustrious officers, bequeathed his name to the whole +body. Though Germans for the most part, Swiss and Piedmontese were +also numbered amongst them. While the great Corsican was languishing +at Elba, the De Meurons were equally inactive at Malta, but in the war +which had broken out between England and the American States there was +plenty of work for their swords. They were shipped to Canada, and in +1816, hostilities having ceased, they were again out of employment. + +Lord Selkirk perceived in them an instrument ready to his hand. He +sent for their officers, four in number, Captains d'Orsonnens and +Matthey, and Lieutenants Fauché and Graffenreith, and informed them he +had work in hand. They listened and agreed to his terms on behalf of +their men. They hastened in boats up the St. Lawrence, and at Kingston +encountered twenty other foreign soldiers belonging to the De +Watteville regiment, and also victims of peace. These were engaged on +the same terms. + +Eighty soldiers and four officers of De Meuron's regiment, twenty of +Watteville's, and several of the Glengarry Fencibles, with one of +their officers, instead of remaining in Canada, preferred going to the +Red River settlement on the terms proposed by Lord Selkirk. They were +to receive pay at a certain rate per month for navigating the canoes +up to Red River, were to have lands assigned to them at the +settlement, and if they did not elect to remain were to be conveyed at +his lordship's expense to Europe by way of Hudson's Bay. Whatever we +may now think of the motive prompting the employment of these men, it +must be conceded that it was effected with propriety and ingenuous +formality. The men being discharged could no longer be held soldiers. +They retained their clothing, as was usual in such cases, and Lord +Selkirk furnished them with arms, as he had done to his other +settlers. Had there existed a disposition to criticise this latter +measure, ample justification was to be found in the instructions of +the Board of Ordnance, in 1813, to issue some field pieces and a +considerable number of muskets and ammunition for the use of the Red +River colony. + +With this body of men Selkirk proceeded into the interior. + +[Sidenote: Fort Gibraltar captured.] + +While he was on the march, the colony on Red River was apprehending +alarming consequences. Cameron and McDonell, the two North-West +partners, had arrived the previous autumn and been astonished at the +temerity of the settlers at returning to the forbidden spot, and +measures had at once been taken to molest and discourage them. +Thereupon the Hudson's Bay factor, Colin Robertson, who, in Governor +McDonnell's absence, had placed himself at their head, planned an +attack upon Fort Gibraltar, which he seized by surprise in the month +of October. He thus recovered two of the field pieces and thirty stand +of arms, which had been abstracted from the settlement in the previous +year. In this capture no blood was shed, and although Cameron was +taken prisoner he was released upon a promise to behave peaceably in +future and was even reinstated in possession of his fort. But this +posture of affairs was not long to endure. + +At the beginning of March, Governor Semple went west to inspect the +forts on the Assiniboine, Lake Manitoba, and Swan Lake, leaving +Robertson in command. On the 16th, suspecting a plot on the part of +Cameron and his North-Westers, Robertson intercepted some letters, +which transformed suspicion into conviction. He therefore attacked the +North-West post, took Cameron prisoner, and removed all the arms, +trading goods, furs, books and papers, to Fort Douglas.[101] He +furthermore informed his enemy that being situated at the confluence +of the two rivers, the Red and the Assiniboine, Fort Gibraltar was the +key to the position, and could be in no other hands but those of the +lords of the soil. Following up this move, Robertson attacked the +North-West post on the Pembina River, captured Bostonnais Pangman, who +was in charge, with two clerks and six voyageurs, who were afterwards +incarcerated in Fort Douglas. Pursuing his advantage an attempt was +made to carry Fort Qu'Appelle. But McDonell, who was in command there, +displayed considerable force, and caused the Hudson's Bay people to +retire. + +About this period five flat-bottomed boats belonging to the Company, +laden with pemmican and from thirty to forty packs of furs, under +charge of James Sutherland, were _en route_ to Fort Douglas. McDonell +was advised of the circumstance and seized the whole, while retaining +two of the factors, Bird and Pambrun, as prisoners. A canoe was given +Sutherland and the others, together with a scanty supply of pemmican, +and they were allowed to continue their journey to the fort. On +receiving intelligence of this proceeding, as well as of the plots +being hatched by the half-breeds and their allies in the West, +Robertson concluded that Cameron would be best out of the way; the +prisoner was accordingly sent off under guard to York Factory, from +whence he reached England seventeen months later. Here he was released +without a trial, and soon afterwards returned to Canada, where he +spent the remainder of his years. + +The enemy were no sooner out of Fort Gibraltar than Robertson had the +walls pulled down. All the useful material was rafted down the river +to Fort Douglas, where it was employed in new erections within that +post. + +[Sidenote: Plan to exterminate the Red River Settlement.] + +McDonell now exerted himself to the utmost to assemble the half-breeds +from every quarter, for the purpose of a final extermination of the +colony at Red River. Many of these were collected from a very distant +part of the country; some from Cumberland House and also from the +Upper Saskatchewan, at least seven hundred miles from the settlement. +Reports had reached the colonists, of whom there were, all told, +about two hundred, that the Bois-Brulés were assembling in all parts +of the north for the purpose of driving them away. Each day increased +the prevalence of these rumours. The hunters, and the free Canadians +who had supplied them with provisions, were terrified at the prospect +of the punishment they might receive at the hands of the violent +North-Westers. + +About the close of May the North-Wester, Alexander McDonell, embarked +in his boats with the furs and bags of provisions which he had seized, +as above related, from the Hudson's Bay people. He was attended by a +body of the half-breeds on horseback, who followed him along the banks +of the river. + +When the party arrived near the chief Hudson's Bay Company's post, +Brandon House, Cuthbert Grant was sent ahead with twenty-five men, who +seized the post and pillaged it, not only of all the English goods, +together with the furs and provisions belonging to the Company, but +also of the private property of their servants, which was distributed +amongst the servants and half-breeds. The latter were now eager for +the accomplishment of their great desire. Accordingly, on the 18th of +June, Cuthbert Grant, Lacerte, Frazer, Hoole and McKay were sent off +from Portage la Prairie, with about seventy men, to attack the colony +at Red River. McDonell himself, foreseeing the issue, prudently +remained behind.[102] + +The tidings he anticipated would arrive were not long delayed. On the +20th of June a messenger, covered with sweat, returned from Cuthbert +Grant, to report that his party had killed Governor Semple, with five +of his officers and sixteen of his people. At this welcome news of the +consummation of their fondest hopes, McDonell and the other officers +shouted with joy. No time was lost in spreading the story. The +unhappy Pambrun, from his confinement, could distinctly hear the cries +of the French and half-breeds, which they caught up again and again in +a paroxysm of triumph. + +"Sacré nom de Dieu! Bonne Nouvelles! Vingt-deux Anglaise de tués!" + + [Illustration: SCENE OF THE RED RIVER TRAGEDY.] + +[Sidenote: The affair at Seven Oaks.] + +The story of this tragedy of the plains, to which for a time was +cynically applied the term, "battle," has been often and variously +narrated; but the facts seem clear enough. Semple the Governor, was +on the point of returning to York Factory on the concerns of the +Company, when the rumours of immediate hostility, which have been +described, checked his departure. Measures of precaution were adopted +and a watch regularly kept to guard against surprise. On the 17th of +June, two Cree Indians who had escaped from the party of North-Westers +under McDonell, came to the Governor at Fort Douglas, adjoining the +settlement, with the intelligence that he would certainly be attacked +in two days by the Bois-Brulés, under Cuthbert Grant, who were +determined to take the fort, and that if any resistance were made, +neither man, woman or child would escape. + +Peguis, chief of the Swampy Indians, who came periodically to the +district about the mouth of the Red River, also waited on Governor +Semple for the purpose of offering the services of his tribe, about +seventy in number, to assist in the colonists protection. + +A conflict seemed inevitable. On the afternoon of the 19th a man in +the watch-house called out that the half-breeds were coming. Governor +Semple and his officers surveyed the neighbouring plains through their +telescopes and made out the approach of some men on horseback. These +were not, however, headed in the direction of the fort, but of the +settlement. + + [Illustration: THE SHOOTING OF GOVERNOR SEMPLE. + (_See page 413._)] + +[Sidenote: Killing of Governor Semple.] + +Semple's words were: "We must go out and meet these people; let twenty +men follow me." They proceeded by the frequented path leading to the +settlement. As they went along they met many of the colonists, who +were running towards them, crying: "The half-breeds! The half-breeds!" +An advance was made of about one mile, when some persons on horseback +were discerned in ambush, close at hand, and the Governor, somewhat +uneasy at the signs of their numbers, had just decided to send for a +field-piece, when a fearful clamour pierced the air, and he saw it was +too late. The half-breeds galloped forward, their faces painted in the +most hideous manner, and all dressed in the Indian fashion[103] and +surrounded the Hudson's Bay people in the form of a half-moon. As they +advanced the latter party retreated, and a North-West employee named +Boucher rode up very close to Governor Semple and asked what he wanted +there? To this enquiry, which was delivered in a very authoritative +and insolent tone, Semple replied by demanding of Boucher what he and +his party wanted? Boucher said: "We want our fort," and the Governor's +answer was: "Well, go to your fort." In a loud tone came the other's +rejoinder: "You damned rascal, you have destroyed our fort." Semple, +though a man of extremely mild manners and cultivated mind, flushed +with indignation at such an address, and incautiously laid hand upon +the bridle of Boucher's horse, according to some; of his gun, +according to others. A few high words passed. Two shots rang out in +quick succession, by the first of which Holt fell, and by the second +Semple was wounded.[104] In a few minutes the field was covered with +bleeding forms; almost all Semple's men were either killed or wounded. +Save in a single instance no quarter was given; the injured were +summarily despatched, and on the bodies of the dead were practised all +the revolting horrors which characterize the inhuman heart of the +savage.[105] + + [Illustration: VICINITY OF FORT DOUGLAS.] + +In all twenty-one persons were killed, the remaining eight escaping to +the woods. Besides Governor Semple, Lieutenant Holt, Captain Rogers, +Dr. James White and Dr. Wilkinson, the Governor's private secretary +were amongst the dead. + +Immediately every human being at Fort Douglas was plunged into +confusion and dismay. The survivors, hastily returning, told their +fell tale, and men, women and children crowded together seeking +protection within its walls. Bourke, and a few of his companions, had +succeeded in regaining the fort with the cannon he had taken out. All +waited for the expected attack of the North-Westers. An anxious night +ensued, but no attack, and it was afterwards learnt that the +Bois-Brulés had a wholesome dread of the cannon in the hands of the +settlers. + +Pritchard, who had been taken prisoner to the camp ground of the main +body of the half-breeds, now begged Cuthbert Grant, the leader, to be +allowed to go to Fort Douglas. After securing his consent, he met with +a refusal on the part of the others, until he gave a promise to bear a +message of eviction to the colonists and return. Grant accompanied the +prisoner on parole as far as Seven Oaks, where the ground was still +strewn with the corpses of the slain. + +[Sidenote: The Nor'-Westers demand evacuation.] + +On reaching Fort Douglas, Pritchard informed the unhappy settlers that +they must depart, which if they did immediately, a safe escort would +be provided them, and they would be permitted to take all their +personal effects. They were told that two other groups of +North-Westers were daily expected to arrive in the locality, one +hailing from the Saskatchewan, and the other party from Lake Superior. +It would, therefore, be necessary to send some of the Bois-Brulés with +them, to explain the situation. + +At first the colonists refused to listen to these terms. Sheriff +McDonnell, who was now in charge of the settlement, resolved to hold +the fort as long as the men were disposed to guard it. But they were +not long of this courageous temper. After fully considering the +situation, the settlers concluded to depart, and after several +conferences between the sheriff and Cuthbert Grant, a capitulation was +arranged. + +An inventory of all the property was taken, and the whole delivered up +to the half-breed leader, for the use of the North-West company, each +sheet of the inventory being signed as follows:-- + +"Received on account of the North-West Company by me, Cuthbert Grant, +Clerk for the N.-West Co." + +[Sidenote: Arrest of colonists.] + +In two days the colonists, in all nearly two hundred, were ready to +embark for Hudson's Bay. Albeit they had not been long on the voyage +down the river before they were met by Norman McLeod, one of the +leading partners of the North-West company, accompanied by a large +party in canoes. At sight of the settlers the North-Westers set up an +Indian war-whoop, and when they drew sufficiently near, McLeod, who +posed as a magistrate, is said to have enquired, "Whether that rascal +and scoundrel Robertson was in the boats." The colloquy was followed +by a seizure of the accounts and papers of the settlers, including +some of Governor Semple's letters. Of these they kept what they deemed +proper, the rest being returned. McLeod took his magistracy very +seriously, and seems to have regarded the whole party as his +prisoners. He expressed neither horror nor regret at the murder of +Semple and his companions, but ordered Sheriff McDonnell, Pritchard, +Bourke, Corcoran, Heden and McKay to be arrested and put under a +strong guard. McDonnell was liberated on bail, but the others were +treated for nearly a week with the greatest indignity. Nevertheless, +the North-Westers felt themselves in a sorry plight, which, they +flattered themselves, a brazen behaviour might alleviate. + +The five men thus made prisoners were, after various delays and after +two of them had been put in irons, conveyed to Fort William. They had +not long been inmates of quarters at this great post, when McLeod and +his party arrived there. With him came a number of the Bois-Brulés, +Semple's murderers, bearing a portion of the plunder which had been +reserved for the North-West company. Their arrival was the signal for +rejoicing. The air was filled with impromptu songs and ballads +commemorative of the happy event, which swept away the colony on the +Red River. The "complete downfall" desired by the North-West partner +seemed to have been consummated. + +At that time Fort William was the great emporium of the North-West +company. An extensive assortment of merchandise was brought thither +every year from Montreal by large canoes or the Company's vessels on +the lakes, these returning with the furs to Canada and from thence +shipped to England. + +It is difficult to imagine, as one visits the spot to-day, that it was +once the abode of industry, of gaiety, of opulence and even of +splendour. It boasted a fashionable season, which continued from May +to late in August, and during this period the fur aristocracy, the +_bourgeoisie_ and the _canaille_, met and mingled in a picturesque +carnival of mirth, feasting and exultation. + +It was the meeting-place between the Montreal partners and voyageurs, +and those who coursed the boundless expanse of the distant west. To +the wintering clerks and partners, after their hardships and fasts in +the interior, Fort William seemed a foretaste of Paradise, and a +hundred journals of a hundred traders tell again the tale of a dream +of distant Fort William, which, in the midst of cold, hunger and +desolation, cheered the wanderer's heart and lightened his burdens. +For the voyageurs it was all in all. To reach Fort William, enjoy the +carnival, and betwixt drink and riotous living dissipate the +hard-earned wages of years was to them often the happiness of earth +and heaven combined. + +[Sidenote: Fort William described.] + +It was in the great dining-hall that there centred the chief glory of +Fort William. Of noble proportions was it, and capable of entertaining +two hundred persons, and here fully two hundred sat when the news from +Red River reached them. Let us attempt to describe the scene. There on +a glittering pedestal looked down on the joyous company a marble bust +of Simon McTavish; while ever and anon the eye of some struggling +clerk or ambitious partner would be attracted by a row of paintings, +depicting to the life the magnates of the North, and rest with ecstasy +upon those gleaming eyes and rubicund cheeks, cheerful prophesies of +his own roseate future. Not all were portraits of opulent +Northmen--other heroes lent the glory of their visages to this +spacious hall--the King in his majesty, the Prince Regent, and Admiral +the Lord Nelson. A gigantic painting of the memorable battle of the +Nile also adorned the walls. At the upper end hung a huge map of the +Indian country, drawn by David Thompson, he who had written at the +crisis of his career, "To-day I left the services of the Hudson's Bay +Company to join the North-West, and may God help me." On this +extraordinary production were inscribed in characters bold enough to +be seen by the humblest _engagé_ at the farthest end of the great +hall, the whole number of the Company's trading posts from Hudson's +Bay to the Pacific Ocean, from Sault Ste. Marie to Athabasca and the +Great Slave Lake. Many a time and oft while the feast was at its +height and the wine bottles of the partners were being broached and +the rum puncheons tapped, was a glance cast at some spot on that map +which marked months of suffering, the death place of a comrade, the +love of an Indian maiden, a thrilling adventure, a cruel massacre, +painful solitude, great rejoicing or a bitter disappointment. + +But if the scene within was noisy and animated, that without beggared +description. Hundreds of voyageurs, soldiers, Indians, and half-breeds +were encamped together in the open, holding high revel. They hailed +from all over the globe, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, +Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, America, the African +Gold Coast, the Sandwich Islands, Bengal, Canada, with Creoles, +various tribes of Indians, and a mixed progeny of Bois-Brulés or +half-breeds! "Here," cries one trader, "were congregated on the shores +of the inland sea, within the walls of Fort William, Episcopalians, +Presbyterians, Methodists, Sun-worshippers, men from all parts of the +world whose creeds were 'wide as poles asunder,' united in one common +object, and bowing down before the same idol." Women, soldiers, +voyageurs, and Indians, in ever moving medley, danced, sang, drank, +and gamboled about the fort on the night when the news came of the +tragedy of the Red River. + +Meanwhile it will be remembered that the Earl of Selkirk was on his +way, with his party of about eighty soldiers, to the scene of this +rude rejoicing. When Sault Ste. Marie was reached, the first +intelligence of the massacre and destruction of the colony was +received, together with the news that some of the settlers and a large +part of the property had been transported to Fort William. + +Filled with indignation, and determined to demand an explanation of +the bloody deed, the Earl pressed on with all haste to the rendezvous +of the North-West company, who, all unconscious of his approach, had +made no plan either to defend themselves or to arrest his progress. + +[Sidenote: Selkirk arrives at Fort William.] + +Upon his arrival in the vicinity many favourable to the Company came +out to meet him and relate the present state of affairs. As a +magistrate for the country, he secured a number of affidavits, +disclosing such circumstances of conspiracy and participation on the +part of the North-Westers as determined him, as it was his duty, to +issue warrants for their arrest. These were accordingly issued, first +for the apprehension of William McGillivray, the principal partner, +and next for that of all the other partners. + +A great many of the North-West partners were at this time assembled at +Fort William, and amongst them was William McGillivray, their +principal agent in Canada. Lord Selkirk immediately despatched a +message to that gentleman, desiring to know by what authority and for +what reason Pritchard, Pambrun, Nolin and others from Red River were +detained as prisoners in their hands. McGillivray's response was to +grant permission to most of these prisoners to join Selkirk, to whom +he denied that they were detained, except as witnesses. The parties +thus freed came over, asserting that they had all suffered for some +time a rigorous confinement. The intelligence they conveyed was of +such a nature as to induce the Earl to issue warrants for the arrest +of most of the North-West partners then at Fort William. + +[Sidenote: Arrest of the North-West partners.] + +The first to be arrested was McGillivray, who submitted with the best +possible grace to the warrant. Two other partners who came over with +him, to offer themselves on bail (which was refused), were also taken +in custody. Instructions were now given to constables to again set out +in the boats, accompanied by some of the soldiers, to apprehend the +other delinquents. On their landing, four or five of the Northmen were +standing close to the gate of the fort, surrounded by a considerable +body of French-Canadians, Indians and half-breeds in the North-West +company's employment. The warrants were in the usual form served upon +two of the partners; but when the constable was proceeding to arrest a +third, he declared that there should be no further submission to any +warrant until McGillivray was liberated. At the same instant an +attempt was made to shut the gate and prevent the constables from +entering. The fort people had succeeded in shutting one half of the +gate, and had almost closed the other by force, when the chief +constable called out for help from the soldiers. These to the number +of about thirty forthwith rushed to the spot, and forced their way +into the stronghold of the Northmen. + +The notes of a bugle now rang out across the river. The Earl +understood the signal, and a fresh force of about thirty other +veterans hurried quickly over the stream to join their comrades. Awed +by the apparition of so many arms and uniforms, the North-Westers +abandoned further resistance, and thus bloodshed was happily averted. +The partner who had refused obedience to the warrant was seized and +taken forcibly to the boats, the others submitting peaceably to +arrest. + +At the time this episode was in progress, there were about two hundred +French-Canadians and half-breeds, and sixty or seventy Iroquois +Indians in and about the fort. + +A warrant having been issued to search for and secure the North-West +papers, seals were in due course put upon these and guards placed for +their security. The arrested men were transported to the Earl's camp; +but upon their pledging their word of honour that no further attempt +should be made to obstruct the execution of the law, and that all +hostile measures should be renounced, they were permitted that same +night to return to their apartments at Fort William. + +Notwithstanding this, it was discovered next morning that the seals +had been broken in several places, and that many letters and papers +had been burnt in the kitchen in the course of the night. More than +this, a canoe loaded with arms and ammunition had been launched and +several barrels of gunpowder had been secretly conveyed from the fort. +These were afterwards traced to a place of concealment amongst some +brushwood close at hand. About fifty or sixty stand of Indian guns, to +all appearance freshly loaded and primed, were found hidden under some +hay in a barn adjoining the fort. + +Owing to these discoveries, and suspecting treachery on the part of +the Canadians and Indians, the greater part of the latter were ordered +to evacuate the premises and pitch their tents on the opposite side of +the river. Having seen this carried out, and having secured all the +canoes of the enemy, Selkirk and his party came over and pitched their +tents in front of the fort and mounted guard. Soon after, the +North-West prisoners were sent off under escort to York, and finally +reached Montreal in a state of mind not difficult to conceive. + +Fort William had been captured by Lord Selkirk. He himself, writing in +1817, observes, that "in the execution of his duty as a Magistrate," +he had become possessed of "a fort which had served, the last of any +in the British dominions, as an asylum for banditti and murderers, and +the receptacle for their plunder. A fort which nothing less than the +express and special license of his Majesty could authorize subjects to +hold. A fort which had served as the capital and seat of Government to +the traitorously assumed sovereignty of the North-West. A fort whose +possession could have enabled the North-West company to have kept back +all evidence of their crimes." + +"Heretofore," exclaims the Earl, "those who in the execution of the +laws obtained possession of such strongholds as served for the retreat +of banditti or murderers, were considered to have rendered a national +service, and were rewarded with public gratitude and thanks." + +It can hardly be supposed that either the Canadians or the North-West +partners were animated by any such sentiments. + +"That canting rascal and hypocritical villain, Lord Selkirk, has got +possession of our post at Fort William," was the phrase employed by +one of the aggrieved partners. "Well, we will have him out of that +fort," he pursued amiably, "as the Hudson's Bay knaves shall be +cleared, bag and baggage, out of the North-West. And this in short +order, mark my words." + +[Sidenote: Selkirk winters at Fort William.] + +But his lordship was by no means of so accommodating a temper, nor was +there anything to accelerate his abandonment of the post. Finding it +too late to continue his journey on to Red River, he despatched a +party of his men in advance, and himself resolved to pass the winter +as pleasantly and profitably as circumstances would permit at Fort +William. + +McGillivray and his companions, upon reaching Montreal, were greeted +by an assembled host of their friends. Public opinion there was in +their favour, whatever it might be in other quarters. On all sides one +heard diatribes pronounced against Selkirk and the Hudson's Bay +Company, and little sympathy for the victims of the massacre. The +North-Westers were instantly admitted to bail, and warrants were sworn +out for the Earl's arrest. A constable was sent to Fort William to +execute them, but on his arrival found himself made prisoner, and his +authority treated with contempt. In a few days he was released and +ordered to return to those who had sent him on his unprofitable +mission. + +Lord Selkirk was by no means idle at Fort William. He sent out parties +to capture other North-West posts, and in this way the forts of Fond +du Lac, Michipicoten and Lac la Pluie fell into his hands. When the +month of May arrived he was ready to take up his journey to the West. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[99] There is preserved a letter from the leader of the Bois-Brulés, +written to one of the partners. It bears date of 13th of March, 1816, +and runs as follows:-- + + My Dear Sir: I received your generous and kind letter of last + fall by the last canoe. I should certainly be an ungrateful + being should I not return you my sincerest thanks. Although a + very bad hand at writing letters I trust to your generosity. I + am yet safe and sound, thank God! For I believe it is more than + Colin Robertson, or any of his suit dare to offer the least + insult to any of the Bois-Brulés, although Robertson made use + of some expressions which I hope he shall swallow in the + spring; he shall see that it is neither fifteen, thirty nor + fifty of your best horsemen can make the Bois-Brulés bow to + him. Our people of Fort des Prairies and English River are all + to be here in the spring. It is hoped we shall come off with + flying colours, and never to see any of them again in the + colonizing way in Red River; in fact the traders shall pack off + with themselves, also, for having disobeyed our orders last + spring, according to our arrangements. We are all to remain at + the Forks to pass the summer, for fear they should play us the + same trick as last summer, of coming back; but they shall + receive a warm reception. I am loath to enter into any + particulars, as I am well assured that you will receive more + satisfactory information (than I have had) from your other + correspondents; therefore I shall not pretend to give you any, + at the same time begging you will excuse my short letter, I + shall conclude, wishing you health and happiness. + + I shall ever remain, + Your most obedient humble servant, + CUTHBERT GRANT. + + J. D. CAMERON, ESQ. + +[100] This messenger, Lagimoniere by name, was waylaid and robbed by +the North-Westers. He had previously made a hazardous winter journey +of upwards of 2,000 miles for the purpose of bringing to Montreal +intelligence of the re-establishment of the Red River Colony. He was +now attacked near Fond du Lac by some native hunters employed by the +North-West Company, who beat him in a shocking manner, besides +plundering him of his despatches, his canoe and all his effects. The +order to intercept him was issued on the 2nd of June by Norman McLeod +from Fort William; and the Indians who performed the service were +credited in the books of the partnership with the sum of $100. Several +of Lord Selkirk's letters were afterwards discovered at Fort William. + +[101] Semple is said, on the authority of an eye-witness, Donald +Murray, yet living in 1891 (when a monument was erected to commemorate +the Red River tragedy), to have disapproved of Robertson's management +during his absence. This veteran was fond of relating that when +Robertson started for York Factory in a boat, taking Duncan Cameron a +prisoner, he insultingly hoisted a pemmican sack instead of the +British flag. + +[102] The route taken by the Bois-Brulés was along the edge of the +swamps, about two miles out on the prairie from Fort Douglas, and from +that point gradually drawing nearer to the main highway, which is now +the northern continuation of Winnipeg's Main street, until it effected +a junction at a spot known as Seven Oaks. The name was derived from +the circumstance of seven good sized oak trees growing there, about +one hundred yards south of a small rivulet, now known as Inkster's +Creek. + +[103] Their being painted and disguised, forms a very material fact, +because it shows a premeditation to commit hostilities. It was not the +custom of the Indians or Bois-Brulés to paint themselves, except on +warlike occasions. Seeing this party of horsemen were proceeding +towards the settlement, Semple directed about twenty men to follow him +in the direction they had taken to ascertain what was their object. +These took arms with them, but no ammunition. That Semple and his +party went out with no hostile intention is evident from there being +but twenty who went, whereas a much greater number who could have gone +and were desirous of going, were left behind. + +[104] After the tragedy many of the settlers are said to have been of +the opinion that the first shot was fired by Lieut. Holt, whose gun +went off by accident, thus precipitating the conflict. + +[105] While the affair was sufficiently horrible, there was yet room +for exaggeration in the tales of the survivors. "On my arrival at the +fort," declared Pritchard, "what a scene of distress presented itself! +The widows, children and relations of the slain, in the horrors of +despair, were lamenting the dead and trembling for the safety of the +survivors." It is to be noted that only one actual settler was killed, +and I cannot discover that the others had any white women-folk amongst +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +1817-1821. + + The English Government Intervenes -- Selkirk at Red River -- + Makes a Treaty with the Indians -- Hostilities at Peace River + -- Governor Williams makes Arrests -- Franklin at York Factory + -- The Duke of Richmond Interferes -- Trial of Semple's + Murderers -- Death of Selkirk -- Amalgamation. + + +Tidings of the brutal massacre of the 19th of June, and the subsequent +acts of robbery and bloodshed in the wilderness, reached London in due +course, awakening the Imperial authorities to the necessity of at once +terminating a strife which had now become chronic. In February, 1817, +therefore, while Lord Selkirk was still at Fort William, the +Governor-General of Canada received a despatch from the Home +Government, which contained the following passage:-- + + You will also require, under similar penalties, a restitution + of all forts, buildings and trading stations, with the property + which they contain, which may have been seized, or taken + possession of by either party, to the party who originally + established or constructed the same, and who were in possession + of them previous to the recent disputes between the two + companies. You will also require the removal of any blockade or + impediment by which any party may have attempted to prevent the + free passage of traders, or other of his Majesty's subjects, or + the natives of the country, with their merchandise, furs, + provisions or other effects throughout the lakes, rivers, + roads, and every other usual route or communication heretofore + used for the purpose of the fur-trade in the interior of North + America, and the full and free permission of all persons to + pursue their usual and accustomed trade without hindrance or + molestation. The mutual restoration of all property captured + during these disputes, and the freedom of trade and intercourse + with the Indians, until the trials now pending can be brought + to a judicial decision, and the great question at issue, with + respect to the rights of the companies, shall be definitely + settled. + +[Sidenote: Fort William restored to the Nor'-Westers.] + +The Governor-General appointed Colonel Coltman and Major Fletcher, two +military personages of high character, to act as commissioners, in +order to carry out the Imperial Government's intentions. Coltman and +Fletcher left Montreal in the same month that Selkirk evacuated Fort +William. No sooner had Lord Selkirk and his party left this great +trading post than the Sheriff of Upper Canada arrived, and by virtue +of a writ of restitution took possession and restored it to its +original owners. The commissioners, confronted by this fact, continued +their journey on to Red River, arriving at Fort Douglas while Lord +Selkirk was still in that locality. They proceeded to execute their +commission, and to endeavour to restore the region to law and order. +The merchandise, provisions and furs were in the course of the summer +apportioned to their respective proprietors; the channels of +communication were opened, and in time the commissioners were enabled +to return to Canada, flattering themselves with the hope that the +orders of the Prince Regent would be everywhere obeyed. The +commissioners made a most circumstantial report of their mission, of +which both parties complained that neither had received justice, which +(as Senator Masson truly observes) was a very good reason for +supposing that the report was just and impartial. + +Unhappily, this hope of theirs was not destined to be fulfilled. Fort +Gibraltar had been destroyed, but the North-Westers at once set about +erecting buildings for carrying on their trade. Selkirk meanwhile +devoted himself to the affairs of his colony, making provision for the +soldiers of the De Meuron and Watteville regiments according to the +contract mutually entered into. He allotted each man a plot of land +either in the vicinity of Fort Douglas, or on the other side of the +river, close at hand; and the officers were stationed amongst them. +This was done so that in case of any necessity arising, a signal from +headquarters would enable the whole body to join their commanders in +the fort at short notice. Everything was effected which, in his +opinion, could conduce to the well-being of the colony. Selkirk now +turned his attention to the Indians, whom he called together within +the walls of the fort, and after bestowing amongst them presents, +concluded the following treaty with them:-- + +[Sidenote: Treaty with Red River Indians.] + + This Indenture, made on the 18th day of July, in the + fifty-seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King + George the Third, and in the year of our Lord, 1817, between + the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors of the Chippeway or + Saulteaux Nation, and of the Killistins or Cree Nation, on the + one part, and the Right Honourable Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, on + the other part. Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of + the annual present or quit rent hereinafter mentioned, the said + Chiefs have given, granted and confirmed, and do by these + presents give, grant and confirm unto our Sovereign Lord, the + King, all that tract of land adjacent to Red River and + Assiniboine River, beginning at the mouth of the Red River, and + extending along the same as far as the great Forks at the mouth + of the Red Lake River, and along Assiniboine River as far as + Musk-Rat River, otherwise called Riviere des Champignons, and + extending to the distance of six miles from Fort Douglas on + every side, and likewise from Fort Daer (Pembina), and also + from the Great Forks, and in other parts extending in the + breadth to the distance of two English statute miles back from + the banks of the said rivers, on each side, together with all + the appurtenances whatsoever of the said tract of land, to have + and to hold forever the said tract of land and appurtenances, + to the use of the said Earl of Selkirk, and of the settlers + being established thereon, with the consent and permission of + our Sovereign Lord, the King, or of the said Earl of Selkirk. + Provided always, that these presents are under the express + condition that the Earl, his heirs and successors, or their + agents, shall annually pay to the Chiefs and Warriors of the + Chippeway or Saulteaux Nation the present, or quit rent, + consisting of one hundred pounds weight of good merchantable + tobacco, to be delivered on or before the tenth day of October, + at the Forks of the Assiniboine River; and to the Chiefs and + Warriors of the Kinstineaux or Cree Nation, a like present, or + quit rent, of one hundred pounds of tobacco, to be delivered to + them on or before the said tenth day of October, at Portage de + la Prairie, on the banks of Assiniboine River. Provided always + that the traders hitherto established upon any part of the + above-mentioned tract of land shall not be molested in the + possession of the lands which they have already cultivated and + improved, till his Majesty's pleasure shall be known. + + In witness whereof the Chiefs aforesaid have set their marks at + the Forks of Red River on the day aforesaid. + + Signed, SELKIRK. + + Signed in presence of Thomas Thomas, James Bird, F. Matthey, + Captain; P. D. Orsonnens, Captain; Miles McDonell, J. Bate, + Chr. De Lovimier, Louis Nolin, Interpreter; and the following + Chiefs, each of whom made his mark, being a rude outline of + some animal. + + Moche W. Keocab (Le Sonent); Ouckidoat (Premier alias Grande + Oreilles); Mechudewikonaie (La Robe Noire); Kayajickebinoa + (L'Homme Noir); Pegawis. + +As a matter of fact, the Saulteaux Indians, who were given precedence +in the above treaty, had no real claim to the lands on the Red River, +which were possessed by the Crees alone. This latter tribe afterwards +took great offence at this circumstance and made various threats to +recede from their covenant and claim their lands from the settlers. +These threats, however, were not carried out. Selkirk having in this +manner arranged all to his satisfaction, bade farewell to Red River, +and accompanied by a guide and a few friends, directed his course +southward across the frontier into American territory. He made his way +to New York and there embarked for England. + +It has been remarked that his Majesty's commissioners flattered +themselves that in the formal and peaceful manner described, law and +order was to be introduced into the North-West. + +It is true that the proclamation of the Prince Regent and the creation +of the commission of inquiry had quieted much of the turbulence, and +that all who came in contact with the recognized officers were ready +to submit to their authority; but it was by no means so in the more +remotely situated departments. + +[Sidenote: Attack on Fort Vermilion.] + +Governor Robertson, Semple's lieutenant, had delegated his authority +to Clarke, another ex-employee of the North-West Company. This trader +now sought upon Lord Selkirk's authority to penetrate, with an +effective force, and a quantity of merchandise, into the very heart of +the territory occupied by the North-Westers. One of Clarke's first +acts on arriving at Peace River was to attack Fort Vermilion, with the +design of acquiring a supply of provisions; but here he met with so +vigorous a resistance that he was constrained to beat a retreat +without having succeeded in his project. On the other hand, two +partners, Black and McGillivray, on the pretence that Robertson had +incited the savages to massacre some of their number, and that their +men would refuse to serve if an example were not made, took him +prisoner to Fort Athabasca, and there confined him during an entire +winter. There were numerous examples of the abuse of force and the +utter abandonment to lawlessness during this and the following year. + +[Sidenote: Arrest of Nor'-Westers.] + +Upon most of those Northmen named in the warrants issued at the +instance of the Earl of Selkirk, it had been impossible to serve +papers owing to their absence in the distant fur country. Williams, +Semple's successor as Governor of the colony of Assiniboia, was +consumed with a desire to effect the arrest of all those persons +himself. It is possible that he also wished to avenge the +incarceration of Robertson. Taking with him a number of De Meuron +soldiers and two pieces of cannon, Governor Williams departed to lie +in ambush for the North-Westers at a portage called Grand Rapids, +which spot it was necessary for the enemy to pass in order to enter +Lake Winnipeg. Beyond question, the North-Westers had no suspicion of +what was in store for them, inasmuch as the party did not arrive in a +large body, but in small detachments, and successively, often at an +interval of several days. As fast as they arrived, however, Governor +Williams and his soldiers were on the watch. It was new work to the +veterans, but they entered into it with a zest and spirit. The +North-Westers were seized and disarmed, being subjected to +considerable violence. Some were permitted to continue their route; +others were dispatched to York Factory, on the Bay. Here they were, +during many weeks, detained as prisoners and treated with scant +courtesy, up to the arrival of a certain British naval officer. This +was Lieut. Franklin, who was then about to undertake his celebrated +land voyage to the Arctic Sea. Franklin had in his possession several +letters of introduction to partners in the North-West Company. Under +these circumstances the consideration, not to say compassion, which he +evinced for the Hudson's Bay Company's prisoners was much in their +favour. McTavish and Shaw, two of the North-West partners, were +granted permission to return to England as passengers on the ship +which had brought Franklin, but the others were not so fortunate. +Duncan Campbell was sent to Canada, _via_ Moose Factory and +Michipicoten, and there placed at liberty. As to Benjamin Frobisher, +there was no accusation or warrant of arrest against him, but it was +felt that he should not escape punishment for his long hostility to +the Company, as well as for the violent and crafty resistance which he +had offered in the first instance to his arrest. Frobisher is +described as being a man of great strength and herculean stature. On +numerous occasions he had had the good or ill-fortune to come in +contact with the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, and there were +many to testify that he had on such occasions not emerged with the +loss either of prestige or property. His whole ambition now, whilst +suffering from a severe wound in the head, was to escape from his +captors. The nearest North-West post was distant about five hundred +miles as the crow flies, but this circumstance had little restraining +power upon his project. Two of his French-Canadian companions, +Turcotte and Lépine, endeavoured to dissuade him, but without success; +and at length they consented to participate in the escape should it be +possible to elude the vigilance of their captors. They succeeded in +doing this on the 30th September; launched themselves in an old canoe, +into which they had stored some pounds of pemmican saved from their +rations, and so commenced their painful journey. + +[Sidenote: Flight of prisoners from York Factory.] + +For two whole months these three fugitives from York Factory travelled +through the wilderness. They suffered from cold and hunger, even +devouring the buffalo skins that the Indians had left suspended in the +trees as an indication of their route. At last the doughty Frobisher +arrived at such a state of weakness that he was fain to lie down +without further power of exertion. The trio were then not more than +two days' journey from Lac L'Orignal, near Lake Bourbon, where the +North-Westers had a post. Frobisher begged his companions, whose +greater power of endurance and devotion to their superior had led to +their carrying him on their shoulders, to leave him and seek +assistance. This they did, after having deposited their burden at the +side of a fire, and grilled a morsel of buffalo skin for his +nourishment. Four days later they reached the fort, and a search party +did not arrive on the spot until the 27th of November. Their eyes +were greeted by the corpse of Frobisher, partly burnt, and extended at +full length on the ground. Within his scanty clothing was found a +journal, which he had kept ever since his arrest at Grand Rapids, and +in which he had recorded his daily sufferings.[106] + +After considerable delay the news of Frobisher's escape and subsequent +death was spread throughout the West. A courier arrived at Fort +William in hot haste with the news of the affair at Grand Rapids. The +utmost indignation prevailed. Many of the partners, fearing a descent +of the Hudson's Bay soldiery, left in disorder for Montreal. The +agents of the Company instantly addressed themselves to the Duke of +Richmond, then Governor of Canada, representing to him that if the +civil authorities did not interfere to compel respect for the orders +of the Prince Regent, the fortunes of the North-West co-partnery would +suffer a great and irreparable blow. + +[Sidenote: Envoys of the Government enjoin peace.] + +The Duke was then at Little York. He lost no time in dispatching one +of the officers of his suite, Major MacLeod, with a budget of +dispatches for delivery at the chief forts of the North-West. In these +he enjoined obedience to the laws. MacLeod was accompanied, at the +last moment, by Sir Charles Saxton. The envoys of the Governor reached +Fort William and pressed on to the Grand Rapids, where they learned +that Williams had raised the blockade of the river, and had left for +the Bay with his soldiers and prisoners. It was too late in the autumn +to follow them, so there was nothing left but to arrange to have their +dispatches forwarded to the parties in the interior, and to return +immediately to Little York. The alarm of the partners in Canada was +matched by that of their agents in London. They addressed themselves +to the Imperial Government, soliciting his Majesty's interference in +order to put an end to the outrages and lawlessness, as they expressed +it, of Lord Selkirk and the Hudson's Bay Company. They recalled that +they had often demanded that the rights of the Company should be +submitted to law, and warned the authorities that when their rivals +mocked the orders of the Prince Regent, it would be impossible for +themselves to confide their persons and their property to the +protection of an authority with a seat so remote and exacting, so +reluctant an obedience. + +"What is to become of us," they demanded, "if we are to have no +protection for our servants in these wild regions of the North?" + +"You have no right in these regions," was, in effect, the retort of +the Company. "They are vested in us by Royal charter, and the sooner +you apprehend this truth the better." + +Whereupon the partners declared that if the Hudson's Bay Company or +Lord Selkirk continued to exercise illegal powers, which had for their +end the destruction of the commerce of their rivals, it was inevitable +that more bloodshed should follow. Such protestations had the desired +effect. The Government entered into correspondence with the directors +of the Company and ordered that they should exert themselves to the +utmost to prevent a repetition of lawlessness, else the consequences +must be on their own head. + +[Sidenote: Trial of Semple's murderers.] + +The trials which took place at Little York and at Montreal had been +very costly to both parties. Those relating to the Semple massacre +were not tried until 1818.[107] Application had been made to the +Governor-in-Chief of Canada in the previous March (1817) to have them +removed to Upper Canada, and this naturally caused delay, the +Governor judging it expedient to consult the Home Government in the +matter. A favourable reply was received on the 24th of October, and +warrants under the Great Seal were issued to try the cases at York. +The North-Westers were finally brought before the court, and +indictments found against them for participating in the affairs of the +11th of June, and the 28th of June, 1815; for larceny at Qu'Appelle +River on the 12th of May, and the Semple massacre on the 19th of June, +1816. It surprised nobody in Canada that the jury in each case brought +in a verdict of not guilty, however it may have astonished the British +public. + +McGillivray, who had been waiting two years for trial, and now finding +the further indictments abandoned, caused Lord Selkirk, Miles +McDonnell, and eighteen others, to be indicted for the part they took +in the capture of Fort William. The Earl had also several civil suits +entered against him, one of which was by William Smith, the constable +whom he ejected from Fort William, "taking hold of him and pushing him +out of doors, and afterwards keeping him in close custody in the fort, +under a military guard." The constable got a verdict of £500 damages +against the Earl. Daniel McKenzie also entered suit against Lord +Selkirk, and received a verdict of £1,500. + +[Sidenote: Prosperity at Red River.] + +Whilst these various proceedings were in progress, the Red River +colony was struggling against adversity. In the winter of 1817 they +were forced to resort again to Pembina, owing to a scarcity of food. +The next year, when a considerable area of land had been planted, and +followed by a favourable summer, the July sky suddenly darkened, and a +cloud of grasshoppers descended upon the earth. Every green thing +perished before them. In greater despair and wretchedness than ever, +the colonists again migrated across the border. The same disaster +occurred in the ensuing year, and if it had not been for the bounty +and care of the Company, many would have perished. It was not until +1822 that the Red River colony, now recruited by French, Irish, +German and Swiss, as well as Scotch settlers, began to take on a +flourishing condition; but the news of this prosperity was not +destined to reach the ears and gladden the heart of its founder. +Selkirk had reached England disheartened, and with a well-founded +grievance against the Canadian authorities, who, he declares, and with +justice, had not accorded him the encouragement to which he had a +right; and against the Canadian tribunals, from whom it had been +impossible to obtain justice. + +The health of the Earl, shattered by the anxieties and episodes which +have been recorded, rendered it necessary that he should seek repose +in the south of France. But his ailment was mortal. He breathed his +last at Pau, in the month of April, 1820, surrounded by his wife and +children, leaving behind him many friends, and numerous admirers of +his intellectual qualities and his courage. The Great North-West of +to-day is his monument. + +The death of its principal Adventurer strengthened, on the part of the +Company, the sentiment for peace; and by removing the chief obstacle +hastened an amalgamation of interests of the rival traders. None then +could nor can now but perceive, if they examine the situation broadly, +that the complete annihilation of the North-West Association was a +mere matter of time. None recognized this more than their agents in +London, who had repeatedly made overtures to Lord Selkirk for +amalgamation, but which were by him rejected as often as made. + +To Edward Ellice, a leading partner, an enterprising merchant, and a +rising parliamentarian, belongs the chief credit of bringing about +this union. This young man was the son of Alexander Ellice, a wealthy +London merchant, and himself directly interested in the Canadian +fur-trade. In 1803, when a lad of but fourteen, young Ellice had gone +out to Canada, and animated by a love of adventure, had entered into +the life of a trader, under the auspices of his father's friends. +Ellice was quick to grasp the tendency of affairs. The terrible +struggle of recent years made by the Northmen had told severely upon +them.[108] + + [Illustration: SIR GEORGE SIMPSON.] + +The partners met at Fort William, in July, 1820, and a stormy session +served to reflect their vexed plight. Dissensions exhibited +themselves; the minority, at least, felt that in their London +agents--Ellice and the McGillivrays--coming to terms with the Hudson's +Bay Company, lay their only hope of salvation. + +[Sidenote: Union of the two Companies.] + +Without, however, consulting the powers at Fort William, these agents +in London were acting on their own account. Conferences with the +Chartered Adventurers took place daily. By the time the partnership +between the Northmen themselves expired, in 1821, the negotiations had +attained the form of an agreement. Delegates had been sent from Fort +William to confer with their English representatives as to the future +of the interests of the North-West Company. Ellice received them +cordially in his office in Mark Lane and showed them an instrument +which he called the Deed Poll. This document bore the names of the +Governor, Berens, and the Committee of the Honourable Hudson's Bay +Company, on the one part, and the McGillivrays and Ellice, on the +other. The astonished delegates gazed upon the signed and sealed +instrument, and recognized that the North-West Company had ceased to +exist. "Amalgamation," cried one of them, "this is not amalgamation, +but submersion. We are drowned men." + +A coalition and partnership had been agreed upon for twenty-one years, +on the basis that each should furnish an equal capital for conducting +the trade. This Deed Poll, which bore date of March 26, 1821, provided +that the expenses of the establishment should be paid out of the +trade, and that no expense of colonization or any commerce not +directly relating to the fur-trade, was to fall upon the Company. + +The profits were to be divided into one hundred equal parts, of which +forty were to be shared between the chief factors and chief traders, +according to profit and loss. If a loss should occur in one year on +these forty shares it was to be made good out of the profits of the +year ensuing. A general inventory and account was to be made out +annually on the 1st of June. If profits were not paid to any parties +within fourteen days of that date, interest was to be allowed then at +the rate of five per cent. + +When the Deed Poll was signed, it was stipulated that twenty-five +chief factors and twenty-eight chief traders should be appointed, to +be named in alternate succession from the Hudson's Bay and the +North-West Company's servants. Both were placed on an equal footing, +the forty shares out of the hundred being again subdivided into +eighty-five shares, in order that each of the twenty-five chief +factors should receive two (or 2/85ths), and each of the chief traders +one of such shares. The remaining seven shares, to complete the +eighty-five, were set apart for old servants, to be paid them during a +term of seven years. + +[Sidenote: Plan of union.] + +The chief factors were to superintend the business of the Company at +their respective stations, while the chief traders under them were to +conduct the commerce with the Indians. The third class was the clerks, +who were promoted to factorships and traderships, according to good +conduct and seniority, but whose clerical salaries ranged from £20 to +£100 per annum. The chief factors and traders, who wintered in the +interior, were granted, in addition to their share of profits, certain +personal necessaries free of cost. They were not, however, permitted +to carry on any private trade on their own account with the Indians. +Strict accounts were required of them annually. The councils at the +various posts were empowered to mulct, admonish or suspend any of the +Company's servants. Each year three chief factors and two chief +traders were granted twelve months leave of absence. A chief factor or +chief trader, after wintering three years in the service might retire, +and hold his full share of profits for one year after so retiring, +with half the share for the four succeeding years. If he wintered for +five years, he was granted half profits for six years on retiring. +Retirements of chief factors and chief traders were made annually by +rotation, three of the former, or two of the former and two of the +latter. The heirs of a chief factor or chief trader who died after +wintering five years received all the benefit to which the deceased or +himself would have been entitled had he lived, or in proportion +otherwise. Everything was thus regulated, provision was effected for +everything. The Northmen, rough, enterprising, adventurous, as many of +them were, found themselves part of a huge machine, operated with +sleepless vigilance of a governor and committee in London. As for the +profits, they were to be estimated after the entire expenses, both in +London and the fur country, were deducted. They were then to be +divided into fifths, of which three-fifths went to the proprietary and +two-fifths to the chief factors, chief traders and clerks, who were to +be thenceforward known as the "fur-trade" or the "wintering partners." + +No wonder that many of the Northmen were constrained to cry out, in +the language of one of their number[109]: "Alas, the North-West is now +beginning to be ruled with an iron rod!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[106] Benjamin Frobisher was a native of York, England. + +[107] At the trials at York in October, 1818, Sherwood, the North-West +Company's counsel, continually demanded to know why Semple was called +governor. "Why," he exclaimed, with ludicrous energy, "why should this +gentleman be continually dignified by the appellation of governor? The +indictment charged that Robert Semple was killed and murdered; it said +nothing about his being a governor. If he was a governor, then he was +also an emperor. Yes, gentlemen," shrieked the counsel, working +himself up to fever heat, "I repeat, an emperor--a bashaw in that land +of milk and honey, where nothing, not even a blade of corn, will +ripen. Who made him governor? Did the King? Did the Prince Regent? No; +this pretended authority was an illegal assumption of power, +arrogating to itself prerogatives such as are not exercised even by +the King of England. I demand that Robert Semple be called Robert +Semple--but as he was not a governor let us not be ----" + +"Come, come," cried Chief Justice Powell, "do let this trial go on! It +is no matter whether he was or was not a governor, or what he was +called, or called himself, he is not to be murdered, though he was not +a governor." + +[108] "Ses postes," says Senator Masson, "avient été pillés et +devastés; ses exportatiors considerablement sédintes." On the other +hand, he adds, these losses were partly compensated for by the high +prices secured in England for their furs. + +[109] Wentzel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +1821-1847. + + The Deed Poll -- A Governor-in-Chief Chosen -- A Chaplain + Appointed -- New License from George IV. -- Trade on the + Pacific Coast -- The Red River Country Claimed by the States -- + The Company in California -- The Oregon Question -- + Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1825 -- The _Dryad_ Affair -- + Lieutenant Franklin's two Expeditions -- Red River Territory + Yielded to Company -- Enterprise on the Pacific. + + +By the terms of the Deed Poll, the immediate control of the Company's +affairs in its territory passed from the hands of a committee sitting +in London, to a personage known as Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land +and his council. His commission extended over all the Company's lands +and possessions, with an unlimited tenure of office. The council was +to be composed of chief factors, and occasionally a few chief traders, +who were to meet at some convenient centre for the purposes of +consultation, this particular feature being a survival of the +rendezvous of Fort William. The chartered territories and circuit of +commercial relations were divided into vast sections, known as the +Northern, Southern, Montreal and Western Departments. The Northern +extended between Hudson's Bay and the Rocky Mountains, the Southern, +between James' Bay and Canada, including a part of the eastern shore +of Hudson's Bay. + +[Sidenote: Governor Simpson.] + +Such a Governor-in-Chief should be a person of energy, shrewdness and +ability. Mr. Ellice had been struck by the qualities and special +aptitude for this important post of a young Scotchman, named George +Simpson. This young man was an illegitimate son of the maternal uncle +of Thomas Simpson, the Arctic explorer. While clerk in a London +counting-house, George Simpson had attracted the attention of Andrew +Colville, Lord Selkirk's brother-in-law, who sent him to Rupert's Land +in the service of the Company. The responsibility was a tremendous +one, but Simpson did not flinch from accepting it; and the end showed +the wisdom of the appointment. For nearly forty years this man stood +at the head of the fur-trade: a potentate in the midst of the +wilderness, the virtual ruler of almost one-half of a continent. +Governor Simpson was a man of small stature, but he had "the +self-possession of an emperor."[110] Accompanied by his voyageurs and +clerks, he journeyed along the old Ottawa and lake route, through the +Grand Portage, or by Fort William and Lake of the Woods, accomplishing +this feat at least once a year throughout the entire period of his +rule. At the outset of his career he perceived that the management of +Red River colony was an extremely difficult task--harder perhaps than +the management of the fur-trade. But he attacked both with energy, +resolved to serve his employers, and to create, at all hazards, +harmony and prosperity in the territories. + +Part of the time he spent at Red River, part in Oregon, in Athabasca, +and at Hudson's Bay. He crossed the Rocky Mountains at three different +latitudes, and journeyed extensively over the vast territory of which +he was truly the "commercial sovereign." + +The appointment of the Rev. Mr. West as principal chaplain to the +Company led to very great improvements in the moral and religious life +at the forts. Many of the traders and servants of the Company were +soon afterwards induced to marry the women with whom they had lived, a +material step towards the amelioration of the condition of the Indian +and half-breed females. + +[Sidenote: Company obtains a new license.] + +The next step on the part of the Honourable Adventurers was to further +safeguard their interests, and supplement their charter by a license +from the new king, George IV. This license was for the exclusive +privilege of trading with the Indians in such parts of North America +as were not part of the territories heretofore granted to the +Hudson's Bay Company. This Royal license, dated the 5th of December, +1821, at Carlton House, was expressly issued to prevent the admission +of individual or associated bodies into the British North American +fur-trade, inasmuch as the competition therein had been found for +years to be productive of enormous loss and inconvenience to the +Hudson's Bay Company and to trade at large, and also of much injury to +the natives and half-breeds. + + [Illustration: THE BOARD ROOM, HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, LONDON.] + +To anticipate events, it may here be remarked that this license +expired in 1842, but prior to its expiration an extension was granted +at the close of the first year of the reign of her present +Majesty,[111] for a further term of twenty-one years. By virtue of +these licenses the Company was granted exclusive trade in the Indian +territories west of the Rocky Mountains. It must be borne in mind, and +will be pointed out in a subsequent chapter, that it was of the utmost +moment for Great Britain to obtain a standing in Oregon and on the +Columbia River,[112] and the licenses were framed to this great and +desirable end. + +Although, as has been shown, the North-West partners had made great +efforts and borne great sacrifices, to maintain the trade on the +Pacific, they were contending against great odds. The Russian +establishments at Norfolk Sound, and at other places on the coast, +even so far south as California, came to share in a virtual monopoly +with the Americans, who, after the Treaty of Ghent, began to send +ships from Boston to New York. The amalgamation of 1821 came about, +and the Hudson's Bay Company, invigorated by the infusion of new +blood, believed it their duty to seek to regain the trade. They +therefore set to work to re-establish British influence on the +Pacific. + +It was no easy task. The Russians had gained a firm foothold, and the +Americans paused at no form of competition, nor any method by which +they might secure their ends. The natives had already become debauched +and now their debauchery spread from tribe to tribe, rendering +dealings with them difficult and formidable. Serious losses, both of +lives and property, were sustained through their savage attacks on the +Company's agents and trading posts. But the work was in the hands of +strong, able, and temperate men, who knew what the situation required +of them and did not shrink from meeting it fully and fearlessly. By +tact and vigorous measures the natives were restrained; at great +expenditure of money and patience, order was restored; and in ten +years time the Company occupied the whole country between the Rocky +Mountains and the Pacific. It maintained six permanent establishments +on the coasts, sixteen in the interior, and several movable posts and +migratory brigades. By 1835 it had a fleet of six armed vessels, one +of them propelled by steam, on the Pacific. Fort Vancouver, its +principal _entrepôt_ on the Columbia River, was surrounded by large +pasture and grain farms, maintaining large herds of horses and cattle, +and was a profitable and growing establishment. + +It was a long time since the Company had cut any considerable figure +in international politics, but with the extraordinary growth of the +American States and the increase of the fur traffic of the Russians, +contemporary European publicists came again to speak of the prospect +of trouble over the Company's rights and boundaries. + +[Sidenote: Claim of the United States to Red River.] + +Before this time there had arisen a cry, sedulously seconded by the +Company's enemies, that the Red River region belonged to the United +States. Nothing can be clearer than that it was never for a moment +contemplated either by the British or American Government, that any of +the Hudson's Bay lands, or any of the waters running into Hudson's +Bay, would be included in the lines assigned as the boundaries between +the possessions of Great Britain and those of the States. It is +sufficiently demonstrated by the treaty concluded with America in 1794 +that such an idea never existed in the minds of the negotiators. By +the third article of that treaty, which permits the most perfect +freedom of communication and intercourse between the subjects of both +nations throughout their respective dominions, an exception is made of +the country within the limits of the Hudson's Bay Company, to be +ascertained, of course, in conformity to their charter from which the +Americans are expressly excluded. The terms of the treaty concluded in +1783 with the United States show the express intentions of both +nations to have been that the northern boundary of the United States +should not, in any part, extend farther north than the River St. +Lawrence, or the lakes and streams which feed or fall into it. + +The unhappy feature of the matter was that a great part of the second +article of the treaty of 1783 was drawn up in complete ignorance of +the geography of the country. It is so full of contradictions that it +became impossible afterwards to lay down a line which should follow +that article literally. In this dilemma the only fair method of +solving the difficulty was to return to the principles which governed +the framing of the article. + + [Illustration: RED RIVER CART.] + +[Sidenote: The Treaty of 1783.] + +At the close of the Revolution the chief aim of the American +negotiators, as is evinced throughout their correspondence, was to +obtain a recognition of the right of their country to the western +territory as far as the St. Lawrence on the north, and the Mississippi +on the west. When the British Government acceded to this proposition +it was regarded by the Americans as an important concession, and their +plenipotentiaries proceeded upon that concession as the principle on +which their boundary towards Canada, after it had struck the St. +Lawrence, was to be defined. They brought the line from Nova Scotia to +the St. Lawrence, and then followed up the main stream of the river to +what they believed to be its principal source, and what was supposed +to approach the nearest to the source of the Mississippi. In fanciful +conformity to this intention, the second article of the treaty of +1783, after having carried the line to Lake Superior, stipulates that +it shall be continued onwards through the middle of certain water +communications to the north-west point of the Lake of the Woods, and +thence due west to the Mississippi. The fact, however, is that the +waters of the Lake of the Woods feed streams which fall into Hudson's +Bay, but have no communication with any waters which fall into Lake +Superior. It is also a fact that a line drawn due west from the Lake +of the Woods would never reach the Mississippi, which lies far to the +south of such a line. + +But there was a reason for such egregious blundering. The country had +never been surveyed by men of science. Its physical features had been +derived from the vague and inaccurate accounts of ignorant traders and +bushrangers, which had formed the basis for the current maps. These +laid down a large river running from the Lake of the Woods and falling +into Lake Superior. If there had been such a river in existence, there +can be no doubt, from the body of waters contained in the Lake of the +Woods, that it would have been a much larger stream than any of the +feeders of Lake Superior. It was therefore most natural that the +negotiators should suppose the Lake of the Woods to be the main source +of the St. Lawrence. At the same time this must have appeared to them +the point at which the waters of the St. Lawrence approached the +nearest to the source of the Mississippi, because in the maps of the +bushrangers the Mississippi is laid down as rising four or five +degrees of latitude farther north than it does in fact, and as coming +within a short distance of the Lake of the Woods on the west. + +As the negotiators in Paris in 1783 reposed the greatest confidence in +these crude productions of the cartographer, is it surprising that the +second article of the treaty should be full of inconsistencies? On any +other supposition the intention of the negotiators would be fatuous +and incomprehensible. + +[Sidenote: Examination of American claims.] + +This brings us to the whole point involved in the American contention, +which deprived Great Britain and the Company of a vast territory to +which the United States possessed no shadow of right. Where the limits +of a country have never been ascertained the conquest of the +contiguous and encroaching territory may be justly considered as +establishing the bounds originally claimed by the victorious nation; +and this was the case with regard to Canada and the territory of the +Company. But where between two powers there have been no defined +limits, and no conquests have determined the claims of either, the +pretensions of both might be fairly adjusted by laying down as a rule +that "the priority of right should be considered as vested in each, to +the respective countries, which each have either principally or +exclusively frequented." + +The Spaniards west of the Mississippi never extended their +establishments nearly so far north as latitude 42, while the Hudson's +Bay limits were long frequented by the English. On what ground, +therefore, could the Americans, the successors merely to the rights +derived from the Spaniards, claim all the country of the Sioux, the +Mandans and many other tribes on the upper branches of the Missouri? + +Nevertheless the States, after their purchase of Louisiana, continued +to put in claims for a more northerly and westerly boundary, with what +ultimate result we shall see. It is only pertinent to remark here, +that nothing could be more absurd than the idea that Spain ever +contemplated the cession of any territory on the Pacific Ocean, under +the name of Louisiana. + +The interior river waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin had +attracted the attention of the Company even before the American +trappers had reached them, and traders remained there in unmolested +possession long after the Russians had left the country. The feeble +frontier guard could do nothing but protest, and ultimately when the +trappers had nearly exhausted the outlying districts and desired to +penetrate into the centre of the State, the American Government +admitted them under an agreement with the Hudson's Bay Company, +whereby a tax of fifty cents was to be paid for each beaver skin. + +A year before the amalgamation the north-west coast for the first time +engaged the attention of the American Government,[113] and what came +to be known as the Oregon Question had its birth. The States possessed +no title to the country, but a strong party believed that they had a +right to found by occupation a legitimate title to a large portion of +the territory in question. The matter was brought up at several +sessions of Congress, and the utmost was done by such legislators as +Floyd and Benton to flog it into an active issue. It was claimed that +"the United States, through Spain, France and her own establishments, +had the undisputed sovereignty of the coast from latitude 60° down to +36°." A bill was introduced for the occupation of the Columbia, grants +of lands to settlers, and regulation of Indian affairs. But the +Government was by no means so sure of the wisdom of such a proceeding; +the bill was repeatedly shelved. The restoration of Fort George +(Astoria) by the British was one of the strong arguments used. + +In the meanwhile Russia had declared that the north Pacific coast down +to latitude 51° belonged to her exclusively. All foreign vessels were +prohibited from approaching within a hundred Italian miles of any part +of the coast. America protested, and between 1821 and 1824 +negotiations were carried on between the two powers. + +[Sidenote: Russian claims.] + +Russia flatly asserted that the boundary question was one between +herself and Great Britain, with which the Americans had no legitimate +concern; and offered proofs that the treaty with Spain gave the United +States a right only to territory south of 42°. A conclusion was, +however, reached in the Treaty of 1824, by which the boundary was +fixed at 54° 40', beyond which neither nation was to found any +establishment, or to resort, without permission; while for a period of +ten years both nations were to have free access for trade and fishery +to each other's territory. + +In the following year was concluded a treaty between Russia and Great +Britain,[114] by which the former again relinquished her claim not +only to the region below latitude 54° 40', but to the vast interior +occupied by the Company up to the Frozen Ocean. No objection to this +was urged by America, although some of her statesmen sought to take a +hand in the matter, and proposed a joint conference. Great Britain's +reply to this proposition was to decline to recognize the right of the +United States to any interest in the territory in question. The recent +promulgation of the Monroe doctrine had given offence not only to her, +but to Russia as well, and both were prepared to combat American +pretensions. + +Although his Majesty's ministers had refused to treat for a joint +convention, yet in 1824 negotiations were begun in London, between +Great Britain and America, for the ownership of the northern Pacific +coast. The British commissioners showed clearly that the Americans had +no valid claim to the territory occupied by the Company. + + [Illustration: FUR TRAIN FROM THE FAR NORTH.] + +[Sidenote: Temporary arrangement between England and the States.] + +The mere entrance of a private individual, such as Captain Gray, into +a river could not give the States a claim up and down the coast to +regions which had been previously explored by officially despatched +British expeditions like that of Cook. It was emphatically denied that +the restoration of Fort Astoria, under the Treaty of Ghent, had any +bearing on the title. Nevertheless, Great Britain was willing to +accept as a boundary the forty-ninth parallel from the mountains to +the Columbia (then known as McGillivray River), and down that river to +the sea. But the Americans were obdurate; a deadlock ensued and the +convention of 1818 remained in force. The Company repeatedly urged the +Government not to abandon one inch of territory rightfully under the +Crown, to the United States. Nevertheless, a settlement of the Oregon +Question was highly desirable. If in spite of the treaty of 1818 the +States should attempt to occupy the territory, war would be +inevitable. If on the other hand the treaty should expire without any +attempt at American occupation, Great Britain would be, by the law of +nations, the party rightfully in possession. A new conference was held +in London, in 1827; but it was impossible to agree on a boundary, and +the only thing possible was a compromise to the effect that the treaty +of joint occupation should be indefinitely renewed subject to +abrogation at any time by either party on twelve months' notice. Thus +the _statu quo_ was maintained, and the Hudson's Bay Company remained +in actual possession of the profits of the fur-trade for many years to +come. + +In 1828 Governor Simpson believed it advisable to make a general +survey of the western posts, with the object of impressing peace and +good-will upon the natives, and also to acquire a further knowledge of +the needs and abilities of the Company's officers and servants in that +quarter. This journey of the Governor, undertaken in considerable +state, was from York Factory to the Pacific. He was accompanied by a +chief factor, Archibald Macdonald, and a surgeon named Hamlyn. +Fourteen commissioned gentlemen, as the chief factors and chief +traders were called, and as many clerks, accompanied the party to the +canoes, and amidst great cheering and a salute of seven guns, bade +them God-speed. Simpson entered Peace River on the 15th of August, and +reached Fort Vermilion in due course, three hundred and twenty miles +from the mouth, which was then in charge of Paul Fraser. From here he +proceeded to Fort St. James, the capital of Western Caledonia, and the +chief depot for all the region north of the Fraser Forks to the +Russian boundary, including the Babine country. Forts Alexandria, +Kamloops and Vancouver were visited in due order, and in the following +year Simpson returned east by way of the Columbia. + +In an attempt to enter the Columbia River in 1829, the Company's ship +from London, _William and Ann_, was wrecked on Land Island. Several of +the crew escaped and landed on Clatsop Point, where they were +immediately murdered by the natives, in order that the plunder of the +vessel might be accomplished without interruption. News of the +disaster was carried to Fort Vancouver, where the officer in charge, +McLaughlin, sent messengers demanding a restoration of the stolen +cargo. In response to this request, an old broom was despatched to the +fort, with the intelligence that this was all the restitution the +Clatsops contemplated. The schooner _Colbore_ was therefore sent on a +punitive expedition. Several of the tribe were wounded and a chief +shot, after which the Clatsops entered into a better frame of mind, +and expressed contrition for their behaviour. + +Under the Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1825, the Company possessed the free +navigation of streams which, having their rise in British territory, +crossed Russian territory in their course to the sea. The Company were +not long in availing themselves of this privilege. Posts were +successively erected, as far as the Stickeen River; but seven years +afterwards there was yet no permanent post on that stream. It was, +therefore, decided to establish one, and a brig, the _Dryad_, was +accordingly fitted out and despatched from Fort Vancouver. But in that +year, 1833, the Russian Government had received the petition of its +subjects to rescind the proviso in the treaty favourable to the +British. The Company's enterprise in thus encroaching on Russian +territory had alarmed Wrangel, who was then in charge of the Russian +establishment[115] at Sitka, and he wrote to his superiors urging them +to memorialize the Emperor. He alleged that the Hudson's Bay Company +had violated its agreement to refrain from selling fire-arms or +spirituous liquors to the natives--an allegation which was not founded +on fact. + +[Sidenote: The _Dryad_ appears.] + +Believing that the situation called for instant action, Wrangel did +not wait to learn what course his Government would take in the matter, +but at once despatched two armed vessels to the entrance of Stickeen +River. A fort was hastily built on the site of an Indian village, guns +were mounted, and the Company's expedition awaited. All unconscious +the _Dryad_ force approached. Suddenly a puff of smoke and a loud +report arrested them, and several shots came from two vessels hitherto +concealed in the offing. While the astonished captain and crew put the +brig about, with a design to anchor out of range, a boat reached them +from the shore, bearing an officer in Russian uniform. He protested in +the name of the Emperor and the Governor of the Russian-American +possessions, against the entrance of a British vessel into a river +appertaining to those powers. The Company's agent attempted to argue +the matter, but his representations went unheeded. The Russian was +obdurate; they were all threatened with peril to their lives, and +their vessel, if the _Dryad_ did not immediately weigh anchor. There +was consequently nothing to do but to return. + +The Company was indignant at this outrage. The forts it had already +built, together with the cost of fitting out the _Dryad_ and other +vessels, besides a vast quantity of provisions and perishable +merchandise sent into that country, had amounted to £20,000 sterling. +The Emperor had granted the petition of the Russian Company; and both +the British and the American Governments received notification that +the clause in the treaty would terminate at twelve months' notice. But +the _Dryad_ affair took place before this decision was made public. +The British Government very properly demanded immediate satisfaction, +and for a time public interest was keenly aroused. The Russian +Government merely consented to disavow the act of its officer; and +issued instructions prohibiting further hindrance to the trading +limits previously agreed upon. + +The matter did not, however, receive settlement until 1839, in which +year a convention was held in London to arrange the points long in +dispute between the two companies. The matter was settled with +despatch. The Hudson's Bay Company's claim for compensation was waived +in return for a lease from the Russian Company of all their territory +on the mainland lying between Cape Spencer and latitude 54° 40'. For +this lease the Company agreed to pay an annual rental of two thousand +land-otter skins, and also to supply the Russians with provisions at +moderate rates. + +In the last chapter, the expedition in 1819-20 of Lieutenant +(afterwards Sir John) Franklin, was alluded to. + +Franklin and his party reached Fort Chippewyan on the 26th March, +after having travelled on foot eight hundred and fifty-six miles, with +the weather so intensely cold that the mercury continually froze in +the bulb. In July, 1820, they journeyed five hundred miles more to +Fort Enterprise, where the party wintered, Back returning to Fort +Chippewyan to procure supplies for the next season's operations. He +was eagerly awaited, and when he arrived, in March, 1821, he had a +tale of great hardship to relate. He had travelled over one thousand +one hundred miles, sometimes going two or three days without food, +with no covering at night but a blanket and deerskins to protect him +from the fearful rigours of fifty-seven degrees below zero. In June +the party started out from the Coppermine to reach the sea, which they +did in eighteen days. Their subsequent sufferings were of the most +dreadful description. When the survivors returned to York Factory, +they had travelled five thousand five hundred and fifty miles by land +and water; but their object was still unaccomplished.[116] + +In 1825, Franklin entered upon a second journey to the shores of the +Polar Sea, again accompanied by Lieutenant Back and Peter Dease, one +of the Company's chief traders. + +"The Governor and Committee took," says Franklin, "a most lively +interest in the objects of the expedition, promised their utmost +support to it, and forthwith sent injunctions to their officers in the +fur countries to provide the necessary depots of provisions at the +places which I pointed out, and to give every other aid in their +power." + +Franklin descended the Mackenzie and traced the coast line through +thirty-seven degrees of longitude from the mouth of the Coppermine +River, where his former survey began, to near the one hundred and +fiftieth meridian, and coming within one hundred and sixty miles of +the most easterly point reached by Captain Beechy, who was exploring +from Bering's Strait. + + [Illustration: SIR GEORGE BACK, R.N.] + +In 1832 the protracted absence of Captain (afterwards Sir John) Ross, +who had sailed three years before for the Polar regions, became cause +for anxiety. It was decided to send an expedition, commanded by +Captain Back, in search of this explorer, and the Government granted +£2,000 towards the expense, "it being understood that the Hudson's Bay +Company will furnish the supplies and canoes free of charge, and that +the remainder of the expense, which is estimated at £3,000, will be +contributed by Captain Ross's friends." The expedition sailed, but +after it had been absent one year, news reached them[117] that Ross +had returned safe and sound in England; and Captain Back was ordered +to attempt a completion of the coast line of the north-eastern +extremity of North America. The Company, through Sir George Simpson, +nominated four officers, in its service, to be placed under Back's +command. + +In 1834 there was witnessed a confirmation of the Deed Poll of 1821, +with a more definite prescription of the duties and emoluments of the +Company's servants. + +It was not until the year 1835 that Lord Selkirk's heirs determined to +give up their control of the Red River colony, and to surrender the +territories granted in 1811. The expenses incurred by the Earl in his +expeditions, and in his costly law suits, were estimated at a large +amount, and this the Company agreed to assume. + +In 1839 a powerful blow was dealt at the prosperity of the Company by +the successful substitution of silk for beaver fur in the manufacture +of hats. The price of beaver almost instantly fell, and continued to +fall thenceforward for many years, inflicting great loss upon the +Company which was fortunately atoned for in other directions. + +In this same year the Company, at the suggestion of Chief Factor +McLaughlin, demanded and obtained of the Russian Fur Company a ten +years' lease for trading purposes of a strip of land ten leagues wide, +extending north from latitude 50° 40', and lying between British +territory and the ocean, paying therefor two thousand east side land +otter, worth thirty-two shillings and sixpence each. Statesmen in +England marvelled at this arrangement, wondering why the Company +sought these ten leagues of Russian seaboard. But traffic with the +natives was only one of the objects of the Company, for they also +contemplated making a customer of the Russians for European goods, as +well as for those products of the soil which the inclemency of the +more northern regions prevented their rivals from raising. + +Acting upon this arrangement, a party was organized at Montreal in +1839 to take possession of the leased territory. They set out from +York Factory in July, and travelled from thence by way of Edmonton, +Jasper House and Walla Walla to Fort Vancouver. In the following year +they proceeded to the Redoubt St. Dionysius, or as it was thereafter +called, Fort Stickine, the Russian post at the mouth of the Stickine +River, which was to be the British headquarters in the leased +territory. In charge of the fort they found a Russian officer with +fifty men, guarded by a brig of thirty-two guns. The officer was +informed by the Company's pioneers that they would remain with +eighteen men, at which the Russians expressed astonishment. They +informed young McLaughlin and W. G. Rae, who had been appointed to the +new post, that the savages were troublesome, that the chief had many +slaves skilled in assassination and accustomed to obey his murderous +orders. To which the Company's men replied, "Other forts we rule with +twenty men, and we will hold Stickine." + + [Illustration: THOMAS SIMPSON.] + +To this period belong the adventures and the tragic end of Thomas +Simpson, the Arctic explorer. As a youth, Simpson had shown great +scholastic promise, and seemed destined for medicine, when fortune +tempted him to try the service of the Company. His cousin, George +Simpson, was then Governor of the Company's territories, and repeated +offers of a position decided the brilliant student to embark in the +fur-trade. He began work as secretary to Governor Simpson, with whom +he travelled from post to post for some time, until he settled down as +accountant at Fort Garry. But soon the Company had a duty for him to +perform. In order to strengthen their hand when applying for a renewal +of their general trading license, the Honourable Adventurers decided +to spend some money in exploring the Arctic coast. Young Simpson was +requested to undertake this arduous task. Exploration from the +Atlantic showed a defined coast line to within seven degrees of the +Great Fish River, and it was to devolve upon Simpson to explore the +intervening gap. The important duty was laid upon him of completing +the discovery of the northern coast of North America, and in +accomplishing this it was thought that the long-looked for North-West +passage would be brought to light. Simpson set out from Fort Garry in +the winter of 1836-37 and travelled on foot the whole distance to +Lake Athabasca, a matter of one thousand two hundred miles, where he +encountered Dease, the chief factor, who was nominally at the head of +the expedition. In the spring the party descended the Mackenzie in +open boats, coasting along to the westward until they attained the +farthest point attained by Franklin. From here a successful journey +was made to within a short distance of Point Barrow, when their +progress was arrested by the ice. After wintering at Great Bear Lake, +in the spring of 1838 the expedition again started for the coast, +crossing the Coppermine River and descending that stream to its mouth. +But to their great disappointment they found the coast ice-bound. In +the following spring they were more fortunate, finding the sea +comparatively open, and as before, Simpson struck off along the coast +on foot. The expedition returned by way of the Coppermine and Great +Bear Lake to the Mackenzie River, and here Simpson wrote a narrative +of the expedition while waiting for the freezing up of that stream. He +departed from Fort Simpson on the 2nd December, and reached Fort Garry +on 1st of February, covering a distance of one thousand nine hundred +and ten miles in sixty-one days, many of which were spent in enforced +delays at the Company's forts on the way. Simpson was greatly +disappointed to find on his arrival at Red River no letters from the +Company in London, inasmuch as he had offered to make another +expedition to complete the seven degrees still remaining of unexplored +coast. The Company had accepted his offer, and wrote to that effect, +but the letter arrived too late. The same mail also contained the news +that the Royal Geographical Society, in view of the success which had +attended his first expedition, had awarded him its gold medal; while +the British Government had bestowed on him a pension of £100 sterling +per annum. Simpson's later discoveries far excelled those he had made +in 1837, and no doubt the honours accorded him would have been very +great; but in 1840, while travelling, about three days' journey from +Fort Garry, in what is now Dakota, a tragedy took place, the details +of which are still wrapt in mystery. It appears that the party of +which Simpson was a member were arranging their camp for the night. +Their horses were grazing hard by. All were armed with guns and +pistols, for the Sioux were on the warpath. One of the party was +helping to pitch the tent when he heard the report of a gun. On +turning around he beheld Simpson in the act of shooting, first, John +Bird and then Antoine Legros, the former of whom fell dead, while the +latter had time to give his son a last embrace. According to this +witness, Simpson then spoke for the first time, demanding if he knew +of any plot to rob him of his papers. This was the last seen alive of +the Arctic explorer; next morning his dead body was found lying beside +the others he had slain. There is little doubt that he was the victim +of a fit of insanity, superinduced by the fear that one of his +fellow-travellers might report the results of the expedition to the +Company in England before him. His death removed an able and +distinguished explorer, who rendered good service to the Company. + +In 1842 Lord Ashburton arrived in the United States, equipped with +instructions and powers for the settlement of certain questions long +pending between Britain and America. It was expected that the Oregon +boundary matter would be one of these, but this was not the case.[118] + +Meanwhile the utmost excitement prevailed in Oregon, the settlers of +both nationalities claiming possession. Political meetings were held +on the part of the British, at which old Hudson's Bay Company servants +and ignorant voyageurs were nominated for office, the latter men, +"whose ideas of government," says McKay, "were little above those of a +grisly bear." + +Travelling along the middle Columbia at this time was by no means +devoid of danger, owing to the animosity of the natives towards the +Americans. Their faith in the Company remained unshaken; but they were +subject to fits of suspicion and ill-temper, which were occasionally +fraught with considerable inconvenience for the Hudson's Bay servants. +In 1844, when J. W. McKay first came to Fort Vancouver, he found that +many of the Indians along the route were not to be trusted. Early in +1846 McKay was dispatched to California to ascertain what arrangements +might be made for securing certain supplies nearer than England, in +case the Company's farming establishment on the Columbia should be +surrendered to the United States. + +In 1846 Joseph McKay was given the general supervision of the Pacific +establishments, in succession to James Douglas. Taking passage +northward in the _Beaver_ in October, according to the custom of the +general agent, he visited the several stations and made such changes +and left such instructions as he deemed advisable. The Russians he +found "affable and polite, but tricky." In August, 1847, he mentions +meeting a chief of the Stickine Indians, whom he had reason to believe +perfectly trustworthy. "He told me that he had been approached by a +Russian officer with presents of beads and tobacco, and that he was +told that if he would get up a war with the English in that vicinity +and compel them to withdraw, he should receive assistance in the shape +of arms and ammunition; and in case of success he would receive a +medal from the Russian Emperor, a splendid uniform, and anything else +he might desire, while his people should always be paid the highest +prices for their peltries." + +In the East as in the West, at Red River, at Edmonton, and on the +Pacific, the old policy of procuring provisions and the necessaries of +life from England had been abandoned. The Company now raised horses, +horned cattle, sheep, and other farm stock. It owned large farms in +different parts of the country, grist mills, saw mills, tanneries, +fisheries, etc. From its posts on the Pacific it exported flour, +grain, beef, pork, and butter, to the Russian settlements; lumber and +fish to the Sandwich Islands; hides and wool to England. It opened the +coal mines at Nanaimo, after an unremunerative expenditure of £25,000 +in seeking coal at Fort Rupert. + +[Sidenote: Agricultural and mercantile enterprise.] + +On the Pacific Coast, as many of the Company's men who could be spared +from the business of the fort, as well as such natives as had a +leaning towards civilization, were employed in clearing lands and +establishing farms. It was not difficult to convince these Indians +that they were pursuing the best policy, and they set to with a will +to help the white men and half-breeds, "becoming good bullock-drivers +and better ploughmen than the Canadians or Ranakes," to whom, +nevertheless, they gave freely of their women as wives, a circumstance +which tended to promote good behaviour amongst the medley throng of +Company's servants. Such natives were treated with all fairness, and +paid wages as high as the other labourers, usually from £17 to £25 per +annum. + +The Company became banker for the thousands who thrived by hunting, +trading, tilling or mining, within its domains. It issued notes, and +so valid were they that it has been said "the Hudson's Bay Company's +note was taken everywhere over the northern continent when the 'shin +plasters' of banks in the United States and Canada were refused."[119] + + [Illustration: HUDSON'S BAY CO., TRADE TOKENS.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[110] In March, 1821, Wentzel, one of the North-West partners, wrote: +"The Hudson's Bay Company have apparently relaxed in the extravagance +of their measures; last autumn they came in the [Athabasca] Department +with fifteen canoes only, containing each about fifteen pieces. Mr. +Simpson, a gentleman from England last spring, superintends their +business. His being a strange, and reputedly gentlemanly, man, will +not create much alarm, nor do I presume him formidable as an Indian +trader." + +[111] May 30th, 1838. + +[112] "Such is the spirit and avidity exhibited by the Council," wrote +one of the Company's factors, in 1823, "that it is believed these +discoveries will be extended as far as the Russian settlements on the +Pacific Ocean." + +[113] On motion of Mr. Congressman Floyd, a committee was appointed in +December, 1820, "to enquire into the situation of the settlements upon +the Pacific Ocean, and the expediency of occupying the Columbia +River." + +[114] See Appendix for copy of this Treaty. + +[115] The Russian Company was incorporated under the patronage of the +Crown with a capital of two hundred and sixty thousand pounds +sterling. It had a large commerce with Northern China which did not +deal with Canton; and it was in the northern part of the empire that +the consumption of furs was greatest. Canton was merely the _entrepôt_ +where furs were received for distribution throughout China. + +[116] From Joseph Berens, Esq., the Governor of the Hudson's Bay +Company and the gentlemen of the Committee, I received all kinds of +assistance and information, communicated in the most friendly manner +previous to my leaving England; and I had the gratification of +perusing the orders to their agents and servants in North America, +containing the fullest directions to promote by every means the +progress of the expedition.--_Sir John Franklin._ + +[117] "The extraordinary expedition with which this despatch was +transmitted by the Hudson's Bay Company," says Back, "is worthy of +being recorded." + +[118] Indeed it cannot be doubted that Great Britain was wholly +influenced by the position of the Company. It has been said that she +did not anticipate any permanent possession of the country. "The +British have certainly no other immediate object," wrote Mr. Gallatin, +the American commissioner, to Henry Clay, "than that of protecting the +Company in its fur-trade." + +[119] Sir Edward Walkin tells how, when he was for a short time, in +1865 and 1866, shareholders' auditor of the Company, he cancelled many +of these notes which had become defaced, mainly owing to the fingering +of Indians and others, who had left behind on the thick yellow paper, +coatings of pemmican. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +1846-1863. + + The Oregon Treaty -- Boundary Question Settled -- Company + Proposes Undertaking Colonization of North America -- Enmity + and Jealousy Aroused -- Attitude of Earl Grey -- Lord Elgin's + Opinion of the Company -- Amended Proposal for Colonization + Submitted -- Opposition of Mr. Gladstone -- Grant of Vancouver + Island Secured, but Allowed to Expire in 1859 -- Dr. Rae's + Expedition -- The Franklin Expedition and its Fate -- Discovery + of the North-West Passage -- Imperial Parliament Appoints + Select Committee -- Toronto Board of Trade Petitions + Legislative Council -- Trouble with Indians -- Question of + Buying Out the Company -- British Government Refuses Help -- + "Pacific Scheme" Promoters Meet Company in Official Interview + -- International Financial Association Buys Company's Rights -- + Edward Ellice, the "Old Bear." + + +On the 15th of June, 1846, the famous "Oregon Treaty" was concluded +between Great Britain and America. + +[Sidenote: The Oregon Boundary Question.] + +By the second article of that instrument it is declared that: "From +the point at which the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude shall be +found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia River, +the navigation of the said branch of the river to the point where the +said branch meets the main stream of the said river shall be free and +open to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to all British subjects trading +with the same, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with +free access into and through the said river or rivers, it being +understood that all the usual portages along the line thus described +shall, in like manner, be free and open. In navigating the said river +or rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be +treated on the same footing as citizens of the United States; it +being, however, always understood that nothing in this article shall +be construed as preventing, or intending to prevent, the Government of +the United States from making any regulations respecting the +navigation of the said river or rivers not inconsistent with the +present treaty." + + [Illustration: HUDSON'S BAY CO.'S EMPLOYEES ON THEIR ANNUAL EXPEDITION. + (_From "Picturesque Canada," by permission._)] + +According to Article III, "In the future appropriation of the +territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, as +provided in the first article of this treaty, the possessary rights of +the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be +already in the occupation of land or other property lawfully acquired +within the said territory, shall be respected." + +The Oregon boundary question was thus settled. Immigrants were pouring +into Oregon from all parts of America, and California was already +receiving numerous gold miners. It was therefore natural that +Vancouver Island and British Columbia should receive attention. The +climate was known to be almost perfect, and a motion to encourage +colonization in those territories was made in the British Parliament. +But the Company was quite alive to the situation. A letter was +addressed to Earl Grey, the Colonial Secretary, dwelling on the +efforts the Adventurers had made in the British interest, and urging +that Vancouver Island be granted to them. + +The negotiations continued until March, 1847, when Sir J. H. Pelly, +the Governor of the Company, again wrote to Earl Grey, informing him +that the Company would "undertake the government and colonization of +all the territories belonging to the Crown in North America, and +receive a grant accordingly." Such a proposition staggered Her +Majesty's Ministers, who were for the most part ignorant of the work +the Company had already accomplished, of the position it occupied, or +of the growth of its establishment on the Pacific. Already it governed +and was now busy colonizing the territory, doing both in a manner +superior to that adopted by the Americans in their adjacent +territories. Such a proposition, too, awakened all the jealousy and +enmity against the Company which had been latent for so long. + +[Sidenote: Enmity and jealousy aroused.] + +One of the most determined and virulent in his attacks on the Company +at this time was one A. K. Isbister, who addressed a long +communication to Earl Grey, besides other letters to public men in +England. In answer to Mr. Isbister, Earl Grey forwarded the substance +of a report which had been made by Major Griffiths, late in command +of Her Majesty's troops at Fort Garry, to whom had been communicated +the petition of certain residents of Red River settlement. + +To all the petitions, memorials, and complaints of interested parties +and self-seekers against the Company, Earl Grey had but one answer. He +said he had gone to the bottom of the matter, and he believed the +Company was honest and capable. If he had had any doubt about it, this +doubt must have been removed by a remarkable despatch of Lord Elgin, +Governor-General of Canada, under date of 6th June, 1848. "I am bound +to state," he wrote, "that the result of the enquiries which I have +hitherto made is highly favourable to the Company, and that it has +left on my mind the impression that the authority which it exercises +over the vast and inhospitable region subject to its jurisdiction, is, +on the whole, very advantageous to the Indians.... More especially it +would appear to be a settled principle of their policy to +discountenance the use of ardent spirits. It is indeed possible that +the progress of the Indians toward civilization may not correspond +with the expectations of some of those who are interested in their +welfare. But disappointments of this nature are experienced, I fear, +in other quarters as well as in the territories of the Hudson's Bay +Company; and persons to whom the trading privileges of the Company are +obnoxious may be tempted to ascribe to its rule the existence of evils +which are altogether beyond its power to remedy. There is too much +reason to fear that if the trade were thrown open and the Indians left +to the mercy of the adventurers who might chance to engage in it, +their condition would be greatly deteriorated."[120] + +Such was the opinion of the Earl of Elgin on the Hudson's Bay Company, +and it was the opinion of all who really understood the Company's +aims, its history and its position. "Persons to whom the trading +privileges of the Company are obnoxious." It was thus that the Earl +laid his finger upon the cause of the whole onslaught. Jealousy of the +Company's rights was at the bottom of the whole matter. + +[Sidenote: Opposition of Mr. Gladstone.] + +The Vancouver Island negotiations were suspended for a year, and then +the Company, seeing the opposition it had evoked, put forward a less +extensive proposal, by which it offered to continue the general +management of the whole territory north of the forty-ninth degree, and +for colonizing purposes to except Vancouver Island alone. It agreed to +colonize the island without any pecuniary advantage accruing to +itself, and promised that all moneys received for lands and minerals +should be applied to purposes connected with the improvement of the +country. The proposition seemed a reasonable one; but in a certain +rising statesman, who had inherited his opposition to the Company from +his father, and who had many followers, the Honourable Adventurers had +a powerful enemy. His name was Mr. W. E. Gladstone, and his enmity to +the measure caused the Government to halt. + +The Company was not without strong friends, as well as enemies. It +drew up a deed of charter, and boldly relied on the Earl of Lincoln +(afterwards Duke of Newcastle) to procure favour for it in the House +of Commons. On the 17th July the Earl opened the subject, and drew +from Mr. Gladstone a speech which occupies many columns of Hansard's +Debates. With mighty energy he hurled argument, invective, appeal and +remonstrance at the heads of his fellow-members. It was even suggested +that he was actuated by personal malice. Every statement, every +slander that could wither or blacken the fair fame of a corporation +which had deserved well of its country, was employed on this occasion, +and his conclusion was that the Company was incompetent to carry out +its promises. Mr. Howard, who followed, believed that it would be +"most unwise to confer the extensive powers proposed on a fur-trading +Company." Yet he did not deny that as California had recently been +ceded to America, it was a matter of the highest importance that a +flourishing British Colony should be established on the Pacific Coast +as an offset to that power. Lord John Russell undertook to enlighten +the House as to the achievements of the Company, apart from +fur-trading. He said that it already held exclusive privileges, which +did not expire until 1859; that the western lands were controlled by a +Crown grant, dated 13th May, 1838, confirming the possession by the +Company for twenty-one years from that date; that these privileges +"could not be taken away from it without breach of principle and that +if colonization were delayed until the expiration of this term +squatters from America might step in and possess themselves of the +Island." + +[Sidenote: The grant of Vancouver Island.] + +It was voted to refer the matter to the Privy Council Committee for +Trade and Plantations; and on the 4th September this body reported in +favour of granting Vancouver Island to the Hudson's Bay Company. The +grant was duly signed, sealed and delivered on the 13th January, 1849. + +The Company, in the midst of its triumph, was not satisfied. It had +aroused enmities which it was powerless to allay. It had been lured, +by too zealous friends, into making promise of a policy which it +foresaw could not be followed without ruinous cost. It also foresaw +that the rush to the Pacific, consequent upon the gold-fever of 1849, +would bring about new interests not its own and, in brief, that the +colony would pass from its hands, and that all its outlay and labour +would have been expended without profits. What it anticipated came +about sooner than it expected. Opposition had been collecting from +without, and had been engendered from within. Some of the +Adventurers announced that when, in 1859, the grant would expire, they +would object to its renewal. The Company's enemies asserted that it +had not exerted itself to bring about the desired colonization of +Vancouver Island. The settlers forwarded a memorial asking to be +relieved from the Company's control. At the same time, the Governor it +had appointed, Mr. Douglas (afterwards Sir James Douglas), was +popular, and when the grant was allowed to expire and Vancouver Island +became a Crown colony in 1859, he was retained in the same office. +Soon afterwards, a Government was organized, with Mr. Douglas at its +head, on the mainland of British Columbia. + + [Illustration: SIR GEORGE SIMPSON RECEIVING A DEPUTATION OF INDIANS.] + +Meanwhile, in the eastern as well as the western extremity of the +Company's domains, agitation and malcontent was being fomented. +Certain residents of Red River settlement had forwarded petitions to +Earl Grey. Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton, in command of Her Majesty's +troops at Fort Garry, was asked to send in a report of the state of +affairs at Red River. At a little later period his successor, Major +Griffiths, was requested to do the same. Neither had any connection +with the Company, and both might therefore be regarded as unbiassed as +well as fully informed. Both exonerated the Company from most of the +charges brought against them, and as to the remainder, which were +preferred on untrustworthy evidence, they professed ignorance. They +rendered full credit to the Company "for the manner in which it has of +late years exercised its powers." + +In the year of the Oregon treaty the Company caused some valuable +exploration to be made of its northern coasts. Dr. Rae and his party +reached Chesterfield Inlet 13th July, 1846, passed Repulse Bay safely, +and conveyed their boats thence into Committee Bay, at the bottom of +Boothia Gulf. The Company's expedition wintered at Repulse Bay, and +again entering Committee Bay, in April, 1847, by the following month +had completed a survey, with the exception of Fury and Hecla Straits, +of the entire northern coast of the North American continent. + +[Sidenote: Fate of the Franklin Expedition.] + +In the previous year, 1845, Sir John Franklin, who had, since his last +travels in Rupert's Land, been Governor of Tasmania, was offered the +command of another expedition in search of the north-west passage by +the British Government. He embarked in the _Erebus_ and _Terror_, and +his ships were last seen on the 26th of July in Baffin's Bay by a +whaler. + +Several years passed without tidings of the expedition. In 1850 traces +of the missing ships were discovered by Ommaney and Penny, and it was +thus ascertained that the first winter had been spent behind Beechy +Island. No further news came until the spring of 1854, when an +expedition of the Hudson's Bay Company, under Dr. Rae, from Republic +Bay, received information from the Esquimaux that four years before +about forty white men had been seen dragging a boat over the ice near +the north shore of King William's Island. Somewhat later in the same +season of 1850, declared the natives, the bodies of the entire party +were found at a point a short distance to the north-west of the Great +Fish River. To prove their assertion the Esquimaux produced various +articles which were known to have belonged to the ill-fated explorer +and his party. The Government having previously offered a reward of +£10,000 "to any party, or parties who, in the judgment of the Board of +Admiralty, shall, by virtue of his or her efforts, first succeed in +ascertaining" the fate of the missing expedition, Dr. Rae laid claim +to and obtained this reward. Another expedition under Anderson and +Stewart went in two canoes, in 1855, down the Great Fish River, and +further verified the truth by securing more European articles and +clothing from the Esquimaux. It now became clear that a party from the +_Erebus_ and _Terror_ had sought to reach, by the Fish River route, +the nearest Company's post to the south, and had been arrested by the +ice in the channel near that river's mouth. In 1857 Lady Franklin, +whose efforts to set at rest the fate of her husband had been most +heroic, sent out the yacht _Fox_, commanded by Captain (afterwards Sir +Leopold) McClintock, who had already taken part in three expeditions +despatched in search of Franklin. In the following year more relics +were obtained, closely followed by the discovery of many skeletons. In +a cairn at Point Victory Lieutenant Hobson unearthed the celebrated +record kept by two of the explorers, which briefly told the history of +the expedition for three years, or up to April 25, 1848. It appeared +that Sir John Franklin had perished on the 11th of June, 1847. It is +believed that one of the vessels must have been crushed in the ice and +the other stranded on the shore of King William's Island, where it lay +for years, a mine of wonderful implements and playthings for the +Esquimaux. + + [Illustration: OPENING OF CAIRN ON POINT VICTORY WHICH CONTAINED THE + RECORD OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.] + + [Illustration: DISCOVERY OF RELICS OF FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.] + +Franklin was virtually the discoverer of the long-sought north-west +passage, inasmuch as he had all but traversed the entire distance +between Baffin's Bay and Bering's Strait. + +[Sidenote: The North-West Passage discovered at last.] + +Yet it should be observed that in 1853 Commander McClure, who was in +charge of an Arctic expedition from the Pacific, was rescued near +Melville Island by Sir Edward Belcher, who came from the side of the +Atlantic, and both he and his ship's company returned to Europe _via_ +Baffin's Bay. Thus the secret of the north-west passage was disclosed +at last. It was now known that a continuous passage by water existed +between Baffin's Bay and Bering's Strait, and that was the last of the +voyages undertaken for the purpose through Rupert's Land. + +For ten years past the profits of the Company had already increased. +In 1846, there were in its employ five hundred and thirteen articled +men and thirty-five officers. It controlled a net-work of trading +routes between its posts situated between the Atlantic and the Pacific +oceans. In 1856 it had one hundred and fifty-two establishments under +Governor Simpson's control, with sixteen chief factors and twenty-nine +chief traders, assisted by five surgeons, eighty-seven clerks, +sixty-seven postmasters, five hundred voyageurs and one thousand two +hundred permanent servants, in addition to sailors on sea-going ships +and other employees, numbering altogether above three thousand men. + +[Sidenote: Imperial Parliament appoints Select Committee.] + +At the beginning of 1857 the opponents of the Company were on the _qui +vive_. They had at last succeeded in procuring a Select Committee of +the Imperial House of Commons for the purpose of considering "the +state of those British possessions in North America which are under +the administration of the Hudson's Bay Company, or over which it +possesses a license to trade." The committee was composed of the +following persons: The Right Honourable Henry Labouchere (afterwards +Lord Taunton), Sir John Pakingham, Lord John Russell, Mr. Gladstone, +the Right Honourable Edward Ellice, Lord Stanley, Viscount Sandon, and +Messrs. Lowe, Adderley, Roebuck, Grogan, Kinnaird, Blackburn, Charles +Fitzwilliam, Gordon, Gurney, Bell and Percy Herbert. Evidence was +taken from the 20th of February to the 9th of March, which comprised +the first session of the committee. It sat again in May, and the +examination of the numerous witnesses ended on the 23rd of June. +Public interest was aroused, and the Company and its doings again +became a standing topic at London dinner-tables. The Honourable +Adventurers were again on their trial--would they come out of the +ordeal as triumphantly as on the occasion of the previous great +investigation a full century and a decade before? The list of +witnesses comprised some of the best known names of the day. There +were: Sir John Richardson, Rear Admiral Sir George Back, Dr. Rae, +Chief Justice Draper of Canada, Sir George Simpson, Hon. John Ross, +Lieut.-Colonel Lefroy, Lieut.-Colonel Caldwell, Bishop Anderson, Hon. +Charles Fitzwilliam, Dr. King and Right Hon. Edward Ellice. At the +second session Messrs. Gordon, Bell and Adderley retired, and Viscount +Goderich, and Messrs. Matheson and Christy took their places. The +first witness examined was the Honourable John Ross, then President of +the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. "It is complained," said he, "that +the Hudson's Bay Company occupy that territory and prevent the +extension of settlement and civilization in that part of the +continent. I do not think they ought to be permitted to do that; but I +think it would be a very great calamity if their control and power +were entirely to cease. My reason for forming that opinion is this: +during all the time that I have been able to observe their +proceedings, there has been peace within the whole territory. The +operations of the Company seem to have been carried on, at all events, +in such a way as to prevent the Indian tribes within their borders +from molesting the Canadian frontier; while, on the other hand, those +who have turned their attention to that quarter of the world must have +seen that, from Oregon to Florida, for these last thirty years or +more, there has been a constant Indian war going on between the +natives of American territory, on the one side, and the Indian tribes +on the other. Now, I very much fear that if the occupation of the +Hudson's Bay Company were to cease, our fate in Canada might be just +what it is with Americans in the border settlements of their +territory." + +Lord Elgin had showed the weak spot of the opposition. Mr. Ross +indicated it more precisely. "I believe," said he, "there are certain +gentlemen at Toronto very anxious to get up a second North-West +company, and I daresay it would result in something like the same +difficulties which the last North-West company created. I should be +sorry to see them succeed. I think it would do a great deal of harm, +creating further difficulties in Canada, which I do not desire to see +created." + +At the close of the evidence, Mr. Gladstone proposed resolutions +unfavourable to the Company, which were negatived by the casting vote +of the chairman, Lord Taunton, the numbers being seven to seven. The +committee agreed to their report on the 31st July. It recommended that +the Red River and Saskatchewan districts might be "ceded to Canada on +equitable principles," the details being left to Her Majesty's +Government. The termination of the Company's rule over Vancouver +Island was advised; and this advice was not distasteful to the +Company. The committee strongly urged, in the interests of law and +order, and of the Indian population as well as for the preservation of +the fur-trade, that the Company "should continue to enjoy the +privileges of exclusive trade which they now possess." + +[Sidenote: Toronto merchants petition Legislative Council.] + +As an illustration of the spirit prevalent in many quarters in Canada +towards the Company, the petition which on the 28th of April, 1857, +reached the Legislative Council of Canada, may be cited. It emanated +from the Board of Trade of the City of Toronto. After reciting in +anything but a respectful manner the history and status of the +Company, it declared that the Company acted under a "pretended" right, +that it "assumed the power to enact tariffs, collect custom dues, and +levy taxes against British subjects, and has enforced unjust and +arbitrary laws in defiance of every principle of right and justice." +The petitioners besought the attention of the Government "to that +region of country designated as the chartered territory, over which +the said Company exercises a sovereignty over the soil as well as a +monopoly in the trade, and which said Company claims as a right that +insures to it _in perpetuo_, in contradistinction to that portion of +the country over which it claims an exclusive right of trade, but for +a limited period only." The "gentlemen from Toronto" admitted that +this latter claim was founded upon a legal right, but submitted that a +renewal of "such license of exclusive trade was injurious to the +interests of the country so monopolized, and in contravention of the +rights of the inhabitants of Canada." + +In this year the claims of the Company in connection with the Treaty +of 1846 were finally arranged by a special treaty concluded through +the Hon. W. H. Seward for America, and Lord Lyons, the British +Ambassador. The Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, which was an +offshoot and subordinate concern of the Hudson's Bay Company, for the +purposes of wheat, wool, hides and tallow production, was also named +as one of the interested parties. + +"Whereas," so ran the new treaty, "it is desirable that all questions +between the United States authorities on the one hand, and the +Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound Agricultural Companies on the other, +with respect to the possessary rights and claims of these companies, +and of any other British subjects in Oregon and Washington Territory, +should be settled by the transfer of those rights and claims to the +Government of the United States for an adequate money consideration: +It is hereby agreed that the United States of America and Her +Britannic Majesty shall, within twelve months after the exchange of +the ratification of the present treaty, appoint each a commissioner +for the purpose of examining and deciding upon all claims arising out +of the provisions of the above-quoted articles of the Treaty of June +15, 1846."[121] + +[Sidenote: Unwholesome temper amongst the Indians.] + +The commercial rivalry existing between the Russian-American Company +and the Hudson's Bay Company, which held a trading lease of part of +the sea-bound territory, naturally tended to engender and keep alive +an unwholesome temper amongst the Indians. They were frequently +troublesome, and occasionally murderous. In May, 1862, between two +hundred and fifty and three hundred of the natives on the west side of +Chatham Strait, twenty-five miles north of Cross Sound, seized on the +quarter-deck the captain and chief trader of the Company's steamer +_Labouchere_, of seven hundred tons and taking possession of the +vessel, drove the crew forward. But the crew had a large gun trained +aft, and parleying took place. The Indians had not known that this was +a Company ship. It was agreed that both parties should discharge their +rifles, and peace was proclaimed, the Indians finally leaving the +vessel. Before their departure, however, they covered the deck with +fine sea-otter and other skins as a present to the captain and +traders, and as a token of peace. + +In September, 1860, after an illness of but five days' duration, died +Sir George Simpson, the Governor-in-Chief in Rupert's Land, amidst +universal regrets. He had been often, indeed persistently, attacked by +the Company's enemies during his tenure of his office; indeed almost +up to the day of his death he was charged with being autocratic and +tyrannical, but none could deny him great ability and exceptional +fitness for his post. + +He had taken a powerful interest in northern discoveries, and +superintended the fitting out of several Arctic expeditions. For his +services in this direction he had been knighted in 1841, and soon +afterwards had set out on a journey round the world, of which he +published an interesting relation. In his late years he resided at +Lachine, where he entertained the Prince of Wales, on his visit in +1860. + +His successor was Mr. A. E. Dallas, who having made a considerable +fortune in China, had for some time served the Company on the Pacific +coast. Thanks to his prudence, the landing in 1859 of General Harney +and a detachment of American troops on the island St. Juan, between +Vancouver's Island and the mainland, had been controlled and +check-mated by the proposal of joint occupation until negotiations +should settle the question of right. He was returning home to England, +intending to retire, when he was persuaded to accept the Governorship +of Rupert's Land. + +[Sidenote: Proposals to buy out the Company.] + +At the head of a scheme for a transcontinental road and telegraph +system was Mr. (afterwards Sir) Edward Watkin, well known as the +promoter of the Grand Trunk Railway. For this scheme an Imperial +subsidy was sought. The dissensions which ensued between the various +parties interested proved not unfruitful, for they led up to the +great question of buying out the Company. + +At the beginning, however, the Duke of Newcastle, then Colonial +Secretary, had amiably undertaken to sound the Company as to their +willingness to allow a road and telegraphs through their +territory.[122] + +In response to this demand the aged Governor answered, almost in +terror, to the Duke of Newcastle, "What, sequester our very tap-root! +Take away the fertile lands where the buffaloes feed! Let in all kinds +of people to squat and settle, and frighten away the fur-bearing +animals they don't hunt and kill! Impossible! Destruction--extinction +of our time-honoured industry. If these gentlemen are so patriotic, +why don't they buy us out?" To this outburst the Duke quietly replied: +"What is your price?" Governor Berens answered: "Well, about a million +and a half." + +[Sidenote: Discussions as to the price.] + +On hearing this, Mr. Watkin was anxious that the British Government +should figure among the purchasing parties. Purchase seemed the only +way out of the difficulty. The Governor and Company seemed to have +made up their minds for a sale or else to withstand the project which +Mr. Watkin and the rest had so dearly at heart. An endeavour was made +to convince the Duke that at the price named there could be no risk of +loss, because the fur-trade could be separated from the land and +rights, and after the purchase a new joint-stock company could be +organized to take over the trading-posts, the fleet of ships, the +stock of goods, and the other assets, rights and privileges affecting +trade. Such a company, it was figured, would pay a rental (redeemable +over a term of years if necessary) of three or three and one-half per +cent, on £800,000, leaving only £700,000 as the value of a territory +bigger than Russia in Europe. Such a company would have to raise +additional capital of its own to modernise its business, to improve +the means of intercourse between its posts, and to cheapen and +expedite the transport to and fro of its merchandise. It was pointed +out that a land company could be organized in England, Canada and +America which, on a similar principle of redemption rental, might take +over the lands, leaving a reserve of probably a fourth of the whole as +the unpaid-for property of the Government, at the price of £700,000. +"Were these proposals to succeed, then," said Mr. Watkin, "all the +country would have to do was to lend £1,000,000 on such security as +could be offered, ample in each case," in his opinion. But a condition +was to be imposed if these plans were to be adopted. The Hudson's Bay +territory must be erected into a Crown colony like British Columbia, +and governed on the responsibility of the Empire. As to the cost of +government, there were three suggestions put forward. One was that it +might be recouped by a moderate system of duties in and out of the +territory, to be agreed upon between Canada and British Columbia on +the one hand, and the United States on the other. The second was to +sell a portion of the territory to America for five million dollars, +which sum Mr. Watkin knew could be obtained. The third scheme was to +open up portions of the fertile belt to colonization from the United +States. When considering the second plan, the Duke said he would not +sell; he would exchange; and studying the map, "we put our fingers +upon the Aroostook Wedge, in the State of Maine; upon a piece of +territory at the head of Lake Superior, and upon islands between +British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, which might be the equivalent +of rectification of boundary on many portions of the westward along +the 49th parallel of latitude." + +As for a name for the new proposed Crown colony, Dr. Mackay had +suggested to Mr. Watkin, "Hysperia," and this name was mentioned to +the Duke. Its similarity to "hysteria" probably caused it to be +dismissed. + +[Sidenote: Opposition of the Colonial Office.] + +The decision of the Duke of Newcastle on the whole proposition was +that were he a Minister of Russia he would agree to purchase the land +from the Hudson's Bay Company. "It is," said he, "the right thing to +do for many, for all reasons; but ministers here must subordinate +their views to the Cabinet." Nevertheless, he went so far as to +believe that it was right. But the Colonial Office were in positive +opposition to the scheme. + +It was now clear that the promoters of the Pacific transcontinental +railway could hope for no direct pecuniary aid from the British +Government. They must act for themselves. + +After some correspondence, it was arranged that the promoters of the +"Pacific scheme," as it was called, should meet the Governor and +Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company in an official interview. The +date was the 1st of December, 1862. + +"The room," writes Sir Edward Watkin in his Memoirs, "was the Court +room, dark and dirty. A faded green cloth, old chairs, almost black, +and a fine portrait of Prince Rupert. We met the Governor, Berens, +Eden Colville and Lyell only. On our part there were Mr. G. G. Glyn +(the late Lord Wolverton), Captain Glyn (the late Admiral Henry Glyn), +and Messrs. Newmarch, Benson, Blake and myself. Mr. Berens, an old man +and obstinate, bearing a name to be found in the earliest lists of +Hudson's Bay shareholders, was somewhat insulting in his manner. We +took it patiently. He seemed to be astounded at our assurance. 'What! +interfere with his fertile belt, tap-root,' etc." + +[Sidenote: The "Pacific Scheme" discussed.] + +But the Governor showed himself more reasonable; a calmer discussion +ensued, and the promoters were informed that the Company would be +ready to make a grant of land for the actual site of a road and +telegraph through their territory. Nothing more would be vouchsafed, +unless, as they had informed the Duke of Newcastle, they were paid for +all their rights and property. + + [Illustration: FORT PRINCE OF WALES. + (_Drawn from an old print._)] + +"The offer," observes Sir Edward, "of a mere site of a road and ground +for telegraph poles was no use. So, just as we were leaving, I said, +'We are quite ready to consider your offer to sell; and to expedite +matters, will you allow us to see your accounts, charters, etc.' They +promised to consult their Court." + +The result of this promise was that the promoters were put into +communication with "old Mr. Roberts, aged eighty-five, their +accountant, and with their solicitor, Mr. Maynard." Many interviews +took place at Hudson's Bay House between these parties. On the 17th of +March, 1863, Mr. Watkin met the Governor, Mr. Ellice, junior (son of +Edward Ellice, who had been nick-named the "Old Bear"), Mr. Matheson +and Mr. Maynard, at Hudson's Bay House. A number of account books were +produced. + +"Next day I had a long private interview with Mr. Maynard, but could +not see the balance-sheet The same day, I saw the Duke with Messrs. +Glyn and Benson." On the following day, the chief promoter spent the +forenoon with Mr. Roberts, the accountant, and his son and assistant, +at Hudson's Bay House. + +"Mr. Roberts told him many odd things," he says; "one was, that the +Company had had a freehold farm on the site of the present City of San +Francisco of one thousand acres, and had sold it just before the gold +discoveries for £1,000, because two factors quarrelled over it. I +learnt a great deal of the inside of the affair, and got some glimpses +of the competing North-West Company, amalgamated by Mr. Edward Ellice, +its chief mover, many years agone, with the Hudson's Bay Company. +Pointing to some boxes in his private room one day, Mr. Maynard said, +'There are years of Chancery in those boxes, if anyone else had them.' +And he more than once quoted a phrase of the Old Bear, 'My fortune +came late in life.'" + +[Sidenote: The International Financial Association.] + +In spite of the Duke's indisposition, he expressed the greatest +interest in the progress of the negotiations. Yet the prospect of +Government aid was now remote. Two ways were open to raise the money +for a purchase of the Company's rights--to secure the names and +support of fifteen persons, millionaires, for £100,000 each; the other +to hand the proposed purchase over to the newly-organized +International Finance Association, who were eager to find some +important enterprise to put before the public. The first method seemed +to recommend itself to the promoters; and the friends of the project +could easily have underwritten the necessary amount. But the Company +now announced that it would give no credit. "We must take up the +shares as presented and pay for them over the counter." There was, +therefore, no alternative. Mr. Richard Potter, acting for the +capitalists, completed the negotiations. The shares were taken over +and paid for by the International Financial Association, who issued +new stock to the public to an amount which covered a large provision +of new capital for the extension of business by the Company, and at +great profit to themselves. As regards the new Hudson's Bay +shareholders, their two hundred and one shares were subsequently +reduced by returns of capital to one hundred and thirty-one, and +having attained a value of thirty-seven, during the "land boom" period +twenty years later stood at two hundred and forty-one. + +A Hudson's Bay Company prospectus was issued. It was understood that +the International Financial Association were merely agents, that the +shares would not remain in their hands, but would pass to the +proprietors, who would, of course, only enjoy the rights such shares +carried. They would, in fact, be a continuation of the Company, only +their efforts would be directed to the promotion of the settlement of +the country; the development of the postal and transit communications +being one of the objects to which they were pledged. A new council had +been formed, and amongst its members was Mr. Eden Colville, one of the +old committee, whom the Duke praised publicly in the highest terms, as +a "man of business and good sense." + +There was one man in London who was astonished at what had taken +place. Edward Ellice still lived, but his commanding figure was bent +by the weight of years. As we have seen, it was he who, in 1821, +played the principal part in the amalgamation of the rival companies. +He had grown to be proud of the Company, proud of its history, of its +traditions, of its service; and he seemed to detect in this transfer, +its fall. A few months before his death, in 1863, he met one of the +negotiators at Burlington House. He confronted him for some moments +without speaking, in a state of abstraction. Then he passed on, like a +man "endeavouring to recollect a long history of difficulty, and to +realize how strangely it had all ended." + +Ellice had said, before the Parliamentary Committee of 1857, in reply +to a question put by a member as to what probability there was of a +settlement being made, "within what you consider to be the southern +territories of the Hudson's Bay Company?" "None; in the lifetime of +the youngest man now alive!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[120] Lord Elgin went on to say: "At the same time I think it is to be +regretted that a jurisdiction so extensive and peculiar, exercised by +British subjects at such a distance and so far beyond the control of +public opinion, should be so entirely removed from the surveillance of +Her Majesty's Government. The evil arising from this state of things +is forcibly illustrated in the present instance by the difficulty +which I experience in obtaining materials for a full and satisfactory +report on the charges which your Lordship referred to me. It were very +desirable, if abuses do exist, that Government possessed the means of +probing them to the bottom; and on the other hand it seems to be hard +on the Company, if the imputations cast upon it be unfounded, that +Government, which undertakes the investigation, should not have the +power of acquitting it on testimony more unexceptionable than any +which is at present procurable. It has been stated to me that your +Lordship has it in contemplation to establish a military officer at +some point within the territories of the Company, and that the Company +is disposed to afford every facility for carrying out this +arrangement. I trust that this report may prove to be well founded." + +[121] The treaty having provided for a joint commission, Mr. A. S. +Johnston and the Hon. (afterwards Sir) John Rose were appointed to act +for America and Great Britain, respectively. These commissioners, on +the 10th of September, 1869, issued an award from Washington, +directing the payment of $450,000 by the United States to the Hudson's +Bay Company, and $200,000 to the Puget's Sound Company. There was, as +usual, considerable delay in making this payment. On the 11th of July, +1870, $325,000 was appropriated by Congress for this purpose, and a +like sum by another appropriation in the following year. + +[122] "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 £1,500,000. 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 the 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 unrenumerative addition to their very +embarassing 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."--_Letter of the Duke +of Newcastle, 14th August, 1862._ + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +1863-1871. + + Indignation of the Wintering Partners -- Distrust and + Misgivings Arise -- Proposals of Governor Dallas for the + Compensation of the Wintering Partners in Exchange for their + Abrogation of Deed Poll -- Threatened Deadlock -- Position of + those in Authority Rendered Untenable -- Failure of Duke of + Newcastle's Proposals for Surrender of Territorial Rights -- + The Russo-American Alaskan Treaty -- The Hon. W. McDougall's + Resolutions -- Deputation Goes to England -- Sir Stafford + Northcote becomes Governor -- Opinion of Lord Granville as to + the Position of Affairs -- Lack of Military System Company's + Weakness -- Cession now Inevitable -- Terms Suggested by Lord + Granville Accepted -- First Riel Rebellion -- Wolseley at Fort + Garry. + + +All this had taken place in London. The sale had been negotiated +between financiers. Not a word of what was impending had crossed the +Atlantic to the hunting-grounds of the North-West--to the body of men +who were, as much as the Governor, the Committee and the sleeping +partners, members of the Great Company. Yet their voice had never been +heard, nor their consent to the transaction obtained. By the Deed Poll +it was provided that the profits of the fur-trade (less interest on +capital employed) were to be divided into one hundred parts, sixty +parts going to the stockholders and forty to the "wintering partners." +What would the "wintering partners" say to this brilliant "game of +chess" which had been played with the stockholders for interests which +were jointly theirs? + +[Sidenote: Indignation of the Wintering Partners.] + +No sooner had the papers been signed, and the million and a half +sterling paid over, than misgivings seem to have seized the minds of +those directly interested. Yet, on their behalf, it was urged that the +Company's posts and hunting grounds still remained. That the factors +and traders would be as well off under the new _régime_ as the +old--that the mere change of one body of shareholders for another +could affect them nothing--that, in fact, they would really benefit by +having men of newer ideas and a more progressive spirit. + +The news, once in the newspapers, travelled fast, and in a few weeks +at the less distant posts, and in a few months at the more remote +ones, the rumour ran that the Company had sold out--that the London +partners had betrayed the real workers in the wilderness. + + [Illustration: FORT GARRY.] + +A large number of the Company's chief factors and traders had, it +appeared, addressed a memorial to the Company in London, when first +the rumour of a sale had reached them. They declared that they had +been informed that no transfer was probable, but if it took place it +would not be without previous consultation. They now learned for the +first time from the newspapers that these arrangements had been made. +An influential member of the new Company predicted that a general +resignation of the officers from Labrador to Sitka would ensue, +followed by a confederation amongst themselves, in order to carry on +the fur-trade in competition with the Company. They had, they said, +"the skill, the will, and the capital to do it." + +It was said that the appearance of Mr. Lampson's name as Deputy +Governor of the new Company had heightened the first feeling of +distrust, for this gentleman and his commercial connections had long +been the Company's great rivals in the fur marts, carrying on a +vigorous competition at all accessible points.[123] + +[Sidenote: Governor Dallas's Suggestions.] + +Governor Dallas, almost immediately upon his arrival in Montreal, +caused a circular to be issued, addressed to all the factors, +completely refuting all these charges and innuendoes. Many conferences +took place between Dallas and Watkin as to the working of the Company +in the fur territories on the new basis. Dallas kept the Governor and +Committee in London fully advised of the state of affairs, accompanied +by proposals as to the compensation to be allowed the aggrieved +wintering partners. An interesting object, which it was desired to +accomplish at this time, was an exchange of boundary between the +Company and the United States, so as to permit Superior City being +brought into British territory by means of a fair payment and exchange +of land. The negotiations looking to this end, although at one time +promising, proved a failure. + +It was believed that the first measure necessary towards the +re-organization of the Hudson's Bay service would be the abolition or +modification of the Deed Poll, under which the trade was then +conducted. The wintering partners (chief factors and chief traders) +had certain vested rights, and these could not be interfered with +without compensation.[124] + +One mode suggested by Governor Dallas of removing the difficulty was +to ascertain the value of a retired interest, and bestow a money +compensation to each officer on his entering into an agreement to +consent to the abrogation of the Deed Poll. As regarded the shares +held in retirement, some of the interests had nearly run out and none +of the parties had any voice in the business. The value of a +(one-eighty-fifth) share was ascertained to be (on the average of the +previous thirteen "outfits") about £408, at which rate a chief +factor's retired interest would amount to £3,264, and a chief trader's +to £1,632. Adding the customary year's furlough on retiring, a +factor's retired allowance would be £4,080, and a trader's £2,040. On +such a scale of commutation it would cost the Company £114,500 to buy +out its officers. + +As a set-off to this outlay Governor Dallas suggested a substantial +reduction in salaries. Under the then existing organization the pay of +officers in the service was £2,000 to the Governor-in-Chief, £16,000 +amongst sixteen chief factors, £14,000 to thirty-five chief traders, +and £10,000 to the clerks, a total officers' pay-roll of £38,000. He +proposed to cut this down as follows: + + Governor-in-Chief £2,000 + Lieutenant-Governor 1,250 + Four Councillors at £800 3,200 + Twenty-five chief traders at £300 7,500 + One hundred clerks at various salaries 10,000 + ------ + £23,950 + +But Sir Edmund and his colleagues thought otherwise. The wintering +partners were not yet to reap any profit from the sale of the +Company's assets. The Deed Poll remained in full force until 1871, +when they were paid £107,055 out of the money received from Canada for +Rupert's Land and the North-West. + +[Sidenote: Threatened Deadlock in Red River Settlement.] + +In 1863 the Company's government had almost come to a deadlock in the +Red River settlement. Two cases had just occurred of prisoners having +been forcibly rescued from gaol; and they, with about thirty to fifty +others implicated in the riots, continued at large, fostering +discontent. The only paper published, the notorious _Nor'-Wester_, was +in the hands of the Company's bitterest enemies.[125] The position of +those in authority was so disagreeable that it was with great +difficulty that Governor Dallas persuaded the magistrates to continue +their duties. Governor McTavish, who was in charge of Assiniboine, +resigned, and others were prepared to follow his example, including +the Governor-in-Chief himself. Fortunately the open malcontents were +few in number and the volunteer force was sufficient to protect the +gaol and support law and order, were it not for the unwise zeal of the +Company's partisans who were ready to engage in a free fight with the +agitators. This, beyond question, would have led to a repetition of +the Semple tragedy of 1816. It may be noted that the Company's +unpopularity in the Red River country, according to Governor Dallas, +"arose entirely from the system, not from the faults of its +administrators." + +The agitation against the Company still continued, but slowly. It +seemed difficult for the parties interested in the abolition of the +Company's rights to agree upon a single scheme which would be +permanently satisfactory, and not too costly. Sir Edmund Head +expressed himself in favour of a complete sale of rights and ownership +to the Imperial authorities. But this scheme was, as has been seen, +beset with almost insuperable difficulties. In November, 1863, Sir +Edmund suggested that an equal division be made of the territory fit +for settlement between the Company and the Crown, with inclusion of +specified tracts in the share of the former; secondly, that the +Company construct the road and telegraph; thirdly, that the Crown +purchase such of the Company's premises as should be required for +military use, and to pay the Company a net third of all future revenue +from gold and silver. + +In his Speech from the Throne, on the 19th February, 1864, Lord Monk, +the Governor-General of Canada, alluded to the matter, which was +beginning to engross the public mind. + +"The condition," said he, "of the vast region lying on the north-west +of the settled portions of the Province is daily becoming a question +of great interest. I have considered it advisable to open a +correspondence with the Imperial Government, with a view to arrive at +a precise definition of the geographical boundaries of Canada in that +direction. Such a definition of boundary is a desirable preliminary to +further proceedings with respect to the vast tracts of land in that +quarter belonging to Canada, but not yet brought under the action of +our political and municipal system." + +It was hoped by many that the Company could be induced to sell out its +rights to the Imperial Government, and out of the territory to carve +out a new Crown Colony. + +In the course of the ensuing debate on the address, the Honourable +William McDougall, Minister of Crown Lands, who was officially +concerned in the matter, stated that "the Government of Canada had +reached a conclusion upon the advisability of determining whether the +Red River territory belonged to Canada or to some other country." The +consequence was that a correspondence had been opened with the +Imperial Government upon the subject. Mr. McDougall thereupon +announced his individual view of the case as being that "Canada was +entitled to claim as a portion of its soil all that part of the +North-West territory that could be proved to have been in possession +of the French at the time of the cession of Canada to the British." + +It was not at all likely that the Duke of Newcastle would share such a +view, or that he would entirely acquiesce with the suggestion of Sir +Edmund Head on behalf of the Company. Under date of the 11th of March, +and 5th of April, 1864, he formulated the appended proposals:-- + + 1. The Company to surrender to the Crown its territorial + rights. + + 2. To receive one shilling for every acre sold by the Crown but + limited to £150,000 in all, and to fifty years in duration, + whether or not the receipts attained that amount. + + 3. To receive one-fourth of any gold revenue, but limited to + £100,000 in all, and to fifty years in duration. + + 4. To have one square mile of adjacent land for every lineal + mile constructed of road and telegraph to British Columbia. + +[Sidenote: The surrender of Territorial Rights.] + +These proposals were carefully considered by Sir Edmund Head and his +colleagues, and it was decided at a meeting on the 13th of April to +accept them, subject to certain alterations. It was urged that the +amount of payments within fifty years should either not be limited or +else placed at the sum of £1,000,000 sterling, instead of a quarter of +that sum. The Company also suggested that a grant be made to it of +five thousand acres of wild land for every fifty thousand acres sold +by the Crown. + +In the meantime the Duke of Newcastle had been succeeded in the +Colonial Secretaryship by Mr. Cardwell, who on the 6th of June wrote +to say that he could not entertain the amendments of the Company. For +several months nothing was done, but in December the Honourable +Adventurers again met and again showed their desire for an amicable +and reasonable arrangement. They offered to accept £1,000,000 for the +territory which they then defined, and which was substantially in +extent the whole region granted them in the Charter of Charles II. In +1865 the Hon. George Brown went to England to come to terms over the +proposed transfer, but without success. + +[Sidenote: America purchases Alaska.] + +The charter of the Russian Company was about to expire. It had +underlet to the Hudson's Bay Company all its franchise on the mainland +between 54° 40' and Mount St Elias; and now it was proposed that an +American Company, holding direct from the Russian Government, should +be substituted, and it seemed to the Americans a good opportunity to +organize a fur-trading company to trade between the States and the +Russian possessions in America. But before the matter could mature, +the American and Russian Governments interposed with a treaty, by +which Alaska was ceded to the States for $7,200,000 in gold. Few +treaties have ever been carried out in so simple a manner. Russia was +glad to be rid of her possessions in North America. The sum of +$7,000,000 was originally agreed upon; but when it was understood that +a fur company and an ice company enjoyed monopolies under the existing +government, it was decided to extinguish these for the additional sum. + +On 1st July, 1867, the Confederation of the scattered British +Provinces of North America was made an accomplished fact, amidst +general rejoicings. On the 4th of December, Mr. McDougall, who was now +Minister of Public Works for the new Dominion of Canada, brought in, +at the first session of Parliament, a series of resolutions directly +relating to the acquisition of Rupert's Land and the Great +North-West:-- + + 1. That it would promote the prosperity of the Canadian people + and conduce to the advantage of the whole Empire if the + Dominion of Canada, constituted under the provisions of the + British North America Act, 1867, were extended westward to the + shores of the Pacific Ocean. + + 2. That the colonization of the lands of the Saskatchewan, + Assiniboine, and Red River Settlements, the development of the + mineral wealth which abounds in the regions of the North-West, + and the extension of commercial intercourse through the British + possessions in America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, are + alike dependent upon the establishment of a stable government + for maintenance of law and order in the North-West Territories. + + 3. That the welfare of the sparse and widely-scattered + population of British subjects of European origin, already + inhabiting these remote and unorganized territories, would be + materially enhanced by the formation therein of political + institutions bearing analogy, as far as circumstances will + admit, to those which exist in the several Provinces of this + Dominion. + + 4. That the 146th section of the British North America Act, + 1867, provides for the admission of Rupert's Land and the + North-West Territory, or either of them, into union with Canada + upon terms and conditions to be expressed in Addresses from the + Houses of Parliament of the Dominion to Her Majesty, and which + shall be approved of by the Queen in Council. + + 5. That it is accordingly expedient to address Her Majesty, + that she would be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of + Her Most Honourable Privy Council, to unite Rupert's Land and + the North-West Territory with the Dominion of Canada, and to + grant to the Parliament of Canada authority to legislate for + their future welfare and good government. + + 6. That in the event of the Imperial Government agreeing to + transfer to Canada the jurisdiction and control over this + region, it would be expedient to provide that the legal rights + of any corporation, company, or individual within the same will + be respected; and that in case of difference of opinion as to + the extent, nature, or value of these rights, the same shall be + submitted to judicial decision, to be determined by mutual + agreement between the Government of Canada and the parties + interested. Such agreement to have no effect or validity until + first sanctioned by the Parliament of Canada. + + 7. That upon the transference of the territories in question to + the Canadian Government, the claims of the Indian tribes to + compensation for lands required for purposes of settlement + would be considered, and settled in conformity with the + equitable principles which have uniformly governed the Crown in + its dealings with the aborigines. + +[Sidenote: Deputation goes to England.] + +In the following year a delegation to arrange the terms for the +acquisition by Canada of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory +arrived in England. It consisted of Sir George Étienne Cartier and Mr. +William McDougall. On presenting themselves at the Colonial Office +they were invited by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, then +Secretary of State for the Colonies, to visit him at Stowe "for the +purpose of discussing freely and fully the numerous and difficult +questions involved in the transfer of these great territories to +Canada." To the Duke's country-seat the delegates accordingly went. +Here, one of the first things the Duke communicated to them was that +the Company being lords-proprietors were to be treated as such, and +not as parties having a defective title and fit subjects for that +"spoliation" previously deplored by Cartier.[126] There can be no +manner of doubt that, taking this view, the Company's demands were +most reasonable. But the Canadian delegates were not content to take +this view. There had been so much irresponsible hue-and-cry about the +weakness of the Company's title, that they doubtless felt themselves +privileged to hold out for better terms. While negotiations were thus +pending in London, the Duke of Buckingham quitted office with his +colleagues, and was succeeded by Earl Granville. Almost at the same +time the Earl of Kimberley, the Company's Governor, resigned, and was +replaced by Sir Stafford Northcote. In January, 1869, the new Colonial +Secretary transmitted to the delegates the reply of the Company, +declining their counter-proposals, and inviting them to communicate to +him any observations they might desire to offer further on the +situation. + +"We felt reluctant," to quote the language of the delegates, "as +representatives of Canada, to engage in a controversy with the Company +concerning matters of fact, as well as questions of law and policy, +while the negotiation with it was being carried on by the Imperial +Government in its own name and of its own authority." + +[Sidenote: Canada exerts pressure on the Company.] + +Nevertheless, these scruples were soon overcome. They accepted Lord +Granville's invitation, and on the 8th February stated at length their +views upon the various points raised by the Governor of the Company, +which views clearly demonstrated that the Dominion was by no means +prepared to deal with the Honourable Adventurers in a spirit of +generosity or even of equity. Lord Granville now came forward with +plans of his own, but these were not agreeable to Sir George Cartier +and Mr. McDougall. While the negotiations were in progress the Company +lodged an indignant complaint against the Canadian Government for +undertaking the construction of a road between the Lake of the Woods +and the Red River settlement without first having procured its +consent. Stormy meetings of the Honourable Adventurers were held; it +seemed impossible to resist the pressure which was being brought to +bear. Had the old governor and committee been in existence it is +possible this pressure would have been longer withstood. The delegates +returned to Canada, but they had succeeded in no slight measure in +impressing upon the Imperial Government their peculiar views. On the +9th of March, Lord Granville employed the following language to the +Governor of the Company: + +"At present the very foundations of the Company's title are not +undisputed. The boundaries of its territory are open to questions of +which it is impossible to ignore the importance. Its legal rights, +whatever these may be, are liable to be invaded without law by a mass +of Canadian and American settlers, whose occupation of the country on +any terms it will be little able to resist; while it can hardly be +alleged that the terms of the charter, or its internal constitution, +are such as to qualify it under all these disadvantages for +maintaining order and performing the internal and external duties of +government." + +[Sidenote: Lack of Military system Company's weakness.] + +There was the Company's weakness. No sovereign in Europe had a clearer +right to his or her dominions, perhaps no rule was wiser or more +beneficent, but the one powerful, indispensable adjunct to sovereign +authority it lacked--a military system.[127] With a standing army the +Company's rights would have been secure--but it was a king without +soldiers. It required ten thousand drilled men to defend its +frontiers--it was too late in the day to organize such a force, it +could only submit gracefully to its envious and powerful neighbours. +Cession was perhaps inevitable; the terms which Lord Granville now +proposed it decided to accept. + + 1. The Hudson's Bay Company to surrender to Her Majesty all the + rights of government, property, etc., in Rupert's Land, which + are specified in 31 and 32 Victoria, clause 105, section 4; and + also all similar rights in any other part of British North + America, not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British + Columbia. + + 2. Canada is to pay to the Company £300,000 when Rupert's Land + is transferred to the Dominion of Canada. + + 3. The Company may, within twelve months of the surrender, + select a block of land adjoining each of its stations, within + the limits specified in Article 1. + + 4. The size of the blocks is not to exceed ---- acres in the + Red River country, nor 3,000 acres beyond that territory, and + the aggregate extent of the blocks is not to exceed 50,000 + acres. + + 5. So far as the configuration of the country admits, the + blocks are to be in the shape of parallelograms, of which the + length is not more than double the breadth. + + 6. The Hudson's Bay Company may, for fifty years after the + surrender, claim in any township or district within the Fertile + Belt, in which land is set out for settlement, grants of land + not exceeding one-twentieth of the land so set out. The blocks + so granted to be determined by lot, and the Hudson's Bay + Company to pay a ratable share of the survey expenses, not + exceeding ---- an acre. + + 7. For the purpose of the present agreement, the Fertile Belt + is to be bounded as follows: On the south by the United States + Boundary; on the west by the Rocky Mountains; on the north by + the northern branch of the Saskatchewan; on the east by Lake + Winnipeg, the Lake of the Woods, and the waters connecting + them. + + 8. All titles to land up to the 8th of March, 1869, conferred + by the Company, are to be confirmed. + + 9. The Company to be at liberty to carry on its trade without + hindrance, in its corporate capacity, and no exceptional tax is + to be placed on the Company's land, trade or servants, nor an + import duty on goods introduced by them previous to the + surrender. + + 10. Canada is to take over the materials of the Electric + Telegraph at cost price, such price including transport, but + not including interest for money, and subject to a deduction + for ascertained deteriorations. + + 11. The Company's claim to land under agreement of Messrs. + Vankoughnet and Hopkins to be withdrawn. + + 12. The details of this arrangement, including the filling up + of the blanks in Articles 4 and 6, to be settled at once by + mutual agreement. + +[Sidenote: Cession to Canadian Government.] + +On such terms did the Canadian Government acquire this vast territory +of two million three hundred thousand square miles. In that portion +designated the Fertile Belt, comprising three hundred million acres, +there were agricultural lands believed to be capable of yielding +support to twenty-five million people. + +Filled with high hopes as to the future of the country they had thus +acquired, the Canadian Government was confronted by the necessity of +providing it with a suitable form of government to replace that of the +Company. Little did the public men who had interested themselves in +the negotiations ponder on the difficulties of the task. Apparently +they undertook it with a light heart. During the session of 1869 an +Act was passed at Ottawa providing a provisional form of government in +the territory, and in October of the same year the Hon. William +McDougall received the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor. But before +he set out on his duties surveying parties had been busy in the Red +River settlement, laying out townships and instituting an extended +series of surveys. + +[Sidenote: Forlorn case of the Métis.] + +In order to be in the place of his government when by the Queen's +Proclamation it should become a portion of the Dominion of Canada, +McDougall, in the month of November, found himself at the frontier of +his Province. But the transfer was not to be consummated without +bloodshed. A portion of the little community of Red River raised its +voice in vehement protest against the arrangements made between the +Government of Canada and the Company. These malcontents, chiefly +French half-breeds, headed by Louis Riel, expelled the Governor +appointed by the Dominion and planned a resistance to all authority +emanating from the same source. They assembled in large numbers, and, +after fortifying portions of the road between Pembina and Fort Garry, +had taken possession of the latter post. Upon consideration of the +case of these wild and ignorant Métis, it is difficult to withhold +from them sympathy. Settled government, forms of law, state duty, +exactions of citizenship, the sacrifices and burdens of urban +civilization--of these he knew but dimly, and held them in a vague +horror. He knew that men lived and ground out their lives in cities +afar off, and that by means of their wealth they possessed power; that +they had cast envious eyes on the hunting-grounds of the Indian and +his half-brother the Métis; that they sought to wrest him from his +lands and mark it off into town lots, people his beloved prairies and +exterminate his race. They must mean him ill or they would not work in +such a silent, stealthy fashion to dispossess him and drive him +farther west into unfamiliar fastnesses. There were fifteen thousand +souls in the country bordering on Red River, and the majority +objected, not without reason, that such an arrangement as had just +been carried out should be done without their consent or having been +consulted. Was it wonderful that the half-breed, resenting this march +of civilization which would trample him and his possessions to atoms, +should arise, seize his rude weapons, and prepare for war? + +It is true the insurrection of 1869-70 could have been averted. It +would have been easy, through an agent of tact and eloquence, to have +dispelled the illusions which had taken possession of the Métis, and +to have restored confidence as to the policy of Canada. But was it the +Hudson's Bay Company's duty to enlighten the aggrieved inhabitants? +The Company who had been bullied and badgered and threatened with +confiscation unless it agreed to a renunciation of its rights? Was it +the fault of the Company that several thousand wild Métis children of +the wilderness, passionately attached to the old order of things, +were in their hearts loyal to the Company, which fed and clothed and +administered law to them?[128] + +The insurgents, growing bolder, had taken possession of Fort Garry, +where a council of half-breeds was held and the inhabitants called +upon to send delegates to a national convention. The English colonists +accepted the invitation, but were soon made aware that Riel and his +supporters were resolved on more desperate measures than they could +themselves countenance. The authority of the Company had been +observed; but it was now disregarded; the books and records of the +Council of Assiniboia were seized, and on the 1st December a "Bill of +Rights" was passed by the "Provisional Government." This act of open +rebellion caused the secession of the English; insurgency was now +rampant and many of the inhabitants found themselves incarcerated in +gaol. Then followed the illegal infliction of capital punishment upon +Thomas Scott, a young Orangeman, and the despatch of Colonel (now +Lord) Wolseley to the seat of trouble. Leaving Toronto on the 25th of +May, 1870, Wolseley and his force, after a long and arduous journey, +arrived at Fort Garry on the 24th of August. But the rebellion was +already over, and the chief instigator and his companions had fled. + +For many years the Company's officers in charge of the various +districts in Rupert's Land had annually met in Council for the +regulation and discussion of affairs of the fur-trade in general. +Regarding themselves as true partners of the Company, they naturally +looked to share with the shareholders in the sum agreed to be paid by +Canada for its territory. + +[Sidenote: Turbulent meetings at Hudson's Bay House.] + +In July, just one month before the entrance of the future hero of +Tel-el-Kebir and the British troops into Fort Garry, a last meeting of +the council of officers of the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company was +held at the post known as Norway House. It was presided over by Fort +Garry's Governor, Mr. Donald Alexander Smith,[129] a servant since +boyhood of the Company. At this meeting it was decided to represent +the claims of the officers to the partners in England. To this end Mr. +Smith was unanimously appointed their representative, he undertaking +the task of presenting their claims. The London shareholders were by +no means immediately acquiescent. But although Sir Stafford Northcote +presided over some turbulent meetings in Fenchurch Street, the claims +of the "wintering partners" were ultimately recognized in the only +manner possible. Out of the £300,000 paid by the Dominion, the sum of +£107,000 was divided amongst the officers for the relinquishment of +their claims. + +The Governor of the Company, in his report to the shareholders in +November, stated that "since the holding of the General Court on the +28th June, the Committee have been engaged in proceeding with the +re-organization of the fur-trade, and have entered into an agreement +with the Chief Factors and Chief Traders for revoking the Deed Poll of +1834, and settling claims arising under it upon the terms sanctioned +by the proprietors at the last General Court. They have also prepared +the draft of a new Deed Poll adopted to the altered circumstances of +the trade." + +A new era had thus begun in the history of the Honourable Company of +Merchants-Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[123] "To my mind the worst feature in the new Company is that of +allowing a foreigner (American) to hold office. He owes allegiance to +the United States, and his position gives him knowledge which no +American should possess. 'Blood is thicker than water,' says the +proverb: 'No man can serve two masters.' As to the idea that being in +the fur-trade his experience and influence will benefit the new +Company, will any furrier believe that? If the Company will sell all +the furs, I would never rest satisfied while an American was in the +management.'"--William McNaughten, the Company's agent at New York. + +[124] The eighty-five shares belonging to the wintering partners, in +1863, were held as follows: + + 15 chief factors 30 shares + 37 chief traders 37 " + 10 retired chief factors 13 " + 10 retired chief traders 5 " + -- + 85 shares. + + +[125] "Its continued attacks upon the Company," wrote Governor Dallas, +"find a greedy ear with the public at large, both in the settlement +and in Canada." + +[126] "With regard to the Hudson's Bay matter," wrote Cartier to +Watkin, under date of 15th of February, 1868, "not the least doubt +that the speech of 'John A.,' was very uncalled for and injudicious. He +had no business to make such a speech, and I told him so at the +time--that he ought not to have made it. However, you must not attach +too much importance to that speech. I myself, and several of my +colleagues, and John A. himself, have no intention to commit any +spoliation; and for myself in particular, I can say to you that I will +never consent to be a party to a measure or anything intended to be an +act of spoliation of the Hudson's Bay's rights and privileges." + +[127] "The present state of government in the Red River settlement is +attributable alike to the habitual attempt encouraged, perhaps very +naturally, in England and in Canada, to discredit the tradition and +question the title of the Hudson's Bay Company, and to the false +economy which has stripped the Governor of a military force, with +which, in the last resort, to support the decisions of the legal +tribunals. No other organized government of white men in the world, +since William Penn, has endeavoured to rule any population, still less +a promiscuous people composed of whites, half-breeds, Indians and +borderers, without a soldiery of some sort, and the inevitable result +of the experiment has, in this case, been an unpunished case of +prison-breaking, not sympathized in, it is true, by the majority of +the settlers, but still tending to bring law and government into +contempt, and greatly to discourage the governing body held +responsible for keeping order in the territory."--_Governor Dallas._ + +[128] "It is an undoubted fact," remarks General Sir William Butler, +"that warning had been given to the Dominion Government of the state +of feeling amongst the half-breeds, and the phrase, 'they are only +eaters of pemmican,' so cutting to the Métis, was thus first +originated by a distinguished Canadian politician." + +[129] The distinguished philanthropist, the present Lord Strathcona +and Mount Royal, High Commissioner for Canada in London and Governor +of the Hudson's Bay Company. + + [Illustration: THE TRADING ROOM AT A HUDSON'S BAY POST.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +1821-1871. + + The Company still King in the North-West -- Its Forts Described + -- Fort Garry -- Fort Vancouver -- Franklin -- Walla Walla -- + Yukon -- Kamloops -- Samuel Black -- Mountain House -- Fort + Pitt -- Policy of the Great Company. + + +The Company, in yielding the sovereignty of the Great North-West to +Canada, was still a king, though crown and sceptre had been taken from +it. Its commercial ascendancy was no whit injured; it is still one of +the greatest corporations and the greatest fur company in the world. +But new interests have arisen; its pristine pride, splendour and +dignity, would now be out of place. The old lion has been shorn of its +mane, and his roar is now no longer heard in the Great North-West. It +no longer crouches in the path of progress determined to sell dearly +the smallest sacrifice of its ancient rights and privileges; it is +ready to co-operate with the settler and explorer, and all its whilom +enemies. + +[Sidenote: Canada's debt to the Company.] + +Yet, since 1871, its history has not been without many stirring +passages. Its long record of steady work, enterprise, and endurance, +has never been greater. Its commanding influence with the Indians, and +with a large number of the colonists, has enabled it to assist the +authorities in many ways and often in forwarding the public interests, +suppressing disorder and securing the good-will of the Red men who +inhabit Canada. The Great Dominion owes much to the Great Company. + +The posts of the Company reach from the stern coasts of Labrador to +the frontiers of Alaska, and throughout this enormous region it yet +controls the traffic with the aborigines. To-day there are one hundred +and twenty-six posts at which this active trade is conducted, besides +those numerous wintering stations or outposts, which migrate according +to circumstances and mercantile conditions. + + [Illustration: YORK FACTORY. ARRIVAL OF HUDSON'S BAY CO.'S SHIP. + (_By permission, from "Picturesque Canada."_)] + +[Sidenote: Latter-day forts of the Company.] + +The forts of the Company in Rupert's Land and on the Pacific, with few +exceptions, all resembled each other. When permanent, they were +surrounded by palisades about one hundred yards square. The pickets +were of poles and logs ten or fifteen inches in diameter, sunk into +the ground and rising fifteen or twenty feet above it. Split slabs +were sometimes used instead of round poles; and at two diagonally +opposite corners, raised above the tops of the pickets, two wooden +bastions were placed so as to command a view of the country. From two +to six guns were mounted in each of these bastions--four six or +twelve-pounders, each with its aperture like the port-hole of a ship. +The ground floor beneath served as a magazine. Within the pickets were +erected houses, according to necessity, store and dwelling being most +conspicuous. + + [Illustration: FORT PELLY.] + +The older forts have already been described. When Fort Garry was +constructed it became the Company's chief post and headquarters. High +stone walls, having round towers pierced for cannon at the corners, +enclosed a square wherein were substantial wooden buildings, +including the storehouses, dwellings, the Governor's residence and the +gaol. Some distance below Fort Garry, on Red River, was Stone Fort, +which comprised about four acres, with numerous buildings. + +The chief establishment of the Saskatchewan district was Fort +Edmonton. It was of sexagonal form, with pickets, battlemented +gateways and bastions. Here were the usual buildings, including the +carpenter's shop, blacksmith's forge and windmill. At Fort Edmonton +were made and repaired, boats, carts, sleighs, harness and other +articles and appliances for the annual voyage to York Factory, and for +traffic between posts. There was also here a large and successful +farm, where wheat, barley and vegetables were raised in abundance. + +How different was Fort Franklin, a rough, pine-log hut on the shore of +Great Bear Lake, containing a single apartment eighteen by twenty +feet! It was roofed with sticks and moss, and the interstices between +the logs were filled with mud. + +[Sidenote: Fort Vancouver.] + +In 1825 was built Fort Vancouver, the metropolitan establishment of +the Company on the Pacific. It stood on the north side of the Columbia +River, six miles above the eastern mouth of the Willamette. At first +located at the highest point of some sloping land, about a mile from +the river, this site was found disadvantageous to transport and +communication, and the fort was moved a few years later to within a +quarter of a mile of the Columbia. The plan presented the familiar +parallelogram, but much larger than usual, of about seven hundred and +fifty feet in length and five hundred in breadth. The interior was +divided into two courts, with about forty buildings, all of wood, +except the powder magazine, which was of stone. In the centre, facing +the main entrance, stood the Governor's residence, with the +dining-room, smoking-room, and public sitting-room or bachelors' hall, +the latter serving also for a museum of Indian relics and other +curiosities. Single men, clerks and others, made the bachelors' hall +their place of resort, but artisans and servants were not admitted. +The residence was the only two-storey house in the fort, and before +its door were mounted two old eighteen-pounders. Two swivel guns +stood before the quarters of the chief factor. A prominent position +was occupied by the Roman Catholic chapel, to which the majority of +the fort's inmates resorted, the dining-hall serving for the smaller +number of Church of England worshippers. The other buildings were +dwellings for officers and men, school and warehouses, retail stores +and artisan shops. The interior of the dwellings exhibited, as a rule, +an unpainted pine-board panel, with bunks for bedsteads, and a few +other simple pieces of furniture. + + [Illustration: FORT SIMPSON.] + +Another post on the Pacific, of different character and greater +strength, was Fort Walla Walla. It stood on the site of Fort Nez +Percé, which was established when the Indians attacked Ogden's party +of fur-traders here in 1818. The assault was repelled; but it was +found necessary as a safeguard to rear this retreat. Fort Walla Walla +was built of adobe and had a military establishment. + +A strong fort was Fort Rupert, on the north-east coast of Vancouver +Island. For a stockade, huge pine trees were sunk into the ground and +fastened together on the inside with beams. Round the interior ran a +gallery, and at two opposite corners were flanking bastions mounting +four nine-pounders. Within were the usual shops and buildings, while +smaller stockades protected the garden and out-houses. + +Fort Yukon was the most remote post of the Company. It was beyond the +line of Russian America, and consequently invited comparison with the +smaller and meaner Russian establishments. Its commodious dwellings +for officers and men had smooth floors, open fire-places, glazed +windows, and plastered walls. Its gun room, fur press, ice and meat +wells were the delight and astonishment of visitors, white and red. + + [Illustration: YORK FACTORY.] + +After the treaty of 1846, by which the United States obtained +possession of Oregon territory, the headquarters of the Company on the +Pacific Coast were transferred from Fort Vancouver to Fort Victoria. +This post was enclosed one hundred yards square by cedar pickets +twenty feet high. At the north-east and south-west corners were +octagonal bastions mounted with six six-pounders. It had been founded +three years earlier as a trading post and depot for whalers, and +possessed more than three hundred acres under cultivation, besides a +large dairy farm, from which the Russian colonies in Alaska received +supplies. + +Old Fort Kamloops was first called Fort Thompson, having been begun by +David Thompson, astronomer of the North-West Company, on his overland +journey from Montreal to Astoria, by way of Yellowhead Pass, in 1810. +It was the capital of the Thompson River district, and one of the +oldest in all the Oregon region. After Thompson, hither came Alexander +Ross, who, in 1812, conducted operations there on behalf of Astor's +Pacific Fur Company. After the coalition in 1821, the veteran +fur-trader, John McLeod, was in charge of the Thompson River district. +Then came Ermatinger, who presided at Kamloops in 1828, when Governor +Simpson visited the fort and harangued the neighbouring Indians, +beseeching them to be "honest, temperate and frugal; to love their +friends, the fur-traders, and above all to bring in their heaps of +peltries, and receive therefor the goods of the Company." + +[Sidenote: Legend of Kamloops.] + +The post was not without thrilling legends and abundance of romance. +It was here that the Company's officer in command, Samuel Black, in +1840, challenged his brother Scot, and guest, David Douglas, the +wandering botanist, to fight a duel, because the latter bluntly, one +night, over his rum and dried salmon, had stigmatized the Honourable +Adventurers as "not possessing a soul above a beaver skin." Black +repelled in fury such an assertion; but Douglas refused to fight. He +took his departure, only to meet his death shortly afterwards by +falling into a pit at Hawaii, while homeward bound. + +If this was the fate of the calumniator of the Company, that of its +defender was not less tragic; for soon after his display of loyalty, +while residing at Fort Kamloops, he was assassinated by the nephew of +a friendly neighbouring chief, named Wanquille, "for having charmed +his uncle's life away." Black's successor, John Tod, built a new fort +on the opposite side of the river, which differed but little from the +later fortresses of the Company. There were seven houses, including +stores, dwellings and shops, enclosed in palisades fifteen feet in +height, with gates on two sides and bastions at two opposite angles. + +Early in 1848 a small post was erected by the Company on the Fraser +River, near a village of the Lachincos, adjacent to the rapids +ascended by Alexander Anderson the previous year. The fort was called +Yale, in honour of Chief Factor Yale, who was at that time in charge +of Fort Langley. It was the only post on that wild stream, the Fraser, +between Langley and Alexandria, a distance of some three hundred +miles. Two causes led to its erection: the Waiilatpu massacre in 1847, +and the conclusion of the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which placed the +boundary line several degrees north of the Lower Columbia. + + [Illustration: FATHER LACOMBE.] + +[Sidenote: Mountain House.] + +Perhaps one of the most remarkable of the Company's posts was Mountain +House. "Every precaution known to the traders," writes a visitor of +thirty years ago, "has been put in force to prevent the possibility of +a surprise during 'a trade.' Bars and bolts, and places to fire down +at the Indians who are trading, abound in every direction; so dreaded +is the name borne by the Blackfeet, that it is thus their trading-post +has been constructed." Eighty years ago, the Company had a post far +south of the Bow River, in the very heart of the Blackfeet country; +but, despite all precautions, it was frequently plundered and finally +burnt down by the Blackfeet, and no attempt was since made to +construct another fort in their country. + +The hilly country around Fort Pitt was frequently the scene of Indian +ambush and attack, and on more than one occasion the post itself has +been captured by the Blackfeet. The surroundings are a favourite +camping-ground of the Crees; and it was found difficult to persuade +the Blackfeet that the factors and traders there are not the active +friends and allies of their enemies. In fact, they regarded both Fort +Pitt and Fort Carlton as places belonging to another company from that +which ruled at Mountain House and Edmonton. "If it was the same +company," they were wont to say, "how could they give our enemies, the +Crees, guns and powder; for do they not give us guns and powder, too?" + +The strength of the Company throughout the vast region where their +rule was paramount, was rather a moral strength than a physical one. +Its roots lay deep in the heart of the savage, who in time came to +regard the great corporation as the embodiment of all that was good, +and great, and true, and powerful. He knew that under its sway justice +was secured to him; that if innocent he would be unharmed, that if +guilty he would inevitably pay the penalty of his transgression. The +prairie was wide, the forests were trackless, but in all those +thousands of miles there came to be no haven for the horse-thief, the +incendiary or the murderer, where he would be free, in his beleaguered +fastness, to elude or defy Nemesis. The Company made it its business +to find and punish the real offender; they did not avenge themselves +on his friends or tribe. But punishment was certain--blood was paid +for in blood, and there was no trial. Often did an intrepid factor, +trader or clerk, enter a hostile camp, himself destitute of followers, +walk up to the trembling malefactor, raise his gun or pistol, take +aim, fire, and seeing his man fall, stalk away again to the nearest +fort. + +"This certainty of punishment," it was said, "acted upon the savage +mind with all the power of a superstition. Felons trembled before the +white man's justice, as in the presence of the Almighty." + +That sense of injustice which rankled in the bosoms of the other +Indians of the Continent, causing them to continually break out and +give battle to their tormentors and oppressors--a warfare which, in +1870, had cost the United States more than five hundred million of +dollars, could not exist. The Red men, as Red men, could have no +well-founded grievance against the Company, which treated white and +red with equity. + +[Sidenote: The Great Company's Policy.] + +"I have no hesitation in attributing the great success attendant for +so many years upon the Indian policy of the Hudson's Bay Company," +wrote an American Commissioner, Lieutenant Scott, in 1867, "to the +following facts:-- + +"The savages are treated justly--receiving protection in life and +property from the laws which they are forced to obey. + +"There is no Indian Bureau with attendant complications. + +"There is no pretended recognition of the Indian's title in fee-simple +to the lands on which he roams for fish or game. + +"Intoxicating liquors were not introduced amongst these people so long +as the Hudson's Bay Company preserved the monopoly of trade. + +"Prompt punishment follows the perpetration of crime, and from time to +time the presence of a gunboat serves to remind the savages along the +coast of the power of their masters. Not more than two years ago the +Fort Rupert Indians were severely punished for refusing to deliver up +certain animals demanded by the civil magistrate. Their village was +bombarded and completely destroyed by Her Britannic Majesty's gunboat +_Clio_." + +What was the direct consequence of such a policy? That among distant +and powerful tribes trading posts were built and maintained, well +stocked with goods tempting to savage cupidity, yet peacefully +conducted by one or two white men. There was not a regular soldier in +all this territory (except the marines on shipboard and at Esquimault) +and yet white men could hunt through the length and breadth of the +land in almost absolute security. + + [Illustration: GATEWAY TO FORT GARRY. + (_Drawn by Edmund Morris, from a Photo taken in 1877._)] + +Search all Europe and Asia, and you will find no parallel to the +present sway of the Company, for it feeds and clothes, amuses and +instructs, as well as rules nine-tenths of its subjects, from the +Esquimaux tribes of Ungava to the Loucheaux at Fort Simpson, +thousands of miles away--all look to it as to a father. + +The communication with the outside world is slight, yet the thread +that binds is encrusted with hoar frost, reaching far away to that +little island in the North Sea which we call Britain. If these strong +men, immured for years in the icy wildernesses are moved by the news +which reaches them twice in the year, through a thousand miles and +more of snow, it is British news. Kitchener's victory at Khartoum sent +a patriotic thrill through thousands of bosoms six months after it +became known to the Englishman who is content to live at home. + + + + +THE HUDSON'S BAY POSTS. + + +In their Report of 28th June, 1872, the Governor and Committee report +the details of the varied posts from Ocean to Ocean of the Hudson's +Bay Company, as follows:-- + + _Statement of Land belonging to the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, + exclusive of their claim to one-twentieth of the Land set out + for settlement in the "Fertile Belt."_ + + ========================+====+==========================+======= + | | | Acres + DISTRICT. | | POST. | of + | | | Land + ------------------------+----+--------------------------+------- + Lake Huron | 1 | La Cloche | 6,400 + Temiscaminque | 2 | Kakababeagino | 10 + Superior | 3 | Long Lake | 10 + United States | 4 | Georgetown | 1,133 + | | | + Manitoba, or } | 5 | Fort Garry | 500 + Red River Settlement } | 6 | Lower Fort | 500 + | 7 | White Horse Plains | 500 + Manitoba Lake | 8 | Oak Point | 50 + Portage la Prairie | 9 | | 1,000 + | | | + Lac la Pluie | 10 | Fort Alexander | 500 + | 11 | Fort Frances | 500 + | 12 | Eagles Nest | 20 + | 13 | Big Island | 20 + | 14 | Lac du Bennet | 20 + | 15 | Rat Portage | 50 + | 16 | Shoal Lake | 20 + | 17 | Lake of the Woods | 50 + | 18 | White Fish Lake | 20 + | 19 | English River | 20 + | 20 | Hungry Hall | 20 + | 21 | Trout Lake | 20 + | 22 | Clear Water Lake | 20 + | 23 | Sandy Point | 20 + | | | + Swan River | 24 | Fort Pelly | 3,000 + | 25 | Fort Ellice | 3,000 + | 26 | Qu'Appelle Lakes | 2,500 + | 27 | Touchwood Hills | 500 + | 28 | Shoal River | 50 + | 29 | Manitoban | 50 + | 30 | Fairford | 100 + | | | + CUMBERLAND | 31 | Cumberland House | 100 + | 32 | Fort la Corne | 3,000 + | 33 | Pelican Lake | 50 + | 34 | Moose Woods | 1,000 + | 35 | The Pas | 25 + | 36 | Moose Lake | 50 + | 37 | Grand Rapid Portage | 100 + | | |50 Acres + | | |at each + | | |end of + | | |Portage + SASKATCHEWAN | 38 | Edmonton House | 3,000 + | 39 | Rocky Mountain House | 500 + | 40 | Fort Victoria | 3,000 + | 41 | St. Paul | 3,000 + | 42 | Fort Pitt | 3,000 + | 43 | Battle River | 3,000 + | 44 | Carlton House | 3,000 + | 45 | Fort Albert | 3,000 + | 46 | Whitefish Lake | 500 + | 47 | Lac la Biche | 1,000 + | 48 | Fort Assiniboine | 50 + | 49 | Lesser Slave Lake | 500 + | 50 | Lac St. Anne | 500 + | 51 | Lac la Nun | 500 + | 52 | St. Albert | 1,000 + | 53 | Pigeon Lake | 100 + | 54 | Old White Mud Fort | 50 + | | | + ENGLISH RIVER | 55 | Isle à la Crosse | 50 + | 56 | Rapid River | 5 + | 57 | Portage la Loche | 20 + | 58 | Green Lake | 100 + | 59 | Cold Lake | 10 + | 60 | Deers Lake | 5 + | | | + YORK | 61 | York Factory | 100 + | 62 | Churchill | 10 + | 63 | Severn | 10 + | 64 | Trout Lake | 10 + | 65 | Oxford | 100 + | 66 | Jackson's Bay | 10 + | 67 | God's Lake | 10 + | 68 | Island Lake | 10 + | | | + NORWAY HOUSE | 69 | Norway House | 100 + | 70 | Berens River | 25 + | 71 | Grand Rapid | 10 + | 72 | Nelson's River | 10 + | | | + ALBANY | 73 | Albany Factory | 100 + | 74 | Martin's Falls | 10 + | 75 | Osnaburg | 25 + | 76 | Lac Seul | 500 + | | | + EAST MAIN | 77 | Little Whale River | 50 + | 78 | Great Whale River | 50 + | 79 | Fort George | 25 + | | | + MOOSE | 80 | Moose Factory | 100 + | 81 | Hannah Bay | 10 + | 82 | Abitibi | 10 + | 83 | New Brunswick | 25 + | | | + RUPERT'S RIVER | 84 | Rupert's House | 50 + | 85 | Mistassing | 10 + | 86 | Temiskamay | 10 + | 87 | Woswonaby | 10 + | 88 | Meehiskun | 10 + | 89 | Pike Lake | 10 + | 90 | Nitchequon | 10 + | 91 | Kamapiscan | 10 + | | | + KINOGUMISSEE | 92 | Matawagauinque | 50 + | 93 | Kuckatoosh | 10 + | | | + LABRADOR | 94 | Fort Nascopie | 75 + | 95 | Outposts do | 25 + | 96 | Fort Chimo (Ungava) | 100 + | 97 | South River, Outposts | 30 + | 98 | George's River | 50 + | 99 | Whale River | 50 + |100 | North's River | 25 + |101 | False River | 25 + | | | + ATHABASCA |102 | Fort Chippewyan | 10 + |103 | Fort Vermilion | 500 + |104 | Fort Dunvegan | 50 + |105 | Fort St. John's | 20 + |106 | Forks of Athabasca River | 10 + |107 | Battle River | 5 + |108 | Fond du Lac | 5 + |109 | Salt River | 5 + | | | + MCKENZIE RIVER |110 | Fort Simpson | 100 + |111 | Fort Liard | 300 + |112 | Fort Nelson | 200 + |113 | The Rapids | 100 + |114 | Hay River | 20 + |115 | Fort Resolution | 20 + |116 | Fort Rae | 10 + |117 | Fond du Lac | 10 + |118 | Fort Norman | 10 + |119 | Fort Good Hope | 10 + |120 | Peel's River | 10 + |121 | Lapierre's House | 10 + |122 | Fort Halkett | 100 + ------------------------+----+--------------------------+------ + + +WESTERN DEPARTMENT. + + ===============+========================================+====== + | | Acres + DISTRICT. | POST. | of + | | Land + ---------------+----+-----------------------------------+------ + VANCOUVER'S | 123| Victoria, including Town Lots, | + ISLAND | | about | 70 + | 124| Esquimault (Puget's Sound | + | | Company's Land) | 2,300 + | 125| Uplands Farm | 1,125 + | 126| North Dairy Farm | 460 + | | | + BRITISH | 127| Fort Alexander | 100 + COLUMBIA | 128| Fort George | 100 + | 129| Fraser's Lake | 100 + | 130| Stuart's Lake | 100 + | 131| McLeod's Lake | 100 + | 132| Connolly's Lake | 100 + | 133| Babine | 100 + | 134| Chilcotin | 100 + | | Five other places | 100 + | 135| Fort Dallas | 50 + | 136| Fort Berens | 50 + | 137| Fort Shepherd | 100 + | 138| Fort Simpson | 100 + | 139| Salmon River | 50 + | 140| Langley and Langley Farm | 2,220 + | 141| Yale, sundry small blocks | + | 142| Hope | 5 + | 143| Kamloops | 1,976 + | 144| Similkameen | 1,140 + | | Barkerville } | Town + | | Quesnel } | Lots. + ---------------+----+-----------------------------------+------- + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + + +THE CHARTER INCORPORATING THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. + + +_Granted by His Majesty King Charles the Second, in the 22nd Year of +his Reign, A.D. 1670._ + + CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, + Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. + + To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: + +Whereas our dear entirely beloved Cousin, Prince Rupert, Count +Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria and Cumberland, &c.; +Christopher Duke of Albemarle, William Earl of Craven, Henry Lord +Arlington, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, and Sir Robert +Vyner, Knights and Baronets; Sir Peter Colleton, Baronet; Sir Edward +Hungerford, Knight of the Bath; Sir Paul Neele, Knight; Sir John +Griffith and Sir Philip Carteret, Knights; James Hayes, John Kirk, +Francis Millington, William Prettyman, John Fenn, Esquires; and John +Portman, Citizen and Goldsmith of London; have, at their own great +cost, and charges, undertaken an expedition for Hudson's Bay in the +north-west part of America, for the discovery of a new passage into +the South Sea, and for the finding some trade for furs, minerals, and +other considerable commodities, and by such their undertaking have +already made such discoveries as to encourage them to proceed further +in pursuance of their said design, by means whereof there may probably +arise very great advantages to us and our kingdom. + +And whereas the said undertakers, for their further encouragement in +the said design, have humbly besought us to incorporate them, and +grant unto them and their successors the sole trade and commerce of +all those seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks and sounds, in +whatsoever latitude they shall be, that lie within the entrance of the +straits commonly called the Hudson's Straits, together with all the +lands, countries and territories upon the coasts and confines of the +seas, straits, bays, lakes, rivers, creeks and sounds aforesaid, which +are not now actually possessed by any of our subjects, or by the +subjects of any other Christian Prince or State. + +Now know ye, that we, being desirous to promote all endeavours tending +to the public good of our people, and to encourage the said +undertaking, have, of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere +motion, given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents, +for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant, ratify and confirm, +unto our said Cousin, Prince Rupert, Christopher Duke of Albemarle, +William Earl of Craven, Henry Lord Arlington, Anthony Lord Ashley, +Sir John Robinson, Sir Robert Vyner, Sir Peter Colleton, Sir Edward +Hungerford, Sir Paul Neele, Sir John Griffith and Sir Philip Carteret, +James Hayes, John Kirk, Francis Millington, William Prettyman, John +Fenn and John Portman, that they, and such others as shall be admitted +into the said society as is hereafter expressed, shall be one body +corporate and politic, in deed and in name, by the name of "The +Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's +Bay," and them by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers +of England trading into Hudson's Bay," one body corporate and politic, +in deed and in name, really and fully forever, for us, our heirs and +successors, we do make, ordain, constitute, establish, confirm and +declare by these presents, and that by the same name of Governor and +Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, they +shall have perpetual succession, and that they and their successors, +by the name of The Governor and Company of Adventures trading into +Hudson's Bay, be, and at all times hereafter shall be personable and +capable in law to have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy and retain +lands, rents, privileges, liberties, jurisdictions, franchises and +hereditaments, of what kind, nature or quality so ever they be, to +them and their successors; and also to give, grant, demise, alien, +assign and dispose lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and to do and +execute all and singular other things by the same name that to them +shall or may appertain to do; and that they and their successors, by +the name of The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading +into Hudson's Bay, may plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, +defend and be defended, in whatsoever courts and places, before +whatsoever judges and justices and other persons and officers, in all +and singular actions, pleas, suits, quarrels, causes and demands +whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature or sort, in such manner and +form as any other our liege people of this our realm of England, being +persons able and capable in law, may or can have, purchase, receive, +possess, enjoy, retain, give, grant, demise, alien, assign, dispose, +plead, defend and be defended, do, permit and execute: and that the +said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into +Hudson's Bay, and their successors, may have a common seal to serve +for all the causes and businesses of them and their successors, and +that it shall and may be lawful to the said Governor and Company, and +their successors, the same seal, from time to time, at their will and +pleasure, to break, change, and to make anew or alter, as to them +shall seem expedient. + +And further we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and +successors, we do ordain that there shall be from henceforth one of +the same company to be elected and appointed in such form as hereafter +in these presents is expressed, which shall be called the Governor of +the said Company; and that the said Governor and Company shall or may +select seven of their number, and in such form as hereafter in these +presents is expressed, which shall be called the Committee of the +said Company, which Committee of seven, or any three of them, together +with the Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time +being shall have the direction of the voyages of and for the said +Company, and the provision of the shipping and merchandises thereunto +belonging, and also the sale of all merchandises, goods and other +things returned, in all or any the voyages or ships of or for the said +Company, and the managing and handling of all other business, affairs +and things belonging to the said Company: And we will, ordain and +grant by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, unto the +said Governor and Company, and their successors, that they, the said +Governor and Company, and their successors, shall from henceforth for +ever be ruled, ordered and governed according to such manner and form +as is hereafter in these presents expressed, and not otherwise; and +that they shall have, hold, retain and enjoy the grants, liberties, +privileges, jurisdictions and immunities only hereafter in these +presents granted and expressed, and no other: And for the better +execution of our will and grant in this behalf we have assigned, +nominated, constituted and made, and by these presents, for us, our +heirs and successors, we do assign, constitute and make our said +Cousin Prince Rupert, to be the first and present Governor of the said +Company, and to continue in the said office from the date of these +presents until the 10th November then next following, if he, the said +Prince Rupert, shall so long live, and so until a new Governor be +chosen by the said Company in form hereafter expressed: And also we +have assigned, nominated and appointed, and by these presents, for us, +our heirs and successors, we do assign, nominate and constitute the +said Sir John Robinson, Sir John Vyner, Sir Peter Colleton, James +Hayes, John Kirk, Francis Millington and John Portman to be the seven +first and present Committee of the said Company, from the date of +these presents until the said 10th day of November then also next +following, and so on until new Committees shall be chosen in form +hereafter expressed: And further we will and grant by these presents, +for us, our heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company, +and their successors, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the +said Governor and Company for the time being, or the greater part of +them present at any public assembly, commonly called the Court +General, to be holden for the said Company, the Governor of the said +Company being always one, from time to time elect, nominate and +appoint one of the said Company to be Deputy to the said Governor, +which Deputy shall take a corporal oath, before the Governor and three +or more of the Committee of the said Company for the time being, well, +truly and faithfully to execute his said office of Deputy to the +Governor of the said Company, and after his oath so taken, shall and +may from time to time, in the absence of the said Governor, exercise +and execute the office of Governor of the said Company, in such sort +as the said Governor ought to do: And further we will and grant by +these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, unto the said +Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's +Bay, and their successors, that they, or the greater part of them, +whereof the Governor for the time being or his Deputy to be one, from +time to time, and at all times hereafter, shall and may have authority +and power, yearly and every year, between the first and last day of +November, to assemble and meet together in some convenient place, to +be appointed from time to time by the Governor, or in his absence by +the Deputy of the said Governor for the time being, and that they +being so assembled, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said +Governor or Deputy of the said Governor, and the said Company for the +time being, or the greater part of them which then shall happen to be +present, whereof the Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for +the time being to be one, to elect and nominate one of the said +Company, which shall be Governor of the said Company for one whole +year then next following, which person being so elected and nominated +to be Governor of the said Company, as is aforesaid, before he be +admitted to the execution of the said office, shall take a corporal +oath before the last Governor, being his predecessor, or his Deputy, +and any three or more of the Committee of the said Company for the +time being, that he shall from time to time well and truly execute the +office of Governor of the said Company in all things concerning the +same; and that immediately after the said oath so taken he shall and +may execute and use the said office of Governor of the said Company +for one whole year from thence next following: And in like sort we +will and grant that as well every one of the above-named to be of the +said Company of fellowship, as all others hereafter to be admitted or +free of the said Company, shall take a corporal oath before the +Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for the time being to such +effect as by the said Governor and Company or the greater part of them +in any public Court to be held for the said Company, shall be in +reasonable and legal manner set down and devised, before they shall be +allowed or admitted to trade or traffic as a freeman of the said +Company: And further we will and grant by these presents, for us, our +heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company, and their +successors, that the said Governor or Deputy Governor, and the rest of +the said Company, and their successors for the time being, or the +greater part of them, whereof the Governor or Deputy-Governor from +time to time to be one, shall and may from time to time, and at all +times hereafter, have power and authority, yearly and every year, +between the first and last day of November, to assemble and meet +together in some convenient place, from time to time to be appointed +by the said Governor of the said Company, or in his absence by his +Deputy; and that they being so assembled, it shall and may be lawful +to and for the said Governor or his Deputy, and the Company for the +time being, or the greater part of them which then shall happen to be +present, whereof the Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for +the time being to be one, to elect and nominate seven of the said +Company, which shall be a Committee of the said Company for one whole +year from thence next ensuing, which persons being so elected and +nominated to be a Committee of the said Company as aforesaid, before +they be admitted to the execution of their office, shall take a +corporal oath before the Governor or his Deputy, and any three or more +of the said Committee of the said Company, being their last +predecessors, that they and every of them shall well and faithfully +perform their said office of Committees in all things concerning the +same, and that immediately after the said oath so taken, they shall +and may execute and use their said office of Committees of the said +Company for one whole year from thence next following: And moreover, +our will and pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and +successors, we do grant under the said Governor and Company, and their +successors, that when and as often as it shall happen, the Governor or +Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time being, at any time +within one year after that he shall be nominated, elected and sworn to +the office of the Governor of the said Company as is aforesaid, to die +or to be removed from the said office, which Governor or Deputy +Governor not demeaning himself well in his said office WE WILL to be +removable at the pleasure of the rest of the said Company, or the +greater part of them which shall be present at their public assemblies +commonly called their General Courts, holden for the said Company, +that then and so often it shall and may be lawful to and for the +residue of the said Company for the time being, or the greater part of +them, within a convenient time after the death or removing of any such +Governor or Deputy Governor, to assemble themselves in such convenient +place as they shall think fit, for the election of the Governor or the +Deputy Governor of the said Company; and that the said Company, or the +greater part of them, being then and there present, shall and may, +then and there, before their departure from the said place, elect and +nominate one other of the said Company to be Governor or Deputy +Governor for the said Company in the place and stead of him that so +died or was removed; which person being so elected and nominated to +the office of Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company, shall +have and exercise the said office for and during the residue of the +next year, taking first a corporal oath, as is aforesaid, for the due +execution thereof; and this to be done from time to time so often as +the case shall so require: And also our will and pleasure is, and by +these presents for us, our heirs and successors, WE DO GRANT unto the +said Governor and Company, that when and as often as it shall happen +any person or persons of the Committee of the said Company for the +time being, at any time within one year next after they or any of them +shall be nominated, elected and sworn to the office of Committee of +the said Company as is aforesaid, to die or to be removed from the +said office, which Committees not demeaning themselves well in their +said office, we will to be removable at the pleasure of the said +Governor and Company or the greater part of them, whereof the Governor +of the said Company for the time being or his Deputy to be one, that +then and so often, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said +Governor, and the rest of the Company for the time being, or the +greater part of them, whereof the Governor for the time being or his +Deputy to be one, within convenient time after the death or removing +of any of the said Committee, to assemble themselves in such +convenient place as is or shall be usual and accustomed for the +election of the Governor of the said Company, or where else the +Governor of the said Company for the time being or his Deputy shall +appoint: And that the said Governor and Company, or the greater part +of them, whereof the Governor for the time being or his Deputy to be +one, being then and there present, shall and may, then and there, +before their departure from the said place, elect and nominate one or +more of the said Company to be the Committee of the said Company in +the place and stead of him or them that so died, or were or was so +removed, which person or persons so nominated and elected to the +office of Committee of the said Company, shall have and exercise the +said office for and during the residue of the said year, taking first +a corporal oath, as is aforesaid, for the due execution thereof, and +this to be done from time to time, so often as the case shall require: + + And to the end the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of + England trading into Hudson's Bay may be encouraged to + undertake and effectually to prosecute the said design, of our + more especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have + given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents, for us, + our heirs and successors, DO give, grant and confirm, unto the + said Governor and Company, and their successors, the sole trade + and commerce of all these seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, + creeks and sounds, in whatsoever latitude they shall be, that + lie within the entrance of the straits, commonly called + Hudson's Straits, together with all the lands and territories + upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, bays, + lakes, rivers, creeks and sounds aforesaid, that are not + already actually possessed by or granted to any of our + subjects, or possessed by the subjects of any other Christian + Prince or State, with the fishing of all sorts of fish, whales, + sturgeons and all other royal fishes, in the seas, bays, inlets + and rivers within the premises, and the fish therein taken, + together with the royalty of the sea upon the coasts within the + limits aforesaid, and all mines royal, as well discovered as + not discovered, of gold, silver, gems and precious stones, to + be found or discovered within the territories, limits and + places aforesaid, and that the said land be from henceforth + reckoned and reputed as one of our plantations or colonies in + America, called "Rupert's Land." + +And further we do, by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, +make, create, and constitute the said Governor and Company for the +time being, and their successors, the true and absolute lords and +proprietors of the same territory, limits and places, and of all +other the premises, saving always the faith, allegiance and sovereign +dominion due to us, our heirs and successors, for the same to have, +hold, possess and enjoy the said territory, limits and places, and all +and singular other the premises hereby granted as aforesaid, with +their and every of their rights, members, jurisdictions, prerogatives, +royalties and appurtenances whatsoever, to them the said Governor and +Company, and their successors for ever, to be holden of us, our heirs +and successors, as of our manor at East Greenwich, in our County of +Kent, in free and common soccage, and not in capite or by Knight's +service, yielding and paying yearly to us, our heirs and successors, +for the same, two elks and two black beavers, whensoever and as often +as we, our heirs and successors, shall happen to enter into the said +countries, territories and regions hereby granted. + +And further, our will and pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, +our heirs and successors, we do grant unto the said Governor and +Company, and their successors, that it shall and may be lawful to and +for the said Governor and Company, and their successors, from time to +time, to assemble themselves, for or about any the matters, causes, +affairs, or business of the said trade, in any place or places for the +same convenient, within our dominions or elsewhere, and there to hold +Court for the said Company and the affairs thereof; and that also, it +shall and may be lawful to and for them, and the greater part of them, +being so assembled, and that shall then and there be present, in any +such place or places, whereof the Governor or his Deputy for the time +being to be one, to make, ordain and constitute such and so many +reasonable laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances as to them, or +the greater part of them, being then and there present, shall seem +necessary and convenient for the good government of the said Company, +and of all governors of colonies, forts and plantations, factors, +masters, mariners and other officers employed or to be employed in any +of the territories and lands aforesaid, and in any of their voyages, +and for the better advancement and continuance of the said trade or +traffic and plantations, and the same laws, constitutions, orders and +ordinances so made, to put in use and execute accordingly, and at +their pleasure to revoke and alter the same or any of them, as the +occasion shall require: And that the said Governor and Company, so +often as they shall make, ordain or establish any such laws, +constitutions, orders and ordinances, in such form as aforesaid shall +and may lawfully impose, ordain, limit and provide such pains, +penalties and punishments upon all offenders, contrary to such laws, +constitutions, orders and ordinances, or any of them, as to the said +Governor and Company for the time being, or the greater part of them, +then and there being present, the said Governor or his Deputy being +always one, shall seem necessary, requisite or convenient for the +observation of the same laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances; +and the same fines and amerciaments shall and may, by their officers +and servants from time to time to be appointed for that purpose, levy, +take and have, to the use of the said Governor and Company, and their +successors, without the impediment of us, our heirs or successors, or +any of the officers or ministers of us, our heirs, or successors, and +without any account therefore to us, our heirs or successors, to be +made: All and singular which laws, constitutions, orders, and +ordinances, so as aforesaid to be made, we will to be duly observed +and kept under the pains and penalties therein to be contained; so +always as the said laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances, fines +and amerciaments, be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant, but as +near as may be agreeable to the laws, statutes or customs of this our +realm. + +And furthermore, of our ample and abundant grace, certain knowledge +and mere-motion, we have granted, and by these presents, for us, our +heirs and successors, do grant unto the said Governor and Company, and +their successors, that they and their successors, and their factors, +servants and agents, for them and on their behalf, and not otherwise, +shall forever hereafter have, use and enjoy, not only the whole, +entire, and only trade and traffic, and the whole, entire, and only +liberty, use and privilege of trading and trafficking to and from the +territory, limits and places aforesaid, but also the whole and entire +trade and traffic to and from all havens, bays, creeks, rivers, lakes +and seas, into which they shall find entrance or passage by water or +land out of the territories, limits and places aforesaid; and to and +with all the natives and people inhabiting, or which shall inhabit +within the territories, limits and places aforesaid; and to and with +all other nations inhabiting any the coasts adjacent to the said +territories, limits and places which are not already possessed as +aforesaid, or whereof the sole liberty or privilege of trade and +traffic is not granted to any other of our subjects. + +And we, of our further Royal favour, and of our more especial grace, +certain knowledge and mere motion, have granted, and by these +presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do grant to the said +Governor and Company, and to their successors, that neither the said +territories, limits and places hereby granted as aforesaid, nor any +part thereof, nor the islands, havens, ports, cities, towns, or places +thereof or therein contained, shall be visited, frequented or haunted +by any of the subjects of us, our heirs or successors, contrary to the +true meaning of these presents, and by virtue of our prerogative +royal, which we will not have in that behalf argued or brought into +question: We straightly charge, command and prohibit for us, our heirs +and successors, all the subjects of us, our heirs and successors, of +what degree or quality soever they be, that none of them, directly or +indirectly do visit, haunt, frequent, or trade, traffic, or adventure, +by way of merchandise, into or from any of the said territories, +limits, or places hereby granted, or any or either of them, other than +the said Governor and Company, and such particular persons as now be +or hereafter shall be of that Company, their agents, factors and +assigns, unless it be by the license and agreement of the said +Governor and Company in writing first had and obtained, under their +common seal, to be granted upon pain that every such person or persons +that shall trade or traffic into or from any of the countries, +territories or limits aforesaid, other than the said Governor and +Company, and their successors, shall incur our indignation, and the +forfeiture and the loss of the goods, merchandises and other things +whatsoever, which so shall be brought into this realm of England, or +any of the dominions of the same, contrary to our said prohibition, or +the purport or true meaning of these presents, or which the said +Governor and Company shall find, take and seize in other places out of +our dominion, where the said Company, their agents, factors or +ministers shall trade, traffic or inhabit by the virtue of these our +letters patent, as also the ship and ships, with the furniture +thereof, wherein such goods, merchandises and other things shall be +brought and found; and one-half of all the said forfeitures to be to +us, our heirs and successors, and the other half thereof we do, by +these presents, clearly and wholly, for us, our heirs and successors, +give and grant unto the said Governor and Company, and their +successors: And further, all and every the said offenders, for their +said contempt, to suffer such other punishment as to us, our heirs and +successors, for so high a contempt, shall seem meet and convenient, +and not be in any wise delivered until they and every of them shall +become bound unto the said Governor for the time being in the sum of +one thousand pounds at the least, at no time then after to trade or +traffic into any of the said places, seas, straits, bays, ports, +havens or territories aforesaid, contrary to our express commandment +in that behalf set down and published: And further, of our more +especial grace, we have condescended and granted, and by these +presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do grant unto the said +Governor and Company, and their successors, that we our heirs and +successors, will not grant liberty, license or power to any person, or +persons whatsoever, contrary to the tenor of these our letters patent, +to trade, traffic or inhabit, unto or upon any of the territories, +limits or places afore specified, contrary to the true meaning of +these presents, without the consent of the said Governor and Company, +or the most part of them: And, of our more abundant grace and favour +of the said Governor and Company, we do hereby declare our will and +pleasure to be, that if it shall so happen that any of the persons +free or to be free of the said Company of Adventurers of England +trading into Hudson's Bay, who shall, before the going forth of any +ship or ships appointed for a voyage or otherwise, promise or agree, +by writing under his or their hands, to adventure any sum or sums of +money towards the furnishing any provision, or maintenance of any +voyage or voyages, set forth or to be set forth, or intended or meant +to be set forth, by the said Governor and Company, or the most part of +them present at any public assembly, commonly called their General +Court, shall not, within the space of twenty days next after warning +given to him or them by the said Governor or Company, or their known +officer or minister, bring in and deliver to the Treasurer or +Treasurers appointed for the Company, such sums of money as shall have +been expressed and set down in writing by the said person or persons, +subscribed with the name of the said Adventurer or Adventurers, that +then and at all times after it shall and may be lawful to and for the +said Governor and Company, or the more part of them present, whereof +the said Governor or his Deputy to be one, at any of their General +Courts or general assemblies, to remove and disfranchise him or them, +and every such person and persons at their wills and pleasures, and he +or they so removed and disfranchised, not to be permitted to trade +into the countries, territories, and limits aforesaid, or any part +thereof, nor to have any adventure or stock going or remaining with or +amongst the said Company, without the special license of the said +Governor and Company, or the more part of them present at any General +Court, first had and obtained in that behalf, any thing before in +these presents to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. +And our will and pleasure is, and hereby we do also ordain, that it +shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor and Company, or +the greater part of them, whereof the Governor for the time being or +his Deputy to be one, to admit into and to be of the said Company all +such servants or factors, of or for the said Company, and all such +others as to them or the most part of them present, at any Court held +for the said Company, the Governor or his Deputy being one, shall be +thought fit and agreeable with the orders and ordinances made and to +be made for the government of the said Company: And further, our will +and pleasure is, and by these presents for us, our heirs and +successors, we do grant unto the said Governor and Company, and to +their successors, that it shall and may be lawful in all elections and +by-laws to be made by the General Court of the Adventurers of the said +Company, that every person shall have a number of votes according to +his stock, that is to say, for every hundred pounds by him subscribed +or brought into the present stock, one vote, and that any of those +that have subscribed less than one hundred pounds, may join their +respective sums to make up one hundred pounds, and have one vote +jointly for the same, and not otherwise: And further, of our especial +grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we do, for us, our heirs +and successors, grant to and with the said Governor and Company of +Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, that all lands, +islands, territories, plantations, forts, fortifications, factories or +colonies, where the said Company's factories and trade are or shall +be, within any of the ports or places afore limited, shall be +immediately and from henceforth under the power and command of the +said Governor and Company, their successors and assigns; saving the +faith and allegiance due to be performed to us, our heirs and +successors, as aforesaid; and that the said Governor and Company shall +have liberty, full power and authority to appoint and establish +Governors and all other officers to govern them, and that the Governor +and his Council of the several and respective places where the said +Company shall have plantations, forts, factories, colonies or places +of trade within any of the countries, lands, or territories hereby +granted, may have power to judge all persons belonging to the said +Governor and Company, or that shall live under them, in all causes, +whether civil or criminal, according to the laws of the kingdom, and +to execute justice accordingly; and in case any crime or misdemeanor +shall be committed in any of the said Company's plantations, forts, +factories, or places of trade within the limits aforesaid, where +judicature cannot be executed for want of a Governor and Council +there, then in such case it shall and may be lawful for the chief +factor of that place and his Council to transmit the party, together +with the offence, to such other plantations, factory or fort where +there shall be a Governor and Council, where justice may be executed, +or into this Kingdom of England, as shall be thought most convenient, +there to receive such punishment as the nature of his offence shall +deserve: And moreover, our will and pleasure is, and by these +presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do give and grant unto +the said Governor and Company, and their successors, free liberty and +license, in case they conceive it necessary, to send either ships of +war, men or ammunition into any of their plantations, forts, +factories, or places of trade aforesaid, for the security and defence +of the same, and to choose commanders and officers over them, and to +give them power and authority, by commission under their common seal, +or otherwise, to continue to make peace or war with any prince or +people whatsoever, that are not Christians, in any place where the +said Company shall have any plantations, forts or factories, or +adjacent thereto, and shall be most for the advantage and benefit of +the said Governor and Company and of their trade; and also to right +and recompense themselves upon the goods, estates, or people of those +parts, by whom the said Governor and Company shall sustain any injury, +loss or damage, or upon any other people whatsoever, that shall in any +way, contrary to the intent of these presents, interrupt, wrong or +injure them in their trade, within the said places, territories and +limits granted by this Charter: And that it shall and may be lawful to +and for the said Governor and Company, and their successors from time +to time, and at all times from henceforth, to erect and build such +castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, colonies or plantations, +towns or villages, in any parts or places within the limits and bounds +granted before in these presents unto the said Governor and Company, +as they in their discretion shall think fit and requisite, and for the +supply of such as shall be needful and convenient to keep and be in +the same, to send out of this kingdom to the said castles, forts, +fortifications, garrisons, colonies, plantations, towns or villages, +all kinds of clothing, provisions or victuals, ammunition and +implements necessary for such purpose, paying the duties and customs +for the same, as also to transport and carry over such number of men +being willing thereunto, or not prohibited, as they shall think fit, +and also to govern them in such legal and reasonable manner as the +said Governor and Company shall think best, and to inflict punishment +for misdemeanors, or impose such fines upon them for breach of their +orders as in these presents are formally expressed: And further, our +will and pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and +successors, we do grant unto the said Governor and Company, and to +their successors, full power and lawful authority to seize upon the +persons of all such English, or any other our subjects, which shall +sail into Hudson's Bay, or inhabit in any of the countries, islands or +territories hereby granted to the said Governor and Company, without +their leave and license, and in that behalf first had and obtained, or +that shall contemn and disobey their orders, and send them to England; +and that all and every person and persons, being our subjects, any +ways employed by the said Governor and Company, within any the parts, +places and limits aforesaid, shall be liable unto and suffer such +punishment for any offences by them committed in the parts aforesaid, +as the President and Council for the said Governor and Company there +shall think fit, and the merit of the offence shall require, as +aforesaid; and in case any person or persons being convicted and +sentenced by the President and Council of the said Governor and +Company, in the countries, lands or limits aforesaid, their factors or +agents there, for any offence by them done, shall appeal from the +same, that then and in such case it shall and may be lawful to and for +the said President and Council, factors or agents, to seize upon him +or them, and to carry him or them home prisoners into England, to the +said Governor and Company, there to receive such condign punishment as +his case shall require, and the law of this nation allow of; and for +the better discovery of abuses and injuries to be done unto the said +Governor and Company, or their successors, by any servant by them to +be employed in the said voyages and plantations, it shall and may be +lawful to and for the said Governor and Company, and their respective +President, Chief Agent or Governor in the parts aforesaid, to examine +upon oath all factors, masters, pursers, supercargoes, commanders of +castles, forts, fortifications, plantations or colonies, or other +persons, touching or concerning any matter or thing in which by law or +usage an oath may be administered, so as the said oath, and the matter +therein contained be not repugnant, but agreeable to the laws of this +realm: And we do hereby straightly charge and command all and singular +our Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Justices, Mayors, Sheriffs, Constables, +Bailiffs, and all and singular other our officers, ministers, liegemen +and subjects whatsoever to be aiding, favouring, helping and assisting +to the said Governor and Company, and to their successors, and their +deputies, officers, factors, servants, assigns and ministers, and +every of them, in executing and enjoying the premises, as well on land +as on sea, from time to time, when any of you shall thereunto be +required; any statute, act, ordinance, proviso, proclamation or +restraint heretofore had, made, set forth, ordained or provided, or +any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary in anywise +notwithstanding. + +In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent. + +Witness ourselves at Winchester, the second day of May, in the +two-and-twentieth year of our reign. + + By Writ of the Privy Seal. + + PIGOTT. + + + + +THE ALASKA BOUNDARY LINE. + + +It has been said that but for the Hudson's Bay Company British +Columbia would not have been preserved to the British Crown. On the +Imperial frontier to the far north and west the Company early +established its posts, and vigorously sought to maintain them against, +first, Russian, and afterwards American, aggression. + + [Illustration: SKETCH MAP OF SOUTH-EAST ALASKA + (_showing points in controversy_). + (_By permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., publishers of the + "Atlantic Monthly."_)] + +The American purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 included a strip +of the coast (_lisière de côté_) extending from north latitude 54° 40' +to the region of Mt. St. Elias. It was generally understood that this +strip was separated from the British possessions by a mountain range +(then believed to exist) parallel to the coast, as in event of this +range being too remote, by a line parallel to the windings +(sinuosities) of the coast, nowhere greater than ten marine leagues +from the same. + +There is nothing to lead one to suppose that the strip of coast was +designed to be continuous from the parallel of 54° 40' north latitude. +The recent great development of the North-West has shown the singular +value of this strip, which the American authorities, ignoring the +exact possessions of the Anglo-Russian treaty of 1825, has assumed to +be their territory. Recent American writers have been quick to +perceive the weakness of their case, and one of these, writing in the +_Atlantic Monthly_, uses this language: + +"Arbitration is compromise.... Once before a board of arbitration, the +English Government has only to set up and vigorously urge all its +claims, and more that can easily be invented, and _it is all but +absolutely certain_ that although _by tradition and equity_ we should +decline _to yield a foot of what we purchased_ in good faith from +Russia, and which has become doubly valuable to us by settlement and +exploration, our lisière will be promptly broken into fragments, and +with much show of impartiality divided between the two contracting +parties." The italics are mine. Tradition and (the American idea of) +equity are hardly equal to the language of a treaty negotiated so +recently as 1825.[130] + +CONVENTION WITH RUSSIA. + +His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and +Ireland, and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, being +desirous of drawing still closer the ties of good understanding and +friendship which unite them, by means of an agreement which may +settle, upon the basis of reciprocal convenience, different points +connected with the commerce, navigation, and fisheries of their +subjects on the Pacific Ocean, as well as the limits of their +respective possessions on the north-west coast of America, have named +plenipotentiaries to conclude a convention for this purpose, that is +to say--His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain +and Ireland, the Right Hon. Stratford Canning, a member of his said +Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, etc.; and his Majesty the Emperor +of all the Russias, the Sieur Charles Robert Count de Nesselrode, his +Imperial Majesty's Privy Councillor, a member of the Council of the +Empire, Secretary of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs, +etc., and the Sieur Pierre de Poletica, his Imperial Majesty's +Councillor of State, etc.; who, after having communicated to each +other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have +agreed upon and signed the following articles:-- + +Art. I.--It is agreed that the respective subjects of the high +contracting parties shall not be troubled or molested, in any part of +the ocean commonly called the Pacific Ocean, either in navigating the +same, in fishing therein, or in landing at such parts of the coast as +shall not have been already occupied, in order to trade with the +natives, under the restrictions and conditions specified in the +following articles. + +II.--In order to prevent the right of navigating and fishing, +exercised upon the ocean by the subjects of the high contracting +parties, from becoming the pretext for an illicit commerce, it is +agreed that the subjects of his Britannic Majesty shall not land at +any place where there may be a Russian establishment, without the +permission of the governor or commandant; and, on the other hand, that +Russian subjects shall not land, without permission, at any British +establishment on the north-west coast. + +III.--The line of demarcation between the possessions of the high +contracting parties, upon the coast of the continent, and the islands +of America to the north-west, shall be drawn in the manner +following:--Commencing from the southernmost point of the island +called Prince of Wales's Island, which point lies in the parallel of +54 degrees, 40 minutes, north latitude, and between the 131st and +133rd degree of west longitude (meridian of Greenwich), the said line +shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Channel, +as far as the point of the continent where it strikes the 56th degree +of north latitude; from this last-mentioned point the line of +demarcation shall follow the summits of the mountains situated +parallel to the coast, as far as the point of intersection of the +141st degree of west longitude (of the same meridian); and, finally, +from the said point of intersection, the said meridian line of the +141st degree in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean, shall +form the limit between the Russian and British possessions on the +Continent of America to the north-west. + +IV.--With reference to the line of demarcation laid down in the +preceding article, it is understood:-- + +1st: That the island called Prince of Wales's Island shall belong +wholly to Russia. + +2nd: That wherever the summit of the mountains which extend in a +direction parallel to the coast, from the 56th degree of north +latitude to the point of intersection of the 141st degree of west +longitude, shall prove to be at the distance of more than ten marine +leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British possessions and +the line of coast which is to belong to Russia, as above-mentioned, +shall be formed by a line parallel to the windings of the coast, and +which shall never exceed the distance of ten marine leagues therefrom. + +V.--It is moreover agreed, that no establishment shall be formed by +either of the two parties within the limits assigned by the two +preceding articles to the possessions of the other; consequently, +British subjects shall not form any establishment either upon the +coast, or upon the border of the continent comprised within the limits +of the Russian possessions as designated in the two preceding +articles; and, in like manner, no establishment shall be formed by +Russian subjects beyond the said limits. + +VI.--It is understood that the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, from +whatever quarter they may arrive, whether from the ocean or from the +interior of the continent, shall forever enjoy the right of navigating +freely, and without any hindrance whatever, all the rivers and streams +which in their course towards the Pacific Ocean may cross the line of +demarcation upon the line of coast described in Article III of the +present convention. + +VII.--It is also understood, that for the space of ten years from the +signature of the present convention, the vessels of the two powers, or +those belonging to their respective subjects, shall mutually be at +liberty to frequent without any hindrance whatever, all the inland +seas, the gulfs, havens, and creeks on the coast mentioned in Article +III for the purpose of fishing and of trading with the natives. + +VIII.--The Port of Sitka, or Novo Archangelsk, shall be open to the +commerce and vessels of British subjects for the space of ten years +from the date of the exchange of the ratification of the present +convention. In the event of an extension of this term of ten years +being granted to any other power, the like extension shall be granted +also to Great Britain. + +IX.--The above-mentioned liberty of commerce shall not apply to the +trade of spirituous liquors, in fire-arms or other arms, gunpowder or +other warlike stores; the high contracting parties reciprocally +engaging not to permit the above-mentioned articles to be sold or +delivered in any manner whatever, to the natives of the country. + +X.--Every British or Russian vessel navigating the Pacific Ocean, +which may be compelled by storms or by accident to take shelter in the +ports of the respective parties, shall be at liberty to refit therein, +to provide itself with all necessary stores, and to put to sea again, +without paying any other than port and lighthouse dues, which shall be +the same as those paid by national vessels. In case, however, the +master of such vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a +part of his merchandise in order to defray his expenses, he shall +conform himself to the regulations and tariffs of the place where he +may have landed. + +XI.--In every case of complaint on account of an infraction of the +articles of the present convention, the civil and military authorities +of the high contracting parties, without previously acting or taking +any forcible measure, shall make an exact and circumstantial report of +the matter to their respective courts, who engage to settle the same +in a friendly manner, and according to the principles of justice. + +XII.--The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications +shall be exchanged at London, within the space of six weeks, or sooner +if possible. + +In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the +same and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. + +Done at St. Petersburg, the 16th (28th) day of February, in the year +of our Lord, 1825. + + Stratford Canning. + The Count de Nesselrode. + Pierre de Poletica. + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[130] T. C. Mendenhall, in _Atlantic Monthly_ for April, 1896. + + + + +GOVERNORS OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. + + + His Highness Prince Rupert 1670-1683 + + H.R.H. James, Duke of York (afterwards King James II.) 1683-1685 + + John, Lord Churchill (afterwards Duke of Marlborough) 1685-1691 + + Sir Stephen Evance, Kt. 1691-1696 + + The Rt. Hon. Sir William Trumbull 1696-1700 + + Sir Stephen Evance, Kt. 1700-1712 + + Sir Bibye Lake, Bart. 1712-1743 + + Benjamin Pitt 1743-1746 + + Thomas Knapp 1746-1750 + + Sir Atwell Lake, Bart. 1750-1760 + + Sir William Baker, Kt. 1760-1770 + + Bibye Lake 1770-1782 + + Samuel Wegg 1782-1799 + + Sir James Winter Lake, Bart. 1799-1807 + + William Mainwaring 1807-1812 + + Joseph Berens, Junior 1812-1822 + + Sir John Henry Pelly, Bart. 1822-1852 + + Andrew Colville 1852-1856 + + John Shepherd 1856-1858 + + Henry Hulse Berens 1858-1863 + + Rt. Hon. Sir Edmund Walker Head, Bart., K.C.B. 1863-1868 + + Rt. Hon. The Earl of Kimberley 1868-1869 + + Rt. Hon. Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Bart., M.P. (Earl of + Iddesleigh) 1869-1874 + + Rt. Hon. George Joachim Goschen, M.P. 1874-1880 + + Eden Colville 1880-1889 + + Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, G.C.M.G. 1889- + + + + +DEPUTY-GOVERNORS OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. + + + Sir John Robinson, Kt. 1670-1675 + + Sir James Hayes, Kt. 1675-1685 + + The Hon. Sir Edward Dering, Kt. 1685-1691 + + Samuel Clarke 1691-1701 + + John Nicholson 1701-1710 + + Thomas Lake 1710-1711 + + Sir Bibye Lake, Bart. 1711-1712 + + Captain John Merry 1712-1729 + + Samuel Jones 1729-1735 + + Benjamin Pitt 1735-1743 + + Thomas Knapp 1743-1746 + + Sir Atwell Lake, Bart. 1746-1750 + + Sir William Baker, Kt. 1750-1760 + + Captain John Merry 1760-1765 + + Bibye Lake 1765-1770 + + Robert Merry 1770-1774 + + Samuel Wegg 1774-1782 + + Sir James Winter Lake, Bart. 1782-1799 + + Richard Hulse 1799-1805 + + Nicholas Caesar Corsellis 1805-1806 + + Wm. Mainwaring 1806-1807 + + Joseph Berens, Junior 1807-1812 + + John Henry Pelly 1812-1822 + + Nicholas Garry 1822-1835 + + Benjamin Harrison 1835-1839 + + Andrew Colville 1839-1852 + + John Shepherd 1852-1856 + + Henry Hulse Berens 1856-1858 + + Edward Ellice, M.P. 1858-1863 + + Sir Curtis Miranda Lampson, Bart. 1863-1871 + + Eden Colville 1871-1880 + + Sir John Rose, Bart., G.C.M.G. 1880-1888 + + Sir Donald A. Smith, G.C.M.G. 1888-1889 + + The Earl of Lichfield 1889-1898 + + + + +INDEX. + + + Agricultural and mercantile enterprise, 457 + + Alaska Boundary Line, 527 + + Albanel, Father, journeys to the north, 69 + + Albany, Fort, 149 + + " " Attack on, 135 + + " " Capitulation of, 137 + + " " renamed St. Anne, 142 + + " " The English regain, 153 + + " " Attacked by the French, 193 + + _Albany_, 212 + + " Fate of the, 292 + + Albemarle, Duke of, 42 + + Allemand, Pierre, 98 + + America purchases Alaska, 488 + + Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1825, 448 + + Argenson, D', 58 + + Arlington, Lord, letter to, 34 + + Ashburton, Lord, 456 + + Assiniboines, The, 222 + + " Radisson and Groseilliers first meet the, 26 + + _Astarte_, 321 + + Astor, John Jacob, 386 + + Astoria--Fort George, 387, 445 + + Astronomers at Hudson's Bay, 294 + + Athabaska, Fort, 426 + + Avagour, Governor M. d', 28 + + + Back, Captain, 451 + + Bad Lake, The robbery at, 359 + + Baffin, expedition of, 47 + + Bailey, Charles, Governor of Rupert's Land, 70, 178 + + Balmerino, Lovat, and Kilmarnock, Lords, 260 + + Barillon, Sieur, 141 + + Barlow, Capt. George, commanding the _Albany_, 212 + + " Governor of Albany Fort, 193 + + Barre, M. de la, 110 + + " " receives letter from Lewis, 125 + + " " recalled, 129 + + Barrow, Sir John, 284 + + Beaver, Varieties of, 238 + + Beechy, Captain, 451 + + Bellicose instructions from the Company, 258 + + Berens, Thomas, 296 + + Bering, Capt. Vitus, commanding Russian expedition, 246 + + Bering's discoveries, 247 + + Bladen, Martin, 203 + + Bladen's description of the Commission, 205 + + Bois-Brulés, The, 383 + + Bolingbroke's letter, 203 + + Bonrepas, Sieur, 141 + + Boundaries between French and English territory, 216 + + Bourbon, Fort, 96 + + Bourdon, Jean, 55 + + Boyle, Robert, letter to, 43 + + _Brazen_, 392 + + Bridgar, Arrival of, 92 + + " John, Governor of the new settlement at Port Nelson, 89 + + " taken prisoner by the French, 134 + + Bristol, defence of, 37 + + Brown, Honorable George, 487 + + Browne, Sir Richard, 39 + + Butterfield's, Mrs. Mary, letter, 209 + + Button, Sir Thomas, pursues Hudson's discoveries, 46 + + Button's Bay, 47 + + + _California_, 264 + + Callieres, M. de, memoir, 57 + + Canada, Conquest of, 279 + + " exerts pressure on the Company, 490 + + " Jurisdiction Act, 368 + + Canada's debt to the Company, 497 + + Cardwell, Mr., Colonial Secretary, 487 + + Carr, Robert, 33 + + Cartwright, George, 33 + + Catherine of Braganza, 63 + + Cession to Canadian Government, 493 + + Charles, Fort, 70 + + " Fort, Jesuit priest at, 77 + + " the First, 36 + + " the Second, 17 + + " the Second, death of, 129 + + Charlie's, Prince, stock confiscated, 261 + + Charlevoix, quotation from, 55 + + Charlton Island, winters at, 47 + + Charter, The Royal, 515 + + Chechouan River, discovers the, 76 + + Chesnaye, M. de la, 84 + + Chouart surrenders to Radisson, 120 + + _Churchill_, 248 + + " caught in the ice, 138 + + " captured by the French, 139 + + Churchill, Lord, succeeds King James as Governor of the + Company, 139 + + Clandestine trade, 283, 297 + + Coats, Captain, 283 + + " " Death by his own hand of, 284 + + _Colbore_, 447 + + Cole, Captain, 72 + + Colbert, M., 52, 228 + + Colonial neutrality, Negotiations for, 140 + + Coltman, Colonel, 423 + + Company's losses by French, 146 + + Comportier, Gauthier de, 128 + + Convention with Russia, 528 + + Cook, Captain, 340 + + Corrigal Case, The famous, 369 + + Council of Trade, 173 + + Couture, M., 28 + + Craven, Lord, 43 + + Crees, The, 220 + + Croix, Sieur de la, 125 + + Cumberland House built, 314 + + + Dablon, Father, 56 + + Dallas, A. E., succeeds Simpson as Governor, 473 + + " Governor, issues a circular, 483 + + Davis, Captain John, 45 + + Duluth's letter to M. de la Barre, 125 + + Denonville's letter to Seignely, 149 + + Denonville, Marquis de, succeeds M. de la Barre as Governor, 129 + + " plans the capture of Fort Nelson, 150 + + Deputation goes to England, 489 + + _Dering_, 159 + + Diggs, Sir Dudley, 46 + + _Discovery_, 212 + + Dobbs, Arthur, 248 + + " and the North-West Passage, 263 + + " petition rejected by Parliament, 268 + + Dobbs' _Galley_, 264 + + Douglas, Fort, attacked, 399 + + " Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, 399 + + " T. M., Governor of Vancouver Island, 465 + + Drummond, Sir Gordon, Governor of Canada, 406 + + _Dryad_, 448 + + Duchesneau, Intendant, 86 + + " protests against English encroachment, 86 + + Duffell, 177 + + Duluth in the West, 125 + + " builds a fort on Lake Nepigon, 127 + + Duqué, commander of _Profound_, 159 + + Duquet, Sieur, King's attorney for Quebec, 58 + + + East India Company, 18 + + " " transfer of Province of Bombay, 63 + + _Eddystone_, 392 + + Elgin, Lord, Governor-General of Canada, 462 + + Ellice, Edward, 432, 479 + + _Engageante_, 321 + + England at war with France, 361 + + English, departure of, 110 + + _Erebus_, 466 + + Esquimaux, first sight of the, 45 + + " The, 223 + + Expedition to explore the North-West Passage, 212 + + + Fishery and Fur Company, The, 352 + + Fitzgerald, James, 296 + + Fletcher, Major, 423 + + Fort, construction of the first, 47 + + Forts, Building of stone, 280 + + Fox, Captain Luke, 47 + + France, Joseph la, 239 + + " War with, 257 + + Franklin, Expedition of, 449 + + " " Fate of the, 466 + + " Lieutenant, 427 + + French activity, 52 + + " fur trade, 21 + + " and English ships, meeting of, 159 + + French attack Fort Prince of Wales--1782, 320 + + " attack York Factory, 324 + + " declare war against England, 191 + + " encroachment on trade, 275 + + " prisoners taken by the _Churchill_, 138 + + " repulsed at Albany Fort, 193 + + " send fourteen ships, 150 + + " Surrender of the Company's ships to the, 143 + + " The, at Michilimackinac, 182 + + " The, capture a Company's ship, 130 + + Frobisher, Sir Martin, 45 + + " intercepts Company's Indians, 316 + + " escapes from York Factory, 428 + + _Furnace_, 249 + + Fur trade, 20 + + Furs, first sale of, 61 + + + General Court held, 62 + + George the Fourth, 437 + + Ghent, Treaty of, 445 + + Gibraltar, Fort, captured, 408 + + Gillam, Zachary (Capt. of _Nonsuch_), 33, 43 + + " Benjamin, 98 + + " " meets his father, 99 + + Gladstone, Opposition of Mr., 463 + + Godey, Captain, attaché to Lord Preston, 112 + + Gorst, Thomas, secretary to Governor Bailey, 72 + + Government assistance, 366 + + Grant, Cuthbert, 385 + + Granville, Lord, 490 + + Green, Henry, 46 + + Grey, Earl, Letter to, 461 + + Grimington, Captain, 153 + + Groseilliers (Medard Chouart), 23 + + " Death of first wife, 24 + + " first marriage, 23 + + " first time in English capital, 34 + + " in Boston, 30 + + " second marriage, 24 + + + _Hampshire_, 159 + + " goes down with nearly all on board, 161 + + _Happy Return_ sails for Hudson's Bay, 117 + + _Hardi_ goes to the bottom with all on board, 156 + + Hawke, Sir Edward, 296 + + Hays' Island fort, 104 + + " " " burned, 108 + + Head, Sir Edmund, 485 + + Hearne returns to England, 307 + + " blamed for surrendering, 323 + + Hearne's expedition of discovery, 300 + + " second expedition, 302 + + " third expedition, 305 + + Henry's expedition, 290 + + Henry, Prince, 46 + + Herault, Mlle. Elizabeth, 24 + + Herbert, Sir Edward, Lord-keeper, 39 + + Hobart, Lord, 368 + + Holder, John, 40 + + Holmes, Captain, 41 + + Horner, Captain John, discharged, 297 + + Horth's, John, meetings at, 62, 80 + + _Hudson's Bay_, 159 + + " " surrendered to the French, 161 + + Hudson's Bay Company apply for Vancouver Island, 464 + + Hudson's Bay Company, arms of the, 67 + + Hudson's Bay Company, List of nations visiting, 81 + + Hudson's Bay Company in difficulties, 361 + + Hudson's Bay Company obtains a new license, 438 + + Hudson's Bay Company, Plan to re-organize, 210 + + Hudson's Bay Company seek Act of Parliament to confirm charter + conferred by Charles II., 147 + + Hudson's Bay Company's claims, 196 + + Hudson's Bay Company's claims after Treaty of Ryswick, 189 + + Hudson's Bay Posts, The, 509, 510, 511, 512. + + Hudson's Bay, The, Governor and Company of Merchants-Adventurers + charter from the King, 22, 51, 60 + + Hudson, Captain Henry, 46 + + " " " fate of, 46 + + Humes, Edward, captain of the _Merchant of Perpetuana_, 130 + + Hyde, Edward, afterwards Lord Chancellor Clarendon, 39 + + + Iberville, captures two Company's ships, 143 + + " demands surrender of the fort, 164 + + " given the rank of lieutenant in the French Royal + Navy, 150 + + " goes to France, 152 + + " sails for home in the _Envieux_, 152 + + " sails for Quebec in the _Hampshire_, 140 + + " Sieur d', accompanies de Troyes on his expedition, 131 + + " takes Fort Nelson, 156 + + " treacherous plan, 144 + + _Imploy_ to sail in the spring, 65 + + Iroquois--English allies, 29 + + Ivett, Robert, 46 + + Imperial Parliament appoints Select Committee, 469 + + Indian treachery, 185 + + " country, 218 + + Indians as hunters, 230 + + " Effect of intoxication on the, 229 + + " Intelligence of the, 225 + + " liking for liquor, 228 + + " Superstition of the, 226 + + International Financial Association, 478 + + Isbister, A. K., 461 + + " Joseph, 258 + + Isle a la Crosse, Lake of, 317 + + + James, Captain, 47 + + " King, applied to for protection, 139 + + Jesuits, Relations des, 21, 69 + + Joliet, Louis, 53 + + Jonquiere, Fort, 244 + + Jenyn's, Soame, letter to Pitt, 279 + + + Ka-chou-touay, 121 + + Kamloops, Legend of, 503 + + Kas-Kidi-dah, chief of the Nodwayes, 72 + + Kilistineaux, makes treaty with the, 48 + + Kirke, Sir John, 25 + + Kelsey, Henry, recommended for bravery, receives sum of forty + pounds, 156, 179 + + " voyage, 179 + + Knight, Governor, 191 + + " Death of, 293 + + " Letter from the Company to, 212 + + + L'Anglois, Jean, 58 + + Labau, Murder of, 355 + + Lack of military system Company's weakness, 491 + + Lacombe, Father, 504 + + La Couture, Sieur, 56 + + " " mythical voyage, 57 + + Lampson, Mr., 483 + + Law, John, 206, 208 + + Letters of marque to the Company's ships, 259 + + Lewis unwilling to oppose the English, 128 + + " proposes boundaries, 190 + + Lincoln, Earl of, 463 + + Louisburg, Fall of, 260 + + Lyddal, William, to supersede Bailey as Governor, 78 + + + Mackenzie, Alexander, 329 + + " reaches the Arctic, 336 + + " sets out for the Pacific, 338 + + " Sir Alexander & Co., 349 + + Mackenzie's expedition to the Arctic, 333 + + " Sir Alexander, letter, 366 + + Maissoneuve (voyage from Rochelle), 23 + + Matonabee, 304 + + Maverick, Samuel, 33 + + Ménard, Réné, 27 + + Meuron, Colonel De, 407 + + " De, Regiment of, 407 + + Mezy is recalled, 52 + + Middleton, Captain Christopher, 248, 264 + + " explores for a north-west passage, 251 + + " has trouble with his men, 252 + + " Lord, 141 + + " returns without discovering the Passage, 253 + + Middleton's report, 220 + + Migichihilinons, 220 + + Milnes, Sir Robert, 368 + + _Merchant of Perpetuana_ captured by the French, 130 + + Monk, Lord, Governor-General of Canada, 486 + + Montreal merchants combine, 328 + + Moon, Captain, 142 + + Moor, Captain William, 264 + + Moose Factory, Capture of, 133 + + Moose River fort erected by the French, 73 + + " " first visit to, 75 + + " " Bailey at, 76 + + Mounslow, Captain, 192 + + Mountain House, 504 + + Mowat, Trial of, 371 + + _Musquash_, 248. + + + McClintock, Captain, 466 + + McDonnell, Miles, first Governor of the new colony, 379 + + " surrenders, 399 + + McDonnell's proclamation, 395 + + McDougall, Honorable William, Minister of Crown Lands, 486 + + McTavish, Simon, 249 + + " " Death of, 352 + + McTavish, Governor, resigns, 485 + + + Nadouichiouecs, Wintered with the, 26 + + Nekauba, Dablon reaches, 58 + + Nelson, Fort, Burning of, 151 + + " " Erection of, 93, 194 + + " " evacuated by the French, 202 + + " " surrendered to the French, 154 + + " " surrendered to the English, 157 + + " " surrendered to the French, 166 + + Nelson, Port, Fox landed at, 47 + + Nepisingues, 219 + + Nichols, Richard, 33 + + Nodwayes, 47, 71, 219 + + _Nonsuch_ anchors in Hudson's Bay, 45 + + " Set sail in the, 34 + + _Nonsuch_ weighs anchor, 44 + + " sails with cargo, 48 + + Norton, Governor, 250, 265 + + " Death of Governor, 312 + + New Amsterdam, into English hands, 20 + + New North-West Company, 349 + + New Severn Fort captured by the French, 143 + + North-West Association formed, 264 + + North-West Association, Expedition of the, 264 + + North-West Company, 328-330 + + North-West Company oppose Selkirk's scheme, 377 + + North-West Company partners arrested, 420, 427 + + North-West passage discovered, 468 + + North-Westers demand evacuation of Fort Douglas, 415 + + + Oldenburgh, Letter written by, the secretary of the Royal + Society, 43 + + Ontario Boundary Commission, 59 + + Oregon question, The, 445 + + Ottawas, Make treaty with the, 48 + + " treaty, 459 + + _Owner's Love_, 159 + + + Pacific Scheme, 477 + + _Palmier_, 158 + + Parliament and the North-West Passage, 263 + + Parliamentary enquiry, 269 + + _Pelican_, 158 + + Pelly, Sir J. H., 461 + + Pérouse, Admiral, 321 + + " La, in the Pacific, 344 + + Peter the Great, 244 + + " " " Death of, 245 + + Petition to the Lords of Treasury, 361 + + Phipps' letter to the Company, 123 + + Phipps, William, new Governor, 118 + + Pishapocanoes, 75 + + _Poli_, 156 + + Policy, The Great Company's, 506 + + Pond, Peter, 317 + + Pontiac at Detroit, 288 + + Pontchartrain, 152 + + " letter to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, 201 + + Portman, John, 43, 60 + + Preston's, Lord, letter to Rupert, 42 + + Preston, Lord, informed of the return of Radisson and + Groseilliers, 112 + + Preston, Lord, induces Radisson to join the English, 116 + + Prickett, Habbakuk, 46 + + Prettyman, William, 60 + + _Profound_, 159 + + Pulteney, Daniel, 203 + + + Radisson and Groseilliers leave Quebec, 111 + + " arrives in London, 122 + + " arrives in Quebec, 85 + + " assisted by the Jesuits, 85 + + " captures Hays' Island fort, 104 + + " captures the _Susan_, 104 + + " " Fort Nelson, 105 + + " departs for Hudson's Bay, 117 + + " discovers young Gillam, 90 + + " first marriage of, 24 + + " in France, 83 + + " offers his services to the French Navy, 82 + + " overawes the Indians, 109 + + " Pierre, 23, 24, 65 + + " receives pension from the Company, 124 + + " sails from Hudson's Bay, 122 + + " takes John Bridgar, Governor of Fort Nelson, + prisoner, 106 + + Rae, Dr., Expedition of, 466 + + Red River claimed by United States, 440 + + Red River Settlement threatened Deadlock, 485 + + _Reformation_, 38 + + " loss of the, 39 + + Remin, Daniel de, Seigneur de Courcelles, 52 + + Resolution Isle sighted, 44 + + Reward offered for Radisson's capture, 123 + + Richmond, Duke of, Governor of Canada, 429 + + Riel, Louis, 494 + + Robertson, Colin, 386 + + " Governor, taken prisoner, 426 + + Robinson, John, Lord Bishop of London, 195 + + " Sir John, 43 + + Ross, Captain, 451 + + Rupert created Earl of Holdernesse and Duke of Cumberland, 37 + + " Fort, captured by the French, 134 + + " illness of, 43 + + " is sworn a member of the Privy Council, also the Tangier + Commission; is elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; is + appointed member of the Council of Trade; and also is a + member of the Royal African Company, 41 + + " second marriage of, 25 + + " sends for Groseilliers, 43 + + " sent to command the Guinny fleet, 41 + + " Prince, 20, 35 + + " Prince, granted charter by King, 50 + + " Prince, is paid a lump sum, 64 + + Rupert, Prince, death of, First Governor of Hudson's Bay + Company, 94 + + _Rupert, The Prince_, arrival of, 78 + + " " " sails from Gravesend, 51 + + " " " to sail in the spring, 64 + + " " " stuck in the ice, 96 + + " " " wreck of, 102 + + Rupert's River, 47 + + Russia looks toward the New World, 244 + + Russians on the west coast, 347 + + Russian-American Fur Company, 348 + + Russian claims, 445 + + Ryswick, Treaty of, 148, 168, 187 + + + _Salamandre_, 156 + + Sanford, Robert, 175 + + Sargeant, Governor, 95, 135, 137 + + Saxon, Sir Charles, 429 + + _Sceptre_, 321 + + Scroggs, John, Captain of the _Whalebone_, 213 + + _Shark_, 264 + + _Seahorse_ captured by the press-gang, 268 + + Seignely, Marquis de, 84 + + Selkirk arrives at Fort William, 419 + + " captures " 421 + + " winters at " 422 + + " Death of, 432 + + " Lord, arrives in Canada, 406 + + " The Earl of, 371 + + Selkirk's immigrants arrive, 380 + + " project, 375 + + " proposal accepted, 378 + + Semple, Death of, 413 + + " Robert, 404 + + Semple's murderers, Trial of, 431 + + _Shaftesbury_, arrival of the, 78 + + Sharpe, Mr., Company's solicitor, 269 + + Shepherd, Captain, of the _Shaftesbury_, 78 + + Ships besieged by peddlers, 65 + + Shrewsbury, Duke of, 201 + + " Death of Thomas, 455 + + " " Sir George, 473 + + " expedition to the northern coast, 453 + + " Thomas, 453 + + " George, Governor-in-Chief of the amalgamated + Companies, 437, 447 + + Smallpox epidemic, 319 + + Smith, Cape, 47 + + " Smith, Francis, 264 + + " Donald Alexander, Governor, 496 + + South Sea Company, 208, 209, 211 + + Spanish claims, 346 + + " Main, The, 38 + + Spence, Governor, 267 + + Stanion, John, 261 + + Stanton, Governor, at Moose Factory, 177 + + Stickeen River, 448 + + Strange, Lord, 271 + + Strathcona, Lord, 496 + + Strike of the Company's men, 296 + + Strong, William, engaged as secretary to Rupert, 40 + + _St. Anne_, 87 + + " destruction of the, 106 + + St. Peter, Fort, 241 + + St. Simon, Sieur de, 69 + + _St. Pierre_, 87 + + " arrives at mouth of St. Lawrence, 110 + + " destruction of the, 106 + + " re-built, 107 + + Superior, Lake, 23, 219 + + " " reaches shore of, 26 + + _Susan_ returned to the New England Merchants, 111 + + Sutherland, Lord, 141 + + + Tabiti Indians encountered, 75 + + Tadoussac, 86 + + Talon, Jean, Intendant, 22, 52, 69 + + " returns to France, 52 + + " writes Colbert, 53 + + Tast, Admiral, arrival of, 150 + + Thompson, David, 342 + + Three Rivers, 24 + + Territorial Rights, The surrender of, 487 + + _Terror_, 466 + + Tionnontates, or the Tobacco Nation, 26 + + Toronto merchants petition Legislative Council, 471 + + Treaty between Russia and Great Britain, 445 + + " of 1783, 442 + + " of neutrality, 140 + + " with Red River Indians, 425 + + Troyes, Chevalier de, 131 + + " Chevalier de, receives commission to drive the English + from Northern Bay, 131 + + " de, Expedition of, 132 + + Turbulent meetings at Hudson's Bay House, 496 + + Turner's exploration, 341 + + + Union of the two Companies, 433 + + Upland Indians, 65 + + Utrecht, Treaty of, 199 + + + Valiere, Sieur de, 56 + + Vancouver, Fort, 500 + + Vancouver Island granted to the Company, 464 + + Varennes, Death of, 243 + + " Peter Gauthier de, 150, 240, 241 + + " Sieur de, marries, 241 + + " sets out to explore the West, 241 + + " son reaches the Rockies, 243 + + Vaughan, Captain David, commanding the _Discovery_, 212 + + Vermilion, Fort, Attack on, 426 + + _Violent_, 158 + + + _Wales, Prince of_, 392 + + " Prince of, 61 + + " Prince of, Fort, built of stone, 281 + + " Prince of, Fort, surrenders to the French, 321 + + Walker, Jeremiah, 66 + + William, King, declares war against France, 146 + + " Fort, 389, 418 + + " Fort, restored to the North-Westers, 424 + + " of Orange landed at Plymouth, 145 + + " the Third's accession to the throne, 146 + + _William and Ann_ wrecked, 447 + + Winnipeg, Lake, Meeting at, 232 + + _Weesph_, 158 + + _Welcome_, 249 + + Western Company, The, 183 + + West, Rev. Mr., principal chaplain, 437 + + Weymouth, Viscount, 296 + + _Whalebone_, 213 + + Wolseley, Lord, Expedition of, 495 + + + York, Duke of, 20, 61 + + " " to succeed Rupert as Governor, 94 + + " " ascends the throne, 129 + + " Fort, Desperate condition of the French at, 194 + + " Factory, 232 + + " " surrenders to the French, 324 + + Yukon, Fort, 502 + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + On page 55, arrét perhaps should be arrêt. + On page 103, Englishmen perhaps should be Englishman. + On page 166, Fort Anne perhaps should be Fort St. Anne. + On page 222, Matonabbee perhaps should be Matonabee. + On page 242, peace--leaving should perhaps be peace-loving. + On page 279, Secretary Pitts should perhaps be Secretary Pitt. + On page 321, and in the Index, Admiral Pérouse should perhaps + be La Pérouse. + On page 411, Anglaise perhaps should be Anglais. + On page 474, unrenumerative should perhaps be unremunerative. + The book uses both Medard and Médard. + The book uses both Serigny and Sérigny. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42279 *** |