M. DE BEAUHARNOIS AND HOQUART TO THE MINISTER.

Oct. 15, 1730.

The Port of Temiscamingue had been taken from Le Sieur Gorgendière, who claims to have incurred considerable expense, during his year of possession, in presents which he had caused to be given to the savages of the different nations living in the neighbourhood of his post, in order to attract them there, and also in the advances which he had made to them, according to the usual custom of traders. [They urged that as one or even two years' possession of a post give no chance of profit, he ought to be relieved from the obligation to pay 200 livres for goods furnished from the King's stores.]

M. DE BEAUHARNOIS TO COUNT DE MAUREPAS.*

October 8, 1744.

In regard to the posts on Hudson's Bay and those they [the English] have established on this side, in the direction of Temiscaming, and which his Majesty has been pleased to recommend me to endeavour to neutralize, or to utterly destroy if possible: I have accordingly instructed Sieur Guillet, who farms the post of Temiscaming, and has gained the good opinion of all the nations thereabouts, to prevail on them to assemble together, in the course of this winter, in order to fall, at the opening of the spring, as well on Fort Rupert as on the other posts in the direction of Hudson's Bay. I have in like manner, on receiving news of the war, sent orders to Missilimakinac, to be transmitted to Alepimegon and the other posts in that neighbourhood, so that they may all co-operate in the destruction of the English establishments at the north, and among the rest, of that newly built, about twenty leagues above Michipicoton, by a Canadian refugee, who has conducted thither seven or eight Englishmen who trade there; and I have ordered not only the forcible destruction of that establishment, but also that the Canadian be killed, if it be possible to seize him. I have also given Sieur Guillet notice that I should, at the very opening of spring, despatch a party of Frenchmen and Indians, under the command of an officer and some others, so as to make a simultaneous attack on those posts. Sieur Guillet is to warn those Indians of this expedition, in order that they may hold themselves in readiness to join it, and, in fact, I calculate on sening it thither as soon as the season will permit, and I beg you, my Lord, to assure his Majesty that I will not neglect anything to utterly destroy, if possible, the English establishments in that quarter, as well as all those the difficulties whereof I shall be able to surmount.

as

M. DE BEAUHARNOIS TO COUNT DE MAUREPAS.+

Montreal, June 18, 1745.

I am on my guard and merely on the defensive, not being able to act offensively, I had the honour to inform you, either against New England or the posts on Hudson's Bay, in consequence of the want in the King's stores, and even in those of the merchants, of the supplies necessary for such expeditions, a circumstance I was not informed of last autumn. Besides, the preservation of our possessions and forts in the interior of the Colony being my principal object, I consider it more prudent not to divest ourselves of our small means of resistance in case of attack, and to suspend the other projects until I

be in a condition to execute them.

*N. Y. His Col., Vol. IX., p 1105.
+ Ibid. Vol. X., p.
2.

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, 1687-1798.

ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF HUDSON'S BAY BY THE DANES AND SPANIARDS.

The Danes pretend that this Bay had already been discovered by one of their nation, by whom the name of Christiania, after Christian IV., King of Denmark, was given. They say that the Danes having passed the strait, continued their voyage towards the north, and finally reached the mainland at the mouth of the river, which they called the Danish River, and which the Indians called Monoteousiki, which signifies the strangers' river. They all perished during the winter.*

Another writer, who has paid particular attention to North America, believed the fable of a Spanish vessel having crossed the continent from the Pacific Ocean to Hudson's Bay: "It is alleged that the Spaniards have recently found an entrance in the latitude of 47° 55′ north, which in twenty-seven days brought them to the vicinity of Hudson's Bay; this latitude exactly corresponds to the ancient relation of John de Fuca, the Greek pilot, in 1592."+

REPORT OF THE ENGLISH COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO TREAT WITH THE FRENCH, CONCERNING DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, ETC., 1687.

We your Majesty's Commissioners appointed to treat with the Ambassador and Envoy Extraordinary of His Most Christian Majesty concerning the differences that have happened, or may, to your Majesty or the French in America, have had frequent conferences with the said Ambassador and Envoy Extraordinary, in order to obtain satisfaction for the damages your Majesty's subjects have lately sustained from the French in Hudson's Bay, with restitution of the three forts which by surprise were seized on by them; as also touching several other differences depending between the two Crowns. And as to the business of Hudson's Bay, having already acquainted your Majesty with our proceedings therein, we do further add, as our humble opinion, that it plainly appears your Majesty and your subjects have a right to the whole Bay and Streights of Hudson, and to the sole trade thereof, so it may be fit for your Majesty to support the said Company of Hudson's Bay in the recovery and maintenance of their right, since otherwise that trade will be totally lost, and fall into the hands of the French, if they be permitted to continue in the possession of those forts, or if any fort or place within the said Bay or Streights.

HIS MAJESTY'S RESOLUTIONS THEREUPON.

Whereupon His Majesty did declare, that having maturely considered his own right and the right of his subjects to the whole Bay and Streights of Hudson, and having been also informed of the reasons alleged on the part of the French, to justify their late proceeding in seizing three forts, which for many years past have been possessed by the English, and in committing several acts of hostility, to the very great damage of the English Company of Hudson's Bay :

His Majesty upon the whole matter did conceive the said Company well founded in their demands, and therefore did insist upon his own right and the right of his subjects to the whole Bay and Streights of Hudson, and to the sole trade thereof, as also upon the demand of full satisfaction for the damages they have received, and restitution of the three forts surprised by the French, in the bottom of the Bay.

*Introduction a l'Histoire de l'Asie, de l'Afrique et de l'Amérique. Par M. Bruzen La Martinière. pp. 409-10.

T. II.,

+ Dalrymple's Plan for Promoting the Fur Trade, 1789.

PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF PLACES, 1700.

MR. VERNON, SECRETARY OF STATE TO LORD LEXINGTON, COMMUNICATING TO THE BOARD OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS THE ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED BY THE AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE, REGARDING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN AMERICA, APRIL 29, 1700.

MY LORD,-Having received the alternative from the French Ambassador, I send your lordship a copy of it, that it may be considered at your board by Wednesday next. I am, My Lord, &c., JA. VERNON.

By the first alternative, I propose that France keep Fort Bourbon, and England that of Chichitouan having for limits between the two nations in that quarter thewhich is exactly half-way between the two Forts; and in that case, the limits of France on the side of Acadie, shall be restricted to the River St. George.

By the second alternative, I propose that Fort Chichitouan shall remain with France, and that of Bourbon with England, having for limits the same place of which I spoke above; but in that case I demand that the limits of France, on the side of Acadie, should extend to the River Kenebec.

As to the fishery, as all commerce between the colonies of the two nations is forbidden, and as under the pretext of fishing, a contraband trade would be sure to be carried on, it is thought, according to the usage established in that country, the fishery should be prevented as far as the eye can reach; but as difficulties always arise when a determined distance is not agreed upon, it is proposed to fix it at eight leagues, and that for the same reason, and for fear of the same inconvenience, the islands which are found comprised within this space should belong to whichever of the two nations on the shores of which they are situated.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS on the above, 1700.

What the interest of the Hudson Bay Company may be in keeping Fort Chichitouau, alias Fort Albany, or exchanging it for Fort Bourbon, alias York, they themselves can best determine.

*

*

*

The proposal for settling limits between the English and French in Hudson's Bay is groundless; for by the late Treaty of Peace, Art. 8, the only right reserved to the French in Hudson's Bay is in relation to those places which were taken from the English by the French during the peace which preceded the late war, and retaken from them by the English during the said war, which cannot imply any extent of territory more than the places so taken and possessed; and the Hudson's Bay Company challenging an undoubted right to the whole Bay, antecedent to any pretence of the French, it is necessary they be consulted before any concession of territories be made to the French in those parts.

*

Plantation Office, Whitehall,
July 12, 1700.

*

*

FORT NELSON RESTORED TO THE ENGLISH.

THOMAS HILL.

From Relation du Detroit et de La Baye D' Hudson Par Monsieur Jérémie.

The Fort was named Bourbon, and the river on which it was situated was named Ste. Therese, because the fort was brought under the authority of the French on the day of St. Therese, October 14. I had the honour to be in command of the fort for

six years, and I had the honour to be stationed there by express orders of the King, whose commissions I still preserve. None of my predecessors had been appointed in the same way.

In 1714 I received the orders of the Court, with letters from the Count de Pontchartrain, to hand over the post to the English, according to the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht.

the

Though the fort was built on the River Ste. Therese, it is by the River Bourbon that savages come to trade. The first great lake through which this river passes is called by the savages Tatasquoyaou Secahigan, which siguifies the Lake of Forts, in which discharges a river called Quissiquatchiouen, or strong current.

Jérémie estimates the annual profit of the trade of Fort Bourbon to the French at 100,000 livres. In 1713, the goods they brought out cost 8,000 livres, and in 1714 he made over 120,000, which he took away when relieved by the English.]

CAPTAIN MIDDLETON * TO A. DOBBS, † ESQ., JANUARY, 1742–3.

I have seriously considered your proposition of laying open the Hudson's Bay trade, and settling the country higher up, upon those great rivers which run into the Bay; and though I may agree with you in the great advantage the public would receive from such a settlement (could it be made), both as to their trade, and the cutting off communication with the Mississippi, yet I must declare my opinion, that it is altogether impracticable upon many accounts; for I cannot see where we could find people enough that would be willing or able to undergo the fatigue of travelling in those frozen climates, or what encouragements would be sufficient to make them attempt it, with such dangerous enemies on every side; no Europeans could undergo such hardships as those French that intercept the English trade, who are inured to it, and are called by us wood-runners (or coureurs des bois), for they endure fatigues just the same as the native Indians, with whom they have been mixed and intermarried for two or three or more generations.

As to the rivers you mention, none of them are navigable with anything but canoes, 80 small that they carry but two men, and they are forced to make use of land carriages nearly the fourth part of the way, by reason of water-falls, during that little summer they enjoy.

Out of 120 men and officers the Company have in the Bay, not five are capable of venturing in one of those canoes, they are so apt to overturn and drown them. Many of our people have been twenty years and upwards there, and yet are not dexterous enough to manage a canoe; so there would be no transporting people that way.

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S POSTS, 1775-1798.

1775.-"The Hudson's Bay Company has at present four factories: Churchill, Fort York, Albany, and that of Moose River. Fort York is reputed the most important it i

The Quarterly Review in an article on "Lord Selkirk and the North-West Passage," (Vol. 16, 1816-17, p. 16), says: "At length a gentleman of the name of Dobbs, having well considered what preceding navigators had stated with regard to the high tides from the northward in the Welcome, prevailed on the Company, after much importunity, to send a vessel to the northward, in 1737; but she returned without doing anything, never having reached so high as the latitude 63°. Dobbs, perceiving the reluctant and negligent conduct of the company, applied next to the Government, and by his perseverance and sanguine representations, obtained the Furnace bomb, and the pink Discovery, to be appropriated for this service, under the orders of Captain Middleton, a commander in the British Navy, who had served as master in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company for many voyages. Middleton left England in 1741, wintered in Churchill River, and in the summer 1742 proceeded up the Welcome to Wager River, and looked into, (he says sailed round), what he was pleased to call Repulse Bay. From hence he returned to the southward."

On page 141 of the same number of the Quarterly, it is stated that: "Shut up in summer and winter within their three forts, situated on the shores of Hudson's Bay, these people, for a long time, held no other intercourse with the native Indians than receiving from them, at the foot of their walls, their bear skins and beaver skins, their goose quills and castoreum at one end of a rope and lowering down at the other their value iu blankets, baubles and brandy."

†A. Dobbs was the author of " An account of the countries adjoining Hudson's Bay, and of certain voyages thither [which he made] and of the probability of a North-west passage, (1741)."

situated on the south branch of the Hayes River, five leagues above the point where it runs into the sea, at 37 deg. 20 min. lat., and 93 deg. 58 min. long."*

1795.-Winterbotham † gives the following as the forts occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company. They were all on the shores of the Bay :

"The country lying round Hudson's Bay, or the country of the Esquimaux, comprehended Labrador, New Britain, and South Wales, has obtained the general name of New Britain, and is attached to the Government of Lower Canada. A superintendent of trade, appointed by the Governor-General of the four Provinces, and responsible to him, resides at Labrador.

"Before the Canadian merchants pursued the fur trade with such diligence as they now do through the lakes, and had penetrated into the interior parts of the Hudson's Bay, a great number of Indians used to come annually down to the Company's settlements to barter their skins; and although the Company have now, in a great measure, lost the benefit of this lucrative traffic, it may not be amiss to mention the manner in which the Indians prosecute their voyages to the factories.

"The merchants from Canada have been heard to acknowledge that were the Hudson's Bay Company to prosecute their inland trade in a spirited manner, they must soon be obliged to give up all thoughts of penetrating into the country, as from the vicinity of the Company's factories to the inland posts, they can afford to undersell them in every branch.

"To explain this emulation between the Company and the Canadian traders, it will be necessary to review the state of the Company in the year 1773. About that time, the Canadian traders from Montreal, actuated by a laudable spirit of industry and adventure, and experiencing the peculiar advantages that resulted from their exertions, had become so numerous and indefatigable at the head of the rivers which led to the Company's settlements, that the trade of the latter was in a great measure cut off from its usual channels The Indians, being supplied with everything they could wish for at their own doors, had no longer occasion, as they had hitherto done, to build canoes, and paddle several hundred miles, for the sake of cultivating a commerce with the Company, in which peregrination they were frequently exposed to much danger from hunger; so much so, that at one time seven canoes of Upland Indians perished on their return to their own country."

1798. "The whole of the settlements in New Britain are as follows:-Abbitibbi, Frederick, East Main and Brunswick Houses, Moose Fort, Henley, Gloucester and Osnaburg Houses, and a House of Winnipeg Lake, Severn or New Severn, York Fort or Nelson, Churchill Fort or Prince of Wales' Fort, South Branch, Hudson's, Manchester and Buckingham Houses; the last is the westernmost settlement, and lately erected (1798).

"Hudson's House, one of the Company's factories on the S. W. side of Saskatchewan River, 100 miles east of Manchester House, and 167 S. E. of Buckingham House, or lat. 55° 32', W. long. 106° 27' 20"."

Histoire et Commerce des Colonies Anglaises dans l'Amerique Septentrionale. London, 1775 Historical, Geograpbical, and Philosophical View of the United States, and of the European Settlements in America and the West Indies, 1795.

American Gazetteer. By Jebediah Morse, D. D. London, 1798.

This would be about the forks of the Saskatchewan. In another place this fort is said to be 600 miles west of Fort Churchill. The same statement is made in the folio edition of 1794.