Cape of Button's Island, at the 61st degree or thereabouts, which is the commencement Hudson's Straits? This excessive claim would carry away a large portion of the land Labrador, which France has not ceded.

The line of separation should then commence at Cape Bouton, pass through the middle he territory which is between Port Rupert and Lake Nemiskau, of which Père Albanel, uit, and Mr. de St. Simon, took possession in the name of the King in 1672 ;* follow at same distance from the Bay along the eastern side, in such manner as to divide in the Idle the territory between the Lake of the Abitibis and Fort Monsipi or St. Louis; tinuing at a similar distance from the shores of the Bay at the western side until beyond Rivers of Ste. Thérèse and Bourbon.

That if on the territory which by these lines belongs to England, there should be nd French settlements, they shall be destroyed; but those that may have been founded our own lands shall be continued, each one being master of his own.

SECOND MEMOIR.

The 10th Article of the Treaty of Peace of Utrecht says, precisely, that the Strait the Bay of Hudson shall be restored to England. Therefore, there does not appear reason for the demand that the limits of the territory in question should commence at north cape of Davis' Bay, in 56° 30', north latitude, since this cape is more than leagues from the Cape of Isle Bouton, close to the 61st degree or thereabouts, which he commencement of Hudson's Straits, and this excessive claim which they demand, ld carry away a great part of the lands of Labrador, which appertain to the Governat of Canada, and which France has neither ceded nor intended to cede. Thus the mencement of the dividing line should be at Cape Bouton, which is the first cape that as the entrance into Hudson's Straits, as is explained by the preceding memoir: this should run to the middle of the territory between Fort Rupert and that of Nemisco, ld French post.

Further, their demand to draw a line from the North Cape of Davis' Bay as far as Great Lake of the Mistassins, separating the said lake in two parts, has no more dation, seeing that the King of France has never said that he would give any part of lands appertaining to the Government of Canada, but that he would restore those ch appertain to Hudson Bay; if the English pretend that the territory which they and should come back to them, it will be for them to prove it.

To conclude, the English Commissaries, not content with wishing to have half of the e of the Mistassins, demand that the line shall continue as far as the 49th parallel of h latitude, and that, from thence, there shall be drawn a line to the west along the 49th parellel.

One cannot see upon what ground these gentlemen can authorize this pretension and and that France lose all the territory which is to be found between the 60th degree, h belongs to it by the Treaty of Breda, to the 49th degree in every longitude disred and to be discovered; this pretension also is a novelty of which no mention is e in the Articles of the Treaty of Peace of Utrecht.

LAMOTHE-CADILLAC ON THE LIMITS, 1720.

(Copy obtained by the Government of Ontario from the Department de la Marine, Paris.) RACT FROM A MEMOIR CONCERNING THE LIMITS OF ACADIA AND OF HUDSON'S BAY, GIVEN IN 1720, TO THE DUKE OF ORLEANS, REGENT, BY THE SR. DE LAMOTHE DE CADILLAC, FORMERLY CAPTAIN IN CANADA, AND GOVERNOR OF MISSISSIPI.

Lamothe has examined the 10th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht, and has remarked

The English have never possessed the lands that the French have at Hudson's Bay, therefore it is impossible for the King of France to restore them to them, for one cannot restore more than that which has been taken by usurpation.

The fact is, that at the time of the said Treaty of Utrecht, the French possessed one part of the Strait and Bay of Hudson, and the English possessed the other. It is very true that the King of France had, some time before, conquered the English part, and it [is] of this that it has been understood that restitution is to be made, that is to say to trouble them no more in their enjoyment; but with regard to the said lands possessed by the French in the said Bay, if they have previously belonged to the English, the King will bind himself in the same manner, to make restitution of them. But there must be a real and incontestible proof of proprietorship; and this the Crown of England cannot produce.

AN ENGLISH VIEW OF THE BOUNDARIES OF CANADA AND OF OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST; TOGETHER WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NATIVE INHABITANTS, 1747.

....

(Extracts from "A complete system of Geography.... in two volumes. The whole illustrated with seventy maps, by Emanuel Bowen, Geographer to His Majesty This work is extracted from several hundred books of travel, and history, is brought down to the present time, preserving all that is useful in the fourth and last edition of the Complete Geographer, published under the name of Herman Moll, &c.............. London, 1747." pp. 621, 624, 629.)

....

[CANADA OR NEW FRANCE].--The limits of this large country are variously fixed by our Geographers, some of them extending them quite from Florida to the northern boundaries of America, or from 33 to 63 degrees of north latitude...... Others bound it on the north by the land called Labrador, or New Britany; on the east by the Northern Sea and New England, &c., on the south by Florida; and on the west by New Mexico, and the unknown tracts north of it.* According to which, it will extend itself from the 25th to the 53rd degree of latitude, and from 76 to 93 of west longitude. But its greatest extent is commonly taken from south-west to north-east, that is, from the Province of Padoua in New Spain, to Cape Charles, near the Bay of St. Lawrence, which is reckoned near 900 leagues. [The preceding includes, whilst the following excludes Louisiana.] Hontan, .... makes it to reach only from 39 to 65 degrees of latitude; that is, from the southside of the Erie Lake, to the northside of Hudson's Bay, and in longitude from the River Mississippi to Cape Race in Newfoundland. * *

XIV

Baron

CANADA, in its largest sense, is commonly divided into Eastern and Western, the former of which is commonly known by the name of Canada, or New France, and the latter, which is of much later discovery, Louisiana, in honour of the late Lewis The former of these, including all to the north and west of the great river and lakes, contains twenty-eight tribes [the following amongst others ;]-Illinois, Miamis, Maskoutens, Outovagamis, Hurons, Outaouatz, Nipissirinians, Algonkins, Nadou essoueronous, Kiristinoas. SAGUENAY contains the four following nations or tribes, viz.:-1, the Esquimaux; 2, Bersiamites or Oupapinachois; 3, Oumionquois; and 4, Cacouchaquois.

It may not be improper to give a farther list of the wild nations of these parts. Round the Hurons' Lake, the Hurons... the Outatouas, Nokes, Mis

*As a matter of fact the real westerly boundary of Canada at this period was the Pacific Ocean, or at least the Rocky Mountains. Louisiana's northern boundary, which was the southern boundary of Canada in that quarter, ran from the River Colorado, and easterly along the northern watershed of the Missouri, to about the parallel of 40°; and thence easterly, on about that parallel to the English Colonies. The boundary of Louisiana followed the Colorado River, southerly, till it met the northerly boundary of New Mexico, which it then followed easterly to the junction of the northerly and easterly boundaries of that country; and thence it followed the easterly boundary of New Mexico to the Gulf. From the point of junction of the westerly and northerly boundaries of Louisiana, a line due west to the Ocean was the south, erly boundary of Canada; to the south of this last mentioned line was New Mexico according to some, and New Albion according to other Geographers.

sisaques, Atticumekes, and the Outchipones, sirnamed Leapers. About the Lake of the Illinois, some Illinois, the Oumamis, Maskoutens, Kikapous, Outagamis, Malomismis, Pouteuotamis, Ojatinous, and the Sakis. All these speak the Algonkin.. Along the River of the Outauas are seated the Tabitibi, Monzoni, Machacandibi, Neopemen of Achirim, Nepisirim, and Temiskamink-all speak Algonkin. About the Upper or Superior Lake, in north of the Mississipi, live the Assimpoals, Soukaskitons, Ovadbatons, Atintons, Clistinos, and the Esquimaux.

CANADA PROPER hath on the north the Terra de Labrador, Hudson's Bay, and New Wales. On the east the great River Saguenay divides it from the Province of that name; on the south the great Province of Louisiana, and the Iroquois and Etechemins. As to the northern boundaries, they are not known, and must be left to time to discover.

...

THE PROVINCE OF LOUISIANA.-This vast tract is bounded on the south by the Gulph of Mexico, on the north by the Illinois and by the Territories of the Panissus, Paoducas, Osages, Tionontetecagas, Chavanons, and other wild nations; on the east by the part of Florida, Georgia, and Carolina; and on the west by New Mexico and New Spain. The maps of the accurate Mr. de Lisle give those boundaries a much greater extent, especially on the north side, where they make it contiguous to Canada.

FIRST VISIT OF RADISSON AND DESGROISSILIERS TO HUDSON'S BAY, 1666Two French gentlemen, meeting with some savages in the Lake of Assimponals [Winnipeg], in Canada, they learnt of them, that they might go by land to the bottom of the Bay, where the English had not yet been upon which, the Frenchmen desired the Indians to conduct them thither, which the savages accordingly did. The Frenchmen returned to the Upper Lake [Superior] the same way they came, and from thence to Quebeck, the Capital of Canada; where they offered the principal merchants to carry ships to Hudson's Bay, but their project was rejected. Hence they went to France in hopes of a more favourable hearing at Court... but they were answered as they had been at Quebeck... The King of England's Embassador at Paris persuaded them to go to London, where they met with a favourable reception from some men of quality, merchants and others, who employed Mr. Gillam, a person long used to the New England trade, to perfect this discovery.

OPERATIONS OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY IN THE BAY, 1670-86.-In the year 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company sent over Charles Baily, Esq., as their Governor, who, with Mr. Radisson, settled at Rupert's river; and another factory was established at Fort Nelson.* In the year 1683, Henry Serjeant, Esq., was made Governor at Rupert's River, with orders to be very careful of the French, who now began to shew themselves very jealous of the trade carried on by the English Company with the natives.......In the year 1686, we find the Company in possession of five settlements, namely: Albany River, Hayes Island, Rupert's River, Fort Nelson (or York), and New Severn.

NO FORT OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY BUILT INLAND ON NELSON OR HAYES' RIVERS, 1747.-If a fort were built at the Great Fork, sixty leagues above York Fort, towards the south-west, and a factory, with European goods fix'd there, and a reasonable price put upon them, the trade would be wonderfully increas'd. The Great Fork is that part where the Rivers Nelson and Hayes join, and having run a little way together, separate again forming an island, which is called Hayes Island.†

FRENCH POSTS AND TRADE NORTH OF THE HEIGHT OF LAND, SOUTH AND EAST OF THE BAY, 1747.-The bottom of the Bay is by the French pretended to be part of New

* It would appear quite clear from a perusal of this and the several relations on the subject in this book (confirmed by such others as we have been able to procure access to), that the first attempt to build a Factory here by the English was in 1682. (See Extracts from Parliamentary Report of 1749, viz.: despatch from the Company to John Bridgar, dated May 15th, 1682 p. 399 post.) The French contemporaneously with them re-built their own Fort Bourbon (which they had originally built in 1676), and during the same season destroyed the English establishment.

+ There is another Hayes Island at the mouth of the Moose, on which Moose Fort was built.

France; and indeed, to cross the country, from St. Margaret's River,* which runs into the River of Canada, or St. Lawrence to Rupert's River, at the bottom of Hudson's Bay, is not above 150 miles.

The French have a house or settlement for trade near the southern branch of Moose River, about one hundred miles above the factory, where they sell their goods cheaper than the Company do; altho' it be very difficult and expensive to carry them so far from Canada...... The French get all the choice skins, and leave only the refuse for the Company. The French have also got another house † pretty high up, upon Rupert's River, by which they have gain'd all the trade upon the East-Main, except a little the Company get at Slude River, the mouth of which is about thirty leagues to the north of Rupert's River.

TRADE OF THE REMOTE INDIANS WITH MONTREAL, 1747.-Montreal drives a vast trade with the natives, whose chiefs go first to pay their duty to the governor and make him some presents......This concourse begins about June, and some of them come hither from places distant above five hundred leagues. The fair is kept along the bank of the river, and those natives are suffered to go and exchange their wares with the French. This concourse lasts off and on near three months. The natives bring thither all sorts of furs, which they exchange for guns, powder, ball, great-coats, and other French garments, iron and brass works, and trinkets of all sorts.

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S TRADE WITH THE INTERIOR, 1747.-The English who trade here [New South Wales], have no plantations or settlements within land, but live near the coast within their forts, in little houses or huts.

BOUNDARIES OF HUDSON'S BAY, 1750-1755-1761.

EXTRACTS FROM M. DE LA GALISSONNIERE'S MEMOIR ON THE FRENCH COLONIES IN NORTH AMERICA, DATED DECEMBER, 1750.‡

Having treated of Canada in general, we consider ourselves bound to enter into some details respecting its different parts, and shall commence with those of the north.

Hudson's Bay, which was one of its most lucrative establishments, has been ceded to the English by the Treaty of Utrecht, under the denomination or title of restitution. They carry on a profitable trade there, but the excessive cold and the difficulty of subsistence, will never permit them to form establishments there, capable of affording any uneasiness to Canada; and if the strength of the latter country be augmented, as proposed, it will possibly be in a condition, in the first war, to wrest Hudson's Bay from the English.

The Treaty of Utrecht had provided for the appointment of Commissioners to regulate the boundaries of Hudson's Bay; but nothing has been done in that matter. The term restitution, which has been used in the Treaty, conveys the idea clearly, that the English can claim only what they have possessed, and as they never had but a few establishments on the sea coast, it is evident that the interior of the country is considered as belonging to France.

By this is meant the St. Maurice or the Saguenay River-most probably the latter, whose head branches interlace with those that fall into Lake Mistassin. +Fort Nemiscau, on the lake of that name, is probably here alluded to. It was established before the close of the 17th century.

N. Y. Hist. Col., Vol. 10, pp. 224-5.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PRIVATE INSTRUCTIONS TO M. DE VAUDREUIL, DATED VERSAILLES 1ST APRIL, 1755.*

By article 10, of the Treaty of Utrecht it had been agreed that Commissioners should be named on both sides, to settle the boundaries between the French and British American colonies.

On occasion of an expedition that the English fitted out, in 1718, against the fishing posts, which the French had in the Islands of Canso, the two Courts did, in fact, nominate Commissioners to decide the property of these islands. The Commissioners met at Paris. At the very first conference, those of the King of England, who claimed that the Islands of Canso were dependent on Acadia, which was ceded to the English by the Treaty of Utrecht, were convinced, on inspecting the map which they presented themselves, that those islands were on the contrary, included in the reserves expressed in the article of the Treaty of Utrecht, containing the cession of Acadia, and that, consequently, France had retained the property thereof. They withdrew, saying they required new instructions from their Court, and did not again make their appearance. Although there had been question on different occasions that since presented themselves, of naming other Commissioners in execution of the treaty, the English had always eluded it, until the last war; and Sieur de Vaudreuil is better informed than any person how they abused the moderation which had always governed his Majesty's proceedings and views, since he has been a witness of their unceasing usurpations, on the territory of Canada, during the long peace which followed the Treaty of Utrecht.

His Majesty did flatter himself that he should eventually succeed in placing bounds to their enterprises, and securing tranquillity to his colonies, by a definite fixation of the respective limits.

In consequence of the last Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, whereby that of Utrecht has been renewed, Commissioners have been named on both sides, and did meet at Paris, to regulate ll the disputes concerning the French and British possessions.

But whatever earnestness and facilities His Majesty had lent to this settlement, the success of the labour of these Commissaries is far from corresponding, up to the present time, to the hopes he had entertained thereof, from the dispositions his Britannic Majesty had caused to be evinced in that regard.

As yet the Commissioners have not entered upon the limits of Canada, further than what regards Acadia.

* * *

They [the English] have not yet explained themselves respecting the extent they propose giving their Hudson Bay boundaries. But it is to be expected that they will wish to stretch them to the centre of the Colony of Canada, in order to enclose it on all sides.

However that be, His Majesty is firmly resolved to maintain his rights and his possessions against pretensions so excessive and so unjust; and whatever be his love for peace, will not make for its preservation any sacrifices, but those which will accord with the dignity or his Crown, and the protection he owes to his subjects.

Such is the principle on which his Ambassador at the Court of England has orders to labour in a negotiation that has been entered into with that Court, for the termination of all those differences, by a provisional or definitive treaty; and it is also on that principle that His Majesty wills that Sieur de Vaudreuil do regulate his conduct, in relation to these objects, until the issue of that negotiation whereof His Majesty will have him informed.

He is, in consequence, to be on his guard against all attempts the English might make against his Majesty's possessions; carefully to avoid affording them any just cause of complaint; to act on occasions, wherein there will possibly be acts of violence, in such a manner that he might not appear the aggressor; and to confine himself to the adoption of all possible measures to enable him to repel force by force.

His Majesty's intention is, in fact, that he confine himself to a strict defensive, so long as the English will not make any attack, which is to be regarded as a rupture on their part.

If, to ensure this defensive, he considers it necessary to make the Indians act offensively against the English, he will be at liberty to have recourse to that expedient.

*N. Y. Hist. Col., Vol. 10, pp. 290-3.