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1
AV
HISTORY
OF
THE NORTH-WEST.
BY
ALEXANDER BEGG,
AUTKOK OK ■•nor n uovvx. .mk chkat.on o,. MANrnJ," ..,„k .k,. vr
<?-
VOLUME L
^
^
\)
HUNTER, ROSE & CO.
1894.
T'C
v.i
pjntered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-four, by Alexander Begg, at the Department
of Agriculture.
PRlNTF.n AND BOI'SP HV
lllNTKI!, lidSK A fu
TOIIOXTO.
-^qH'^
TO
SIR ])()XALI) A. SMITH, K.C.M.U.,
<;OVKRNOK OK
THK HUDSOxV'S BAY COMPANY,
THKSE VOLUMES
AKK
DEDICATED
AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT
BY
THE AUTHOR.
.i'
fU
111
ti(
vvl
1)1
ill
til
an
tr
to
pe
th
Hii
va
til
av
^' u S 1
DEDICATORY LETTER
TO
SJK DOXALJ) A. SMITH, K.C..M.(i..
Governor of 77/'' UiuhoiiA Uitij Coin jut in/.
Etc., Kt,'., Etc.
Slit. I well I'cliiciiilu')' tlu' flee]) ;mxi"t'tv .-md diTiul wliicli
]X'rv)ul(Ml all chiHHt's in tlic Kcd Kivci- Sfttlcmciit prior to youi-
arrival at Kort (lurry, in DfcrnilH'i', IS(i!>, as Special ( 'oiii-
niiHsioiu'i' IVoni Cjinuda. I also have a \<'ry distinct I'ccoilcc-
Icclin;^' oi" I'clici' experienced hy tlie coinnninitv
tion
th
when it was learneil tliat yon had come with Full authoi-ity to
brine- ahont a settlement of the misunderstandine' then exist-
ing l)t'tween the peoj)le of the country and the <;()\('i'nnient of
the Dominion.
The following- {)ae(',s will sliow that yours was no easy task,
and, hut for the skill anri jud<i-ment dis])layed hy you at that
tiyine- time, the hopes raised in oui- hicasts of a speedy endin<^f
to GUI- terrible suspense would not liave l)een i-eali/ed. 'I'o
you more than anyone else the Dominion is indebted for a
peaceful solution of the questions then ae-itatin^- the minds of
the people in the Xorth-West, and tlie wise an<l soothine' in-
Huence exei'cise 1 by you in l)rin^nn<,' to<;((thei-, an«l unitine- tlie
v^arious contendin^r pai-ties in the settlement, is (hie tlie fact
tliat bloodshed was a\(jided, and the horrois of an Indian war
averted. Only those who were on the spot and knew the
lifficulties you had to contend against can realize the herculean
m\
V
vi
DKDH'ATOKV I.KTTKU.
tawk you wore cntnistfil with, of tin- <;rt'at st-fvici- rnnlt'ifd to
(^iiiiula at that tiim-.
Kroiii till' <la\' w licii, thnaiji'li your aiKicc mikI co-ojH'nitioii,
)i (•((iiM'iitioii of all till' sarioiiH (•oiillictiii;^' |iintir.s was hrou^^dit
jlhout, ami a liill of ii;^lit.s IVaiiit'il lor |»i't'M('iitatioii to tlir
|)oiiiinioii ( JoMTiiiiiriit, tlio Noitli-Wi'.st i^railually assiiincil a
iM-ac'cl'iil Mttitiiilc, until liy tin' passiiio' of tlif Maiiitolia Act all
caust' I'oi' ilisciaitcnt or iliscoi'il was rt'iiio\t'il.
Tlic march of ci\iIi/.atioii in thi; North-West then h(';,'aM,anil
to-day, instcail of hcin;;' a vast huntin;^' ;4rounil and wilderness.
it is the honii! of tliousands of thrifty settlers, and with its
^reat ti'anscontiiieiital railway from ocean to ocean, [>laces
Canada in the |)roud position of l)ein«;' one of the l)ri;;;htest
jewels in the Mritisii Crown.
I look u])on the successful carrying' out of your very impor-
tant mission to the North-West in l<S(i!) and l'S7() a« the
turning' [)oint in the histoi'y of the Dominion, Ix'cause fi'oni it
sprang; all the suhseijuent vast undertakinj^s which to-day
phice (^auaila in the foremost rank as one of the most impor-
tant links in the chain of Impei-ial unity. And in these un-
dertakings I may say, without deti'actin^' from the value of
tlieir services, that without voui' aid and coun.sel your tiulv
eminent c<tllea<;ues would have foun<l it difficult if not im-
po.ssil)le to accom[)lisli what has been done.
Tlie Dominion as a wliole.and the Nortli-West in particular,
owe nnich to you, and in the fui'therance of .science, art, liter-
atiu'e, and in the alleviation of the suff'ei'in<^s of mankind, your
liand, as the hand of the benefactor, is seen in many places.
Foi' my own part. undeservin<j^ though I be, you have been to
me always kind and considerate.
DKDIOATOHV r,KrrKi{.
Nil
I \vi.sll,tll.'ll,MH illl lllllllMc tokclM.r lli\ o-iv.it |VS|MC( Inr \nl|
and the .Ir.-p ;rniti tilde I (rrl tor all your -nndlirss In inr iilid
mine, to dr.jicjitr t(i ynii my work, wliicji I IV.ir is l.iit ,i poor
uttciiipt to clii-oiiicif events rcJMtiiin- to so '^vi-nl n coiintrN.
I reiruiiii. Sir,
V our oltedielit sei\ ant,
AIJvNANDKIJ WVA'Al
m
M
iii.!'
■i' .1
*
I'l!
j;.\
• 11.
Till
K\l
THE
THE
THE
THE
CON T E N T 8 .
('HAITKR I.
I'kK-coM'MiiiAX j)is(ovi:mKs .
CMAI'TKH II.
i;.\in.V DISCoVKIMIvS IN- NOKTM A.MKUK'A
■ Hi
22
CHAI'TKK III.
•IIAMn.AlX IN- CANADA. A.M. OVKULANI) K.XI'MmATlOXS IV
THK Xoinil-WKST - - - . .
CHAITKK IV.
THE EAULV M1S.SIOXAUIE.S ---...
CHAPTER \.
KXl'LOUATIOXS IX HUDSOX'S HAY, AXI. COXFLKTS UKVWKKS
THE EX(JLIS1I AXI) FHEXCH - - . . .
CHAPTER VI.
HH
5',i
THE FUIl TllADEUS-
THE FL'K COMPAXIES
CHAPTER VII.
()4
Ml
07
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HUDSON'.S BAY COM PAX Y -
CHAPTER IX.
THE FUR TRADE OX THE PACIFIC COAST -
- 110
141
r
I
,1 ?i
rnui
^^n
^M
H
X COVTENTS.
C'HAITKH X. vu,r.
TUF. SKI.KIHK SKITLEMEXT 1<»1
CHAITER XI.
CONTEST UEHVEEX TKK Hl'DSONS liW AND NOKTII-WIXI'
COMI'.VNIES l"'"^
cniATTKH XII.
lOAMTION Ol" TlfK Urnsox's l!AY AND NDRTH-WEST COM-
I'ANIES ----- - - !!»:>
(^HAP'IM'.H XI II.
Nttirrn-wKsr koim's and ini>ians '207
(^HAITER XIV.
KSTAIU.ISHMENT OK (GOVERNMENT AT UED KIVEH
CHAPTEK XV.
l:XIM,oH.\ToHV WOkK FKOM 1 77;> TO 1 S()()
CHAITER XVI.
A STIU'C.JLE KOH I'KEE TRADE - - - -
CHAITEH XVII.
THE CHrUc^H rX THE XOHTH-WFST
(MiAITER XVII I.
VOVAOEIKS, EHEtCillTEHS, lUNTEHS AND TUAIM'EUS -
CHATTER XTX.
CANAm.VX (M..\rMS .VXD THE COMMITTEE oE l.Sr)7 -
(^HAITER XX.
DEGMXE OF THE Hl'DSONS 15.VV COMl'AXV's AITHOUITY
•I'l'.i
■2:\s
■2 52
- 274-
- 25)5
- .S«)5
:i2I
roXTKNTS.
XI
ii{TH-\vi;sr
kEST COM-
iioiiri'Y - MX
CHAITKH XXI.
r.\t)K.
XF.r.OTIATIoNs K(>1{ ijiK TUANSFK
TO CANADA
H OK Tin; XOKTH-WKST
.S2}»
('HAITEH XXII.
KI-FECr OF THK XFiiOTI ATIOXS oX THE
TI.EUS
CMIAI'TKK XX III.
RED UIVEH SET
<M,OSIX(i DAYS OF IIIDSOX'S |!AV
COMI'AXV's lU'l.F
CHAPTKH XXIV.
DISSATISFACTIOX IX RED KIVEK SETTLEMEXT
('HAPTER XXV.
OITIIKEAK OF THE FHFXCII IIALF-
nUEEDS
CHAITKR XXVI,
I'RO«;i{ESS OK THE KEUEI.I.IOX
rHAlTER XXVIl.
A i'ASSlVE COMMlSSlOX
(MIAPTER XXVIIT.
SI'EriAE (Y).MMIS,sloXKl! S.Mmi's MI
SSIOX
(iiAPTER xxrx.
TKE COXVEXTIOX AXD niI.E OF lUclIT
s -
THAPTER XXX,
THE PKOVI.SIOXAE lioVEIJXMEXT
TKAPTEH XXXI,
UEl'OKT OF SPECIAL c;o.MMlSSlOXE
n SMITH
:U'i
'MVA
- :{7:{
- :]H't
- 400
- 422
•is:
- 44.S
- 4(il
4h:
S-i I;.-? I
Xll
CONTEXTS.
APPENDIX
Xo. 1. — HOVAL CHARTER OF 1070
2.— CROWN' GRAXT OF EXCLUSIVE TRADE, 1821
3. — CROWX GRANT OF EXCLUSIVE TRADE, 1838
PAGE.
iii
xvi
xix
4. — COMMISSIOX APROINTING HON. WM. MCDOUGALL
LIEUTEN ANT-GO VERXOR - - - . xxv
5. — PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY HOX. WM. MCDOUGALL
ON 1st DECEMiiEH, 1809 - - - - xxvii
C. — COMMLSSION LSSUED BY HOX. WILLIAM MCDOU-
GALL, APPOINTIXG COL. DEXXIS COXSERVA-
TOR OF THE PEACE ----- xxix
7. — PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY HOX. WILLIAM MC-
DOUGALL, OX 2XD DECEMBER, 1809 - - XXXl
8. — PROCLAMATIOX LSSUED BY SIR JOHX YOUXG,
GOVERXOR-GENERAL OF CAXADA, ON GTH DE-
CEMBER, 1809 xxxiii
9. — COMMISSIOX ISSUF ~ I'O DOXALD A, SMITH, ESQ.,
APPOIXTIXG HIM SPECIAL CX)MMISSIOXER - XXxiv
10. — LAWS OF ASSIXIBOIA PASSED BY THE PROVI-
SIOXAL GOVERXMEXT, 7tH MAY, 1870 - XXXvi
11.— THE MAXITOBA ACT
XI
HISTORY OF THK NOilTH-WIET.
CHAPTKH I.
I'HK-COl.rMlilAN DISCOVKKIKS.
A HlSToUV (jf the Xortli-Wcst would Ik- ilKM)iiipl('tc il' it
<liil not contain an account of the early (liscovcrics in North
Anu'i'lcM. \'ariotis nations claim the ri^lit to l)c con8i<lt'i"c(l as
(liscovtTcrs prior to the time of C'olunilnis, but the histoi-ical
evidence in most cases is base(l on documentary ])roofs (jf
I disi»utal)le character, and the detaih
are not so precise as
to I
)e convuicuiLT.
I'
rioritv n\ the (hscoverv o
f A
mei'ica IS
claimed by the Hasipies, the Xf)i'mans, the Welsh, the li-ish,
the Scan(hnavians. and amone' the races of eastern Asia, the
.Sil)erian, Tartar, Chinese, -Japanese and Malay.
According- to the Icelandic historian, the disco\ciy and set-
tlement of Iceland led to the openine- of Amei'ica to Kurope.
The distance to the ea.stern shore of (Jreeiilaufl is only foi-ty-
tive miles, and it is not sui'prisin^' to heai- that some of the
ships when sailin;;' to Iceland, and di'iven out of their course
by storms, cauji'ht sij;-ht of the coast of (ii'eeidand, althout;h
it was Ion};' after this that Erik the Hed laiide(| on its shores.
Tiu' con.sistent and natui'al proof of any occupation of Amer-
ica by the Norsemen, south of Davis Straits, is certainly lack-
in^f, but there is beyond this what is pei-haps, afte)- all, the
14
HISTOllY OF THE N'OKTH-WKST.
1:
most satiHfuctory way of solving;' tin* proUlfin — a (Icpcinlcnf'c
oil the <4fO{;ra})liical ami ctlniical pro]>al)ilities of the ea.se.
Tlif Xoisciiit'ii have passi'd into crcdi))!!' liistorv as the most
liai'dy and vciitursome of laccs. Tlieir colonization of Ice-
land and ( Jrci'iiland is indisputahlc, and it is liardiy concciv-
ahli' that tliey slK^uld have stoppccl short at this point. 'I'lu-iv
was not a lont^' stretch of open sea between (JreenhuKl ami
Labrador, a voyaj^'e for which their shi|ts and crews were not
unfitted, and it is, therefore not mdikely that .some vessels
may have been blown we.stei'ly out of their coiu'se in the
same way as (Jreeidand was first discovered, ami the main-
land coast once found, to follow it to the .south would havi'
been the most consistent action on the part of the disco\eri'rs.
The \veii;ht of pi'o))ability is therefore in favoi- of the Noi'se-
man descent upon the coast of the mainland st)mewhere to
the south of (Jreeidand, but the evidenci' cannot be clas.sed as
well established historical records.
It is more than probable that successive emiiji'ations took
place from eastern Asia to the American shores centuries l)e-
fore the C(jhnnbian discoveries, and tiieie is hardlv a .strouiier
denumstration of such a connection than the physical resem-
blances of the peoples now living- on opjtosite sides of the
Pacific Ocean in the upi)er latitudes. It is (pjite concei ible
that the ui'cat northern current setting' east athwart the
Pacific shoidd have carried vessels to the shores of Califoi'nia.
an<l further north. It is certainly })ossible that in this way
the Chinese or Japanese may have helped poi)ulate the west-
eiii slopes of the American continent.
The prcjbabilities beinjj' then in favor of the Pre-Colundjian
discoveries, it will be well to take a glance at them in chron(j-
lojxical order. As fai- back as liAO B.C. we find it claimed
'
r1
?RE-C( (l.rxi IM A S 1 )1S( "( )V KUIES.
16
that Pythias, the (Jrcck pliilosojjhiT. iliHcovoivd Ict'laiitl. hut
thore .sot'iiiH to he no lu'cord or iioto of any FurthtT discovery
until the sixth century, when Kinj:^ Arthur is said to liave
sailed for that northern land. In tlw; Sapi of Thortin Karl-
sefne, a portion of America, includintr that pai't which is now
known as North and South ('ai-oiina, (Jeoi'<riii, and Kast
Floi'ida, is called " Irland edh Mykla," that is, "(Jreat Ire-
land," which arose, it is said, from the land hein^ colonized
by the Irish, probal)ly in the year A.l). SOO.
In the year 795 it is claimefl that a nundx^r of Irish priests
visited Iceland and forme<l a settlement tlu>re, for in (S75,
when In^olf, a jarl, of Noi'way, went tlu^re with Norse settlers,
they found the Irish in possession. Tlu; latter, however,
refused to consort witli the nevvconters, and the residt was
that the Irish finally abandoned the country to the settlers
from Norway. Previous to In^olf's visit, the celebrated
Norse vikinir Naddod. in 8(50 discoven^l Iceland, namiut^
it tSnowdand, and in 804 he was followed by (Jardar, of
Swedish extraction, who named the land "(Jardaj-s Holm."
In 870 it was visited by two Norsemen, Inji;oIfr and Leif
( Hjoerleifr), hy wdiom it wjus called Ic(dand, which name it has
retained ever since, and from this time tlu're were successive
endiri'ations of Noi'se, until, within half a centui'v, a little
re})ublie of nearly seventy thousand inhabitants was establish-
ed. In 87() a sea-rover named (}and)iorn, while making- for
Iceland, \Vii.s driven in his ship (nit of his course in a westerly
ilirection and sij^bted a strange land, but his reporteil discov-
ery remained uncontirmed for over one hundred yeai-s. until
" Erik the Red," in 084-, sailed for the new land and found it.
It appears that Erik Wiw of a lawless clianicter, and havinir
to flee from Norway for killing a man in a brawl, he took
wl
16
msTOUY OF TIIK .\(»UTH-Wi:sT,
il I
rofuf^c in TccIjukI, wlici-c, on M;;ain ontraj^inn' the laws, lie was
sent a sccoik
1 tinit' into hanisliiiK'nt. It was tlit-n tliat he set
sail for tlir land wliidi (laiiibioi'n lia<l icjtorttMl, and wIumi he
1 it, he returned to leehmd with th(.' tidinos. In
Krik sailed auain I'oi- (li-eenlan<l with a
discos <'re<
till' t'ollowiii''' year
fleet of thirty-five ships, only I'oui-teen of which, however,
reached land, and it was on this \isit that he ;^ave the name
of " (lreenlan<l " to his discoxery, in order, it is sai<l, to atti-act
settlers, who would he favoi-ahly impressed with so ))leasino' a
name. A Hourishin<;' colony of Icelanders and Noi'semen was
thus estahlished, and maintained its comiection with the
mother countries for 400 years.
■rv of the mainland of America, is said to have
The disc()V(
happened in this way. in !>S(), " Krik the Red" took up his
residence in (Jreenland, and accomi)anyinn' him was an Ice-
lander, named Herjulf. The son of the latter, named Bjarno
Herjulfson, was in
Noi-wav when his father left Iceland with
Erik, and on his return he at once set out for (!reenlan<l, hut
durint;- the voyaj^^e, the ship bein^^ driven out of its course, he
si»-hted land, which was fiat and covered with trees, alt()<;ether
difieri'ut from what he expected to see. Bjarno knew tluit
(Jreenland, and tlierefore did not
lie was not lookinj;' upon
attempt to land, hut continued on his voyage and there is
re
asou to helieve, from the coui
■se of the winds, the direction
of the curren
sijijhted by Bjarno was
ts and other circumstances, that the point first
one decree .south of where Boston now
stands, and that ]\v afterwards saw the shores of Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland. Thus it is claimed that Bjarno Herjulf-
son. althouii'h he did not make a landing-, was the first Norse-
n
uvn who beheld any part of the American continent.
It is related that w
h.jn Leif Erikson, the son of " Erik the
iMUXoi.rMiuAV Discovr.mix
17
R(m1," licfird the (l<"sci'i[)ti()ns <;ivcM hy llianu) of tlic land
he had seen, lie i't'.s<)lv('(l to '^n in scai'di of it. Accord iiii^ly he
l)ou;;lit IJjai'iio'.s slii|), and, with a crew (»!' thirty-tivc men, set
sail and ToinKl the lands to the south-west of ( Jj-t'cnland,
whicli ht' nanit'fl [h-ln, and whidi ait' now known as New-
foundland and No\a Scotia. He then ]troceeded to make
fuitlifi' disco\efies, and after sailing;' two days landed at or
near where Fall Hixcr is. in .Ma.s.sachusetts, which he called
Marklaml, hut a (lernian who had acconi|)anie<l the e\peditio!>,
liaxiu''' found uranes ni'owinii', the countrv aftei'wards leceived
the name of N'iidand. Leif tlien returned to Norway, and,
thidini^' that Kin«;()laf 'I'lyno'vesson had iMnhraced Christian-
itv, 1
le accepted the U
lew
lith, and when he was rea<
Iv t(
return to (Jreeiiland, a priest was assi«;iitMl to accompany him.
In this way it is declared Christianity was introduc«'d into
Greenland, an<l churches were huilt, the ruins (jf one of which
Htan<l to this day.
In 1002, Thorwahl Hrikson, the hrother of Leif, resolved to
make further e.xploi'ations in the new country of N'inlaiul, and
for tliat purpose set sail from (ilreenlaiid with an expeilition.
But, at the end of three veurs, Thorwald was kille»l ])y the
natives aiu
1 1
mrieil 111
inland
and 111
\KU
a skt
■let
on in
armor was foiuid near Fall Ri\er, Massachusetts, which was
thought hy s(Miie to he his I'emaiiis. Xo re;^ular settlement
took place in Vinland, howe\'er, until tlu' year 1007, when
Thortin Ivarlsefne, with a jiarty of one hundretl an<l fifty-one
men and seven women, landed in the country and remained in
it for several years, until hostilities hetweeii them and the
natives compelled them to ahaiidon their colony. I'urin^ the
residence of tliose people in N'inland, it is .said that a child was
l)orne in lOO-S to 'riiortiii Karlesfne aii<l (iudrid, his w'fe. and
iJ
IH
msToUV <»l'' TIIK NOHTII-UKST.
was ii.Miiinl Siiowr 'I'liorliiiiisoii, tlii.s Ix'iiij;- the first wliitt; eliiM
l)(»ni ill Aiiicrica, IVoiii wlioiii, it is clniiiicd, 'riiorwuMscii tlif
Danisli si-ulptor whh (Ic^scciKltMJ.
Tlicri' wore huvcthI «'X|)(Mliti()iiH by tlu* Norsciiu'ii to ViiilaiwI
altt'i' 1010, notably in 101 I undei* Frt^ydis, an<l in 1121, wlicii
Hislio]» Krik I'^jwi went as a iniHsionaiy to that country. In
l'U7. however, the Black i'laj^ne, vviiicii rui,;c(l throii^^hout
Europe until l'}5i,an(l ri^ielu^d even Iceland, (ireenland and
Vinland, put a stop to further attempts at exploration oi* col-
onization on th(^ part of the Norsemen.
So much for those hardy marinei-s. Now for other nation-
alities. As a i-esult of the voyajics made by them, it is sai<l
tlieir fame liavin<^ reached the e:»rs of tlir Welsh I'rince
Madoc. son of Owen (;wyii(Ml(l,a seafarinn- man, he resolved to
lead a colony to the new western hinds, and in 1 170 sailed in
their direction and succeede<l in establish in j;- a settlement in a
fertiii' land, presumably America. He then i-eturned to Wales
and fitted out a larj^^'r expedition, consi^tiii<;- of ten ships, with
which he sailed, but was never heard of a»(ain. In supi)ort of
this account it is claimed that traces of the Welsh toiit>ue ap-
pear in the lanj^ua^n' of some of the American Indian tribes.
The i<lentification of the native Americans with the stock of
the lost tribes of Isi-ael was a favoi-ite doctrine with the lea<l-
inu- New Enuland divines of early days. William Penn be-
lieved in it. and the subject has been fivcjuently discussed i)ro
and con. ]t is held by cei'tain historians that a crew of Arabs
about the eleventh or twelltli century reached land, jiossibly
the Azores, although some are inclined to the theory that they
succeeded in landin^Miixm the shores of America. And so one
natioi-.alitv after another claim the ri^dit to be considered the
first discoverers. According- to a bock printed in Venice in
1
I'HK-C()F,I'.M|||AN DISC* )VKI{ IKS.
19
looS, two brotlit-rs Ix'loiij^iii^ to that citv, l)y the ii.iiin' (»!'
Ni('<il.s an<t Antoiiic Znio, while on a Noyiinf wert- w rcckftl
u))oii fill island in thf North Atlantic* where they lived for
seNcral yeai"s, and while tiiere. they tell in with a sailor who
^oiNc a wonderful account of a country called Kstotiland, and
also a rej^ion on the mainland wdled Drop-s. 'I'he Zeno bro-
thers conveyeil this infoi'niation to Venice whei'e it was after-
wards puhlished in hook form, and the suhject has since caused
much discussion and difference of o|)inion as to its verity.
'I'lie jtresence of the Hasijues on the coasts of Noi'th America
is t)ften assorted, and it is even s.iid that it was a Has(|Ue mar-
iner who, havini;' ht'cn on the haid<s of Newfoundland, j;a\e
Cohnnhus some })i'cmonitions of the New World. Several
Portuf^uese wi'iters assert tiiat loas Va/ Cortereal, afterwards
hereditaiy i;ovcrnor of the Island of Terseira, discovered a
land supposed to be Newfoundland, thirty years hefoi'e Col-
undnis made his first voya^'e.
In 1477, Columlnis visited Iceland, and it is not improbable
that he received information then of the discoveries of (Jreen-
land and Vinland, made from lOOO to i.'i47 bv the Norsemen.
There is also eveiy reason to believe that information i-elatint;'
to N'inlaml was in possession of the Vatican as eai'ly as I 100,
or thereabouts, because in 1112 I'ope Paschal II. appointed
Erik Upsi Bishop of Iceland, (Jrei-nland and N'inland, and, in
1 121, Erik U])si is said to have paid a visit to the latter coun
pan
try,
Columbus, doul)tless, was abli' to avail himself of the in-
formation possessed l)y the Vatican, an<l possibly took a<lvan-
ta^'e of it. Washington Irvinjf says : " When C'ohnnbus had
formed his theory, it became fixed in his mind with singular
firmness. He never spoke in doubt or hesitation, but with as
much certainty as if his eyes had already beheld the ]»romised
Jtl
H
4 i
20
IIISTOHV (»K Tin: N(»|{TII-\Vi:sT.
I.iihI. " Sucli II stiitf of iiiiiid lis tints (Ifsciiltf.l comIiI li;tr<lly
luiNc it'snltcd tViiiii inert' iiisj»iiiiti()ii. ;is sonic claiiii, luit rntlicr
IVoiii ccrtfiin iiitoriiijitioii in liis imsscssiun, wliidi prohnltly In-
partly olttaiiii'il ilniiii;^' liis \isit to ici'land in 1-1-77.
Sonif liistoriiins nrc iiicliiicfj to n'|»ii(jiiitt' altonrtlicr tin-
claims of tln' Xorscnicn as fjiscov cicis of Anii-rica. aiiil llaii-
crol't styles tlieiii as " niyt liolonioil in rorni ami oliseiiri' in
incaniii;;'; ancient, yet not contenijtorary." It is held tliat the
stories of the Voyages and ]iri\ati(ais of the Norsemen ; the
discos cries they nia<le : the colonies they formed, and the \ery
names ami dates ei\ en in connection with their early eti'oits
are all the outcome of imae-ination on the part of the Icelandic
historian, lint aeainst this, it does not seem improhahle that
those hardy nM\i;;atoi's, ha\inj;' estahlishi'd theinscKes on Ice-
land and ( Jreenlaml. should in the coui'se of their many voy-
a^'cs have siehted and e\en landed upon the mainland of
America, which was not far distant, Washinetctn Irvin;^'. in
his " ( 'olumltiis, I S-JN, dismisses the accounts of the Norse-
men discoveries as unlnistworthy. hut later, under the intlu-
ence of Mafn and W'heaton. two writers who studied the suh-
ject very closely, he mo(litie(| his views, so as to consider them
of possil)le importance, and tinally admitted that he thoueht
the facts to he estahlished to the conviction of most minds.
H
eill'V
w
leaton. wlio was I'nited States .Minister at Copen-
hagen, wrote a history of the Northmen. strone-|y sujiportine'
the theory of ti.eir disco\-eries, and ("arl Christiiin Hafn was
considerc(l the chief apostle of the Noi'.seman ludicf. l)Ut the
opinions of tho.se two writers did not atlect Bancroft, who to
the la.st cxpiv.sse(| his unlxdicf in the Norseman discoNfiy of
Viiiland. He admitted, however, that Scamlinavians may
have readied the shores of Lahrador, althouuh tl.e soil of t!,<;
IMtlMOLlMltlAN 1>I,S< uVKUIKS.
•21
I'liitt'd StiitcH lijul not, lie ilccljircd, (n»c Vfsti;;*' <»t' tlwir prc-
H('!K'<'. PforcsNoi- Diiiiii'l Wilson, of Toi'onto, siiys : • With .ill
I'l'JiHonuldi' iloiihts lis to tlif iiccui'iicv of di'tiiils, tin re is the
sti'on^'fst |»i'()l>Hl»ility in T.-ivdi' <il" tin- jintln-nticity of ihc
Anicriciin Ninliinfl."
f
CIIAITKH II.
KAItl.V DiscoVKHII'.S IN NnKTll AMKHKA.
r*
W'HA'i'KVKii limy Im' said pro or con in i-t'<;ar<l to tlic Ho-callt'ii
l'rf-( 'oluiiihiaii diNcovcrit's, it is to tlic uiitiriii;.; t'licr^^y. /cal,
and |H'r.s('Vci"ancr of ( 'liristopln-r ( 'oluiiihuH, that tlic world is
indclttcd tor tlic o]icniii;^' up and wttlcnicnt of tlic contini'iit
of America l»y Kiiropcans. K\cn allowin;^' that he had foi-c-
nnini'rs in the \v<nl\ of discoNcry, and that his cxjicdition.s
may ha\c hccii |ii'oniptcd l»y what had hccn done liy othei's
liefore his tinn', it docs not in tlic least dim the ^lory of the
^I'cat service he r* tiered to mankind.
In I4I!>. the l'ortu;'*uc.sc di.scovcre<| .Ma<lcira : in I44S. the
A/.oi-es:iii 14'4!l, the Cajic dc N'crde Islands, and in l4S(i, the
Cape of ( iood Hope, the latter l)eiii<;' so named hccau.sc of their
expectation of findin;;' a passa<^c that way to the Indies. It is
])i'()l)ul)lc that the fame of these expeditions led C'olumhus to
undci'takc the tindin;;' of a pa.ssa;;e hy a more northerly and
direct route, which resulte«l in his di.scovery of America. In
1474 he had some cori'cspondencc with Toiscanclli, the Italian
savant, I'c^ardin*^^ the di.scovery of land westwanl, which at that
time had hecome in the mind of Columhus a well estahlishcd
theorv. Hv rcadin}-' the ancients, hv conferrinj; with wise
men, by clone reNcarch, and hy ([iiestioninj;' mariners ivtui-ncd
from westerly voya^'s, he had suttcred the thought of a direct
western pas.saj.je to India to j;vrminate in his mind for years.
KAIU.V |)1.S( KVKHIKn in NttKlll A.MKIJK A,
'2'A
III I4M4, III' ur;;»'<| his views upon tin- rnrtun;ufsf Kin;;. un<l
tliiit Muimrcli ilispiitclifil m msscI Mi-crctly tn "liscnv cr, it'
|H)HNilili' tlif luiN.sa;;*'. 'I'lic \fssfj r<-ttirni'<l, |iuwt>\«T, w itliniit
MccoinjiiiMliin;^' iinytliin;^', nnil ( 'njunihii.s, wlim In- loniKJ out
till' ijccfit put upon liiiii, It'l't tlir Poi'tuj^tit'sc court in ili,s;;\jst.
Ilr tlii'ii ni-niitiatt'W tlirou;;li liis lii'otluT Hnrtlioloniru witli
Hiiny \'ll. of Kn^iliinij. l)Ut witlioiit I't-sult, Jimi tinnlly lni<l liis
proposiiLs liclorc F»'r<liniinil Mm! Isalicllu of Sp.iin. l*'or scNt-n
yi'iirs ( 'oluinhus cxiitTifiK't'tl rvfiy xtxation attmiljint u|ton ilc-
lay. aihl at last, wearinl an<l (lisappointnl. lie turncij his hack
ujioii the couit of Spain, llrsiainht the < liiuulccs, hut without
s\U't'('ss an<l finally turnnl to tlif <'on\fiif of Santa Maria ilr li
Hahi<la. where he made a l'a\(»iahle inipie ;si(ai upon the I'lior
Mareheiia, hy whose interposition he was suiniiioiieil to ippeai*
hefore I.sal ella the <Jueen. The suri'emleldf (iiaiiada at the
time, ami the successes of the Sjtaiiiartls ay;ainst the Mooj-s,
left the sovereieiis of Spain more at liherty to listen to his
proj.(.sals, ar.tl Columhus was in a fair way to meet with a
favorahle reception. Hut while the ne;,fotiations weie heine'
carried on, he demandeil reco;^nition as viceroy. an<l a tenth
share of all income fi-om the tei-ritories to he discovered, which
s(» displeased Ferdinand an<l I.sahella that all cane to an end.
and Cohiiulms mountini;' his nnile in anu'ei-. starti-d for Kraiicc.
Two ministers of Spain, howevei', name(l Santan;;'el and (.^)uin-
tanillu hoinj; uuich impi-e.ssed with the propo.sals of the iia\i-
irator, imluceil Issihella to send and ovi'rtake him hefore he
had
)!•< )Ct'e(
led f
ar.
An ai^reeuient was then si^^netl on Api-il 17th. 14!)2, niakin;;
Coluiulms viceroy, and eivin*; him an ei;;lith, instead of a
tenth, of the protitw from discoveries. This heiu^j; satisfactorily
arranijed, the work oi Httint; out the veH.sels for the expedition
i
/'"
•24
msTOKY OF THE XOHTH-WEST.
was 0()iniiit'iK'f<l,!in(l after soiiit- diftieulty and delay in siipjdy-
in<^' I'ld mannine- tlie ships, C'olmnlms with his small Heet eoii-
sistiii}"- of the Stivfn Marid, Pi nfn, and JV^m", sailed out of the
hai'h
)!• of I'alos. on the .Srd Aueust. On the 12th Octoher, a
low sandy shore was seen, and a landin;^' heiiie- ettected, the
cotmtry was taken possession of in the name of Ferdinand
and Isabella of Spain. Cohnnhns then continued Ids voyaev
of diseoveiy, diu'ine' which one of his \essels. the Sunfn Murid,
was lost, whereupon he I'etui'ned to Spain, I'eachine' I'alos on
the 14th March. UDS, havinu- heei
months
1 e'one a
littl
e over .-ieven
He was I'oyally recei\ed hy the coui't and peo[)le,
and on the following- 2')th Se])tend»er. set sail with seventeen
vessels on his st-cond vovau'e of discovei'v.
Col
(unhus was a uiH'at navin-ator, Init as an a<lministrator of
atliiirs in the new land he did not i)rove to he a comnetent
'P
j^ON'ernor. At least serious charj^es and c()m[)laints were laid
a<i,'ain.st him hefoi'e the coui't of Spain, while he was ahsent on
ins second expedition, which residted in his returnint;' in 140(>
to defend himself, and this he a])])ears to have done suc-
cessfully, for we find that in 14!*<S he undertook a thii'd voy-
a^'e to America. ( )n this occasion, however, his t'uemies seem
to have been powerful, and so active in their persecution that
j'.n I'missary was sent out to su))erse(le him, and Colundais was
l)rou<;'ht hack to Spain, houtid in irons, oidy to ree-ain once
more, soon after his arrival, the favoi- of his soveri'i^iis. an<l
on the 9th May. ir)()2, he ,set sail on his foui'th and last \'oy-
ae-e, which in many ivspects proxcil to he a disastrous one.
It is certain that Colundms entertainetl the idea that the
huid he di.scovere(l was part of India, and hence the name
" Indians," which was ^iven to the natives. He died in the
helief that he had <liscovere(l the shoi't passage ami stood
KAKLV DISCOVKKIKS JX NOKTM A.MKHKA.
25
upon Indian soil, i'oi" on liis last voya^H', durini;' the attack of
lever wliit'h oNei'took liini.his stronti' i'aith cried to liini.'Whv
dost tliou falter in tliv tj'ust in (Jod
H.
ave thee
In.l
la
liut the conviction did not lon<>- outlive its author: tlie dis-
co\ ery of the I'acitic soon made it clear that a new world an<l
another sea lay beyond the discoveied land of ('olund)us. The
n'eou;ra})hical mistake was fomid out ahout 1517, hut the ap-
jH'llation, " Indians," ui\ en to the natives, had hecome estab-
lished, and it has been retained to the present day.
'I'l
le divsasters and
th
le sickness w
hid
1 overcame him durini>'
his fourth voya*i'e pi'oved to be too nnich foi" e\en the ii'on
flame and will of Cohnnbus, and when he retui'ned to Spain
in 1504 he was prostrated with weakness and ilisease. In
this state he lint^ci'ed, desertecl by his .sovereiti'ii {''enlinand,
(l.sabella lK'in<>' dead), until on the 20th Ma\-, 1500, the ui-eat
navi;;ator breathed his last. Durini;" his lifetime the sei'\ ices
of t"olund)Us to his sovi'i'eiirn iuid the wliole world wei'e not
adeipiately recompensed, and even afti-r death posterity I'e-
iiiained unmindful of him and his woi'k until \Vashin<;toii
IrxiiiiT made a recoi'd of the navij-'ator's eventful life — a bril-
liant t'tibrt an<l a Just tribute to the maj^iianimity of Colum-
bus" character.
In 14!>5. John Cabot laid ]iropo,sals before Heiny VI 1. to
make a vovaiii' of discoverv to tlu' west, and he and his .sons
were j^^ranted patents for any discoveries they minht make.
Ill Mfiy, 14f)7, therefoi'e, Cabot set sail from Bristol in a small
Vessel with ei<;hteen persons, and on the *24th .June lie discov-
I'l'ed land upon which he [)lanted a lar^j^e cross, and the tla;js
of England ami St. Mark, thus taking" possession in the name
of the Eni>lish Kiii;^'. On this voya<;e Cabot dvscovei'i'd New-
fouj^Uaml, saw Labi-ador. and entered the (lulf of St. I^aw-
11
■ I
2(i
HISTOHV OF THK .\( Hn'H-WEST.
I' '}
roncc, wliicli appeared to liiin to be the Xoitli-West passaj^e
to tlie Kist Indies oi- (^liiiia, and under this impression, with-
out ));'netiMtin^' furtliei", he returned to Kn^laiul and was
kni<^hte(l for his services. His discoveries ^-ave the crown of
Kn<;'hind a chiini to the s()\ei'ei(;nty of North America, and
laid the foundation of the extensi\e connnerce and naval
power of (Ireat Hi'itain. Henry VII. now p'antecl Cahot
second letters patent to undertake another voya^'e, hut for
some reason he did not take connnand, l)ut handed it ovei' to
Sebastian who was with him on the Hi-st e.xpedition. As to
the exact time wiien Cabot made his disco\'erv, an ancient
nap.
drawn bv Sel)astian, has the followiui:' words written on
it by 1
um Ml
Lat
in
in the year of Our Lord, 14!>7, Job
n
('aV)()t, a Venetian, and his son Sebastian, discovered that
C(Mniti'y which no one bid'oiv his time had ventiu'ed to
approacli, on the 24th day of June, about five o'clock in the
morning"."
In the sunnner of 14!)8, Sebastian Cabot having" taken his
fathei-"s place, sailed fi'om Kni^land with two ships, but on
reachinj;' America the severity of the cold in the extreme
north, and other reasons, principally a desire to explore the
country, indiiced him to turn southward, ami havin^^ pi'oceed-
ed for some distance, want of provisions obliged him to return
to Enuland.
(iaspard Cortereal made the next voyage to America in 1500,
stalling" from Lisbon with two vessels and touchinjj' at ( Jreen-
land, or, as he named it, " Terra Verde," but the ex])edition
was altoj^'ether l)ai'i'en of results. On the loth May, 1501,
(/Oiiereal sailed a second time from Portugal, and having" j^^one
a distance of two thousand miles from Lisbon, he discovered
an unknown land and coasted aloni>' its shores. The number
;■ 'I
EAHLV DISCOVEIUKS IN XoKTU AMKHHA.
27
of lai't^t' rivci's t-ncoiiiitt'ivd ('ncoui'ii<;t'*l the hclit't' tliat it was
no isUiiKl and Cortcical concludt'd tliat it must 1h' coinici'ttMl
witli tlu' countiT discoviTt'd to tin' noitli tlu' yt-ar lift'oi't'.
wliic'li at that time could not be ivaeht'd on account of the ice.
'I'licy found tilt' hunl vciy populous and hrou^lit away a n\un-
hci- of the natives to be sold as slaves in l^n■tu^•al, ami while
iiiakiu}^' their ex[)lorati()ns, they came across a broken swoi'd
and two silvei- ear-rinps, e\ ideiith" of Italian make, which
were i)i"ol)ablv relics of the visit of Cabot to the country three
It *
vears earlier. Two of (\)rterears shi])s, one haNintr tiftv sla\eH
(111 board, I'eached Lisbon safely on their return voyat;'e. but
the \essel containing' (!aspar<l Cortei'eal himself was ncser
lieanl from, and must have fouiuK re<l at sea.
The next yeai'. on the lOth May, .Mi<;uel ( 'ortereal started
wi
th th
iri'c snips, Having o
)bt;
IHK
(1 the kinu's iieiniission t(
and search for (Jaspai'd. 'i'he expedition icache*! the Aniei'i-
can coast, and tindin*;' so many I'ivers and havens, the ships
divided in ordei" to j)Ui"sue the seai'ch more I'tt'ectiially and
a^^reed to meet at a certain rendezvous within a ^^iveii time.
Two ships met at the appointed place and date, but the one
with Mif^iiel C'ortereal was never heard of, and tlu theory
is that both he as well as (}as])ard were killed by the
natives while tiyiii};" to kidnap them for slaves. A year later
an expedition was sent out at the expense of the kinn- in
search of them, but returned without tindino- any trace of
either brother, aii<l when \'as(|ueanes Cortei'eai, the o()\(.inor
of Terseira, pioposi'd to undertake another exj)e<lition in per-
son, the kin<^ refused to u-ivt- the necessary permission.
The next discoverer we hear of is Amerii^o \'espucci, who is
said to have made two voyages to America by (jrder of
Ferdinand of Spain, one of which was in 14!)7, only five years
:^l
;,i I
I
2S
HISTOUV OK THK NOUril-WKST.
nt'tfi" Coluiiihiis' first fxp('<liti()ii, Mild the otlicr in 14!)!). Ves-
])ucci also clniiiis to have iiwulc two sn))siM|n('iit voyages in the
service of Kiii^- Kiiiaiuiel, of Portugal, in loOl and loO.'i, hut
as the only accounts wi'itteii of these were by X'esjaicci liiiii-
self, there is <;;rave doubt if they ever took place. Vespucci is
y,eiierally looke<l \ipon as an iiiiposter.
About this time, the tislieriiieii of the p(^rts of I5rittany are
known to have reached the banks of Newfoundland, aii<l in
1. )()(), .b'aii Deiiys from Hontleur is saitl to have \isite(l the
(lulf of St. Lawrence and to have made a chart of it. Tn
loOS, Thomas Aubert, a Dit'ppt' mariner, undertook a voya*i,e
and brought home with him to France the first specimens of
the Amei'ican natives ever set'ii there.
In lolT, Henry \'I1I. fittetl out a small s((uadi'on for the
discoNcry »»f a North-West passage to the Indies, and Sebas-
tian Cabot went with it, but unfortunatelv Sir Thomas Pert,
\'ice-Admiral of Kn*;laiid, was placed in supreme comiiiaud,
4ind when <lurinn' the voya^^e a mutiny of the sailors (;ecurre<l
Sir Thomas became faint-hearted, and Cabot, perceiving hi«
cowardice, resolved to return home. The records of this t'x-
pedition, however, accordinj;' to Sir Humphrey (Jilbei't, show
very clearly that <lui"in<;' the voya^a' Sebastian Cabot actu-
ally entered Hudson's Bay ninety years l)efore Hudson
discovered it. In a letter written by Sebastian Cabot to
the Pope's Lei-'ate in Spain, he says that it was from the con-
,sideratiou of the structure of the ^-lobu that he formed the
(k'siun of sailiiif;' to the Indies ])y a Nortli-VVest course. He
must liave luul some idea afterwards of findin<^ a ])assao;e by
the south, for he ma<le a voyage to Bi'azil and was Hoon after
drawn into the Spanish service. He then was employed to
conduct a s(iua<h'on throu<;'h tlie straights of Magellan to the
EAKLV DISCOVKHIKS IN XoKTU AMKUKA.
2^
East Iiiilit'H, Imt iiiHtead of doiiiy; this lie hiiulcd niid toniird u
Hottlt'iiicnt ill Paranujiy, and reinaint'd there five yeai's, at
th« end of which time he left tlie Spanish service, and once
more joined that of Eiif^land, hnt he was not known after-
wai'ds to enconraee further exptMlitions to find a Xorth-West
passage until loo.S, shortly before his (h'ath.
The next explorer of note was (liovainii da N'errazano, wlu),
in 1521, l)eo;ins to appear in Spanisli history as a Frendi cor-
sair, wliich l)rone;ht him to the notice of Fiancis I. His voy-
a<;"e of discovery, which was connnenced in I.')2.'i, was con-
nected with one of those pre(lat(;ry cruises, Uecause we learn
from Spanish sources, that in that yeai" \'errazano, or Juan
Florin, as he was known, captured the treasure sent home by
Cortes to tile Emperor, and ])rouj;ht it into Hochelle. He
startetl witli four vessels, but tiiree of tlieiii becoming;' disabled
by storms, he proceeded in the remaininn- one, naiiie(l the
Duup/tine. an<l in l.')24 reache(l the shores of what is now
North Carolina, where he found the land inhabited by people
of a simple and kind disposition, who received liim and his
men in a friendly iiiannei". It seems certain that V'errazano
entered the harbor of New York, but only partly explored it,
owino- to the prevalence of storms at the time, and he is sai<l
to have also discovered Newport, and to have sailed a distance
of more than seven hundred leagues alou}^' the coast, (^xpiorino-
it carefidly as he went. It is stated that subHecpiently he
made two more voyages, and there is much doubt about liis
fate, one account lieiiiii" that lie was killed bv the natives of
America during an expedition in lo27, and another tliat he
was captured at sea by the Spanish, and hunir as a pirate at a
small village between Salamanca and Toledo. It is further
stated tiiat he gave a map to Henry \'III. of England,
B
•'ll
r]
IM)
HISTOHV OF THE XOimi-WEST.
altli()U<;li lie docs jiot appeal' to have liccii i-inployt-d hy that
moiiaivli.
Ahout the saiiK^ tiiiR' as Vcrrazano made his rirst xoyai^c,
Estcvan (loiiicr/, a Portu truest' cinploytMl l)y Spain, sailed
from C\)i'U!iiia, and made an attcnijit to discover a Xortli-
West passage, hut oidy I'eached as far as Labrador. It is said
that on his homeward voyaj;'e ji'oin^' south, he hincUd at the
ishmd of C'»il)a, and failing to obtain the rich car^o of spices
he expected to bi'inj^ hcjme, h)ade(l Ins vessel with kid-
napped savat^'es of })oth sexes, and reached Corunna in No-
vember, 1525.
In 1527, Henry VIII. sent out an expedition consistin<;' of
two shi})s under command of John Rut, but this navi<;ator. in
his efforts to proceed westward of Labrador coast, became l)eset
witli ice, and, one of his sliips havine- foundere*!, the voyajie
vvas an unsuccessful one. It was not until lo.Sii that the next
expedition left Enj^land, when a niunber of ^'entlemen in Lon-
don ixndertook to send one to the west, the chief promoter of
the enterprise beino- an individual named Here, who was skilled
in cosmography. The crew.s of the sliips on this occasion suf-
fered ^reat privation durin^^ the voya<;e, and Init for the timely
appearance of a French vessel they would have all perished
misei'ablv.
Hut the French fishermen were even then actively eim'aii'ed
on the banks of Newfoundland, and the value of their industry
soon attracted the attention of C'habot, an admiral of France,
who induced Francis I. to once more send an explorin<; expe-
dition to America. On this occa-sion, Jac(|ues Cartier was
selected and placed in command, who, on 2()th April, 1584, left
St. Malo with two ships on his first voya/jje of di.scovery, and
in twenty days he was upon the banks of Newfoundland, and
EAIU.V DISCOVKIUKS l\ XORTlf AMKKKA.
iU
soon artt'i"VVur<lH cntcrcfl the <iT(!iit ^ull' ot" St. Law ri'iici', hfiiiu;
tlir Hi'st white man to <lo so. He a<l\ancf<l inlaml only a
short (listanei!, an<l while anchored in a hay, named it Baye du
ChaUnu', on acconnt of the intense lieat experienced there.
'I'hns Cartiei' <h'scoveied the (Jnlf ot" St. Lawience, an<l Ur
coinnicmorate it, \h' set np a hir^'e cross at (laspe. with a
sliield attached luivin^^ the words " \'ive le Hoi <le Franci' " on
it, after which h«> retnrned home on the 'ioth ,Inly.
'I'he main object of Cartier's tir.st xoyap' proved a faihn'e,
and the route to the Indies remained undiscovered, hut the
hi-five navij^'ator determine<l to jx'i'seNcre. jind his represen-
tations liavint;' the desired I'ft'ect, Admiral ('hal»ot once more
{)ersua<le<l Frajicis J. to sie-n a connnissiou in his faxoi'.
Three vessels, the Great Hermhut, 120 tons: the Lifilr Iftr-
m
ilia, ()0 tons, and a small <;allev, the I'Jmer'hm, were fui--
nished by the kine- for the vov
imv
ai
id on Ka.ster Sun-
day, 1585, the e.Kpeilition sailed. On this voya<it', C'artier
<;'ave the name of L'A.ssomption to the island which is now
known as Anticosti : he discovered and exploreil the Sa^^ue-
nay, called the Island of Orleans " liacchus Island." from
the number of trrapes ei'owine- on it, and e-ave names to .sev-
eral islands and points on the lower St. Lawrence. At Stada-
cona (Quebec), Cartier met the Indian chief Donnacona. and
was received with great rejoicing by the natives, but when he
l)i'()po.sed to JiHcend the I'iver, Doiniacona opposed it. Cartier,
however, persisted in going, and, leaving his ships behind,
ascended in boats to Hochelaga, where he was welcomeil bv
the Indians, who pointed with pride to their cultivate*! fields
and to their town, which was composed of substantially
Imilt houses, and fortified, having one gate, with a gallery
extending along the top of the wall, the annnunition consist-
i|
•'! ;
I I
,.i;
■? I
I
i I
82
HISTOKV OK THK \(»UTII-WKsT.
i.
\uif of })('l))jk's ainl stones. Cartici' was rc^anliMl as a superior
beino; l)y tln' In<liaiis, who honored him as such, and asked him
to heal their siek. He read to them from the ^osjm'I of St.
John, and all the Passion of Christ word hy woi'd, after
whiel) he distrilaited presents niid.st a Hourish of trump»'ts.
He tlien ascended the Mount, which he named Mont Kcj^'mI,
to view the suri'oundinj^ countiy, and was astonished at the
evidences of thrift and prosperity which he saw amon^ the
Iii(hans. Yet in less than seventy years alter this, when
Champlain reached the site of ancient Hochela^a, the f(jrti-
tied town and its inhabitants ha<l disapi)eared — the Hoche-
lau'ans were extinct.
When C'artier retin-ned to Stadacona finding,'' that his
people had erected a fort and mounte(l ai'tillery, he decided
to stay (luring- the winter at the harl)or of Holy Cross (Que-
bec), and made his prepai'ati<jns accordint^ly. Scurvy, how-
ever, attacked his men, causin<; nnich di.stress and loss of life,
during his stay, until the natives foinid a remedy in a decoc-
tion made from a tree called " Ameda." In May, 158fi, he
set up a cross and tl»e arms of France, and havinjjf entrapped
the chief Donnacona carried him on l)oard ship and })repared
to sail for France, but the natives being most unwilling to
lose tlieir king, protested, and were only pacified when Cartier
promised to return the following year with Donnacona.
Tlu' v(n'age home was a tempestuous one, and it was not till
July 1st, that Cartier <^nce more anchored in the harbor of St.
Malo. It is .said by some writei-s that he now discouraged fur-
ther ettbrts to explore America, but this is not borne out, it
being much more likely that the king and people of France
were dissatisfied with the results of the two voyages made by
him, especially as he had lost a nund)er of his men and left
EARLY nisnOVEHIKS IX NORTH \MERF( A.
38
one <)t" lii.s ships licliiinl him. CV'i'taiiily the iiitcrfst in ox-
|M'i|iti«)ns to AiiH'ricfi )H)[M')irs to hiivc ceased Foi- n tiiiif, ami
rivo years ehipsefl hct'ore another one was Htted out. Anion;;
those attracted hy the rt^poi'ts of (yarti«'r coneernin;; thf rich«'s
of the new hiiul was Jean Ki'ancois de la Roche, lord of
Koherval, who, in the year 1540, induced Fi'ancis I. to ;;rant
liiiii a conmii.ssion, ci-eatin;; him Lieut(!nant and (Jo\ei'nor
oi' Canada and Hochela|;a, with ('artier as his assistant.
The appaivnt ohject of the proposed expedition was stated as
" inidertaken to discovcir more than was done hefoiv in some
voya^jes, and attain, if jiossihle, to a knowledj^e of the countiy
of the Say,'uenay, whereof the people brou^jht hy Cartiei- dt--
clarecl to the kin;; that there were ;,'reat riches and very ;^ood
lands." R()l)erviil was coirimissioned .laniiary loth, |.')40. hut
Cai'tier was not appointed until the followin;; October, when
lie .set sail with three shii)s on the 2.Srd May, 1541. Kohei-
val not havin;;' completed his arran;;ements to accomjiany
him, and on the 22nd An;(ust the expe<litioTi ai'rive(| at the
liarhor of Holv Cross. In tiie meantime Donnacona had died
in Franco, or such was tlie excuse ;;iven hy (dirtier for not
hrinnriunr him hack as promised to his people, at which the
Indians, althou;;h apparently satisfied with th«' explanation,
were not pleased, and the chiefs plottecl a;;ainst the French
to obtain reven;;e.
Cartier now built a fort eall(!<l (yharlesbouriL; Royal, where
he left his fleet, and ascendin;; the St. Lawrence in boats
psissed HocheIa;;a and attempted to asceml the r.ipids, two of
which, it is .said, he actually .stemmed. He then retui'ued to
Charleslxjux';; Royal where he wintered, but saw little of the
natives, who kept aloof from him, and in the sprin;;, havin;j
collected some (juartz crystals which he mistook for diamonds.
■^
10^
, 1
' I hi
1
:u
IIISToltV OF TIIK NO|{TII-\Vi:sT.
i!
■) t
■ \
I i
I I
hjhI h(»iih' tliiii scales of metal hu|>|w)H(m1 to Ite uold, he sailed
for Kraiice. It is said that he met Hoherval at St. .Johns,
New rouiidliiinl, on liis way out to Canada, Init declined to re-
turn with him, pleading; his inahility to stand a;^ainst the
savae;es with so small a numher oi' men. It is also said that
he stole away from his chief in the nie;jit, liut tiiis is disputed.
Cartier, howe\cr, undo\il)tedly I'etin'iied to Ki'ance, and his
chief pi'oceeded to the St. Lawrence without him. It is j)os-
sihle that Hol)er\al reachetl his winter (|UJirters in 1541, hut it
was not till .luly, 1542, that he hejiiin to fortify France Royal
below <^)uel>ec, durin;; which he had a <;i"eat deal of trouble
with his iiui, and also with the Indians, who were unfriendly
to the French fi'om the time that ('ai'tier stole their kinj^, so
that extreme measui'es had to be used on sevei-al occasions to
as.sert the authority of the o()vernoi'. The whole expedition
of 1541 and 1542 was a failure, and some time in 154.S C-ar-
tier vif.ited the St. Lawrence and bi-oueht Iloberval home to
France. In reviewine- the expeditions of Cartiei- and Roberval
it has been said that they did not bear nnich fruit, but if wu
may jude-e from the activity that prevailed in the mai-itime
towns of France durine' 1540 and subse(|uent yeai's, and the
number of pi'ivate expeditions fitted out to ^o to America, it
would seem as if the work of the ex})loivrs luid been pi-oduc-
tive of ii'ood bv excitini; interest in tlu' new land. From L541
to 1545 this ardor was .sustained, and private cnterpriHe con-
tinued to be ent;aoed in trading- to Canada initil 1597, wlien
official coloni/'ition was taken up. Cartier, after brinjrino'
Robeival home in 1548, retired without havin^^ derived
any material financial benefit from his {rreut undertakinj^js,
i-nd dwelt as Sei^nieur of Linoilon in his plain manor-house
at St. Malo, where he died, greatly honored and respect-
1 1'
>'l
i;a|{LV i»is('u\ kimks in nukt
AMKKK'A.
H5
I'll, iilioiit till- yt'ilC I.').").'). As loi' HoluTNiil, lie s()(»ii passed
tr<iMi siy^lit, jiltliu»iifli, jicrorfliii^" to ( 'ImrlfNoix, Iw iiiiulf aiiutlici*
att('iii]»t ill l.')4!t t<i colonize ('aiia<la.
I lie\et says lie was
iiiiiiijfi'ed ill Paris, while others state that he jierisheil at sea.
Ill l').).S, an t'XjH'fJitioii. ol" which the then a;;e(| Sehastian
("ahot was the chief pi'oinotcr, sailed undei- coiniiiand of Sii-
llu^ili Willouehhy ami Kicliard ('luiiicellor, hut it ended in dis-
aster, as the three ships coniprisinn- the fleet in lollowine' an
eastei'iv course were o\ertal<en l)V winter, and \Villonirhl)\' and
all his men perished hy rainiiie and cold. Three years later,
another vessel, coiimianded hy Stej)hen Hin-rouelis, was sent
out in a north-cuHterly diri'Ction. and in niidsuiiiiner the ship
was he.set on all sides liy masses of ice, and was in danjier of
beiii;;' annihilated so that all efforts to proceed were unavailing'.
On t^ie death of Sehastian ('al)ot, Martin Frohisher under-
took a vovajje of discoNfi'v to the North, ami sailed from
Jjlackwall on June 5tli, l.')o7, hut retui'ued in Octolter of the
•same yt-ar withcmt haviue;acconi]i)lislied any important results.
He is .said to ha\c hroueht lionu' .some mica which he mistook
for ;;'old, and he evidently ^ave ^•lowinj>' accounts of the new
land, for in May, lo77. a second expedition was fitted out
which proved as liarreii of results as the first one, yet
Queen Elizaheth was so pleased with ivports of the western
World furnished 1)V iiim tliat she sent him out a third
time in Io78. Nothine- of much importance came of the
voyages about this time until, in lofSo, John Davis sailed from
Dartmouth aViout the month of June, and di.scoveri-d the
straits tiiat Ijcar his name. Subse<|uently he undertook two
other expeditions, one in I oNIi, and the last one in I ")H7, when
he reported very favorably of the po.ssibilities of a Xorth-West
pa.ssage, but for eleven years after this, nothing- was done
I
:;* • h
f '.I
:{ii
msTnltv OK TllK NoKTII-WKST.
\v\
\'
;! i
I' '
until tlw MiiniuiN iU- In Hoclic, a ('atliolic ii()l)l»'iimn of Hrit-
taiiy, uii(l«Tto<)k the t'olitni/atioii (tt" Nrw Kraiicc umltT tho
auspiccM of Henry I\'., an expedition wliicli resiilted only in
• lisa.ster ami Iomh of life.
In ir)!M> an<l KKM), M. (Mnmvin an<l M. Ponte^navi? made
voya;fe.s to^jetlier t(» the St. Lawrence, and descended to Lake
St. I'eter, formed a post at TadouMac, Imt, otiiei'wise, ac-
eomplislied little. l'ontey;i*a\e. Iiowevei", became identified
with the lur trade of the country, ami I)e Monts, who ac-
companied the expcilition and afterwa)ds went l)ack to
France, wa.s induced l)y what he had seen, to i-eturn to ('ana<la
and take an active part in its colonization. About the .same
time that ('luiuvin and Ponte<,n"ave undei'took theii' expedition,
James Lancaster sailed to America, and soon aftei'lieorue Wav-
mouth was sent out with two ships by some jjatriotic mer-
chants of London and by tlie Muscovy Company. He made
foi- (Ji'eeidand, but after reaching; a hij^di latitude encountered
such obstructions from ice an<l fo^s that the crew mutinied,
and the expedition was obli;^ed to ivturn without makint;- fur-
ther discoveries. Yet it is .said that Henry Hudson wa,s
|i;uided piincipally by tlw reixnts of Davis and Waymoutb in
makinj^ his discovery.
In 1()05, the Kinj; of Deinnark desjHitched three vessels un-
der Jolm Cyunnini;ham, who reached latitude (5(1 'MY, when his
seamen refused to ^^o any further, and the expedition accom-
plished nothing of note. Thirteen years after this, Christian
IV. .sent out two well ecjuipped .ships, conunanded by Jens
Munk, who traversed Davis Strait, Imt, failing- to find the de-
sired openinjf to the west, struck .soutliward to Hudson's
Strait and Hudson's Bay. He wintered at Chestei'tield Inlet,
where the crew endured such hardships that on the return of
KAUI.V DISCUVKKIKS IN Nnin M A.MKUlr.V.
87
suiiimt'i" only tliiTc sui-vivtMl cmt ol" sixty-Hvc mouIm to iiiiikf a
|M'ril*>iis voyii;;*' l\oiiH'\V)ir<l.
Tlir lu'count ol' tlifsc st'vcnil cxpcMlitions to Anicric'ii, lirint;H
IIS <lowii to the tiiiit' wlii'ii ( 'liiiiiijiliiin. tlir " i'atliiT ol' ( 'iiiDula. "
iiiiulc liis first voyii;^<', iiiid as liis <-\|)loi-atioiiN art' ot" special
iiitcivNt in connirtion witli the liistoiy of tlu- Noitli-Wcst, we
will tlcvote the follo\viii;^f i-liaptcr to tliciii iind tiif cxpcilitions
to t'X|»loit' tli»' intci'ioi' wliicli wtTc tlic outcoiiic ol" liis ciittT-
prisc aixl activity.
^
jl^S^
^-K?'- V
rHAiTi':H III.
CIIAMI'LAIN IN CANAhA, AND OVKHLAND LXI'LOHATIONS IX
THK NOKTH-WKST.
I i!
1 i
Ari'Kl! HoIm'in al's uiit'»)i"tuimtt' t>x|KMliti()ii, tlir Frcncli Jippcai-
to lia\ »■ tiikcii no iiittTt'st in C'juiada lor a imtIoiI ot" ovci' halt'
a century, luitil in KiOIi, Ainyai- dc C'hasU-s, tlu- ;^»)Vi'ni()r of
J)i(']i]ii'. (.'onccix I'll tilt' idea ot" renewing' the attempt to colonize
tlu new world, and t'oi- this purpose in\ ited Sanuiel de Cham-
plain to aet'ompany an expedition to Amei'ica. The consent
of Henry IV. haxiiiMlu'en ul)tained, Champlain aereed to ^'o,
ami o!i the \')l]\ .March, KiO.S, set sail From Ho;ith'Ur with
two \ essels. one of which was eonnnanded hy l'ont^"rav(',
and the other hy Sieur I'revert. 'I'he I'xpedition rcaclu'd the
St. Lawrence in .safety, and at 'I'adousac; Chaniplain foinid
al)out a thousand Al^omiuin Indians a.ssend)led, en<iay,ed in
celehratiiiij' a \ ictor\- o\'er their eni'mit's. the Ii'(
)([Uois, wliom
they hail just succeeded in detV'atiuM-. and the wars hvtweeu
the.se two trihes, in which he tvas forced to take pai't, wi're
destint'd in after vears to interfere <!n'»itlv with Chamnlains
ert'orts at colonization.
Immediatelv aftei' this, thi' iirst survey of the Saiiucnav
was made, and then, ))i'oceeilin^' in hoats, ('hanii)lain ascended
the St. Lawrence to Hochela<;a, and endeaxoretl to stem the
current of the rr.pids. hut lunin;;' to ahiindon the attem})t, the
explorers contimied on foot alony' the shore for several miles,
^
It
OH.VMI'L.MN IN CANADA.
:i!)
()l)t)»iniii<r nnicli iiit'oiiimtion about tli«' eoimtrv IVoin tin-
ImliiUis. al'tcr vliicli tlicy rctunuMl to 'r!nlousac. ('haiM])laiti
next txploi't'*! the soutluTM co;ist of the (iiill" of St. La\vr«'iic»',
and t'olKrtt'il a valuahlc carj^'o of furs with wliicli lu' rctiinit'd
to FraiK't', airiviuti- at Ha\ rt- <\v (Jracf on tlu' 20tli S('j)t«'iiil)fi\
l(i()o. ami a hook di'scrihiiiu- this Novate Ix'iiit;; ])id)lishi'd
attractid so imieh atti'iition that comiiiorcial t'litiTprisc in the
(hi't'i'tion ot" the ni'W world was ni-catlv stiniuhitcd hy it.
Ahout two ino.iths at'tcr this, Aniyar Av C'hastt's having' died,
a coiiiniission was m-aiiti'd hv thf Kint"- to Siciir dr Monts
wht) liaii siu'coi'diM I in t'onnin;^' an association ot" merchants t'oi-
thr ]nn|)osf of prost'cutinji' thi' fuc ti-adc. Ahout NoNfinhcr,
KiOo. thi'i'i'forc, Dc Monts with two \ csscls. one comniandrd
hv himself and the other I)V Ponturaxc, set sail accoiiipanitMl
hy Champlain, hut on reachin;;' the coast of America the oper-
ations of the expedition wei'e confined to Nova Scotia and New
l):'unswicl\. and in the followinu- sunniier, thev extended their
oi)erations to the more .southern shores of America alone' the
N«'w Knu'land coast.
In l(i()7, the monojioly of De Monts in the fui' trade w
as
idtolished owine- to the remonstrances of French merchants,
anil the colony which he liad estahlished on tlu' Island of St.
Croix was hroken up the colt)nists returnine- to Fivince in Sep-
tendiei' (if that vear. Ihit Hcnrv 1\'. was not altoecther un-
mindful of tlu' merits of l)e Monts when he heard the report
of C'hamj)lain and the i-olonists, .showing' all that ha<l heen
done, and he «>raiitt'd a I'enewal of the monoi)olv for one Near.
r^ lit
He M(aits then fitted out another expedit' in, at ^hj. same
time a})pointine' Champlain Lieutenant-dovenior, • nd on l-'Uh
April, l(!()S, it left Honileui', an-i\ine at Tadou.sav •■>n Jird .lunr,
wheiv C'hamj)lain found I'onteravc, who had preceded him
|l
40
H[ST(»UV OF T}IE NOKTH-WEST.
ti
^\
it
s I
ill serious trotihlc with Home tiwlers and tishenneii, a difficiiltv
which r«M[uire(l all his charactei'istic prudence to settle
aniicahly. He succeeded, lunvever, in l)riii<^in<^ about peace.
after which, havinj^^ constructed a small vessel of fourteen
tons, he proceeded up tlie St. Lawrence.
On the Hrd July, l(i()>S, Champlain laid the foundation (jf the
City of Quebec, and the ei-ection of buildinj;s and establish-
ment of his colony consumed so ma v months, that he and
his men suf!ei'e<l much fi'om want of supplies. As a result of
this, a mutiny l)i'oke out anion^- his colonists, and a plot to
assassinate him bein<;' discoveivd, the i'in<;leader, one Duval,
was tried and liun^-, which had the effect of preventinj^' atiy
fui'tlu'r insubordination on the part of his people. Durinj;' tlie
following- winter, Champlain on learning from the India:. s of
a hw^it lake and beautiful island in the interior, determined,
when the snov had ndted, to explore the country tlnis de-
scribed.
On the 18th June, 1(!0(), therefoiv, he set out on this ex-
pedition, accompanied ])y about sixty warriors of tlie Alt^on-
(|uin tribe, and after a battle with the Inxpiois, durin*; which
the firearms of Champlain experienced by these Indians for
the first time did ii'ood sei'vice in obtainiuir ''^ victorv over
tiu-i.!, he pr()cee<led on his joiu'ney, and as he passed up the
St. Lawrence it was observed that the Hochelaj;ans existed
no longer althou^di the ruins of their town remaineil. Stada-
cona was no more, and it seemed to Champlain as if the native
populations of Cartier's day had ceased to possess the country.
On this expedition he explored the I'iver Richelieu and the
lake which bears his name, after which he returned to Quebec,
and soon afterwards set sail for France, arriving at H«jnHeur
on the l.'Uh October.
I ^■'
C'llAMI'LAIN IN CANADA.
41
De Monts' ni()iU)[K)ly Imd now cxpiivd, yet lu- continued his
ort'orts in tlu- new world, and in HilO (_'luiinplain was aj^ain
sent out witli two vessels and a c<)inniission, autiiori/ing liini
U) sei/e any vessel lie should find traHickin^ in furs l)etwt'en
((Juehec and the sources of the St. Lawrence. AiMned with
this arbitrary power, it was his intention to foster and
develop the coinniercial affairs of the new colony. He pur-
posed e.\i)lorini;' the Sa<;'uenay and up the Ottawa to I^ake
Superioi", and even had some idea of penetrating;" as fai* as
Hudson's Bay, the j^reat inland sea which he had heard some-
thin;^' of from the Indians, hut Wiir Ix'tween his allies the
Al^i)n(iuins and tlie Iroquois, in which he was ohli^^'tMl to t:d<e
part, prevented him. A<iJii!! the fireai'ms of the Kreneh pre-
vaileil. the Iro(|Uois h.-mi;' defeated, and ahout this time the
Hui'ons, who were then a powerful trihe, appeared upon the
the scene, with whom ('hamplain ma<le a treaty of alliance
and trade, find havinj;' thus secured stron^j,' allies amono- tlu'
Indian tribes, he returned once moi'e to France in the intfi't-st
of his colony. Hut before ids departure he inau;;«n-ated a
plan for ob'tainini;- interpi'eters, which not only j)roved of
^reat service to him in his subse(|uent enterprises, but also led
the way to futui'e exploration and settlement in the Xoilh-
West. He bei;an the practice of placing one of his yotni;;'
men with the Indians to live with them and learn their
lan(;iia<;e and customs, at the same time sending- one of the
latter to France to Ik' educated, an<l in this way he fornuMl a
staff' of interpreters, whose service.'^ becauK- invaluabh' to him.
The assassination of Heiny IV. caused Champlain to attain
visit France in I (5 10, when, having' powei-ftd friends at court,
he succeeilcd in securing a renewal of his connnission, with
which he returned to Quebec, and during' I(jll gave most of
M
' f
<
it
) .
n\
^\
f: !'
42
IIISTOUY OF TFfE NOUTH-WKST,
his attention to the iimnaj^'t'iiioiit of the t'ur ti'adc. It w as at
tliis tinit' that (Mianiplaiii established a post on tiie site, now
<)CCU])ie(l hy tlie city of Monti'eal, which lie naiiieii IMace
Royal, hnt which was afterwai'ds chan<;vd to Pointe a ('ailiei-s.
The fur ti'ade, owin^- to excessive competition, now hecanio
so nnprotitahle that ])e Monts and his associates wei'e com-
pelled to abandon it, and on their retirenKtnt Cham]>lain,
while in France, foi-med a new company with the Connt de
Soissons at its head, who. however, die<l soon after tliis,
and was succeeded by the Prince <le Cond^. The formation
of this company occupied the whole of l(il2, and in Hil'i
Champlain returned to the St. Lawrence, arriving- at Quebec
on the 7th May. when he un<lertook an expedition u]) the
Ottawa and beyond. It was on this expedition that one
Nicolas du Vi^'nan asserted to him that in the winter of Mil 2
he had visiteil Hudson's Hay by an overland route from the
sources of the Ottawa, but it was afterwai'ds proved that
Vif.^nan was an impostor, and that having' heard accounts of
the y;reat inland sea from Indians he bad endeavored to im-
pose a falsehoo<l upon Champlain. The latter, at the time this
story was told hint, was at Isle des Alhnnettes, on the Ottawa,
and only about three hundred miles from Hudson's Bay.
Champlain now pai<l another visit to France, where he re-
mained durinj; the whole of the year 1G14, returning to Que-
bec in 1()15, and brinj^in^ with him three nii.s.sionary priests
and a lay brother Recollet of the St. Franciscan order. He
then utidertook a most important expedition to explore the
jrreat interior of which he had heai'd so nuich. Ascending
the ()tta\va, he entered the iMatawan, and by other waters
reached Lake Nipissinj^, which he cros.sed, and following
French river entered Lake Huron and (Jeor^dan Hay. Pro
CHAMIM.AIN IN CANADA.
43
cooflin^ on by rivers aiul lakes and l'rt't|Ueiit porta<;('s, lie inaii-
a;^e(l to reach Lake Ontario and passed (»\'er to the New Voik
side, wliere he and his In<lian allies jiad a hattle with the
Iro(|U()is, in which he was wounded, wjiich cau.sed him to
spend the winter witli the Hurons, anione- wiioui. through
the exertions of Joseph la C'aron, one of the Hecollets who
accompanied him, the foundation of Indian missionarv work
was then laid.
It will he observed that Chaniplain made frecpient visits to
his native land, which he did for the purpose of obtaining-
aid to better the condition of the colonists. In the winter of
HiH) he onc(! more went to France accompanied by two of the
Hecollets, for the purpose of stimulating interest in the colony
and the missions which were strut;t;liiie- foi- e.xisteiice on tlie^
hanks of the St. Lawrence. But at this time extreme imlif-
fei'ence was sliown by the French court and people reeardiii}^
the colonizing" efforts in America, and Champlain did not rt-
turn to Quebec until Jtdy, 1()2(), when Madame Champlain,
then only twenty-two years of a^c. accompanied him and
remained in Canada for upwards of four years. About this
time the foundation of the first convent was laid l)y tlie Re-
oollets, who, though few in number, were active and zealous in
the spread of Chri.stianity. A rival fur company was also or-
t^anized, headed by William <le Caeeii, but its competition ilid
not last lon^-, foi' in I(i22 it became !vmal<j;amated with the old
a.ssociation established by Font^rave, an<l the two cariied on
business undei' the name of the " Company of Montmorency, "
the charter ^rantetl ])y the King of France to this company
heing for twenty-two years, and with provi.sion in it for
securinjjj Chanii)lain's authority as (Jovei-nor and tii ■ main-
tenance of missions. A treaty of peace was also effected
■ \
if-
44
HISTOKV OK TIIK NOIMII-WKST.
II
i
I
l)i't\V(H'ii the Fi'ciK'li, tlu' Hurons ninl AI^()ii(|uiiis on »»nr
side, find the Irotjuois on tlu' other, hut untortunatcily it only
Ifi.sti'd for a short time.
Chjiniphiin's path (hirini;' the whole ol" his career in Canada,
was l)eset with diHiculties at^ainst which lie strove with
initirin^' /eal, the {greatest ohstacle to the success of the colony
hein<;' lack of suhstantial su})j)ort from home. Foi" four yeai's
.Madame Cham] lain labored with him, ami endeared herself to
the colonists, hut the strain u})on one so delicately reared, and
the privations she neci'sscrily had to endure, were moiv than she
could hear, and on the lotli Autjftist, 1()24, she returne<l with
('hami)lain to France, cai'ryin<^' with her the love and esteem of
the |)eoj)le liy whom her al)sence was aftei'wards dee])ly re^i'et-
ted. The object of (^ham})lain's visit to Fi'ance was the usual one
to secure more (generous sup[)ort for tlie colony, and during
his ahseiice in 1()24 he appointed De Caeen to act as govi'iior
for him.
The followine; year tlie vice-royalty of the colony was
transferivd from " Montmorency" to the " ])1ic de Ventadour,"
a nobleman who was nnich interested in the extension of the
missions, and who afterwards contributed from his private
resourct's for the support of the Jesuits in (yanada. When,
therefore, Le Caron and Sagard, the Recollet fathers, a]iplied
about this timi' to the Jesuits for assistance to carry on the
mi.ssions in Canada, the Due de Ventadour approved of it, and
in June, l(i25, five Jesuit priests and one additional Recol-
let sailed from France for Quebec. Those were the first Jesuits
to land in Canada, and on their arrival, owing to reports
circulated to their disadvantage, they were coolly received by
the colonists, and if it had not been for the Recollet fatlu'rs
who extended to them their kind offices and hospitality, tliey
l!
CIIAMI'I.AIN IN CANADA.
would haw <;<)iit' Ixick to Fraucf. Tlir prcst'iu't' of tlu' .h'suits
ami C'alviiiiHtH in Quebec led ai'tei-wanls to <li.sseiisioiis wliidi
;^a\c Cliaiiipluiii a ^n'eat deal of trouble, and led liiiii Hiially to
iipiieal to Hielielieu to su|)iK)i"t Iuh autiioritv.
Ffoiu l()25 to hl27 tlie colonists suti'ered niucli tVoni a
dearth ol' pi-ovisions, and had to endure the i'ie;oi-,s of winter on
short allowance, while the company in France recei\('il con-
sidi'rahle ])rotits IVoni the ti'atHc ot" the St. Lawrence. This,
howevei-, did not induce more liberal treatment ol" the colon-
ists, thus showin;^ that the ]>rosecutit)n of the fur trade, the
|irincii»al business of the counti'V, was not conducive to colon-
i/.Ktiou purpostjs. 'I'he jironi-t-s.s of the colony, therefoi-e, was
not satisfactoi'V to ( 'hamj)lain or to the ('ouncilof State in
and in Hi'iT, Cardinal ile Hichelieu dissoh fd the old
liUice
fui' eom|iany and instituted a new one called " La comj)a;4iiie
de la Xouvelle France," consisting;' of a lnnuli'e<l mend)ei's com-
monly known as the " Hundred Associates." Hichelieu, him-
self, was at tlie head of this com}>any, an<l its authority was
to extend over tiie whole of New Fr
mce and
Fl
ori(la.
Its
capital was three hundre<l thousand livres, and it proposed to
seuil to Quebec in l()2S from two to three hun(h-ed artisans of
all classes, and to transport within tiie space of Hfte»'n years
foui' thousand colonists to New France, the settlers to Ije
wholly supported by the com[»any for three years, after which
each one of them was to be assiened as much land as he could
cuhi\ate. <J»dy natives of France and exclusively of the
Roman Catholic faith were to V)e allowed to enter the country,
and the company was to have exclu.sive control of trade, etc.
It seenied as if a determined ettbrt to colonize Canada was
about to be made ))y the Frencli, and in tlie spring of 1()28
four armed vessels, convoying a fleet of eiy;hteen transports,
C
i;
It'
i 11
; 1
11
1 ff k
liii
4(i
iiisntHV <»i" Tin; n'<h{tii-vvkst,
Iiidcn with ('iiii;4;i'aiits Mini st(ncs, to^'ctlnT with one hmnh't-il
.iml thirtv-H\f pieces of orihiniicc, h-l't Ffaiicf t'oi' <j>ut'l)t'C.
Hut the cxiHMlition wms dcstiiii'il iicNt-r t<> n-iich the St. Law-
rt'iicc, t'of the Kii<;lish aii<l Krciich lu'iii};; then at war, a tlcct of
the foi'iiicr umh-r Afhiiiral KirUc caiJtunMl thf transpoi-ts and
t'oii\(»y of the " Hinidi'i'd Associates," ami carried them to
Kiiiiijiiid. Kirke then sailed to (^)uel)ec and summomvl Cham-
plain to surrender the fort and town, which the latter refused
to do, hut the Kn^lish, who were prosecuting;' thi' war with
vi^or, were I'esolved to take possession of the Fiviich settle-
iiu'nts in Nortli America. Admiral Kirke. thei'efore. aj^ain
ajtpeared before Quel)ec and summoned Chainplain a second
time to surrender, and the latter bein*;' weakened in force and
short of jM'ovisions finally ca]titulated in .Tuly, 1 (i2(>. and the
forts which he had taken so much troul)le to build and
streno'then jta.sse(l into the hands of tlie Kn<;lish. Cluimjilain
was taken to En;.;land and held pri.soner there for about a
month, when lie was liberateil. (/ana<la,liowever, did not lonj^
remain in the piisse.ssion of Kneland, for the treaty which was
signed in 1().S2 <;ave France all her North American possessions,
and l^]nieiy de Caeeii I'eceivecl a monopoly of the fui' trade im-
meijiately afterwards foi- one year, in oi-der to permit him to
recover his lo.sses, after which the company of the " Hundred
Associates" was I'einstated, with Champlain once iiKjre in com-
mand.
With the restoration Iff (Mianijilain to power, in Hi.S.S. the
missions in the country were carrie<l on by the Jesuits alone,
the Recollets never haviiiu' resumeil the work after the occu-
pation of New France by the Eniilish.and in 1()88, when Cham-
plain returne(l to (Quebec, he was accompanied by the Jesuit
fathers. Fneniond Masse and Jean de Brebeuf, the latter Iteiny,'
bijle
niAMI'I.AIN IV CANADA.
47
sscssions,
f 111 COlll-
iits alone,
no straiii^cr in tin- ('((untrv, liii\iii;jj hmi a iiiissioimry uiiimm;^'
the liiiliaii'^ ]iri(tr to tin- takiii;^ of (^)iift)("c l»y Adiiiirai Kirkc.
It was ahoiit this tiiiic, also, that the annual it'|toits. callnl tin-
.Icstiit Hclatioiis, " iM'^^an to he I't'i^ularly ti'ansiiiittf<| IVoiii
Canada to tlic ()i'(|fr in France, and, up to l(!72. they Followed
in iv^ular siu'ccssion, t'orniinif a scries oF valuahic documents,
tVoin which much that is known ol" the early history ol* Can-
ada is derive(|.
We now come to an epoch in the histoi'y ol" Canada, when
an event of much im[)ortance to the North-West occurred, in
the seiidin;^ i»r -lohn Nicolet on an exploi'iiij^' expedition into
the interior. We have already mentioned the plan inau^urat-
e(| hy Champlain Tor the purpose of ohtainiii;;' a staff' of inter-
pretei's, and now we hase to clu'onicle some()f the ^ood results
of his efforts in that direction. .John Nicolet was horn in
Cherltour^f, and at an early a;;e went to Quebec where he was
<letaile<l l)y Champlain for work amon<; the Indians. For two
yeai's he was with the Ale()n(|nins, to l)e trained as an inter-
l)reter, and durin<i' that time sutfere<| much hai'dship, lait suc-
ceeded in learning' the lan;4uai;('. He next lived with the
Nil )i,ssi lies for cicrht or nine vears, until he was recou-nized as
one of that nation, and in l(i2S, he is .said to have j)aid a short
visit to the St. I^awveiice, hut it was not till KI.S.S that he
finally returned to civilization, fully competent to act as an In-
dian interpreter.
It was becau.se of his knowled;,je of the Al^oiKpiin, Huron
iukI Iro(|Uois ton<;ues, and his Ion;j; exiterieiice while living
with the tribes, that Champlain recalled Nicolet to <^)uebec. for
th
purp
o.se of seiK
din;j; 1
lim on a most important mi.ssion.
Champlain, at that time, althouj;h he had visited Lakes Huron
and ( )ntai"io, knew comparatively little about the <;reat inland
n
Ir
il U
48
msToltV (»!•' TIIK N(»I{TII WKST,
iMi
iiP
iii
lakes. He ln'jii'fl r('|i()rtM ol' tlicir iiiii;;nituilr. saw .sjx'ciinciiM <il'
t<)]>)tt'r tVniii Superior, ami Icanii'tl of i^i-cat trilx's of Imlians
liviiii;- far in the intt-rior, hut lie wislicil for more flcHiiitc
infoniiatioii. He iiiia^iiicil, from tlic tlcscriptioiiN ;;ivfii liiiii
of tlif triht'M, that tlicy cainr from Cliiiia ami .)aj»aii, ami that
the j^rcat lakes formed the waterway leadiiii^ to Asia. ThoHe
far-ort' Imliaiis were named the People of the Sea, and (*ham-
plain hoped that hy ;;ainin;4' more information ahout them and
the iiicat inland waters he woidd dlHCovei' a new hiuhwav to
tlie Kast. So he chose Njc'olet and sent him on a Journey of
exploratiou to the far west.
in the sunnncr of Ki.'U, therefore, Nicolet, aceompunied hy
s«'veral Jesuit priests, who weri' on their way to lahor in tho
Huron eountry, left Quehec and ))n)(,'«'eded as far as Three
Rivers, whei'e he l)uilt a fort. In -lidy he i-estimeil his
journey to \isit the VV'iiniel)a<foes. ami as lie and Ids party
travelled up the Ottawa they endured y;reat hai'dshij)s until
they reafhe(| Isle des Allumettes, where Nieolet, partinj.^ with
the .Jesuit fathers, turned towards the Hurous, entruste(l, it is
siiid, with authority to make peace between then> and the
Winnehaj^'oes, whom ho was on his way to meet. From the
Huron country he proceeded iu a birch bark canoe alont.^ the
northern shore of Lake Huron on to Sault Sainte Marie,
thence up (Jreen Hay toward the land of the Winnebaj^oes,
and on the way several tribes of Indians were encountered
ami presents distributed amon^ them.
Nieolet was the first white man, so far as known, to look
upon or traverse the waters of I^ake Michii^'an, and from there
he proceeded up CJreen Hay until he reached the Menomonee
River, where he rested with a tribe of that name, while nies-
seni^ens were sent ahead to notify the Winneba^oes of his
i:
II
CMAMIM-AIN IN CANADA.
49
(iiiiiiii;;. riicy, lit'iiriii^j ot" lii.s |)I'()])<>n«'iI visit, flispatclifil sonif
ut' their |M'»i|)l(' t(» iiMM't liiiii. iiikI on liis arrival t'castcfl an«l
liurioi'cil liiiii. Fie was iuokf*! u|)()M as a .Mai)it<iu,(i\viii<^- to liis
liroaniis, which ht- ilis]»layt'<l l»y firiiiu- i,\\\ ahh(iu;;;h his iiiis-
sidii was one of pcacf, ami Im- succt't'dnl in ini|»i't'ssiMi; the
Winncha^oi's so I'aNoi'alily that hr rcsolvcW to procccW I'ai'thci'
;nnl visit other triln's. He travi'llctl alonj; the Fox Hi\t'r
until he canie to Winneha^o Lakr. which he |)asse<l thr(mj;h,
;in<l, once more entering; th<' rivei. journeye<| to the country of
the Mascoutins. From there he tui'netl his steps soutliward,
,iM<l, leavine' tlie course of the Fox, visited the prairies of
Wisconsin and lllin(»is, aft«'r which he returned to the land of
the Winnehaji'oes.
In the sprinj;' of KLS;"). Nicolet set out on his return to
<^)uel)ec hy way of tlie ^^ackinaw, alont; the sonth slion' of the
(ii'eat Maiiitoulin Island, thence to the country of the Hurons,
and from there to the mouth of tlie Fi'ench Hiver. up that
stream to Lake Xi[)issine-, and down the Mattawa ami ( )ttawa
to the St. Lawrence, thus eiidine- an expedition which was the
means of tinlockine- the door to the far west.
At the hee-innine- of |(i:i4, the whole French population (»u
the St. Lawrence was hardly one hundred and fifty souls,
mostly eneae'ed in the fur trade for the company of the
"Hundred As,s()ciates," and hut little was known of the interior
of the continent. A few Kuii'lish and other stvan- ■crs were
also en<;a^ed in trading- with the Indians, hut ('hamplain was
not lonji^ in power until he manaecd to re>;ain
the f
rienusni
Ish
aii<l alle<riance of all the Indian trihes, and the French then
reigned .supreme, to almost the entire exclusion of otlie)- ti'ad-
intf nationalities.
Champlain, after Nicolet's i-eturn from his expedition to the
I
' (
, ^,,
ill
li ^
60
MIsToUY OF Tin: NultTll-WKST.
t'll)' west, NVllS not ]M'l-|liittf<l to t'nIliiW l||i tlic Work (tf cXplnr-
iii;^' tilt' ^rciit iiiti'i'ior. In ( h-tnltcr, l(i:{'), w liilr attfntlin;,^ to
liis tluticH. iif WMs hiiil |)rostrat.f liy a styok*' ol' |»arnlyMis, nixl
IVoni tliiit nionii-nt nf\fr r(»sr iVoni liis Im'iI. At'triji liny^crin;;
illnt'HM ol" twt) iiml II li ill' months iliiiiit ion, the ^iifiit fxploi-t'i-
iiml t'onmlt'i- ot' <j)ii('ln(' Iticiillu'il his last, thus closin;;' a carci-r
of \\dn<lt'rl'ul activity an<l fnt»'r)»risf, ilui'iii;;' which he laiW
the roumlations of prosjM'rity and haj>|iiiicss lor Intuit- nt-ncp-
Htii)iiH. Dnrin;;- his last illnc.ss he was attcntlfil hy ( 'harlcs
Lal
I'Mii'iit, who wrote the
Hclat
it)ns til
l(i:2l
i. ami this wortliN'
pi'ifst otHciatctI at the fniicral ccifiminics. it is a stran;,'!'
I'act, in connection with ( 'liam|)laiii, that there has not heeii
louml in
Oiiel
>ec, so lar as kiitiwn, a sin
ele .1
t)cniiient signed hy
him, and even the resting;-) )lace ttl' his i-eniains — the Kathei- ol"
New I'' ranee is a my.stei'y at the ]»resent ilay.
Jn I(i4l , two .lesnit fathers, naineil Isaac .l(ti|Ues ami (Miai'Ies
Kaynihanit, pa.sseil alonj;' the slit)i-es of l^ake linidii, ntirth-
ward, and reached Sanit Sainte Marie, wheiv thev met an
assemhlaet' of 2,()()(> Alet)ii(|\iiiis. 'I'lie nii.ssittnary priests wei'e
anit)nu° the most active exiilorers t)f earlv tiavs in ('anatia and
tlu^ Noi'th-West, ami we oniv mention the case of {''atheis
Jotines ainl Kaymhault, in the ))iv,sent instance, as a link in
the chain t)f tiverland ex]»lt)i'atit)ns we are now descrihiny;, it
heine' oui" intentitin to tievote a whole cluipter to the work of
the missionaries.
In l(ir)4. a treaty of peace was efiected hetween tiie French
anti the Irotpiois, anti trailers ])enetrated the reeions of the
upper lakes, returning- latlen with judtries ami tellint;' wonder-
ful stt)ries t)f what they .saw. Xo coni])l'>te recortl is to he
founil of the journeyinos of those hai-dy men, but sti'ay nar-
ratives of their exi)loits indicate that thev were in I'l-ality the
li
! ^''-
rilAMI'I.Ar IN • ANAhA
A1
t'lircrumii'i's of tln' iiiiNMi(»iiiiiifs mikI tin- fiii-ly t'XiilMrfix It is
;;(iicriilly ni|iiiitt<-i| tliiit tlif ■1 'mi rmrs ilfs Uai.^," tin- imiiic
li\- wliicli tlinsf tiiidfis mill tni|i|it'rs w rif known ]»ifct(|ril all
ntllils ill till' u\t|llll|il i'\|tlltrMti<>ll III' tlir Nnrtll- Wi'st.
Ill \i\V-K Mriliinl ('liniiiii kiinwii )is Sifiiiili's ( JrosciJIirr,
a I II I
ii'i If ii
!<
split, or Sinii' Ix-hIImsoii, |iuslifi| tlicir w a v
yniiil Laki- SujH'rior, ami wliiji' jiurin-yiiiy; with tin- MuroiiH
hranl iiiiich of tin- i|t'i'|i. wiilr ami Ix'aiititul ri\fr (flir Mi
MM-
it!' tin- accounts tlicv
|SSI|»|)1). No IIIIJ»r»'SSC(| Wflr tlli'V w
icccivnl tliut tlu'V rcsol\f(| to iii'iictnitc liir iiilnml with the
idea of ifachin;>' this rixcraml i\|iloriii;^' the country trihutary
to it. Thi-y thcrd'orc |inici'ci|fi| a ioii;^' ilistancc into the in-
ttiior. tiailiiiij- wi
th tl
If Sioiix
In.l
iiuis who inlialiitcil
th
couiitiy Itctwccii the St. ('ioi.\ aiiil .Mississi]»|ti ii\fis, ami
at'tri' an al)scncc td' alioiit a \ car ii'tiinit'il to .Montreal with
three hiimlreil Imliansanil ^i.xty canoes laden witli a wealth
nj' skins. So successlul had Iteeii this e.\,,.dition that, iilth()uy;li
I )e ( !ro,seilli«'r only returned on the |!»th Au;4Ust, he at once
ciijlected toj^ether a Iresh (Mittit oi" j^oods for tradiii;^' purposes,
and left .Montreal on the 2^th of the same month on his re-
turn to the far w«'st. On this occasion he was accompanied
liy an a;;ed missionary, named Keiie Menard, and his .ser\ant
(lueiiii. who. hecomine' discoura^^'i'd at the imlitfereiice of the
Indians to the caiise of reliuion, left l)e ( Jrcseillier on tin;
southern shoiv of I^ake Superior, and went to li\e with the
H
lu'ons. 111 \v
hat
IS now the State o
f W'i
.scolisin, Whel-e
tl
le
Worthy ])ricst afterwanls perished.
I )e ( Jroseillit'i' an<l Hadisson returned from this .second trip
with information, e^athcrcd from the Indians, of a o;reat inland
sea to the north, and a tirm detei'mination to ;;'o and ex|)lore
It.
ccordini;iy, on the 2nd May, l(i()2, they set out, ani
d I)
Pif
ill
'. . I
!
si 1
'S| i
w ,
■ I.J :
■'! 1
h I
S 1
52
HISTORY <»F THE XORTH-WKST.
m^ ^ni(l('<l hy tlu' IiidiaiiH succeo<k'(l in reaching- Hudson's
Hrtv. Tilt' result of tliis jounu'V and sul)sc'<(U('nt expt'tlitions
of l)r (Jroseillicr, to the north, was, as we will show hereafter,
the foi'ination of the Hudson's Hay Company in 1()70.
In l()()l), Louis .Joliet and one I\*r^ went as far as Sault
Sainte Mai'ie, and h-oni there, in company with another
Frenchman, proceeded tlirouji'h the valley of the (Jrand River
to Lake Ontario, where they wintered, returninj^- to Montreal
in the sprint;'. In 1(570, Nicht)las Perrot, a leatlinj; spirit
ainon^' the " Coureius des BoUy visitetl Quebec and was
inviteil hy Talon to act as jruide and interpreter tt) his ileputy,
Simon Kranct)is Daumont, the Sieur Sainte Lussttn, wht) was
commissionetl tt) ^t) to Lake Superior to search ft)r ct)])})er
mines and confer with the tribes. In October, therefore.
Saint Lusson antl Peri'ot left Montreal antl travelletl as far as
Lakes Hurtni antl Superior, where they tt)ok po.s,session in the
name of Ltniis XIV.
In I(i78, Daniel (Jreysolon tlu Luth stai-teil from Quebec for
the })urpose t)f exploring the laiitl of the Dacotahs and Assini-
boines, antl in l(i7!) he visitetl parts of the Dacotah counti-y,
whert! no white man hatl ever been. He also .succeeiletl in
brin^'in^- about peace between the varitms tribes in that part
of tlu^ XtM'th-West, antl. it has been elaimetl, extentleil his explt)r-
atitjns as far as Rainy Lake, but this is a matter open tt)tl()ubt.
In 1717, Lieutenant Robertal tie Lanoue ct)nstructt<l a ft)i't
at Kaministit|ue, antl in 17.S1, Verentliye ai-rivetl there on his
way to Lake Superior. To Verentlrye beltju^^s the civilit of
bein>:j the first explorer tt) crt)ss the plains t)f the t.;'reat Nt)rth-
West, although it is daimeil by .some that the Coiircur.s (Jest
Hois precedetl him in his threat journey to the Saskatchewan,
an account of which appears in a later chapter of this history.
I I
CHAITKH IV
THF KAKI.Y MiSSloNAHIES.
CaN'AOA, iiml ('snt'ciallv tlic Xoi'tli-Wt'st. owes nmcli to tli
uii.lauutt'il '/.vn\ and t'lUTir^' »>f' the carlv inissioiiarifs.
T\
It'll'
tiials an<l privations would tln'Misclvt's t'onii the sulijt'ct tor
a ^(XMl-si/cd volunu'. and, thcrcforr, in tlic liiniti-d space at
f'liiinnand, alth(aiiili as coniplctr a jTcoi-d as possiljli" will !»■
;;iv('n ooncci'iiinj; tlicir ^jiTat work, many intcrt'stin*; details
will lia\t' to lie omitted.
In 1()I4, C'liamplain l)i'oue;lit with him from France three
missionary priests, named Denis .lamay..lean Dolhean. .loscjih
Le Chiron, and a lay brother, I'acititpie du IMessis, all of whom
were Kecollets of the Franciscan Onler. .losej)h I^e Caron was
sent into the intei-ior and tra\ died a distance of seven hundred
miles to Lake Hui'on, and on his arrival at what is now the
iioi'th-westciMi part of Simcoe county, the Huron Indians l»u'lt
a wmwam
for h
h
)H'ei
um, w'licre he onere<| his hrst mass.
I'
or SIX
iths, th
at V
d hardsn
mciscan missionaiy, i
|)eril, continued to study the lan;^ua;^e of the trihes. and on
the 2()th May, l(il(i, retin"ne<l to Three Hi\ers for the ])ui]Hisf
'if <;ainint>- helj)mates in the woi'k he hail undertaken, it was
nut. howevei', until the spi'ine- of lii^-S that he aeain \isited
tlie Huron country, and when he did, he was accompanied Iiy
Father Nicholas Viel and Brother (Jalaiel Sa;;ard. Tl.e
Hiiroi'.s received the three missionaries with open arms, and
■ I ■
I'
\i
lit'c,
54
lllsntHV OK THK N'OKTH-'.VKST.
l)uilt a clwi)»('l for thciii, aftci' which Lc (^iron rctui-iUMl to
(^Mu'lu'c, IfjiviiiH' F^ithc)' X'it'l to (•oiitiiiuf tln' iiiissioii alone.
'I'lif latter, by paticiie* aii<l jx-rsfvcraiice, iiiaiia^cd to ac(|uiri'
a tail' knowlt'dut" of the Hui'oii lanj^uajrt', hut his success in
instructing" and con\"eitin<i" the Indians was so disappointin;^'
that he wrote to Le ( 'aron for more help, which I'estdtcd in an
4H)plication to tin- Jesuits to assist in the niissionaiy work <jf
New Fi'ancf.
In 1()2'). the Ki-anciscans had a number of missions in the
country, and, besidi-s those in New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, had others at Tadousac, <^)iU'bec, Tliree Hivei's, amon;^'
the Ni])issin^s and in tiie land of tlie Hurons. Finding' the
work, thei'efoiv, so pi'omisin*;', they were desirous of en^a^in^'
more priests in it, but in this apparently tlu^y found some dif-
ficulty until the Ordei' of Hecollets in Paris invited the Jesuits
to assist them. At that time, the J)uc de V'entadour was vice-
roy of New France, and, bein^- nnich inteivsted in the exten-
sion of the missions, nave his approval to the employment of
tiio Jesuits in the work. Accordingly, Encmond Masse, Charles
Lfdeinent, who l)ecamu afterwards a i;reat favorite with Cham-
plain, ami John de Brebcuf, came ovei' to Quebec. At first
theii" receptitai by the colonists was not of a fricntlly nature,
and it is .said that if the Hecollets had not come forward and
opened tlieir <loors to them, the Jesuits would have returned
to France. They ivmained, however, and having connnand of
resources from influeiitial friends, they bcj^an to build, and
broui^ht ovei' men to swell the settlement and cultivate the
j^round.
It was on the l!>th -June, l(i2o, that Fathers Lalcment,
Masse ami Hrebeuf an'ive(| at Quel)ec, and with them came a
Franciscan priest of noble family, named Joso[)h de la Roche
THK KAKLV MISSK >NAKii:s.
65
hallinii. L.'ilcincnt n'lnuined at <^)n»'bt'c, ami in I(i2() wrote the
tirst It'ttiT 1)1" the now t'aiiious " Hclatioiis of the .lesuits," wliile
.Ir.iii i\-' liirhfuf, Ix'iii^ si'lccteil toi' tlu' Hin'oii iiiissioii, ])aH.se(l
srvt'ial iiioiitlis ainoiio- tlic Iixlians, to |»rt'|)arc' toi- tlie woi'k
Ix't'oic liiiii. Katliei' ]a' ( aroii iicNcr ivtunu'rl to the Hui'ons,
liiit al)out tlif time Breheuf started to labor ainon<;" that tribe
lie ilf|»artt'<l for Fivinee, aii«l <lieil there in Mairh, Wi'.i'l.
l\ithei' \'iel, while returning- to (^uebee, in l()2o, was treaehei"-
ou.sl\- niurilered bv a Hni'on iiuide, at a si)ot on the bank of
tlie rapi'ls. Ileal- Montreal, which still bears the name of Sault
an F.ecollet. And thns the Franciscans i:raduallv iiave wav
to tile .b'suits.
The recoid of the Jesuit missionai'ies in North America is a
chapter of history full of personal devotedness, enei't^y, cour-
a^l'e ami ) terse verance. Men of intelli thence and ediication,
they ^oive up all that civilized life c(juld oti'ei-, to shai'e the
|)recai'ious life of wande)'in<;' savaees. and were the tirst to
reveal the chai-acter of the interior of the countiy, its soils and
pi'otlucts. the life and ideas of the natives, and the system of
American lan^'^lal'•es.
In July. 1(I2(). Hi'ebeuf. in company with Father de None,
wlio had just arrive(l from France, and Josejdi <le la Roche
Dallion. starte<! for the shores of Lake Huron. A man of
broid frame and ;;'iant strene;th, this ^reat Jesuit priest com-
iiiaude(l the respect of the Indians with whom he travelled, by
liis tireless endurance, as stroke for stroke, with the stronee.st
of the Hurons. he dip])ed his padiUe from mornin<i' to niuht,
and, to the ama/emeiit of his sava
nc c()iiipanions, showed no
.sii;iis of fatij^ue. De None, who was compai'atively a^f<l, was
unable sometimes to bear the fatl;;ues of the journey, and
Weakened under his load, excitin*;- thus the ridicule (jf the
'i
66
HISTOHV (»K THi; N<>KTM-\VEST.
linliuiis. Tlicn Hi'clM'uf \V(»ul(l liastcii to his Cdiiipnnions
assistjiiH'c, iiikI. rt'licviii}^ him of his hurdcii, wouM cany his
• louhlc load lor houi's. iiiucli to the astoiiishiiit'iit of all. Wlicn
thi'V iTa('h('«l the iiiisHioii of St. .loscph, tln'V fouml [•'athcr
Niels hai'k cliapi'l still standing', ami tlu'i'c Hiv'JK'uf aiwl dc
Noiir I'ciiiaiiu'd, while Fathei' Dallioii Went to open a mission
in another [)art of the countiy.
Father Dallion remained hut a short time amone- the Hu-
rons, for V)ein^ sunnuoned to Quehee he went there in l(i'27
an<l nevei' returned to the mission, while Father l)e None,
unahle to master the Hni'on lanuua^c. and snfi'erinj^f from ill
health, depai'teil also in the sprine- of l(i27, and John de Hi-e-
henf was left alone witli the Hui-ons. This wonderful man
took up his position fearlessly and with a determination to
ti^ht the battle of Christianity, no inattei- how pow<'iful tlte
foe. Accustoming- himself to the hardships of lif<' in an
Indian camp, he .set to work to win the souls of the .savai;'es,
and succeeded in endt^arint;' himself to them, even niakinj;-
some converts, althouiih, on tlu- whole, he mav be s.iid to
have failed in creatinu- much impres.sion on theii- hardene<l
hearts. When he spoke to them of the doctrines of the
olnu'ch, they wouhl say, " Echon," yf)U want us to love the
Iro((Uois, to take only one wife an<i to love her for all time:
you say that we must not eat the tiesh of our ennnics. and
ask us to j^ive up our medicine feasts and many other thines.
We tell you, you are askin^- sometliin*; we cannot do. unless
your (Jod will chan<;;e us from what we are. Br<'beuf i'e))lied
that his (J(id was all powerful.
In 1()2S, he was summoned to Quebec, and a short time
after liis ari'ival there the city surrendered to the En*;"lish,
under Admiral Kirke, who carried the Franciscan and Jesuit
THE EAKLV MISSloNAHIKS.
67
priosts to England, rroni wlu'iicc tlu-y suilt'd for France, in
()ft(.l)fr, H)-2S>.
Ahout tills time the court of France seeni.s to lia\e considej--
cil tliat both th(! Reeollets and Jesuits had failed toactjuire the
laii;;ua«;es of the Indians sufficiently to suit the woi'k of (!o<i
and His Majesty the Kin<;-. So each Oriier hastened to put in
print evidences of its proficiency, the Reeollets puhlishinn- a
Huron <lictionary, and the Jesuits a translation of the cate-
chism into Huron, with the Loi'd's Prayer and other devotions
into Montat,niais. Hut Cardinal Richelieu seemed to favor
neither Order, and when En^^land yielded up her C'ana<iian
con(|Uest to France, on the 2})th Mai'ch, I(j'i2, he otfei'ed the
mission to his favorite Order, the C-apuchins, and only when
they declined it did he permit the Jesuits to retui'U. With
the restoration of Canada to France by the treaty of St. CJer-
main, the y;reat Jesuit missions may be said to have bej^'un, as
the Reeollets did not return to take up the work.
On the l.Sth July, Hi-i'l, Emery di (';'"en entered upon pos-
.session of Quebec, by ri^dit of his chartei* <;ranted for the space
of one year by the Kin*;- of France, and when he .sailed for
Canada, Fathers Paul le Jeune and ])e None accompanied him,
to look after the missions. In the followino- year. Fathers
Hrel)euf and Ma.sse arrived with Cliam})lain, and the hopes of
the missionaries were (Mice more <lirecte<l to the Huron coun-
try. Hut the Alf^joiKpiins of the Ottawa refused them passaj^e
through their country until Champlain finally purcha,.sed the
rijiht of way, and in July, HUVA, Fathers Daniel, Davost and
Hrebeuf embarked with a party of Hiirons, and, after much
hardship, ])ein<;' deserted by their Indian guides, arrived at
their destination. When Hrebeuf reached the spot whore he
had previously established the mission, he found his chapel
' I i
I)
\l
58
llisrouv OF riii; N<il!'IH-\VKS'l'.
destroyed and the \illa^t' in niins, luit, takiii;^- n]i a trail, ln'
succt'crltMl in Hndinji' liis old Indian tVicnds. who n'ci'i\c(| him
with t'Nfiy inanir<'stati(in of joy.
For nearly two years, tlif.sc tlii'cc jtrirsts worked to;^'eth('i",
and in Ki.S') Fathers Daniel an<l Davost retmiied to (^luehee.
While on their way hack, they met Fatliers (}arnier and
Chastelain traxellin^' to the noi'tliern mission, and at 'I'hree
Kivers they found Fathei- J()(|ues ahont ready to follow, the
latter havin<;' only ari'ix'etl fi'om Fi-ance. So Fathei's Danitd
an<l J)avost knew that Hreheuf would not he alone many
« lays.
Father .hxjues ari'ived at the mi.ssion in Septendter. !()'{(),
in time to see the missionaries underi,n> a terrible ordeal. It
seeniH that the summer heini; diy, the di'ouj;ht had extended
far and n»'ar, an<i the medicine men of the trihe had hlanied
the black cross in front of the mission for it. Brelx'uf painted
the ci'oss white, and still the drou<,dit continued, 'i'hen the
Fathei's calleil a council and pi'ayed for rain, and that evenintj^
copious showers fell. The eftect was ^reatei' than all the ser-
mons the Fathers had preached. Next, a disease broke out
amont; the Indians, carrying- oft' many, and aeain the mission-
aries wei'e bhuned and their lixcs threatened on several occa-
sions. Hut Hivbeuf was bold and bra\'e, and, althoujjjh he
had a naiTow escape, he and his fellow priests beine- marked
for death, the Hurons, for some iniaccoiuitable reason, laid
down the murderous hatchet, and the mi.ssion was spared.
The mi.ssionaries, who now nund)ered nine persons — -F'athei's
Brebeuf, Le Mercier, Chastelain. (Jai'niei-, Jo(|Ues, Raji^ueneau,
Duperon, Le Moyne and .Jerome Lalemant, who acte<l as Su-
perior, had many .such escaj^es and surtere<l many sore ti'ialn
at tlie hands of the tickle Hurons. They had two mi.ssions,
THK KAIM.V .MlSSl(>N.\l!H:s.
m
Miic callcil ('()ii(H'})ti()M, jiikI tilt' other St. .loscpli. luit they
resolved tliat a ]M'niiatient ami central reHideiice, isolateil t'loni
the Huron towns, which would .ser\c as their headtjuarteis.
was a necessity, and the result of this was that a chain of
huihlin^s, including; a larj;e chapel, was ei'"cter| and nan.ed
.Sam
te M
ane.
In l(i.S!>, Fathers ,)o(|ues ami (Jarnier \isited the J'etun
tribe without nieetinii' with anv success, althouj-h the follow-
iiiir vear Father (Jarnier was more fortunate, and estal»lished
In I(i4l. some of the Ottawas, repre-
IHMSI
If
in theii' midst.
sentinj; tile ^reat Aljionquin trihe, visited the mission, aiiil on
their retui'ii were accompiinied l)y Fatheis Kaymhault and
.lo(|Ues to Sault Sainte Marie, those two [)riestH Ijcin^ the tiist
Kuropeans that ever passed through the Sault and stoo<l on
the shon^s of tlu^ jjreat Northern lake.
In 1(140-4-1, Fathers Brei)euf and (,'haunionot paid a visit
to a trihe known as the Neutrals, who lived on the peninsular
land stretchini^' between Lakes Ki'ie and Ontario, then, as
now, a most deliirhtful countrv. Hut the Neutrals would not
receive the priests, who, lisapjiointed hut not disheartened,
returned to Sainte Marie on HIth March, 1041. Several
("liristian Hurons aftei'wai'ds went to the Neutrals on mis-
sionary service, and in Hi4r) a hand of the latter, numberine-
about one lunulred, visited the Hui'on villa<re. but before anv
;;'ood could result from the eHbils of the ])riests and their
Huron converts, the Neutrals were almost wipe<l out (»f exist-
• lice by the Iroquois.
In I(i42, Fathers Claude Pijart and Charles Haymbault
it))ened a mission on the northern shon^s of Lake Nipissinu.
.111(1 a^ain, in I(i4'). Fathei's- Fijart and (iarreau laboi'ed
aiiion^st the tribes in that purt of the ecnuitry. But they
M
(i(»
IIISTOUV OF THE NOKTM-WKST.
i U
iiK't wltli very littlt! ('nc*()ura<;eiiH'iit, ainl the stiHcrin^jH they
cuiluri'"! and tlu' iiisultH licajx-il u|i(Hi tlit'iii W(,jil(l have dis-
iK'.irti'iiL'il any otlici* nit'ii. ThcN*' un.sclH.sli, patient, cndurini;'
priests, lio\ve\'er, finally sneeeiMlcd in oju'iiin^f a niission witli
the Xii)issin;i"s, making many converts anion;:; tlunn, and if the
trilte had not I). -en <lisj»erse(l in M)5() by the Iro<|Uois, tluMV is
reason to suj»pose that they would have l)een won eventually
to Christianity.
And now conies a period of disaster to the hi'ave mission-
aries. In l()4S, the Ii'otpiois, who were the most warlike and
ruthless amoniT the American Indians, attacke<l the Hurons
and ilestroved their villaiit's. Father I)aniel was shot dead in
his chapel whili' niinisterinn' to his people, and Fathei's Hre-
beuf and Lalemant were put to death after endurin^^ the most
horrible to)"tui"''s. So complete was the destruction of the
Huron tribt; that the fathers resolved to burn theii- mission
houses at Sainte Marie, and remove to an Island on Lake
Hui'on, to which they ^^ave the luime of Isle St. .Jo.seph. The
I:(M|Uois next attacki'd the IVtuns. where Father (Jarnier had
a mi.ssion, who tell a victim to their feiocity, and al)out the
.same time Father C'habanel, U'ft behind by his companions, the
Hurons, who were tleein^" from the Irocpiois, was nevei* .seen
a^^ain, but it afterwards transpire«l that a treac'ierous Huron,
named Louis Honareenha.x, an apostate Indian, met and killed
him. As a result of tlie.se disa.sters, arisiu};; from the {is.saults
of the Iro(|Uois, the Jt'suit missionaries weiv finally oblij^ed,
in llJoO, to abandon the Huron country, and descended to
Quebec with a number of Huron Indians, who aftta'wards
located at Lorette.
In 1655, the undaunted missionaries resolved to make an-
other attempt to christianize the Irocjuois, and Pere Chaumont
Tin; llAltl.V .MISSIONAIMKS.
Ill
aiiil Cliiuilc Dalildii sncc't'tMlc(l in ini.icliinj;- tlir tiutli> <>!'
( 'Inistiaiiity to tlic'iii. Al)()iit the sniiic time. Katlicrs ( ialirii-l
I )niill<'ttt's iiiid Li'oiiai'il ( liii'icaii staftnl on a mission ti> tiw
Si(Hix,l)Ut oil tlicii- way wci-c capturcil hy a liaml of Mohawks
ami t'oix'ccl to return. In I (id I , tlifsc two prii'sts o)»t'nril tlu'
mission ol" St. Krancois XaxiiT aniou;^' the < 'rrrs of tlm .Nnrtli-
W'lst. ami this, and the mi.ssiop.s attfni|itf(l anion^ the Siou.x.
liivonil the .Mississi]i]»i, mack tlif wrstrrn limit u\' the old
.Irsait efforts to coiiM'i-t the natixe trilus.
.\hout this time, the .lesuits resiuiic(| the jiai'ishes on tlie
St. Lawrence, wliicli they dirt'cted. and contineil themselxcs to
ili<ii- college and the Imlian missions, and a collision ha\ inj*'
taken |ilace between them and the ( lovernor, in fe;;,anl to the
sale of lii|uoi' t(t the Indians, the (io\ernment of France sent
acK
tlie Hecollets to la'ooi- in Canada, 'i'he latter. I
loWe\ 1 r
did not undertake any im))oi'tant missions anion<^' tJie tiihes,
lra\ inn- that Held to the Jesuits,
In l(i(io, the first missionary priest visited Hudson's IJay
ill the pi-r.son of l-'ather l^a ("outui'e, wlio went there hy order
of the ( iovernoi- of ( "aiiada, and this hrin^s us to the time
when other orders of priests were pei'mittcd to cntei' the Held
of hidian missions. In l(J(i7, in addition to the .lesuit mis-
sionaries, two Sulpician ))ri('sts l)e;;an to labor amon;^' the
sa\a^es. Bishop La\al havine- i-elaxed his rule, which coti-
tined the Indian missions, under his Jurisdiction, .s<»lely to the
.hsuit Fathers.
Ill a narrative such as the present oiie. with the small
.iiiiount of space at command, it is inijiossihle to mention all
the names of the worthy missionaries en^'a;^'ed during' those
early ilays in cxtendiue- the CMu-istian reliu-ion in the dij-ec-
tioii of th« North-Wcst. or their man\- a> i« of de\otion; hut
\m
I)
(i2
lllSTonV <»K TlIK Nn|{|||-\VKST
.sufficient lins Itcoii iiifiiti(tin'<| to show tlit- licioisni iiinl icsit;-
mitioii. nmlcr the most trviiit'' ditlicultifs, of tliosc iiol)lc men.
Wv must not lorjitt, however, the lioii-heartetl ('hiuile Allouez,
who '^lisr the ujiiiie of Siiiiite Marie to the waters dividing'
liakes Huron and Superior, and who I'oi- thiit_\\vear.s preached
the ^fospcl to tlie Indians, and estahlislicfl missions anioii";; no
h'.ss than twenty diltereiit nations.
in l()7l. Father Charles Alhanel was the first white man
wlio made the overland journey hy the Sa;4Uenay to Hu<lson's
Hav. Thus the mi.ssionai'ies jii-adual I v extended their si)here
ot" opei'ations ill the ilireetioii ot" the Noi'th-West, and while
the missions were heiii;^' enlar;^e<l and extended in the re^^ion
ol' the ureat iiilaml lakes, and j»riests were known t<» jiay
visits to the noithern seas, it was not until ITMI that a mis-
sionary entered the \ ast prairie re^'ion of the north. It was
in that ymr that I'ere Messa^^er aeconipanie(l the Sieur
Vareiiiies de la N'erandrye on his ex])editi<Mi west of Lake
Superior, and was the tiist Christian jiriest who ever \isiteil
what was kiKtnii as Rupert's Land. In IT-SU, a party of
v()va<reurs, umler the command of one of the .sons of .M. de la
Vca'andrye, was acconijtanied hy a .lesuit priest named I'cre
Arneau, and this party, while canipecl on an island in a lake
med the Lac de la Croix, a short distance west of Lake
attackeil 1)V a hand of Sioux, who ma.ssacred
na
Superior, was
them, the pi-iest heiii;; anion^ tlii' numher kille<l. From that
time until ISIS no serious attempt was made hy the Chuirli
of Koine to estahlish itself in the far North-West, when
Fathers Joseph Xorbert Proveneher and StJvere Dumoulin
arrived .-it Red River.
In closing this chapter, it may ha well to <;ive the following'
evjnts connected with the early mis.sionarieH in chronological
order : —
Tin: i;ai!I,v .missiunakiks.
63
Kilo. FatliiT .l()Sf|ili Ic ('iii'oii ili.sc<iv('r<'i| Lulr Nipissinn;,
timl was the first Knru]»ciiM that st > mI on tin-
sliorrs of l^akc Hui'oii.
(i."}(i. I'^atlit'i' .Idlm l)(»ll)i'aii iin't the Ks(|Miiii;i\.
Ii4(). Fatlirrs HivIk-uI" Ulld ('liauilinlint discovrrcil I, like
I'
ru-
II. Fatlici's .l(M|U('s and Kiyiiiliaiilt «liscu\ rr.-d i.;ikt
S,.,
x'l'ior.
(i+2. I'^ithcr .l(ti(\U's was tlu' Hi'st wliiti- man tliat rwv
saw Lakr ( Irnrnc.
Ii4»i. Fatlit'i- Du <^MicM discnvficd Lake St. .lolni.
{')')'■]. l-'atluT I'liiict't was tlif first wliitc in in that siilcd
down thr St. LawicMcc tVoni Lake ()iit
irio.
(itiO. The .It'suits traced a niajt showin;,^ Luke Sujit'iiur.
(!(»■"{. Fathf-r La ("nutiiic \ isitt'd Hudson's Hay.
(i(!.'). Father Ailoncz t'onrirnicil the n'|»ort of the r.xistriici;
of (•o))|)('r on the islands of Lake Superior.
(i(l7. Fatliei' Allouez diseoN'ered Lake Nipey;on.
(ill. Fatiiei' Charles Alhanel was the first white man timt
made the o\erland journey 1)\' the Sai'uenav to
H
udson's Hav
l7ol. Fathei- Messa^^'er was tlie first mi.ssionary to eiit
the ^reit ])raii-ie i-e^don of the North-West.
er
fi
I
^
■ KBjI
!=LS.C£JgS3^.^
. ■
1
k
CIIAI'IKII V
KXI'l.<»lt.\TI(»\S l\ IIIDSUNS IIAV, AND roNri.K I'S ItKIVVKKN
Tllh; llMil.lslI AMt l'l«i:\< II.
i^' !
Al/nionai Srliastiiin CnlMit is niMlitfd with lia\ iii;^ riitnvil
lludHon's liay, tin- first fxplorcr nl' its slion's wms. imdKiilitf.l-
\y, Hfiny Hudson. Sr\cral attrmpts to tiiid a iiortliwrst jims-
sa;;!' in tlic <lii't't'ti«»n of the liay weir made, |»i'i(ti" t<» Hiidsuii s
('.xjii'ditious, l»ut none of tlicm snccrcdcd in |>fiH'ti'atiii;;' faitlicr
than Davis' Sti-aits. In liiO."). .laim-s Hall and .lolni Kin"iilit,
two navi^iators of iioti'. tlir t'ornicr in the cinjdoy of the l)aiirs
and tlic latter in tlic s<'i\ ice ol' Kntiland, niadr voxauf^ to tln'
iioi'tlii'rn seas. In l(i(Mi, Hall nndcitook another \i>ya;^f, an<[
in tile yttir I'ollowine-. he and Kni;^lit each nmleitook e.\|iedi-
tions in seairii of a short passjt^t. to India. In 1(11:2. Hall
made his rourtli and last xoxaj-e, whieh was Htted out 1)\' iner-
chant adventuriTs in London, hut he was mortally wnunded
in an eneounter with the Ks(|uiuniu.\ on the coast of Lahradoi'.
and tlie vessels returned t;) Hnjjland without makine' aiiv new
discoveries. None of these expeditions succeeded in reachiiijij
Hudson's Hay. and it was Kd't to Henry Hudson to make the
(liHCovei-y and explore the shores of that li^reat inland sea.
Jt is a matter of re^ri't that the names of the merchants of
London, who employed Henry Hu<lsoii, and supported hy
tl
leir means his woi
•k of
exploration, have not Iwen preser\ ed
They were actuated more hy piihlic and patriotic motives than
KM'l.olJ.VTIuNs IN III hsoNs jl.W
tift
t<i "^atisty tlit'ir i>\vii ]iri\!iti' I'lnls, .iinl tln-y M)iiiri'<I im i-xiH-iiMf
tu iicniiiiplisli tlif Mlijrct tlii'V liM'l ill \ii'\\, wliii'li Wfis tlif «li>-
C.Acry of ;| sllDltcC pilssil;^!' to tlir I'lfist lll'llrs, li\ tin- liol'tll,
tlif !i<»rtli-t'a.st, 1)1' tlir imrtli-w l•^t . it Immhh- sajil that Hiiilsuii
sijiiclii'<l all tlifsf dirrftiuiis ihiiiii;;- tlir tiiiir lie was i'iii|>l(>yiMl
liV tlli'lll.
Till' tii'st \(»yan;c uiKJiitakfii l»y llniry llihlsoii for flir piir-
ipifM- ()\' iJisciiN iTiii;^' a |»assa;;i' tn tin- I'iast Imlirs, was nmi-
iiniiccij 1)11 1st May, H»(>7, uIkh hr Idt < ira\ rsfiiij. ami sailt-tl
ijirfftly imrtli. ( >ii tin' l-'Uli .liiiic he si;^litf(| Jaiiij i>ii tlic cast
coast of ( !rcciilaiiil. aiiil a;^aiii on tlic 2lst,aiiil as he sailed
matliwai'il the wcatiicr ;;rc\v more tciii|icratc and |ilcHsuiit_
hut, oil the liiid July, it hecaiiie \eiy cold. ( )ii the I4tli .Inly,
Hudson sent a hoat ashore, hut nothiii;;' uortliy of note wa.s
discoNd'ed. and he continued his \(tyaec, until in latitude S2°
lie was hindercil l»y the ii-e, and found it iiiipos.sililc to proceed
faither. It was his intention to ha\c sailed round (iieenlimd,
hy the iioi'th-west. so as to return home l>y havis" Straits, hut
lie was unable to do this, and made his way hack to l"ji;^land
without attenii)tine- any further exploi-ation, the whole voyae-c
having; lasted ahout five months.
( >n the 22nd April, IdON, Hudson stai'ted on his second e.x-
|Mclitiun, hut on arriving' in the northern sea, foinid himself
ajiain iircvcntcd by the ice in his several attempts to force a
way through. He eiideavoui'ed to tiinl a North-West pa.s,sa;^e
hy eiitcrint;' Lmuley's Inlet, but, batHed in all directions, turn-
ed south, and tindine' the ri\-ei'. which still beai's his name, he
a.sccudcd and cx|)l(>red it, erectin;^", at the same time, a fort,
near the present site of AHiany. which he called St. ( leor/^e.
In ]()()!>, hi' undi'rtook his thiril voyae-e, and landine- on
the coast of Newfouiuiland, traded some time wi
th tl
10
\'i¥
fill
II ,H.
I'.i'
()(i
IIISTOIJV OK TIIK NOHTH-WF.ST.
Imliiiiis. Ki'oni tlicrc lie saili'd in a soiitlu'i'ly flii-cctioii t«»
Virjliiiia. ami caiTicd dii an cxti'iisixc trade al<tn^' tlic slioics,
for the jmrposc. it is tliou^ht, of Icssciiin;^' the losses ciitailfd
upon liis cniifloycrs l»y liis various cxpcilitions, as. so far. In*
had <;aiii»'d iiotliiii}^' in tin- way of tindiuii' '• short passaijc to
the iiuht's. which was the main ol)jfi't of his «'X|»loratiojis.
On the 17th A])iil, KilO, he sailed on his fourth and h'st
voya<;-e. takin<>- his departure from Hlackwall. and his employ-
ers, on that oecasion. appointed a Mr. ("olhurne to act as his
assistant, which was evidently reseiiteij hy Hudson as indicat-
ino- a lack of confidence in him. This appears to l)e the case,
hecause, after lea\in^- port, ami while yet in the rivei-, he .sent
Colhurn*' hack in a hoat with a letter to the meichants, and
pi'occe<leil on his Noya^-e without him. in May. he reached
Iceland, and landin;,^- tliere, was hospitahly entertained l»y tin-
people, hut his cri
■ew, e\-en at this eai'ly sta^i'e of the expeditioti.
showed simis o,' nnitinous con<luct, whicli he had some ditfl-
cu
Itv ii
n (lUelMnsj
(|U
w
In June, he left Iceland, and ahout the !»th of the month,
as ott" Frohishers Straits: on the loth, he saw the land
which Capt. Davis had named I ). solation, and soon aftei- this
enterd the Straits which have since hoi-ne his name. The .'ird
Aufjust saw him in the Hay, and as iu' sailed alonj; the shor'es
he y;ave names to the various islamls and caju's whidi he
passed. He thorou^^hly explored the west shore until the
month of Septcmhcr, when he once moi-e had ditHculty with
his men, which caused him to remove his mate, Kohert Ivett,
for mutinous conduct, and although his stock of provisions was
^'ettin^ low, h(> resoKcd u])on wintering- in the Hay, and in
November found a placi' suitable for the purpose. Durinj,^ the
winter, Hudson and his men suffered nuich from lnni<;er and
KXI'I.OUATIONS IN m DSONS KAY
g;
liiii'ilsliij)s iirisiiiu- from tlic c
1
umI ill tilt' sitriu;
when
|irr]t!ir}iti»»iis wt'i'c uciii^' made to rt'tnni hoiiif, tlii- cxpfilitioii
was ill a sori- ])li;j,lit and tlif men ri|H' Tor open mutiny. TIh'II
a man naiiinl Henry (Ireeii, a pi-ote^i' of Hiitlsoiis and a emst
uii;jffatet'iil scamj). eonspired witli Kohert l\ett. tlie deposed
mate, and, with the assistance of a majoritv <>f the crew.
tiiine
U
iidson a<
h-ift
III a l)oat, \vi
th h
lis .son ami six iiioi-e, m-
chidin^' a Mr. Woodhoiise, who had aecoiinpanied the expedi-
tion for seieiititic [mrposes. With little |iro\ isicais to siista'ii
life, the iia\i^ator and his companions must either lia\t'
liens
hed f
roiii hune'er or heeii killei
ill.
hV
tl
le sasau'es, as tliev
were iie\e|- heard of a;;ilill, while the mutinee|-s theliisehes
siitfered erciitly durin^- the Noya^^-e home,(Jreen Ix'iiie' killed in
H;,dit with the Indians and l\ett tlyiii^' during- the passa;;-e.
When the sur\i\ors reached home, one of tliein, named
Alhaciic I'riwkett. wrote an account of the mutiny, in which
he endeavoured to screen him.self from l)laiiie, and from some
of the particulars he u;ive. the comjiany of merchants decided
to send out another expeilition in the douhie hope of sa\ine;
llud.son au<l finding- the desired pa.ssae'e.
Captain 'riiomis Mutton, an ahle navieator and accomplished
ill other respects, was cho.sen to take command, and in May,
I<!I2, he sailed with two vessels, the Rcsol lit ion and l>isiiiriTy.
.Vhhoue'h it is known that ('apt. Button kept a carefully
written Journal of his \(tyat;e. he, f.a- some reason, concealed
iiiiich of the information it contained, and the piihlic ;^ained
little hy his explorations. It was learned, however, that he
entered Hudson's Straits, and cr.tsseil the hay to the scaithern
point of Southampton Island, wliicli he named ( 'areys Swans'
Nest, He next kept oij toward the western side, to which he
;xave the sie-niticant name of "Hope's Check," and, coastine
•■
11
I ; t
II
:i
(i8
insTOHV OK TUK XOHTH-WEST.
aloii;,^ the slidic, he iliscoN ricd tlic iiii{)())-t)int I'ivcr, which hr
fjiUciI I'ort Nelson, aftcf the nuistci- of his ship, whom he
hurird thert', hut which has since hccn kiiowii as Vclson
Kivtr. Hci-t" he wiiitcrtMl, and, according' to Fox, kept tlu-cc
firt's })urnin^' continually, and aIthoui;h sup]»H»'d with ui-eat
store ot* pai'ti'idii'es and other Fowl, he lost many men. On the
hreakinu- uj) of the ici' he made a tiioiou^h exjiloration of the
Jlay, and of Southampton Island, and finally, in the autmini
returned to Kneland. There is wi^ry i-easoii to helieve, as
Button was accompanied hy a luimber of expei-ience(i men of
ahility, that he collecteil a ercat deal of \alual)le information,
hut he i-efused to })ul)lish it. even the exact <late of his retu)-n
to Knelaml hein<>- unknown.
Owine- to the death of his master. Prince Heni-y, ( aptain
l)Utton did not make a second Noyaoe, and the com|)any of
mei'chants therefore sent out ('aj)t. (Jil)hons, in l(il4, who
saile<l i>. the ship /^/.vro'v/'y. hut. missine- the Straits, and e-ct-
tini; cauejit in the ice, retui'ne(| to Kn^land without accomp-
lislunt>' an
ythine-.
These repeateil disappointments, howe\ t-r, di<l not detei- the
company of merchants fi-om carryine- on the expeditious, and
in Hllo they aeain fitted out the Discveri/ for another vovaoe.
On April <)th, Robert Hylot and William Battin emharked on
this vessel upofi the first of the two vyya^'es connnonlv as-
socia
t.-d
wi
th tl
leir names.
Tlu'V sailed fi-om the Scillv
Islands, ami Bylot. who had served under Hudson Button and
(Jihhons, heine' well ipialifieil for the position, took the com-
mand, an<l, followii o- a coui'se familiar to him, the tMo
navi<;ators pas.sed throuf^h Hudson's Straits and ascendecl
what is now known as Fox Channel. Here, and at the
western end of Hudson's Sti'aits, they spent ahout three weeks
and then sjiiled for home.
KXIM,<»HATIoNS ()!' IUDSONS liAV
m
i
liylot rt'tuniffl to Kii;;lninl, (luitf «lis{'(>ura<i('<l IVom lookiiij
fuitlii r in Hudson H
Hav I'
<»!• a passaj;*', and )»i'<»j)(»sf(
1 t<. 1
lis t-ni-
pliiytis to try Davis Straits. 'I'lus. tlicy a;^rrt'd to, and hf ac-
(urdiii^ily sailed once inort' in the Ifisnuer// {'ny]\\\\ Hill!, on a
\(i\aii<' which was 'ilt'stincd to he <»t* \'i\v greater interest and
iiii|initanee than the previous one, and to i-jink anione- the most
t.iiiious of the Artie \()yae;es. Leaving- ( iraveseiid on the 2(Ith
March, with a company inind»erin(^ in all se\-enteen persons,
I'.ylot and IJaHin coasted aloni;- (Ji'eenland. which had heen
n.iiiied •• Meta Incognita, and exploi-ed its sliores thorou^^ldy.
They tlien passed throueh Davis Straits, and examined Itoth
>hiir(s of the u'reat sea, which has ever since heen known as
Hi
larhns \v\y, wliei'e they discuvereil and name(
I I
lancaster
SdU
nd and .lones Sound, besides niuuei
ous s
water juhI manv
Isl,
inds.
'I'l
le crew ol the Dlsiin'i'i ij heni;^
mall
in
er 0( lilies ( >I
now
attacked with scurvv. the navieators sailed tor home, ar
ii\iii;j,' at Dover on the liOth Aueust. and in the report which
I'lV lot wrote ot" the vovam-. he ifave most valuable intormation
aliuiit the hsheries, althoueh \w was not laxoraole to the i«|ea
<it' heinii' !i''l*' to find a passae-e to the Indies.
.\tter this Cajitain Hawkridec and Taptain .lones made
\ii\a;:es, and entered Hudson's Hav, hut no further e.xpeditions
Were undei'taken to discover a north-west ])assae;e initil hJ.SI.
With these two exceptions, a period ol" tit'teen years ela|)setl
.d'trr Hylotand Haffin's last Noyaee het'ore explorations in Hud-
.mpus Hav were reiiewei
I. when Caittain Luke Kox,a Vorkshii-e-
iiian ot keen .sense and e;reat per.severance, suc(M'e<led in inteivHt-
iiii,^ die merchautK of London once more. Kox was a skilled
navigator, and, having ^jixen much study ami attention to
north-western exploi'atioiis. was most sanguine of smce.ss, ( )n
tlie.'ith of May, lO^iL therefore, lie sailed frcaii Deptford, in the
ifi
1 1
\ »
Ill
' !
70
HISTOKV OF THE X< >1{TII-WKST.
Chinief<, a, |)iiiiiact' of scvt'iitv tons, victujillt'd Tor cii-litcfii
niontlis. He scarclicil tlic western \)nvi u*-' Hudson's Day, dis-
(•o\ere(l tile strait and shore known as ' Sii' Tlioiiias H
oe s
w
come," sailed up Kox Channel ttt a }»oint within the Artie eirele.
and satisfied hiniselj' of the existence of the lone- sought pas-
.say,'e, \)\ a cai'eful observation of tlie tides. h\it failed to dis-
eove)" it. He then sailed for Kni;land, and cast anchor in tin-
J)owns, on the .SIst Octoher.
At the same time that C'aptiiin Fox succeeded in intei'estin;;-
the Lontlon merchants, the merchants of Hi'istol hecanie intei--
ested in the same direction, and the two com)ianies came to .in
understanding;" to share the honoi' and profit of any <lisi'overy
madt'. 'I'he Bristol merchants sent out a ('a[)tain James, who.
ns vovatre, sailed in a new
on the siime day that Fox l)eean 1
ship of seventy tons, named the Muriti, manned hy twenty-two
persons, and victuaHe*! also for eiehtceii months. ("aj)taiii
iJames confined his ex))lorations chieHy to the watei-s of Hud-
son's Hav. more i»articularlv to its south -eastei-n shore, and
winterecl upon Charlton Island, where he l)uilt a house, in
which the ship's company HvimI from Deceiiiher until June, en-
during" all the hoi'rors of an Arctic winter on an island only a
little north of the latitude of liondon. On the 2n<l -Inly, they
aj^'ain set sail, hut were so hampere<l l)y ice that their proi;ress
was \ ery slow, and in the latter part of Auijust, .James, with
the unanimous concurrence of his ofHceis, determined to return
lome.
H
e ai
rived at Bristol, on the 22nd Octohei', liaviiu
added almost nothing; to the knowledue eained bv Fox in a
third of the time, althouj^h a |)art of Hudson's Bay is named
after him to this day. The account ^iven hy James, of the
hardships he and his crew endui"e(l, combined with his asser-
tion that there was no passage, had a dampening eti'ect, and
EXi'LOHATIONS IN IHI)S(»NS HAY
71
I'or (i\('r tliirty y<'ai"H. no Inrtln'i' cH'oi'ts wcrt' inailt' liy Kn*;-
laiiil at (liscovci'v in tlic north.
Ill l(io(). however, tlu' Krciu'h in Caiiadii sent .lean Hour-
cloii to HikIsoh's Hay, who nia<le treatit'.s with the Imlians
tlieie, ami found th<' trade in I'urs wry i»idtital)le. It is also
nil record tiiat ahout six yeai's afterwards the New Kntilaml
colonists took U)i the work of exploration, and that a ship,
coiiiinanded l»y Captain Shapley, was .sent hy them to the liay,
and ahout the same time, the hold and enterp>'isin<;" explorer.
De ( Jroseillier, jiushed his way overland to its shores. It is
said that the tradine- operations of the " ('(Uin rs <h's /ini.s" in
the interior, and the information received from those hardy
exjilorers, led De (Sroseillier and Kaddison. his companion, to
push their way thron<,di Lake Su]>ei'ior np the Kaministii|uia
Hiver, then thi'oueh the I^ake of the \Vo(»ds. and aloiij;^^ the
W
iiininee
H
iver in
to W
mnipeii'
Lake, thence Itv Nelson Hiver
to the shores of Hud.son's Hay. De (Jroseillier and h'ad-
disoii wer«' coiKluctt'tl hy the Assinihoine Indians on their
journey to tlie north, and after they ha<l looke«l upon the ;^reat
inland sea thev returned to Quehec, l)eine' still iiuided 1)V their
Indian friends. The saj^acity of those two exi»lorei's pointed
Ol
It to them tlie advantaees of carrvine- on the fur tra<le
throueh the Hav, and thev endeavored to interest their conn-
tryinen in Canada in the scheme, Imt without success. In-
crt'ihility, want of means, and other causes, led the French
nierchants in Quebec to turn a deaf ear to the ulowine- repre-
sentations of De (ir().seillier and Haddi.son. an<l the two
• •xj)lorers, dLs^^nisted with their treatment, left for Fi'ance,
where, however, they met with no lietter success. It was
at this time that the Duke of Montaeue, hearinj^- of De
(iroseillier and Haddison's explorations, sent for them, and
!i
1ilM
i Z
HISTOKV OK THK .\o|{TH-UKST.
lu'cuiif so t'ii\ oi'jihly iiii|ir('.sst'<l with their schciiif that hi-
;4it\(' thfiii Icttt'fs ti) I'riiict' Hupcit in Kii^^lfUid, who was then
a jtutron and a<hiiii'('r of such t'litci'pi-iscs.
Pi'iiKM' Hti|)t'it iimiH'iliatt'ly took an intt-irst in the iiiattfc,
iiiid. in l(i(iS. he, with sonic othci-s, Httcil out the Ketch " Non-
■li " (»r ■ Nmi j)ii ri'l/." undei' command ot* Captain Zachariah
stn
iiiUam, and sent l)e ( Iroseilher in it to Hudson's H
ax-
on
account says that this was the second voyaee of Dc ( ii'oseilli(»r
to the iJay, the othei' hein^^- in a ship fitted out hy the (^ucl)ec
meiciiants, anil it is t'uither stated that on this occasion six
Knj;lishmi'n were discovei-ed at Port Nelson, in a hut, ahnost
starved, and in a xcrv weak couilition: tlieir stor\' lieinLt t'lat
they hailed from Boston, and had heeii left on sli(»re throuj^h
theii' shii) heinii' drixen out of the liav 1»\' the ice. There is
some doul>t about this expedition from (^)uel)ec, and the stoi'y
connected with it. hut there is ut) (pu'stion ahout the voyaee
in tlie • Xoii ihin'il ." as the expedition wintereil in the Buy,
and civcted a small stone fort which ('apt. (iillam called " Foi't
i'harles."
Pos.scs.sion of Hudson's ii-iy, therefore, ])aHscd into the hands
of the Kne'lish. and on the 2nd May, KiTO, as a result of ('apt.
(Jillam's vovaiiV, a charter was eranted to Prince Kui)e)'t and
Charles, the Preamble to which I'eads
hi
ates 1)
■ Hie-
.s a.ssociates i»y
as follows : —
That, whereas our dear, entirely beloved cousin. Prince
Kupert. etc., ha\"e, at th -ir own cost and char;j,'es, undertaken
an expedition for Hudson's Bay, in the noi'th-west {)artH of
America, for the discovery of a new })assaj;e into the South
,sea, autl for the tiudine- of .some trade for I'ui-s, minerals and
other considerable connnodities, and by such, their undei'tak-
iii<^, have already made such discoveries as do encouraj^e them
■f m
I
i:.\i'i,<>K.\TH)Ns IN iiihsdNs is.vv,
tu |iii)ci'.'i| t'jirtlHT ill ])ursu)iiK'(' of tlifir siiid (IcsinM. hy nicaiis
u li.icof tlifiT iii.iy j>r(il>fil)ly arise ui<.jit mlvaiita^t' to us and
iiiir Ki 1 1^1 Ion IS, etc., otc.
In KiT-'i, a .Icsuit missionary, iianifd Katlicr Cliarlrs Alliaiu-I.
wiis sent o\frlan<l with Ifttcis to !)•• ( iroscillicr in llinlson's
Hay, ami tin- < Jovcnior of the company, sns|tcctin;^' that a plot
was hcin;; hatched in lavor of a Kicnch occii|)ation. dismissed
|)r ( iioseillier and Haddison from the service. The latter tlu'ii
ii|)eiily tendered their ser\ ices to the I'^relich. which Wei-e ac-
cepted, and an expedition Htteil out hy them for the Hay : hut
ill the meantime the Kn^lisji resohed to possess Nelson Hi\er,
IIKl
lor
that
purpose huilt a fort at its mouth, appointing;
.Idliii lladiear, ( Jo\ ernor. Ahout this time. I )e ( iroseillier and
I'addison arri\ed with the French, and a tieht ensued, which
ivsidted ill the defeat of the Knelish at Nel.son Hiver, Hadieai-
and (^iMtaiii ( lillani heine' taken jtrisoners. ami con\ cx'ed to
tlie St. I.,awrence hy I )e ( Iroseilliei', who left his son, ('houart.
ill cliare-e of the Fort.
)e (Iroseilliei
lloWeNCr. I
lid
not lone- remain m frieiiilK'
lol
atioiis with the h'reiich, ami on his return handed over the
tat Nelson RiNcrtothe Kurdish. lie then, while in the
str\ice of the lattei-, estahlished factories on Rupert, M(Jose
iiiil .Mhaiiy Rixt'i's: hut in MI7S, France, liaviiii;- .sent out M.
Colhert to contest with the Knelish for possession, |)e (iroseil-
lier. who appears to ha\e heeii .somewhat of a tickle temj)cra-
iiii'iit. was intluced to take part once more on the side of his
iiiuiitrymeii, and the residt was that all the forts huilt hy him
passed out of tlic hands of the Fiie;lisli. Not lonj; after this.
hmd Pi-e.ston, till' Enuiisli
I amhassauor in
I'aris,
)ersua<
led
>iiil(li,son, who was then m h I'auct
th
F
SI
to j^o to London and there
mender the foits in HudsonH Bay, which, at the time, were
1 f^'
.1'
jn
lit
If h
lllsTdKV OK TIIK NOUril-WKsT.
I;i coiiiiii iinl of his iH'jilirw, C'lioimi't Ik* ( Ji-oHrillici-. Tin-
French, not l)fiii;;- jiwfin' of this uctioii on th*' |nirt ul' HiuMison,
si'iit out two ships, in t'onMiinntl of Montc^'nic, who, on i-ctich-
in;^' St. Tht'iTSii, was surprised to tinil it in po.sscssion ol" the
Knu'lisli. .Monteenif was ol)Hj'('(l to wintci' on sonic sniiill
iP
r,\cr in trie ni'ii'lilto!ho<i(|. iind ri'tiinicu tlic iollowniir vcui" to
I''riiiice. ' 'h ii V s. owinn- in the way ol" ti'ailc It is said
that the (.' !> iiiiv niio sent .Montcunie out lost heavily hy tlic
ex]»i'<lition, . 11 i Ui;.t 'Phci-cs Conthey, the head thereor, pcti-
t'oncil the Krench ivoi •; tor rcdi-e.ss, who, on the 2()th May.
hiS4, ;^a\t' them, liy chaitei', possession ol' certain portions ol'
Hudson's Hay.
In KiS.'), the Hutlsons IJay Company j lo.sse.s.sed the five
riourishinu" lactories ol" Alhanv, Moose, Hui)ei't, Nelson aiul
Sevei-n, hut. in HiMi. the French, under Chevalier I )e Troyes.
captuied Hupert, Moose and Albany, and in Hi!>(), under
Monsieur D'llierv ille. they took Fort Severn hut an attack
niaije on Fort Factory the same year havin*;- failed, it re-
mained in the hands of the Hn<;lish.
'Die French now remained in possession of the forts on
•lames IJay for se\en yeai's. when the Fhidson's l>ay Company,
with the assistance of the Crown, recovered them. The fol-
1 )winj;" year they wi-re captured once more by tlie F"rench, and
in l(i!>o, they were retaken hy the Knelish, with the aid of the
Kin""'s shiits of war, lionavcntuni and Sedfort/i.
These constant chan^^vs in pos-session almost destroyed the
trade of the Hudson's Hay Company, and they were busily
eni^'Ved in [Heparin*;" to reco\'er it when D'lbervilK', with two
ships, the Pdli ami G/uironte, appeared upon the scene,
(leyt'i". wiio had successfully held York Factory a«fainst the
French, in lODO, was still in commantl, but less ft)rtunate in
i;XIM/>H.\TH»Ns IN IMDSONS HAY,
( ■)
|r,M4
If was CUllMM'llfM
l>y I )'nifrvill(' to suni'Milrr on tlu-
I Mil (k'tolicr. Tlic Fmicli coiiiiiiiUKlfr tlicii ■'•■nniint'tl duriii^
I'lr wiiitri-, aiiil nil tlic t'ullnwiii;,^ 2()tli July took liis (irjtarturc
tni I'l.iiicc lca\ in;:" om- Koi'fst in cliarj;*'.
T!ir iH'Xt yt-ar. HilHi. \'ork Factory was retaken liy tlir
Kii^li^'i, who cinploycil t'oiir ships t'of the |»ui'|)osc, ami tin-
i;,ini*<oii were cinit'i 1 prisoiifi's to Kn^^land. IJiit I) llH'i'\ilir
iiiiMi.' hati'ly ic'tuintd tVoni l''raiict' with a sinia<li'oii, consistiny
(.1' fi\f Ncsst'JH. ami. in Muilsons Straits, nicctin;;; the Knj,dish
tint. Mil I'litfaufnu'iit msut'il.
Th
win
1 1 si
iijis wt-rc
l''H('(ni, .')()o-iins; tlir I'l/mier, 40 >,nins: witii thrrc sni.'i »•!
\ (".mIs, the Wiisji. Pri>foiiii(l ami V'utlcutc, an<l the Iv ;^!"s!i
ll(Mt foMsistt'il of tlif /[inij)shu'e, ")(i ;,nnis, and two f a .(>• s
Hay ships, the linriir/. •■?(). and tin.' Ilin/strn's Bk//, -M ;^uiis.
•ii''a<:t'MM'nt rcsultrd without siicfcss to t'itln'i
.MU
nil!
iiicjiatt'ly attiTwards thr Jlii'lsons Jim/ and H((iiii>-/i irr
ui ic lo.st, none of tlif nTw of tin- latter iM'in;^' sa\fd. 'I'jif
l'''n;i,i. wiiicli, at tlie tinii', foii^jht the tlii'ee Knejish ships
ainiir and l)elia\ed ver\' iiluckih'. was afterwards lost, D'lher-
\illc, who was in eoinniaml, e.s(Mj)inir with pai't of his ei'ew to
thr shore. 'I'he Kreiieh coniinander then, with his three i-e-
iiiaiiiin;'' shins, took \'ork Kaetorv, and, after winterini:' there,
rtunieil to France in the PmidH lol. leavinir M. Serinnx- as
(ioNenior. ami M. .ler. inie. Lieutenant, in his ahsenct'.
Tlie next yeai'. I<t!>7. the treaty of Hyswiek left the Fieneli
i;i p tssession of all the forts in Hudson s l»ay, e.\ce|tt Alhaiiv,
and in 1704, a |iirty of l*'reneli went oveil nid from ( anada to
atta -k it. hut were repiilseil l»y Cajitain Hai'low, who was in
eliar;>-e. The tre itv of I'trecht. ill I 71.'}, restoreil to the flud-
SDll S
liay Coinpany possession of tlie Hay, and soo,! afti-r-
wards they built a wooden fort ut (.'hurchill, wliich they
called Prince of Wales Fort.
I
M\
h
11
i (
<<)
iiisToitv (»i Tin; \oinii-uKsT.
Diiriiiy- nil this tiiiir. owiiiy; t(» tlic <litliciiltif,s (if tln-ij-
|i()siti(tii. till- ilinlNon's Way ( '(iiii|»;iiiy were nn.ililc to oiM- any
iittfiitinii to till' liiiiliii;^' «»r ji iKiitli-Wfst |»as,sHO(., Wot in I71!*,
Captfiiii Itarlnw and Mr. Kiiiiilit. wlm. it w as sai<l. was t'i<rlit\'
years ol' a;^t' at the tinic Wfic si nt nut <>ii an fXjx'.litinti {Hv
this |nu|)(»s»'. Thry never ictiu'iietl. ami their fate simieuhat
• liscouraeed I'lirthei- attempts, luit, in 1722, ('apt. Semy^is eon-
ihicted an expedition, and ahout 1742 the l>i-itish ( iovernnient.
Iiaviii;^' olttaiiieil Iroiri the otheers ol the Mndsons ISay ( 'oni-,
|iany inlorniation which was rej^arded as fnrnishin;;' i|ecisi\c
proofs of the existence of a north-West Jtassa;;,*'. despatched
M iiMxal expedition, in command of Captain Middleton. Imt
it resnitfil in no important discoxcries. althoue^h tlie shijis
wintered in ( "hnrchill Hi\ er.
A lonj.;' an<l warm disjynte now aiose hetween a Mr |)olil)s,
who was a warm ad\ocate in fa\(»r of the possiliiiity of a
north-west passaec. and ('a|»t. MidiMeton. in re;;,ard to the
exjtloratioiiH of the latter. The result of this was that a com-
pany of inthiential and puhlic-sjiirited men formed a com]iany
for the purpose of sendin<;- out another expeiliticai. The
ca]tital was 1 1 (),()()(), divided into KM) shares of t! 100 each, and
the eoxfinmeiit of Kn;^land oti'ei'ed a i-ewaiil of t!20.00() in
case the discovery was made. Two ships were jturchased and
fitted out, one of which was named the l)(>hbs-(i<ill('i/, undei-
coiinnand of ('apt. William Moore, and the otlu'r, tl\c Cdlifofn ui.
comniiinded by ('n|>t. Francis Smith.
On the :}|st Mav, 174(1, these t\
wo xcssels, m companv' w itli
ith
1>
four of the Hudson's Hay ( 'ompany shijis, set sail from Var
In the Parliuiiienliir.v librnrv, Ottawa, iim.v he oecn a iiinp, |>u)i1ii<lip<l in London in 1T7<!, li.\
Tli(iimv.s .h-tfn'.v, (Jcd^jrapliiT to tlie Kintf, on wliich \h eii^rruvnl thin note: " In liitiluile .M! 'lis
pr-li'mlfil tlial in l"4ii Aiiininil i\v l-'onte cnti red and sailed hv lai es and rivers till lie found a
ship (as is sini|i(isi'd iti MndDiin's Hay), from Hoston, in New Kntrlunil.
11 ill 177t'), liv
tilmlf .'.:t 'r.ii«
II he fiiiiiiil ;i.
i:.\l'l.'»l! AiniNs IN Ml nsoNs li.W
I I
ini
'itli HoikIm, (III tlif lust i'\|if(|iti«iii ill scarcli df m Nuitli-
NSfjs Wclr ah-
W rsf |mMsay;<' tliruii;;li IIikUdhs Hay. Tlif vi
-..lit n\fi' a yt-ar. iitiiiniiiM- .,ii tlic I l-tli ( )ct., 174V, aiiJ an
iiitiTt'stili^i' acfoiiiit itl' tlif \(iya;^t' was |iiil»Jislici|, in wlii, !i tlir
luiilialtilitii's it\' tlif liitiiri' ilisci\rry ul" a jiassayt' wiTf t'lilly
iliscii'^scii. Tlir rr|Miit was writti'ii in a spirit <>|' iintVifinlli-
iii'^>- tit tin- lliiilsdii's l!ay ('niii|iaiiy. wIiksc officers at < 'liiiic-
liill. Nnik, Alliany ami .Moust- HisiT. wcrr ilfscriln'il as iiasiii;^'
^tidu n tlii'iiiscK I's iinlaN oral tic t<» tlif siiccfss lA' the i'\)M'<liti<»ii,
It .uliiiittfil tjiat till- ( 'iMii|iaiiy, t'\ fii in lliosc early ilays. hail
,ici|iiire<l a womli-rt'iil inlliieiife (t\er the Imliaii trihes an in-
thiei uhii'li they lia\e retaiiieil ever since. Ilut the iisii ra-
ti\eiifthe I )iililis-( lalley e.\|ie(|it inn was written in a spirit (»!'
Iirejiiilice. and sevciMJ (if the accDiints piihlished altoiit this
time, hy persons who were eiieaet.,| t,y intel'esteil in the
seljililie' of expeilif ion.s in search ot" a North-West passa^^e,
were esideiitly hiased, so far as they related to the ( "ompan_\'.
.siiiiply hecause the ofliceps. heine- mindl'lll of their duties to
tlieii eiiijiloyers, were not lil<el\- to always fall in with the
\ iews of e.\|ilorel's.
Fluiii 1740 to 174s, instructions of th«' strictest character
Were sent out hy the ("onipany to their otHcers at Hiid.son's
I'.iiy to he on their euanl in dealiuji' with aii_\- shijt or s!iij)s
(Miiiiine' near the forts. As a specimen of these, we five the
fiillowiuy; extract from a letter sent to the otlicer in charee (»f
AJIpMiiv fort in 1744.
I.
Lo.M.nV. lOtll M;iv, 17 M.
Til Mf. JoKvph IsliifliV ilirl ('oiiiiril, nf .{llitlini Fml
The Kiiglish all I Kroiioli luiving ducliitvil war against caoli oti
lor,
iinl tlio w-tr witli Sj)ain still fontimiiiiij;, wo du horeliy strictly diruft yon
tu lie always en yeiir i,'iiaril. anil to keep i\ gnixl watcli, ami that ymi kimp
iill your iiRiii as near heuK- as possiltk'.
1,
i,
! !
ii
t I
7M
IMSToltV (>|- I mi; NoHTM-WKsr.
Y
nil tiru
III tire |iiiiiit liliiiik ii|Miii any nhip, n|iiii|i nr vt'.snci that sliall
uoiiif Ileal' till- Ktictory, iiiiKnh tlicy iiiaku tliu trtii' Hi^iinl iiiul aii.tvvvi
yniirn.
Tliis waniiiin- was ifpcatrtl t-acli year until IN^N, tin- \\(»rtls.
ill racli cast- lifiiiM' almost i<lt'iiti(-al, ami it wa.s aiidri'ssrd to
III! tlic otlicfis at tlif vari<Mis forts.
I'roliaMy Mr. hoMis and his |iarty took nmlaanc liccaiisr
tlic Hudson's JSay ('oinpany otlifiajs. in tlicir case, cairifd nut
tlit'sc instructions t(» tlu' \t'rv It'ttt-r. A |icisual of tin- foHow -
in;^' jftters, aildi'fsscd to the commandfrs of tin- t'\| fdition,
will show, liowt'vtT. that assistance was not iffuscd. hut. on tin-
contrary, was otl'crcil to the rxjicilition, althou;;h tin- ships
Wfi'f |ii'cvcntfi| from a|(|iioacliinn' the factories without due
permit.
Ann ST, M^vu I74«i.
To tlir i-tiiiniitiiiilrr.i of till- lii'ii .tliips liiiii'i iijf' lliin rii'ir'.H monlli ;
(fKNTI.KMKN,
\\\' wmilil advisi' you fuf ymir nwii safety imt tn prneeeil any
fiiitliiT witli yniir sliips, Imals m- \issels aiiywlieie near nr alitmt this frnt.
uiiK'ss yell .seinl one inaii with a |nn|ii'r (iiithurity fruiii theiinveinuii'nt m
Ciiiiipany trading iiitn this Hay for so iloiiit,' ; otherwi.se I shall do my
utmost eii(le.iVor« to hiiuU'r any Hliip or Itoat from entering this river.
'I'hi.4 is oiir tirm resolution.
Dat.'tl at York Fort.
•Iamks Isii \m.
.\ugust 27tli, 174<1.
'I'he next communication was on the 2nd Septembei' follow-
ino', and read thus :
r/ic Coiuindiitiii-in-Clilif of I hi: Diihli.s-ijillltii uinl ('ilUfofnin
Thone :—
(jKNTLKMKX.
Aceordiiig to His MajeHty's printed Act of Parliament, 1744, we
idiservf tliat it is therein Mpeeified that no ship or shijis that are or shoulil
1)0 tilted out to go upon discoveries through Hudson's l!ay into VVagei
River, mid ho into tiio South SeiiH, or otherwise, are to molest or dis-
Il
K\l'l,(U{\l|nNs IN III DsoNn IIAV
tli.kt xliall
11(1 :ili'««t'r
ii'iH'i'i'il ■iiiy
lilt tliis fnit.
tnrli till' niiilNiin'H Hav ( 'i>m|iiiiiy'M riulitN niul in-ivilf^L'M in nn<lMi>ir» liny,
„i f.ir uf* till' Huitl ('niiiji.iiiy'H eliiiitt'r cMcinls in tlu' said Hay. ti|Miii any
ini.iint wliikthiifvi'i'. Ami tin- wiid Ait iilsn >|u'ritii's. tlmi n>' ik'Imuii nr
|n rsHiis lK'l<iiii{in(,' to Hiifli iliiHi'itvfry Kliips ai'o tn tiiidick <>\- tia«lf. <liiiifly
m iiitliii'itly. with lUiy niitivett, nr imy utluT |»i'I'mi>ii or iicis.nis witliin tlin
liiiiit"
.f tl
It' .sai<l ('oiiipany'H c
Imi't
t-r.
Ami \vt( oliscrvi- tiiut in His
M iji'»ty'M Kuiil |iriiitt'<l Art of Parlianu'iit. it is oin iliity to liimUi' any
^liiji >ii' sliipH from iiili'iiiin Ml or ncai an\ of tin < 'oiii|ia!iy's ti'iritoiirs
IIikI-
ISi
ll\. MO
far
lis
tlit'ii' sniil I'liaittT ixti'iiiU : tln'iofori',
iici'ori
my to tin- afoii'Hiiitl Aft of Parliament, wv di-Miii' that yon woiilij not oH'ci
to Kriiin yoiir sliijis any lii),'lifi' up tins livi-r. Imt to lay tlirm Ih'Iow wliat
Mf call UohiKon's ('iillt-y. Mlnrcyoii may i'\|iiit .vliat assistiini't' wi- aii*
.ililc to Ki\ f you, so far us our unlcrs aii' from tlm IIuiIhoiih jiay ('oiii-
|,aiiy. ami ili'siii' yoiir aiiswur to tlii * licfoii- yon jiroii'i'd any furtlii-i'.
Tlioii^li lit HHiiif linu.' would iidviMu yoii, hh livfont, to imtkt' the WuHt
(it yi'iir way to Cliunliill Kiver, wliun- yoii are Mun.sililc tlic ships may
uinti'i' without any dnniiii(i>.
And ri'st,
\ our v« r\ liuiiiblo sui'ViiiitH,
•Iamrs Isiiam.
chahi.ks 1{|i\1)v,
Ui< iiAKii Fiiun.
wil
n tliat tl
( 'iilll|i;lliy s ntlict'l'S
I Jilted at York Fort.
Sept. 2, I74«.
Kniiii tlio mIkivo it
Will' uiily ciuitittiiM aliout )H'fl'i»niiiMo- tlit'ir iliity to tlio Irttt-r.
witlioiit, linwoMT, rfFusiiio' any iiH-sLstfiiKT wliicli it was w itliiii
tlicii' |M)Wt'r to o'ivt'.
iiiilfi'il, tilt' oi'fjit st'iA ici's rt'inlt'ioil hy the nflicirs nl' tlir
Ijinlsoiis l')ay ("(iiMpuiiy to »'.\|ilorati(iii.s at tliff't'i'ciit tiiiios in
till' llistorv ol" tin- Ndi'tli-Wt'st, iinlicato that tln-v woii' not
inilVit'ii<lly to stu'li cHorts. 'I'lit' various t'\|)t'(litions of otiicocs
thi'Misi'Kfs, .sucli as liraii. ( *liiisto]iln'r, .lolinstoii, Diiiicaii.
Iloiii'ut'. Hat' ail' otliiTs. ami tin- aid ri'inlort'd liy tlir ( 'oin-
pMiiy to till' Hritisli ( itjvt'riinii'iit in tin- ('.\|ilorfttioiis of I'arry.
I'Vaiikliii, Koss, lU'i'i 'loy, Mack, fti'.. is a com-lusivf jiroof of
this.
To I'ctnrn, Iiowonit, to tlio iimutMliatt' siilijcct of this cliap-
I *
1 i
!
Jj
,
1
.
il'il
I! iJ-
80
IIISTOHY t»l' I'lll': NoHTII-WKsr.
ttT, \vc find that in 1742, owiiij^' to tlic fnd'oaclu's of the
Kifiicli tuf traders in the intcrioi', wlio wcrr intL'rct'ptini^ the
Jniliaiis, ami jjii'vcntin^' tlicni IVoni sisitinji tin; slioi'cs of
H\nls<»n's Why. the ("(tni|iany Itnilt a Fnrt jihout loO niilcs up
tlif Albany Wi\<'r. and cailfd it Fort Hui'lry. From this tiiiic
until I7'S2, the Kn;^lish cnjoyi'd undisputed possession of the
fJav. l)\it in that \'eai'. on the Sth Aujiiist. three Fi'ench shii)s,
the Ncr/y/'/r. 74 ;^'uns ; the Asluilr and the /'Jinjinirnhit', each
IM) ji'uns, (Hide)' the eonnnand oF Monsieuv la I'erouse, unex-
pectedly appeai'e«| het'ore JNiit Fiiiice ot" Wales, which was
untler the ehiii'ue of Sanniel llearne, and the day followinij:, al-
thoue'h in a j^ood stj'.te to resist a sie^c. it caj)itulate(|, and the
in\adei-s. to the nundx-r of t'oui' hundred, entered and took
po.ssession. Another account says, that althoiieh the fort was
well mounted an<l luniisheil with plenty of amuiunition, there
w
as onlv a force of thii't\'-nine men to defend it. Pel
oust'
then went to ^'o^k i'^actoiy, which was al.so stront^ly fortititMJ,
l)ut shoi't of men, there heiny; onlv sixtv Fimiish and twelve
Indians to resist an attack. On the a[)pearanci' of the French,
the (io\ernor. without Hiin;^' a shot, handed o\cr the foit, and
some assei-t that from the weak state of the cneniv, and
his own strong' position, he mieht have defied all efforts at
cajtture.
The loss to the Hudsons Hav ('omi)anv tlirouijfh this attack
on the pai't of the I'^rench, was a most serious one, tlic whole
of their stoi'es, toj.;cthcr with i»reat ipiantities of provisions,
etc., bein;;; destroyed. The French them.si'lvcs, through the
,sevei"ity of tlu' climate, and their own inex|)ei'icnce, lost
heavily, and this, without ;;ainin^- any coi-rt-spondino- advan-
taj^^e, for the Knelish ever afterwards I'emained in p()H,soHsioii
of the P>ay.
s of the
)tiii^ tlif
M
liort's of
iM
tiiilt's ii]>
this tiiiif
on of tlif
^M
icli sliii»s
.<
'1
!(/(', CMcll
1st'. UMt'X-
'1
liicli was
)\viii;;;, al-
.''W
1. ami till'
'v^^
ami took
• fort was
■'y*
tion. tlii-rc
.J
I'cl'ousc
foititicil,
1(1 twelve
ic Kffiicli,
• foit, and
cniy, and
crt'orts at
lis attack
he whole
)i( (visions,
•oii^h the
eiiee, lost
ii>- ad van-
possession
CMAI'TKH VI.
TIIK Fl|{ TI!.\l»i:i!S.
I''l!uM thf earliest srttleiiieiit in ("anada, the fur trade was
(•iiiisidei'cd of the tii'st inn)ortanee. and the ])rolits <leri\cd
t'loni it wer<' the main incentive foi- eanyin;^' on ('\|(loiations in
oi'diT to extemi its (iterations anion;.:' thf \aiMoiis ln<lian trihes.
As the conntry lireann' settled, tlir fiir-licarin;;' animals de-
cicaseil in nnnioer around
tl
le settlements, and
tl
lose who
tlil'le
ni l»eltl'les were (»l)li<>-e<l to .see
mo
le distant fields in
the |H!/suit of their eallin;^'. It was in the |irose('Ution of tin
lur trade that men \\er<' tirst indiiee(i to penetrate the wihi.-
.f th
le north-west, to roam over its vast prairies, aseem
I it>
iiiiti'litv rivers, and e.\i)lore its .mountains. It mav therefoi'e
lie trnlv said that the fur tra<lers were the forei'unners of
(i\ III
/ation in North America.
T
le men w
ho dealt directiv with the Indians, wlio followe(|
tlieiii in their joMriieyine-s. and visited their far-oti" camps,
Were a hold an<l liardv set of adventurers, who. in tln'ir
waiiiienni'- moile
life
am
I t
leir constant uitercourse with
the savau'es, soon lost all relish for their former hahits and
native homes. These men, in the earlv davs of ('anadi
I. WUell
it was known as ■New France," were called '■ Cniifni rs drs
Unix' iiu(\ wei'e aec'Ustonie(| to make tradin;^' excursions amoii^
the liiilians, extendinir sometimes to twelve or fifteen months.
ami even l(
)n^ei',
Tl
lev were "liven the iieces,sarv erei
dit 1)
S'2
HISTORY OK TIIK NOUTII-WKST.
I I
tin- mcivliants in tlio scttlciiicntH, to pcnrit them to procfcfl
on
K<'
tlifif
coinniciriiil iiiuli'i
takino-
s, !in<
1, tak
mir wi
th tl
icni
tl
10
ixis siiitfiMc lor tilt' wants »»i- fancy of tlic Iiulians, thcv
woultl start on one of tlicir lonn- ami ariluous iouriR'Vs. On
thi'ir return tlifv wonM hrin^^ hack the furs which they had
hfcn ahic to collect fi'oni the red men in e.\chan<;t.' foi" the
;^o()(ls, and tlu' pl'oceeds of the sale of these fill's went to |)a\'
tlie merchants, the halance, if any oNcr, hein^' s|)eiit in riotous
lixiniT in the settlement, until it hecaine necessarv to .start
u)»on another tra<line- triji.
This mode of life tended to make the " Goiireurs des Bois"
a licentious and dissipatecl set of men, which hrou^ht them
into disrepute, esjiecially with the missionary priests, and
theii' unscrupulous conduct reacheil such a [)itch that the
French (io\ernment in Canada finally decided that tradiiit;'
with the Indians shouM he done only hy license. It was in-
tendetj that the pi-rmits to trade should he <^ranted to men of
iX'Hul character, hut they wei-e fretpieiitly ^ivi'ii to persons as
a reward for sei\ ices, with permission to sell them to the
merchants, 'i'he latter, however, sold them to whoever chose
to ]>ay for them, so that the licensing system failed to he the
])rotection ae;ain.st unscrupulous traders, which it was intendetl
to he. While France was in jio,s.sessinn of ( 'anada. the system
continued, and it was use(l in icwardini-' otlicers of the arniv,
or others of ifood familv connections, not likelv to make u.se
of the ])ermits for tradin*;' purposes, hut they sold them for
^ood prices, because, whoe\'er posses.sed tlu' exclusive trade hy
license, of .-i district, was the only person to whom the Tn<lians
could apply for such articles as they re(piired in exchan<;e for
furs.
That the ti'aders abused the i)nvile<fes they enjoyed by
il'l
IMI, III? TI{.\I>K1{S.
s;i
;iN
licciix', tlxTt' is no iloiiht. Mini, altlinu^li tlir iiiissioimrics
\\,it(lii'<l tluMii closi'ly, tlit'V Wfi'c uimhU' to rln'i'l< tlitiii. At
t. tlif l)a<l con<lut't of the '^ Coiirein'>* di's Jiois" caust'd tlio
rstMlilishincnt of military posts to hv iiiailc at ilitfi-rcnt |»ointH
(if tilt' CoUlltlT fol' tilt' |)Ur]»oSf of coiitl-oilillli' tilflli, a^'tcr
wliicli, a uuiiiIk'I' of ablf and ifsjurtahlf men coniniciict'il to
tr.iil-' with tilt' Imliaiis, on a scale lar^jfci' than the " Goinr/arx
<lis Hois" were ahlt' to attempt.
Aliout this time, \'eiiunlrye, son oi the Seinnjov df \'ji-
iniiies. ami \vlu» had sei'\ ed in the army in Knropi'. as well
a^ in America, conceised the i>lea of exploriii;^' the conn-
try to the north-west. The scheme was a|)|)ro\t'd hy Ueau-
liariiois. the ( lovernor, hnt the Ki-eiich ministry wo\dd not aid
the rnterpri.se by contrihntine- towards the cost of the expe-
dition, so \'erandrye formed a tradin;^' company in Monti'cal,
and. in 17:{|,set out for Lake Sn))erior. takin;^- with him a
Althou;;h no assistance was
iinot named
Ol'e
M
essam':
reiideretl to him hy the ( lovi'rnment. he was expected and em-
]Miweied to take po.sHCHsion, in the name of the French kin;;',
of all the cotnitry he should discover.
\erandrye, however, between the yeais IT-Sl and I 7:Jo, lie-
\iitec| himself more to estahlishine- trade foi- his company than
niakin;;' exi)lorations on lu'half of the French kin^-, and his
followei's heine- hold, active, and enterprisini.'' nu-n, carried
their operations fai' into the interior. Startiny,' from Kaminis-
tiijuia, whei'e a fort ha<l been established in 1717 by Lieuten-
ant Holx'i'tal de I,,aiio!ie. they pa.ssed westwai'd. erecting' Fort
St. I'etei' on the waw and, in I 7M2, thev constructetl Fort St.
t'liarles at the Lake of the Woods,
They then followt'd tiie Winnipee- i-iver, and on its liai.'.^s
erected Fort Maurcpas, from which point they continued their
I t
M;
,' ..
\C'
S4
msTciitv OK Tin; nohtii-wf.st.
r.\|»I(>lMtinli Mddss Ljikr |))lU|illin, SwMll I.Jlkc, Hcd DciT
Hi\<'r, iin<l tlini iiloii^i' tlu- Saskatclicwjiii iijt to the jniu'tioii ol"
till' two luaiiclics (if tli;it iiiinlity rivci'. TIic N'rraixlryes aru
(•ivditt'tl with tlir l.iiiMiiin' ,,f Fort l)aiii)liiii at tlu' head of
l-akc .Maiiitoha. Fort dv la Hciiit' at its foot. Fort Hourhoii at
thf head of Lake Winnipeg-, and Foit Hou^c at tlu- juiictioit
of the Hi'd and AssiiiilMtiiit' I'ivci's. 'riicy ai-c also said to luiVf
jicnftrattMJ the interior as far as the Yellow Stone Hivei', and
to the foot of the l^x'kv Mountains. In I7:{(i. Veraiidiye
lost one of his sons at the hamls of the Indians, and the
Htoiy of the nias.s.icic is iiatht ticalK' related hv him i)i
• lit.
his journal. It a|i|M;ns that two of his sons, with a couph-
of men, had heen sent to Fort Mauiepas to act as a euui'd.
and to await his arrixal. Itut returned unexpectedly crn
4tli .lune. hrin^in^i' news of the death of his nephew. La .lem-
eraye, and of the scarcity of food. " I had." say: N'erandiye,
"many jn'ople in the Fort (St. Charles). aii<l no ]ti-o\ isions,
which determined me to .send in haste three canoes to Krint;'
\is a.ssistance and some u<M)ds. The Heveivnd Father ( Arneau)
inn liately re.soKcd to o(> t(» Michillimackinac. He asked
me for my eldest son. as he ho|>ed the jouruex' would l)e
s))eedy. I eould not possibly o|)po.se him. he heiuM' ahsolutely
resoKcd. They embarked on the Htli .luiie. and were all mas-
sacred hy the Sio\i\ at seven leagues from oui- fort, hy the
^i-eatest of all treasons. I lost my ,s(»n, the Kevei'cnd Father,
and all my l-'renclimeii : I shall re;iiet it all my life."
In 1742. one of the .sons of \'ei-andrye i-eaclicd the Mi.s,souri.
hut, heiii^' luiahle to obtain the necessary i^'uides, returned to
the heatl(|uarters of his father. The eldei- \'ei-andrye sent him
back with another son and two Frenclnnen. and the four
n:!.<le a joui-ney to the foot of the Hocky Mountains, w hert
•■-1
Till'; iriJ TKADKKS.
■So
tliiv iiuulc ii Uar^iiiii with a trilu' of liitliaiis t<i rscort tliciii
to tln' top of the Hoekit's, so thiit tht-y iiii;^ht ua/.c upon tin-
^icat wi'.sti'i'n ocean. Hut the ;^ui<l('s, fi'ai'iu;,'' that in their
■ hsciiee their enemies would attack their viUa;^!'. i-efus('<| to
ii(), iintl the V'eramlrves were ohliii'ed to ahamlon tlie idi'a of
( liiiihiiij;- the mountains.
I'litil !742, the Huilson's Hay Campany had eontined their
tradintr operations to the shores of Hudson s l>ay. hut in liiat
they made their first advance inland, hy effecting a srttie-
<*|j iiiciit, as sliown in a previous chapter. al»out loO niiles up the
x'cai'
.\lhany River. This was done to intercept tlic Indians who
were then heoimiin^' to cai'ry their furs to the Ficnch in the
iiitei'ior. rathei' than to the Knj^'Hsli on thi' Hay. In I74it.
N'rifUiilrye died, and the next yt-ar the work of rxpioration
was taken u]) hy Le (iardeur St. Pierre, who. hy oivjcrs of tln'
.Manpiis de Lajouipiicre. ( lovernor of New I'' ranee, penetrated
the Noi'tli-\V<'st to discoNcr the Westel'li Sea. and on this e\-
]ieditioii a Jesuit pi'iest. nai
neil
Fat I
ler
L
niioi'enerie
aeeom-
paiiicfl it part of the way. l)Ut, worn out with the fati;^ue and
iiai
tl
nishijts ol tlie journey, was ol)liue(| to return.
In I
ns 1'
•port
of the expedition, this explorer testifies to the ei-e;it inlluiMice
which tlu' Hudson's Hay ('omi)any had. at that time, o\ ei- the
Indians, and relates the followine- instance: • The Kn^'lisli i-
noyed at not receiving' a, larj^-i- amount of fuis at Hud Ts
liay.sent collars to the Indians, forhiildini^ them, undei' i • nal-
t\" of d villi;, to carry the furs el.sewlu're than to them .Not
having done so. an<l ahout eiuht hundred of them ha\ i died
f.'oiii cold, they were all seizeil with fright, and told ; an-
ot!u-r that the Manitou (the devil) had wreid<ed V(.'n<;vanee on
then;, ni answer to tlie 'prayer ot the hne;lisli
f th
rlisli
n ail rliei"
part, he sav's, " All combiiieil, hrinir me to the conchisi(ai that
V' i
}<
t^.\
I I
i^l!
S(i
msToUY OK THK N< )lt TM-WKST.
I I
;:M
it is not |i()SHil»|f to pciu'tratt' t'uitlicr tliaii I liavc tloiic, on
ju'coiiiit of tilt' wai' ill wliicli all tln' iiatioii.s of this rontinnit
art' t'ii;^*a^t'il, in wliit-li tln'V aiv tMit'oura^vtl hy tln' Kii;fliHli, an
viisv inatttT I'or tlifin. tlit- liiijians ht'iiiir st) tri't'atlv at'raitl, that
tht'ir tliri'at.s alt)in' aif ahlt- tn iiiakf tlit'in uniltTtakc aiiy-
tliin;:,." St. IMfiTt's rt'port shows, alst). that Fi't'iich traiitTs
haij ]n'ni'ti"att'il as far as. t)r near tt», the Hofky Mountains, lon^-
lu'fori' his t'XjHMlition tt)ok plact.'. " Ht- (.M.df NiMTvillf. ont-
t)f his partv ""), savs St. I'itiTt', "uaM' iiif an acctinnt t)f what
hf liail Ifanii'il at the st'ttli'iiifiit he had iiiadi' lu'ar tlif Kofky
Mountains, that a jiarty of liitlians, who wtTf ;it)iiio; t() war.
met with a nation loailfi! with ht-aAfv. who Wfif ;^oing li_\' a
rixtT which i.ssut's fidin the i^tcky .Mountains, tt. tratU' with
thf Frfiit'li, who had ihfir first t'stahlishuitnt on an islanij at
a small ilistancf fi'taii the land, whi'it- rlicrc is a larj^c sttnt-
housf, that, when arriNt-d tht'if. thfy inailf si<^nals, ami pcoplf
c'i'ii'' to tlu'iii tt) traih' forthfir '-.'avt'is. in fxelianiif fo)' which
tiiey ^ivt' tht-ni knivt-s, a few lances, hut no tireai'iiis : that
ti.ey sell alst) ln»i's('s antj saijilles, which sheltet them from
arrows when they j^'t) to war. The.st- Indians jiositively asHert-
ed that tin- trailers were not Knji'lish. I^oth Vei'aiidrye and
St. Pierre wrote interestini;- journals t)f their exjieilitions.
It was nt)t until 17(17 that Kurdish traders enteretl the in-
terior of the No!th-\Vest. Ill that vear, Mr. Thomas (.'urrie.
havinti- procured t^'uiiles ami interpretei's, peuetratetl the coun-
try as far as Ftirt Htairlxin, one of the French i>OHts at tlie
west eutl t)f Cedar Lake on the Saskatchewan, where hf
carried t)n a mt)st successful tratle witli the ludians. The ft)!-
h)wino; year, a Mr. .lames Fijday went as far an Nipawee, the
last t)f the French settlements on the Saskatchewan, where he
en^'ai;eil succeHsfully in the fur tratle for a number of years.
If
iiii; I'l i{ rnAUKKs.
HI
Altci' tlic I'ritisli took poMNj'.sHion, the " licciiHc " systnii nt'
till I'Vnicli was i|))iic iiway with in tin- Noi'tli-Wcst, ami IVfc
liaiif took its j)lact'. Tlie ai|\ (••ituicrs in tlir lii<l;aii <'<tuiiti'y,
attrf this, made hii';^*' proHts, wlitch hiou^lit alxait Ut't-n com-
[iititiun. it'siiltint; <lisastv<»us|y to the liulianN. t'oi', iiistraW i>t"
riiclfaxiirin;;' to si'cure tcaJc hy oft'crin;^' Itt'tttT oi' cht-aiu-r
i^uihIs. tlic tra<hTs nia(h" use ot" a proluMc HU))|)ly t)t" sjiicitiuais
iniiiirasa shorter ami more cci'tain nicthtxl
hf iiii}X()\<'iii-
ililc ]ir(»|)i'n.sity nl" tlw Indians t'oi- intoxicants is well known.
iihI the ilisordtTs that ensued tVoni this mode ol" carrvinu »>n
tr.ide. may l»e inianined. The rrach'is wei-e scattei'etl o\ ei- a
cninitry ol" vast extent, and so I'ai- removed tVoiti ciNil author-
ity, tliat tliey Ix'lieved that they eouhl conunit ahiiost any
ciinie witli impunity.
These iiii'M wei'e Mot oulv ene'aeH'd in del)auehin!^' tlii' Iii-
• jians. hut they usi'd tlie natives when under tUv .ntluenee
nf li'juoi', as tlie mean.-i ol' takine- reveni;e ujion their risals in
ti'ide.and one trader h,;\iiie- a u'i"'idee atrainst another, instead
<!l loortini^" to jHTsona! \ iolenee liini.seH', would em|i!oy or
iM rsiiad'- the iiidisuis t<t do the Ami. Mr. flenrv. in his inter-
est in;: account "I travels and adxcntui'i's, .savs,
that
on arri\-
in;.;- at (Ji-and rortaee. Lake Sujterior. in 177."), he i'ound the
t)adeis in a state of extreme i-i-ciprocal hostility, each pursu-
iiiL his own in such a mannc" as miyht most iiijui'e his neieh-
lior, and the eonsctpicnces ue'v very hurtful to the morals of
ill" Indians.
At this sta^je. it may he inteiestine- to note some jiarticidai's
<|' the iudita,!-\' svsteui cari'ied on liv
th
"reiich ( lo\ ernmenl.
piior to tht^ cession ^A' the country to the Kn{j,'iish. and which,
aiilionjjflt not Hltoe;ether a pre\ e ition of oiitra^es against tlie
hul
lans, sc)'\e<l as a c
heck
Ulio
n t'M> tniders and was ccrtainlv
(I
H
SIS
HISTOHV ((,'•' TIIK MtHlll-WliST.
iM'ttiT tliMli till- systi'lii of 1*1 tiMilr .trtcrwtll'ils rollnWiMl ,|ll 1
to wliifli allusion lias just 1 ii iiiailf. ,Sif(liiy ( 'aili'ti>ii. in
a li'tti-r adilrt'sscij to L(>r<| Sliclliiirn
M)ll(t\VS
• 1 ITiiN. stati'^ as
Tlic ainir\t'<l iftiii'ii III' tile {''rmfli ]Histsii|' tioiips
Tor till' [ifcttfction of fra<lt'. vitli tin- niimli.T of caiiofs si-nt up
in flu- year I 7") j., slirws in sonif nirasnif tlir ixtiiit ol" trailf
ami system pursucil liy the l-'rcnch ( !o\ t rnimiit in lii<lian
iff ail-.'
t lif\- iIhI not
ilfiicnii
on till' niiiiilirr ot° troo|i
•III on
tli<' tliscrction ot" tln'ir otliccrs, who Irarnnl tlir laiiuiiatic ol"
tlif nativi's. acted as niaoistrates. conipelled the tiinleis to deal
iM(uital)ly, and disti'iltiited the kiiies presents; hy this conduct
th
ey avoided ;;ivine- jealousy, and li
lined the affections of an
i<;iioi'ant, cri'diiloiis and liravf | pie wlKtsi- ruliiie' pa^^ion^
are independence, u'catitude and resniuc. with an uncoiii|Uei-
alile lo\e of stroll^- drink, which imist pro\ e destnictivc to
them and the fur trade, if permitted to he sent aiiioii;^' theiii ;
thus maiian-jn;!,' them hy address, where force coulil not avail
they reconciled them to thi'ir troops. The country was divid-
e<i in certain districts, and the onl\- restraints laid on
tl-!K-i
ers
w /e, first, not to tTi) heyoiid the hounds of that district th-ey
obtained jiasses for, and secondly, not to carry more spirituous
li»|U()i's than was nee -ss u'y foi' t'leir own use. nor to sell any
of that to the Indians; the kiii^s posts, or rather the in-
tcndaut's. were the only on -s excepti-d fiMiii this e-eneral rule
I'lider these rce-ulatioiis. the canoes went first to the post of
the ilistrict fi'om whence they had full liherty to j;d amoiie'
the Indians and accompany them to their liuntinji-<irouiuN ;
they likewise calle*! (»n their return: if any wer<' ill-tivatcd.
they complained to the commandant, who assemhled the
'liicf
s aiK
)l'OCUre(
1 red
rcss.
lu' savati'cK also made com
plaints and obtained imnu'diate satisfaction — an exact report
nil; II It 11! AKKKs.
HU
1
111
1 1
<)|" iill III* w liicli wiis'-.ciit tu tlif u(,\ ri'iior. Tliis r.hifii nniy In-
.|( |n'liilri| i||Mi|l \ny so iiillfli lis it cniitflilis. Iiilt ;is tin- Kili;^' <>\'
l-'raiiif WHS jiM"('Htl>' ••"Hiciiiir.l ill nil this tniijf, ti corniiit iiil-
iiiiiiistratiuii i|ii| imt tiiinlN it tlicir intrirst tlint nil tlii'sc
itt> rs slidiilij ii|)|M'iii ill .1 lull. I'lt'iir ,iiiil !tistitij4; iiimiiim'I-. '
Sirliiiy Carlftuii tliin sunnrsts tin' si'iniiii;^' (,f militmy iiirii
;is (XlddiTrs, iii|i| tlir txti'lisiiili i)\' rxpinrnliuiis In llif I'jl'ific
(' sn VM : "I sjinll nisily timl in llif tiiMi|is line
III'
[ 'nil»t.
II
I <,'ii('hic) iiiiiiiy uflici'i-s aiiij iiii'ii very rm'ly In rxplurc jiny
|i;irt 'if tliis ciiiit iiiiiit . wild ri'iniirc im otlirr I'liciiiiiiij^'fiiu'iit
III, III to lif tnlil sllcil scr\ icr W 1
II
iif iircc
|itill)l< til IIk
KiiiM'.
nii'lir |>rii|M'rly rsci-utiil will fccdiiiiiii'iiil tiii'iii In liis lux ur ;
Imii as tlii'y arc iiiiac<|iiaiiitiil with the ciiiintry. tlic Jinliaii
laii^jtiaji't'M and inaiiin rs. lis nrct'ssnry tu Join with tlirin sdinc
( ' iiiailiaiis tn srivr as ;;iii<lfs and iiitrr|ii('tt'Vs. Tin- ^mtlfiiH-n
Ihir juf iiHistly )MH)r f I lia\ !■ raiiiilifs ; in onifi- tn iiiiliict'
tliiiii tn Mttacli tlii'iiiscl\ 1 iiur(iii<^lily tn tlir Kind's intcrr.sts,
'tis iifcrssjii'y tliry slmiild Kr assured nf their lirin^- takfii into
lii.^ sci-\ ice for lire and in case they pri-isli on tiu'si- expeditions
that rlieir widows will enjoy tln-ir pay, to su|»pori and eihu-atr
rlieir children. Should His .Maje.sty think pro|)er to allow the
ider.s tn M(i ii|, to the WesttM'u Lfike.s, as fojMiierly, I think a
nii^ri'it winter in niie of those posts. st»t out early in spi'in;;,"
r'v
I'ni- rii,.- Panrtie ( )eean. Hiid niit a j^'ood p<a't, take its latitude,
I'MiiritiKle. aiM describe it s<> accurately, as to eiiaMe mir ships
tl'ilil the Kast itldies to tiiid it nut with ease. atnl then retui'ii
tin year rollow'iii'j;. Ni.ur i^nrdship will readily perceive the
advaiitae'es ot -mch <liseo\ eries. and how ditticult atteii,|)ts to
explore unknown parts must pro\c to the En{.ilisli. ii,ile>s we
i\ail oui'selves of the kiiowledp' of tile C'rtimdia'.s, who ai"e
Will aci|uaititiMl with the country, the langujig^e and manners
of the native.s."
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HISTOKV ul nil, \(>UTII-Wi;sT.
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I'nt tlif fX|»l(»rati<)iis of tlic Nuitli-WfMt wfi-c tn Ih- Ifl'i
cliit'lly in flu- Immls dl" tlif liir tnulrrs. In tin- .spring' dl' 177.').
Ml'. .I(ts('|»li l''rol»isli»'i- with tliiity or Inrty ommm's wmt ns I'm
iioi'tli IIS ( 'liiirt'liill i-iMT. iiikI. iiitci'crptiii^^ m niiinlM-r of IikIImiis.
nil tlifir way to l''«>it ( "liuicliill, siicci-cilfil in Ituyiiij; tlifir Thin.
Ill tlif I'iiIIkw inn ycjir In- rt'tiiriirtl to tli»' saint' place, wliicti
was at a point in lat. .")")A, loii;^-. lO.'tA ,aiiil liis sccoimI visit was
fi|iially siicccssriil witli tlu' first. lie tlit'ii sent Ins lnittlnT
t'lirtlit'i' Wfst, wlio pi'intratf<l to tlif Lakf Isle a la ( *roi.\ in lat.
;>.)
•>{
) , Ion;;'.
|(),S
Mtaiitiiin' the HiiilsDns Hav ('oiiipanv lia«l not Im-cii iillr
siiici' tlit'if first aiKancf iiilaial in 1742, for in 1770 tliey stni
Mr. licarnt' to iiiaki- r.xplni'ations in tin- Noitli-Wt'st. Start-
in;^' IVoiii I'riiii'c olWaU's Korton tlic 7tli Di'CfiniMT, lie I'ollow-
cil tilt' t'oiiisf t»l' tilt' Cluii't'liill Hi\fr. aiitl tlit-n tlisftist-rin;^- tlif
( 'iippiTiiiint' Wivi'i', t'olltiwt'tl it tt) its nioutli wlitTf it fiiiptifil
III
tt) tl
If st'a, a
ml wlit'if lif fountl tilt' iff uiilirokfii tm tlif I7tli
.lulv. Mr. Ufanif was ahsfiit t)ii his jt)urnfy a yfar ami ststii
iiionths. ami altlit)iij>h thf (•t)iiH)aiiv iliil not rt'ceixi' an\' ininif-
iliatf piai'tifal hfiiffit rrt)iii his ti'ip. it pi't)Vfil t)!" atlvantaj^f in
sfNfral ways, chii'tly t'rtan a si'ifiititic ptiiiit til" vifw. In 1774.
lit)Wf\t'r, .Mr. HfarMf, wilt) hail hft'ii appt)iiitftl (<t)Vfrnt)r tit
I'riiiff of W'alfs l'\)rt as a I'fwartl for his sfi'vicfs in 1770.
nntlfrtt)t)k aiit)thfr f.xpt-tlition to Piiif Islaiitl Lakf, wlifi'f lif
frt'ctftl a tort nt)w known as ('uiiil)frlanil Ht)U.sf. Frt)ni this
tinif thf Hutl.st)n"s Hay ( "t)ni|)aiiy, I'ou.sod from tlu- torpiti statf
iti which they cxistt'tl on the fro/en siiore.s of the buy, followfil
thf example set hy thfii' nitirf energetic conipetittirs, aiitl in
a little t)Vfr twenty years hail extemled their tratliii^ posts
from Cumberlantl House to the Rocky MountainH.
Tt) I'eturn to the fur trailers, we tintl that tho success which
I'lii: II II lit \i»i:i{s.
in
iitrtii|i'<i llir Kriiliislicis cH'orts, iii<liici'i| otlicis t<» I'lilluw in
tlnir rn(»t.stc|
IM.
aixl ill I77H, II muiiiIht of tiiulfis nn tlifSas-
kiitt'lifWMii roniM'il tln'iiis('l\ t's into a (MiiiiiiMiix . aiiil ;;ii\r tin'
in.iiiin't'iiHiit tn Mr I'ctiT I'dinl. Mr was iiistni('ti'<l in ;^n as
till' as Atlialiasca, if )i(»ssilili', uliicli was then a cdinit i y iiii-
kimuii, f\ci'|it tVniii linliaii n'|)(U't. aii<l in tlii^ In- may ln' said
Im lia\ I' siiccci-di'il, I'nr lie ica'ind llif liaiilss <i|" I lie V.\U lixiT.
Tlicjf lif |iassfil till' winter lit" I77N-!I, and canifd on a M-rv
siini'sst'iil trade witli tlif Indians. Iiidi'rd lie senind niuic
I'lirs lliaii III cunld carry away, and Irl'l siiiin' luliind. stored in
(ijir III' llis winter lints, wllele tliey Were riilllid tlie lie.Xt seagull
ill tile same stat" as lie liad lelt tliem.
.Mr. ( 'liarjes ( Irant, in a letter tn (leniral llaldimand. dated
2ltli A|ii'il, 1 7'S(), ^ives some interestine' |iai-ti('ulars lejatine-
til the i'ni" trade as it was carried nn aliout that time. He
says: " At all times the ti'ade to the ii)ijier ciaintries has lieeii
citnsidi'i'cd the staple trade oi" this I'ikn ince. lait ol' late yeai's
it lias lieeii ereatly au^'inciitcd, in so much that it may he
ivckdiied, one year with another, to ha\e jiroduceil an animal
ivturii to (Jreat Hi-itain, in I'lirs, to the amount of ti'OO, ()()(>
>tiili!in-, which is an ohjcct dcscrvin;; of all the enconi'a;^ement
and |irotcction which (lovcrnment can. with |ir<»|triety. ;^i\e to
that trade. The Indian trade, hy i'Sv\y coiniimnication, is
iaiiii'(l on at };;reat expense, ialior and risk, of hotli men ami
]iiiipei'ty : eveiy yeai' furnishes instances of the loss of men
and u()o,ls l)y accident or otherwise. It is not. therefoi'e, to
lie expected that the traders in ne!i,.|;i| jne men of suhstance :
t purchase, with ready money,
lliu 'cil lew ol
tl
leiii are a
hie tl
such ^ood.s as they want foi- their trade. They are cmse-
'|Uetitly indi'hted, fi'om year to yeai', until a return is made
ill furs, to the merchants of (Juehec and Montreal, w ho are
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photographic
Sdences
Corporation
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80
(716) 873-4503
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IIISTOHV (»K TMK N( »l!TII-\Vi;sr.
I'R i;
iiiniDrtt'fs of foods tVoiii Kiio'lainl, ami t'liniish tin-in on crcilit..
In this iiiaiiiit'f tin- uppiT country ti-aili- is cliirlly cairifd on
l»y men of low fircunistanccs, destitute of every means to \r,\\
tlieii- dehts, wlieii tlu'ir ti'ade fails: and if it should l)e undei'
oreat restraints, of ohsti'ucted a few years, the constMiuonce
would piove I'uinous to the coniniei-eial pait of this Proviiu-e.
and Ncry hurtful to the luerchants of London, shi|»j)ei's of n<)()ds
to this country, besides the loss of so valuable a branch of traili'
in (ireat Britain. ♦ * * * \y,\si year the ])asses for the
Indian ;^'oods were ^iven out so late that it was impossible to
forward ^'oods to the places of destination, es{)ecially in tlu-
North-West. For that reason, those concerneil in that (juarter
joineil their stock toj^ether, and made on,' connnon intei'est of
tlie whole (rcferrine- to the company of which Mr. Peter Pond
had the mana^icment). as it continues at present, in the hands
of the dirterent per.sons or companies, as nientioniMl at foot of
this. The canoes foi' the Xorth-VVost are commonly the Hist
.si'iit oft" and, indei'(l, the earlier jUI the canoes, l)ound up the
( Jj-and Kiver, <;o oft", the better. The Noi'th-West is dividecl
into sixteen shares, all of which foi'm but one company at
this time, as follows :
" 1'odd \r Mcdill, 2 shares: Ben. ^^ .Jos. Frobisher, 2 shares :
Mc(iill iVr Patei'son, 2 shares: McTavish Ar Co., 2 shanss :
Holmes Ar (Jrant, 2 shares: Wadilen vV Co., 2 shares: McBeath
tfe Co., 2 .shares : Ross \r Co., 1 share : Oakes & Co., 1 share."
This company, of which Mr. Peter Pond was mana^'er, was
the ^erm from which sprang tlie ^reat Noi'th-West Com{)any.
that, in a few years, extended its discoveries and trad(! to
the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. It seems that the same delay
in furnishing' passes for th<^ canoes, to which (Jrant refers in
his letter, occurred aj^jain in 1780, and on the llth May, tln'
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John Stuart, Esq.,
Chief Factor North -West Company.
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THE FLU TUADEHS.
U3
l"iir trii(ler.s prt3.sent*Ml the following nuMiiorial tf) Oeiieral
IliiMiiiinnd. The (locuiiient is here <^iven in full, hecau.se it
shows some of the ilitiiculties under whicli fur trading' was
conducted in the North-West in tlujse days:
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To HlrS EXCBLLKNCY,
Frederick Halhimand, Etc., Etc.
Etc.
The Memorial of the Merchnnts and Trador.s fniiii Montreal to the
Great Carrying Place in Lake Superior, and the interior country, com-
monly named the Nnrth-West.
That yctur memorialists have, for a numl)er of years past, carried
on an extensive and vahiable trade into the {)arts from whence the annual
rotmns have for .some years been esteemed at lifty thousand pounds ster-
liiij,' in furs, which have served to remit to (ireat Britain in payment of
the manufactures imported from the Mother country.
Tliat tliere is usually and actually emph)yed in that country near to
three hundred men, who generally arrive from the interior parts of the
(irand Carrying Place from the 10th June to the 10th July, hut from the
length of the voyage and harrennesss of the country, added to the small-
ness (<f the canoes and innumerable carrying places, are reduced from
want of i»rovisions to very great misery and distress, which has constantly
laid your memorialists under the dutiful necessity of sending canoes with
{provisions very early from Michilimackinac, in order to meet the canoe
men of the distant posts, without which precaution great part of their
property, after being converted into furs, must have been left and lost to
tiiem, and a more painful circumstance might ha\e happened in the death
of those employed in that adventurous liusiness.
That they ai'e well informed last fall from their corresjxmdence at
Detroit and Michilimackinac, that no provisions of any kind will be allow-
ed to go from thence for supi)lying the Trade to the North-West, which
heretofore was the case, and, therefore, your Memorialists have taken the
precaution to provide Indian corn, pease, tlour, etc., to send from hence
for that purpose.
That the length of the voynge to the Grand Carrying Place is, at
least, four hundred and fifty leagues, and from thence to the distant posts
above six hundred more, which cannot be performed in less time than six
luoiiths.and sometimes it happens that winter sets in before your Memor-
ialists can arrive at the Factories where they intend to pass the winter,
and when that unfortunate circumstance takes place, there are instances of
several having starved, and even so diretul have the consequences been as
I ■:{- tU
94
HISTORY OF THK XOHTII-WLST.
to ncc.'iHinii the castiiii^ of lots for an unhuppy victim to serve as food for
his more uiiliiipiiy companions.
Tliat your Meinori.tli.sts have been encouraged to continue in tiiis trade
from constantly lindiiii^ a facility to carry it on, in the ready zeal of
(Jovernment in grantini{ passes and licenses to that effect, and they had
reason to hope, from the notification which your Excellency was pleased
to <{ive Your Memorialists some time ago that no let or hindrance to
their dejiarture would have taken place this spring, hut, notwithstanding
lists of the canoes, goods, and numher of men, were innnediately given
into Mr. Gray's othce, to l)e forwarded to Your Excellency. Your
Memorialists have heard nothing more on the subject since that time.
Your Memorialists, from the causes set forth, are under the most
anxious ap])rehensions for the lives of their people emploj'ed in the
trade, and fear greatly that they may suffer very much in a loss of their
property, unless Your E.xcellency is pleased to grant immediate per-
mission for them to send ott" their canoes with the goods and jjrovisions
intended for the purjiose of continuing that extensive and valual)le
branch of business and they beg leave to assure Your Excellency that
with all the industry that can l)e exerted in collecting the men who
are hired, from the different parts of the country supposing the p isses
to be here at thi< hour, it won d still be the twentieth of this month
before the canoes could be sent off. and it is against the interest, and
of course the wish, of nuy North- West ti'ailers to remain here so late.
Your Memorialists cannot have the smallest d>)ubt of Your Excel-
lency's good will and zeal to encourage the counnercial interest of the
Pr.)vince over which you preside, and particulaily of (that) which lies
at a great distance from the frontiers of the unnatural rel)el States of
America. Therefore, sulnnitting their case to Your Excellency's con-
sideration, they humi)ly, and most earnestly, reipiest spee<ly relief in tlu'
premises, and Your Memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
Montreal, 11th May, 1780.
J. PoHTEors
Holmes iV: (J rant,
Simon McTavisii,
Charles (Jrant,
Geo. McIJeatu,
ToDU it McGill,
Ben.t. it Jos. Froblsueu
Mc(iiLL A' Patersox.
Forrest Oakes,
Adam Lymiurner
'1
Notwithstanding the snccess, as reported, of the Pond expe-
dition and others, the position of the ti-aders in the Xorth-
VVest continue*! to he very had : a fact wliich arose in a great
measure from the evil comhict of some of them, and their
]\l I
TIIK Kilt TI!Al)i:i{S.
96
i|ii;ir)«'ls witli tlic IinliaiiH, iM'sultiii;;' ill tV<'(|U»'iit H<;lits. About
this tiiiH', a .sa<l occunvnci' took place wliicli will show tiit-
state of t'ccliii^ that cxisttMl cvni amongst tlic lu-ttcr class of
traders. In 17X0, a nnuihcr of these a;4reeil to seiiil out an
e\|)e(litioii on joint account, au»l a Mr. \Va<liii and .Mr. I'ond
were selected to take charge of it, — two men of opposite char-
acters, who could not a^i'ee. One day, ahout the l)e;^inniiin- of
ITJSl.Mr. I'ond and liis clerk were invite«| to dine with Mr.
Wadin. and tlu' latter, durine- the nieht followine- the dinner,
was shot in the tliij,di, from which it is said, he l)led to death,
ami it was supposed that Mr. I'ond and the clerk committed
the i\vvi\. Tliey were afterwar<ls trieil in ^IontreaI for the
murder, and ac(iuitte(l, l)ut n stroue- feelin<;' e\istei| in the
mind of the ])uhlic that they Were euilty.
Little tradine- was done aftei' this, owine- to the continuance
i)f tlie smallpox aiiionest the Indians, until the winter of
l7'S:}-4, when, the prospi^cts haviiie" become l)rie'hter. a numl)er
iiF iiierchants of C'anada, eneao'e<l in the fur ti-ade, formed a
junction of inteivsts uudei" the name of tlu' North-West Com-
pany, 'i'he mana^'ement of this association was ))lacei| in the
hands of Benjamin and Joseph Frohisher and Simon Mc-
Tavish, an arraneenient which was not satisfactory to Mr.
Peter Pond, one of tht; parties to the formation of tlu- com-
pany. He therefore ])revailed u])on Mr. Peter Paneinan to
join him in forming" a rival scheme, hut, Ijefoi-e this was
accomplished, he made terms with the North-West Compam'.
Mr. Pau<^man, however, and his as,sociates continued their
opposition until 1787, when the rival concerns were iniite<l In
• me, and matters went smoothly for over ten years, until in
I "its, differences apiin occurred, and a number of the pait-
mrs seceded from the parent association, and formed the XV
('')in[)any.
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msTOHV 0|- TIIK NOUTII-WKST.
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Ill ISOI, I)(»iiiiiiic KousNcau, ol' M(jntr(!iil, sciit a party of
tnulfrs uiidcr one Hcrvicr, who, on rcfieliiii;; Luke Supfrioi",
weiT set iiixni l»y .scrvjiiits of tlic Noi'tli-WcHt ('oiniHniy, and
oblilift'il to ivtuni, at considerable loss to tlie iindertakiiii:'. In
180(). Mr. Rousseau, in c(nni)any with a Mi-. l)ei(Ji-nie. made
anothi'i' attempt, hut was attain (h'iven hack, Mr. Delorme
beinj;; forced to return U) Montreal, leaving all his u(M)ds
behind liim. This was the last instance of a ])rivate merchant
attemptine' to send *;oods from Monti'eal into the North-West
f(jr the pui'i»ose of tradinjf.
To the fur traders, in a larev measure, belon;4S the honor of
having' saved l^jper Canada from the e-rasp of the Americans,
The aid they rendered to (Jeneral Brock is a matter of his-
t(^ry, and, althou;^!! the Xoi'th-West Company obtained tlie
chief credit of havine- assisted in the capture of Michilimac-
kinac, the work was done principally hy traders, indei)endent
of that Company. Among those, niay be mentione<l Mr.
Robert Dickson and Mi-. Jacob Franks, avIio brouj^lit forward
a strong Ixxly of Sioux Indians, to assist the Canadians, and
the voyaeeurs conunanded by Colonel C/rawfor<l, and (jther
brave officers also did good service to Canada, alternating
tiieir time as canoe men in the fur trade, and volunteers in the
service of Canada.
Hut from I7!)S the fur trade ma}' be said to have passed
from the hands of private individuals into those of coiii})anies,
and the fur traders became tlie servants of the latter.
ii.
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CHAITKH VII.
THE VVn COMPANIES.
TiiK first aHsociatioM For thf carrviuu" on ol" tlic t'ur tiiulr, ol"
wliicli \V(; luivc any record, was the Hoavrr ('oni])any, I'stah-
lislicil ill l()-28 or 1()8'). but tlicrc is little known of its opera-
tioiiK. In tlu! previous chapter we traced tlie history of the
fur traders down to the year 17!)H, when the last attempt at
in lividual tr.idin*,' from Montreal was mule, and we will now
take a <;lance at the fur companies, the outcome of that sys-
tem. When the French lost possession of ('aiia<la in 17()'2,
the " Coureurs den lioift," unaccustomed to the wavs and man-
ner of doin^ business of the Klno-H.sh, were slow at first to as-
sociate with them, but it was not lon<f until they overcame
this feelin^^ and ^rew to be as active in ti^htin;.;' the battU's of
the mei'chant fur traders, as the}' had formerly l)een in their
own (|uarrel,s. The Canadian mei-chants, howevei-, for a lonfj
time experienced strong- competition from those doin;^- busi-
ne.ss in the Ignited States, who induced the Indians and the
" Conreurs des Boifi" to take service with them on the Amer-
ican side. This, comlMued with the lawless doin<i's of many of
tile fur traders themselves, the pi-evalence of the smallpox
among the Indians, and the cuttinjr ofi' of supplies by the
Americans, caiised a few of the Canadian inerciiants to unite
ti»j,a'ther, in 1779, for self protectitm, and the union of inter-
ests thus brourjht about led to the formation, in 1782, of the
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msTdltV or TIIK N'<»llTH-\Vi:.ST.
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Nnrtli-Wcst ('<»iii]»my. A imiiilx-r of ini'i-cliimtH in .Montreal
t'orniffl !in anHociation undci' this title, tin- Inulin;;' persons
Itein;,^ ''•'".i- '""' •'"•'*• l''i"<>l>iHli»'r, iin<l Mr. Simon McTaviHli, hy
whose inrtnence mainly the coalition was Iti-ou^fJit ahout, hnt
in the arran^'ement of this c'o-|)artnershi|) difHciilties arose,
and a few withdrew, preferring to carry on a sepai'ate trade,
and this state of afl'airs continued until I7fs7, when all the
])arties united once more under the name of the North-West
Company.
In the meantime, the |)arties wiio formed the company in
17JSJi were active in explorinj^^ the country for the purpose- of
extendi nif their operations, and in 1 7S4 sent a party consist-
ing- of Mr. Edwai'd I'^mfreville, Mr. Venance St. (Jermain, and
six Canadians to the nortli for tiiat purpo.se. In Octoher of
the same year tlie Company presented tlie following Uienioriul
to (foverntjr Haldimand, at Quebec :
To His ExeELLENCY Fkedkkick Haliumani), Etc., Etc,
TIk' Me))ioti(tl i>f till', Ntiith-Wcst Cun'pitnij hnmhly nhtiirth :
" Tlmt the Company from thu Boundrtry de.scribed in tliu lato Truaty
" of Peace, being appreliensive the I'nited States wouUl avail theniselvoH
"of every means in their power to dispossess them of their trade to tlie
'• Nortli -We.st, froui being entitled to an eiiual, if not an exclusive, right
"to the (Jrand Portiige on Lake Superior and the water conununication
" to the extent t)f Lake du liois : Have, at tlieir own expense and with
"the approl)ation of Your Excellency, .sent otl'from the north side of Lrfikc
"Superior two persons, on whom thuy can depend, accompanied by six
" Canadians, to attempt the discovery of another [Missage north of the line
" of the Boundary, to the River Ouinipicjue, and from the information your
" Memorialists have since received from thejn, they have every reason *<>
" expect that this jws.sage, so much to be wished for, will be discoveiv,.!
"and found pi'acticable ; which will etteotually secure that valuable
" branch of the fur trade to this Province.
"That exclusive of this great object, your Memorialists have in view
"another discovery of greater magnitude, which is that of exploring, at
" their own expense, between the latitudes 65 and 65, all that tract of
" country extending west of the Hudson's Bay to the North Pacific Ocean.
Vi
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iif wliicl) Hurvey» sluill In- tiikmi, sn far as it imiy ho priictic«lili}, Hiid
such Miirvoys, witli ri'iiiiirks tlutrfiiixin, rt!S|n)itiiii,' tho iiHtiin! i«f tin-
cniiiitiy, (iiul thu tivL'i'a wliicli (lischiiij^i! tlit-ir wiitt'is iiitu tliiit hwi I>o-
twoeii tlionu Intitiidfs tn^^etliur witli uvury ntlier iiiforiiiiitiini tlwit cnii lie
cnlloctcd fmiii tliu imtivuM, mIhII I»u liiid Iti'fun- the Kiiik's (lovernur fi>r
tliis |ir<iviiiL'c;, to l»o l)y liiin tiunHiuittcil t<> His Maji'sty.
"'I'liHt tin- ("niuiiaiiy's stiviints, .is hufnro iiR'Utiniii'tl, are iniw iic-
tiially eiiiploytMl in tliu tirst uf thuno tliHciiverius, liuil tlie lattur wliiili
iiuist lie CKUHJilorud as an uliject dustTviiiy <>f evoiy encniiraKiiiii'iit frnin
tlie Govurnnu'iit, tlmy iiru ready to uiidi-itaki' l>y siu-li nf tlu'ir servants
Hiid DtliiT persons wlm are (pialitied to carry tlieir intentions into
execution.
"That your Memorialists ifi|iiest Your Kxcellency will he pKmsed to
represent to Mis Majesty's Ministers tlio value and importance of these
discoveries, ami the jiropriety of grtnting to tho Company an exclusive
rii^lit to the |)aasaye they may discover from tlie north side of Lake Su-
perior to the llivor Ouinipique ; and also of the trade to the North-
West either by that passage or hy the jiresent conuiumication of the
(Irand Portage for ten years only, as a reward for their N«"'vices and in
consideration of their making these extensive and valua e discoveries
at their own expense
" V'our Memorialists would not prosume to ask for this exclusive right
of trade t(j tho North- West, if it C()uld prove injurious to individuals, or
hurtful to this Province in general ; hut, on the contrary, they are the
only persons who have any interest or connection in that country ; con-
secpiently, no one can ho injured hy it, while it will give them the
opportunity of making tho discoveries they jiropose, and pursuing the
most proper measures, suggested hy long experience, to sujiply the
natives abundantly with every necessary they require, hy which only,
and a well regulated system in that long chain of connections, the
North-West business is capable of being extended.
" Your Memorialists therefore re^piest, that until His Majesty's
pleasure is knciwn, that Your Excellency will he pleasetl to susjtend the
granting of passes for the Grand Portage, or tho passage thay are
attempting to discover from tho north side of Liako Superior to the
River ()uinipi(|ue, should they ho applied for, and that you will bo
pleased t(» signify the same to the officer commanding at Michilimakinac,
to the end, that no person may have cause to complain, under a jirotence
of having property in tho country, if tho Company should obtain for the
considerations now laid before Y'^our Excellency, an exclusive right to
the trade from Lake Superior to the North-West.
" Y^iur Memorialists pray Your Excellency will tjiko tho merit of
'* their memorial into your con.sidoration, and that you will be pleased to
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IIISTOIIV <>l llii; \n|tri|-\Vi:sT,
"t'ooiiiiiiutiiil to His Miijfsty'M MiiiistiTs to uiiiiit to Jin- N'nith-W'L'Nt
('<>iii|iiiiiy (of wliicli yoiii' MtiiioiiiilistH iiic din rtotH), n\\ rxtliisivc
privili't^'i- of traili' ftoin {.nkv Sii|a'i'ior to tluit country, for ti-ii yt'iirs
" only, liH II ii'wurd for tliHcovcring ii now piiMHiij^i- to tin- Uivor* Miiiii|ii(|iu',
" .111(1 tlitivliy otrfctiiiilly Hecmiiij;,' to tliis I'rovinco tlio fur traiK- to llu'
" Noitli-W'i'st. And ill coiiHidorntioii (ilso of fxpiorlTi^^ at tliiir own ex-
" pt'iiHt'. hftwi'i'ii tiif latitiidi's "lo and <»."», all lliat Irait <»f country wist of
" lludHon's Hay. to tlic North I'liclHc < ici-aii, and toiiiinunitating to
" (lovt'niiiH'iit HiR'h Hurvi'ys and otluT infoiiiiatioii roNpfctiiig that
" country, as it iiiay la' in tlii-ir power to olitaiii.
" .\nd your MeiiioiiuliHtH, as in duty liound. will over pray, etc., etc."
MoNTKKAl-, 4th October. 17H4
ItKN.i. A Jos. Fkoiiisiikk,
l>iirrhifi< of I III' ymih- ll'tnl < !iiniiiini II.
Ill a It'ttt'i' iU'C()iii[)iiiiyiiio' this Memorial, Mi'ssrs. Krohislici-
^nvc sonic particulars of their tradiiio- ojicnitioiis, prior to the
roriiiatioM of the Xorth-West (.'onipaiiy, which are iiiterestiii;;.
They say: — "The Hrst adventurer went fi'oni Michiliniakinac,
in the 3'car 17()5. The ln<lians of Lake La Phiye, liavinjLT then
been loni; destitute of o< mm Is, stopped and plundeiefl his caiKa-s,
and would not suffer him to proceed farther. He attempted
it auain the foUowino- \-ear, and met m itii the .same had for-
tune. Another attcmiit was made in the \'ear 17(i7 : tliev left
jjoods at Lake Pluye, to he traded with the natives, who per-
mitted them to proci'cd witii the reiiiJiinder, and the canoes
penetrated I leyond Lake ()tiinipit|ue. From this period, the
trade of that country wns attempted hy other adventurers,
witii various success, and we were anion*; the number, in the
year 17()9, when we formed a connection with Messrs. Todd
& McClill, of Montreal, lor the jiurpose of carryino- on the
business, but tlie Indians of Lake La Pluye, still uni;'overnable
and I'apacious, plundere<l our canoes, and would not suffer any
part of our ^oods to be sent farther. Before we could be ac-
(juainted with this misfortune, our ooods for the year follow-
"0
Tin: VVU COM PAN IPX
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iiiu \vcr«' at tln' (iI'hihI l'orta;;r, ami Wf wi-if tlitn tm. lar
i.|ijfa;;t'il to lii'sitatf I'nr a nioiiM'iit. A mitoihI attviiipt was
iiiadt', ill wliicli Wf wtTf iiinrt" siiccfssrul. ( )ui' caiHX's rraclifil
Ijiki- l)(»url)nii, uikI tliciicft'orwarfl wr wtTc <lrtt'niiiin''l t>*
|M'r.scvt'rt'. Taught, liowcsfr, that scjiaiatf inti'iTsts wi-if tin-
lifiiir of that trailc, wt- lost iwt tiiin' to t"onn, with tliosc i;;ciitlt'-
iiicii and Noiin- others, a coniitaiiy, and haviii;^' iiicn ol' ('X|H'ri('n<'t>
and aliilitit's to conduct it in the interior conntry, the Indians
were soon alamdantly siijijilicd, ami, hcine- at the sann- tiiin-
Well treated, new |)ostN were discoNficd as early as tlu' year
1774, which, to the French, weic totalK' unknown: and. had
We not l»een iiiteri'ti])ted hy new adventurers, the jiuhlic HI a
t'ew years would have l»eeii well acquainted with the \ahie
and extent of that coinitrv. ol' which, e\en at this time, our
kiiowlcd^'e is very iinpei't'ect. These ad\enturers, consultiii;:'
their own iutercHt onl}', without the least rej^rard to the man-
ant. nieiit ol' the natives, and the ecucrnl welfare of the trade,
soon occiiHioned .such disoi'der that those who had the most
siihstantial proHjJccts lost no tinu- to witlidraw their iirojierty.
since wliieh, this laisiness, thoueh not altoe-ether iie^^lected,
lias heeii carried on undei- i'l'i^'ii't disadvautau'es, occasioned l>v
a varietv of interests, sonietiuics pai'tiallv, and at other times
totally unconnected with each other: insoniucli that, at the
latter end of tile year I7M*2, those who had persex ered were
no more than twelvi' in numher. ami heine- convinced, hx" lon<r
experience, of tlie advantae;es tliat would arise fi-oni a nenccal
connection, not only calculated to secure and promote their
mutual interests, but also to ^uard a^'ainst any encroachments
of the United States on the line of Ixnimlarv, as ceded to
them l)y treaty, from Lake Superior to Lake »hi Hois, they
•iitert
ed upon and concluded articles ot af^reenieiit tinder tlu
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HISTOHV OF THE N'ORTH-WEST.
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title uf the North -West Company, (A' wliich we were named
directors, dividing' it into sixteen shares, of wliich each pro-
priet'.^r holds a certain numl)er, proportionate t(j tlie interest
he then had in the country."
The Messrs. Fnjbisher then ])oint out in their letter that,
ha\in<; e\ery reason to expect from the line to be ilrawn, as
explained in the late treaty of peace, that the United States
M'ouhl become possessed of tlie Grand Portage at the north-
Mest extremity of Lake Superior, which, unless another pass-
age was discovered, would result in the loss to Canada of the
North-West fur trade, as the Grand Porta^^e was the key to
that part of ^he country, and, that urj^a'd by these reasons,
their companj' had sent a party to discover, if possible, an-
other route.
In a subsecjuent part of the letter, the following interestinj>-
particulars were ^iven, relating to the manner of conveying-
goodv from Montreal to the Xorth-West: — "The inland navi-
gation from Alontreal, by which the North-West business is
carried on, is perhaps the njost extensive of any in the known
world, but it is only practicable for canoes, on account of tlie
great num1)er of carryin^-jjlaces. To give Your Excellency
some iilea of which, there are upwards of ninety from Mon-
treal to Lake du Bois only, and many of them very long ones.
Two sets of men are employed in this business, making to-
gether upwards of 500, one-half of which are occupied in
the transport of gooils from Montreal to the Grand Portage,
in canoes of about four tons l)urden, navigated by eight to
ten men, and the other half are employed to take such goods
tV)rward to every post in the interior country, to the extent of
1,000 to 2,000 miles and upwards, from Lake Superior, in
canoes of about one ton and a half burden, made expressly
THE Fl'K COMPANIES.
lOS
tor tlif inlaiKl sorvicc, aiul imvipitcd l)y four to five men
only, aceonlin^ to the places of tlieir tlestination. The lar<;e
canoeH from Montreal always set oft" early in May, an<l as the
provisions they take with them are eonsume<l by the time
they reach Michilimakinac, they are necessitated to call there,
merely to take in a i additional supply, not only for them-
selves but also for the use of the canoes intended for the in-
terior ccnintry, and the consumption of their servants at the
(irand Porta^a-, but as these canoes are not capable of carry-
in;;,' the whole of such provisions, it thence becomes necessary
to have a vessel, or boats, upon Lake Superior for that trans-
port only, and the utmost dispatch is retjuired, tluit every-
thint; may be ready in point of time to .send oft' their supplies
foi- the interior country, for which pur[)ose the i;oods, pro-
visions, and everythini^ else retpiired for the outfits of the
year, nui.st be at the Grand Portai^e early in July ; for the
carryin^f-place beini; at least ten miles in length, fifteen days
are connnonly .spent in this service, which is })erformed by the
canoe men, who usually leave the west end from the loth
July to the 1st August, according- to the distances of the
l)laces they are intended for. Their general loading is two-
thirds goods, and one-third provisions, which, not being .suf-
ficient for their subsistence mitil they reach winter (|uarters,
they nmst, and always do, <lepend on the natives they occas-
ionally meet on the road for an additional .supply; avd when
this fails, which is sometimes the ca.se, they are expost'd to
every misery that it is possible to survive, and e(|ually so in
ivturning from the interior country, as in the spring provis-
ions are more .scanty. In winter-cjuarters, however, they are
at ea.se, and connnonly in plenty, which only can reconcile
them to that manner of life, and ntake them forget their suf-
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HISTORY OF THE XOHTH-WEST.
ill
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oi'inji's in their annual voyage to and from the CJrand I*orta<^t'."
The vahio of the North-West Conipanyn trade in 1784 is
shown in the followinj; words : " The propei'ty the Company
have already' in that country, exclusive of their aouses and
stoi'es, and the different posts, as appears by the settlement of
their accounts tiiis present year, amounts to the sum of £25,-
308, 3s. Od. currency : and their outfits for the next sprinj;,
which will be sent from Montreal as soon as the navigation is
open, will not fall much short of that sum, so that the Com-
pany will have an interest at the (irand Portaj^e, in July next,
of alxnit £50,000 orij^inal cost in furs, to be sent to Montreal
by the return of their canoes, and in o;oods for the interior
country, from which Your Excellenc}' n»ay jud^e of what may
be expected fi-om that trade, when in our power, by an exclu-
sive rij^ht for ten years, to explore the country and extend it. "
Mr. Peter Pond, the foUowiup" year, addressed another mem-
orial to Lieut.-Uovernor Hamilton, at Quebec, on behalf of the
North-We.st Company, recapitulatini; in a measure and sujv
portinj^ the ai-<>;uments of the Frobi.shers, ad<lin^ that botji
Russia and the United States were making preparations to
seciu'e the fur trade on the north-west coast of North Amer-
ica. In the same year, Benj. Frobisher suggests that a carry-
inj^-place should be established at Toronto, as the settlers from
that vicinity, in the course of a few years, he stated, wouM be
in a situation to supply the provisions wante<l by the tra<lers
for the northern eountries. Numerous other su<;j;'estions were
also made to the Government about this time, by members of
the North- West Company, with the object of preserving; the
fur trade to Canada, and preventing' it from fallin^^ into the
hands of the American.s.
One point raised by the North-West Company was the iji-
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THE FUK COMPANIES.
105
MifHcieiicy of the means (>f transport for their ^ocxls on the
lakes l)y the Kin{.('s ships, private vessels not hein^ suttere<l to
iiavijj;ate the inland waters, and in connection with this siil)ject,
Cu'Ueral Haldiniand suhniitted the followinj^ reconnnendation
to the Riifht Honorable Lord .Sv<lnev' :
" The navijj^ation of these lakes by the Kino-'.s vessels only, is
an object so nearly connected with the i-ntire presi'rvation of
the fur trade, that I have withsto(jd various applications for
liuildint;' and navit^atin*;' private vessels and boats upon the
lakes: the rivers and outlets from them to the American States
are so numerous that no precautions wliich could l)e taken, in
tliat case, would be effectual in preventing a ;jreat part of the
furs from ^oin^ directly into the American States, and there
is but little doubt that traders will carrv their commo<lities to
the best market, whatever maybe the c(mse(|Uences : indeed
several instances have already occurred since the peace, of
their smuo;nlin^' furs even from Montreal over Lake Champlain
into the States, notwithstandiui;- the vin;ilju)ce of the civil and
military othcers. What then wcjuld be the case u})on the re-
mote lakes may easily be conceived. 1 would, therefore, re-
commend by all means that a sufficient nund)er of Kinn's
vessels be kept upon the lakes, and all other craft, whatever,
prohibited, not only for the foret^oinj;- reasons, but in all events
to preserve a superiority \ipon the waters in that country."
The North- We.st Company, therefore, not only failed in ob-
tainin<f permission to navij;-ate their own vessels on the lakes,
lint were also unsuccessful in securing the exclusive privileges
they sought.
In 1789, Mr. Isaac Ogden, in a letter written from (^)uebec to
Mr. David Ogden, in London, when giving some account of the
coimnerce in the North-West, states as follows : " From the
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HIsntHY OF TFIE N()I{TH-WEST.
cikI of the P()i'tii<^(', at the licad of Lake Siipcrioi', all the lak'.'s
and waters, as hij;h up as lat. ocS , and loni;. 124°, set first to
the north-west and north, and then take a south-easteHy
and south course, and empty into York Factory (Hudson's
Bay). These lakes and rivers are almost ininimerable. Some
of them are very lar^e, such as the Lake Winnipe<;-, Lake of
the \V(Xxls, and others. The mouth of York River lays in loiiu-.
94*^ west, and lat. 57 . It is an extensive, large river, setting-
nearly west, and is supplied by the above lakes and rivers,
whieli fall into it from the north and south. The Hudson's
Bay Company have posts several luui(h"ed miles west from
them, but none to the northward."
Thus showino- that the Hudson's Ba}* Company were then
extendin<;' their trading- opi-rations far into the interior. Mr.
Hearne, as we liave already sliown, had di.scovered and explor-
eil the Coppermine River, and afterwards, in 1770, estal)lished
the post at Cmnberland House. From that time the exten.sion
of the Hudson's Bay Company's trade in the interior seems to
have het'u rapid, and their opposition to the North-\Vest Com-
pany stront;. Durino- this period of rivalry between the two
powerful associations, the officers of the respective companies
were not luifriendl}' to each other, althou<;'h there was keen
competition between them in the wa}' of trade, bat socially
they fre(|uently met each other in the most hos])itable manneiv
While the North-West Company were memorializin*^' the
Government in rej^ard to proposed explorations into the inter-
ior, and offering their services for that object, the Hudson's
Bay Con\pany were not inactive in the same direction. Early
in 1790, we find it stated that I\!r. \Vegg, the Governor of the
Company, intimated to the Government that the directors had
unani:nously determined to send their sloop of about 90 tons
THE Fl'K COMIUXIIX
107
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(it their own cxponsc, if !i proper person were sent in hei', to
rvjiniine if any outlet couM he I'onn*! from Huilson's Hay to
racilitiite the connnunication with the west coast. They also
wished that two pro])er persons nii^^ht he sent hy (Jovernnient
to travel inland to ascertain tlie shortest connnunication l)y
the lakes and rivers, and oti'erod to defray any reasonable ex-
pense of the nndi'rtakinji'.
Thus the two p'eat fur companies were at this time in tlie
Villi of exploration in the Xorth-West, and to them the o])en-
ine' up of that vast ree-ion is chiefly due.
Ill 1 7{)H, differences ajiain occurreil amon^- the partners of
the Xorth-West Company, which resulted in a numher of
tlieiii seceiline- and forming- themselves into the X.V. C'om-
jiaiiy. The eti'ect of this was additional competition in the
fur trade for sevei-al vear.s. Jii 17!»!), a stroni; contest was
eiitereij into hy those rival companies for possession of land at
Sault Sainte-Marie, aiul, from the papers relating thereto, it
would aj)pear that the Xorth-West Company were the first to
construct a canal at tliat point. The followin<; abstract is
taken from a memorial presented hy them in 1802 on the sub-
ject : — " That, contemplating^ the advantages of a free and un-
obstructed pas.saf^e Vietween the Lakes Huron and Superior,
your memorialists, in the year 17!)7, caused a proper sui'Vey to
he made on the British side of the Falls of St. Maiy : the
sixth part of the expense of which, amountin<f to about forty-
ti\(' ixmiuls, was defraved h\- the house of Messrs. Forsyth,
Hicliardson k Co. That in couse<iuence of the report made ijf
the said survey, your memorialists have, since that period,
actually cut a road forty-five feet wide acro.ss the cariyino--
place, and opened a canal upwards of three thousand feet in
len(>th, with a lock which raises the water nine feet, and have
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HISTOKV OF THK NOHTll-WKST.
also erected thereon a saw mill, Htorehonses and other neces-
sary biiiMinj^s for faeihtatin^' the navi;;ation of said canal."
Messrs. Fhyn, Inj^lis tS: Co., the London agents of the XY
Company, oi)[)osed the applicjiticjn of the North-West Com-
pany for a ^'rant of land at the Sanlt, and the Duke of Port-
land, writin^^ on the I8th March, IHOO, to Lieut.-( General Hini-
ter, agreed with them. He says : — " I am stron<;ly inclined in
he of opinion that it must he very much for the benefit of the
fur trade, that about foui- or five lea^aies, oi-, perhaps, the
whole strait in (piestion, should be forever retaineil in the
hands of the Crown."
With the formation (jf the XY Com])any, the competition
in the fur trade became very bitter, and matters between the
contendintj parties be^an te wear a formidaV>le appearance
Hostilities broke out between the aj^'ents of the respective
coinpanies : alliances wi're formed with the Indians, and the
whole trade was carried on in a reckless and extrava<<;ant
maimer.
In 17!Ki, the Hudson's Bay Company's servants made their
appearance at Red River, an expedition e({uipped at Alban}',
on James Bay, bein^- conducte<l there l)y Mr. Donald McKay,
who, on his arrival, built a ])ost alonj^'side of those of the
North-West and XY Companies. Aboiit this time, accordin<i
to Sir Alexander McKen/.ie, the Indian tribes in the North-
West were divided about as follcnvs: At Nepowe and Soutli
Branch, thirty tents of Bristineaux, or 90 warriors, and sixty
tents of Stone Indians, 200 warriors, whose hunting-grounds
extended up to the Eaj^le Hills; at Forts (Jeor^e and Aj^ustus.
80 tents, and, on either side of the river, 200 tents C}'ees. In
the same part of the country were 140 tents of Stone Indians,
not quite one half inhabitinj^' the west woody section, and
THK KCK COM PAN IKS.
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tli.ir wliok' iminl)L'r l«'iii;j not less than 4o(). Tin' Surcct's, on
tlir north hraneh, 'io ti-nts, and oj»j)()sitc to thcsf, on the cast-
\vai<l. ni'ar the head wattTN of the south branch, wri'c the
rii;j,Mis. nnnibi'rin^' IVoni 1.200 to l,o()0 men. Next were thf
llloud Indians, to the niindu'i- of oO tents, oi- 200 mm ; and
the lUac'kfet't, nundu'rin^^ about MOO. Tlicn, the l^)in- Bellied
Indians had about (iOO warriors, but the ( 'rees, it is stated,
althou<i'h theii' iMind)ers are not ^"iven, were the most inimei'-
(piis tribe of In<lians in the North-West, ami oe('U])ied a wider
ran;^*' of huntin<;'-<irounds than any othei- of the ab()ri;j,inal
nations. With these lar^«' lutdies of Indians, the three fur
companies carried on an extensive trade, and in the pro.siru-
tion of it the rivalry bijcame .so bitter that outra^^es on each
ntlu-r. and bloodshed, ensued. As an instance of this, in the
winter of lJSOl-2, Mi'. John Mcl)f)nalil, who manaocd the
ati'airs (jf the North-West Company in Athabasca, had in his
ciiiploy a clerk named Kin<i', and in the .service of Mr. Hoche-
lilanc, the a<;ent of the XY Com})any, in the same distj'ict, was
a man named Laniotte. Durinjij the cour.se of the winti'r, tw<j
Indians arrived as deputies from a band with which both
companies had had transactions, to inform the traders tliat
tluy ha<l furs read}' at an encampment within four oi- five
days" niai'ch. Kin^ and Laniotte, on learning" this, .set out im-
mediately to secure the furs due their respective companies,
and arrived at the In<lian camj) about the .same time. Kin;;-,
linwrver, havinji; the stron^vr force, 8ucceede(l in octtiii;;- [los-
session of all the fur,s except one bale, which fell to Laniotte.
riie former, not satisfied with his success, resolved to take the
one bundle which Laniotte had, and went for that purpo.se
witli an armed force to his tent. Laniotte warned Kinj; not
tu toucli the bundle (jf furs, and, when he persisted, shot him
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HISTOUY or TIIK \<tl{IH-\VKST.
i:
• Iciul. It w.is (iiily tli<' iiitrit'ci't'iict" (if tlif Indians tlmt prc-
vt'iitc*! Liiniottf IVoiii Ix'in^ killed on tUv H])(»t hy Kin;i;'s incn,
juul. nltliou^li lu' was al'tcrwards anvHU'd, he waH ncvt-i- ti'it'(|,
lait was kept in prison until tli«' coalition of tin- two com-
panies took place, when he ive^aiiied hi.s liberty.
This onti'ap'ous proceetjinn- u-ave rise to the jiassinj;' of an
Act in 180.S, 4.S (Jeo. 111., Cap. i:W, commonly called tin-
" Canada Jurisdiction Act." The professed object of this act
was to I'eniedy a <lefect of the law, arising; from the cii'cum-
staiice that some pai'ts of British America were not within the
limits of any British Colony, so that ott'eiices committed there
could not be tried l)y any jui'isdictiou whatever. In order to
remedy this evil, the courts of law in Canada wen- allowed to
take co^'nizance of any ofi'ences which mi<;'ht be connnitteij
within certain districts, termed in the act, the "Indian Terri-
tories." The act was very va^i'.e in meanino- as to the par-
ticular territories to which it was meant to apply, ])ut it
showed that public attention was bein^* attracted to the dis-
turbances takinjL"" place between the fur companies.
Tile tir.st trial under the act in Montreal was, when one
John Mowat, in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company,
was convicted of manslau<;hter for shooting Eaneas MacDon-
nel, a clerk of the Xorth-West Company, in self-defence, but
the circumstances attendine- tliis trial showed very clearh
that the North-We.st Com))anv, in tliose davK, had too n\ucli
influence in Cana<la over bench, l)ar and public opinion, foi'
any opponent of it to obtain a fair trial.
In 1805, a coalition of the Xorth-West and XY Companies
took place, and the wiiole concern was divided into 100 shares,
of which a larjje proportion was held in London and Montreal
by mercantile houses which had contributed capital, the ba!-
THK IMU (O.MI'AXIKS.
Ill
iiiKM' Itcinn; licit! l)y tlif wintt'rinj; pai'tnci-s. some nl" w hom |)os-
scssfil (tiif, Mini soiiH' two simrt's. A ^ciu'I'mI iiict'tiii^' of tlu'
<'()iii|iiuiy was lu'M every siiimiier, iit the ivii»le/\((us at Kort
William, on l^ake Superioi-, wiiere all matters were decideil l)y
ii majority of votes, eacli share <;'i\iiie' (iiit> vote, ami the
aliseiitees votiiie' hy proxy. At the eencral meetiiie', the
i)|iei'ations to he carried on the suceeedin;;,' year were arranj^ed,
:iiid the stations to be a.ssioiied ♦(> each imli\ idual determineil.
At the .same time the accounts oi' the year were .settled, each
pfirtnei' l)rinj;ine- in a statement of the transactions of the
department he had in ciiai'i^'e.
When a wintering- partner iia<l servetl a nmnher of years he
was at liberty to retire from the concern, and, without doin^'
Miiv further dutv, to continue to hold an interest in the cai)ital
of the Coiunanv, ami Jilso, for si'vcn vears, to Wraw oiu» half
the profits of the share he had held. U))on the retirin>i' of a
wiiiterin*;' partner, the vacancy was tilled l)y the election of
another in his place, each candidate bein^ re(|uired to be of
<!'( )( )l
1 character, and to liave st'i'ved the Company a certain
nuiiiher of years, his ability as a trailer and manai^er of a post
ii(.'Mi>r we
11
COl
i.sidei'ed. In this wav the clerks of theCom-
paiiy, in the hope of promotion, were excited to an activity
arid zeal hardly inferior to the pai'tnei's them.selves. Nothinu-,
cfitainly, couhl be devised moi'e admirably calculated than
this svstem to infuse activity into everv tlepartment of so
• xtensive a concern, and to direct that activity in the most
t'tft'ctual manner, an<l in complete unity of pui'pose towards
the connnon interest.
The animal meeting- of the Conijiany at Fort William was
an event of ^reat importance to the winterint; partners, who,
like chieftains of the olden time, repaired with a I'etinue of
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HISTOUV (»K Till-; NOinil-WKST.
McrvantM to tlif jdiR-c ol" ;^iitli('i'iiiy;. 'I'lic Icailiii;;' jtartiitTs IVoiii
Montreal ti-avdlcil tt) Fort William in siiinptiiouH .state, tlieii-
lar^ff canoes, l'rei;jlite»l with every conNenience and luxury,
ami manned l»v ('anadian \ <)\a<^eui'.s, who wei-e |teculiarl\-
Htted to<)\('reome the dittieulties of such a tri)», and make it
plea.sant. Cooks, hakers, and othei" ser\ants accompanied
the.se animal ti'ips, and the supplies cari'ied with them in-
clu<led ilelicacies ol" eveiy kind, and choice wines I'or the
l)an<|Uets which attended the ;;reat convention.
In a lare;e wooden huiidine- at Kort William was the ^n'eat
coinicil hall of the Company, ami near it the lian(|uetinn
chamber. 'I'he house and \icinitv swarme(l with traders, vov-
ap'Urs, Imlians, half-l)reeds, etc., who reu,sted sumptuously and
drank <leeply duriii}^ the time the comicil was ix'inu; held.
The delilti'rations ol" tlu' jtartnei-s were, however, conducted
with much di;;nity, and the business affairs ol' the Company
well considered and eai'ei'ully adjusted. P>ut when l)usiness
was over and the feastinj^' he^an, the Hcene ol* I'cvcdry was be-
yond descri})tion. They were a hard-livine-, liard-(lrinkin<,' set
of men, those (jld Xoi-'- Westers ; keen to take atlvantaec
where a fur trade was in (|uestion, they were ever ready t<i
extend the hand of friendship and hospitality to their quests.
The amuial meeting of the council at Fort William was, to the
wintering' partners, a ^rand holiday season, to which they al-
ways looked forward, as tlu' mariner, after a long voya^'e, an-
ticipates his home-welcome, and, while the affairs of the C<aii-
])any were strictly attended to at the council l)oard, the
balance of the time was spent in revelry and feasting'. 'J'heir
retainers, in the shape of voyageurs, half-breeds, Imnters ami
traders, were not slow in following the example of their
superiors, and the scene, therefore, around the council hall
"
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TIIK iri{ ((IMI'AMKS.
i:{
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wjiH HoinctiiiM-s uiif i)F |iaii<lt>iiii)tiiiiiii. Tln' ••oiiiicil nt mi cihI,
fiicli wiiitt'riii;; piii'tncr took liis way, ii<T(iiii|iaiiit'"l l>y liis
|M'()|»1»'," to lii.s t'ar-oH' post, with full iiisti-uctions how to
|ii(tc»M'(l thirinj; the m-xt twclvf months ; atxi thf h-ailcrs or
M;,ft'iitH livinj^^ in Montreal finl»arkt'<| in tht-ii- canoes for their
lioiiif on the St. Lawrci
let', wliere.
tl
1»'V ll\f(| Ul lol'
>lh
an<
lios|iital>l<' style, surrouiKJed hy all the comrorts ami luxuries
ol' tile <lay, while their wintei-in;j partners rou;;he(l it in the
III r-ott' north.
While the Xorth-West Company wei-e pushing; their way
jiMil exten«lin;4" their operations in the wilds of Canada, east of
the Kockies, the Americans south of the boundary line wen-
not idle, and the Mackinaw ('omj)any, American Vnv Com-
pany and Sotith-We.st Company followed each other in ;(uick
succession, havin;^ for their object the extension of the fur
trade alon^' the north-west coast, and in some of these entei'-
pi'ises, it is said, a inimher of the partners of the North-West
Company were interested.
Sir Alexander McKen/ie had rettirne(l from his four years'
joui'uey to the north, durini;' which he discovei-ecl jind ex{)lor-
I'd the trivat river which Itears his name, an<l on his i-eturn he
propo.sed in 1802 (before the coalition of the North- West and
.W Companies), the formation of a company to cai'ry on the
t of
coas
fishery and fur trade in the interior, and on the west
America. In Article '5 ol" Ii!s j)ropos!tiou the foUowin;;' words
"To obtain from the Hudson'.s Bav Comijaiiv, if it
appear
has le^'al power to f»rant or ivfu.se it, a ' lio'iirr of fninsif,
irrevocable and unlimited : for all mxjds, w
('ares and merchan
disc, the j^rowth, pnxhice and manufacture of (Jreat Britain
and of America, in and outwards throujrh all the seas, bays,
l>orts. rivers, lake.s and territories within the limits of its
,11
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HIsTnKV »(|' IIIK \oHTII-WKsT.
cliitrJtT, .sliuwiii;;' tlint tlir IIu"Inoii's liny ( '«>iii|iiiiiy wt'iT
tlu'ii U|)liol<liii;r tlicii' |irivili;;('!s in tin- intfi'ior ns well iis in
tin* nmntiv Itordciini; <»n tin- Hiiv. Sir AlexniKlci' McKcn/.if >•
|)r<>j('ct. however, ciinie to niinj^iit.
Tile North- West Mn<l XN' ( 'onipunies havinj; joined hiunl.s,
a keen riviih'v, accompanied l»y <»ntra;;eM and bloodshed, hroke
out hetween the re-orpmi/ed eoneern and the liudson's iiay
('oni|»any. The t'nilowine; instances will ^ixc some idea ol' the
extent to which this lawless c(»nduct was .sometimes cari'ied.
In Ma\-, iSOd, William ('(trritfal, in the service ol" the Hudson's
I'lay Company, stati»tned at l>ad Lake, near Kort Alhany, had
his house hi'oken into, ami, while lie ami his men were sei/.ed
by II force ol' North-West Company sei'vants, the I'urs were
stolen. Corri^al's post was hroken into and robbed on .several
Mubset|Uent occasions, and about the same time, John ('rear,
u Hudson's Hay Company trader, and his men, occupying' ii
post cal lei 1 Hi^ l''all, near Lake Wimiipej;, were assaulted ami
some of them danj;er(JUsly wounded, while the place was bcin^
robbed of fin's and j^ood.s. In |M()8, Mi-. William Linklater,
al.Ho in the service of the Hudson's Hay ('ompany, tr.ided .some
valuabh' fui's from the Indians, and was brin^in;,^ them to tlu'
])ost at Rein Deei- Lake, when a Mr. Campbell, of the North-
West Company, and some men, stoppe<| and robbed him of
all that he had. Instances of the strife that existed between
the servants of the two companies wotild, of themselves, till a
larire book, but the few we have irlven will show the extreme
lengths to which tht^y went. Secluded for years from all
society, and far removed from the restraints of law, these men
were often {;uilty of acts of injustice, oppression, and even
cruelty aj;ain.st their weaker neij^libors, who had no means of
obtainini;' redress, and the one thou<;ht uppermost in their
TIIK H II < »iMI'ANIK.M.
115
iiiiinlM sct'iiM'il to Im' the MUfccMs nt' tlifir i'('sj)t'('ti\ •' ('niii|iaiii«'H
ill |ilt»CUI'ili;f tllf Illl'H^cst lllliullllt uf I'lirs, wlli'tlirr nlituiMi'il
Imiifstlv ill tnulf, t»r l»v vinlciici'.
Tin- Nnrtli- West ( 'uiii|»iiiiy s ofHcfi-s wt-rc t'xn't'iliiiy^ly lu'tive
tiiiil i'iit«'f|irisiii;r, cvt'ii innrt' mo tliaii tliosc (»r tlif Hmlson's
I'liiy ('oiii))iiiiy. It is fstiiiiat*''! tlnit nlioiit tliis tiiii*- tlu-y litul
over 2,()(K> t'lnployC'H, the ii\fiM;^t' \vii;,'»'s of i :u'li iiriii;; hImhiI
t-lo |i< r jiiiiMiiii. Milt tliis was jtaid cliirlly in uo,,.ls sn|»|tlii'i|
liy till' (• tiii|iaiiy at a lar;;;*' ]iioHt, iiistcatl ol" cash, wliicli rc-
• luci'ii til' total actual amount |iai<l out I'of \va;;»'s cacli yt'ar.
Ill tlicii' tlfaliiij^M with tlif Imlians, the North-West Coiii-
|iaiiy |iuj'sut'i| tilt' policy of ;^iviii;;' citMlit in ailvaiicc, a cUHtoin
wliicli |trf\ailci| also with their i'i\als, and which, at times,
was ailvanta^icoi's to the nati\cs. although it mostly acted to
their <lisa<lvautHf;;e. Tiie improvident character t)t' the Indian
caused him to he ol'tell ill want of the liecessaries of lil'e, when
lie had iiothiiie- to otter in e.\chaii;^e for them and on these
occasions the fur traders came to his rescue, very mucli,
liowexer, on tlie same line that the |)awnl)roker comes to the
aid of the needy, ami tlie Iiiilians were made to pay dearly for
their advance. The worst feature was that th»' North-West
Company fre(piently intimidated the Indians to ])i"«'Veut them
fidiii sellinn- to others, hut on tlu' whole, if it had not heeii for
the introduction of intoxicatine- liipior anioiie; the trihes, the
advent of the traders woiild have lieeii heneticial.
It was at one time su^j^^ested l»y some friends of humanity
ill Eii;,dand that an Act of Parliament sluadd he passed to re-
strain the sale of spirituous li(piors to the Indians in Mritish
America, and the jjroposal was communicatee! to the directors
of the Hudson's Hay Company, who expressed their concur-
rence in the proposition, as, in answer to (pieries on the suhject
};
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HISTORY OF TIIK N'OFITH-WKST.
sent out to their ofHcers in the North-West, tlie opinion was
expressed that trade would not sutt'er hy the nieasiuv. 'Vho
No. th-West Company, it seems, were not st> much in favor of
the proposition, and inHueiiee was hrou<;ht hy them to cause
th(! matter to he dropped.
Lord Selkirk, in his sketch of the Bi'itish fur tra(h\ was
particularly severe upon the North-West Company, and ar-
gued that the national interest of (Ji-eat Britain would not he
promoted by an adherence to their system of carryiui;' on l»usi-
ness. He contended that they were opposed to colonization,
hecause they considered it would injure the fin* trade. Furth-
er than that, he lu'ld that their oidv ohiect was to obtain a
^I'eat immediate return of furs, without any ivpird to its per-
manent continuance, and that a war of extermination was
hein<<' carried on aj^'ainst all the valuable fiu'-bearini;- animals.
Lord Selkirk, at the time, was art-iiint;' aj^ainst free trade in
the North-West, holdinj;' that it j^'ave rise to disturbances,
bloodshed, extermination of fur-bearini;' animals, and injustice
to the Indian tribes, and certainly there was truth in Ids
arii;innents. 'I'he North-We.st Company, however, had friends
who replied to his .strictmvs. Sir Alexander McKenzie, in
his al)le reply, accused the early traders who penetrateil into
the country imnuMliately after the contpicst of Canada, of
violence and excesses, and showed that the North-West Com-
pany was formed to repress those irrei;ularities and enormi-
ties, and although subse(|uently scenes of violence were to a
cei'tain deg-ree renewed, owino- to the opposition of the fur
companies to each other, as soon as a junction of the two pai'-
ties took place they innnediately ceased, and he contended
that until Lord Selkirk appeared u{)on the scene, tran(|uillity
and peace were universally established. Sir Alexander Mc-
'iWm
THK VVn COM PA NIKS.
117
Kciizio is not Imu-iu' out. liowevtT, in this statciin'nt hy laots.
as \vt! have .shown, a.s thi'iv was ni>)iv (-r le.ss distiu'liaiict' i'l
thf North-Wi'st until the anial^aniation of the Hudson's )\ny
ami Xorth-We.st C\)nipanieH took place.
With retjard to the proposal to resti'ain the liquor trathe of
the country hy lej;'islation. the frit-nds of the North-West
("oiiipany held that it would he extremely ditticult. if not ini-
jM)ssil)le, to enforce the provisions of an Act of Parliament
whiv'h mij;'ht l)e readily olnyed hy one class of persons
ami evaded hy another. They stated, too, that there were
certain Indians, oi- rather mixed population of Indians jin<l
Canadians on the plains, on whom the ti'aders were de[)endt'iit
for food, and with whose habits and cu.stoms it would he ilan-
;4('r()us suddenly to interfere. In other words, the North- West
Coiupany looked upon the restraint of the iicjuor tratiie as im-
practicable, and not desirable from a trade i)oint of view.
They claimed that they had endeavored to restrain the .sajc
and usi, of intoxicants without le^-islation, and had so far sue-
'.".eded that in two years time the (|uantity intro<luced into
the Xorth-We.st had been reduced from oO.OOO to 10,000
;^allons.
About the year INIO, the North-West Company, actin*i^
upon the .su^^'estion of Sii- Alexander McKenzie, pushed one
or two po.sts across the Rocky Mountains, into a part of the
lountry which he had previously exploii'd, but in this entcr-
],«rise they were at a threat disadvantaf^e, owin^' to the distanc*'
they had to carry their ^ood.s. They had no nood poi't on the
Pacific where they couM obtain their supplies by .sea, but they
il()u;j.(Mlly persevered in their attempt, until, alxait the year
iNlo, they were in complete occupation of tiie Columbia I'ivcr
fiixl its ehief tributary streams, lioldinj.^ their posts and carry-
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HISTORY (»F TIIK NORTH -WEST.
in^' on u trade in l^nik'*! States territory, in detianct' ol" tin-
proliihitoiy law of Congress wliieli was then in force,
An<l now, lia\inj; ivached this sta^e in the atfiiii's of tin
North-West (\)ni])any, it will he well to take a <;lance at those
<jf the Hudson's l>ay Company.
H-
\-
CHAPTER VIII.
THE Hudson's hav company.
In ))revious chapters we traced tlie (lifierent (li.scoveries iii
HiKlfsoii's Bav, and the conttictH between the Entjlish and
French for posseHsion of tlnit ^avat inhin<l sea. The i-esult, us
ahvady sliown, of the expeditiori inider Captain Zachariah
(iillani in 1()()8, was the *;rantin^- of the Hndson's Hay Coni-
jmnys charter on 2nd May, 1()7(), to Prince Rn})ert and his
associates. Prince Rupert was a ntost eai'nest and generous
patron of all proniisinfj^ adventures, and, having yiven his
countenance and assistance to the expedition of the Nuusac/i,
it was a natural conse(juence that he shouM connect himself
jtroiiiinently with the enterprise of the Hudson's P)ay Company
and interest himself in oijtaininjj; the charter from Kino-
Charles II.
The motive assigned for the royal gift was, " that the cor-
porators have at their own great cost and charges undertaken
an expedition for Hudson's Hav. for the discovery of a new
passage into the South Sea, and for finding some trade for furs,
minerals, and other considerable commodities, and by such,
their undei'taking, have already ma<le such discoveries as do
encourage them to proceed further in piu'suanct' of their said
design, by means whereof there may probably arise very great
advantage to us and our Kingdom."
The original grantees named in the charter were Prince
!. ,
120
HISTORV OF THE N'<»KTH-WEST.
Ilnpert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria atnl
Cumberland, kc, Chrintoplu'r Duke of Alberniarle, William
Earl of Craven, Henry Lord Arlington, Anthony Lord Ashley,
Sir John RohinHon and Sir Robert Vyner, Knights and
Harout.'ts, Sir IVter Colleton, Baronet : Sir Edward Hunger-
ford, Knight of the Bath : Sir Paul Neele, Knight : Sir John
(h'itiitli and Sir Philii) (^irteret, Knigiits : James Hayes, John
Kirk, F^raneis Millington, William Prettyman, John Fenn,
Ewjuires: and John Portnian, citizen and goldsmith of London.
The "Rights by Charter" were specified as follows: " W(»
have given granted and contlrme<l, 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 solo
trade and connnerce 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 eonunonly called Hud-
son'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 possesse<l by
the subjects of any other Christian Prince or state, with the
fishing of all sorts of fish, whales and sturgeons, an<l other
royal fishes, in the seas, bays, inlets and rivers within the
premises, and the iisix therein taken, together with the royalty
of the sea upon tiie coasts within the limits aforesaid : and all
mines royal as well discovered as not <liscovered, of gold, sil-
ver, 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 Lan<l :
and fiu'ther, we do by these presents, for us, our heirs ami
THE HI DSON's may cnMl'ANV. 121
.•siiecTssors. make, civato, ami eon.stitute the said governor and
cDiiipany tor tlie time beinj;, ami their .succeHHors, the true ami
ii''-')lute lords ami proprietors of the same territory, limits and
places aforesaid, and of all other, the premises, savini^; always
t!ie faith, allejjianee and sovei'ei^ii dominion due to us, our heirs
and suece.ssors for the same ; to have, hold, possess and eiijoy
tlic said territory, limits and places, and all an<l sinnular other
t'iie pivmises her(d)y j^-i'anted as aforesaid, with their and every
of theii' rights, mendjers, jurisdictions, pi'eroi^atives, royalties,
aid appurtenances whatsoever, to them the said ^fovenioi- an<l
fdiiipany. and their successors for ever, to be holden of us, oui-
hciisand successoi's as of our manor of East Greenwich, in oui'
C'liunty of Kent, in free and conniion soccaj^e, and not in
ea|iite, or by Knii;'ht's service; yielding- ami payin*;' yearly to
us. our heirs and successors, for the same, two elks, and two
l)lack beavers, whensoever and as often as we, our heirs, suc-
cessors, shall ha])pen to enter into the said countries, territories
and regions hereby oranted."'
Although the ori^'inal title to the territory ami tra<le in
(|Ui'sti()n was derived under the charj-er, the ri<;hts of the com-
]iaiiy have in various instances received the reco<;i)ition of the
Hritisli Leirislature as follows :
The Act 14 Geo. 8, Cap. Ki, entitled " An Act for making
iiKirt' ert'ectual provision for the (Jovernment of Quebec in
Ndrtli America," in de.scribint^' the boundaries of Canada, ex-
iiifsslv refers to theii" Ivini"- northward to the southern
lionndarv of the territories ("ranted to the Merchants adven-
turers of Enj^land trading into Hudson's Hay.
The Act 43 Geo. H, cap. 188, entitled "An Act for extending
thf jurisdiction of the courts of justict' in the Provinces of
Lo\v(;i' and Upper Canada, to the trial and punishment of per-
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IIISTOHV OF TMK N'OKTff-'.VKST.
sons ;;uilty ol" crinit's and otfcnccs within cci-tiiin pails oi'
\(»rth America, a<lj()inin^' to the said provinces."
This Act referred to ci'inies connnitted in the Indian TeiTJ-
tories, an<l, a donbt having- arisen wliether this provision
extended to the territoi'ies iiossessed 1)V the Hudson's Ha\'
Company, an Act was passed, 1st and 2n<l ( Jeo. 4, cap. (KJ.
entitled "An Act for reouhitini;- the fui- trade, and estahUshinn-
a commercial and civil jurisdiction within certain parts of
North America," in which it was declared and enacted that the
provisions of Act 4:^ (leo. 8, should be deemed and construed
to extend to and over, and to he in full force in and thi'oui;h,
all the territories thei-etofore granted to the Hudson's Hay
Company.
This Act distinctly reco^ni/ed the rights of the company to
exclusive trade within their own territories.
'riu' charter j^'ave the company the power to make, oi'dain
and constitute reasonable laws, constitutions, orders and
ordinances as to them seemed necessary — to put them in usi-,
and execute them, and at their pleasure to revoke and alter
them as occasion recpiired. It provided also for the imposing
of pains, penalties, and ])innshments upon all ott'enders, and
that " all lands, islands, territories, plantations, forts, fortifica-
tions, factories, or colonies, within the company's territories,
were to be under the power and connnand of the Governor
an<l company, their successors and assi^nis, and they wei-e
empowered to appoint an<l establish governors, and all other
officers to i''(>^<'i"ii them."
In pursuance of the authority thus given, the company in-
variably I'xercised all the powei's of government necessary for
the administration of justice in their territory, and for that
purpose appointed proper officers who acted judiciously in all
matters arising therein.
THE HIDSoN'S IIAV COMPANY.
\-2'.\
Scvrni! ActH of tlu' Hritish IjcoiHlaturo r«'C'()o;iii/,('il tlu' ^'t'li-
ctal rif^lits jiiid privileges cluiiiuMl an<l exerciHt'd hy the com-
iiiiny. Aiiion^' tliesc iimy Ix' iiu'iitiomMl an Act passcil in the
Nixtli year of the wU^u of (.^ueen Anne, c. :i7, entitled " An
Act f(»r tlie encouragement of the trade to America, " which
cxpresHly providcH that nothing- therein contained should
extend or be construed to take away or pi'ejudice any of the
estates, i'i|iiits or privile^jcs of or belon<;"inj; to the (Jovei'iior
jiiid Company of Adventurers trading- into Hudson's Hay.
The same proviso was also made in an Act pas,sed in 174."),
lis (Jeo. 2, cap. 1 17. for ^rantiny,' a rewai'd for the discoveiy of
ii north-west pas.sat;e throui;,h Hudson's Straits : and hy 7 an<l
iS Wni. 111., cap. 22, the proprietary plantations, such as
Ruperts Land, wen- regulate*! in such terms as expiv.ssly
involved a parliamentary recounition of all royal grants of
colonial dominion.
The validity of the Hudson's liay charter has been (pies-
tioiied on several occasions, but the opinion of some of the
iiifihest authorities in Enj^land and the I'^nited States has
been pronounced in its favor. The Hudson's Bay Conn)any
on the loth June, 1814, sou<iht an opinion respectinj^' the Red
River territory fi'om tlie learned counsel, Sanuiel Homilly, (J.
S. Holroyd, William Cruse, J. Scarlet, and John Hell, who I'e-
Itlit'd as follows : " We are of opinion that the <irant of the
soil contained in the charter is ucjod, and tliat it will include
all countries the waters of which How into Hudson's Hav :
that an individual, holdinj;' from the Hudson's Bay Company
a lease or ^rant, in fee simple, of any })ortion of their terri-
tory, will be entitled to all the ordinary ri^lits of landed pi-o-
perty in England ; that the j^rant of civil and criminal juris-
'liction is valid, and to be exercised by the (Jovernor and
l<5l
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HISTURV OK TIIK N( >|{TII-\VKST.
Council as .hi(l;;L'.s, who arc to proccc*! according- to the laws
of Ki)^laii(l : tiiat the coiiipany may ai>|)oiiit a Sheriff to
vxccilto judpiu'iits and do hi.s duty, as in Kiinhiiid : that all
]K'rHons will he subject to tlic jurisdiction of the Court, who
reside or are found within tlic tcrritoi'ics owv which it ex-
tends, and we do not think that the Act V.i (Jeo. 8, c. i:iH.
(connnonly called the Canachi .lurisdiction Act), j^ives jurisdic-
ti(»n witiun the tei'ritories of the Hudson's Ha\' Conii)anv —
the same hein<; within the jurisdiction of their own (Joveni-
oi's aii<l ('(Muicil."
Mr. (ireenhow, after recitin<,^ the Royal Charter of KiTO
acknowlcdp's " that fron» thence it will be seen tliat the Hud-
sons Hay Company possessed by its Charter almost sovereign
powers over the vast poi'tion of America drained by streams
enteriny,- Hudson's hJav"
Eai'l Grey, in a letter to Sir Jolni IVlly, (Jovernor of the
Company, datetl June (itii, 1850, concludes as follows: — " Loid
■Chvy. therefore, on behalf of Her Majesty's (Jovernment,
adopted the most etiectual means open to him foi" answerin^^
tlie re(|uii"ementH of the a<ldi\'ss, has ])een obli^eil, in the ab-
sence of any parties pre]»ired to contest the ri^lits claimed by
the company, to assume the opinion of the hiw officers of the
■Crown in their favor to be well founded." Daniel Webster
says : " I entertain no doubt that these companies have a
vested proprietary interest in tliese lands. Tlieir title to its
full extent is protected by treaty, and, although it is called a
possessory title, it has been rej^arded as beinj^f, if not an abso-
lute fee in the land, yet a fixed i-ight of possession, use and
occupation, as to prevent the soil from being alienated to
others. " John Van Buren declared : "That the occupation by
the Hudson's Bay Company was lawful, and their charter per-
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THK urnsoNs HAY comi-axv
12o
|)t'timl," and E<hvin M. Stanton states: " For tiot only was tlu'
possession of tlie Hndson's Hav Conipanv i-ecoinii/ed l>v its
(lo\ernnient, but also their absolute rij^'lit to ;^rant and convey
vast and unlimited portions of territory to otiua's."
Tlie {^rounds of complaint which furnished the lon^-con-
tinued and embittered opposition U) the company were:
• 1. That the charter was i;ranti'd by royal prei'o^ative
without ratification.
• 2. That it was illegal for the Crown to ^n-ant a monopoly
of ti-ade to a favcn'ecl company of subjects.
.'}. That the oblii.jations impo.sed by the profe.s.s(Ml objects
uf the company, to .search for a passa^v to tlie South Sea, and
also to exi)lore for mineral wealth, had been wholly neglected
liy the contpany, whicli steridy discountenanced and withstood
all such enteri)rises when prompted by others.
4. That a part at least of the territories claimed by the
company was really exempted from the ^a-ant made to it,
which reco|;nized a possible posses.sion by the subjects of some
other Christian Prince.' "
It was claimed that a portion of the re^ioji had been pat-
ented in 1598, by Henry IV. of France, to Sieur de la Koche,
ami that, on the ground of this claim, antedating Prince
Kuiiert's charter, the Chevalier de Troyes, in 1(J84, had
taken and destroyed the po.sts of the company on Hudson and
James Bays, on the plea that the territory belonged to his
.*?ovt'reign.
According to the report of the commissioners appointed in
Iti'ST to consider the rival claims of England and France to
Hudson's Bay, the following is the F'rench case as presented : —
They claimed "that in 1626 their King conveyed by charter
t > the Company of New France, the region now^ known as
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IIISTHUY or TMK N'Oinil-WKST.
('aiiiKla ami tlic \vli(tl»' rt'uioii »)t" Hu<l.s(»irH Hav. The coutitiA'
( Nortli-WoHt) waH alno coiiHniit'd to Kraiic*' hy tlit- tivatv ol'
St. ( Jcniiaiii-cii-Layt', 'iS yrars Ix-Fon' I'riiicc lluj^'i't's cliaitt'r.
Krom the tivaty of Utrecht in 17l'i, to the pcaoi' of Paris
in l7(i.S, thci'c was no <liMtiiu't houii«lai'y Ix'twcen the Fi-encti
in Canada and the territory claimed hy the Kn<;lish in the
Hay. In ITii.'i, in the cession of Canada hy Krance, there was
no western houndary assigned to Canada, although the Ki-encli
chiinied to tlie Pacific. Hv the eiehth artich' of the treaty of
Kyswick, in Hi!>7, the whole of Hud.son's Bay was recoifiiized
as helone-in};' to the Ci-own of Krance. Hy the treaty of
Utrecht, in I71'i, a portion of the shores of Hudson "s Hay was
ceded to Knelantl. Tlie French, by as,saultH in 1()H2 and l()H(i,
tlestroj'cd all tlic forts except Albany, and Iicld pos.session of
York Factory, which they nanieil Fort Hourbon, from 1()!>7 to
1714, and in l(i!)!) tiie French and)assador to Kn^dantl asserted
the claim of his ,so\'ereie-M to the whole <if the Hay on the
forth."
The En^'lish claimed : — "That the northern part of America,
wherein Hudson's Hay is comprised, was discoyered in the
yei'r 141)7, by Sebastian Cal)ot, by particular commi.ssion fi-om
Kin^- Henry \'II. In the year KJIO, Henry Hudson, His
Majesty's .subject, s.aile 1 into the Straits and Bay of Hudson.
took possession thereof, i;iyin^' names to several places therein,
by which they have been since called, and known in the maps
of those parts, as well foreit^n as Fni;-lish. In the yearl(il:2.
Thomas Button, an Englishman, sailed into the .said straits
and bay, took posse.ssion of several places, particularly of tlw
river of Port Nelson and territories thereunto belonging-, in
the name of his master, Kinj;- James the Fir.st, and called the
said river and port, wherein tht.*y then wintered, by the uiiwv
Tin: iMDsoN s n.w cu.mi'any.
127
of Fort Nt'lHoii, from tlif (•(iminiuiilcr of tlif shijt wherein
111' sailed, wliosf imiiH' was Nel^H(H. In tlie yvtxv Hi'.W. ('apt,
i.iike Fox. l>y coininaiKl of Kin^' Cliaries t)»t' First, nnule a
vuvaire to HikIhoh's Hav. aii<i. aiiioiitrHt otlier places within the
saiil hay, he entered the I'iver of Port Nelson, and tindinj^
tliei'e a cross which had heen erected l»y Sii' Thonias iJutton,
with an inHeri])tion defaced, he set np the said cross a;,"!'.in
with a new inscription, declaring; His Majesty's rinht and ))(ks-
HcHMion, and then named the adjacent C(mntiMes npon the said
rivei'. New North Wales, as it is called to this day in the maps
of America. In the vejir HKiT, another vovaui' was made to
the said hav, 1)\' one Zachei'v (Jillam, an Kni>lishinan, who
sailed into a river in the bottom of the l)ay, calling' it Hnjtei't
Kivcr. in honor of Prince Knpert, who was princii»ally con-
ciriit'd in that exjxMlition with other adventnrers, l)nilt a fort
tlit'ie, which he calle<l Charles Kort. in honoi' of his late Ma-
jesty, and takin^^ possession of the rivei- and lands thereahonts,
ciiteicfi into a trood correspondence and ti'a<le with the natives.
Ill the year l(l()!>, ('apt. Xewland entered Poi't Xel.son, and
ijeciared His Majesty's ri^ht thereto by settine' up His Ma-
jesty's Arms, as the ensio-n.s of his sovereignty. In the year
l(i7(). His Maiestx' was i)leased, bv his Royal Charter, to in-
(•or])(>rate the said adventnrers, i^i-antin;,^ them jtower to trade
t'xclusivelv to all others within the sai<l sti'aits and ba\', and
within all the lands and ten-itories, rivei's and islands, in and
ahuiit the said straits and bay. In the year KiT'i, Charles
Hayley was sent by the company as ^overnoi- of tiie Factories
within the said bay, with whom Monsienr Frontenac, then
Governor of Canada, kept a j.jood correspondence, witlujut
toiiiitlainin^ of any injury done by the company, or their
agents, in settling of coninierce, or buildinj^ of forts, in the
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HISTOKV ()K THK N'oUTM-WKsT.
I- *^
fir <•:
Wottoiii of tlif \)n.y. Ill HihO, ('ti|)t. Draprr, in oim^ of the
coiiipaiiVH shipH, ciittTtMl tlu' rivn of Port N«'Ihoii. In tin-
year l(!H2, tin- coiiiiiaiiy'H agents uihI I'actors hiiilt a tort, and
were .scttliii;;' a factory in I'ort Nelson, wlicii tliry were first
• listurhnl liy tliu Krcnch, tlu' ailvcnturci-s having cxprnilcil
near t!20().()()() for twenty years last |)ast, in IjuiMin^ forts an*!
factories, witliin the limits of their charter. His Maiestv's
rif^'iit to Hiulson's Hay and territoi"i«!s thereunto heloiit^iiiu
l)eiiif,j thus (leduct'd without any interruption or dispute until
the year 1(582."
The foregoin^^ claims of the French and En}.(lish to Hudson's
Hay are taken almost verhatim from the papers coniiecteil
with the transactions between Kn^dand and France relating' t<>
Hudson's Hay in IliMT. On that occasion, e»K!h side presented
its view of the ((Uestion, and the ciMiimissioners, the Karl of
►Sunderland, Earl of Middleton and Lord (Jodolphin on tliv
part of Kn<;iand, and Harillon ])'Amoncourt, the Manpiis d-
Hran<;eH and Sieur Francis Dusson ile Hourepaus on the part
of the French, a<.(ree<l that it .siiould not he lawful for the ser-
vants of either Kin^ to commit any act of hostility aj^aiiist oi'
invade the subjects of tiie other in America.
This treaty of peace between th *^wo ^governments did not
last lon^, as will be seen by reference t(j the conflicts whicii
took place between the Enj^lish and French in Hudson's Hay
In 11)97 and '08, the company presented petitions to the Lords
Commi.ssioners of Trade asking that the French mij^'ht not he
allowed to travel or trade beyond the midway betwixt Canada
and Albany Fort. But it was not until 1782 that the Frencii
flag waved for the last time over the forts in Hudson's Hay.
It will be observed that in the grounds of complaint urged
against the company, one was that they had wholly neglecteil
1
THK MIDSuN.s HAV cn.Ml'ANV,
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tu Ht'iiirli tor II Nortli-Wt'st piiNsuj;!' in acrofilaiicr witli tlif
|irovisi<»iiH of till- ("Imrtrr, hut the following,' list ol" cxiii'ilitiotiH
Httt'il out l)y tlit'iii will show that the coiiqilaiiit was nti-
t'(iUIl"l<'<|.
N'fHHcIs fitted out by the lluilsiai'M May ("otnpany on iJiH-
('o\cry of a North-Wcst j)aMHai.'"o:
17 /!f Alhdiiif, frio;at«'. — ('apt. (Jco. HcJ'lry, saiieil from Kny-
IjmkI, otii .lunt'. Si'wv rt'turncil.
Dinfio'vri/. — ('apt. i)a\i<l \'au;^iian, sailt'd from Kn;,flanil. .')tli
Jimr. Xcvci' rrturnt'd.
Prosperous. — ('a]it. flcnry Kclscy, sailed from York Fort,
.luiie l!>tli. Heturned lOtli .\\i^ust followiiji;.
Siiccess. — .lolin Hancock, .Mastt'i". .sailed from Prince of
Wales Foi't, .lune 2(ltli. Heturned 2nd Septemher.
/7J/. Prosprroufi. — ('apt. Henry Kelsey, sailed from York
Fort, June "2(itli. Returne»l 2nd September.
Siicrcss. — James Xapjiei', Master, sailed from York Fort,
June 2(ltli. Lost on SOtli .rune.
Wlialchonc. — J* »hn Scroe-ii-s, Master, sailed from (ii'avesend,
•Slst Mav. Wintered at Prince of Wales Fort. Sailecl fi-ont
tlience 21st .rune, 1722. Returned July 25th following;'.
/7-17: Chnri'hill. — .hunes Xapper, ^^lster, sailed fi'om Prince
nf Wales F'ort, July 7th. Xai)per die<I Htli Au<.(ust. and tlu^
Vessel returned on the iSth.
}Ins<ju(ish. — Robert Crow, Master, saile<l fi-om Piince of
Wales Fort, July 7th. Returni'd 22n<l Au<;ust.
The Charter, however, retained its vitality foi' fully two
centuries, and the only instance whei-e a confirmation of it
was asked was in !()})(). In 1847, there appeared f(^r the first
tiiite in print, a document which was found in the Rolls of
Chancery, and whicli proved to be this very same confirma-
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HISTOHV (IK TIIK XoHTH-WEST.
tion, hy Act of Parliaiiieiit, pa.s.se(l nearly two huiulied yeai's
before. The existence of thi.s document was not even .suspect-
ed l)y the British Government, and is the only instance on
reccjrd where a ratification was <;rant(!d. Parliament strictly
limited its confirmation to a period of seven years, and tht-
company refrained from seeking a renewal of it.
In I74n, when Mr. Arthur Dobbs, the promoter of thf
])obbs-(ialley expedition, and his associates, ])resented a ])eti-
tion to the English Govennne'iit for incorporation with certain
privileges, .somewhat similar to those enjoyed l>y the Hudson's
Bay Com))any, Messrs. 1). Ryder and W^m. Murray being
a))p()inted l)y the Committee of tlie Privy ('ouncil to consider
and report upon the said {)etition, made the following state- *
ment : — "As to the supposed forfeiture of the company's
chai'ter hy non-user or aliuser, the charge upon that head
is of several sorts, viz : — That they (the Hudson's Bay iUnu-
])any) liaxc not discovered, nor suf!iciently atten)pted to dis-
cover, the North-West passage into the South seas or West-
ern Ocean: That they have not extended their settlements
through the limits of their charter: That they have design -
e<lly confined their trade to a very narrow compass, and have,
for tliat purpose, abused the Indians, neglected their own forts,
ill-treated their own servants and encouraged the French.
But, on consideration of all the evidence laid before us by
many attidavits on both sides, we think these charges arc
either not sufficiently supported in point of fact, or in a grejit
mea.sure accounted for fiom the nature or circumstances of
tlie case."
The charter, it will be observe<l, constituted a very suimII
body of directoi'H, and the number required to form a (pioruin
was, therefore, small. It was, indeed, a corporation of tin'
THE HIDSONS l!AV ('( (MI'AN V.
i:il
closest kind, and j^UHnliMl its st'crcts cHivfully. Tlu- or^ani/.M-
tioii iu Loiulon provirled for tlu' adiuinisti-atioii of its local
husiiu'ss witliin its chartered territory, and for some vears the
« «
c(>in])any sent a su])erintendent to each of its posts. The ex-
|iaiisi()n of the business, however, soon I'esulted in an adniirahlv
iiianajfefl system. A local resident Governor was a|)|)ointed,
wlio jti'esided at a council which was heldannually. or oftener,
if necessary, for the purpose of directing; all the management
ilown to the minutest details foi' the caiTvinir on the affairs of
till- connianv throui>'hout its vast territory. 'I'his local (Jover-
iKir and council was, of coiuse, sul)ject to tlie Hoard of Direc-
tors in London, and, years afterwards, when the com-
pany procured its licence for "exclusive ti'ade " over the
wiiole North-West, extending- to the Pacific Ocean, the task
of administrating- its affairs became one of oivat responsi-
bility.
When Canada was ceded by the French in 17(18, the Kn^-
lisli. following- in the line of their predeces.sors, endeavorecl to
pusii the fur tra<le to the far west, irrespective of any claims
on tlie part of the Hudson's Bay Com})any. The continued,
interest in the finding of a new passage into the South Sea,
which prevailed in Eui^land, had also induced several ))arties
to undertake exp<'ditions to Hudson's Hay, and these coni-
))lained of lack of sympathy, and even opposition, on the part
of the company's officers toward their enterprises, which, in
1749, resulted in a petition to the Lords-in-Council against
the monopoly and policy of the company.
This action on the part of their opponerts, and the sulw*'-
i|uent competition of the fur traders in the in*'<^rior, led the
Hu<lson's Bay Company, in 17(50, to send Sa:"uel Hearne to
explore the north, who, during that expedition, discovered tlie
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HISTOIIY <»F THE \()HT»-WEHT.
t'oppcniiiiie River, and was tlie first European to lo(»k into
the Arctic circle. Thin was followed up l>y the North-West
Company sending Alexander MoKenzie out, who Followed the
river which received his name for 800 miles, and was tin- first
explorer to pass tlie Rocky Mountains. In lS20and 182';. .Sir
•John Franklin was sent 1)V the British (Jovernment, and ad-
vanced the exploration of McKenzie. In 1821), the British •
(Jovernment sent Sir John Ross, and, in 1882, aided by private
subscriptions, despatched Sir CJeor^e Back to search foi" liini.
The Hudson's Bay Coujpany, which had rendered aid in the.se
and other expeditions, then took up the work of exploration
at its own charges, and in 188() sent Thomas Simpson and
Feter William Dease, who, in 1888-0, discovered what was ,snj)-
posed to be the longed-for water opening'. It will thus be
seen that the Hudson's Bay 'Nimpany played no inconsidrr-
able part in North- Western exploration.
At the risk of bein^ accused of repetition in our narrative,
we will now recapitulate the ditt'erent phases of opposition
offered to the company from the time when it obtained its
charter. While the comj)any hatl as yet planted its posts
only (m the shoi-es of James Bay, and at the mouth of Chur-
chill and Hayes Rivers, the French, by as.saults in 1()82 and
1(580, destroyed all the posts, except Albany, on the fornuT
bay, and held po.s,session of Voi'k Fort from KiDT to 1714.
In 1082, the con pany petitioned (.'harles II. for protecti<iii
a»jainst I)e le Barre, (iovernor of Canada, who threatened to
assault its posts. A^ain, in 1007 and 1008, it petitione*! the
Lords Commissioners of Ti-ade to prevent the French from
travelling or trading' beyond the midway Ijetwixt Canada and
Albany Fort, which it reckoned to be within the bounds of
its chai'ter. In 1000, the French ambassador, in answer to a
THE Hrnsoxs hay company
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iiicmorial, asserterl the claiiuH of his sovcivi^n to thf wliole
tiiiy on the north, whidi ho insisted was C()niprehen(h'(l within
the limits of the grants to his subjects, as in the previous ex-
peditions of the French, witli Indian allies, a^'ainst the eai'ly
Itay posts, the assailants had crossed the heijjht of land lie-
tween C'anada and James Hay. Tlie expe<lition of La Perouse
ill 17N2, and his capture of the forts of the company, was a
hold and effective blow, which there seems to have been no j.t-
tt'iiipt to parry or avenge, and we have seen how the French
peiieti'ated the interior of the North-West in the pi'osecution
of the fur trade, and were succeeded, after the cession of
Canada in 17()'?, by En^dish a«lventurers and traders, who be-
came the bitter opponents of the Hudson's Hay Company in
its efforts to establish itself in the North-West.
The French had traded under " licenses " ijrante<l bv the
fuithorities, but the English declared for free trade and, as a
result, sharp practices, Jealousies, feuds, and, worse than all,
sad demoralization among the Indians at once ensued. This
state of affaii's led to the formation of the Xt)rth-\Vest and
other companies for self-protection, and thus a powerful and
itiganized opposition to the Hudson's Bay ('onipany was
toi'iiied.
In the meantime, the company extended its operations and
hiiilt numerous posts throughout the North-West, the supplifs
tor which came chiefly via Hudson's Bay. There were usu-
ally two ships employed aniuudly to make the voyage, and
they were timed to arrive there abcnit lOth oi- loth Augiist,
and, after changing cargo, to leave for home about Sept. 15th
or "iOth : but owing to the difficulties of navigation through
ice, the vessels experienced all the difference in their succes-
sive voyages betw(;eii four days and five weeks. The tw(>
h' f
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HISTOKV OK THK \()HTH-\VEST.
vt'SHels ^t'lienilly cikIchvoiviI to k('t'|» to^ctlicr on tlic outwfinl
passage, parti ii^', after entering' the Hay, the one Toi- York Fac-
tory, the other for Moose Factory on James Bay. I'wo yeai's
supplies of uoods were kept at York Factory to t^uard against
the faihn'e of arrival of the Hhi[)S, tVoni which it would appeal'
that the company had not the fullest confidence in the navi-
j^ation of the straits.
In orfler to facilitate the transport of ^cmxIh, the parcels ini-
pox'ted and the Inindles of furs exported were done up so as
not to e.xceed one luuulred pounds each in weij^ht. These
were conveyed inlaml in canoes, and a strong- man would carry
two of them over a portage hy a strap passin<.j either ovei- his
forehead or across his chest. In winter, a s1»m1 without run-
ners, and drawn l>y four oi- ei<;ht do^s, was substituted foi-
the canoe, and in this manner tlu' supplies were transported to
the inland posts, from thirty to sixty miles ])er day beinj^ the
rate of speed at which they were conveyed.
The posts of the company, bein<i- plante<l at the confluence
or the parting' of sti'eams, offered opportunities in lon^' routes
of travel, for occasional intex'course and hospitality. Often a
travellinj;- pai'ty mij;ht rely wholly or largely upon the j^ame
— aniuial, bird or fisli — to be found on the route, but the staple
food at the posts and in tra\el was pemmican, of whicii the
company j>;athered in its storeliouses thousands of ba^s.
Most usually prei)ared from the buttalo, })ennnican mij;ht V)f
made also of moose meat, deer or mountain sheep. The two
yearly hunts of the natives were busily turned to the account
of the manufacture of pemmican, and during the liuut, hun-
dreds or even thousands of tixe animals were droppe<l on the
plains, and then the scpiaws began their work. The carcasses
were skinned and the hides passe<l through the processes oi'
THE Hl'DSOXS BAV (OMI'ANV,
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ll^y^n^^ tanninj; aivl Hoftoninj; for many uses. Tin- meat was
torn into strips, tlritnl by the sun or by tire, and tlu'n imhiikUmI
into crumbs and packed in a close baj; made of the hide, after
which a quantity oi liot fat, in proportion of fotn* to five of
the K'an. was j>oured into the l)a<;, stii'ivd into a mixtun- and
then carefully closed from the air. This f(M)d, which was the
main-stay of the company's people when travelling,', would
keej) ])erfectly ^ood for years, if stored in a dry place and was
transported at wide distances for men and doj^s.
The rations of food dealt out to the voya^eurs and to those
at the posts varied accordinjf to the nature of the sujiplies.
On the shores t)f the bay, a wild ^oose was a day's ration — so
Were ten poun<ls of butt'alo meat: at Athabasca, eijjht pounds
(if moose meat: on English rivei-, three lar^j-e white tisjj : hi<;-h-
er to the noi'th, reindeer: west of the Rockv Mountains, eiLdit
rabbits or a salmon. One o\' the most ni«;pird rej;ions for
food was on the route between Lake Superior and Lake W'in-
nipe<;-. There, tish were scarce, and though rabbits were some-
times inntnneral)le, they were most innutritive. The most
faithful companions of these wiMerness travellers, their own
horses and dogs, were necessarily put to the use.s of the kettle
when there was no alternative resource. The j;reat drink of
the north- West was Souchong tea, and traders and Indians
alike, were very fond of this gentle .stimulant. After passing
a threatened peril, or accomplishing some extreme effort of
<iaring or endurance, a full solace was always found in starting
a blaze, putting on the kettle and drinking the effusion as
strong as it could be made, and almost at the boiling point.
In the prosecution of the fur trade, the (juestion of food was
<»ften a difficult one to manage. The Indians were naturally
Wfi,steful and improvident, and unfortunately held to the belief
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HIsnUtY OK THE XOHTH-WEST.
that tlie moiv ^nuw they shuif^httTcd the moiv nijtidly would
tlw! animals nmltiply. Traders and hunters were scarcely less
improvident, and the extinction of the hnttalo on the plains,
and the dimiinition in the supjily of lar<,^i'r ^ame in the woods,
is the result to-day of this wastefixlness. In the hunts, the
plains would be strewn with carcasses far exceedintf their
needs or means of transpoitation, and in the wood,-*, <leei\
moose and other <jame would V)e left to rot. Yet, both hniians
an(' luniters often surt'ered terribly, in their journeyin<,'s, from
hunji'ei".
The ^oods, imported by the company having" been deposited
at the various posts, the Indians would soon appear upon the
scene laden with furs, oi" the company's officers would under-
take expeditions to distant camps, taking with them the
necessary supplies for tradiii<>; with the natives. When tlie
Indians moved in companies, for a \isit to a post with their
fui's, thev hail to brinii' with them theii' food and all theii'
household floods — their lodye ])oles and coverinijs, their pans
and kettles, and theii- whole families. The visitors were re-
(piired to keep at a respectful distance from tlie precints of
the ])ost, and, while camp was bein^' formed, tlie em[»loy(^s of
th(! company would make the necessary arran<i|;ements for
carrying; out tiie well-prepared methods of trade. Li([Uor too
often played a conspicuous part in the trading;' operations,
idthouoh the company did not cncourai>-e its use as much as
has been laid to its cliarfjo.
In trading, the beaver skin represented the unit f)f value,
and the tariff of other skins was rei;'ulated thereby. The
Indians would receive, little sticks prepared for the purpose,
each one representing the value of a beaver skin, and these
sticks were tlu' cui'rency nse(l and accepted by the company
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THK Hl'DSONS HAY CO.Ml'AXY.
i:i7
ill dealing witli tlie IndiaiiH. When tlu' latt«'i' had di.s}M),SLMl
of thoir i'ur.s they proct'eiled to purehaw tlieir supplies, trin-
ki'ts, etc., aii<l i)aid i'ov what they bouj(ht in tlie .sticks which
thty had received in exchange for their peltrie.s.
It has often been charj^^ed apiin.st the C()ni])any that they
sup))lied li(juor to the Indian.s for the purpo.se of taking- ad-
vantaj^'e of them in trading. Hut the absence of any serious
outbreak on the part of the Indians, or di.scontent, shows that
no undue advantage was taken of them by tliis niean.s. It
may I'ven be .said that as a general thin^ no trading; between
thr servants of the company and the Indians took place if the
latter were under the influence of firewater. In fact, the com-
jili'ti- control or monopoly of trade, which the Hudson's Bay
<'ai!ipany held for years, was a .seciu'ity for the pre.servation
uf the Indian tribes, because witliout them the tra<le could not
have been carried on.
The furs having Vu-en secured from the Indians, the packing
of them for the En^dish market I'etpiired ^reat skill and
kn()\vledi;'e, so as to ensure their proper ])resei'vation en route.
The bales had to be i^uarded from heats and damps, etc., while
(»ii the voyage, as a trifling blemish would reduce their value.
Tlie com]iany, therefore, ran great risk in carrying on their
tnule, and the fidelity' of their employ t's, in the discharge of
tlitir duties, was of vital importance to their success. That
the servants of the company were faithful to their trust, and
dL'V(tted to the interests of their employers, is well known, and
tlie profitable residts of the business tran.sacted in tho.se early
days is the best proof of thi.s.
From the date of the charter in 1670, for twenty yeai's, to
ItiitO, the returns of the company had been £118,014, and
this, notwithstanding the lo.sseM to theii- establishments by
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HISTORY OF THE \OHTH-WEST.
tho Frciicli in \('}H2 and HiHH. Diirin^f this tinif, the cap-
ital .stood at tlO, ')()(). In 1()84, there was a dividend of Ht'ty
|»er cent., and the Maine in HiSH. In |()8!>, the dividenil wiis
twenty-five per cent., and in 1(190, tiie stock was trebh'd with-
out H!iy call hein^ made on the shareholders. So tht; twentx-
five pel- cent, dividend of that year was really seventy-five
per cent. From l(i})2 to 1()J)7, the damage <lone by the French
in the capture of its establishments subjected the company to
a loss of £07, .500. This compelled the directors to l»orrow
money temporarily at six per cent. Yet, notwithstainlinn-
this, in 17'20 it aii;ain trebled its capital stock, with a call on
its shareholders of only ten per cent. A<;'ain the company
sufi'ered a severe loss from the Fi'ench, in 1 782, through the
destruction of its posts by La I'erouse. Then it paid, for a
while, dividends of from five to twelve per cent., avera^ino-
nine! per cent. In KJOO, the ca])ital stock of the company was
t.Sl.oOO. It was trebled apiin in 1720, and became t!t4,500.
In 174!), the following; were the posts belon^in^- to the Hud-
son's Bay Company: Moose, Henl}', East Main House, Albany.
York and Prince of Wales Fort, and in 17fKi accordini;- to a
map publisluMl at that time, the following posts ami forts wei'e
established l)y tlu' different fur companies throughout the
North -West.
Between latitude 50" and (iO , the following were situated.
East Main Factoiy, Brunswick House, Albany P^ort, (Jlou-
cester House, Moose Fort, Osnabur^h, Gait Lake, Ked Lake,
Swan River, Somerset House, Brochet, Marlb(jro' House, Cum-
berland, Carlton, Hudson's House, South Branch, (Jrant's,
Thorburne, and Manchester Hou.se.
Between latitudes <iO° and 70", were the followint; :
York Fort. Churchill Fort, Severn House, McLeods Fort.
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IIIK IU'DSONS KAY ( < )M1'.\N V,
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I'uit ( 'liipcwyjiii, oil Klk Kivt'i', at tliiit tiiue the most iinitluT-
ly [lost L'stablisluMl hy any <>F the fur t'onipanics.
It will l)«' seen tVoiii tlu' abovi- list that tin- ti'adfis tioiii
.Moiitri'al luul extended their operations far into the interior
Iti'fore the Hnilson'.s Hay Company Ix'^an to estahlish jiosts
there, as it was not until l7!>Mthat tiie eomjiany's sei'vajits
n|»|)eare<| on the Ked Kivei- foi' the first time.
Then sue<-ee(|e(l a period of keen competition between t!\e
rival fur companies — the erection, in (juick succession, of new
trading posts throughout the comitry, the amalpimation of the
North-West and XY (\)mpanies, and their united efforts
iiuainst the Hudson s |-5a\' (/omijanv.
This continued initil tlu' Karl of Selkirk appeared upon the
scene, when iiie conflicts between the two companies ass\uned
such proportions that the attention of the Home and Colonial
( liivernments was called to the scenes of l)loo(|she(l and distur-
liiiiice attending;' tiiem.
In the beoinnin^' of the present century, Loi'd Seikii'k
was extensively eneaircd jn colonization projects in British
North America, and in connection with them visited the City
III' Montreal. He then had an oj^portuuity to encpiiiv into the
iipei'ations of the Xoi'th-West Company throu^^'h the attenticjns
III' the aj^fents and partners of that corporation, in their efforts
til entertain him, .md the infoimation lie I'eceived at the time
(feated a profound impression upon his mind as to the ;ii'eat
liossibilities of the Xorth-West.
On his return to Knglaiid. His Lordship c<.ntiiH'ied his en-
i|niries in relation to the subject which so much interested
liiiii, and it was not lon^- until he recognized the superior ad-
vantajjes possessed by tiie Hudson's Bay Company over those
"f their rivals in the prosecution of the fui* trade. He saw
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HISTOHV Oh' THK NOHTII-WEST.
that tliL' ()Vt'r-liin<I I'ouU' from Montiviil to thr tnuliii;; stiitioiis
ill tlit^ Noi'th-VVi'Ht vvjiH Ht'Vt'ral linii»lr»!(lH of miles lon^n-r tlmn
till' one IVom HikIsoh'h Hay, and that the cxcIuHivi' t'ommcrt'f
ami navigation (uijoyed hy tin- Hudson's Hay ('onipany in that
iidand sua made theui really masters of the situation.
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('MAI'TKH IX.
TIIK KKU TUAKK ON TIIK I'AOIFIC COAST.
'I'liK agents iukI otficcVH of tin- tiir ('oiii|»)iMi»'s jx'iit'trutc"! tlu'
country heyoiul tlu^ Rocky Mountfiin.s in all (jircctions, ami
cstaMi.siuMl jioHts in New CahMlonia. now iJritish ('olunil)ia, on
Mt'Lcoil Lakr, in ISOo: on Stuai't Lakf, in IS()(i: on tlu'
.Ifickanut (now tlic {''rascr) Fort ( Jcoi-irc. in I .SOT, and in
jXOS an t'Xi)t'(lition .startctl to trace the .lackanut to the .sea.
They (li.scoveretl the Tlionip.son Ki\-er in IMOS, and in \Hl\
traversed tlie C'ohnnhia from its extreme northei-n hend to its
iiiDuth.
The Xorth-West Company in fact outstripped its chartered
rival from Hudson's Hay in the esta')lishment of trading- posts
eveiTwliere in the interioi', and its officers, l)ein<i'stinuilated by
the hope of becoming;' pai'tners, showed more zeal and activity
than tlu^ir opponents in extendino- the fur trade to all ))arts of
the Xorth-West. The Hudson's Hay Company prcsentecl no
such inducements to extra exertion on tlu; part of its officers
t'iU'h individual having- a tixt'(l salary witlxait any pi-ospect of
heconiiny; a proprietor, and .so Ion;;' as he did his duty he did
not feel liiniself called upon to do mort This was one advan-
tajre the Nortii-West Coujpany liad over its ri\al. and another
was the employment l)y it of Frencli Canadians as canoe-men,
trappers and traders. These, although wild and reckless at
times, wave ren\arkal)le for obedience to their superiors, and
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142
HISTOUV ol' TIIK NOHTM-WKST,
tlii'ii" skill in iiiiiimyiiii^'miiorM.cupaliility ol' ciKluriiiM; luirH.HJiips
and t'acility of )i<liiptiii!^ tli<-iiiNulv(!N to tlir liHl)itH iin<l pcculitir-
iticH of tlic MirioitN trilti-M, i-fntli'iT*! tlirni nioi-r ixipnlar in tlu'
I'Vt'H (»t' tlic IndiiinH than the mm tVoni Oi-kiit-v, fin|)lu\'»M| li\
tilt' HudNdn'.s Hay ('<>nij»any. 'I'lic mm IV(tm tlic north of
Scotland, althouj^h hardy, wci'c stulihorn, unhmdinj^' and
miittcr-ol' fact in tln'ii- intfirourHf with the natives, and, added
to this, no idea ot" stH)ereroj;ation ever eiiti^reil their minds
They were, therefore, not so |>(>|iulai' with the Indians, or so
MUccessful in trade as the i-oiiickine-, reckless Kj'eiich Cana-
dians : and, as a result of this, the latter penetJ'ated regions in
the prosecution of tirade far ahead of the former.
The North-West Company, indefatij^ahle in its etlorts ti>
extend its trade, after estahli.shing posts adjoining the diHerent
factories of the Hudson's IJay Comjtany wherevei* they were
huilt, continucfl its proeress to the northwar<l and west-
ward, ami formed numerous trndine- stations at Atha})asc)i.
Peace River, (}reat and Lesser Slave Lakes, New C'ale(|onia.
the Columbia, etc., etc. No officei' was more active or morr
successfid in this work than Ah-. John Stuart, one of the
partners of tlie North-West Company, who discovered and
named the lake which bears his name. He and his associates
were so active that their influence with the natives l)ecame all
powerful, and they in fact enjoyed a monopoly of trade in the
far west, which for a lon^ time was left undisturbed by the
officers of the Hu<lson's Bay Company.
While this was ^'oinj^' on in the north, fur companies weir
established south of the American boundary line, and carried
on an active trade in peltries in that re}.^ion. First, the Mac-
kina Company was formed and held a monopoly xnitil the
American Fur Company was established Vjy Mr. Astor in 18()!l,
THK hi II lUAKK <>\ TH|; l'.\< ||'|( ('((AST.
I4:{
wlii'ii til)- two Im-oiiiic iiiiiiil;^Miiiatc<l into one uiKlcr tlic iiaiiic
lit tlif Sdiitli-Wfst. ill ('(iiitruflistiiictiiiii to tlic Nurtli-Wcst
( 'i).ii|i.iii\ .
Mr. Joliii .liicol) Astorol' New NOrk, a (Icniian Ity Mrtli, lait
,1 citi/fii i»t' tlic riiitt'(l Sta' "H. rai.scil liiniNcIt' liy liis adv ciitiir-
iiiinmikI iiitcrpriHiii;; Hpii'it IVo.ii Hinall iH-t^iiiiiiii^M to I iif of
till' most ciiiiiit'iit iiicivliaiits in Aiiicricii. Soon alter iiis ar-
rival ill tilt' l'iiit('(l States ill I7H4, l;e C'oninieiiceil liis coiiiiiier-
riiil eai'eer in the tratlic of furs : at first on a narrow scale, lait
;;ra«lually expamlin;;; as liis means incrcaHed. In tlii.s way lie
iiifiile visits to Canada, |inrcliasiii;^f tui's and slii|>|»in^ tlieni
direct to the I^ondon market, and it is HU|»|»ose<l tliat at tliis
|)iriiid his Imoyant and aspirin;; mind concisived the vast pi'o-
ji'ct of e;raspino; in his own hands at some Tutiire day the
wliujc fur trade of North Ainerica.
Mr, Astoi". when he saw himself at the head of a ^n'eat fur
(■<nii]iiiliy (the South-West), i'oiMiieil ti. idea of penetratili;;
tlii(iu;,di the harriers of the Northern ('(niipany, so as to eome
(•Mutually into jtossession of all the fur trade east of the
Kocky Mountains. As a step))iny;-Ht()ne to the at'C'om[)lishment
of this t^rand scheme, he turne(l his attention to the trade on
tlie coast of the Pacific, which at tlu? time wa.s chielly in the
hands of the Ru.ssians. A few American coastin;; vesistds also
carried on a lucrative trade, and Mr. Astoi- )»erceive(| that if
Mich limited and desultory traffic produced lar^^c proHls, a
Well rej^ulated trade supported by cajiital and pro.seeuted with
^ystelll, would result in ininien.st' nonius.
The first step taken by him was the formation of a bi'aneh
of the fur trade, which he .styled the " Pacific Fur Company,'
tile yrand central depot of which was to be at the mouth of
the C()luni})ia River He thus contemplated canyin^ oft' the
n
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144
fllSTOUY OF THE XOUTH-WEST.
f\ir.s (A' Jill the countries west of the Rocky ■VIonntains, and by
l'oi'iiiin<; a chain of trading posts across the continent from the
Atlantic to tlie Pacific, he Ijoped hy means of his Soatli-West
Company in the east, and the Pacific Company on the west, tn
capture the entire trade of the country. It was a >;rand com-
mei-cial scheme, ;«nd attracte<l nmcii attention at the time,
especially in the United States, hut Mr. Astor did not suffici-
ently take into consideration the power, influence, and activity
of the North- West Company when layin<^ his plans. He did
not calculate upon the untii'in<>' enerjjy of such men as John
Stuart, McGillivray, McTavish, and others, to upset his
schemes, and here is where he did not show his characteristic
foresi}.jht, for when he ma<le a proposition to t..e North-West
Conjpany to join him, and it was rejected, he should have ar-
ran^etl for a better protection apiinst the wiles of the Noi-'-
Westers than he did.
He was certainly warne(l 1)y friends ami others that the
British would take und)ra<;e at his attempts on the Pacific,
and endeavor to checkmate them. Astor's reply was that he
intended chiefly to en'.ploy British subjects in his undertaking',
and by this means would be able to hold his own. About this
time there ha[)pened to be some disat>Teement amonj; the paw-
ners of the North-West Company, and several of them left
that concern in disgust. These were just tlu' men Mr. Astor
had in view : men of influence and experience amont,^ sava^-fs,
and who, from their eai'lier days had been brought up in and
habituated to the hai'dships of the Indian trade. Five nf
them, name<l McKay, McKenzie. McDou^'all, and Messrs. David
and Robert Stuart, joined the Pacific Fur C()mi)any, and sodii
afterwards, five others, namely Messrs. Huiit, Crooks, Miller.
McLellan and Clarke, wei-e added to the lunuber, when a joint
THE Fl'K TIIADE <>N THE rACIl'IC (OAST.
145
st'Xfk concern was formed with a capital of i:i*20(),()0(), winch
Mr. A.stor fin-nished. The shares were 100 of #2,()()() each,
with power to increase the capital to .S50(),00(), and the asso-
ciation was to last for a period of twenty years, with a pro
vise, however, that at the end of five vears it was to l)e dis-
solved, if found to be unprotitahle or inipracticahle. The
allotment of shares was as follows :
Mr. Asior 50 shares. Mr. Hunt, who was ai>pointed chief
manager, 5 shares.
The other partners 4 ■ Iiares each, and the remainder were
reserved for the clerks, wlio Joined the company as adventur-
ers without any other renumeration than their chance ol suc-
cess at the end of the five years trial.
The company heinj^ thus formed, a vessel called the Tonqitin
was fitted out in IHIO, and Captain Thorne, a lieutenant in the
service of the United States, placed in C(jnnnand. A l)arty
consistinjjj of four partners, McKay, Mcl)ou>;all, and the two
Stuarts, with nine clerks, an<l a nund)er of voyajjjeurs,
iiu'ohanics, etc., end)arked on this ship, the whole heiuj.; in
cliarge of McKay, and on the (jth September .set sail from
New York bound for the Pacific. Previous to this, an overland
])arty under connnand of Mr. Hunt, was partly organized at
Lachine, near Montreal, and left there on othiluly to go across
tiu' cfaitinent vki St. Louis and the Mi.ssouri. McKen/ie. who
was with this expedition, wanted to engage only French Cana-
dian voyageurs for the trip, lait Mr. Hunt, who wjusof a grave
and steady character detested the volatile gaiety and seeming-
ly reckless manner of these men, and declined to employ more
than a few of them, preferring Americans. This, jisit turned
out, was a great njistake which Mr. Hunt afterwards acknow-
leilgetl, for the Canadians were voyageurs of the first class, and
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HISTORY OF THE X(U{TH-\VE.ST,
lianly vctemns who thoufjht of nothing Init to toil and ob»'\ ,
while the men who were en^aj^ed in their place proved to lif
hroken down, unreli* Me, and in many cases utterly ui.tit fur
the hardships of the journey. At Mackina the rii^tiiii; ami
carousing of the trappers and adventurers assembled there made
it impossible for Mr. Hunt to .secure any niunber of <^(wd men.
and V)ein^ joined by Mr. Crooks, another partner in the enni
pany, the part}' made their way to St. Louis where they arriv-
ed on the 8rd September. Here several Americans eii^'a^^-'l
with Mr. Hunt, and received their advance in money for tlif
trip, but l)ecominj; dissatisfied with the rations served to them,
deserted in a bodv. Not only did they leave in this mainiti'.
but they also {;ave the expedition a bad name, so that it was
found impo.ssible to secure men to till their places, and Mr.
Hunt was at a stand-still, bitterly repentinj; his refusal totaki-
McKenzie's advice at Lachine to employ (^anadians. Soon
after this, however, Mr. Miller, another partner in the company,
joined the expedition, and he bein^' well known as a trader on
the Missouri succeeded in inducinji' ainind)er of men to join it.
It may be stated here also that the opposition of the Mis.souii
Fur Company to the undertakin;;' proved a p'eat obstaclt.' in
the way of Mr. Hunt, Imt at last after a vexatious delay of
forty-eij;ht days the party left St. Louis on the 21st ()ct(.)b(i',
just one month and a half later than the sailing; of the Ton-
quin from New York.
The expedition moved slowly, ancl on the KJth November
went into winter-(|uarters at Nodowa, about 450 miles up tin-
Missouri, where they were joined by Mr. McLellan, anotlit-r
])artner, who had the reputation of bein^ one of the best shots
in Aiderica. During the winter, numerous desertions took
place, and when, on the 22nd April, the paity made a fresh
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THE FUll TRADE < >X THE PACIFIC COAST.
147
start oil the journey, tliey were sadly decreased in ninnbei*s,
hut Mr. Hunt, notwithstanding this, pressed Foiward, and on
the 1 4th September reached the heijfhts of the Rocl<y Moun-
tains.
From this time the real troubles of the expedition com-
menced. The first mistake made was when they decided to
ai)andon their horses, wliicli they turned loose to the number
of one hundred and eighty, and embarked in fifteen canoes for
the purpose of descending- the rugj^'ed and boiling channels of
the south branch of the Columbia. They had not jj;one far
however, until the impracticability of proceeding; by water be-
came apparent, and the canoes were next abandoned, and an
atteujpt made to travel by land. Men were sent <jut to recovei'
the horses, if po.ssible, but were unsuccessful, and then most of
the jjoods and baj^^ajjje were place<l in caches to preserve them,
and lighten tl»e ])urdens of the travellers. As they proceeded,
provisions became scarce, the country l>einfj^ destitute of j^ame,
so that starvation stared the unfortunate party in the face, and
several disasters, followini; with the loss of three or four
of the men, placed the expedition in a deplorable condition.
It was then that two parties were formed, one under Mr.
Hunt, and the other in charj^e of McKenzie, and in this way
tlit^y proceeded alonjj^ the river, enduring every hardship it is
]ioissible to conceive, sometimes going without food as many
as five days at a time, (^heereil im, however, bv tlu- exami)le
iind endurance of their leaders, the two bo<lies of adventurers
inanaged, after untold privations, to reach the mcmth of the
Columbia, McKenzie's party arriving on the lOth Januar\',
1M12, and Hunt's on the following I5th February, having
l)een about nineteen months in making the journey from La-
chine.
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HlsnUtY OF THK NOKTH-WEST.
Tlu' j»arty on board of tlu- T 'n</uiv, iiltlioujih not subjectcil
to Huch triaLs and privations as tliosi^ who undertook the ovci--
land c'Xi)t'<lition, were not altogether free from di.sconifort and
hard.shii>. Theii- voyage was full of adventure, and throuj^h
the arbitrary and disagreeable conduct of tlie captain of the
ship, their lot was far from bein^ a pleasant one. On one oc-
casion, wliile several of the party were on land durinj; the
time when the ship was taking in a supply of fresh water, the
captain sailed and left them to their fate on a desert shore,
and if it had not been for the determined conduct of Mr.
Robert Stuart, one of the })artners, who threatejie<l to ])low
the ca])tain's l)rains out if he did not stop, the luckless men
would have been abandoned. The captain's conduct to both
passen<;ers and crew fostered a spirit of nnitiny, and desertions
from the ranks of the .sailors took place on sevei'al occasions:
men were put in irons, and others abused, so that alto^etlioi',
the voyage was a most disajijreeable one, made so through the
imperious and harsh disposition of the man whom Mr. Astor
had ])laceil in conunand of the ship.
When nearin^ the Cohnnbia River, the first mate, Mr. Fox,
was drowned while obeying the unreasonable orders of the cap-
tain, and in a few days afterwards the third officer of the ship
was lo.st in the same way. At the mouth of the Columbia,
which is remarkable for its .sand V)ars and hi^h surf at nearly
all seasons, the Tom/uni had a narrow escape from beinj; lost,
but on the 2()th March succeeded in entering the mouth of the
J^er. The foolhardiness of the captain on this occasion is re-
ferred to in the followinj;- words by one who was on board
the ship at the tinie.
" Here are two points for consideration : first, the time of
soundin*;: and, secondly, the time cliosen for entering the
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THE FUR IHADE ON THK PACIFIC COAST.
14!)
hrcakers. In respect to l>()th there wa.s an unwarrantable
jiiccipitation — a manifest want of sound judpiient. We made
the land in the middle oi' a storm, the channel and coast hoth
unknown to us, and without either ))ilot or j^uide ; luider such
circumstances it was evident to all that no boat could live on
tlif water at the time (to take S()undin<;s), far less reach the
slinrc : and our entering; the breakers at so late an hour, the
sun at the time not bein^; Hfty minutes above the horizon, the
diannel also bein^ unex|)lored, was certaiidy a premature and
tnrlorn inidertakinj; ; but there existed such disunion — such a
spirit of contradiction on board — that the only wonder is hcnv
We ever <(()t so far."
Some time was s|)ent after this in examining; the shores,
with the view of choosing a suitable place to huild on. At
last it was settled that the new establishment should be erect-
eil on the south side, on a small rising ground nan»ed Point
(it'orj^e, distant twelve miles from the mouth of the inlet or
l)iir. and here, on the 12th April, 1811, the whole party, con-
sistinj.^ of thirty-three persons disendmrked, and on the 18th
May followinjf, the foundation of the town of Astoria was laid,
the place beinjjf .so named in honor of Mr. Astor. •
111 June, the Tonqain sailed from Astoria on a tradinj.;; ex-
ju'tlition to the North, and not lon^ afterwards the ship was
lost, thus leaving Astoria without any means of protection
aj,faiiist the Indians, or proper means for carrying (xn trade.
With not a siufjle ^un mounted, or a palisade rai.sed, the party
stilt out by Mr. Astor was left without the least precaution
Ih'Iiij; taken to secure life or property, and this state of tiling
and the many mi.shaps that befell the expedition, show«>d a
lack of proper management somewhere in the orjjanization of
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msTOHY (»K THE N'OHTFf-WEST.
It iii.'iy Ix' intcrcHtin^ at this sta^'c, before proceedin;^ with
onv account of A.storia, to }j;iv(' a few particiih'""'* relatijiji; to
the fate of the Tonfjain. That vessel saih'«l from the mouth
of the Columbia on the oth June, 181 1, on a tradinj^ specula-
tion to the nortliward, and on the eve of starting;, the captain.
Htul»born and unri^asonable as ever, dischar^e<l his second
mate, who refused afterwards to rejoin the ship. Mr. McKay,
one of tlie partners, went in char}.je of the ex[)edition, and soon
succeeded in openini; a smart trado with the natives, in which,
however, he was si'i'iously hampei'ed l)y the harsh and unbend-
in<^ maimers of the captain, whom the Indians disHkeiJ vimv
nnich. On one occasion, Capt. 'I'horne having; struck one nf
their principal men whom he had caught in a petty tht'ft. a
cons{)iracy was formed to surprise and cut off the vessel, but
this design was discovered by the interpreter, who lost no
time in ac(|uaintinjij Mr. McKay of it. The Indians then, sus-
pectini; that their conspiracy was known, endeavoureil to
throw the whites oft' their i>'uard by visitinj]^ the ship unarmed.
On the day before the ship was to lea\e New Whitby, the place
where McKay was carrying; on his trade, a couple of lari;*'
canoes, followed by others, came alongside oft'erinj;; furs for
sale, and the occupants wei*e allowed to come on board. Tin'
inteirpreter, however, saw si^ns indicating that their visit was
with hostile intent, and aj^ain warned McKay and the Captain,
but the latter treated the caution with contem|)t, until tlie
numlx^r of Indians on board obstructed his efforts to ijet tin'
ship ready for Hailin<i-. Then he ordered them off, and threat-
ened if they did not go, to force their departure. This was a
sijrnal for the attack of the savaj^'es, who, witfi frij^htful yells,
fell upon the unsuspectinjf crew with knives, bludu^eons ainl
short sabres which they had concealed under their robes. Mr.
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THK KIH THAKK OX TlIK I'ACIKic «t»AST.
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McKay was the first our attnekiMl, aiul Ix-inn^ stuniH'il l)y a
lilow t'roiii one of tlie l)lu(lj;»'o!>s, was thrown overfjoartl into a
canoe. Capt. Thorne made a detenninetl stand a^^ainst his as-
sailants, but hein^ anne<l only with a knife, he was finally
oMTpoweiv*! and cruelly hutehered on the deck, after which
his nian;j;led liody was thrown oNei'board. The resistance
iiia<le by the ca[)tain ami crew maddened the savages to such
!in extent, that they then sei/,e<l ujion Mr. McKay and batter-
fil his bi'ains out. In the meantime, thi-ee of the devoted
crew mana^'ed to j^ain the cabin where the firearms were
store(l.and, seeiii}^ little hope of escape, resolved upon takin*; a
terrible reven^r^ by Mowing up the vessel. They first, how-
ever, ))roposed to the sava;.(es who stood in awe of tlie firearms
which tlu'N' now had, that if they were allowe<l to leave the
ship without bein^ molested, they would trive up ((uiet p()s.ses-
sion of it. Tliis the Indians agreed to, and the three .sailors,
having laid a train to the maj^a/ine, tired it and left the vessel,
whereupon, the savages, eager to obtain possession, clambered
upon the deck and the next moment the explosion took place,
hui'ling upwards of two hundred of them into eternity a>id
dreadfully injuring as many more. The first impression
iuiiong the surviving lTi<lians was that the Kvil Spirit had
taken revenge on them for attacking the wJiites, but this idea
wore off' as their terror subsided, and they tpiickly discovered
that human agency had caused the explosion. The three sail-
ors were followed, and, l)eing discovered tislee]) at a point not
far distant, were ruthlessly nnirdered by the av«Miging natives.
Thus ended the voyage of the Tovtjtii)), and the melancholy
fate of her hapless crew niight have been averted if a more
iuniable and sensible man had been placed in conunand. The
loss of the ship was a .severe blow to Mr. Ast<jr's enterprise
on the Pacific.
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HISTOKV OK THK NoKTH-WEST
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Wlicii tlu" Toiujaiu left the L'stahliHliinent at AHtoria on lici'
last ami ill-fatt'<l voya;;'o, the liulian.s at onct' Vn'^iii t(i hi'
troultU'soiiie, and for a time ^reat anxi«-ty was felt by the sct-
tU-rs about the safety of their ])osition. ex|)OHe(l as they wei-e.
About this time, too. an unexpected visitor, in tlie person of
Mr. Thompson, a partner in tiie North-West Company, made
his appearance, and, to the surprise of every one in Astoria,
was received with <^reat hospitality by Mcl)ou;,'all. Mr. Astor's
representative, who showed him everything there was to be
seen about the establishment. There is no doubt that he was
sent for the purpose of spying; out the land, and of <liscouraj;ino-,
if possible, the Astor peo])le in their attempt to establish a fur
trade on the Pacific. There is even reason to suppose that liis
intention was to take possession of an elij;ible spot, at the
mouth of the Columbia, with a view of forestalling tiie plan
of Mr. A.stor. Hut on his way some of his men had deserted
him, and this delayed him, so that on his arrival he found
Astoria established, and the American Ha^ hoisted as a token
•<jf possession.
Previous to the coming of Mr. Thompson, two Indians ap-
peared, who showed a letter addressed to Mr. John Stuart,
Fort Estekatadene, New Caledcmia, and who tiu'ued out to be
also in the service of the North-VVest Company. The visit of
these Indians, and afterwards of Mr. Thompson, showed tliat
the Nor'- Westers were not aaleep or unmindful of the inten-
tions of Mr. Astor. Indeed, Mr. Thompson unVmrdened him-
self to McDou^all and others of the party, by sayinjr that the
wintering; partners of his company had resolved to abandon
their trading posts west of the niountains, and not to enter
into competition with the Pacific Fur Company, if the latter
would enga^ije not to encroach upon the trade on the east side.
THE I'CU THADK ON THK I'ACIKK' COAST.
o:i
He then ^nvc a description of the interior ot" tlie ('(unitry. not
calculated to iniprcNH his hearers with a very t'avorahle idea nt'
it, and alto<;'ether acted a part e\idently meant to deceive the
Astorians. When he left. Mr. J). Stuart and a party <>f voy-
jiireurs left at tin; same time and in his comi)anv, for the
pui'j)oHe of e.\plorin*i^ that interior which ^fi-. 'i'hompsoM had
(lescrihcd so unfavorably. Hut, had the Astorians been wise
they would luive ^iven Mr. Thoiiipson the cold shoulder, or if
.Mr. Astor had foreseen tiie wiles (A' the Nor -Westers suffi-
ciently, his enterpi'ise miji'ht ha\e succeeded hett*'!-. He that
as it mav, the colony at the mouth of the Cohnuhia encounter-
vi\ manv ditticultii's wliich. it would seem, a little foi'esifdit
iiii<,dit have pi'cvented. I'ndouhtedly Mr. Astor was to a
;;i'eat e.xtent in tlie hands of his partners. Itut, knowing' as he
must have done and ()♦" which he was warned, that the North-
West Company woidd frustrate his liesie^ns if jtussilile, he
sli(ad<l have been the more careful in the selection nf .some of
tlie men to whom he entrusted the care of the enterprise, and
hound them so as to have prevented the disa^jreements. jeal-
ousies and desertions which aiterwards took place.
On the 17th October. bSll, Mr. Astor sent the Bearrr, a
Vessel of four hundred and eighty tons, to the Pacific coast, in
eoiiimand of Captain Cornelius Sowles. with a<lditional snp-
plies for the people in Astoria, and with her went a partner of
the company, six clei'ks and a nund)er of artisans and voy-
a^eurs. The voyae'i' was a nnich more plea.sant one than that
of the Tonqii'in the i)revious year. an<l in si.\ months an<l
three weeks the vessel ari'ived at the mouth of the Colundna,
wliere it was met bv Mr. McDouiiall and some of his men,
who safely piloted it over the bar.
From tlii.s time the Astorians made every effort to extend
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tlx'ir trading; oix-nitioiis on the; I'licitic slope, hut with iii<lit!'t'r
flit suc('«'NH. Skinnisht'H witli the luitivcs, and Ioshcm tlirou^di
the ihij)h('ity ol" Indiiins on whom they were lrtM|Ufiitly ohliircd
t(» <lt'|it'n«l when travt'lliii<^r in the interior, eaused them iiiuch
discoura^'eiiient anJ di.sappointmeiit. A tradin;^' p ),st with Mr
l)avid Stuart in charge had been eHtahhHhe<l in the ()kiiia;;aii
eountrv, and soon after the an-ival ol" the Hmrer^n hir<j;e ]mrt\
ascended the Cohniihia, and from it M(d)onald, Mcdveiizie, and
a lew others were (K'tuclied and sent to a point on the Lewis
Hi\er, to open a station amon<,^ tlie Snake Indians.
'The main party then eontinued on to tlie S|)okaiie eountrv.
where at a junction of the river (jf that name, and one called
the Pointed Heart, they estahlished a post. Alonj^'side of them
was a station of the Xorth-West Company who had several
others in that district, and the Astorians at once set to woi'k
to oppose the Nor'-westers hy establish iny; stations in difi'ereiit
parts of tlie country, so that a lively competition ensued.
which in one instance resulted in a duel between an ofiicei- of
the Pacific Company and one of the Nor'- Westers. On the
whole, however, the relations, socially, between the two sets ol
traders were amicable, althouji'h in trade they were bittef
rivals.
On their retui'n to Astoria, on June 1 1th, 181.S, this party of
Pacific Fur Company traders found that a total revolution had
taken place in the affairs at iK^uhjuarters. Tin; North-West
Company ever on the alert to dispossess the Astor Company,
had sent two of their chief men, Messrs. John (leorjje McTavisli.
and Joseph La Roc(|Ue, to nej^otiate for the purchase.' of t\u-
jiroperty. The}' represented that as war had broken out
between Great Britain and the United States, and the formei'
power had blockaded all American ports, the Astorians could
TMK h'lK TUADK oN TMK I'ACIKIC <OA.sT.
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rx|M'Ct to I'L'ceiv*' iK> stipplit'N tVom New York, oi'sliij* any furs
tlit'ic, and that tlit-rcrori' tlit-y \v(»nl<l not Ik- ,il)U' to carry
III! tin- I'stahliHlinu'iit. I'rt'\ ions to the visit <»t' McTaviMli and
I,.i Hf»t'<|U«', wonl ol' this nature had Ix'cn rccfixcd, and alsn
that till' Jieiiver was l)h)ckadf<l in Canton. Much ili.ssati.sl'ac-
tiiin also cxiMted anion^^f tlic partm-rH at the policy pursued hy
Mr. A.stor in repii'd to the Colundtian Colony, and a dtrterniin-
Mtinii t<» lea\t' the Pacific Vxw Company, and ahandon Astoria,
h.id actually \n'ru ai-rived at. in tact, pi-epai-ations were hein^
made for an overland journey IVoni the Pacific, and everything
jiiiiuted to a dissolution of" Mr. A.stor's enterpri.se, when the
arrival of the Nor'-wester en\(»ys altered the complexion oi"
iitf'airs, and after .some deliberation an agreement to sell was
entered into hy McI)oa;;all, and the representatives of the
Northern Company.
.Ml the furs, and such supplies as could he hout^ht in
from the intei'ior, had been collected in Astoria, and .some
iirpinized nuians by which the place coidd be abandoned, had
licen resolved upon. Hut the hardshi])s which had been en-
dured by the overland paity in cro,ssin;;- the continent in IHIO,
were not forj>()tten, and when the overtures came from the
North-West Company to buy, McDou^all a^^reed to the tran.s-
ftr. He lias been blamed in sonu; (piaiters for .sacriticin;; Mr.
Astor's interests, and that t;entleman is reported to have said
that he would sooner have taken nothinjf than to have s(rld
the furs at the prices McDou^all a<;reed to. No doubt the
North-West Company madt,' the best barpiin they could, but
it would appear as if both principals to the tran.saction wei*e
dissatisfied. Mr. Astor. on the one hand, thou;,dit that he re-
ceived too little, and Mr. Jolni Stuart, on behalf of the Nor'-
Westers, declare* 1 that McTavish had paid too much. Soon the
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IIISTOHY OF THE N'oUTM-WEST.
whole it niiiy lie citucluiltMl tliut .M('l)i>u;;iill iimilf tlif lu-st
linMIIp'IIH'Ilt lit' cnul"! Ulltlt'l" tilt' cin'UIIIstulU't'N. Tlir tl'illlMilc.
tioii wuM t'tilly uj^n-t'i'd tn t)M tin- hitli ()cti)l»i'i', IH|:V tlir
Nvlioit' HiilcH iiicluiliii;; I'ms tiiul iiu'i-clminliNf. miKmiitiii;;. it is
Huiti, to ^HO, ')()(), for wliicli hills tm tlu' ii|ft'iitH of thf coiii-
piiiiy ill ('imiulii wtTf to \n- ^ixfii.
\U\t Mc'riivish I'Xpi'ctt'il thf an'iviil of an iiriiu'tj Mhi|), tlir
Indiir Todil at any moini'iit, ami in that case Astoria wouM
ht' ('H|itni'i'tl as a prize, ami his hills of I'xchaii;;;*' saviMJ.
Sti ht'. for t>nt' reason oi- another, put oft' completing; the har-
"•ain made with M('I)oueall, the tlissatisfactittn of Mr. .lohn
Stewart at the priee ae;reetl upon, havine; no ilouht something-
to tlo with his intlecision. McDoueall on the other hand ha<l a
Htpiatlron of hoats reatly tt> convey the fiu's into the interior,
should tlu' Isatir '/'< (A/ ari'ive. and matters went on in this way
for nearly a month, when MeKen/ie, Mr. McDoupiirscolleajiUe,
HUtrevHteil a measure likely to brine- MeTaxish to terms. 'I'lic
latter antl his party wei'e practically without arms oi- prn-
visions, and hein^' canipetl umler the euns of the fort, were
therefore at the meiry of the Asttu'ians. McKenzie's j)lan was
to man the V)astions, load antl point the y,uns, and with the
e-ates shut, irive the Xtn-'-Westei's two hours to tlecitle either to
sifii the hills t)f exciianye, t)r hreak oft' the ne^otiatitiiis aito-
e-ether, antl remove to t)tiier tpiarters. This su}.je;estion was
acted upon, and the Xt)r'-\Vesters were l)rt)u^ht to terms — the
bills were tinally antl formally sienetl, antl Astoria passed into
tht^ hantls of the North-West ('t)mpany on the 12th Novem-
ber, (anothtar account says the 2.Srtl ()ctol)er), 181H.
A few of the Astorians joined the service of the Nta-th-
VVest C'ompany, amonjjst others, McDouf^all, antl this circuni-
.^tance j;ave rise tt) a suspicion that he had been acting,' all
Tin; ITU iitAhK o\ rm; i-achic roAsi'.
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iiliiii;^ ill tin' intiTcsts ol' tlir Hi'itisli timl ii|;aiiist tlit- Aiiu'i-i-
ciiiw, Idit Jiiil^in;^' IVum tlu' imm's rt'|»iitMtioii for lioin'sty, tliin
is not ut all likely. Mr .Inlm Stiiurt, .sucni nltfr tin- truiiMrcr.
.startiMl ill coiiiitiiiiy with McKrii/if for tin- iiitfriur tn take
iivtT tilt' )>()sts nl' tln' I'acitic Kur ( '(Hiipaiiy. wliicli was acnan-
|ilisli*'i| in I )('ct'iMl)i'r. ami IVnin that tiiiit> tli)' North- Wi'st
( 'niii]tany rt'ij^iifd .sii|ii<'iii(' west nj' the moiiiitaiiis, with I'Oit
( it'((i'};(', tilt' iiaiiM' liy which Astniia wa.s ic-cliristtMfd as tlicir
iit'ail-t|uart«'rN. .
The lonj^-wiNJit'd-J'or ship, Iminc Tmhl, A'ul not ari'i\(' as cx-
)M'('t<'(l, and Mr. .lohii Stuart with a pai'ty went apiiii t<> tlu'
|iu,stH (»i' th«' interior with such iia'rchaiidi.sc as he cduld collect
at the I'di't, tor the purixwe (»!" su)»|tlyiii^ o;oods I'nr the wiiitei's
trade. On that trip a trreat deal of opposition was exper-
ienced IVoiii cei'tain tribes of Imlians aloii;;" the Coluinhia. and
it re((uired much tiniiiiess and coura^ie on the part of Mr.
Stuart and his companions to accomplish their mission.
When ^oods wei'e stolen, which they were on .several occasions,
till' savaei's wei'e compelled to return the articles, and unfcd
this was done tlie women and children of the trihe were.sei/ed,
and kept as hostaj^es. By such means, and ])rest?ntin;^ a well-
;fuarded front to the enemy nijfht and day. the Nor'-WesterH
succeeded in [)ushin}4; throu^^h without any l)loo<lshed of im-
|M)rtance. Hut tliese trips to th»' interior at that time were
always fraujjjht with much dant;"er and hardship, .so much
so, that carryiuji^ on the fui* tradi; (Jii the west of the moun-
tains was a most difficult and expensive matter. Indeed to
judjfe from the following' letter written hy Mr. .lohn Stuart in
April, iHlii, it would appear that tlie operati(jns of the Noi-tli-
West C^ompany on the Pacific wei'c not of a satisfactory char-
acter, even after they had succeeded in t^ettinj,' rid of the op-
position of the A.storians.
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IIISTOUV OF TMK N'(»KTH-Wi:sr.
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Tilt' following is tilt' extract IVoiii Mr. Stuurt's It'ttt'r : — "I
tintl that the attiiii-H of the C'oliuubia ajipear to be p'ttiiij^froin
bad to worse: aii«l the many tlitfieulties ami hanlships, adtled
to the daup'rs pectdi.ir tt) that unfortunate de[)artnient, are hard
tt) bear, and will keej) nie pai'tioidarly anxitai.s until 1 hear the
resultt)f the expedition of this spring tt)iind from Fort (Jet )r};t'.
Altln)U>fh the varit)UH encounters yt)U have had with the natives
.shoultl have tauj^'ht them to res eet the whites, antl c't>nvint'e
them that nt)thin^ is tt) be piined by force: yet as the attack
t)f last autunni was bt)th tlarini;' ami premetlitatetl, I am afi-aid
it is but the forerujuiei' of ;;i'e;itei' aii';i;ressit)n. Vol. will, how -
t^ver, have t)ne ^reat ailvanta^f in the sprinii,', which i' , tluit if
tile natives be at that season numei'ous alon^' the ct)mmunic!i-
tit)n, it must be with a hostile design, and, perlia|)s, by bej^in-
nni
o-tl
le
.^rt'ect^
as.sau
I'lausi
It yourselves, vou will be able to counteract it>
ble, h
tl
ittwever, as this may a|)peai" in tlieory, it
mi<,dit prtibably have ji very ditterent ott'ect in practice. I
shall, tliereft)re, leave tiH'mv atlvice. lest vtai mi<rht sav to iin'
what Hannibal <li<l to the pedant."
Mr. Stuart was at that time in charge of New C'aledtinia, fi
very extensive tlistrict, extentlinji' frtim o2 to ")') nt)rth, and
comniunicatin<;' with the Atiiabasca tlepartmeiit by Peace
River. From his letter it would seeiu as if affairs in that part
of the ctmntry were carried t)ii mt)re peacefully a: tl .satisf.ic
tt»rily than tm die t't)!umbia.
The Nt)rth-\Vest ('t)mpany, lit)wever. continutitl tt> meet with
niaiiv tlithculties, and instead t>f trvin«>; to ctaiciliate the In
tlians, they adopted a hit^hdiantletl course whicli made mattii>
worse. Addetl tt) this, the Hut|st)irs Hay Company coiiimc;.(( 'I
to use mt)i'e enery^'etic measures tt) extemi llieir trade, ainl,
takiiij;' .i leaf t)ut t)f the Nor -Westers' book, they benan totin-
Tin; I'lH THADK <»N TIIK I'ACIKic (OAST.
I ."■)!•
|p|(iy ( 'jiim<liims in pliu-c oF their Orkney men, the result be-
lli;^- that they soon puslied their trade int(» districts hitherto
iiinnopolizeil hy the North-West Coniitiiny. Foi'ts were taken
liy assanlt ; tlie Iinlians hrihed to take ))art in tlie wnr;
lilcMMlshecl ami cruelty to prisoners ensu«Ml, and every species
ii!' harharity usecl to enoh other hy men who, in any other
course of life, or un<ler diti'erent circumstances, would liavi- re-
l^ai'led such deeds with ahliorrence. Such a stat' of affairs
could not last Ion;;, and in \H2l the lon^ and violent opj)osi-
tiiiii lietween the North-West and Hudson's Hay ('onn)anies
erased hy their coalition, when all the results of the Noi-'-
W.sters" ert'oi'ts on the I'acitic passed under the nianan'emeiit
and was carrieil on afterwai'ds in the name of the Hudson's
lliiy ( 'ompany. In ISM!) the Hud.son's Hay Company entei'ed
into ;in arran^'eu'.ent with Hussia for the lease of Alaska, and
theii' trading posts were estahlishe(l at all elij^ihle points fiom
lleliriii;^' Sea on tie north to San Fi'aiicisco to the south.
Thus the Hudson's Hay Company as the inheritor and repi'e-
Miitative of all previous fur companies, jtlayed an important
piirt in the early history of the western territory, within tlu'
limits of the Dominion. The adventurers and exj)lorers in the
Mix ice of the conij)auy undertook the most fatij^uin;^- /[our-
inys. Mini evinced the greatest fortitutle in exposing them.sehes
to li.irdships. j)rivation and <lany;er. It was they who held
jinssession of the tei'ritory on lioth sides of the Hocky .Moun-
tiiiii^. They were for many years the only ci\ili/ed occuj)aiits
n| lioth hanks of the Columhia. fr<tm its sotu'ces to its mouth,
aiiij it was not tlu'ir fault that this region is not now part of
tlh hominion. They held theii- ground in Oreeoii and Wash-
iii;.:ton Territory, under the Ih'itish llaj;', luitil they were com-
ji'lled to relin(|uish their hold hy the treaty of IH4<i, and, hut
li
KiO
HISTOHY «>F THK N( (HTH-WEST.
iiHjj
tor tliL' (iiscovfrit's uuiAa uiKler tlit* autliority of the I'ur coin-
paiiicH, New CHU'doniu or British Coliiiabia \vo\iM never liavi-
exi.st«Ml, and Canada would be shut out from access ^ tlit-
PaelHc. It wjiH only in 18(50 that the HudHon's Ha}' Company
finally abandoned its various establiHlunents in Oregon and
Wa.shinj;ton Territory, and the movable property not disposed
of was transferred to Fort Victoria, on Vancouver Island, tin-
])oint at which, as headquarters, the operations of the company
west of tlie moinitains have since been centred and carried on
■i,nl
i!
CHAITKR X.
THK SKI.KIKK SF:TTI.KMKNT.
The youths employed by the North-West ( 'oiii|)aiiy, chiefly
Scotch, were artich?<l as apprentice ch'rk.s, for seven years, re-
ceiving their subsistence and one hundred pounds. The pros-
pective reward oi their toil and fidelity was to become partnei*H,
and this, as we have already shewn, induced them to work
witli a will, while tlu' life of adventure which they le<l, and
till' excitement and novel scenes incident to the fui* trad*'
resulted in attachinj.; them tirndy to it, Indian maidens cast
in their lot with those dei'ks, and with the winterinj; partners
(if the company, and it was the offspring; of these an<l others,
priiici|)ally Canadians. French fathers and Indian mothers,
that there came to be such a numerous pro^jeny of half-breeds.
When the Hudson's Hay Company entered the country, their
otHcers and servants followed the course pursued by their pre-
<lt'Cfss(»i's of the Noi'th-West Company, in havini;- wives front
aiiKtnn- the natives, and tln' ])opulation of mixed blood increas-
i'i\ in |)roportion. The half-breeds, of French parentage, fai*
I'Utntnnbered those of tlie Fnjilish and Scotch, the coureurs
</' /)o?N and vojidgeu- s, \\\\{) were chiefly of Caiuulian oriji;in,
licin^r largely in excess of other nationalities, an<l from their
iiiixeil, inlHU'ited, and transmitted <|ualities, their abandon,
vivacity, recklessness and ready attiliation with Indian ways,
these French lialf-breeds were held to be superior for the ser-
M„
' ' 1
*
* **
f
I !
102
msTOHV OK THE XolMH-WKST.
vice r('(|ui It'll l)y the fur tradi'. At one tiiiio, the North- West
("ompany, and later on the Hudson's Hay Company, had ovci
two thousand of this uni<|Uf class of (•ni[)l(n'^H, ji'oino' anij
coming-, toiling after a rollicking;- fashion, paddling- an<l rowiiiM
the canoe or the boat, threading- the reedy inarshcs. runnin<i
the cascades, crossing;' the poi'tai;'e with their Imrdens. trailing
alonj; the cataracts, hearinn- all the stern .severities of wintri
in the woods, driving' doo-slcds. canipin;;' in snowdrifts, ready
on their return for wild caiousals and dances, [)ajtinji- with
the year's ^ains for finery oi- fiolic, wild and improvident in
their nature, hut faithful to theii- empioyei-s.
in the livalry and strife hetween the two y,'reat fin- coiii-
pajiies these half-hreeds playecl a prominent part, and wt-rr
often the tools of their su[)eriors in the many lawless deeds
committed about that time. It was not, however, initil Lor<l
Selkirk appi'ared upon the scene that any serious outrages
v, v're j)ei'petrateil by the companies upon each other, and it is
al)out that period in the history of the North-West that wc
are now about to speak.
When the Karl of Selkii'k canu' to the conclusiori that th(
Hudson s Piay Company were mastei's of the situation, in tlir
fur ti'ade. he set to work to purchase a conti'ollin^ interest in
its stock, and ultimately succeeded in obtaining- about t!4().(l(><i
in shares, the capital of the company, at that time beini;' li-ss
than £l()(),0()(). This, con)bined with the fact that near rela
oives and friends of his wei'i' place(l on the Hoard of J)irectoi>,
practically f^ave him unlimited control, and he hastened to
takt! advanta^t' of it in favor of a scheme of colonization
which he had in view.
At a p'lieral coui't of the company, convened in .May, INI I
the proprietors were informe(l that the j^overnor and commit
Tin: .SKLKIHK SKTTLKMENT.
KW
tfc rccoiiiiiK'inlctl }i ^rant, in fee simple, of IMi.OOO s(|unre
miles of territory to the Karl of Selkirk, on eoiulitioii that he
shoiiM e.stahli.sh a colony thereon, and fnrni.sh, on certain terms
such lal)orei's as wei-e i'»'(|nire(l hy the company in theii' ti'ade.
This was opposed hy a ninnher of tiie j)roprietors, hut, not-
withstanding their pi'otest, Lo)"d Selkirk succeeded in ohtain-
inu' the i>i'ant which is desci'ihed as follows :— " Hci'innin;'- at
till' westei'U shores of Lake Winnipeg", at a point on .")2° -W
north latitude, and thence running- due west to Lakf Winni-
peyoosis, otherwise called I^ake Winnijx't; : thence in a south-
erly direction throuj^h said lake, so as to strike its western
shoie in latitude 52° : thence due west to the ])lace whei-e the
parallel ')2 intersects the western hranch of the Hfd Hiver,
otherwise called the Assinihoiiie Hivei': theno- due south
tiDiii that point of intei'.section to the heights of land which
separate the waters run nini;- into the Hu<lson's Bay froni those
of the Missoiiri and the Mississippi Kivei's: thence in an east-
erly direction alou<;- the height of land to the .sources of the
Hivt-r Winnijteo', meaning' hy such last named rivei- the priji-
cipal hranch of the waters which unite in the I^ake Sa<iina;;as:
tlieiice alon^' the main stream of those waters, and the middle
of the several lakes throui^di which they How, to the mouth of
the Winnipe};" Hiver, an<l thence in a noi'theily direction
through the middle of I^ake Wiiniipeix to the place of l)ee'in-
iiiiit;, wiiich tej-ritory is calleil Assinihoia. "
The<irant of land ha\ in;^' been ohtaineil, I^oi'd Selkii'k isstied
II prospectus, which, lu'in;^' well calculated to (piickeii the spirit
of emijrration |»revailine' at that time, was circulated in h-e-
laiid and in the hi<;hlands of Scotland, The scheme was to
induce a nund)er of the people in those ])arts to join the
(■olony which it was pi-oposed to estahlish in the Xorth-West,
1! 'X
T
■
\
If
1
1
1
11
1
■ 1 i >
1
'1
III
IM
|||liiij
i 11
ma
1 1
:\
i
' 11
I(i4
HISTOKV OK TIIK NollTM-WKST.
au<l tlir iiiaii Hppoiiitc*! to. cany it out was Captain Milrs
Macdoncll. Stonioway was tlic place st^lt'ctiMl foi* tlie asH«'in-
bliiii^' ol' tlu' colonists, and there, in May, 1811, a nunil)«'r of
li'ish and Scotch conj^refjated to await the coniin;;' (tf the ships
in which they w«'ii' to enihark IVi- Hudson's Hay. The vessels
did not arrive initil .lune, and hy that time a mnnher of thf
eniip'ants had hcconie dissatisHe<l with the prospect heforr
thetu, and were prepared to desert. When, thend'ore, the day
canie for them to embark, a number refused to <;o, and others,
after j;oint;' on hoani, demanded to he put on .shore.
In a letter add res.sed by Captain Miles Macdonell to Lord
Selkirk, on the 4th .luly, l<SI I, he complains of the hioh wagi-s
promised to .some of the colonists l)y the ca|)tain of the shi)».
and on the 25th, writint;' aj;ain to his Lordship, he yives .some
account of the di.s,satisfaction e.xistinj^ amon^^ them, and tin
causes that ^ave ri.se to it. He blames an article in the In-
verness Jotiriud, whicii was circulated in the Orkni'vs ami
Hi^^idands, ami which he desci-ibes in tiie following; wor<ls:
■' If that [)iece originated in l^ondon, 1 should expect to Hnd in
it more candor, knowled{i;e of the country, and rej^ard to
truth tlian it contains : btit some |»art is not unlike the laii-
^uap^e that was held out there to discoura<;e and dissiiadi'
people from endjarkin^ in the enterj)ri.se."
An attempt had eviijently lieen made by interested parties
on shore to .sow discontent in the ndnds of the ennj;i'ants. tln'
res\dt l)ein<^ that a nundier I'efused to <xo, and a cei'tain Ca|tt
McKenzi*', whom Macdonell describes as a nu^m fellow, visitfd
tiie Hhi|)s, an<l endeavoured to induce others to return to shore
Hut he was not allowed on boanl, and, as his boat lav alonjj
side one of the vessels, a sailoi', i;, is .said, drop))ed ii nine-
j)ound rtamd shot tlu'ou^h the bottom, causing; the gallant
THK SKLKIHK SKTTLKMKNT.
Km
) f
cjiiituiii to return to land t»»avoiil Hinkin^'. Tlif irritattMl Mc-
Kiii/if sent a c'halk'ii;;t' to C'apt. Roderick, the eoniiiiander oi"
tin- slii|», who |)aid no attention to it. and a fail- wind .s)>rin},f-
iii;; ii]i in the ni^ht, he set sail. Miles Maedonell, in his letter
til i^tiiil Selkirk, l)lanies the customs nuthoi"iti«'s for tiie
trniiltlr that took jdace. hut tiiere is very little douht that
tliusr (i|i)»osed to the colonization scheme were at the bottom
i)t' it. Maedonell wj'ites: " This, my Lord, is a most unfor-
tunate liusine.ss. I cannot now state what innnber we nuiy he
fihli' to take alonij;, the delay for these last two days hy the
custoiiis house has occasioned all this, and the manifest pai't
taken hy tin- collector, his friends and adherents, a<;ainst this
liusiiH'ss. " In another lettei-. he says: ' Mrs. Keid. wife of the
collector at Stornoway. is aunt to Sir Alexander McKenzie,
and lif called ('a])tain McKt-nzie, is mai'rieil to a daughter of
tlir collector ; the.se. with all their adherents, are in a united
<i|ij)osition to Mr. Robertson, and perhaps intluenced. in some
ileyicc. fi'oni London to act as they did."' It would seem,
tlieii, fronj this that the North-West ('omjtany had even thus
• arlv in the day endeavoureil to iiut obstacles in the wav of
\ji>r*\ Selkirk's enterpi"i.se.
The expedition, however, saile»| from StoiMioway on the
2tltli .hdy, 181 1, and arriv»'d at York Factory on tin' *24th
Scpttiiiber, after a pas.sa^e of (il days, at that time the lon<^*-
<>t an! latest ex'er known to Hudson's Hay. In a letter to
Lniij .Selkirk, dated the 1st Octobei", Miles Maedonell writes:
I t'< award a general retui'ii of the nund)er of men, eftectixe
am! tion-ett'ective. accordiii^ to the li.sts which ha\e reached
iiii' ; by this your Lordship will see our Htren},fth at one \ iew,
ami deficiency from non-apj)earance and desertion : our total
iniiiihers on board all the .ships amount only to !>0 laborers
^i
1^!
._ .:/..
Jill
166
HISTOHV OK TIIK NOHTII-WKST
iukI I') writers, incliKliiio' Mi-. iJourkc: iiifikin^^ n ;,n'iiii(l t<»t.il
ol' 105, »'xclnsi\r ol' us who fiiil>arkt'<| at (JravcscMul." Tliis
liaixl was ('((iiipoHtMl ol" |)('o|ilr IVoiii Irrland, Orkney and (Jlas-
iii'W. tlu' latt(!r, it aniieai's. hfiim- tin- most turl)uK'iit ami «ii^
satisfied.
In NoNcniher, Miles Macdoiu'll, with a iiuniher of the emi
•i'rants, moved t'' a point on the Nelson Hivei', ahont tilt;
miles
IV
;'iti , and wintert
d tl
len
ami
li'om a
II
conn
ts th
'iicy ol i)i-(»
H ■ d li'om many hanlships, throu^di insiitHci-
ons, •'' ease, and other causeH. Insuhordinatiun
and discontent amon^' t'le colonists aj)i)eai"ed, and tin- leaileis
of the exjHMlition had much dithcidty in ipiitstin^^ thiui. It i^
evident also from lettei's written at the time that Macdoiicll
looked forward to trouhlesonie times ahead, and he does imt
conceal his oj)inion that the North-West ('om|)any wouM do
all in theii' powei- to destro\' the proposed settlement on tin
H(m| Hiver. He thus wi'ites on 2.')th Deeendu'r to Mi'. \\'illi;iiii
Auld, the Hudson's Uay Superintench-nt at York Factory
" Weie we to form a jud;,;nient of all Indians hy the prest nt
inoH'ensive ami docile stat<
tl
le natives in the \icinit\
the shoi'es of Hu<lson s Vmy. a full .security mi<^ht he reposi <l
in their friendship: hut the ( )ssinel>oine nation, into wIium'
C(nintry we are ^i'oin*;'. are repre.sented as auion<i' the nm-t
warlike Indians of North America. We havf already Ixiii
threatened in London with those people hy a person that
knows them well (Sir Alexander McKen/ie). and who \\t\^
ple<|o('d himself in the most uneipiivocal and decisive manu' r
to oj)pose the estahlishmeut of this colony l»y al! means in lii^
owcr. The London merchants connected with the North -
cason t(t exjtt'it
I
West Company are inimical to it. ami I have r
that every means the N. W. Co. can attem|)t to tliwai't it
w II
Sill
THK SKLKIUK SKTILKM lAT,
Ui7
lie rcsuitfd t<j — to wluit rxtfiit tlicii' inthu'iict' iiiny <liit'ct tin-
(uiiiluct (>r the nntioiiH is to iiif mict'itniii. ami jiiHtitirs liciiiu-
nil our t;uai«l lit all points."
Till' ( ilasifow colonists sccin to lia\r i^iNt'ii .Macilniifi! tin'
must tiouldi' ilurin^ the wintrr ami l'ol|t»\vin<; sprin<i', ami lie
uiis ol>li«»;t'(l to rcsoi't to liai'sii 1 1 it ';i suits with them, hut on
til.' I!>tli .Funt', I.S12. he wi'itcs to i.ord Selkirk as follows:
■ I am happy to inl'oiiii your Loi<lship that the insur«;('nts
lia\t' at length conir to tt'i'nis, arkiiowlcdj^cd their ;;uilt, and
lifivf thi'own tht'iiisi'lves entirely at the iiieiry of the eoiiiiiiit-
tec, so that none of them shall now he sent home foi' tlf ""'
of the 1 2th Fehl'Uai'y. They crossed fl'olii liel'e to t' t Kf.
toi\- on 24th Mav. and thouuht the ice too unsafe t; i u'-n
Mr. Auld turned them out of the factorv, and l•efu.^ee t' <'m
provisions until they surrendei'ed theii" arms. 15' this de-
(•isi\t> conduct towards them, ha\ in<i' no leader, thv I as^-ow
writers, C'arswell, Fisliei' and iJrown, heinj^- on this side the
ri\t'i', as likewise Mr. Fiiilay, who had remained heliiml, tind-
tli(iiisel\-es destitute and inisupportt'd, tliey imnu'diately came
ti> a proper sense of their situation and suhmitted. This is so
lai well; they are, however, lost to us, as 1 cannot think of
takin*;' any of them to Red River settlement. '
Thus ended the iiiHuhordination for the time heine'. ami he-
tiiiv leaving- their (|Uai'teis on the Nelson Rivei', Macilotiell
^I'lit to l^ord Selkii'k, sniijiles of stone and sand wliii'h he
ri'iiiid there and which he thus de.sciihes : "Mr. iSoiiiki'. wli»>
may .justly claim the merit of the disco\-ery, supposes them to
'»• of the most valuahle kinds. Diamonds, ruhies, etc., etc.,
iiiid irold <lu.st. Sho»d<l they he found valuahle on their analy-
sis, immediate advanta},'!' ou^ht to he taken of it. Your Loril-
sliip mijrht ohtain a <;i'ant of the Nelson with a mile on each
' 1 If?
T^^CT
w
Wtf
Ifcf '')l
t
f
i
1
]l
' il
m
i'i:
m
1
H)8
lllSTonV or TMK Noinil-WKST
Hide (»f it, fVoiii tlif II. I). Co. I llllNf flijoilii'<l tllf cIltHCSt
Hccrocy 1)11 Ml'. Iiuiirkc, mihI no |n')'soii lifit' Ims tin- It-iiNt iWia
ot tllf iiifittcr. We iiiiiy niiikr lurtlifr iiii|MirtaMt flisco\rii(s
III y;oiiiy' ii|».
Xotli
lllli: lloWcXtT, OIIIH' ol tills. IIM iMC uia
iiioikI.s Mini nihics diil not |)ro\t' to Im- ^^cnuinf.
Kor several inontlis the coloiiiMtH reiiDiiiied at ^'o^k Factory,
liaviiie- retiinieil there IVoiii their \viiiter-i|iiarters, and early
in .Inly, the party, now iniicli diminished in niiiiihers I'roni one
cause or another, made a start Tor the Hed Hiver country
arrivin;^' tliere early in Auj;ust. The men who composed this
hand of pioneers, weie picked from the jiarty of emi^^raiits
who left Storuoway, in July, IMI,on acccaiut of their uou.1
heliax ioiir and faithful discliar;;e of their duties. They weiv
chiefly men from the island of Lewis, who. althou;;li not in
MUX way exeiii|)ted from the trials and pi'ivations undei'^join'
l»y their companions, yet. thi'ou^hout all these trying' times
cxhihited Mil iincon(|Uera.l)h' Hj)iiMt of patient eiidui'ance and
■re ever ready t) ohey their superiors. Mr. Auld. the super-
intendent, did not overlook this exemplary coniluct. for on the
first opjiortunity that oti'eretl. he representeil these men's ecMid
hehavioiir to the committee, and that hoiiorahle hody present-
ed, throut;h their a^"ents in Storuoway. each of their |>arents
witli the sum of five pounds sterliiij;". as a suhstantial token ol
their aj)prol),'tioii of the youn^' men s merits.
On till' ari'ival of the Hrst hatch of F^ord Selkirk's colonists
at Ked Hiver. in Auirust. I(SI2. tliev were met l»v a itai'tv ol
emjiloyi's of the Xoi'th-West ('om])any. di,s<;uised in the dress
of Indians, wiio warned them that they were unwelcome vis-
itoi's. The appc.-iiMuce ami manner of the Nor"- Westers se«'iii-
ed to l)t> ,so hostile and meiiacini^". that the settlers bccaim'
fi'ij^htened and ready to adoj)t any j»roposition made to them
Wt
Til
THK .SKLKIKK SK'ITI.KMKNT,
10! I
U>v their snffty. It wan tlicii n'S(»lv»'(l to move on to I'mihiiui,
t(i whii'li |)la('«' tlif <lisnuiN»'il linliiiiiN oHerol to coiidiu-t tlinn.
A(('nr<lin;;ly, tin* Scotch coloiii.st.s. uh-ciiily noirl/ worn out
with lati^uc, were ohhe;('(| to nmleilake niiother joi'.rtiey,
iihiioHt iiniiietlintely on their un-ival at the Heil Hiver, aixl
Jitter much Hiitiei'iuj^ throu^li havim.' to walk the entire ilis-
t.iiice, tliey arriveil ut I'emltina. where they pasNcW the winter
ill tents an<l huts, and hved on the |»i'<MhictM of th«' chase. In
.Nhiy. \H\'), they i-etui'ned to their colony on the Ked Kiver.
iiml heinjj; undi.^tur^»ell, coinniencerl the lahors of ay;ricultur«'.
I''(ir some time the Noith-West Conijiany <lid not molest them,
mid tliey succeeded in ei-ectin^' huildin^s and estahlishin;; a
|Mist. which was named Koi-t Douglas, hut, the difhculty in
procuring suthcient food, di'eadof the winter, and a desire to
Imshand their seed for another year, caused them to retui'u
voluntarilv to I'emhina, in the Autumn of IH\'.\.
Kurly in \H\'.\, Lord Selkirk visited Iivland, for the puijiose
<if recruiting- colonists for his settlement on the Red River, and
ill .lun»', a party of Irish emigrants foi* tin* Hudson's Hay
("oiiil»any's service, with several newly married couples and
young men from the western islands of Scotland, left Sligo.
Ni' desertions took place this season, hut a mutiny <»ccurred
during the voyage, which came near heing successful. The
mutineers intended seizing the captain and crew, and taking
till' ship and cargo to some port for the pur|)ose of disposing of
them, but tiieir conspii-acy heing fjiscovered, its accomplixh-
iiieiit was prevented, the conspirators overpowered and the
sliii) reached York Factor\' in safety, <lui"ini!: the month of
August. A Mr. Owen Keveny* had been placed in charge of
' Mr. Keveney returned to thf Norlh-We«t from Irelami, in the fall of 1815, iiiid the follow-
ing year, wum killed by un Indiuii, hiH hrutui conduct to the men under hiH char)(e, lieiii^ the
liiiiw which led to the murder.
ill! tRti
5 !
ji
(I
170
MlSTuHY <>h TIIK NtiHTM-WKsT.
tIliN |mity l»y Lor<l Selkirk, ami In-, it is saifl, wiin Hniiirwlint
ul' II martiiu't in <lt'aliii^ with the coloiiiMts, hut, iii<l;,'iii;; IVmiii
thf coinhict nf a few of them (hiring thr vu_\ay;(', it wfiiild ap
|M'ai' as il' thf .strictt-Nt iliHcipliiit- wius iirct-ssary.
\Vf must now rcft'i" to Mr. oi- rathiT. Kathrr liourkf, whoin
wt' ha\c ah'rady nit'iitioiic<| as th<> iiiiliviihial who t'onml tin
sii|i|ios*-(| iliaiiioixis an<l ruhit-s at the Ndsoii i-ncaiiipninit. in
\H\2. it Hccnis that he ilid not acconi|iaiiy thr fiist party tu
\{rt\ \V\\^•]\ l»nt rt'tufncd to Irclaml, wlii-n Milt-s Macilontll
wrotf ol' him as ToIIowh : "To Mr. ISoinki-. I liaxc ;;rantti|
Icaxf to j^o homr at his own ilfsiic and enclose his letter. ||r
was only an encuml)ran('e to me, iiTcj^nlar and eccentric in his
vnui
hict
as a c
lere-
vman.
li
e has no swav o\t'r his
tlock.
ami
religion is turned to ridienle amon;^' strane;ei's. 11" he can dn
an\' jj-ood to the cohaix' in Ireland, it is well : as a priest, he
can lie of no ser\ ice here, particniarly in the infancy of tin'
■settlement: and I hope ^'onr Loidshijt will not he in haste \n
.send him out to \is.'
Ihit it would seem as if Father JJonike accompanied the
seccaid party of emierants in INIM. and it is said married a
cou)»le (»n that occasion at \ ork Factory. He liowe\er re-
turned in the shi)> that hrou^ht him out. and never went
further inlantl than the encampment on Nelson Hivei', yet he
had the credit of hein^' the first minister of relie-jou from tin
Ihitish Isles who «n'er set foot on the shoi'es of Hud.son Hay.
InOctoher. IH|:{, Mi-. Keveney airived at I^'d Hivcrwitli
his pai'ty and consiened his charec to Miles McDonell. It is a
sinenlar coincidence that tlie .second hatch of eniie;rants hail tn
make their way to I'emhina like tlu' first, almost innnediatel\
afte)" theii" arrival at Fort Doue-las. Provisions had heen
.scarce pri'vious to their coiiiin;;', hut tlioir presence made mat
THK SKI.KIIIK SKTll.KMKXT.
171
trl> WOI-M*', IIIkI SI> tilt' Wllnlf colony |>r<K'««»'»l»'»l MOUtll to tlit'ir
w iiiti'T-tHJui'tcrM. 'I'lif wiiitt'f |ii-()\f(| )i liiii'd tuif, hikI nltlKtn;^li
ill iuMticc to tli»' otHccrs of lilt' Nortli-WcMt ('oin|uiiiy, it iiiUHt
lif .Hiiiil that tlii'V iissistfil till' st'ttltTs with loot!. mihI in otlit-r
wiiVN the siitli'i'iiiiis of till' iifw coiiicis wt'iT Nt'iv ijri'iit. So
iiiiich s(t. that tht'V rt'Molvfd never to STtuiii to Pcinhina aiiaiii.
III the iiieantiiiir, Lord Selkirk was Ihinv at home seenriii;;,-
tVisli eiiii^jraiits I'or his e(»|oiiy. ami ahoiit that time the Diieli-
ess of SiitlM'rlaiiil i'omiiieiice«l the cruel ))olicy of <lriviiij; many
111' her tenants from their once lia|>))y homes to make room for
exteiisivf siieep-truets. A niimher of these iinhaii|iy people
Wire intlut'ed to join the Selkirk colony, and in the Summer
i>\' lS|:i, Hailed from StromnesH for lliidson's Hay. I>uriny,tlie
V(iya;;e. fever hroke out amoiij. the pa.ssene;ers. and when
tliey arrived at their destination, the party of Scotch emi-
;,nants Were in a drea<lful conilition, and utterly iiiiHt to
iiiidei'nii the overland journey to Hed Hi\er, many of them
il\ iiiir liefore and after landiiie:, and the remainder liein<f so
woiii out with sickneNs, were ohli^cd to remain at the Hay
tin whole of the followiii},^ winter. I*'rom all accounts it
wuiilil appear tliat these jtoor )»eojile were not properly cared
fur l»v
th
ay;.
nts of l^onl Selkirk, and that the food an<l shei-
tt r provided were totally inade<|uate for their comfort or pro-
trttion from tiie severities of the weather. After s]>eiMliiie a
UKtst miserahle winter at ('hurchill and York Factory, the sur-
\i\urs of this tliini hatdi of emigrants started in the summer
"it 1SI4, for Hed Kiver, arrivin;^- there early in autumn. A
fiw days aftei 'heir arrisal, each head of a iamily was put in
|Mi>sessioii of H)0 acres of land, hut there were neither im))le-
iii.iits to till the stiii, nor a sutHcieiicy of food to he had.
Aclded to this the settlement was on the eve of a .series of
I
■sr
! .1
! ';
^l||f|i;
#ii-
•,
172
IIIS'I'ORV OF THE N'OirrH-WKST.
'
N
Ift
r t
«listui'l>aiic»'s which .shoi'tly at'tcrwards rrsultrd in the dcstnic-
tioii of thf colony hy the scrvimts of the North-Wc^l
Company.
It sccins tluit a few months hcfoi-c the arrival <»f this last
hatch of emigrants. Mr. Miles McDonell, who \uul heen appoint-
ed ( Jovenior hy Lortl S«'lkirk, issiied the following' proclama-
tion :
Whei'eas the Kiijlit Honorable Thomas Karl of Selkiik i^
anxious t(t provide for the families at present foi-min^' sett!.'
ments on his lanils at Red Hiver with those on the way to it.
])assinj;' the wintei' at York and Churchill Forts, in Hudson s
Hay, as also those who are expected to arrive next autumn,
renders it a neces.sai"y and indis))en.sahle j>ai"t of my duty to
])rovide for their suj>port. In the yet luicultivated state of
tlie country, the ordiiuiry resources (h:'rived fr<jm the htiti'alo
and other wild animals hunte<l within the territor}', aie imt
deemed more than adecpiate for the rej)uisite su})ply.
Wlu'ivas it is herel)y ordered, that no person tradiii;^- I'uis
oi' provisions within the territory for the Honoral)le Hudson s
Bay Company or the North - West Ccjiupany, or any individual,
or unconnected traders, or per.s<)ns whatever, shall take any
provisions, either of Hesh, fish, «i,rain, or vegetable, procui'ed ui-
raised within the saitl territory, by water or land carriage, for
one twelvemonth from the date h' reof ; .save and exc«'pt wli.it
may be Judp'tl necessary for the trading; parties at this j»ic
sent time within the territory, to carrv them to their lespt c-
tive destinations: and who may, on due aj)plic^ition to ww.
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 may accrue to tin'
parties concerned, they will be paid for by British bills at tli<
I
THK SKI.KIHK SKTTI.KMKXT.
r:i
I;
(•ust( unary ratoH. An<l Iw it hereby t'ui'tlu'r ina<l»' known, tltat
wlioHot'vci" shall 1)0 (Ictt'C'ted in attcniptinj^ to convey out, or
shall aid and assist in earryiny; out, or attempting toeany out,
any provisions ])rohil)ite<l as !»l)o\e, either hy water oi- land,
shall he taken into eustody, and j)roseeuted as the laws in sueh
cases direct, and the provisions so taken, as well as any floods
and chattels, of what natur«' sorver, which may he taken alonjj^
with them, and also the cral't, carriages and cattle, insti'umen-
tal in conveying- away the same to any part hut to the settle-
iiii'iit on Hed River, shall he forfeited,
'■(liven under my hand at Fort Daer (IVmhina)
the Sth dav of January, 1<SI4
(Siniu-d) Miles McDonkll, Governor.
Hy order of the (Jovernor.
(Siw-nrd) doHX i^VESCKH, SecrcfKr}/.
When we take into consideration the fact that Hed Hiver
was likely at any time to heconie the only ha.se of supplies for
till' people of the North-West ('i>m{)any, in the prosecution of
their fur trade, it is not surpiisinj^' to hear that the foreeoini^r
piodamation excited the hittei'est feelines on their ))art
against the Scotch settlers, adtled to which, Mr. McDonell ha<l
placed arms in the hands of the coloni.sts, and was drilling
them ret^ularly as soldiers. For a time aftei' this one distur-
liaiice followed another as the (governor endeavoui'ed to en-
fitrce the provisions of his proclamation, and although hlood-
shed was Iiappil^' averted, the condition of the colony eivw
'Aiirse dav hv dav.
Several seizures (tf ])rovisions from the Nortli-West Com-
pany were made hy oi'ders of McDonell, and at last, when their
traders from thi; intei'ior, on their way to Fort William, ar-
rived at R(hI River there were no provisions to cany them on
K
ii
',i
V
^
^4
iii
li
jj
iji
i
I 'I
il
H %
174
HISTOKY <»K THK NOKTII-WEST.
their Journey to their deHtiuation. It would not have beeji
.muprisiii^ if they had endeavoured to takt hy foree tlie hu|»-
plics which weiv stored in the Hudson's Hay Company's Toi-t,
an<l whieh propeily heh)nj(ed to them, as McDonell had seized
them witliout, as they considered, any authority, \nit instead
of this they made an arrauffement with him l)y which they
secured sufficient to take the ln"i;;;a(h's to Fort William. Here
the council of the Noi'tls-West t'om[)any discusse*! th«' whole
situation, ami it was learned that not oidy had McDonell
seized theii' ])rovisi()ns, hut he had sent out directions to tlie
ditterent Hudson's Hay Company's posts to inject tiie Nor-
Westers and destroy their buildings.
Here is a copy of one of the notices sai<l to have heen sent
out hy McDonell : —
" You must ^'wv them (the Xorth-West Compajiy), solemn
warning; that the lan<l belonjis to the Hudson's Hay ('om])aiiy
and that they nnist remove from it: after this warning they
should not he allowed to cut anv timber either for buildinu' oi'
fuel. What they ha\e cut ou^hl to be openly and foirildy
seized, and their l)uildini;s de.stnjyeil. In like manner they
should be warned not to fish in your waters, and if they put
down nets seize them, as you woidd in Kn^daiid those of ;i
{)oaciier. We are so fully advised by the unimpeachable val-
idity of the i'i<fhts of property that there can be no scniple in
enf()rcinj.j them, wherever you luive the physical means. If
they make forcible resistance, they are acting; ille^rally, and ;iiv
res])onsible for the consequences of what they do, while yoii
are safe, so lon^- as you take only the reasonable and neces.'-ary
means of enforcing' that which is rii^dit."
No stronjfer declaration of war could have ben framed tliuii
the above, an<l the coinicil of the North-West Company di-
THE SKI. KIRK SKTTLKMKNT.
175
* 'f • r
'1''
cidcd to resist, to the ntinost of their power, iiiiy vioh'iu'e or
ciierojiehinentH on the part of their opponents. It was further
;ii'ree(l to cause thi; arrest under the Act 4.S. ( Jeor;;e III., of
Miles McDonell, and his secretary, Spencer, foi- what they had
.dready done, and Mr. Duncan ('aineron was entrus^,L'«l with
till' warrant for tlieir appn'hi'usion.
Some idea of the feelinjfs and intentions of the Noitli-West
Company about this time may he jud}.je(l fvom a letter written
liy Mr. Ak'xamk'r MeDonell, wh() was associated with Mr.
Cameron at the time, and wlio afterwards .sent <lown the party
of haif-hreeds, whose action at Fort Doutjhis (jau.sed the death
uf (lovernor SempU-. The letter is ihited Au^\ist .")th, 1814,
jiiid is ad«h-e.s!sed to his l»rother-in-hiw, Mr. \Vm. Me( iilli\ i-ay.
You see myst'lf and oui* mutual friend Mr. Cameron, .so far
(1)1 (lur way to connnence open hostiUties against the enemy.
.Much is expected from us. One thin*;' certain is that we will
ijn (lur hest to defend wluit wi' consider our ri;;hts in the inter-
ioi'. Nothing' hut the com{)lete downfall of the ,*olony will
satisfy .some, hv fair or foul means — a most desii-ahle ohject if
it can he ett'ected. So here is at them, with all my heart and
fiifi'irv."
In the meantime the .settlers became much di.ssatisHed with
their lot, but bravely l)oiv up aj;ainst theii- diffictilties, and in
tlic spring- of IHl.") had re.sumed their a^n-'cultural labors, and
wcif cherishing' the hope of future peace and a prosjxjrous
suiiiiiiei'. Hut in the midst of this calm, which certainly pre-
ciijcd a storm, Mr. Can\eroii arrivcfi froni Fort William and
iiideavcRired to put his warrant for the arrest of .McDonell into
t'orce, A ti{.jht en.sued, in which several wei'e injured and a
Mr. Warren killed, when (lovernor McDonell to avoid f..rther
hl()(i(|shed, surrendered himself as a pri.soner.
i
i
( >
1 ',
mm
!
B
176
msT«H<V OF THE NOHTM-WKST.
AfttT liis iirri'st, Mr. JaineH Sutherland was left in chart;*',
and when tliat j:;t'ntk'nian .saw that the colony was utterly at
the mercy of the Xor'-WeHterH, he and Surj^eon James White,
who was afterwards killed in the Semple traj^edy, signed the
followinjj; ajjreement on the 2.5th June, 1815: —
Articled! of Agreement entered into between the HaU'-Hret'(l
Indians of the Indian Territory, on one pai"t, and the
Honorable Hudson's Bay Company on tlu; other, viz. :
1. All .settler.s to retire innnediately from this river, and no
appearance of a colony to remain.
2. Peace and amity to subsist between all parties, traders.
Indians, and freemen in future throughout these twd
rivers, and on no account is any person to be molested in
his lawful pursuits.
8. Tiie Honorable Hudson's Bay Company will, as customaiy.
enter this river with, if they think projier, three t<» fuiii'
of the fovmer trading boats, and from four to Hve nun
per boat, tis usual.
4. Whatever former disturbance has taken place between
both parties, that is to .say, the Honorable Hud.son's Bay
Company and the Half-Breeds of the Indian Territory,
to be totally forgot, and not to be recalled by eitlui'
party.
5. Every per.son retiring peaceal)ly from the river inum-
diately, shall not be mole.sted in their passage out.
(j. The ])eople [)assing the summer for the Honorable Hu<l-
son's Bay Company, shall not i-enuiin in the buildin::'^
TIIK SKI.KIIJK SK'ni-KMKNT.
177
\v
of tin* colony, Imt hIuiII retire to souic other spot wluTO
tlicy will t'st)il)lisli for tlit" {)nrpo.st' of tnulf.
C'liiffs of the Half-lirciMls.
and
Vi>v HikIhoh's Bay Company
ClTimKHT (J RANT,
I>.\ST()NN()1S PaXUMAV,
W.M. Shaw,
l)()NII<>MMK MoXTol'H.
.IaMKS SrTMF.IU.ANI),
Chief Factor,
.Ta.mks Whitk,
Surgeon.
I' \
Tlif rt'Huit of Cameron's attack on Ft)rt DouirliiH was the (U;-
stniction of the settlers' houses, antl the Iti-eakiu}^ up of the
colonv. Some of tiie colonists entered the service of the Hutl-
sons Bav ('om()anv : othei's ivpaired to Jack Kiver, on Lake
pai
Winnipeg', one or two returned to Voi"k Factory, a few re-
mainetl, and ahout fifty families wei"e. at their own solicita-
tion, conveyed to Canada by tin Xorth-West Company, and
JimdtMJ at York, now the city of Toronto, and it seeme<l fortius
time Itei.ij"' as if Lord Selkirk's colonv was at an end. (Jov-
ernor McDonell junl his .secretary, Spencer, were never lnou^ht
tu ti'ial.as there appearec
d to I)
)e no hojjc of (
)1 itai
um}y
nvic-
tinn ay,ainst them under the peculiar circumstances of case,
.iiid the prosecution was droppeil.
C'HAPTKli XI.
Hi
t
t
i
t
CONTEST METWEEX THE Hl'DSOX S MAV AND X<»HTH-WEST
COMPANIES.
The Hudson's May Company now intt'i'ixwtMl, ami undt-r
tlu'ir prott'ction, the Si'oteli Hcttk'i's wore hrouj^ht hack t'lom
Jack River to Fort l)()iii,daH, but their trials !Ui<l \ ieissitudes
were not at an eml. ( )n the 5th Noveniher, l.Slo, a fresh Itateh
of ejiiij^rants ari'ived, havinj; h'ft Stronniess on the previous
15th June, and, Hke their pi-edecessors. the colcvnists found th;tt
no preparation had heen made for their ieee])tion. Instewi of
a tlirivin^ settU-ment, they found houses in ruins, and a seene
of desohition, whei-e they expert id to see a pi'osperous com-
munity, Imt worse than all. there was no food to feed them,
and in conse(iuence, they luul to continue their journey in
company with tliose who liad returned f)'om Jack River, in tli-'
cold ami sjiow, to Pend)ina. Here they set to work ti> •■rtct
I'ude huts to shelter themselves, hut in a month or so they had to
leave these temporary houses, and Journey to the plains in th.
hope of procui'in^f food, there hein^' a scarcity of pi'ovisions at
Pend)ina, an<l no means of ])rocurin<;' any near that plact
These unfortunate people had to joiu'ney a distance of ahont
one Inindred and fifty miles, and as they were ill-provided
with suitable clothes to protect their persons from the cold,
they sutiered dreadfidly. Meetinjj with a party of hunter-^,
they remained with them dui'iny- tiie winter, performing- sueh
IU'DSONS UAV AMI N( (KTII-WKST ( ( )M I'ANIE.s.
179
I i
work as they wen* capable dI' doin^, in ivtui'ii lor wliit'li they
were Fed ati<l sheltered until the spring', when they returned
to Pend)ina, and tVoni thenee deseende(l the Red Kiver l)V
water in A|)ril to Fort Dou^'las. They then l)«'<;an to culti-
vate the soil, and everythin^j appeared ))ro|)itious to their Im'-
coiiiin^j comfortably settled in their new home, when, <>n the
lilth June, IHIG, an event liappenetl which once more l>ronoht
desolation to the colon\'.
The hij,di-handed proc«'edin«js of Miles McDonell, and the
siihseipjent aj^^ressive policy of the Earl of Selkirk, ci'eated
very hitter feelings between the otHcers of the Hudson's Hay
and North-West Companie.',, and several collisions took place,
resultinj; in loss of life and ])roperty on both sides. Lnril Sel-
kirk's nolicv was to extend the tl'ade of the Hudson s Hav
Company into distant parts hitherto monopolized by the ti\jil
Canadian association, and foi" this purpose '' in IS14. <le-
s}»«tche<( a Ml", .lames Sutherland to Mon.v.al to en;;aoe
a<;ents there for the prosec\ition of this new depaituii' in
tradin^^ Mr. Colin Ro]>ert.s»>n was induced to enter the sci--
vice, an<l to liim Lord Selkirk entrusted the ehief manage-
ment of the undertaking'. Pren<'h-Catiadians. who had been
iiiiploy^s (»f the North-West Company, were e>i<jfa^fed instea<l
of Orkney men. and in ^lav. ISlo, a bri-j-ade <»f twentv-two
canoes, manned by these veteran vovau'eurs, left Lachine,
bomid for the noi'th. At .bvck Kiver tliey took on the supplies
wiiieh liad been bi-ou^ht from York Factory and stored there,
aud then foi'miri^ into <lirterent bands, they pi-oceedtMl, some to
Athabasca district, others to the I^i'sser ami (beater Slave
bakes, an<l a third party, under conunand of Mr. C'laike, who
was one of Mr. Astor's partners in the Pacific Fur Ct^mpany^
went up the Peace River. This tir^t attempt to ]tenetvate the
■\V
'i ffl^^HP
fl
!
m
ISO
msToUV OF Till.; N(UiTI|-\Vi:sT.
iiortliri'ii WintrictH was, liowcvt-r, tuily |»artly .siu'ccHHrul, uwiiin
to tlu' laU'iiuHH ot* the seawoii wlini tin- bri^radcs rcaclu'*! tlicii-
tk'Htinatioii, and tlic lack dl' jtrox isioiis, wliicli, Dwiii;^' to tlif
opposition ol" the Noi'tli-Wcst Coiiipany, tin- lU'W coiiifis Iwnl
ilitfii-nlt\' ill olitaiiiiiiu' IVoiii tin- linliaiiM.
III till' iiicantiinc, Mr. Holu-rt Sfinplt' was appoiiitt'd ( !o\ -
oi'iior-iii-cliifr ol' tlic northciii tU-paitiiu'iit, aii<l was fiiti'Ustcil
with |»ow«'r.s far cxcot'iliiin; tliosi' coiit'cntMl on any of liis prc-
deci'SMors in oHict-, as will Im- hvvu from the followiu;,^ extracts
taken from resolutions passed hy tlie stockholders of tiie
Hudson's Hay Company on the l!tth May, LSI.').
These are the e.xtracts :
First — Tliiit tliuro alifill In- tipiMiintetl ii (idvernur-iii-cliiof and ("ouncil,
who Miuili have itiiniiiKniiit iiutherity over tlie wholo of the torriterieH in
Hiulsc Ill's JWy.
SeciiiuUy— Tliiit the (lnvenior, with any two i>f his (^llllleil, shall hi'
coniiiett'iit to foiiii a C'nmicil for the ailmiiiistration of juslicc, im(^ thu ux-
ercise of the power vested in them by charter
Tiiirdly— That the (Joveriior of Assinihoia, and the CSovernor of Moose,
within their respective districts, and with any two of their respective
Councils, shall have the .snine [lower ; hut their power sjiall he suspended,
wliile the («overiior-in-chief is actually present for judicial jairposes.
Fourthly — That a sheriM' lie appointed for each of the districts of As-
Si'dboia and Moose, and one for the remainder of the company's terri-
tory, for the execution of all such uroce.sses as shall be directed to th»ni
accordiiii,' to law.
Fifthly — That in the case of death, or alisence of any Councillor or
Sherirt', the (lovernor-in-chief shall ai)p()int a person to do the duty of the
ottice till the pleasure of the company be known.
Ill the sprin<^ of ISKi, (loveriior Semple, while on a tonr ol
inspection visiting- the ditt'eri-nt posts of tlie coiiipany, placi'd
Mr. Colin Robertson in charoc at Fort I)ouo-|as, and that ;jeii
tleman, beiiii; a thorouoh fur tratler, at once determined tn
declare open war against tlu' servants of the Xorth-West Com
pany in his vicinity. His efforts were particularly directed
lUDSONS UAV AMI NitUTH-WKST coMI'ANIKS.
IHI
iinfiiiist Mr. hnuciiii ( 'innrron, who liinl ciiiiHcd tlic arn'st ol'
Mili-s Mchoiu'll. ami on tlic ITtli Miircli an attack wns iiiu*!*;
(Ill Kort (5il)i'iiltaf, tlif ln'atli|iiait<'r.s ol tin- Niii'-\V»'Ht(>rs, wIhto
Mr. ( "aiiicron wum Htutiont'd That ut'iitltinaii and all liiNclcrks
W I
IV tiikm prisoiifis ami placed in ctaiHncinciit, much to their
•ted.
.sur)in>e. as the assault made on them was entirely iniex|te(
Tlif North-West Company "s express hcarin;,' the mail from
I'dit William was captured the letttTH ('(illliscated, and all the
arms, ^oods, and furs in Fort (lihraltar taken possession ol".
Mr ( 'anieion protested strontrlv airainst these hii;h-handcd
|irnceedin;4's, and demanded r«'storation ol' tin- ioit and other
property, hut he was told hy Mr. Uohertson that as (Jihraltai-
was the key of the Hed lii\er, the Hudson's lliiy ( 'ompany
was resolved to keep it at all hazards. A force ol' Mr. Utthcrt-
.sun s men I'ldly armed was stationed at the s|)ot to j;nard the
prisoners and |>re\ cut the place from heinn; re-taken, ami at-
tacks were then made on other stations heloimiiiir to the North-
West ( 'ompany, am. .. servants driven from their homes.
I'lMperty helon;;ine' to the Canadians was i-ontiscated rieht
.ilid left, and for a time the power of the Nor'-Westel-s seemed
tc lie lirokeii ill that part of the (•ountry. An attcmj)t was
cveii ma<
lo t(
) ca|)turt
the N. W Post at OuA
withiiiit siiccesH, and Mr. Alexander .Mchoii,
telle
lilt
wlio was III
it tl
diavyv detcrmiiu'd to resent the insult and rejiair the losses iii-
It
th
niii^.'il n'\^n\ Ins company, as lie realizeo the iiii])ortance oi the
stiji taken by Mr. Kohertson, and the disastrous eti'ect it would
11 tile whole inland trade of his company unless it was
lia\i' i»
hw
arted. P'»rt I )oiielas lieine' armed vvith artillery, ami situ-
atid close t*> tile river hank. coiiiniaiide<l h positi«»n which would
ciialile the Hu<lsons Hay C<aiipaiiy to intei'cept all intercourse
liv water between Fort William and the interior posts. It w
•a«
i (
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i
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1
i
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1S2
HlSToKY (tr THK N'oHTH-WKST.
tlirrt't'ort' <>r tlu' utiiiost iiii|i(irtaiu'«' to I'cpiin ]>()N.s<'Nsi()ii of Kmt
( lihraltiir, hikI in onU'i" to iiccoinplisli thin In; .sent inysHtMiy^fis
t<» the Noi'th-Wcst ajft'iits on tlu- SuMkiitclu'waii hikI Sw.iii
KiverH to si'ud liini a forct.- of mm For tin- imrposc. His a|,.
|H'iil for a.ssistiiiK't' met with a favoralih' I'cspoiiHr. aii<l a inini-
Im'I' of nu'ii, ehicHy Krciicli lialf-lirt'cils, were sent to him. I'.nt
Mr. Roht'i-tson, hrariiin' of this force coMt'ctcd to attack him. Mt
once tore down Fort (!il»raltar, ami then left the Red Rixn-
for York Factory, taking; Mr. Cameron with him as pri.soMir,
and (lovei'iior Sem|»le, rtiturnin;; fi'om hi.s trip, took com main 1
at Fort Don^^his. Mr. M(d)onell had learned that a lti'i;>ade nf
Xorth-VVest hoats was expected to arrive in the Red Riv r
alM)nt the 'iOth June, and as he knew that the Hudson s May
Company were in a po.sition to intercept and prohahly captinv
the .supplies, he undertook to .send a pai'ty to open comnnmi-
cation by land hetweeii Lak«' Wiiniipen- and the .stations on tin'
Assinilyoine. Foi- this purpose a hand of about sixty halt-
biveds and Indians on horseback was sent with instructions Ut
])a.ss at a distance behind Fort l)<ai<flas, which no diaibt was
the proj^ramme intended by Mr. McDonell, and was the wi.sest
course to ])ursue, becau.se any attempt to take tlie stron<;hoid d'
the Hudson's liay Com])any, stron<ily fortified as it was, woiiM
have been a u.sele.ss ,sacritice of life. ( )ne section of McDonell s
men succ«'eded in passiuif Fort Douj^las unperceived, and at
once made an as.sault on the .settlers' houses alony; the v'wrv.
The .second section, however, when passinj^ the fort on tiic
lilth .lune, ISU), was di.scove>'e<| by ( Jovernoi' Semj»le and his
uien.who. supposing; that it was either an attack on the settlr-
ment. or a party ^oin^ to join the expected brij^ade from F<irt
William, left the fort with about twenty-seven of his followi is
to meet the Noi'"- Westers, and on comini; up to them, an^ry
IF
mUSONS HAV A\l» NollTII-WKST roMI'ANIKS
IH3
wonls piiMHctl, r<»ll<)Wt"l iiiiiinMliat»'ly Ity tin- <li.sfliai<,M' of tiri--
aniis and u ^t'lici'iil H^ht iM'twrt'ii tin; twd partit's. (lo\ri-iior
SciiipK' wiiM woundcil, and sevrral of IiIh uifn killed at tho
vt'iy coninK'ncfnicnt, mid uftrrwardM a Hlau^litiT of nearly tlu*
whole of tli«' Hudson'.s Hay ('oni])any jM'ople took placei
t\venty-on«' of them Iteiny either slain outii;;lit or wonndeil.
hiH'erent versions of who tiled the Hrst shot have lu'eii e;i\cn,
liiit the exact truth of the matter will never Im- known. ( lov-
ernor Semj)le's party was composed of raw and inexperienceil
men, mostly youths utterly unahh' to rope with the Heree half-
hreeds and Indians opposed to them, and this no doulit ac-
counts foi' tin* lar^'e numl«'r killed on the side of the Hudson's
Hay Company people, while the Nor'-Westers (»nly lost one
man killed and another wounded. (Jovernor Semple, althou<;h
not mortally injuretl in the tiy;ht. was afterwards shot d«'ad hy
an Indian, and many of the killed were hai'harously treated hy
the half-hreeds and savai;es, althouj^di Mi', ('uthl)ert (Jrant,
who oonnnanded the party, did all in his power to prevent any
•It
uuMUe crtieltv on Hie j)ai
til
I't of his men. After the death of
I'
Scmple there was a disposition on the part of the settlers,
most of whom had crowded into the fort, to resist any further
attack on the pait of the Nor'-Westers, hut havinj; heai'd of
a movement of armed men to reinforce (Ji-ant, and fearin<;'
that they couUl not hold out a;jainst lai-^e numhers, they
Hiiall
V atfreec
I to
cam
itulatt
ai
id .Mr. Alex. .McDonell, who t(K)k
('liar;;e on the death of Semple, ^ave up Kort Douj^las to the
.North -West Conii)anv, takinir, however, an inveiitorv of all it
coiitaii'.ed, for which he received a receipt from .Mr. (Jrant.
The settlers now looked upon their prospect of success in
the colony as almost hopeless, and eml)arkin^' on boats fur-
iiistied hy the Nor'-Westers, they hade a<lieu to the settlement
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
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184
HISTOIIV OF THE XORTJl-WEST.
aiifl proceeded to Jack River, where most of them rt inaiiicil
until the following year, when they returned to Red Rixcr
\mder the protection of Lord Selkirk and hi.s company of
jMeuronn,
5 While these contests between the servants of the two eoiii-
paiiies were taking- jylace on the Red River, the same spirit of
antagonism was shown in carrying" on the trade of the interior,
and in tlie far west and north, outrages on each other were of
fi'equent occurrence. 'I'he worst feature, however, was tin'
em])lovment of Indians, chietlv bv the Hudson's Bav Com-
pany, to attack the fur posts of their rivals, and so bitter did
this mode of warfare become that it finally interfered to .i
great extent with the jirofitable prosecution of the fur trade.
During the winter of 1815 1(5, Lord Sellcirk paid a visit to
Montreal, for the purpose of enlisting ivcruits for his service
and it appears that overtures were then ma«le to him by the
Xorth-West people, for a coalition of the two companies.
These advances were, however, scouted l)y the Earl who no
doubt, at that time, saw his way to force his rivals to i-ctirc
from the field. Not only did he engage a large number of
voyageurs, but he also enlisted about 100 veterans who had
served in de Meuron's regiment and acted as mercenaries in
the French army during the war in Spain. They were, from
all accounts, a reckless and licentious set of men, ready to un-
dertake any enterprise of doubtful character, so long as they
were paid for it. The employment of these soldiers and tlu'
activity displayed by Lord Selkirk in sending oft' l)rigades of
canoes to reinforce his traders in the far north, caused tlif
North- West Company to become exceedingly apprehen-sivc of
the ruinous consecjuences likely to ensue to their trade, and in
February, 18J(), they addressetl a letter to the Secretary of
State o.i the subject.
HIDSON'S HAY ANT) NORTH-WEST COMPANIES.
1S5
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111 tlii.s letter they say: " We do not presume to point out
tilt' particular proceedinj^ which in this case wouhl be satis-
factory to ourselves. (Jur sole object is to put an end to
violence and bloodshed, and we are perfectly satish'ed that in
the discussion to which such proceedings must ^ive rise, the
interests of His Majesty's Canadian subjects will at least
meet with as favorable consideration as those of their op-
prnients."
On the 1st ^Vlarch followinfj, they addressed another letter
to the Secretary of State, from which the following extract is
taken : " We do not venture to sugg-est the remedy it may be
in their power, or may appear eligible to His Majesty's CJov-
eniment, to provide in this case, but we are certain, if some
measures be not adopted to define, without tlelay, the limits,
power and authority of the Hudson's Bay Company, a contest
will ensue in the interior, the results of which will be dread-
ful, with respect to the loss of lives and property'."
Tliese appeals to the Home Government, however, went un-
heeded as far as any action being taken, and Lord Selkirk,
having dispatched his brigades of canoes from Lachine, soon
after followed with his force of de Meurons, fullv armed and
equipped for service. He, himself, was appointed Justice of
the Peace for the Indian Territories, and for Upper Canada, a
position which added much to his power and authority.
One of his Lordship's brigades of canoes was commanded bj'
Miles McDonell, the ex-governor of Assiuiboia, and this gentle-
man on arriving at Lake Winnipeg heard for the first time of
the unhappy event resulting in the death of Mr. Semple, which
liad taken place on the 19th June. He at once retraced his
steps to Lake Superior, and, meeting Lord Selkirk at Sainte
^hiiie, informed him of the circumstance, and, as might be ex-
* i
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I8tj
HISTOKV OF THE NOHTH-WDST.
i:'
pectod, the iiiFonnation did not tend to improve hi.s Lordship's
teelinj^s toward the North- West (company. At tlie time, lie
was waiting at Salute Marie for an expected a<ldition to his
forces, and for son)e ai'tillery and provisions on the way across
Lake Huron, and it has even been hinted that his purpose then
was to make an attack on, and ca])tnre. Fort William, the
lieadcpiarters of his rivals. Be this as it may, tlu* information
conveyed to him by Miles McDonell furnislied in his eyes a
sufficient reason for adoptinj;- retaliatory measures, and as soon
as his leinforcements arrived he proceeded at once to put them
in force.
Arriving- in the Kaniinisti(|uia river about the middle of
Aiio'ust, he at once arranged his men and artillery, so as to
command the approaclies to Fort William, the cannon bein^'
loaded and pointed as if for a siege and bond)ai"bment of the
])lace. On the following day, two men acting as constables
entered the fort and arrested Mr. William McGillivray who
was in conniiand, soon after which Lord Selkirk arrived, and,
placing the princi])al officers in confinement, took posses-
sion. Tlie place was then searched, and all the furs, v^alued at
S()(X()0(), and other property seized, notwithstanding the formal
protests of the Nor'- Westers against such proceedings. It was
next decided to take the North-West officers to Montreal for
trial, and accordingly they were sent off in canoes under
charge of a guard of Selkirk's men the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany's force in the meantime remaining in possession of the
Fort. The charge upon which Lord Selkirk arrested these
officers was based on the plea that they in some way were con-
nected with or instrumental in bringing about the outrages
conniiitted on the Earl's property in June, but this, it is appar-
ent, was only a pretext to serve Lord Selkirk's purpose.
11
Hl'DSONS HAV AM) NOKTH-WKST ('OMPANIKS.
IS7
Mt'(}illivray and his coinpaiiions on reacliint; Montreal la-in^^
;i(liiiitted to bail, swore out warrants for Lord Selkii'k's arrest,
liut wlien the conHtaV)le arrived at Fort William to execute
tlieni, he found himself made prisonier, his authority treated
with contem})t, and in a few days he was turned loose and
ordered to retui-n the wav he came.
Lord Selkirk now remained monarcli of all he surveyed, and
not content with taking possession of P\)rt William, sent out
parties to capture other posts belonging to the rival company.
In this way the trading .stations at Fond du Lac, Micliipico-
ton. and the fort at Lac la Pluie, fell into his hands, after which
a company of de Meurons, under connnand of Ca})tain D'Orson-
iiens made theii" way to Red River to retake Fort Douglas.
This was accomplished in true military style by taking advan-
taire of a dark and stormv niirht, when the de MeiU'ons
approaching the fort, succeeded in scaling the walls before the
(garrison was even aware of their presence in the neighbor-
hood. Taken thus by surprise, the Nor'-Westers yiehied with-
out tiring a shot, and Fort Douglas once more passed into the
ha mis of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Soon after this, steps were taken to bring back the Scotch
settlers from Jack Ri\er, and these jioor people, after under-
going great hai'dships during tlu' winter while in exile, were
i;iad of the opportunity to re-occupy the lands from which
they had been so unceremoniously and sunnnarily ejected.
In the meantime the acts of robbery and bloodshed on the
part of the two companies — the brutal massacre of the l!)th
•lune, and the subsequent high-handed proceedings of Lord
Selkirk at Fort William, had at length roused the Imperial
authorities to the necessity of taking steps to jmt a stop to
further outrages of the kind. Accordingly, in February, 1817,
'i!ii ■
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wlm. i
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IIISTOKV OF THE NOU'IH-WKS'I'.
the ({ov('rnor-( jleneral of Canada receive<l a (It'spatcli tVoin tin-
Home (Joverninent cuntaininix the following,' words:
" You will alHO retjuire, under similar penalties, the restitu-
tion of all forts, buildings or trading stations, with th.' pro-
perty which they contain, which may have been sei/fcl di-
taken possession of l)y either party, to the party who origin-
ally established or constructed the same, and who were in
possession of them previous to the recent disputes between the
two companies. You will also re(|uire the removal of any
blockade or impediment, by which any party may have
attempted to jirevent the free passage of traders, or others of
His Majesty's subjects, or the natives of the country, with
their merchandise, furs, provisions and other effects through-
out the lakes, rivers, roads and every other usual route or
communication heretofore used for the purpose of the fm'
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 restora-
tion 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 (juestion at issue, with respect to the rights of the
companies, shall be definitely settled."
The Governor-General then appointed Colonel Coltman and
Major Fletcher, two military gentlemen of high character, to
act as commissioners, in conformity with the above despatch.
These gentlemen left Montreal in May, 1817, and proceeded at
once to Fort William, which, however, liad in the meantime
been handed back to the North-West Company, It appears
that after Lord Selkirk left for Red River, the sheriff of
Upper Canada, by virtue of a writ of restitution, took pos-
rS
"Il
iii'DsoNs li.\^■ AND \(>i!rii-\vi;si- < omi'amks.
IS!)
M'ssidii junl n'stoi'fd it to its ori^'iiuil ow ihts, mihI tin- cniniiiis-
siniicrs (Coltnitni ninl KIctchcr), timliii^' tli's to I •■ ;!n' ruse.
|ir()ct'('(|c(l onto IJfd Ki\('i'. ;irri\ iii;^ iit Fort I )oii^l.i.'> while
l>oi(l St'lkii'U was still tlicif. 'I'licy iiiiiiictliatcly iirociidrd to
rxccutt' tlit'ii' t'oiiiiiiissioii, Mild cniiiprllcd riicli ]»!irty to iiiakf
I'i'stitiitioii. as I'ar as jiossihi*', and rcstort' tlic )iro|ifrty taken
IVoMi their o[)|)onents. Fort ( Jihi-altar hail l)een <lesti'oyed, hut
the X()rth-\\\'st Company at once went to work to erect
hiiildin;;'s For cai'ryin^' on their trade, and Lord Selkirk de\-ot-
cd hiinseir to ari'anj;in<;" his colony and niakino- pi-ovision Tor
the de Mcurons, accoi'diiiu- t<t the contract he liad maih- with
tlieni. 'I'liis he ilid l)y allotting' to each one a jtiot of land,
around Fort Douulas and on the opposite sick- ol" the river,
within casv call, the otiicers lu'inii' stationed anioiii:- them. In
this wav Lord Selkiik had his militarv friends ])lace<l, so that
ill case of any n;'C;'Hsity arisinn' foi- callin;;' in tlu'ir assistance,
a sinnal from heachiuarters would enable the whole liody to
jdiii their commanders in the foil at short notice. He then
asseml)le<l tlie settlers at a public nieetin<;', and made them
st\eral concessions, amongst wliicli may be mentioned free
grants of land *^'or church and school purposes. Public roails,
hy-roa<ls, bridges, mill sites, and other important mattei's were
sittle(l, and the colonists, encouramM I l)v the.se marks of care
lor their welfare, set to work to erect buildings and otherwise
improve the settlement.
The terms on which the settlers had aj>'reed to come out to
Kfd River were as follow : —
First — They were t(j enjoy the services of a minister of
religion, who was to be of their own persuasion.
Second — Each settler w^as to receive 100 acres of land at
five shillings per acre, payable in produce.
1.
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msToKV OK TIIK NOKTII-WKST.
Tliird — TIm'V wci't' to lifi\»')i iiiurk'ct in tlie coIoiin I'ni' all
tlR'ir ))ro<liic('.
Fourth Tlicy were to •■iijoy all tlic ]ii'i\ ilcnt-s of liritisli
siihjcetH.
Ill r(';^art| t(> the first clause, a .Mi'. Sai;T, son ol" l»c\. Alc\-
iiiidci' Sfi<^(', ol' tilt' |iarish ol" Kildoiiaii, north ol ScotlanW, was
t'liiiUiit'd hv Lord Selkirk to <!() out an<l minister to the set-
tiers. l)ut I'or some reu.son he did not fulfil his en^^a^emeiit.
and a Mr. .lames Sutherland, an elder in the I'reshyteriaii
Church, was a|)pointe<l to marry, baptize and attend to otiiei'
ministerial duties. The land, nieiitioned in the second clause,
was i;i\cii to the .settlers free of cluii'j^v, to compensate them
for tlie many har<lsliips and sescre trials they had sutiereil,
hut whetlier the fulfilment of the tliii-d ami fourth clauses
was ever truly carried out is a ipiestion open to doiil»t. Lord
Selkirk. ha,\ine- done all in his power, duriiij;' his \ isit to Heil
lJi\er. ill IfSIT, for the e()od of his people, next tiinie(l his
attention to the Indians, and in so doiiie' shewecj a desire to
protect his colonists from any diance of attack hy the sava^vs
throut;li disputes in rej^ard to the owiu'iship of the lan<l.
Accordine'lv, he called the Lidians of the neieiihourhood to-
e'ethor within tlu- walls of the fort, and, after li'i^'ii'ii' them
presents, conchided the following treaty with them . —
I nil fi!i
■ ■ 1
"This Indkntikk, uuide on tho 18th day of July, in tlie iifty-suvfiith
year of the rei<<n of our .Sovereign Lord, King (Jeoi'ge the Tliinl.
and in the year of our Lord 1817, between the unJeiMigned Chiefs and
Warriors of tlie Chippeway or 8aulteaux Nation, and of the Killi.stin.s m
Cree Nation, on the one part, and tlie Right Honorable Thomas Earl ut
Selkirk, on the other part. Witnesseth, that for and in consideration nf
the annual present or (juit rent hereinafter mentioned, the isaid Chiets
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 ad-
jacent to Red River and Assiniboine River, beginning at the mouth of tlie
IK l>S(i\.S \l.\\ AM) N<»I!I'II-\V|;.S|' ( (».MI'A\li;,S.
I!l(
i'
Ki;(l Rivor, (ind DXteiidini^ iiloiit,' tlio siiim- iis far iih tliu urcnt Furks iit' tlio
liiiiiitli of llt'il Liikt- River, iiiuliilnug Assiiiibniiu' Rivur as faf iis Musk-
Hiil IxiviT, utlu'rwiso called Riviure des Cliiiiiipimmii.s, mid exti'iidiiiL; ti»
ilic dist.'inee of six iiiiles fmni Kurt Dmigla.s on overy »idt'. uiid likewise
t'l'iiiii Fnit DiuT (IVinbiiiii), iiiid .iIho frnm the (Jreat Forks, ami in otliur
paits e\tt'iKliiit{ ill tlio lircadtli to tin- diHtiinct' of two English statiiti"
iiiilos liack from tlio banks of tlii^ said rivers, ou each side, toyetiior with
all the ajumrt nances whatsoever of the snid tract of land, to Imve >ind to
liojil for ever the snid tract of land and ai)])urteiianee3, to the use of the
said Karl of Selkirk, and of the settlers lieing established tlu'reoii, with the
consent and permission of our Soverei<fii Lord, the Ivini^, or of the said
Karl of Selkirk. Provided always, that these presents are under the ex-
]iress condition that the Karl, his heirs ami successors, or their agents,
shall annually ])ay to the Chiefs and Warriors of the <'hii)pew!i3' of Saul-
teaiix Nation the present, or ipiit rent, consisting of one hundred pounds
weight of good merchantable tobacco, to be delivered on or before the
tenth day of ( >ctobei', at the Forks of Assinilioine River ; and to the Chiefs
and Warriors of the Kinstineaux or Cree Nation, alike present, or (|uit
rent, of one hundred pouiuls of tobacco, to be flelivered to them on or be-
fore the said tenth day of October, at Portage de hi Prairie, on the banks of
Assiuiboine River. Provided always that the trailers 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 cultivate<l and im-
proved, till His Majesty's jdeasure shall be known.
*' In witness whereof the Chiefs aforesaid have set tlieir marks at the
Forks of Red River, on the day aforesaid.
" Signed, Ski.kiuk.
'•Signed in presence of Thomas Thomas, .lames Bird, F. Matthey, Cap-
tain; P. D. Oivsonnens, Captain : Miles McDonell, .1. Bste Clir De Lovi-
mier, Louis Nolin, Tnterpreter ; and the following Chiefs, each of whom
made his mark, being a rude outline of some animal.
"Mtiche W. Iveocab (Le Sonent) ; Uuckidoat (I'remier idia^ (Jrande
(h'eilles): Mechudewikoiiaie (La Robe Noire); Kayajiei'ebinoa (L'homme
Noir ; Pegowis. "
It may hrrt' Ix' said that the Saiiltoaiix linliaiis w Jio arc
!iieiiti()in'(l first in ttic alidM- tfcaty, had no fcal claim to the
lamls on the Red Hi\ci', while the ( "rccs, who ai'c mciitiouccl
last, have been, since the memory of man, the riohtlul iiihal)it-
aiits ol' this jiai't ol' the coinitry. The Crees aftorwards took
^ivat mnhrao'e at this I'eatni'c of the treatw and often thi'cat-
I
ill
i|
l!t2
insT(»!tV UK I'lIK N'oltTII-WKsT.
iiifd to withdrnw IVniii it ami claiiii tlu'ir lands IVoni tlif set
tiers, n tlirrat, lidwcxcr, wliicli tln-y in-scr |)Ut into cti't'ct.
Lord Selkirk. Iia\iii;;' tlius arran^ied lor liis soldiers, tlie wrl-
I'are of Ids colonists, and a settlement with the Indians, liadi-
julii'U to Ke<l Hiver. an<l, aeconi|»anied liy a ^uide and a lew
;,;'entlei lien, passed south tlirou<;,li l)akotah,and niakin<; his w ay
to Ne\v \'oi'k, end)arked lor Knnland without \isitiiin- ( 'anail.i.
the nuniei'ous lawsuits with whioh he was threjitened, no
doubt, inducinii" him to take this course.
(
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("IIAI'TKI! Nil.
COAMI'ION OK I'lIK III hSuNS It.W ANh M Hi TII-WKSl"
Cn.MI'AMKs.
Tin; t'tf'cct prcxluccil l»y .Messrs. ( 'oltinnn \' I'lctchcr's mis-
sinii Wiis ii(»t of a iMstiii;^' clmnu'tt'i', t'ur wc timl tliat in IN1!>
Mr. William Williams', tin' sii]ifriiit(ii<lriit ol' tlir iioi-tlifiii ilc-
|iartmfiit of the Mtnlsoir.s liay ('(im]ian\', iimlcr'^ ok to iii-
ti'i'c*t')»t aiifl captui'c till' Nortli- West ( 'oiiijiaiiy s caiKifs on
their WHY to Fort Willii
nil.
I')\' means of a lio(l\- of armed
tie .M('\iroiis, lu> (surpriseil the l)ri;iaile at l>i;^' l''all, as they
Were preparing' to ]iii.ss o\er the porta<ie, and on this occMsioii,
McssiN. Aliens Shaw. John ( leoref McTasish. -lolin Dnncan
("aiiiphell, William Mcintosh, and Mi'. Frol>isher. otHcors of
liiuh rank in the North- West Company, were taken j)risonerH.
The j>'oodH were eonti.scated, and most of the \ (»\a<j'eurs an<l
guides .sent to Cniiiidu, while of the otticers. Messrs. Shaw and
McTavish were sent to Kiijihind, and Camphell and Mcintosh
to ("anadii. Mr. Frol)isJier manaeed t() escape t'roiii his cap-
tors, and, in attemptine' to make his way to Moose Lake, ])er-
ished From hardships and exposnre. In the I'ar west and
north, the same state of hitter rivali'V continued, and there
was little prospect of it ce-isin;; so lonj;- as Lord Selkirk re-
mained at the head of the Hudson's Hay ('oni)»any.
The trials that took ])lace at York (Toronto) and in Lower
Canada must have cost both sides a ^reat deal of money.
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IIISTOUY ttl' I'lii: \u|t|||-\VKST,
Tilt' cjiscs rdiit iii;^- t<» till- Sriii|ili' tra^i'dy wnr imt tiifl until
|S|S, iiw ill'' to I.Miil Sflkirlx's iictioii in ictiiiniii"' llir cv i'lriin'
11)11)11 wliicli t III' |ir(ist'('iiti(tii (|f|iin<li'(| to coniliift tlicni. Aji-
iliciitiitii \\!iN iiiiidi' til till' ( lii\ cniur iii-cliii'l' ul' ( *finjii|)i. in
March. I'Sj 7. to lui\f tlii'iii iriiiov nl tn ii|i|M'r ( 'iuiihIm. fiml tins
also caiiM'il ilt'lav, hfCMiisr His Mxci'llnicv iiiilLiril it I'XiMilicnt
to consult till- Honii' ( loMTniiiriit in tln' nifittrr. A I'nx miilili'
rt'jily was ri'ci'i\ nl on tlir •i4tli ( )ctolM'r. anil ;iirat si-al iiistni-
incnts issui'il to try tlir casrs at \'oi'l\. l»ut owin;^- to tin- iii-
t'orniatioit Ix'in^' in the hamls oi' Loril Srlkirk, who nryliMtiij
to Furnish it altliou;4li calli'il u|ion to ilo so, tin- trials coultl imt
he |irocr<'i|<'i| with. His Lorilslii)), iii(»rt'o\i'r, hail ;ioni' ti>
Kn^i'laml without visiting- ('anaila. ami on thr l!»tli .luni'. IMn,
the Attoi-ney-( M'lirral of Lower ('anaila, in ii'|tortin^' tn tlic
( io\ crnor-in-chifl, in reply to ri'iiionstrauccs a^-ainst the iklay.
says, "'riic ])ri\atr pi'osrcutor, llir Kai'l of Sclkii'k, who alnnr
pOHHOiHScil till' rviili'iicc in support of these prose utions, ha.!
Im'cu ahsciit IVoni the I'rovinci'. ami since his r.'turn had 1 ii
Very much occupieil with the sitting's ol" ('riiiiinal ( "ourts huth
at (^)uelK'c ami Montieal."
The hi;^h -liamlcd proceedines of His Lordship, and the oiit-
raees conunittcd 1)\' the Noith-West Coniitanv, resulted in a
series of law suits, which only ser\ed t(» increase theii- ani-
mosity toward each other, and the reports of the trials indicate
verv clcarlv the hitter feeliim' existiuii' at tlie time hetuceii
tilt' contestants.
The Xor-Westei's were finally l)i'ou»;ht before the court at
Yoi'k, and indictments fomid aeainst them for ])articii)atine' in
the aft'aii's of I Ith .lune and 2)Sth .lune, INI 5, and for larceny
at Riviere (,)u'A))pelle on 12th May, and the Semple outrauv
Ol
1 I!)th June, LSKJ, hut the jury in each case hrouo-ht ii
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III DsuNs IIAV AM) Nuitlll w |;.sr ruMl'\\||>.
i!>;
\fi'<lict <A' nut ;4nilty. Mr. Win Mf( !illi\ rny, \vlii> liml 1 n
waiting; t\\i» yi'ius lor trinl. roiilil nut <j;r{ liis ciimi- hrmi^lit nn,
wliicli WHS n i^rnit liiiii|slii|i tn liim. ||ji\ iii^' a Ht'iiiniN clinr^if
lifiii^i'iii;^' i>\cr Ills
ill this \\n\
\\r tl
I'll caiisri
I I
I (I'll >>•
l.irix, Miles Mel )(iiicll, aii<l (•i;4liti'rii otlitTs. to Itf iiiijicti't! lor
till' ]i!iit they took ill till' h'ort W'illiain atliiir. tlir accusation
licini!' iaiil in the rollowin"!' w ca'tls : — " The cny-aiiiMi:' aM<l arm-
iii;^ a niiiiilicr of dlHliaiiWril soldiers ( ntrciuncrs) : the entry hy
them, with I'oice and arms, into h'ort William, in Aueiist iNJti.
letainiiie- jMi.ssession ol' the fort till .May, I<SI7; seiidiiie' otl'ns
isoiiers the |
artners ol' the North-West ('oiii|tan\' loiin
there ; ;;-ettine' rid ol' the clerl<s l»y siili|io'iias to a]i|iear at \i>yk
at a |M'rio(| when no courts are held there, wittiout eni|uirin^'
whether thi'y knew anytliiiie' ol' the matter to which the sidi-
|Heiias related, and without e\cr liiinu-ino- tliem I'orward after-
wards: sto|)|)in;j,' of the outfits from ;,;<»ine' into the interior,
and the returns from coming' to Montreal : )»o.ssessine' tliem-
sehes of all the hooks and papers of the concern : seinlini,''
away the ]irincipal clerk under a charj^'e of felony, without e.\-
amination, and without haviiie- cxcr followed up that chaiei- :
the pretended sale by Daniel Mackenzie (»f the Nortli-West
pro))erty ol)tMined l»y His Lord.ship hy means of c(»ntinued
duress: tain|)»,'riui4' with and dehauchiu^i' the North-West Com-
jiany's .servants, an<l commandirio' them in the Kin;^'s name :
wi'itin^' circuhir letters to the |)artners and clerks in the in-
tei-ior country, a lleo-i no' that the North-West ( 'ompany were
ruined, and advising them to abandon their trust, and to carry
the furs to Hudsou's Hay: takino- po.sseHsion of Lake la I'luie
and tiie pro[)erty thei'e, and stoj)}nn}^ the na\ ligation, etc.
We ^'ive tlie above in full, to show to what e.xtent Lord Sel-
kirk was ready to *;•() in hi.s oppositiou to his rivals, l)ut, as we
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1!>() IIISTOIJV OK TIIK NOIi'lll-WKS'l'.
li!i\c alrcailN' sliewii, the North- Wi'st ('oiiipaiiy were prrparcil
to ^o, and iJi fact did <j^o, (|uit(' as far in tlicii" att('ini)t8 to in-
jure thf Hudson's Bay Company.
Lord Selkirk had also several civil suits entered against him,
one of whieh was l»y Wni. Smitli, the eonstahje wiiom he
ejected from Foi't William, and the iid'ormation in this case
was as follows: — " Mr. Smith ^^ot to F()rt William on the 1!>tli
March, I 'SI 7, and prcnluced his restitution, with wliich his
Lordshi[) ivfused to comply, ami when the Earl and the others
wi'i'e arrested by Mr. Snnth upon the warrant for felony, his
Loi'dship laid hold of him and pushed him out of doors, and he
was afterwards k»>})t in cl»jse custody in the fort under a mili-
tai-y ouaid."' Mr. Snnth reci'i\ed a verdict of toOO da'.iiaoes
a^iiiinst the Karl.
Mr. Daniel Mackenzie also entered suit a^'ainst Lord Selkirk
in the following- woi-ds : — ^" Civil action for false imprisonment
of the plaintiff, a retired partner in the North-West Company,
hy the Karl, at Fort William, where he was thrown into a dun-
<;eon, and kept there under military ^iiard until he was induced
(believiuj;- his life to he in <lant>-er) to si<fn various leeds pi'e-
pared for the purpose, purpoi'tin;^" to he sales of the Noi'th-West
Comi)auy"s j)ropertv, a hond of arbitration, etc., under color of
which Lord Selkirk I'etained pos.session of tiie fort aiul its con-
tents, to the value of full one hundred thousand pounds."
Mr. Mackenzie received a xei'dict against his Lordship for
£1 .oOO.
It would occu))y too much space to oixc further pai'ticulars
of the various trials -ind outcome of the contests lietween the
Hudson's Bay and North-West Companies, hut sufficient has
heen ^iven to show that they wei'e not only expensive, hut
also calculated to widen the breach between his Lor<lshi|>
ill
'If
HCDSDNS ItAV AM) NolM'H-WKST ( ( )M I'ANI KS.
197
jiii'l liis ()j)j)()iR'iit!s, and to iiinke a union of the two intcre.sts
<'iiiii<
>.st iiiipoHHihle.
Dni'inj'- this state ol' attkirs, the R(m1 River colony continued
to t inhii'e hardships, nnd one set-l)ack alter aiiotlier oeeuned
to the settlei's. In the winttM" of IM17 they were Foi'ced to i^o
iiLifiin to l'end)ina, ow'.n*;" to sefireity of food, l)Ut on their re-
turn to the settlement in the s)»rin^', hnvin^^' procuivd see<l.
I'ea of land. The sun
tlicv niana<re<l to plant a considerahie ai
niri' was fav(ji'al)le, and the fields soon assumed a
)i'()inisniir
n])|tearance. Hut on tl>e ISth July, ISlS, the sky suddenly
hrfanic darkened hy clouds of n'rasshopju-i's, and as they <le-
scended Upon the earth in dense swarms, they destroyed every
yierii tliin*;' l)efore them. The colonists manajfeil to secure a
little t^i'ain fj'om their sprin;^' work, hut not a ve<i'etalile was
left in their ^^'ai'dens. It seemed as if the hand of fate was
u;;ainst the Selkii'k settlement, and once more, just as eveiy-
tliin;;' was lookinj^- hri^ht for tliem, darkness came in a day,
and they were forced to a(;ain turn their stej)s to Pemhiiia for
refue<'. At this time, in the miilst of the Scotch settlers' dis-
tr ss, a few French fannlies from Lower Canada, under the
(■(induct of Hew Joseph Nohert l^rovencher, and the Hev.
Se\ere Dumoulln, arrived at Red River, and accompanied the
Scotch settlers south to their temporary home. This was the
tiist serious attenijit (>f the (Muirch of Home to estahlish it.self
ill t!ie Xorth-West, and from it spread the ^'i-eat chain of mis-
sions to the west ami far north. Karlv in the sprin;^' of |M|!),
till' Scotch returned to the .settlement, lea\ ine- some of the Can-
adian families to locate their homes at Pembina, hut they had no
'letter success witli their cro])s that summer than they had the
liiv\ lous year, for almost before they had finished sowin;;, the
ymnie' locusts began to appear, and devoured every jj^reen herb
ll^^^
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HISTOHV OF TflE N< HnH-WKST,
tliat j^Tt'Woii tlio cultivatiMl fields uiul on the plains. This lijow
nhnost iiuido tlic colonists dcspjiir of ever ht'in^- al>U' to make
H honu' on the Kcd River, and, wearied and diseonti'iitecl, tli
e\-
(■)'.
were forced aj^ain to turn tlieir steps south for the wiiit
Many went to the plains to hunt for a living, and in this way
they .sti'U^<ile<l ahjn*;' for se\-eral years, endeavoi'ino- dnrinji' the
Humnier to raise a crop on the Red River, and heini»' oliliMV(|.
throuoh the ravages of the ni'assho])pers, to winter at i'mi-
bina, or on the plains, to obtain foo<l. Some worked for t\\v
Hudson's Hav (N)nii)anv as xovam'urs and laborers, and others
l)ecanie ^'ood luuitei's, and it was not until 1822 that faniinr.
with all the evils that follow in its train, were banished fiom
the land. By this time, the colony consiste(l of a mixture nl'
nationalities, thei'e beinu' Scotch. Irish, Fivnch. (l<'rman ami
Swiss settlers livinii' on the Red River.
]n 1820, the Eai'l of Selkirk died, and from that time the
prospect of a union of the two fur companies becann' possible.
So firm had his Lordship been in the belief that lie would lie
able to bi'ine' about the destruction of th(» Xoi'th-West Coiii-
])any, that re[)eated otters of a ccmlition had been rejected liy
him. in 1810 he distinctly refused to entertain the idt'a, and
in 1814 he submitte(l conditions so utterly umvasonable that
the North-West (\)m])any ^-ave up hope of brineing about an
amal<;amation. But on his death efibrts wei'e renewed, anil
chiefly throueh the instrumentality of Ri^ht Hon. Kdwanl
Kllice, a union on i'i\v ! uerms took place in 1821. The Deiij
Poll relating to this arrangement was dated 2()th Mjuch of
that year, and was made between the Hudson's Bay Compan\
on till' one ]>ai't, and on the other by W. and S. Mc(iilli\ lay
and Edward Ellice, who represented in England the interests
of the wintei'ing partners in America of the North-West
IIIDSONS I'.AV AND NOHTH-WKST ( oM I'AXIKS.
trati
fl'S WllOSt
■h
pal
tnei\slii
|) as a coiiipajiy t*x])ir«'(l in
liil)
S2I —
(iiiil who, liavino- receivivl little or no profits I'oi- sonic titiie,
ui'iv (li'sirous of iiitToiiio' tlit'ir intd'csts in those ot" tlie Hud-
son's Hay Company. A coalition and partnersliip was theic-
I'dic ajiTeed to for twentv-one
years, on the basis
that
eaei
should provide an ecpial capital for canyinti' on tlu' trade.
There was a suhsecjuent Deed Poll, l)earin<i' date (ith June,
|.s:U, " for ascertaining- the rights and pivscrihin^- the (hities
of the cliief factoi's and the chief tra<U'rs, and for conductin<i'
the ti'ade."
The expenses of estahlishnients in Kiif^land and America
were to be [laiil out of trade, and no expense i-elatin^' to colon-
ization, or to any l)usiness separate from trade, was to form a
charf^-e on the concern. The ])i'(jtits weiv to he divitle(l into
100 shares, of wliich forty were to he divided l)etwi'en chief
factors and chief traders, accordin;;' to [)rotit and loss, and if a
loss should occur in one year on those foi'ty sliares, it was to
he made ocxxl out of the })rotits of tlie followini;' yeai'. A
uviieral inventory and account was to be made cnit yearly on
the 1st .June, and, if profits were not paid to jiarties within
foui-teeii days afti'r that date, interest was to be allowed at
the rate of fi\'e jier cent.
At the time of the union, there were twentv-five chief f
ic-
tois and twenty-ei^'ht chief traders ajipointed, who were
iianied in alternate succession from the Hmlsons Hay ("om-
]iany and North-West Company s servants. The servants of
hot)) companies were placed on an eijual footing, the 40 shares
out of th(^ 100 beinji' subdivided into -S') shai'es, each of the
2.) chief factoi's receisinj^' '2 or s',-,ths. and each of the chief
traders s'-.th, tiie remainine' sexcn out of the ei^ilitx-liN c shares
iieiufi; appropriated, to old .servants in ceitain propoi'tions, for
seven vear.s.
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IIISTOHV OK I Hi; N<)inii-\vi;sT.
Tlic ('liicl lactors supfriiitciKlcd the Imsiiicss of tlic cdin-
]i!iiiy iit tlic r('s]M'cti\(' stations, aiwl tlic cliici' traders imkIii'
tliciii can'itMl oil tlic triulc with tlit- Indians. Tlic clerks
ser\t'(| uiider both, and the hinMbJest ol' these, hy ^'oixl con-
duct, nii;^'lit rise to the chiel" positions in the service, the s d-
uries ran^in^' t'roni l!2() to tlOO per annum.
The chief factors and traders, who wintered in tlur interior,
were allowed, in addition to theii' share of profits, certain per-
sonal necessaries fi-ee of charge, and wei'c not permitted to
carry on any j)rivati' trade foi' themselves with the Indiaii.s.
Strict accounts, etc., wei'c rtMpiii'cil of them annually, and tln'
councils at the r('spi':'ti\t' po-its h id power to nndct, adiiioiiish,
or sus])end any of tli • c()iiipany's se)"vants.
Thi'cc chief factors and two child" traders wei'c allowed to
leavt" the countiy annually for one yeai'. A chi(d' factor or a
chief trader, after winterinjjf three years in the service of tin-
com) any. mieht ivtire, and hold his full share of |)r()fits for
one \-ear aftei' retirin<>', and half the share foi- the four ensuing;
years, or if he winU'red for five years, then half for six ycais.
Three chief i'actors, or two chief i'actors and two chief trailers.
were allowed to retire anmially, according- to rotation, and the
representatives of a chief factijr or chief tradei", who died
after winterin<;' five yeai's, received all the benefit cO whicli
the deceased himself would have been entitled had lu- lived,
or in like pi'oportion foi- less dui'ation of service.
The accounts were re(piii-ed to lie l<e])t with accuracy, the
business conducteil with ])unctuality, and the whole macliinci)
of the company worked with oi-der and econ(jmy, under the
watchful care of a Governor and Committee in London.
Such is a synopsis of the plan under which the newly or
jyanized company was to be conducted, and whatever the pro-
IllDSONS I5AV AND Nolilll-WKs T ( < (Ml'AN I I.S
•201
tits iiii;^lit ))(', iiiU'V payinj;' tlic wliok' t'.\|H'n.st's at hoinc aiul
iiliioiid, they were to Itc (li\ lilcd. utror<liii<;' to the provi.sions of
tlir DcimI Poll, into tiftliH of which three went to the |)i'(^-
]»rietary, iunl two anion*;' the ehief factors and chief tradei's of
the coinj)any, instead of salaries.
Soon after the coalition of th^i two coni[>anies, on the oth
December, 1821, a Royal license was obtained from (jleorj^e the
Fourth, dated at Carlton House. This was issued to the Hud-
son's Bay ('Ompany and to \V. t\: S. Mc(Jillivray and Edward
Hllice, for the exclusive privilege of trading with the In<lians
ill all such parts of North America as should l)e specititid, not
lii'iiio' part of the lands or territories heretofore granted to
the (iovernoi" and Company of Adventurers of Kiigland. trad-
ing to Hudson's Bay (a direct recognition of the chartei- of
1(170 by the Crown). This Royal license was expressly issued
t) ])revent the a<hiussi()n of individual or associated bodies
into tlie North American fur ti'ade, as the competition therein
liiul been foun<l for yeai's to be pro(hu'tive oi' great inconveni-
ence and loss, not only to the Hudson s Bay Company as.soeia-
tions, and to the trade in general, but also of great injury to
the native Indians and others. This license expir«'d in 1842,
liut liefore its expiration, an extension was granted by Queen
Victoria, on May 80th, 1838, dated at BuckinLcliani Palace, for
a further tei'in of twenty -one years, and oji this occasion, it
was issued to the Hudson's Bay ('ompany alone (Messrs.
.Mcdillivray and E. ElHce having surrendered tlu-ir rights and
interests under the previous license), to encourage the ti'ade
with the Indians of North America, and to prevent, as much
as possible, a recurrence of the evils referred to in the pre-
vious grant.
\>y the licenses of 1821 and 1838, the Company were author-
i
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202
IIIST(»ltV OK rilK XOKTII-WKST.
i/,('(| to ti'Milc ()\('i- tlif '• [iiilijiii territories," west of tlic llock\
Moinitaiiis, at that time opon also to .su})jt'('ts of the riiitiil
States. It was of oi-cat iinportaiu'e that (Jreat Hi'itain slioiiM
<)i)taiii a footing' ami )M)siti()ii in Ore^fon, an<i on the ('oluiiilii,i
Hiver. wliieli Mi'. ( "annin^- had e.xpie.s.seil his <letei'Miinatioii tn
maintain as Ih-itish ])ro]tei'ty. We liave alreatly shown the
ert'orts made l»y the Xorth-West Company to establish tliat
trade, and alter the coalition, the Hudson's Hay Company iu-
cni'i'ed larnc expenditure in estahlishiiie- themselves on the
coast of Liie Paeitie.
For many years previous to the *;rant of e.xclusive tra<lc tn
the Hudson's Hay Company, the ehieC trade of that coast was
done by tlie AiiK^ricans and Hussians, the only establishiiniit
of any importance occupied by Hritish ti'aders beinj;' Kort
(Jeor^'e (Astoria), at the nioutli of the ( 'ojumbia Kivi'i-. while
no attempt was made, by means of sliip])inn-, to obtain any
part of the trade. So unpi-otitable was it in I SIM, l<S!!», bs2(),
1821 and I.S22, and so dithcult of manau'ement, that st'\-eral of
the leading- and most intellievnt persons in the cor.ntiy,
stroneiv r<'ConMnended that the comi)anv shoidd abandon it
altop-ether. Hut the (Jovernor an<l connnittee felt that tin'
honor of the concern would, in a certain dei>Tee, be com[iro-
mised were tliey to adojit that reeonnnendation, holding', as
they did, the license in (piestion; and, with a de<;'i'ee of energy
and enterprise wliich rellecte<l much credit on themselves and
on their otHcers and sei'vants, tliey directed themselves vioor-
ously to the Pacific department of the business.
As already mentioned, the supreme control of the Hudson's
Hay Company afi'aii's was vested in a council, or connnittee,
sittiiiii' in London. This connnittee consisted of five members
wlio were presided over by a Governoi and I)e[)uty-(!overnni'.
HIDSONS HAV ANI> NOK'I'H-WKsT (OMI'AMKS.
•2{):\
;iii'l after the coalition these t'niK'tioiiiiries il(le;;,atei| tlieir
authority to Jiii otticial resiWeiit in Anieric-Ji, wlio was called
ttir ( Jo\einoi'-in-(.'hiet' of Hupert's Land, und whose coniniis-
.sjdii extende(l oxer all their colonial possessions, with an un-
limited teniu'e of office. The tii'st person to till this \\\*^\\ office
was Sir (leor^e Sini[)son, who retained the position until he
lird, in Septeniher, 1800, a periotl of nearly forty yeai's. He
alisnihed all the offices and responsihilities distrihuted amont^'
petty heads at the various posts, and dui'inj^' his lon^' term of
(itlice he exerte(l an autocratic and su})renie authority, it heinj^;
iiii])o.ssil)le to overi'ule his final jud<inient or decision.
His council, which was coni])osed of "chief factors," with
occasionally a few "chief ti'aders." met usually at Noi'wav
House, at the northern end of Lake Wiiniipe^-. which then i)e-
caiiie the distrihutino- ])oint for the whole country. Hri^'ades
started from here to the Hocky Mountains, ( "umhorland, Lii;;-
lish Hi\ei', Athaba.sca, Mackenzie's Hi\cr, Swan Hi\ei-, Red
lti\ei' and Hainy Lake, su|)])lyin^" the \arit)us ))osts in the
districts which were .separated \)y distances of fi-om fiftv to
thiec Innidi'ed miles.
The chartered territories and circuit of comniei'cial relations
Were divided into vast .sections, and known as the Noi'thern,
Southern, Montreal and Western Departments. The northern
• xtiiiileil l)etween Hudson s Hay and the Hocky .Mountains,
the southern between .lames' IJay and Canada, includint; part
of the eastern .shore of Hudson's Hay. The ilontreal de])art-
iinnt re})resente<l the business of the company done in Canada,
and the western coni]»i'isi'(l the region west of the Hocky
Mountains, 'i'he princi[)al <lep6ts, in these departne'nts, for
till i'ece])tion and distriljution of sui)plies and collection of
turs, were York Factory in the northern department, M<.»oae
ii'
i
!'
I
111
Mi
tin
1,
!i!i|
ill!
204
IIISTOllV OK TIIK N'OUTH-WllS'l".
F;u'tniy in the soiitlu'ni, the <'ity ol" .Mniitrcnl in ("!in!nl;i. iiii(|
in tlic wcHtcrn (It'pai'tniciit N'ictoi'ia, on X'nncouvor Islainl. w.is
conHtitutcd the head depot.
Tlu' council rarely intcrrcrcd with the attiiii's of the lliil
Hivei- settlement, which were nianap'd i)y another hody, (•■•ill-
ed the " ( iox cfnoi' and Council of Assinihoia," and uj) to ! ^-^^
the |»residin;4' officer was often the one in char^i'e of the ciPiu-
|iany's ti'adin;^' intei'ests in the colony. Tp to \X'1'1 oidy two
persons had hehl the office, vi/.: Captain Miles .Mcl)onell. finm
August, IS12, to June, IS]"), when he was sent a prisoner to
Montreal, and Mr. Ale.\an<ler McDonell, from Au^^ust, INI.'). to
.June, I.S22. Capt. A. Hul^i'r succeeded Mr. Alex. McDom II,
and acted as t,^o\ ernor just one year, uutil .fuue, IH2:{.
In 1S2(), Kev. John West was appointed Chaplain to tin-
company, and on the 27th May, that y;entleman emharked on
hoard shijt at (Jravesend bound for Hudson's Hay, his instruc-
tions beini;' to reside at Red River Settlement, and, undei" the
eneourat«,ement and aid of the Church Missionary Soci»'ty. to
endeavor to melioi-ate tlie condition of the native Indians.
This j^entleman was a zealous worker, and durinj^ the yeai' lie
remained in the country laid the foundation for nnich oood to
follow: but as we intend later on to take up the sul)ject of
C'hurch Missions, we will proceed with our re<fular narrative.
Before doin«;' so, liowever, it niay be mentioned that the
Scotch settlers remained in a state of disappointment, because
no minister of their own faith was sent out to them, especial-
ly as a petiticm .sent by them to Rev. John McDonald, of the
Parish of Unpihart, Ross-.shire, never was answered. In 1S2I.
a Mr. Halket, one of the Earl of Selkirk's executors, paid ;i
visit to the colony and found the settlers very much exercised
over another matter — the exorbitant charges made in their
Plr
UrnsONS li.W AM) N(»|{TII-\VKST ('< )Ml'.\\li;s.
20.-)
iif'ooniits, jiikI tilt' ilisliontiHt acts of the offiocrs in olmr;i<' of
Kdit l)ou;;las. 'I'lif coloiiists, it ii|i|)t'ars, wt-i-t' not only clmroiMl
mnciisoiiahlc pi'ici's. hut wcrt- also niadc to \y,\y tor noodn
they iifvt'i' rcc't'iviMl, ami tin- result was that Mr. Halki-t ilci-id-
id that tlie officers of the fur trade should take in hand tlu'
su[»j)lyin^ of floods to the sottlei-s. an ari'an^ement whieh was
found to woi'k more satisfactorily and t(i the advantaec of tlu'
settlers.
The union of the two poni) nies contrihutefl ereatly to the
peace and p]"os])erity of the setthnnent, all apprehension of
serious strife heine' iH'niove(|, and to this happy state of attairs
may he added an abundant harvest, in IS22. Fort Doui^las
continued to he the ivsidence of the {governor and the seat of
iTovernnH'ut for the colony, hut Fort (Hhraltai- Ix'caiue the
depot of the Hudson's Hay Company, where all the ti'a<lin<j^
was done. The population on the Hed Kiver was also lareely
increased about this time, throueh the arrival of •lischare-et]
s('i'\ants from the fur trade. When the coalition of the two
companies occurred, a very marked decrease inunediately took
place in the number of em]>loyds eneai^red in tradin*;', there
havinj( been double the force of u'en I'eipiired while they weiv
in oppo.sition to each other, as compared with the numbei" re-
quired when the Inisiness passed under one mana^^'ment. 'I'he
consfMiuence was that many servants were discharecd, and
some of them bein^f ^-iven i;Tants of lan<l on the Red River
by the company, becanu' settlers, and a few commencecl the
cultivation of the soil for a li> in^;'.
About this time a novel enterprise calliMl the " Ruft'alo Wool
Company," was starte<l in the colony, which had for its object:
Lst. To provide a sul)situte for wool, as it was sui)po.sed,
from the numbers and destructive habits of the wolves, that
.sheep could not be raise(l in Red River, at least to an}' extent.
M
ffMI^
Wm
20(i
lllSTolJV (»!■' nil; NOKTII-WKST.
!|
pwiiijij
:W'
iJIPI^
Ir-
f!
k£ U „ M'
"iiid. 'I'lif Huhstitutr coiiti'iiiitlattMl was tin- wool of tlir uiiil
butt'alo, wliicli was to Ik- collccttMl on tlic plaiiiH, ami iiiaiiiit.ic-
turcil hotli for tlu! colonists ami Tor t'X|)ort,
'Wi\. To I'stahlisli a taniin-y for iiiaiiufacturiiio' the laiflaln
hides for tloiiu'stic use.
The caj)ital of the coinpany was t;2,()()(). and it earrifd on
operations until IJS2"), wjieii it was wound up, the whole of the
money inxested havinj;" heen sjieiit and a deht of .£500 incur-
red : hut for a time this unproHtahle concern ^aA*. cnijjlox-
ment to a inimlx'i' of the settlers, and enahled them to hetter
their condition from their earninns. A few donu'stic cattle
were imported, and the lot <»f the colonists hecaine much im-
pro\ei| in several directions.
The crops continued to he ^cjod, and the administration of
ntt'airs uiwler ( lovei'iioi- lhd<'<'i' was most satisfactory to the
people, who wei'e sorry when he i"esi«;iied and returned to
England in .June, 1S2M. It was Captain Bul^^ei-, who, hy puii-
i.shin^' an Indian for attempteil nnirder, fii-st showed to tin-
natives that they would not l)e allowed to hreak the laws with
impunity neai- the colony, and it was he who, l)y nuikin;;' re-
presentations to the CJoN'ernoi' and C'(jnmiittee of tlie C^ompany
in London, ohtained full permission for the .settlers to Imy
horses, leather, an<l pro\isi()ns from the freemen and natixcs.
a privile^'e which the Hudson's Hay Company officers attemjit-
ed to tieprive them of.
(iovernor Hiiljuer was succeeded hy C'aptain K. P. I'elly. a
cousin of Sir .Jcjhn Henry IVIly, Haronet, who was at that per-
iod (Jovernor of the Hudson's Bay Company in London ; anil
here, before dealing- further with the Red River Settlement, \\r
will turn our attentic^n to the description of a few of the foits
and posts helon^nng to the company, and of the Lidian trihrs
inhabiting the country at that time.
ti
^57^£^^^.3l%^.
^s?*
i
("HAPTKH XIII.
N'OKTH-WKST FORTS AND INDIANS.
In I74J>, as nlready .shown, the IIihIhou'h Hay Company Iwul
six torts, naiuuly Mocjnc, llfiily, Kast Main House, All)any,
^^^k,Mn(l Prince of Wales Fort. In I s:i(i, according' to j»a))erH
lajil l)efo)'e Parliament, the ('onii>any hail one hundreil and
thirty-six estahlishnients, and afforded employment to twenty-
five ehiet' factoi's. twenty-seven chief traders, one hundred and
tifty-two clerks, and ahout twelve hundred re^nilar servants,
tii'siiles the occasional lahor in nianninj;' h(jats and other
services.
In iS5(j, the uuml)er of estahlishnients had iiicrense<l to one
hintdred and fifty-four, and of these the followini^ were situ-
ated lietween C'auada and the Rocky Mountains.
ATHAIIASCA.
Forts Chipewyan, l)unvei>'an, Vermillion, Fond du Lac.
Mackenzie's river.
Flirts Simpson, Liai'ds, Halkett. Youcon, Peel's River,
Lapierre's House, (Jood Hope, Rae, Resolution, Hie- Island,
Niii'nian.
KN(;i.lSH HIVEI{.
I'lirts Isle a la Crosse, Rapid River, (Jreen Lake, Deer's
Lake, Portage la Loclie.
SASKATCHEWAN.
Forts Edmonton, Carlton, Pitt, Rocky Mountain House, Lac
I 1
(Njli ti
•2()-s
HISTOIIV (»!• TIIK N'OUTII-WKST.
Ill hiclic, I.t'sst-r Sliivf liiikf, ANsiiiilxiinc, .Ins|)('j''s Ifonsi. Lm
CnriH'. ^
('r'Miu;iii,AM».
( 'uiiihci'limd HoiiMf, Moose i.aUi', Tlic I'as.
SWAN UIVKH.
Forts I'clly, Kllicf, (^)u'A[)iK'll(' Ijukcs, Shoal Kivt-r, Toudi-
wood Hills, K<;n- \ji\ki'.
UV.\) mvKH.
rpiit'i' Foi't (Jiiny, Lower Fort (liin-y. Wliitc Horse Plains.
Puiiiltiiiii, Manitohah, Heed jjike.
I-AC LA I'Mli:.
Forts Francis, Alexander, Hat I'oi'ta^^c, White D<»u'. Lac- >\v
Bonnet, Lac de lioi.s Blanc, Shoal Lake.
xouwAV norsE.
Norway House, Beren's Hiver, Nelson's River.
VOKK.
York l^'actory, Churchill, Severn, Front Lake, Oxl'onl
HoUHe.
, ALHAXY.
Albany Factory, Marten's Fails, Osnalmr^, Lac Seul.
KIXOOCMISSEE.
Matawaganiin^ue, Kuckatcjoah.
LAKE sri'EHlOH.
IMichipicoton, i^atcliewana, Maui-ainse, Pic, Long^ Lake, Lake
Nipif^on, Fort William, Pij^ec^n River, Lac (i'CJriginal.
LAKE HTHOX.
Lacloche, Little Current, Mississaugie, Green Lake, White-
fish Lake.
NoltTII-WKST Fnirrs ANH INDIANS. '20')
SAt 1,1 sl'K. MAUIK.
Sault Stf. Marif,
MuosK.
Moose Fuc'torv, llaiiimli Mav, Altitibi, New HnniMwick.
KAST MAIN,
(il'tat Whale Kiver, Little Whale Hi\er, l-'ort ( Jeoi-u-e.
uri'KKTs i{ivi:i(.
IJiipei't's Hou.se, Mi.stasiimv, 'IVmiMkaiiiav, Woswonahv,
Meehiskaii, Pike l^ike, Nitchetiuoii, Kaniapiseow.
TKMISCAMINfili:.
Teiiiiseaiiiiiiniie House, Li-aud, l^ac Kakaheaniuo, Lake Nipis-
tii;^iie. Ilmitei's Lo(le;e, 'reiiianamiii;;ue,
Iti a<|ilitioii to till' ahove. there wei'e t Wellt V-t Wo folts and
posts ill the MontlVal ilepartllieiit, rolirteell ill Ol'euoii, and
tit'teeii ill IJritish ( 'oluiiihia.
To ;^i\e an extended des('riptii>ii of th«' company s torts ami
posts Would oceiipy mure space than we have at our disposal
in a W(ak of this kind, lait a tew particiihirH relating; to tlicni
may he of interest. ( 'oiiiiueiicine- with what may he termed
tile ancient forts, we find that Fort Rouu'e was liuilt hv Veran-
drve on the south hank of the Assinihoine, ])i'ohal)ly aliout tlu^
viar 178'), hut wa.s ^iveii up soon after its erection. Of this
Init, a map is to he found in the archives at Paris, containin<:;
the new discoveries of the west in Canada in the year 17.'{7,
and on it is marked a fort at the north of the As.sinihoine,
M-itli the note "abandonecl" affixed, siiowin^^ that it could
(•Illy have been occupied about one year, in tlu^ Department
of Marini', Paris, there is a map .said to have been made after
sketches by Verandrye, dated 1740, in which Fort Kou^e i.s
shown at the mouth and on the .south side of the Assiniboine
I I
I
I (
. •!
^IH!
210
IIISTORV OF TFIE NORTH-WEST.
Another map {^'iven to the ])(3pot of ^Fai-ine, Paris, by M. fit-
la Kali.ssoniere, in 1750, shows a fort on the site of Fort Kou^v
with tlie mark " Ancien Fort " mad*' in reference to it.
Thomas Jeffreys, oeo^nvpher to His Maje.sty of En^lanil in
17()2, states tliat a fort was luiilt on Riviere Kouge, hut aftfi-
wartls deserted, owing to its jn-oximity to Forts ^raure])as ami
de la Reine. A map in the l^epartment of Marine. Paris,
dated 1750, has a Fort Rouge marke<l on it at tlie mouth
of the Assinihoine. These records establish the fact that sucli
a fort was built, but not a vestige of it now remains, the \ ti y
site having disappeared through the crumbling of the banks
into the river.
Fort Maurepds — Stood near the site of the present town of
I\)rtage la Prairie, according to the map of 1787, in the anli-
ives at Paris, but this name was afterwards given to the foit
at the mouth of Winnipeg River. According to a map of 1750,
the name of the fort near Portage la Prairie is given as Fort
de la Reine.
Fort Pembina — On the west side of the Red River neai- the
International boundary, this fort was built in l797-nN liy
Charles Chaboillez, a Xorth-West trader.
Fort Gibraltar— ^\m erected in 1800 l)y the North-W.'st
Company, at a point within gun shot of where old Fort (Janv
afterwards stood. It faced to\\ards Red River, rather than
the Assiniboine, and the site where it once stood is now n<'arly
all washed away into the river. It was surrounded by a
stockade from twelve to fifteen feet high, made of oak trci's
split in two, and there were eight buildings altogether within
the enclosure. This fort was the centre of much trouble 1m-
tween the Hudson's Ray and North-West Companies, which is
depicted elsewhere, and in Muy, 1815, it was pulled down by
NOKTH-WKST Fours AND I\I)[A\S.
ii
ordei'H of (jfovernor Scmple, in n'taliation for the ontrat,a'S com-
mitted hv the Nortli-West (\)iin)anv.
Fori iJoaijlds — Was e<)imi!<'iK'e(l in I. SI '2 hy tlie Hudson's
Way Company as a means of pi'oteetion for the Scotch settlers
(if the Selkirk Colony. When Fort (Jibraltar was pulK'd
down, in 1SI5, much of its material was use<l in extern lint;' and
streni^thenin^- Fort I)ou;;las, which remained the headijuarters
(if tlie ^ovei'noi' of Assinihoia for a number of yearn, until soon
aftei' the um'on of tlie two companies old Fort (lai-ry was
hnilt. When the Hudson's Bay Company re-purchased Lord
Selkirk's rights, the property known as Fort Douglas was
sold to Robert Lo<;an, who ()ccui)ied some of the buihlin^s till
]So4. Not a stick or stone of the old fort remains, and, like
most of tlie old <'stablishments on the Red River, the very
site upon wiiich it was built has alnu)st disappeared by bein;;"
washed away.
Old Fort Garry — Was built soon after the union of the two
companies in 1S2I, and the stores of the Hudson's Ray Com-
pany removed to it from Fort Douglas. The fort was named
after one Nicholas (Jarry, an intiuential director of the com-
pany, who, in 1822, took a prominent part in the affairs of the
j;reat corporation.
So much for some of the ancient forts, now let us take a
i^lance at a few of more recent date.
Fort Pelly — A compact, well-ordered post on the route fi'om
Foi't Garry to Carlton, sheltered on the north side l>y a ran^'e
iif woods, with the Assiniboine river in front.
Fort Carlton — Situated on the south side of the Saskatche-
wan, and defended by hij^h palisades, with a gallery armed
with wall pieces siirroundin},^ the whole s(|uare.
Fort La Cr sse—A neat and compact post on the lake, with
M
m
212
HISTOKV OF TH1-: NOKTH-WEST.
a low, swfuiijjy country firouii<l it, but to the north of the fort,
at Portage hi Loche, tlie hills are a thousaud feet hij^h, anil
coniniand a tine view of Clejir Water River, and its picture.S(|Ur
vallev.
Fort Clii'pciryii I) — On the shore of Athabasca Lake, sui-
roundetl by rocks and swamps, where the climate preclu<les all
prospect of rearing farm pi'oduce, and the coarse j;Tass cut in
the swamps is the only provender obtainalile for the cattle
Fort EdTnoiiton — On the north branch of the Saskatche-
wan, of a hexa^'onal form, well built, with hi^'li pickets anil
bastions, and battlemented gateways on an almost perpendicu-
lar height, commanding' the river. The fort was [)ainted insidr
and out, with devices to suit the taste of the savages who fi'e-
([Uented it. Over the uateway were a fantastic pair of vanes,
and the ceilinirs and walls of the hall presented ^'audy colois
and (pu'er .sculptures for the admiration of the Indians, tlic
l)uildintfs, for the .same reason, bein^' ])ainted red.
Fort Churchill — On the shores of Hudson's Bav, situateil in
the midst of an extremely barren, rocky, and dry locality, witli-
(jut wood, where a few ^arilen vej^etables were, with difficulty.
raised.
York Factor}/ — Also on Hudson's Bay, has a country around
it which, althoujfh elevated above the river, is one entii'c
swamp, covered with low .stunted pine, almost imi)enetrablf.
The land seems to have been tiirown up by the sea, and is
never thawed more than ten or twelve inches during- the lutt-
test weather, and is then of the consistence of clannny nun! ;
even in the centre of the factory it is necessary to keep on tin
platforms to avoid sinking' over the ankles. It was the ^rcat
warehousini; depot for the company.
Albmuj Fort — On James Bay: the soil is better, and the
climate more temperate than the two preceding- forts.
NOKTII-WKST I'OHTS AM) INDIANS.
•21.S
Mousf— Furtlier soutli, also on JaiiieH Buy, thf same may Ite
jsai'l of it as of Alltany, aixl at both tliest' forts potatoes and
"iUfU'ii iiiDihu't' arc raiscil. hut witli ditfifultv. 'Plu' winter at
all tlu'se posts on Hudson's Bay and Janu's Hay, is most scvcrt-,
and at other seasons the temperature of the air is suhjeet to
tile most capricious variations.
/•'mi (fdiri/ — Tlie principal station of the Re<l Kiver settle-
ment, and the second one of that name huilt, was situated at
the forks of the Red and Assini1)()ine Rivers, environed hy
plains, and witii a country to the north-west stiidded with
copses of [)o])lar an<l dwarf oak. It was one of the most im-
])ortant distrihutiny; pcjsts belon^dn^' to the com])any. and one
of the strone-est and hest-huilt forts in the territoi'V. Sur-
rounded l)v a stone wall, with l)astions, it contained several
larye warehouses and liandsome residences.
Fort Alej-aiider — Situated on Winnipej;' River, about three
miles above where it empties into the lake of the same name,
lias .some y'ood farming- land in the vicinity.
Lower Fort Garry, or Stone Fort — Near the mouth of the
Red River, wliere it flows into Lake \Vinnii)e^-. built with escn
ji'reater strenj>'th than Upper Fort Garry, but not so neatly
arranged. It, too, was a most im})ortant post, and was used
liy Sir ( Jeor<;e Simpson as his heaihpiarters vvlien lie visited
that ])art of the country.
Xorv'.iij House — At the head of Lake Winnipeg-, surrounde(l
liy a barren country, was at (jne time the place of meeting-,
where the (lovernor and his council assembled annually, and
was one of the })rincipal posts of the company.
Ctiiiiberldiiil House — On the Saskatchewan river, at a spot
where it is touched by Cumberland Lake. The fort is Iniilton
an island, and was the head(piarters of the Cumberland district.
■li ■ I
■ I
'^\4.
r
214 HISTORY OF THE NoRTH-WEST.
Fort Vermillion — 'Die most favorably nitufittM I jjost in Atlui-
haska diHtrict foraifi'icultural ptirposes, wlieat, barley, iiotitocs,
and o-Hi'don vcwtahloH boin*^ raist-d there.
Uaiivejjun — Built at the eonHuenee of the Smoky and I'-'.icf
rivers, the point of <lireet rejfular et^mnniiiication l)et\veen tin-
Northt^rn Departnu'iit and Xew Caledonia.
Such were a few of the forts belonii'ino; to the Hudson s iJav
Company, used in carrying on their extensive tra<le with
the Indians. IMo.st of their establishments were more or less
protected by palisades or walls, which were arranj^ed witli
loop-holes, and other means for carrying- on a defence should
they be attacked. The admiration of the Indians foi- tin-
superior skill and inj^enuity of the Kuropeans was one lii'eat
cause of the awe with which the Hudson's Bay CcMupanys
forts and officers were viewed, and in some measure explains
the security of a handful of men, .scattered in ditt'erent forts or
stockaded jiosts, over a vast territcjiy, inhabited by thousands
of warlike people.
The number of In<lians in the North-West, at the time we
refer to, can only be estimated, as it was almost impo.ssil)le to
obtain a correct cen.sus, owino- to their rovino- habits, but there
is rea.son to suppose that the population in the several dis-
tricts between Canada and the Rockies, was between 47. ()(»(•
and 5(),{)0() souls. Sir (Jeoi-^a' Sim))son gave the foUowin;:'
estimate of the tribes in the Saskatchewan district :
Tents. Soi l.«.
Crees 500 S,50;>
Assiniboines 580 4,0(i()
Blackfeet 300 2.100
Peigans 850 2.450
Blood Indians 250 1,750
NORTH-WKST FOHTS AND 1NJ)IA\S. 215
Tfiits. Souls.
Surcees 50 -MiO
GroH Ventres aOO 2,100
Saulteaux 20 140
2,850 10,450
It is tliou^ht, however, that Sir (Jeorj^f SinipHon iiiehnled in
hi.s tignres orjly those Indians in tlie vicinity of the eoiiiixiiiy's
forts, and that liis estimate is therefore under tiie mark.
The following will give some idea of the tribes inhabiting
at that time the north-western country east of the Rocky
^lountains, and is a fairly correct account — as accurate at least
as could then be ascertained.
MACKEXZIK lUVER DISTRICT.
The Copper Indians.
Tlui Loucheaux or Quarrel lers.
The Hare Indians
The Dog Rib Indians.
The Strong-Bow Indians.
ATHAMASt'A AM) ISLE A LA CROSSE DI.STRKT.
The Chipewyans.
The Crees (a few of this tribe).
PEACE RIVER DI.STIUCT.
The Beaver Indians.
The Saulteaux (a few of this tribe).
IMM'EH SASKATCHEWAN DISTRICT.
The Blackfeet.
The Blood Indians,
'i'he Peigans.
The Gros Ventres.
The Surcees.
li
:'?.
21()
HISTORY OF TIM-: XOKTII-WKST
All tlu'Sf H\(' ti'i))('S Mere ;4('iit'rally tcrnKid l^laekfei't, iiltli()ii;^li
tlii'V spoke tlitf'erent laii/^ua^'s aii<l had different customs and
inaiiiiers.
L(»\VKI{ SASKATCHKWAX DISTKKT.
Tlie Stone Indians, or Assiniboines.
'I'lie Crees.
The Saulteaiix or ()jil)ways.
These three trilu's were constantly at variance with the
Blackfeet, and tlie whole ei^-lit in the l^ppei' and Lower Sas-
katchewan, followed the chasif as a means oF subsistence.
The Assiniboines, Crees, and Saulteaux, extended their habita-
tions to the upper part ol" the Red River and to Swan Ri\ci\
V()I!K I'ACTOHV, OXKOIU), NOKWAV IIOlSK, crMUKULAM) AND
I-0\VP:K I'AKT of swax kivku distiuct.
Swampy Indians.
'I'hese evidently sprang' from the Crees, as their lau<;uai;e is
only a dialect of the Ci-ee. It is also said that tliere is a mix-
ture of Saulteaux in their origin.
(HrRCHll.L DISTRICT.
Ksijuimaux.
Chipewyans.
Swampies.
The Crees were the larj^'est tribe or nation, divided into two
branches, those on the Saskatcliewan, and the Swampies
around the borders of Hudson's Hay, from Fort Churchill to
East Main. The measles and small-])ox swept ott' many from
1810 to 1820, but they afterwards increased in nundx'rs and
extended over the country, es[)ecially to the south.
The Saulteaux were a branch of iWii Chipewyans, and at oiir
time were the niost powerful tribe in the North-West, but
NORTH-WEST FOins AND INDIANS.
217
tliry, too, wore rofluced in iminhcrs by the .sinall-pox, and
liiiiiy- indoloiit and proiul. wci'c, tluTcforc, almost constant-
ly in a state of starvation. Tlic ('recs were always at cniuity
with tliiMii, and wlii'n, in 1(S7(). tlie Saultcaux Found tlicii- way
to Red Kivor, it was hitterlv resented bv tlu' former as an in-
tiusion upon their territory, an instance of which was oiven,
wlx-n Lord Selkii'k, in making' his treaty with the Indians,
coiiniiitted tlu' mistake of placing the Saulteaux first on the
list. As will be renKMnl)ered, the Crees were bittci'ly indig-
nant at this, and threatened not onlv to break the treaty, bnt
also to demand back the lan<ls, thus causin<; the Scotch settlers
much anxiety, lest their farms should be taken from them l)y
the sava<;'es.
The Surcees were re<;arded as tlu' l)oldest of the tribes, and
liorse-stealinjjf was a favorite occupation with them. 'I'he
("rees an<l Hlackfeet were continually at war, and each were at
fiimity with the Assiniboines, small tribes beinj.;' drawn into
the contests of the lar<;'er, and the whole seldom at peace.
.Vmlmscades, surprises by day or ni<)ht, and treacherous mas-
sacres of old and ypunj^, of women and the sick, constituted
the moving interests of their lives. The most degrading sup-
t'lstitions prevailed : cunning was employed where force coidd
not be used in plunder: Ijnng was systematic: women were
treated as beasts, and the wild Indian was, in many re.sjx'cts,
more savage than the animals around him.
The Stone or Assiniboine Indians were ijrosslv and liabitu-
ally treacherous, generally at war with the neighboring tribes,
and never failed to take the scalps of their prisoners as tro-
phies, and tiiey even abused the rights of liospitality, by way-
laying and plundering the vcny gut^st who had been apparent-
ly received with kindness, and just departed from tlu.'ir tents.
i ;■
li
i!'l
If
.(
iji
I ;■»
I
2 1 -S
IIISTOUY <>l" Tin-; N(MITH-\VKS'|',
TIkj Sw}iiii)iic'.s were mtlitM' diiiiimitive in coiiiixirisoii with
tln! IiidiaiiH who iiilialjitod tlic [)lfiiMH, ami woiv not a wailikf
rat'f. Tlicy often surtt'i'cd from want of food, in.stanci'H lia\iii;;
been known of their heinj^ conipelkMl hy Innii^er to resort to
eaiuiibaliHni, althoiii;"h Huch instances were rai-c.
The Sionx, at one time, laid claim to a part of the IJritisli
North-Wfst, but liavin<^ made themselves uii|)o))nlar with tlir
other tribes of Indians, they were <li'i\en by them across the
boundary line to American soil. It aj)pears tiiat the <|uarrel
wiiich resulted in the banishment of the Sioux was bi'ou;^lit
about in the first instance l)Vthe killinn'of a doi-", a Sio\ix liav-
iiiu' shot a canine Ijeloneiiin' to another Indian, and fi-om this
insi;;niticant commencement a strife ai'ose which ultimately
broue-ht about a union of the Saulteaux, Crees antl Assini-
boines to drive the Sioux out of the country.
The j)lain Indians, such as the Hlackfeet, Assiniboines ami
Crees, diiiere(l entirely in their mode of life from those who
fiV(|Uented the woods. Their habits were more of a i'o\ii:;;-
character, the vast prairie beine- open to them, covereil as it
was then with immense herds of buffalo. As far as the rye
could reach, day after day, when they travelled over the plains
they could see, as it were, one ^reat field of luxiu"iant pasture,
and as their horsi's trod beneath their feet tlie beautiful
flowers of the prairit', the ail- was scented with a delicious per-
fume. HeJ'e and there they would come aci'o.ss clear, ruuiiiiii:
Ijrooks, oi' j)ictureH(iue lakes, with beaiitiful (proves of trees
dottino- the hindscape. Then came the e.xcitini;' chase, anil
afterwards the »;'rateful feeling- that an abundance of meat ami
drink was theirs. What more could those savage children nl
nature wish for :" But sometimes disease and death wouM
come amonn; them, and at others, through their own inipro\-
11!
NOUTII-WKST KOins AND INDIANS.
210
ifitf
id. lie.', stiirviitioM woiiM stalk tliroii^fli tlit-ir midst. It was
tlirii that tilt' kindly otHccs of tlif Hudsdns i>ay Company s
M I \aiits wunltl Ijc tV'lt — liiini^vy mouths woiihl he Hlh'd as far
a>- till- rcsouret'H of th«' po.st would allow, mrdiciiR's and clothes
wiiiild Ih' funiisju'd, and thf <;rat('f«d Indians would ft't'l thfui-
siUrs hound to tlu'ii' whitt' Itrotlirrs hy tin- j^rratt'st of all
tios, that of nratitiide. It was this fathci'ly care of the In-
dians that ^Jivo till' Hudson s iJay ('oni])any thfii- ;;,ivat
iiitlucnc't' ovei" the savaj^'e tribes of the Nin'th-W'est, and with
the union of the fur companies the use of into.xicants, aithou^'h
111 it aliolished in tradinj^' with the Indiaiis, was nnjatly cui'tail-
cd, and general drunkfuness amongst the trilx's became a
thing of the past.
huiing the days of the Hudson's l>ay Company, the Indians
lived a life of thorougli frccflom ; the tribes of the ])lains fol-
Inwing the chase, tlu- wood Indians hunting and tra])ping, and
whrii the furs were thus gathered in they were e\ ri' able to
(lisi>ose of them at the company's posts or to tiieir servants,
at fair prices. ln<leed it was customary to give Indians credit
in advance of their hunt, and to their honor l)e it said that
thi y almost invariabl^'^ pai<l tlu'ir debts with the first catch of
furs made. This created a mutual feeling of confidence which,
in eonjunctioii with the kind and considerate ti'eatment of the
natives ])v the Hudson's Hav officers, caused tlie comnanv to
111' lookeil upon by the red-man as a protector.
i)Ut the character of the hulians was not all to be admired.
Thtv were cruel, deceitful, and coniplete adepts in the art of
tlatter}', which they ne\ei' spared as long as they found that
it conduced to their interest, but not a moment longer. They
ditlrred so mucli from the rest of maidvind tliat harsh usage
M'. ined to agree better with the generality of them than mild
I
w
^\v
iiii
I
\ !
If
1
1
i
if!
220
IIISTOMV (»!• Tin: N(»ltTII-\Vi:sT.
Iiij
ti'ciitnicnt. Tlu'ir m;;*-"! )iiii'»'iitH witc trt'ntf<l not only with
t'ntiiT iit'^i'lt'ct, Imt mIso w itli contcniitt, nnW it wms cnlcMlMti'il
that at IcMst ont'-liair of tlic ai;t'<| of liotli sexes were left tu
starve. K\erv s|n'('ii's of l.ilMti- ami iIiinleiTy was tlir<t\\ n eii-
tiiely n|)on tlie women, ami when an Indian ti'avelleil on foot.
with liis family, all the load which ha'', to hr cai'iMcd was cdii-
sieiied to the hack of his wife or wives, for he di<l not always
conttMit himself with one. As a i-nle, the Indian inove.l him-
s«'lt' a |)rac'tise(l thief, wlienexcr he had an opporttniity, and so
^n'cat was their love of uandtlin;;' that tlu'V wotiM sti'i]) them-
selves of evciy article they po.sscs.sed in the misuccessfid ]im-
.stiit of this passion. Their cruelty, wlien making' war. the
use of the scalpine' knife, the torture of theii- prisoners ]irii-
clainied the sava<^'ery of their nature. Against all those evil
traits of chai'actei" tlicy had, of cour.se, otiiei's to l)e admii'eij,
as, for instance, tlieir loyalty when trusted, and their lastin;;-
y;ratitudi' foi' a favoi' sliown oi- a kindness Ix'stowed.
To show that tlu' Hudson's Hay Company's policy was to
t: at the Intlians with kintliie.ss au<l consideration, we will
now (|Uote from some of the Standin<;' Rules and Keuulatioiis
of the sei'viee : —
Stfindiiiy; Unlvs of tlio Fur Tnide estJiblished by tliu Cnmicils nf tlu'
Niirtheiii and Southurn Dopiirtnifiits of Rupert's Liind : —
Tliat the Iiidiiiiis bo treated witli kiuthiess tiiid indulgence, and mild ami
conuiliatnry means, resorted to in order to encourage industry, reini'ss
vice, and inculcate morality : that the use of spirituous li(|uors be L^radiud-
ly discontinued in the very few disti'icts in which it is yet indis])ensalilc ;
and that the Indians })e liberally supplied with re(iuisitt! necessaries, par-
ticularly with articlesof annnunit ion. whether they have the means of pay in;,'
for it or not, and that no gentleman in charge of district or post be at lili-
erty to alter or vary the standard or usual mode of trade with the Indians.
exce})t by special permission of council.
That nf)t more than two gallons of s]iirituous li(|U()r, and four gallons of
wine, be sold at the dejiot to any individual in the company's service, of
what rank soever he may be.
NOKTH-WKST FnllTS AM) INDIANS.
IIIM)S(»NS IJAV COMI'ANVS ItKtil I, AIK iSS.
221
Itfsiilvcd. Ist, Tlmt for the incinil Jind inlini'His iiiiprnviiiu'iit nt tlu' si-r-
MiiitH. thf iiinif oflt'ctiml civilization, jiiul tlif iuHtniction of tin- fiiinilies
and Imlifins uttiicliod to tlu' ditt'tiruiit cstulilislnni'ntH. tin; Srtliltutii he dnly
nlpsiMVcd us a day of rost at all the comiiany's posts tiiroii^iiout llu! coiin-
tiy, ami l)i\inc Servici' In? |iid)liily read witii iicconiiiiy Boli'innity, iit
whii'li ivU tliu servants and families resident i)L' i-nconraLtcd to attend, to-
_'tthei' with any of the Indians who may he at iiand. and vshnm it may lie
|iio|ier to invite.
L'nd.
lat in eonrse of the week due attention lie liestowed to fnrnisl
the women and children with Hueh re>,'ular and useful oicuiiation as is
suiti'd to their ayo and capjieitii^s, ,iml liest calculated to suppress vici
oils
am
Ipr
omoto vu'tuou.'
habits
.'inl. .\s a prejiarativo to education, that tlu' women ;ind children at the
several posts in the country lie;dwa}s addressi'd ;ind h.iliit iiated to cou-
verso in the laiiynagu (whether Knulish or French) of the father of tho
family ; and that he be encouraged to devote a portion of his leisure time
to their instruction, as fa)' as hia own knowledge and ability will permit,
111 liis testiiiioiiy Im'I'oi'c m Solcct ( 'fuiiniittof (if tho lldiiso ol'
( '(iniiiKiiis. ii]i|)()iiitt'il to coiisiiltT tlif stall' lA' the Hritisii |i(ts-
Sf.ssions ill North Anicrica, Sir ( iooror Siiii|isoii stutcd mi tlie
2(ith Foil., IS.')7. that in liis oiiinioii tlir Iinliaiis in tho 'I'hick-
\V(io<l c<iuiitr\' had iucrt'a.scij in iuiiiiIm'I'. uhilo thoso on the
plains hail ilfciVfiHed, on ai'foinit ol" tho i'a\aor,s of siiiall-[)ox,
ami tlit.'if fonstaiit wars aiuoiio' thonisolvcs. 'I'lio t'ollowino-
ivtiu'ns, taken t'roiii the cvidoiici' pi't'sented liclorc the suiiu;
cuiiiiiiittiT, will o'lve fi taii'lv L'on'ect idea o
lation in IS.')(i :
X(>HTIII;K\ DHI'AliTMKNT.
Athabasca District . . . . .
Mackenzie River . . - . .
Knglish Hiver ......
Saskatchewan ---.--
Cundterland ......
Swan River ......
Red River .......
Lac La Pluie .--.-.
r tho natixc |io[)ii-
1,550
10,4;5()
i,:t70
i'f<,050
750
2,200
;j,ouo
2,850
1 i."
li:
f
*i
222
HISTORY OF IMF. \<>HTH-WKsT.
Norway IlnuMo . . . . .
York ......
Alltiuiy
Kiini^{iiinisNL'o .....
liiiko Siipurior . . . . .
Liiku Hiirnii .....
Hiiiilt St. Miirii' . . . . .
MooHe ......
Kiist Main
Ituport'M Uivfr ....
TomiHcauingut'
Indian iMipnlation <>f tho North-NVuBt
Ai>i» TO THIS :
Montreal Dopartment
Oregon ......
Hritish t'oluni)>ia ....
EHquiniaux
I. OHO
i.noo
1,100
4(10
i,;j:{o
1. 100
too
7W
7<M)
i,o;w
t»n,:{or)
3,105
5,400
75,000
4,000 ,S7.5l)r.
147,H10
T\h' iil)()Vo i"'iy 1k! clasHified accoi'diii^^ to i-aci's, as follows
Tliickwood Indians, east of Rockies
Plain Tribes, Blackfeet, Crees, ntc.,
Oregon and British (.'ohnnhia Indians
Indians in Kastern Canada
EH<[uiniau.\ . - - . -
35,000
25,300
80,400
3,100
4,0<H)
147,800
(^i:: '^'^^Gu^^^::^
CHAI'TKH XIV.
r.STAMMSllMKNI' oF (i( )V KHN.M KNI' AT KKD UIVKU.
WilKN ('(ij)tiiin IN'lly Ihthiik' ( lovcnioror tlif Selkirk ( 'oloiiy,
Mr. DoiKiM McKeii/if it-pn'Mcntt'il tlir irit»'reMtH of tin- Hiul-
soirH Hay ('<)iin>iiiiy at Fort ( iil)ialtMr, ami uinltT the arnin;;*'-
iiieiit iiuule Uy Mr. Malkct, the .settlfis wrrr .supjilit'il witli
i;()(m1h from tlu> coinpany'.s .ston-.s at tin* following ratt-s mi
prime cost : Hr.st, thirty-three and one thii'd on the oi'i;;,inaI
('(».Ht in KnifJand to cover char^ss, to which wa.s added Hfty-
ei^ht per cent, profit. This meant practically alxmt one hun-
dred per ctMit. added to the tir.st co.st of the j;<jod.s in the old
coinitry, whicii waw, of cour.se, a very profitable husine.s.s for the
company, and at tlie Hame time a l)etter arran^jement for the
settlers tiian had existed when the supplies were obtained at
Fort Douglas.
About this time also, the Hudson's Hay ('ompany intro-
ducetl a circulating' medium in tiie shape of a paper currency,
which proved of ^reat .service to tlie community at larj;e.
The notes were of three different values, tlie lii^hest beinii' foi-
one pound sterling;, the next five shillings, and the lowest, one
shilling. They were ])ayable in bills of j'xchange at York
Factory, wiiich was seven hundre<l miles away from the colony,
l)ut the company never refused to give a bill on l.ondon at
Red River for their notes. The currency was accepted and
used by the settlers with the greatest confidence, and a man
ii
'\
!!l
224
msTOHY ol" Tin; N'oinil-WKST.
who liiiil i\ pocketful of " llutlsoii Hav l)I}Uikets," hh tlu' iiott
wt'it' mckiiiiincil, conHKlcrcd Ininsfll a \vvy
lurk
V lIKllVK
lll.'li
iiitU'iMl, ainl liail no Tears ahoiit tlic stal»ility of the hank.
(^ittlf MOW licnaii to l)t' (h'ivi'ii into the settlement in lary(
<h'o\es, ami otrefeij for sale, some of the hei'ijs (•omini''o\ erlaiH
from as far south as Kentuckv, and in this wav, and fi
III 1 1
other causes, the condition of the sett.lei's henan steadily to iiii-
|)i'o\t'. 'I'hei'e were, howe\'er, aliout the same time, a imuiiIki'
of iniiD'ovich'ut j)eo])le added to the |io|)ulation on the hanks
of th( Heil Wixcr, who did not fnrthei' to any ^reat extent the
prosjterity of the comnuuiity as a whole. These were the half
U's and others, who, durini-- the time of the .\ortli
hreeil \ (»wi<;('i
West ('ompany, found employment in conducting' the hrij^adcs
hetween Fort William and the inland posts. When the union
of the fui' companies took place. ^ ovk P'actory hecame tlu'
liead-(|uart('rs of the fiu' trade, and I'\)i1 William sank into tiu'
condition of a mere station. The hirch canoe was allowed to
decay, and the h.ardy men, chielly half-hreeijs, who manned it
in former times, were thrown out of employment, and, to sup
port themseh'es and theii' families, hecaine hunters. Ihit this
mode of life did not suit many of them, and they ;i')-aduMlly
joineil the colony on the h'eil Ki\ei-, and scattered themseKe.s
alone' the Assinihoine. Some of the hetter classes of these
made ;;'ooil settlers and assumeil the occupation of frei^^hters
li\- means of carts and hoises. while the pooi'er iialf-hreeds
who came into the settlement from the I ndian tcrritoi'ies, hciiiL;
destitute of hor.ses ol' the uii alls to hiiy (hem. li\ed a \r\y pir
carious mode of life. I>ut as the condition of the country iiii-
pro\'e(l, e\ I'll these jioor people ^'radually succeeded in hetteiiiiL;
their circumstances and hecaiiie trip-men, lishermeii. and \'n\
lowed other pursuits conp'iiial to them, althou;4h few under
took the cultivation of the soil to aii\' extent.
Ill
KSl'AlilJSIIMKNI' OK (!(>VKI!\Mi:\T AT |{i;i» KIN Kit
•)•)■
^Vm\
1
i
lie St
ttl
crs iit'iu'iM
lly, ):
OWt'NCl', Wt'f*' SMCCfSS
ful
III tlii'ir
t'l'iniiiuii' opt'Ditioiis, .iinl .m coiisidt'iahlt' fNtciit of iifW l.iiiil \v;i>
turned over, the i)ossfssi(iii ot cjittlt' ussistiiij>' wvv iiiatfruillv
ill this rcHpcct. Tlif crojis oicw luxiifinntly, ri|it'iit'il well, mihI
wriT MiitlicrtMl ill ill i;(Mi(| coiKlitioii, tlu' yield ln-iiii;' iVom
twenty to tliirty Imslieis to the rere tVoni eidti\ ated land, and
from six to seven when sown upon tiie sod. The j^rassliojijjei's
had (h'sappeared. and the only ih-awhaei-; exjierieiiceil was in
the autumn of IS'J."), when the coIoiin' liecame inti-sted with
mice, w
■hich lor a time threatened the settlement with a IVesli
calamity, the new eiieiny iieini;' exceedin^^ly numerous and de-
structixc, hut lia])])ily they came too late in the season to do
iii'icli serious harm.
he lollow
iiii"' \eai', IS-2(!, was one oi' dire disaster, and th
calamities of the former seasons seemed to ha\e returned with
fourfold force. It commence(l durini:' the winter, wlieii a sud-
dell and fearful snow storm swept the lainl, drivin;^' the lnill'alo
heyond the hunters' reach, ami killin;^' most of their horses.
The \isitalioii was so unexpected that tlie peopleon the plains
were totally uii|irepared for it, and hein;;' without food,star\a-
tioii stared them in the face. The lludsons Hav (
omiianx'
iiid jirivate individuals in the settlement, as ,sooii as tlie_\
heard of tlie disaster, at once sent out jirovisions to the a
tllict-
I'll hiintei's, and in tliis way .sa\ed a numlier of them from
death, liut others, !iot so fortunate, were eithe. frozen or died
from exhaustion, and in this way many lost their li\e,s. |t
w as a terrilile winter, and in the spring- was fo!'o\V"d l)y fresh
di.saster, for liardK had the colonists recoxered theniscKcs
from their exertions in i
ell
e\ inn' the plaindii ters and their
I'amil
les, than the\' t hem.scKes were \isited l>\ a ""reat
c;; i.iliii-
t\. The winter had heeii uiiusuailv severe, the snow avcratf-
i
1^
I^H'
' 1 !l i ^
■22{)
HISTORY OK TMi; NOKTH-WKST.
in^^ over tliree feet in depth on the ))raine, and from four to
five feet in the woods, and the ice on the river measuring neai--
Iv six feet in tliickness. The result of this was, that in tlic
spring, the How of water from the melting of the snow became
alarming, and the ice Vjeing so thick, the river on the 4th oi
May, overflowed its hanks and spread so fast, that almost be-
fore the [)e()})le were aware of the danger it had reached tlieir
dwellings.
Then ensue«l a scene of destruction that struck terror into
the hearts of the unfortunate settlers. The people had to fly
from their homes, leaving all that they possessed behind them,
and tlie cries of the women and children, the lowing of the
cattle, and howliny; of the dogs, only added to the confusion.
The Hudson's Hay Company did all in their power to aid the
distressed colonists, and by me; s (jf boats tlie fandlies were
conveyed to places of 'safety, the cattle were driven to the hills,
and an attempt was being made to save tiie grain and furni-
ture from the hou.ses and barns. M'hen the ice gave way ami
swept e\ervthing before it. Hardly a house or building of
any kind was left standing in the settlement, some of them be-
ing carried away whole and entire to be engulfed in Lake
Winnipeg. The flood continued in fidl force until the 2bst, the
v.'ater rising fully flfteen feet above the ordinary level of pre-
vious years, but on the 22nd, it began to recede, until, on the
loth .June, the .settlers were able to a))proach the sites of their
former dwellini''.s. Fortunatt'ly only one life was lost, but the
people were almost ruined, and the colony which had ccjm-
menced to show signs of .sub.stantial ])i'osperity, once more
sank into a .state of desolation and distress.
It is .said that in 177(5, the flood on the Red River was even
higher than the one just described, and others in i7}K), and in
l:i
'!'
KSTAUI.ISIIMEXT OF (iOVKKXMKXT AT KICK HIVKK.
1H09. M't'i-L' unuHually hi<i^li, hut the overflow of IS2<), ivsulte<l
ill more hardship than any of its ])redec'e8Sors. One j;oo(l re-
sult, lK)wev«r,'wa.s tlmt the <le Meurons and other objectionabh-
settlers to the number of 248 individuals deci<led to try their
i'oittuie elsewhere, and took their departure for the United
States, to be seen no more at Red River. Theii" <leparture was
not reifreted, and was even hastened V)y the company t'urnish-
in<i' tlit'ui with supplies to use in their journey.
The Scotch settlers, midaunted by their many reverses, now
went to work to rebuild tiieir homes, and in the year lS27,the
colony 'nay be said to have entered upon a new era of its e.xis-
tence. until, in 1880, the dross havini; been piu'^ed from the
couMiiunity, the .settlenn";t was completely re-establishfd on a
l)etter footing- than e'. er, and its jn'ospects became more in'omis-
iui;-. It is said that ever}' cloud has its silvei' liiiin;^-, and tlnis
it was with the settlers on Red River. The sinnmei" after the
riood was a very hot one, an<l the little seed sown in June and
July of 1S2() all came to maturity with surprising- rapidity.
The hunters were successful in both trips, and bi'ouo'ht in a
plentiful sui)i)ly of punnnlcan and dried meat, and the fishermen
on the river and lake added considerably to the .store of pro-
visions, so that the settlers had the satisfaction of knowin<^
that there was enouj;'h food to bid detiance to want until tlu'
foUowinj;' spring-.
Previous to the year 1H25, the ^a-ain raised in the colony
had to be ground on (pierns, or luuul-mills. Althou^^h Lord
Selkirk had sent out a windmill in the early period of the
settlement, no one had l)een found capable of puttinn; it into
wdrkini;' order, until the executors of his Loi-dship's estate
sent out a iuillwri^'lit to set it up, and, after ten years of idle-
ness, it counnenced workiny; in 1825. Soon after this, it was
■4 '
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HISTOllV ol' THE \()UTH-nT:ST.
bought hy Mr. Lo^an for about .£.S()(), altliouu-li it cost tl. ")(>()
ami that i^cutlciiiaii siu'ct'Cflctl in ruiminj;' it witli jtrofit t'l
liiiiiseU' and Ix'iit'tit to tlitM'oniiiiunity, and From tliis iK'^iiniiiiu'
windmills soon sjii'miii;' u]) in i'wvy direction, until, in a tVw
years, there weiv a dozen oi- more in the settlement. A wattr
mill was also attempted about this time by Mr. Cnthbiit
(Irant, who had settled down to be ji stead v-ooinj'' man (if
business, but his enterprise was not I'ewarded with the success
it deserved. He constructed a dam across a creek at Whire
Horse Plains : liuilt his mill only to tind that it did imt wmk
satisfactorily, and the dam ;iivin<;' way soon afterwanls, the
whole investment proved to be a total loss of about £S()l> to
Mr. (irant.
In \i^-U, the Hudson's I>ay Company built Lowei' Fnrt
Oarrv, with the intention of makin<'' it fthe seat of (!(i\(tn-
ment, but this was afterwai'ds relintiuished in favor of the
Uppei- Fort, 'i'he latter was at that time a lively and attrac-
tive station, full of business ami activity, as all the atfaii's of
the colonv were transacted then
Lowei" Foi't (ian'\- wa>
more pictures(|ue. and its surroinidino-s full of rural l»eauty,
which made it delightful as a residence, and, pi'obably on this
account, Sir (Jeoree Simpson always .selecte*! it as his <|uai't(i's
when \isitinn- the settlement, 'i'he Hud.son's Hay Company
were now lords of all they surveyed. On them the set-
tlers had to depend for all they re(|uired — they constituted
the chief market for the farm ])roduce raised in the colony,
and tlieir woid was law in all matters affecting' the maiiaui-
m<'nt of the colony. To do them justice, the otHcers of tlir
company did all in their power to a<l\ance the intei't sts of tli''
.settlement, oftiMi at <>reat loss, but in one respect their aet^
were aibiti'ary
an<l in some cases exceedine'lv hai'sli. T
KSTAIiUSHMENT <»!' (JnVKliNM KNT AT HKh 1!1VI:H.
•J2!>
was in prrvcntiii;;,' Jiny oin' draliiii;' in or possessing;' furs witli-
(lUt tlu'ir consent. Tin' I'uli' was that all t'ufs had tolx- sold to
t\\v vnm\y,u\y. no one else Ix-inj^' allowed to trade in them, and
ill sevei'al instance;; very liieh-lianded proceedings were direet-
^^l\ aejiinst ort'enders. ^len wei'e iniprisoi ed and tlieir lialiita-
tions desti'oved l)V the constahies eniplo\-e(l hv the Hudson's
( t/ III
I5ay Company, who. without projier wanant. wei-e wont to
undertake liouse-searchin;^' e.\]ieditions tlirou<;h tiie settle-
iiient, to discoxer. ii' possihle, traces ol* tiie tratHc. < )n some
occasions these men went armed with muskets and hayonets,
to the terror of tlie inmates of houses visited l)y them, and
wlienevei- any furs wi-i'e found, they were at once contiseated.
Lookine' at events sulweipient to this period, we are of opinion
that the officers of the com|)aMy adopted a short-sio-jited policy
in thus attemptine- to suppress fur tra<line- in so summary a
manner. Had tliey pursued a more modi.'rate course, they
]ii'oli;d)ly woidd have o'ained tlieir object without exciting' the
deti'i'inintMl op]»osition of the pt'()])le, wliich afterwards ;;ave
tliem a ii'reat deal of trouble and ultimatelv resulted in the de-
feat of the company.
Fi'om the coalition of the two companies until 1S:>:}. the
Hudson's Hav (V)nii)anv was the onlv source from which set-
lit t
tiers wei-e able to purchase their su])plii's. and the only market
<i])en to them for tlu' disjiosal of their produce. So that the
(•(ini]ianys otHcei's weri' alile, when they so desired, to ride ovei-
the pe()])le with a hieh hand, and in some ca.ses did so, al-
ttioue'h on the whole they commanded the respect and conti-
ileiice of the .settlers.
Sir (ieorji'e Sini]i,son. in many ways. endea\<)re<l to promote
the interests of the settlement, hopin<; theivby to beiietit his
C(im[)any. lnstea<l of importing' farm produce, he piuchased
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HISTOKY Oi' THE X<Un"H-WEST.
as iiuic'h as poHwil)!)! tVoiii the [jooplc on tlif Kt'<l Rivt'r, until
c'<)un)laint.s, a.s to the (|Uality of tlic .suj)|)lii'H Furnislu'd to tlif
]»o.sts, comiik'UlmI liini once more to look to oiitsidc markets.
This arose partly throujjfh the carelessness of the settlers tln'm-
selves, and j)artly from the lack of any proper uni*ww to eai ly
on their farming and tliiirymjj (Operations, the wheat Ih-Id;;
lj*uHy harvested, the Hour hadly ifround, the butter cnn-lessly
]>acked, and in this way the produce of the Red River Settle-
ment came to 1)1- looki'(l upon with disfavor, and the market
for the sale of it injui'ed.
Sir ( Jeor^c then tried an experimental farm, to show the set-
tlers how to till the soil, Init this faile<l, involvin*;' a sei'iou.--
loss upon the company. Then he established what lie called
the Assiniboine Wool Company, for the purpose of stimulatin;;'
shi'ep farming-, but, like the pn-vious I'xperiment, it also provecl
a failure, 'i'he next venture was called the Tallow Company,
one of the ( !overnor-in-('hief"s ])et schemes, which, if it and
the others luul been pro])erly manaj^iMl, would have result-
ed in much j^ood to tlu' settlers. Hut the men in charge of
the cattle left them to shift for themselves, and those sent t(i
brin;;' in the sheep undertook to drive them overland all the
way fi'om Kentucky, and out of a herd of about 1,500 lie.id.
they ai-rive(l at Red River with 251, havin<;" lost over twelve
Innidred sheep on the way, the collapse of the Wool Com-
pany, of course, beino- the result, the loss, as in the other cases.
fallint;' chiefly upon the com[)any.
It was, however, a period of experinjent, and certuinly it
may be said that nothini;' was left undone to bring the settle-
ment into prominence by making it prosperous. Premiums
wi're ott'eretl for the Ijest Hax grown, and seed was given out
for the pur)
)ose.
he i)r
Lvmiums wei-e earned, and the tl
i.\
ESTAHLISHMKNT <)F (iOVKUNMENT AT KKI) HIVKH. 'I'M
f
;illi)\vc(l to rot: the same tliinij; liapjx'iicd witli an attempt to
t'dstii' the cultivation and use oF liciiij), so that one expi'rinu'nt
at'tii- aiiotluT was uiidt'i'taUi-ii only to he al)an<lone(l tlir(m<,di
tiic iiic'onipt'toncy. cai'clcssnt'ss, or cujiidity of tliost' eii^a<;x'«l
to carry thciii (Jut.
Finally, \vc must not forj^ct to mention that, while all these
(■xpiiinu'iits were takin<;' ])lace, the Hu^Ison's Hay Company
ciiiiiiiienced to build a road east of the Red Ki\er, witli the view
of openino- a winter connnunication between the settlement and
York Factory, but, with the collapse of the other schemes, this.
too, was a])andoned.
(Jovei'uor Felly had ivsioiu'il otfici', and been succeeded by
Mr. Donald McKen/.ie, who jiroved himself, dtu'inj;' all the
many trials that overtook the colony Avhile he was governor, a
Innnane and popidar administiator of affairs. His tei'm of
(itiice lasted from June. l)S2o, to -hnie, IH'.Ml — eiuht vears. when
he was succeeded by Mr. Alexander Christie.
About this time the sentiment of the people toward the
Hudson's Bay Company was mider^oin^- a change, and a spirit
iif rel^ellion a^uinst the authority of the officers be;;,an to show
itself. To lead up to the causes of this state of feelinj;, wo
must go back to the time when the settlers were supplied with
yoods on credit, (biring- Lord Selkirk's time. After the union, in
l'S21. when the Hudson's Bay Com[)any officers undertook the
oliarj;e of affairs, tlie credit system was abolished, and that of
itady-nujney inti'oduced. This led to a cm'tailment of the
sup])ly of goods, and a conse(|Uent rise in tlie |)rices, which
actcc against the poori'r class of settlers an<l in faxor of
till' Wealthier people. The result was that private in<livid-
u.ils undertook the impoi'tation of supplies, and (iovernor
Cliri.stie afforded every facility to this new class of traders,
11:
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2'\'1
IIISTOIiV <»F TIIK N'OKTH-WKST.
until tlit'y Itfoaii to take fnUaiitanc of tlic ])()siti(iii w liich tlir
or('(|it .sy.stcin <;'a\t' tliciii to opjjrciss tlw |it'()j)|t'. 'I'lifii tIh-
HikInoh's Hay CVniipaiiy st<')»])<Ml in, ami ly l<('cj)iiiu- m \»\\,.y
and lar;;ci' stock of j^ood.s, wliicli tln-y sold at cli('a]tf)' \:\u>
than tilt' tVfc tnidcns, capturtMl tlir trade. Tliis naturally in-
censed tile small <lealers. who raist-d a hue and ci'N' aeain><t tlir
company, aecusine' them ol" wishine- to monopolize all tlir
trade Ml o()()ds, as they di<l in I'ui's. The next ditiiculty .hmm'
with the half-hi'eed phun huntei's, who had lieconn- \tiy
numerous, and, as a result, the (|uantity of pennnicnn anil
dried meat l)roue;ht in from the plains exceeded the drm.in'l.
The company, therefore, declinetl foi- a time to Imy all that
was ort'ei-ed to them, and this, in turn, created a spirit <>\' i\\^-
satisfaction amone' the half-hi-eeds. who endea,voi'e(| to lailly
the company, and from demands heean to use threats. Init up
to !<S.S4 they did not resoi-t to violence, as they u-ciierally niaii-
a;^'i'(| to lia\t' their way. from a desire on the part lA' tlif
company's otHcers not to risk an outhreak.
In |.S;i4, however, the iuHannnahle materials took tiiv.
l)lay-ed out, and the first hostile demonsti'ation a<;ain^t tin-
Hudson "s liny ('om])any occurre(l. It appears that a linlf-
Itreefl named Ijirocipie, liavin;^' use(l insolent Iane'na;;r in ail-
(h'essino- a Mr. Simpson.* one of the com|iany"s otfici-is. the
hitter took up a poker, an<l struck his insulter o\ir tlie
head, intlictine' a serious wound. The in'uu'ed man. comiviI
* This was the same Mr. Siiniison, who, in cniniwn.v witli .Mr. neiise, was sent in 1836 nn iiii
exploiiiitr I'Xix'dilion 1o the nortli, which oceupiuil tluMi- tiiui' till 18311. For Ihi' v.ihial'li in-
foriniilioii yivcn hy these two exjilorers rei,'!ir(lini; the country they trii\crse<l, the r>o>al ("O-
gni))liical Society awarded them their (fold medal, hiit 'infortuiiately Mr. Simpson did not live
to enjoy the honors he had earned. On his return from the norlli in 183!t, and while tra. lUiir.'
overland from Kort (larry n'a the I'nited States, hound for Kns.dan<l, he committed suicide in .1
moment of insanity. With him at the time were several French hiilf-hrec<ls, two of whom Mr.
■Siiniison shot hefore he killed himself, and, owinir to the ditticulty he had with the French, in
1834, ahove narrated, it was said that they had taken revenue hy shooting him. It was pri'\i-.l
conclusively, however, on investitration, that he had connuited suicide.
F.STAHIJSIIMKNT OK (i< (VKHNM KNT AT l!i;i» l!l\ i:i{.
•2'Mi
with Mood, nislicil iHiioii;;' his tViciids, mikI they, in ;i shoit
liiiH'. stint'd tilt' wlioir ludl'-l)!' I coiiiiiiiniity to iiinkc coiii-
iiiuii cimsc a}i!Uiist tlif coiiijiaiiy, in "Icniaiulin;^' redress tor the
injiii'V done one (A' their inunher. Koft (iaiTy was sui rounded
li\ an exeited intdtitude, who decided that Mr. Simpson must
111' i|cli\eri'd u)i to them, to he dealt witli according' to theii*
uiiilerstaudin^' ol the hiw of relahation, and tor a time tlie af-
fair ha<I a seri<»us aspect, and an outlu'eaU was only axerted
h\ a deputation Ix-in;^' sent to settle the dispute. 'I'his was
accomplished l)y means of presents an<l a payment of money
tn i^ai'oc'(|Ue, ami thus the seeil was sown for future rehellion
till the part of til. I l"'reni'h. In the folhtwinii' sprin;^, another
(iriiioustration took place hefore the ;;ates of Fort ( iariy. and
tins time a demand was made that the company sliouhl pay
higher prices for the pemmican and meat purchased from tlie
liuntcrs. an<l that hutt'alo rohcs and tallow should l>e allowed
cxpoit fiom tile country, .so that other markets than that of
Fort (iarry mii^ht he opened to them. I'hey also protested
au'ainst anv import dut\' heiuL!' h'vied on ecxHls hrouuht in
hy them from the I'niti'd States. These demands, howexcr,
wcie not acceded to. and for a time the half-hreed.s accepted
tile situation, and ceased further demonstrations, hut tlie feel-
iiii;- of discontent iX'Uiained, and the authority of the comjtany
was (111 the wane, the spirit of opposition liein;^' fanned hy de-
si^niniJ' demaii'oii'ues. who e\-cn thus eai-|\- in tln' da\' had he-
;;uu to dujie the simple an<i excitahle lialf-l)i'i'e(|s foi- their
nwn selfish pur})ose.
Ill the meantime, the executors of Foi'd Selkirk's estate,
anxious t() ^"et rid of the re.spousihility iiicurreil tlii'ou<;li tlie
ownership of the Red River colony, arranged to transfer it to
its uriy;iiial liolders, the Hudson's IJay Company. It has heen
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IIISTOIIY or TIIK N'OHTII-WKST.
Mjiifl that the scttlt'inciit coHt Lord Selkirk in the nci^'lilMii-lKMMl
of t'2()(),()<)(), Imt the Mini lii.s executors I'eceive*! Tor tlie pi..-
))erty, ill \H'M'), was CS4,1II, wliicli hIiowh, if the fi^-uies juv
coi-rect, that the speeuhitioti wa.s a costly one to his loril.shi|p.
For some time after tlie tivinsfer the matter was kept secift
from the j^eneral Ixxly of settlers, a policy of deceit, the wis-
dom of which it is diHieidt at this time to understand.
l^p to now, the inhahitants at H(m1 Kiver may he said to
have lived without laws and without protection, dependinj;
sohdy on their own ;jood feelings and faith towanl each otlnr.
For several years, a few councilloi's to assist the ;;()\eni(ir,
aided by a small body of constables, nominally a])pointed, had
l>een the only machinery (»f government existing in the si-ttle-
ment. It was a system of [)ei-suasion, rather than one of force
or ajithority, and, looking' at the hostile demonstrations wliicli
had been made ai;ainst the company i)y a section of the C( im-
munity, the <i;overn()r and council in London thoufjjht it time
for the adoption of some system b}' which law an<l order
e(add better be maintaiiifd.
The first step taken, therefore, by the company, after its
ac(|uisition of the settlement, was to organi/e something' like
local rejjulations, courts of justice, and a code of laws for the
colony. This they were empowei'ed to do under their charter,
and accordinj^^ly new councillors, selected from amon^ tlu- in-
fluential inhabitants of the colony, were nominated and com-
missioned by the conniiittee in London, arul these, with the
Governor-in-C'hief at their head, were to constitute a Ie<,nsl!i-
tive council, with power to make laws in criminal as well as
civil matters.
On the 12th February, 1885, this council was convened for
the first time, the mend)ers composin^^ it being as follows:
KSTAHMSMMKNT <H' COVKIIN.M KNT AT HKD lUVKU.
2:^5
Sir (icor^c SimpNuii, (iovpriwn- of KiijM'rt'H
l^aixl.
Alt'xandfr ( 'hiMHtit', (lovrniof ol" AHHiiiilK)iiu\
Tlif lli;,^lit Kt'vcrt'iwl the HiHliu]) ol' .Jjiliopo-
Hh — tlio Nortli-WcHt
Till- Kt'ven'iid I). T. .Ioir'H, Cliaplaiii to the
Hon. HiulsoMM Hay (.'oiiii>any . .
Tilt' Ri'Vt>rt'ii«l William Cocliraii, Assistant
Chaplain. .
.Tanit'H HinI, Ks(|., foniit'i'Iy Cliicf Factor
Hudson's Hay ( 'onipany..
Juini'S Sutlicrlanti, Ks(|.
W. H. (\)ok, Ksq
John Pi'itt'hard, Kstj..
Holjort Loi^an, Kstj. . .
Alexander Ross, Sliei'iti' oi" Assinihoinc
John Mt'Cnlhnn, (.\)r()ner
John Hm-ns, Ks(|., Medical Adviser..
Andrew McDei-niot, Ks(|., Merchant. .
Cutlihert (Irant, \Vai'<len of the Plains
The President (Sir (Jeor^'e Simpson) delivered the followint^
address at the tir.st meetinjj; of the council :
"(lENTLEMEN, — 111 order toguiirdas much as jxwsible against misappre-
hension within doors, or misrepre.sentatii )n out of doors, on the subjects
wliich I am now about to bring under your consideration, T shall thus
biietly notice them. From their importance they cannot fail of calling
forth due attention, and from the deep and lively interest you all feel in
tlie welfare and prosperity of the colony, I am satistied you will afford me
tlie benefit of your assistance and support lowarc carrying into eflect
such measured as may appear to you best calculated, under existing cir-
cumstances, to answer every desirable object.
"The population of this colony is become so great, amounting to about
5,0(X) souls, that the personal influence of the Governor, and the little
more than nominal support afforded by the police, which, together with
Prenident.
CoanciUor.
<ln.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Ill"
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iiisidiiv <»r iiii: Nuui"ii-\vi:sr.
tliu ^tiixl fculiiit^ of I III- |K'ii|i|(', liiivu hurcitoforu huuii itn iniiuriiMil wifu-
i;iiard, art.' iih Imiv^i'i' siitllciciit tn niiiintnin t)i>' traiii|iiillity liiid ^un<l ^'nv-
uniiiioiit of lliu sctrl(Miu-iit ; md tliat altlmu^li riglitN of lU'oporty luiw uf
luto l)oi'ii frL'c|Vit'iitly iiivatU-il, aii<l other Horioim otU-ncis bfoii com-
mitti'il, I am coiiffihcil to say, wo nru mulor tlio iiwi-Msity i»f allowiim
tlii'iii to panH uiiiiolit'cil. liucHimc wi' liavo not tlic iiiohiih at coiiiniaiul df
oiiforciiii,' ohfiliuiicc aiul iliu- rcMjicct, according to thu exist iiiy oiiUr df
tliiii'^s.
" IikUt such oirumnstiiiici'S, it imi«t ho I'vi'ont to oiiu iiiid all of ymi,
tliHt it i^ (|iiit(' iiii|>oHsil>lc socit'ty can hold tonotluT : thiit the tiiiio has jif
It'iiijlh ai livt'd wlii'ii it liccoiiu's iifci's.sHry to put tho adiiiiiiiHtraticiii of
jiistici' oil li more tinii ami ri'i,'iilar footiiiju; tlmu herutdforo, ivud that iin-
uu'diate nti'jjs oii^ht to ho tHki'ii to j^iiard aj^aiiist daiii^ors ffoin ahroail, or
(lithcMltirs at lictnie, for the uiainteiiaiice of yond ordiT and tran(|iiillity,
and for the .security and protottion of lives and propiTty. "
Till' ('(iiiiM'il tht'ii ri'.iiiird M iiiiinlM'i' of ciiactinciits. wliicli
wt'iv |iiissril into Inw. ami most ot" tliciii <^i\\i- or|,,.c.,l >,itis-
iMctioii.
[Icir ni'i' si'Vt'rfil ol" tln-iii :
iHt — That an ethcieiit and dispoaahle force he embodied, to he styled a
volunteer corps, to consist of sixty otticers ami privates, to ))e at all tiim s
ready to act when called upon ; and to he paid as fidlowa : Ci>nimaiiciiii'^
officer, t-H pef annum ; sert{eants. tlo ; and iirivates, ffi, besides oxtrii
\my for servimj, writs. When not so employeil, their time tt) be their own.
•_'nd— That the settlement be divided into four districts ; the first to ex-
tend from the Imago Plain downwards ; the second from the liiui'^c
Plain to the Forks : the third from the F'orks upwards, on the main
river : and the fourth, the White Horse T'lains, or Assinihoiut' Rivir :
and that for each of tho said districts, a magistrate i)e api)ointed. That
James liird, Ksip, l>e Justice of tho Peace for the first district ; .lames
Sutherland, Ksip, for the second ; Robert Loyan, Ksip, for the third, and
Ciithhert (Jraiit, KiS(|., for the fourth. These magistrates to hold (|uai-
terly courts of sunuaary jurisdiction on four successive Mondays ; to lio
ajipointed according to tho existing order of precedence in the four sec
tions ; hegiiniing with the third Monday of January, of A])ril. of .luly,
and of October.
ord — That the said cotu'ts have power to pronounce final ju<lgiin'iit in
all ci\il cases, where the debt or damage claimed may not exceed live
jxiunds : an<l in all tresjiasses and misdemeanors, which, by the rules ami
regulations of the District of Assiniboine, not being repugnant to tiie
m
KSTAIII.ISIIMIAT OK t:,»\ KltNMIiSr AT ItKh l(l\ l.lt. -I'M
Ihwh of Kii^Itiiiil, limy )h* |itiiiiHl)iMl l>y a tiiu' iml ixcuviiiiii; tlit> ikfniuMiid
Hiiiii of ti\u ixmiiiiIh.
4tli 'riml the Hiid iiiuitx lie «'iii|iu\vi ifil tn iH'fer iiiiy riiM*' of tlniibt or
ilillicully III the 8ii|i!viiii' trihiiiiHl nf tlic ciilmiy, thu Coiiif nf ( invi-riior
mill riiuiu'il of AHHiiiilmiiu', iit itH iioxt miMiiiu^; ijiiiirtcrly m'ssimi, liy
u'iviiiUH CMK n»(( iiiliiiiiitiiiii nf tin- n-fi'iciico in npcii cimrf, ami a writtiMi
iiiiiinatimi nf tlu' Haiiiu iiiidi r t • hands nf a iiiKJniity nf tlu> tliiif Bittiiii,'
iiiaijiHt rates, at loant nius wlmli- wci k l)ofnro tlio cniiiiiienconicnt nf the said
i|ii irtiM'ly Ht'SHJiMi, and tliis, witliniit I ciiii,' rnm|it)lU'd tn Htati" any reason
IciC sil dniiin.
."•til -Tliat tlif <'iiiirt nf (Jnviriinr and "niiiiril, in its judicial capacity,
sit nil the third Tliiirs lay of Foliruary. of May, of Aii>,'u«t. and Nnvem-
lu-r ; and at such ntlicr tiiiu-s as ihf (tnvcrnnr-in-Clii«ff nf Knpt'it'H Land,
ni. Ill liis al)sciico, tlio (fnvi'rnor nf AsHini mine, may deom tit.
• it h— That in all contosted civil case*, which may involvo claims nf nmre
than tLMi jtoniids. and in »11 criminal casus, the verdict of a jury shall
di'teniiine tin- fact or facts in ilisiiiite.
7th -That a piiMic hiiildiiij,', intended tn answer the doiilde piir()nse nf
II cnurt-hniiMe and j^anl, he en-cted as early as pnssilile nt the forks nf tiio
Ued and Aswinilniine Kivers. That in order to raise funds fur defraying,'
>iil1i expenses as it may ho fnuml necessary tn iiieur, tnwards the main-
tciiaiice nf nrdi'r, and tiio ereetint,' nf pnlilie wniks, an impnrt (iiity shall
he levied nil all gnods and iiiiTchandise of fu. mn manufacture, imported
iiitn Ked River, either fnr sale nr private use, at 7k |ier cent nn the
aiiiniint of invoice: ami further, that an export duty nf 7i percent, he
levied nil all i.;nnds and stnre.s, nr .su|)plies, the ymwth, prndiice, or manu-
facture of Red Fliver.
Sir (HM)r<;t' Simpson tluMi aiinomici'il tluit the Hudson's Hay
('(itiijiaiiy woiiM make a ni'.-mt of ,t!'i(H> in tiiil of imlilic works
in |{t'(l Hivt'i', and the coinicil, lia\ inn- passed a xotc ol' thanks
I'm- tliis lihiTal donation, Hdjouvtied.
riuTc wi'fc sonic wiio thonnjit that the pci'sonncl ol' the
ediincii Wits not all that could he dt'sircd, inasnim-li as it
savored too niuch of a repre.senttition t'jivoi'aliie to Ijudson'.s
iJay Company's interest.s. The duties proposed to he le\ ied
Were also con.sidere(l too hinh. and ainieil anainst the ])etty
traders, hut, on the whole, the introdtiction of hiws tind reoula-
tions, imperfect thouoh they were deemed in some (puirters,
w !is received g'enerally with favor,
o
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ClIAI'TKU XV.
KXI'I.OlJAI'OltV \V()|!K 1I!(»M IT7.S TO ISIIO.
W'l; will now tnkf u]) the ifconi of rxplorjitions in tin
Niilth-Wfst tVniii the tiliir when the I )i)l)l)s-M-.ill('y cxiicdit icii
ri'tiniK'l vu 1747. In 177-'>, an fXpcilitioM nndcr connnjind <<\'
("iiptiiin .h<\\\\ I'liillips and Ciiptain l.nlwiilov left Kn<;l;M
III in
hnif, to discover a na\i»;'a
ltl( clianncl liftwt'cn he castcni and
Wfsti'in roas
ts ol" Anu'rica, luit tlif vcssfls havin^' n-aid
h'(|
latitntli' SO :>7'. wtTf fnconi|iass(M| liy ice. and, at'ttT osi'a|iiiiL;
with ditlicidty from destruction, rctni-nctj home.
The next exjiedition in order oi' date was that ol" Sif .\|i\
ander
M
ickenzie, who was
the tirst white man tVom ('aiiad;i
iiii'ih
to reach the .\rctic ( )cean. the tifst iMifopean to pa.ss tin
the Kockv Monntains, and the first overland tfaveller north < I
the (inlf of Mexico, to anise at the shoics of the I'acitic.
He was liorn at Inverness, Scotland, in I7ti(), and was ai'iiin
twelitv Veai's ol au'e w
hen he aifivcd for the lii'st time in ( 'an
.ada. In I7S,'). he was ailmitted a ])ai1ner intit the fm- tr
lUr
ojieiatiolis o
f the west, li;;vin<;- heeii then in the o
Hic(
Met ire'-orv fof live vears. When the North-West t'()m|>aii\
was orv,'!nii
/,ed in 17S7,Sir .\lexainler MacUeii/.ie Itecaiiie i
I III
meted With II, am
I in I7n'.I we liiid him stationeil at l'"'irl
('hii>ewyan on Lake .Vthaha.st a. On .Inne 'Wil o\ that year ln'
.set ont on his meinofaltle joiU'liey to the noi'tli, dtlfilt;^- vvhirh
he discovei-ed tile fiver which hears his iiaiiu', and exploivil it
i:\i'i,i>i! Aiom \\(»i!K.
2.S!>
1(1 it.s iiioutli witliiii tlir Aictic firclc, rftuniin;^' to Fcti't (Mii|)t>-
\\\;iii oiiSt'jit. I'JtIi, I7SII. He ihi'ii paid !i viHit to Kn^liiiid in
iiiilrf t(i t'thu'jit*' liiiiisclf ill tin- scifiicc i>r astroiiDiiiy ami iia\ i-
^at idii, and also to |ii'ocui(' Ih.uUs ami iMsti'iiiiifiits Inr I'Mturr use.
( )ii his rcluni to l''ort ( "lii|ic\v\aii in l-Ti'^. in- It't't llici-c on tin*
lotli < )ctnl)t'i", on a ionrni'N ot" I'uftlifi' discov crw and, asn-nd-
mi:' tli«' I cacc l\i\('f until Ins |ir(t;;i'css was nnjuMJcd l)y ice, In-
aii'l his jiai'ty I'cniainrd llicrc for the wiutn-.
In !M;i.v, I7!>M, when th'' ii\iT opened, the voNai-e was
rcMnned, ami
le ascen led
iN'ace l\i\('i' to the l''oil\
Kol-
luwiii^- one of the hraiiehes to near its sdurce, the explorer
cut a passa'i'e across eounli'W ihi'oujili tin- wonds to the HTeat
ri\ er
r
K'outche ' (now kmtwn as the I'Vaser), on which
lie eiidiaiUeil with his t'ojlow ers. I'tut on leaiMiiii;;' that the
passage ilown the ii\fr was full of perils, his men niutiiiied,
upon which Mackenzie I'esoKeil to reach tlie .sea hy another
idute, ,ind in ortler to do this was ohiiy'eil to turn hack. It
was t'oi innate that he diil so, hecanse the route desci'ihed hy
tile Indians, and which he follow cd. led to the sea in sixteen
<l.i\s alter leaxine' the main ri\cr. The partx' had man\'
.i'Ueiitui'cs with ditVereiit Indian ti'il
les. were placed on sliof
allow ance. and underwent iiardships, Itnl at last .Mackenzie at
tained his loim'-chefished oliiect.and on .lulv 22nd. I ?!•:{. reach.
d the I'acitic o\ erland IVom ('anaila. 'The e\|
Ml i| I
r returned
the way he came, and ani\ed at h'ort ('hipewyan alter an
.ihseuce of eleven months. Sir .\le\ander Mackenzie had the
im(|ualitied satisfaction of feeiin;^- that his work of <>xp|oi'ation
and discovery, with all its toils and solicitudes, had lieen crow n-
ed with complete success, and it was liis pride to thiidv that he
had atlded new reyions to the realm of Uritish connnerce
Mackenzie died in JNi'O. the same year that Lord Selkirk, his
;;i'eat opponent, breathed his Ijist.
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240
IIISTOKV (»K THE N'OUTM-WKST.
Ill th<' 3't'ar 1792, Mr. Simon FruHer filtered the sei'vicc of
the North-West Company, and ten years later l)ecame a part-
ner. In 1805, whe\. at a conference held at Fort William, it
was decided to extend the t)peratioii8 of the company heyund
the Rocky Mountains, Mr. Fraser was sent, charged witli tlir
duty ol" carrying- ont the project. The desire was to anticipate
the United States exi)lorers and traders who might estahlish ,i
claim to the ownership of the country by right of discovciy
and occupation, and ]\Ir. Fraser carried out the programiiic
thoroughly. Leaving Fort William soon after the conference.
he made his way to Lake Athabasca, and ascended the IVact-
River, where he established a post named the Rocky Mountain
Portage. He then continued his journey to McLeod Lake,
which he discovered, and in 1800, lie portaged to Fraser Ri\er
(named after him), and which at that time was regarded as the
main stream of the Columbia, or one of its principal afHuent.s.
Leaving the Fraser, he then followed a triV)utary, which was
called Stuart River, after Mr. John Stuart, who also about this
time discovered and named Stuart Lake, where a trading post
was established.
Mr. Fraser gave the name of New Caledonia to the terri-
tory, and in 1807 estal)lislied another post named Fort George,
on the main stream of the Columbia. In the Spring of 1808.
accompanied by Mr. John Stuart and others, and a crew nf
men in four canoes, he left Fort (ieorge to explore the un-
known waters which were regarded as the main affluent i»t'
the Columbia, and for several days the expedition made goixl
progress. Hut at the point where, fifteen years earlier. Sir
Alexander Mackenzie turned back to follow the trail west-
ward to the sea, Mr. Fraser decided to continue on, and, as the
Indians predicted to him, he encountered appalling difflculties
I .
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KXI'LOKATOKV \V()|{K.
241
durin*;' his jounu'y. Rapitl.s iiiid fri^iitrul caHCiules, whirlpools
lifiiiiiitMl ill l)y liuf^'e rocks, mid iiuinerous porta^^cs, nuidc the
tiip a most ditHeult and daii^crous one, but Messrs. Fraser and
Stuart were not the men to be daunted by sueh obstacles, and
when thev could no lonrn'r travel by water, thev abandoned
tluir canoes and started to travel by foot. On the l!Hh .luiic,
ISOS, they discovered a river flowing From the east, which
they named the Thomjjson, after Mr. l)a\id Thomp.son, the
tViiMxl and colleaj;'ue of Mr. Fraser in the work of discovery,
iiiid after a couple of weeks of extreme hardship and danj;t'r,
thev reached the ti<le water of the Pacific on the Jst Julv.
The undertaking- wliich followed up and completed the work
of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, fifteen years earlier, was bravely
ami successful I}'' accomplished, and to Simon Fraser, .b)hn
.Stuart and Jules i\raurice (^uesnel, it is due that the country
north of the 49th parallel, is at this date British territory.
Mr. David Thom])soii, already referre<l to, was a Welshman,
horn in 1770, and educated in London. In \1HU he eiitereo
tilt' Huflson's Bay Company's service, and was en<;a<;t'd for
nine years in making- .surveys of the rivers Nelson, Chiir-
eliill, Saskatchewan and other streams, until, in 1707 he joined
the North- West Company. In ISOO, he entered the Hocky
.Mountains and descended one of the northern l)ranches of the
I'oluinbia, which he nametl the Mcdillivray, but the Indians
t'nivfd him at that time to return and recross the mountains.
St'\»'ii years afterwards, he made another attem])t, and this
tinii' was successful in making- important discoveries. He
built Fort Kooteiiay on the t'olumbia lakes, and travelled
aluiiM the various rivers and lakes in that district, and for
st'Vi ral succtwsive years cro.ssed the mountains many times
by different routes. It was he who, in Julv, 1-Sl 1, visited As-
> : '
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242
HISTORY <>i' I'liK \(>i{'iii-\\ i;sr.
t(jria, wlicii the Pacific Fur ('oiiipniiy was occupying' it, and tir
was tlif Hi'st civili/cd man to traverse tlic main stream ot" tin-
Coluiiihia, at least that portion of it aliove Kort ('olvillc, tn its
source. Mr. Tlionipson lived to Im- eit>iitv-.seven vt-ar^ ol' aL!f.
and died on Keliy. liitli. I'S.')7, in poveity. at Lon^uei!. on the
St. LawriMice, opposite .Montre.il. In the Ci-own L.-inds ])( p.irt-
nieiit of ()nt!irio. is a nia]» ])i'e|)iire<l ly jiiin in lNi:{-lS14. fni
the Xoi'tli-West ( 'onipiiny, which end)races the re;^ion lietwrtu
latitudes 4.') and •")(! and !on;;itudes S4 and 124. as tiny
were from I7!>2 to 1X12.
'i'urnint;' once more to the ex[H'ditions sent out hy st-a, we
find that ahout ISKi the Hritish ( ioNcrnment despatchcil snmc
vessels to the North Sea in (piest of a pasisa^e, l»ut they ic-
tiu'ued without accomplishin;^- anythin<i'. A reward of t!20.-
()()() was then ottered to any one, or any hody of men, who
would satisfactorily estahlish the existence of a noi'th-wcst
pa.ssa<;e, and it having- heconie a national object, two expidi-
tions weiv sent out in ISlS, one undei' ca})tain l)a\ id JJucli.iii
and Lieutenant John Franklin, the other under the conuii.iii'l
of Captain .lohn Ho.ss an<l Lieutenant Kdward Parry.
These ertbrts, altluniuh nuavailinu'. "hd not establish t:\u-
IN' ni-
r\V
uon-existence 01 a passaji'e. and the (juestu)U e.xcited nioi
terest and increased the determination to solve it. N
exi)editi()ns wt'i-c therefore decidecl on. and in ISJI* (apt.
Pai'ry siiiled in ci)iiiniand of two ships, and wintered in tln'
North Sea. but retui'uetl in l'S20, and in bS2 I ai-'ain command-
ed an expedition, which, after [)a.ssin;^' two winters amoni; tin'
Eskimo, returncfl in |.S2:i.
hi 1S1!>, Lieutenant Fianklin was sent by land to tlic n<>i'-
theru coast in order to survey to the west of Co- pcnniiM'
River. Hitherto the coast ha<l only been visited at two jioiiit-^
^ I
EXl'LoHA'I'dliV WOUK.
:4.s
I] 'I
l»y Hcarnc ill 1771. at tlit- inoutli of tlic ('oppcnniiir. .nul l>y
Sir Alcxantlcr Maekcii/Jt' in l7S!t, at the inoiitli nt' tin river
wliicli l)fars liis iiaiiic. Franklin was ,icc<)iii]»anit'il tiy Dr.
Kif'liar<ls()ii, Mcssi's. (Icori!*" Hack and Hood. ( )n the rfturn
juiirMfy tln' expedition suttrrcd niiich troni cold and star\a-
tioii. and Hood and many of the men ))cri.sln'd.
In l!S24. a comhiiicd attriii|it liy Tour expeditions was oi'-
Ufinized umler I'err\- and Lvoii i'roni the east: under Heecliev
t'roin the west, i'iiteriii<i' hy Hehrin;^' Sea : and inider Fraid\lin
liy .Mackenzie Rivei'. These several ex])editioiis returned in
IN2(). bearine- imich valuahje in fori nation, and in 1)S27. ("apt.
i'ari'y undertook the last of the series of un.successful attempts
lnade un<
ler 1
US commaml
In the meantime the union of the fur companies had taken
place in lcS21, and innnt'diatelv followine' this event. Mr. .lohn
.McF.ieod was tile first otiicer to ero.ss the H
ocK\-
M
ouutains
fi'om the east. He entered the service of the Hutlsons jiay
Comnanv in Iril 1, and for ten years was a zealous i)articiitant
'P
the contest with the Nortli-Wi'st Comiianv. It was I
le Who
iccompauieil and assiste<l Lord Selkirk s Hi'st l>rii;ade of colon-
ists from York Factory to Reel l^isci'. and on that occasion es-
t;d)lishe(l several tradiiie- posts to intercej)t the traile of their
rivals.
After the union of the comi>anies. Mr. Mid.eod
s work
was contine<l chieflv to west of the Rockies, where he did eood
si-rvice in exploration and tiie estahlishmeiit of the fui' ci)m-
p.iny.
In l'S22, Sir (teore-e Simp.son. after he Itecame ( io\ ei'iior-in-
( 'hief of the Hudson's IJay ('oiiipany. made a journey across
tlie continent from tide water of the Atlantic to the Pacific.
heavin<>; \'ork Factorv. he ascende(| Haves River ali
th
at rcaite to Lake Winnipeg-, thence u[) the Saskatcliewan to
.ri,il
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244
IIISTOHV OK TIIK N(»l{TII-\Vi;sT.
Cumin'iluiul HouHi'. Fi'oin tliis jioiiit lit- went iKUtliwaril
tlirou^rh tilt' cluiin of lakes and stivaiii.s to ("l;'"cliill Ki\tr
which he t'oIlowiMl to the heij^ht of hind .Mcthvc l'orta';i'. Wv
Ch'arwatcr Kivrr lie ciitcrcd the Athahascu to the lake of that
name, am
1 I
caec
K
i\er, wluc
h 1
le asccin
h-<l.
an<l I'l'ossMiH- tin
Kockit's ai'fivcd at Stuart Lako. Ffoni hcic he passed tn
Stuart Ki\er and the Fiaser, wliich he<h'scended to Foi't Ali\-
aiuh'ia, wliere horses were ol)taineil,and the journey to Kam-
loops nia<U' ovi'rhmd, a distance of 215 niiU'.s. At Kaiii'oops.
water na\ioation was resunieil, ami. passinu^ throu<^h Lake
Kaniloops, the Lower 1'honipson was entt-red, and desceiidnl
to its junction with the Frasi'r, from which ]K)int the ])aity
I'eached tide watei' hy the same I'oute as that folIowe(| Ky
Simon Fi'aser twenty yeai's earlier.
Sir(!eorut. Simp.son was fond of display while tra\-elliii<;-.
ami carrieii wi
th 1
nm a i»ii)ei" who also ac
\h
•ted
as his sei'\aiit.
He was careful to euter a fort with his men dre.s.sed in tlitii-
best, and on his appeai'aiiee it was customaiy to tire a ;^un, tin
piper would then play and the whole ))arty march in in state,
the pipes iu fi'ont. The whole journey which we ha\e just
notetl, froui York Factoiy to the Pacific, took ninety days, nf
which sixteen wei'e passed at the tradin*;' posts, ami this record
nu;^ht api)ear to he an exa>;j;'ei'atioii if the facts were not sus-
tained t)y iihlisjaitahle evidence. Sir (Ieor«;e Sim})son was
noted for his ra])idity of movement.
Til I.S2n, Sir Felix Pxioth, a man of wealth, undertook to de-
fray the cost of a pii\ ate expedition, and jjlaced it under com-
mand of Sir John Hess and his nephew dames. This expedi-
tion passed fom- years in the fro/en I'eeion, hein;;- wiutei'
hound, and weic unahle to I'eturn until l<SM.'i.
'I'he anxiety felt for the safetv of Sir John Hoss auil li
Is
i:XI'L()UAT<»l{Y WOHK.
•yi\
jMirty cjuised the juithorities to soul diit mii t'X])('(liti<)ii umltf
Sii' (if<>r<;-t; Hack and Dr. Hidiartl Kiii;^- to scarcli for tlicm.
Tin- lattt'i- set out ill \>i-\-\ and travrllfd hy (Jfcat Sla\t' LaUt'
and < ii'cat Fisli Rivci', rrtnrjiiii;^- in I.S."i4.
hi is:{«i, Sir ( Icoi •<;•»■ Hack was jdaccd in coiniiiaml of a naval
(•\]M'dition to proHociitf iiorth-wcstvni discoNcrics, ami hcinjj,'
oiilit^fd to wintt'V in ttif [lark-icr, rt-tunifd to Kii^land in
In 1887. Siin]ison and Deaso were sent out at the instance
of the Hudson's l>av (V)nii)aiiv. and reached tlie mouth of the
.M;ieken/ie River. Tlieohject ot" this e.\aniinatioii was to eon-
tiect l»v actual survey the several points on the iiorthrrn coast
I 1)
winch nao oeeii visi
ited 1)
)V i»ri'\ lous explorers, am
d tl
us work
.■n;^ai;ed the attention of the exjtedition until l'S:}!>.
in 1S4.'), a fresh attempt to discover the North-West )>as-
sa;^r was undertaken by Sir .John i'^-anklin and Captain
Hichard ( 'I'ozier, in ciiar<;i' of a naval expedition with l^io
otlicers and men. The unfortunate end of the expt'ilition is
wtll known. 'I'lie ships />Ve/>it.s and yVr/vr saileil on May l!>.
IN4.>, and were last seen liy a whaler on the foUowiiii:- .Inly
2(itli, in Bartin's Hay. After years of anxiety and uncertainty,
and many efforts to obtain tidin<^s of the niissinii' ships, all that
eduld he learned ret;ardin^" them was conij)rise(| in the few
nlics found l)y search parties, proving- that they had all per-
ished.
In IS4(), Dr. .John l^ac was entrusted with the work of
complftini;- the exannnation of the coast. He wintered
within the Arctic circle, and remained there until the suminei'
of 1847.
Kraiiklin had now been awavthret' years when the British
(ioverniiient decidetl to send in .search of the missinir shi
ps,
P>
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HISToHV (»!■' TMi: \( »l{TII-\Vi:sT.
;ui<l ill IS-I-N, tlircc f\|MMlitii»iis wi-rc sent nut with tliatnli-
ject ill \it'\v. 'riic Hrst. (•( insist iii;:^' of two sliipN. (•(niiiii.iinliil Kv
('a|>tMills Clonic ;iii(l Kcllrtt. WCIlt ItV WAV of iJcliriii;
the s«'C()im1. umlfr Sir .lolni Hiclianlson ami Dr. .I«iliii II
sea
was ,s<'iit ((Ncrljiiid li\' wa\' of the
M
ackriizii' am
I (
()M'<l'liiiin
rivers, and the third, tnidcr ( "aptaiii Sir .laiin-s {{oss. and ( 'at-
tain K. .1, liird, with two sliijts w<'ll su|)]iiifd with stiri'vuf
I'vcry kind, ]ir(»ct'cdcd l»y I )a\ is Strait and Lancasti-r Suinid
westward
lit'sc rciit'l' cxjM'ditions itd't ntithin;^' uiidoin' t(
attain tlic ohjt'ct tlit-y iiad in \icw.lmt up to IS.')() no ti-
the lost ships were found.
ICi'S (||
In I'SilO, e.xpfditions jirococdcd by IJchriiij^- Strait, uiid
fi-
Captains ('ollinson and Mct'lur,': anotlifr, hy Harrow Strait
under Cajitain Austin: a tliird, hy the same routf, wa'- sent
out hy F^ady Fi'ankliii, in eonuuaiid of ('aptain I'ciiny. IIm'
shij)s whieh entered hy Hehrin^i' Strait remained in thr ice lui-
more than one winter, and the A'//^'*7>/'/.sr, under ( 'aptain ( "ul-
linson, ivtiirned to Eii^^laml in 1804, hy the Pacitie, lnit thr
Ivirstij/dJor, under Captain McClure, iievei- retuniecl. In tlif
second year she heoanie hopele.ssly emlit'diU-d in the ier, iic\ii-
to nio\'e a;n'ain. In the third year she was aliaiidoncd. and
Captain iMeChire, his otHcers and erew, hcin;^' disc()\frfd liv
Cai)taiii I'ini, in eommand ofasledoe nartN'. decideij to aliaiid
loll
the ship, and then marched o\er the ice to the Ri'^ohiti . of Sir
Edwai'fl IJelcher's e.xpetlition, whicli they rcaehrd after a Jour-
uev of two weeks. The Rcfiolute, iiowe\er, was cauu'lit in tln'
pack-ice, and remainetl in that state ilurinii' the winter of
1 <sr).S-r)4. wlieii site was abandoned on May 14th. l(Sr)4, and Mc-
Clui'c and his men I'eaclied HiiM-Jand in the autumn of that
year hv nutans of another ve.s.scl. The UcsuliiU', after drifting
in tl
le pac
V
'k f
or neariN- a
tl
lousa
nd miles, was afterwards iv-
covei'eu
j^lii
1
KXI'l.ttHAToHV WOKK. -+<
Lfi.ly I'^i'Miikliii st'iit out .1 sliiji umlcvraptain Kfiuitdx . w itli
I jiiitriiant I'u'llut, of tilt' Krciicli ii.isy, mm scroiid in ciiinniaiiil'
aii'l tliis expedition wintered in the ice, and l)y means of ]<t\v^
sleduine- joui'nevs. added nineli to ecoei-ajthical kin>\vled;^e.
Iiiit did not acconiplisli tlie main oltject of the e\|>ei|ition ;
tliev returniMJ in |S.')2.
In lsr)2. another expedition was sent ont Ity the iSritish
(Io\ernment, consistine- (if a nimdier of \-esseis in command of
Sir Kdward Helchec, ( a])tains Osl.oine. Hichards, Kellett. and
Mc('lint<»fk, and anwaie- the otlicers were. Teiiy, Hamilton.
.Mecham, Nares, l*ini. and nther \\clld\nown names cunnecied
with the na\al ser\ ice. lint this e.\|iedition. like the oth'Ts.
was un))i'()<
ilncti
\(' of results, so
fai" as the seai'ch foi' Sir .loh
I'laiiklin and pai't\" was concerned.
In IS;)."i Dr. .loh;; IJae a;;ain nndei-took a land expedition,
;md compU'ted the coast examination of previous years, thus
connectine- the discoxeries of fniuier traxcllers. Dr. Kae was
t lie first to Iti'i lie- hack the tidin<''s of Fi'aid\lin, the news of
the fate of the e.xpe<liti()n reachine' L(aidon. ()ctol)er 22ud.
|N.")4. Dr. Hae also hrouuht Inane with him relics of the
heroic comnuinder, which are now deposited in (Ireenwich
Hospital, and othei' relics were sul)se(|uently r<'co\erei| iiy tiie
Mct'lintock Slid Hall expedition.
In the ])ros( "Ution of these searches, unwearied <\ertions
Were made i»y Lady I' ranklin. who exhausted her own private
means in sending' out auxiliary shi|)s, while her appeals for
I aroused the symjiathy of the comhined world.
From the time of ( 'ahot s \-oyae'es in i4-!>7. under the aus-
ilH
pices of Henry \'II., up to the <lay when Franklin was for
e\er (lespainMl of, there have heen almost <-easeless eti'ol'ts to
di.scovor a Xorth-West passaec. '['lie only instance of partial
L
1 :
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24.S
HISToUV (»!' rilK NollTII-WKST
succt'ss ill tlif miiiiiImtIi'ss (ittciii|it.s iiiMilf is
that
M((
1 1 III'
who jictimlly t i'fi\ crscil tlif loiitr tVoiii tht- I'licific to thr At-
hmtic. hut ill iloiiin' so, he clfuily ilt'iiioii.stiati'il the Tact that
the ohstaclcs to iia\ iii'atioii aiduml thi' iioi'thcrii f\tn'iiiit\ u|'
tl
If coiitiiiiMit ait' iiisu]»i'ralih', aiiil that the cliinatic ('oinlitioiis
of the Arctic ()ccaii rcinici' the passa;^*' ol' no coiiiiiicicial
\ahii'.
W'hih' these t'.\))('<litioiis wi-Vf hciiio- conihictcd to tht- Arctic
regions. Sir (Icor^c Sinipson mailc his nicniorahh' jouriicy
rouinl thf world. Icaviii;^' Lachiiic on the 4th May. ami tra\cl-
liiii'' 1)\' wa\' ol' Sanit Str. Maiii'. I.aki- Siiitcrioi', the Kaiiiiiiis-
tiijuia. ami I^aki- of tlic W'ooils, arriving- at Fort (ian\v on the
I I til .Iiiiii'. haviiiu' tlius accoiiiplishfij a joui'iicy of 2.(>()() iiiilrs
in tliirtx-i'iulit (la\-s.
'riicic was an onlinarv trail to Ivliii
oil-
ton, from which place a south western cours<' wa.s taken, ami
of tht whole jt)urney as far as ( "ol\ ille. Sir ( leort^e writes:
H
ere then tenninateil a lone- aiii
I lal)
)ntius )ouniey oi nearly
two tiioiisani
1 mil
es t»ii liorseltack, across nlaiiis, mountains.
riN'ers ainl itirests.
V
or sl.\ wet
ks ami five ilavs, we hail lieeii
ct)nstaiitl\' riiline', or at least as ctaistantlv as the sti'eiiutli of
our horses woulil allt)w. from earlv ilawii to sunset, ami we
ail, on an avt'raef, het-n in the saihlle aliout elexfii
hour
s aiiu
a ha I
a I
lav. From Heil Hiver to Ftliiiontoii, one tlavs wor
witli another amounteil to about fifty miles, hut from Ktliiioii-
ton to Colville, we, moi"e ecncrally than otherwise, fell short of
forty." From {'ol\ ille. Sir ( Jeoree pfocceileil ilown the Coluiii-
hia hy canoe, ami after icachine- the coast, ami makiiit; a tour
of ins])ection as far north as Sitka, he left ft)i' San Francisco
liy steamer on his way rountl the wt)rli|.
We will now elo.se the list of lami ex])l()rations for the
present hy referrin*;' to the e.\peilition of Captain Palli.ser ami
K.\IM.<)|{.\lnl!V WultK.
24! >
f I
\\\-> MSHociiitrs ill is,")" liSdO — which whm uiHli-rtnkfii l»y in
Htriu'tiuii of thf liiipfrial ( io\criiiiii'iit. Ht- ascciidt'il tht- St.
Lawifiict' ami traxtTscd thf lakes to Kort W'iiliain. w hi-ii' his
i-xaiiiiiiati()iiM may )»• said to ha\f coniiiifiK'cil. ami in this hf
was aiilt'il l»y several well-known scientific men. aiiion^- whom
may he meiiticaie<| Dr. Hector, [lieutenant Hlakiston. Mr. .John
W. Sullivan, ami M. Mouret-au. The exaniinati<ais made l»y
till' I'Xpi'dition extended from Lake Supei-ior to the ()kami-
jiuii Lakes, in British ('olumhia. ami IVoiii the IVoutier ol" the
I'liited States northwanl to the .sources of the chief rivers
which flow to the Arctic ()cean.
In the summer of IM')?. the attention of Captain I'alliser
was directed to that portion of the countrv lvin<;' hetween
Lake Supeinor ami the prairies, after which the ciairse was up
the Hed River to I'emhina, up the A.ssinihoiiie to Fort Kllice.
and up the Qu'Appelle to the elhow of the Saskatchewan,
thence across the coiintrv to ^^)rt Carlton, where the iiart\'
wintered.
At the commencement of the sumnu'r of 1858, the various
hranches of the expedition set out and examined the Kai;le
Hills, Battle River, Red J>eei' Hi\t'r, and Bow River districts.
The latter stream was followed to the mountains, alont;' the
route on which the Canadian Pacific Railway is to-day con-
structed. The Vermilion and Kananaskis pas,ses were examin-
ed, and the .sources of Kootenay Hiver reached. Dr. Hector
returned \>y Ivickin;^' Horse River, and explored in the e».iieral
direction of the mountains to the Bra/eaii ranee, and from the
sources of the North Saskatchewan he followed the course of
that river to Edmonton. Captain Pal liser extended his jour-
ney to the houndiiry of the Ignited States, and traces of the
wearisome journeys made by Dr. Hector are everywhere to he
i|
III:
ill !i ill
250
IIISTOKV ol' nil; N(t|ITM-\M;ST,
iiirl with l>y tlif railway ti'a\cll<'r. in tin- iiaim-s ol' tlif iiumih.
tains ami ri\i'i's iM'twoen ('al;^aiy ami tin- < '(iliiiiiliia.
Ill .laiiuaiy, \H')\), I)i\ Ht-ctor Irl't K<lni(»nt(»ii on a joniniy
to 'lasiiar lloiiNf, in tlic nioiintains. tlifiicc to titf AtlialuiNca
Pass, ami l)a('l< to Ivlnionton. ('apt. ralliscr, in May, staitcij
Tor tin- forks of tlic South Saskatcln-wan and Uc<l Deer lii\(r,
anil tht'iicr to the (listrict near the rnitftj States hoiniilai\
||f ciossitl till' iiiountaiiiH liy the Koott'iiay Pass, foljowiil
Kootciiay h'ivtT to Kort Sht'|ili<T(| ami Ktirt ('oivijlr. aii<l un
rcacliiii;^' the latter |>la('i'. he di'sccmlt'd the ("oininhia to tlif
sea.
Till' rt'|iort of till' I'allistT i'\|M'iHtion was prcHciitt'd to tlic
hii|iiriid I'arliaim-nt in l<S(l.">. and *-ontaini-(| niuch ■iciriitilic
and ^rm-ral inroniiation rrs|M'ctini;' the cfiitral pniirit' i'<';;ioii>.
which itidicati'd the '^n-nt a;;riLMiltunil and industrial possi-
Itilitiis III' ^ ast aiTas of the interior of British North AiiH'iicu.
Captain I'allisers rcpoi't is also iciiiarkahle for his adviisr
rccoinnirmlation to the Uritish ( Jovfrnnicnt, in resjicct to
opl'Min^ up tlu." country for scttli'iin'iit, and for tin- ]»ositi\r
opinion ;^i\fn hy him as to the iinia'aetifahility of construct-
iny' a railway throueh jJritish America to the I'aeiHc.
We will on these two latter points ijuote ('apt. I'alliser's
own words : " 1 therefoi-e cannot reconinicnd the Imperial
( lovernnient to countenance or lend support to anv .schenu'
for eonstructin<4', or, it may he .said, forcing' a thorou^'hfare hy
this line of I'oute, eitlier I)y land or water, as there woukl 1m-
no immediate adv^antaee conniiensurate with the reipiiieil
sacrifice of cajjital : nor can I ad\ i.si- such heavy expenditnii
as would necessarily attend the construction of any exchis
ively Britisli line of road l)et\veen Canada and Red Hi\ei'
settlement."
I I
KXI'I.OUATOltV VVUKK,
251
III iiiiotlit'r ]mi-t <>r tlif r»'))ort. lie says: "Still the kiiow-
|ri|y,(' of tin- country <>ii tlit- wjioli- wouM ih-ni r Icail iiif to ml-
MX'iitt' a liiii- oT ('oiiiiiiuiiicutioti from ('aiiada acro.s.s tlw coii-
tiiifiit to tlu' racitic. t'.\cliiMi\t'l\- tlirouirji |»i-itisli tfnit»a'v
Tlir time lias now for cvd- j-omc liv for ftft'ctintr sncli an ol»-
jcct. aiiil tlif nnfortunatt' clioici- of an astronomical lioun<iary
Up.' has com|»lt'tciy isolatt'd tlic ccnti'al American posscHHions
(if (treat liritain from (*ana<la in the cast, ami also almost <lc-
liancd them from any clie-il)|(« iicecss from the I'acitic coast on
tile west."
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CHAITKH XVI.
A STHr«i«iLK F(H« KHKK TKADK,
In I8.S7, tlu^ Hiidsoiis Hay Coiiipjuiy, tlironj^Ii tlie (Jovciikh
in London, Sir .lolni Homy l*t>lly, asked for a Further renewal
of tlieir license foi* twentv-one vears, altlioueli at tl.-^ time, tlir
eraiit of I.S-21 had six years to run. The c'o>n])any j.rohahly
considered the occasion opportune for making an appeal, ami
they certainly
occasio
succeeded in presentinji' a. sti'oni;' case
'I'l
\rV
representi'd that peace rei^ne<l in their territory. That tin
coini)any had kept oti' the llu.ssians (Sir (Jeor^e Simpson hav-
ine' secured a lea.se of Alaska from that power), that th<y had
favored explorations, established a settlement at Ited Kivi-r,
and proposed extendine- their colonizati(»n efforts.
The ap[)eal was successful, and in May, 1<S.SS, a renew, ij
of tlu' territorial license was e-ranted for twenty-one years,
with a it'servation to tiie (^)ueen -f a ri^ht to [)lant distinct
colonies upon any portion tluavof.
No doubt the demonstrations made by the half-biceiU
a^^ainst their authoiMty, and the e^i'owin*;' discontent of tin
])opulation j;enerally in the North-West at tlu; arbitrary iiietli
ods used in enforcing' the claim of exclusive ti*ade, induced th<
com])any to take time by the forelock, and secure an extension
of tluiir licensi^ in ad\ance of any protest their opponent'-
mi<;'ht present a^'ainst it.
It will be observed that the ajipeal for a renewal was made
A M'lMiiciLK l'(»l{ I'KKK TI!.\I>K,
2.-):{
iiiiiin'fliiitt'ly at'ttT tlic t'ofiiiatioii of a systt'iii nt" ^fdViTimu'iit at
1{((| liivfi', and it was doiilttlrss it ro;;-!! !/,»•< I tltat a t'urtlit-r t'x-
tfiisidii (tf tlit'ir powtT ill tln' (•(nmtry l»y <4>ii»'i'iis liccnsr wmild
stiviiMthcii their liaii<ls iniiin'iisfly.
Nil .louht it did, Itiit till' (•(tiistitution and woi-kinn- ol' the
cuuiu'il at Koi't (Jarry ])r(i\(il<(Ml tlic first desire of the iieople
tor representative noNt'iuiiieiit, a teelin;^ that sluiiihered in the
iiiinds of the settlers e\ er at'teiwards, hieiikine- nut now and
aj^^iiii ill denionsti'ations a;;aiiist the authority of the company,
until tinaliy it resulted in open reliellion
At tlie very outset, the composition of the council was not
popular, and the arhitrary decisioii> of the iiia<;'isti'ates. all of
wllolll Were memhers of the ;;-overniiient, only tended to
litii;liten the discontent. The first ]ietty jury was empanelled
on 'JSth Aj)ril, JS-Sti, and the case of a man iiaiii-'il [..ouis St.
l)euis, accuseil of theft, was trieil.the pi'i.sonei' heine' convicted.
Hut the puni.shmeilt to which he was seliteiicefl created a feel-
ing; of popular excitement and indienation in the settlement,
iiiid destroyed inuch of the respect which otherwise the ail-
iiiinistration of Justic l»y the new ;;'o\frnment would have en-
joyed. St. Denis was c<iiidemiied to he tlonne,| .,,,,1 ,„, ^\^^,
(lay when the sentence was carried into effJ-ct. a foicc of police
hail to he employed to pre\iiit a rescue, and the man who ad-
ministered the tloH'M'iii^- was ohlined aftei'wards to run for lii.s
life from the nioh, the interference of the polici- onl\- sa\ in<'-
liiiii fioiii falliiiti' a \ictim to their violence.
The trial of St. Denis, had the piinishmriit heeii less seve|-e,
would have had a ;.;ood etrrct, in show ine that crimes and mis-
demeanors wei'e no lon;;er tOj^he permitted with impunitv, hut
the extraoi'dinary sentence inflicted upon the culjirit created a
had imjiression, and ti'iided to excite symjiathy for the tran.s-
tl
r
*!!
'■i;
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254
HISTOIJV OF THK N'olM'H-WKST.
pressor (>r the law, ratlici' tliiui r('S|H'C't or contiUcuct' in ilw
udiniiiisti'ation <»1" juHticc Matters. liowt'Vfr, for .sonif time
after this, proj^'i'esseil sniuotlily, although ll;;- arnitr.ty aini
one-silled coii«hic't of the magistrates, in cases wliere the t\-
chisive rijijlit of the company to the fur trade was invohril.
excited a considerahle amount of discontent.
It will thus he seen that from the first introduction of cuii-
stitntional laws into the settlement, the system worked with
only partial success, and the seven and a-half pei- cent. iliir\
on imports was found to he so olmoxious to the pe()[)le, aiiil ^u
oppressive, that it had to he rescinded hy the council, and in-
duced first to five an<l then to four per cent., at which rate it
remaine(l until tlu' transfer of the country to Canada. On
the whole, however, the settlement was henefited hy tlir
chan^f in the conduct of its affairs — peace and order wov
maintained — the laws were oheyed, and life and property was
everywhere secure.
So far, the cases l)efore the court had heen conducted with-
out the aid of lawyers, hut in IS.SD thi' comi)anv deemeil it
expedient to have a man p(»ssessed of le<;al knowledof, to jiiv
side over the court in or<ler to lend stren^dh to the aim nf
Justice. This was appai'ently a ))roper step to take, hecausr
cases were likely at any moment to arise, of a character to ic-
(|uiiv the .services of a professional man. Hut, stran<;'e t<» sa\ .
the pro[K)sal rai.seil uji a formidahle host of ohjections. The
new official was to act as Recorder of Hupert's Laml an a]-
|iointment to which there was no oppo.sition, hut when the
people untlerstood that he would also he expectetl to act a^
ju<l<i(' on till' hencli. disapproval was expresseil on all side-.
The chief ohjection to his ju<licial functions was that he. a^ a
.salaried officer of tlie company, drawing;' ilTOO pel- atniun
f I
lllllfi^^!
A STIinJCLE F<)|« KHKK THADK.
2:).-)
wnuld naturally have a special eye to his t'liiployn's iiitt-ivst
iiliovc that ol' all others, and hcariiij; in niin<l the arbitrary
jiolicy pursiUMl in rcj^ai'd to t'ur-tra<linii', this view of the ease
lijid an iin])<)rtant nieanine-.
Ill IH.SH, Mr. Thoiii. a i-entlenian oF talent and hiuh at-
t.iinnients in Ids ))rol'essi()n, was appointed to the position,
and dul}' arrived at Fort ( iarry. Htit from the start he was
unpopular with a. niajoi'ity of the settlei-s — first, hecause he
was looke(l u[)on as a company's man : secondly, hecause he
('((uld not speak French: and thirdly, hecause it was reported
tliat his views were inimical to the interests of the Canadians
and half-hreeds. In short, the dislike of him became a fixed
prejudice, which time only served to stren^^then, and in this
way the administration of the law was rather weakened than
stren<itliened by his presence.
In the meantime, tlu' Hudson's Bay Company eiideavoreil
to improve the material condition of the settlement, and we
liave to chronicle another attempt at experimental farming' on
tlieii- part. In this case, the sclienu^ was dictated by the com-
mittee in London, who sent out an expensive mana^ei- and
inexperienced workmen, the result bein^ that the enterjirise
caiiie to nou^i'ht, at a loss to the experimentei's of €"),.'>()(). It
had become the habit at this period, to account for every step
taken by the company, as wholly in their own intei'est. and
ay;ainst that of the .settlers, and the heavy lo.ss in the pit-sent
instance was put down to a mere sch<'me on the part of the
fur-tra<le, to injure the s(>ttlement. "^riie absurdity of this rea-
soninj;' is apparent, but it will show tlie pecidiar state of feel-
iii;^' toward the company that existe<l alnrnt this time.
It must be Ixtrne in miml, however, that the company, hav-
ing a license from tlie Imperial (Joveriunent, ^ivin^* them the
iiiil
n
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ill
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HIST(U{Y OF TIIK NoHTll-WKsT.
)»ri\il»';4r of fxclusivi- trailc in t'lirs, had the ri;;iit to jno-
tcct thfir interests. On tlit' (jthtT lianc' many people in tin
coiuitiy doubted the Justice ol' their chiiiu, and endeavored Id
t'Very May to oppose it secretly, if not optndy, and in tliis way
pei''f»'ct unity could hardly exist between the •••overniuf,' power
nnd the ^^overued. The company could only use moral mim-
siou, IjacUed l)y the aiithority oiven them by the Imperial au-
thorities, foi- they had no force at hand to compel obedieucf tn
their laws, and such was the state of aitaii's, when the Ficncli
half-brff(l.s bemin once more to be troid)lesome. The callin"
of these men consisted chiefly of buft'alo hunting-, which they
first commenced as employes of the company, l)Ut (gradually
nwui,v' of them pi'osecutecl the hunt on their own account.
Durin;;- this time, the otHcers at thf lorts sympathized and as-
sisteil them, often purchasing;' the produce of the hunt when it
was not required, and for a time the hunters remaineil on
^ood terms with them. I hit as their nund)ers increased, they
l)ecanu' moi'e exacting- in their demands, and less inclined tn
respect the exclusi\'e I'ioiits of the company in the fur-tiadc.
In their va;irant mode of life, they made freciuent visits to tin'
I'^nited States, and on such occasions often carried their furs
with them, which they .sold to the American traders, thus \ io-
latin^' thr law (accoi'dint;' to the HikIsou's Bay Comj)aiiy's
interpretation of it).
\t last the authorities at Fort (Jai'ry resolved to put a stop
if possible to this illicit traffic (as it was tei'ined). and oin
He^^iste Larant, on suspicion of having iufrin<;-e(| the coin-
pany's charterecl rii^hts, hail his house foi-ced o|>en and tiir
furs it contained foiribly .seized. Two more seizures wiiv
then maiU'. and the result was that the whole French half-
breed pojjulation became enraged. The English luilf-breeils
illP
vw
!! «il
A STKUOOLE FOli FREE TRADE.
■iru
so lar had stood aloof until one of tlu'ir priii('i]»al iin'ii natin'il
liallrt, •It'cmiiii^ liiinsclf jsli^-litt'ij hy a conipaiiy's ottictT, suc-
ctt'ded ill arousing- tlit'ii- sympathies in his favor an<l ay,'ainst
till' fnr monopoly, the result lteiu<>' that Frmcli and Kn<;lish
joined toectlu'i'. and for years afterwards there existed a spii'it
dl' condjination which o-ave I'ise to ))lots, plans, an<l nieetines
I if a nature to threaten the peace and tran<(uillity of the set-
tlement.
Till' course, too, pursued by Mr. Thorn .seemed to Justify the
predictions made concernino- him on his first arrival in the set-
tlement, for his recommendations, althoue'h prohahly hased u))-
oii a conscientious interpi'etation of the law. were yet nnfortu-
iiatelv favorable, as a rule, to the comnanv. Hveii this nii^iit
have been overlooked if he had not stretched the iiieanin^' of
the riehts. and i)rivilei>»'s of the chartei'.to an uniieeessarx'
deni'ce, so as to inflict what was really an injustice upon the
(•onimunity.
As an instance of this we eive the followin<^:
In 1M44 a proclamation was issued by the (Joveriior of As-
siniboine, statine- that all business letters fi-oni impoi'teis of
jioods to their aijfents in Kni>land, to be forwarded bv the com-
pany's packet, should be .sent to Fort (larry open for the per-
ii.sal of tin" authoi'ities previous to beine" dispatched. Such
iiiiportei's as would consent to sieii a declai'ation. the sub-
stance of which was equivalent to a security a^^ainst theii- eii-
Uaf^'ine- in any private fnr-tradiiin- Nciiture. weic exempted
from the neccssitv of coniitliance with this reeiil.itioii. Mr.
Tlioni's view of this extraor<linary document was that the
chartered privile^^es of the company, and the fa<'t that they
supplied the means by which the letters were conxeyeij, ;ind
the iiiei-chandise imi)orte(l, oavt! them the ri^htto fix the terms
. ii
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258
msToltV (IK llli; NoltTII-WKST.
U|ii(ii wliicli tin- l"aciliti«'.s ol" poysta^i' iiiid rn'i;4;lit were aHur-lril
()ii tlif otiifi- liaiiil, tilt' iiicrclumts c(Hit»'ii(l«Ml that tlic Huilson'v
Vtiiy ( 'oiiipaiiy iuhIit its atliiiinisti'atioii (»l)li;;ati<)iis wtTc hoiiiiii
to j)r()\ i<l»' postal ra('iliti«'s on lair tfiiiiis, an*! in virtue of it-
<niiiii)M»tt'iic(' to hriii;;; tlif ncH.ds iiccfssarv t'oi- its «(.')>t'iiilciit^
ovfi' tlif only availal)li' route of wliicli it Iwnl tin- inilis|tut;ili|i
control. ( 'crtainly tilt' nici'cliants lunl the ln-st of tlif jiil;u
nit-nt. ami it niav !«' nicntiout'il hcrr that tin- i-'t^vt'iiior ami
coniinittcf in London must have thou^^ht so, hecausc tlicy n -
|)udiatfd anil disallowctj a nuiidirr of thf i'('<;ulations niade \>\
Mr. 'I'hoin.
From the ahovf it will he st-cn that indi\iduals in the .scttli-
nu'iit were ciiuau-iiitp in tlu' puirha.sc and salt- of ;j,'oods wliicli
they iiiiportfd fioiii Kn<>lanr|, and this the conijiany assisted
1)V c'oii\ e\-in<"' the nieirhandise in their shins to Voik Ka(!tor\
Now these vessels were not supposed or intended to he useij
as common cairieis. hut simply for freiohtin^' the supplies re-
n trade. It a|)peais that they
ll.MI
(pured hy the company s <tw
carried, foi- jirixate individuals, produce of the countrv frnm
Voi'k l"\ictory to h»' sold in Kn;^land, and a merchant iianii'l
James Sinclair iiavin^* exported some tallow, a nundter of the
principal half-hi'ee(ls wrote to ( Jo\ eruor Christie in IS4(>
askine- for a reduction of the frei;^ht char;;es on that article, in
order to stinndate its ])roduction and exportation. The com-
{»any, {trohahly rem(!nd)ei'in;.i- the fate of the 'I'allow Companv
which Sii' ( icorj^e Simpson had attempteil to e.stahlish, niav
not have had much faith in the success of tlu' industry, excn
with low freii;hts. At all eNcnts, Mr. Christie ne\er an-
Wel'ed the letter.
The nund)e)- of petty traders now increased, and the com-
pany found that they were husily eni^ap'<| in sowiiij^- tin
A STIM (;t;l.i; l-ni; KltLK TltAKi;.
2.')!)
si.ils ul' ilisHMtisriu'tion lUimn;; tin- |KM)pIt', especially the j)laiii
InniliTs. Tlie monopoly nt" exclusive trtule in furs wmh l>eiii;;
ii>^Milt'<l. anil a spirit of insultMnlinatinn aidusfd a;;ainst the
jiiitliiirities. rnilei- tliese eireunistances it was ivsoiveil to
k.rp tilt railei's in eheck, ami on the lOtli -Inne. IS45, the
tulluwin^' minutes of coiuicil were jiassed at Koi't (iaiTy : —
Kosuhed— TImt, niico in overy year, miy Hritisli subject, if an actufil
iijiiileiit ami imt ii fui' triitficker. may iiiipurt, wlu'thci' fnnii LoihIku nifioni
St. Piters (in the rnited States), steres free nf any duty now abnut
til he inip<iHed, on declaring truly that ho has imported them at his own
risk.
Tliat, oiico in every yeai' any Biitisii suhjeet, if (lualitied as hefnre, may
ixempt from duty as hefoi'e. imports nf tiie local value of ten pounds, on
ileclarin^' truly that they are intended exclusively to he used l»y himself
within Red River settlement, and have heen purciiased with certain speci-
tiid productions or manufact\ires of the aforesaid settlement, exjxtrted in
the same st.'ason, or by tiie latest vessel at ills own risk.
i'iiat. once in every year, any British subject, if (|ualified as before,
wlm may have personally accompanied both liis ex|iorts and imports, as
di'tined in the jireceding resolution, may exemjjt from duty, as l)efore,
imports of the loeal value of t50, mi declariui,' truly that they are either
to Ije consumed liy himself, or to l)e sold l)y himself to actual consumers
within the aforesaid settlement, and have been purchased with certain
s|ii'eitit'd productions or mainifattmes of the settlement, carried away by
hini.self in the same season, or by the latest vessel, at his own ritk.
That all other imports from the I'nited Kin'i;dom for the aforesaid set-
leuient, sliall, l)efore delivery, pay at York Factory a <luty of 20 per cent,
on their juime cost ; provided, iiowever, tliat the tJovernor of the settle-
ment be hereby authorized to exempt from the same, all such importers
as may, from year to year, lie reasonably lielieved by iiim to have neither
tr.irticked in furs themselves since the .Sth day of Deceudier, 1844, nor
iiial)led others to do so, by illegally or improperly supplying them with
trading articles of any description.
That all otlier imports, from any part of the I'nited States, shall pay
all duties jiayable under tlie jirovisions of and fi \'ict., cap. 4J>, the
Imperial Statute for regulating the foreign trade of the British jiosses-
sjcins in North America ; jirovideil, however, that tiie (Jovernor-in-Chief,
or, in his absence, the President of the Council, may so modify tlie
iiiaeliinery of tiie said Act of Parliament, as to adapt the .same to the
circumstances of the country.
2m
MisToKv or iim: NoHTH-WKsT.
That, heiiceforwanl, nn ^(mkIm slwill Ik? tldivtfred at Yojk Fartory tn anv
lint pciHiiiiN lUily licensud ti> fri'i<4lit tin- .saiiii' ; siu'li licoiist's lieiiii; j^imh
only in thnst- casus in wiiich nc fur tiatticki'i- may li.ivc any inti-n'Ht,
(liri'ct (ir imliri'ct.
'I'liat any intoxicating drink, if founil in a fnr tnittitkei's pd.sHo.sinn,
licyond tilt! iiinits of tliu aforesaid settlement, may be seized and dt'stiuy-
ed hy any person on the spiit.
Whereas, the intervention of miildhnien is alike injurious to the Hon
orahle ('oinpany an> to he people ; it is resolved —
That, 1. ..(fo-- i.l, ful-s shall lie purchased from none but the actual
hunters of th.^ v»!)u»,
FoKT (Iakkv. duly Kith, 1845.
C()))y of Ijcfiisc >' "red to in rorcocdno- Minuter: —
"On lahalf of the Hudson's Hay Company. 1 herel)y license A. l!. to
trade, and also ratify his having traded in Knglish goods, within the Hniits
of lied River settlement. This ratification and this license to hi- mill
and void, from the beginning, in the event of his hereafter trathckinii; in
furs, or generally, of his usur)>ing any whatever of all the privileges of
the Hudson's Uay ('oin|)any "
As ini<;ht la- rx{K'C'teil, the paH.siiio- of these iiiiiiutfs l»y tin
cotiiK'il raised a stoi'iii of iiidiyiiatioii ainoiij;' those likely to be
ati'ecttMl l»y them. 'I'he eoiiijtaiiy, foi- some time ]iie\ii)iis to
this, liad he};iin to employ some of the leadiiii; half-l»i-eei[s as
middlemen in the fur trade, navino- them inonev or o()()ds, and
receivinj;' furs in exchange, whilst the middlemen midertook
the tl'oiihle of proeiirin^" the furs from the natives, ol' cnurse
with some advanta^'e to themselves. Tliis was no new systein
in earryino' on the fiU' trade, and the half-hiceds, seeino so
m\ieh ])roHt in the Imsiness, had heen temj)ted to enoa;,'e in
the fur trade on their own aceount, and as they eould nnt ex-
port furs to Knoland. they sent them, when opporttniity oc-
curred, int(j the American territoiy.
Haviiio- tasted the henetits of fi-ee tratle, the (|Uestion at
once arose in theii' minds how far the ])rivile^es of the com-
l)an\' could restrain the natives of the eoinitrv fi'om ohtainini:
A STIUUULK K<>l{ KIU'.K TIIAhi;
■n\\
furs, ami «lis|t()sini,f nl" tlinii as tln-y (ItM'int'd Inst. 'I'ln- coiii-
paiiy ili'clai'tMl tlu' tiatlic illt';;al. lait tlif liaM-lntfils ili<l not
siM'iii to consider it so. l)Ut stood u|toii their claims ms tin- df-
sccllt
iaiit
s n
tl.
iiatn <
Indi
iaiis. and (Icnicd tliat an\ n
;:l,t
l)\it that of ini^i'ht could dcprisc tlicin of their hereditaiy |iro-
ptTty in the wild animals of tlieii- ancient foiests ami jirairics.
Accord inulv, a numher of them a<ldressed the followiu'!' let-
tei- to the (lovernoi" of Assinil)oine. on the 2!tth Au;j:ust. IJS4.').
a little over a month after the passing' of the minutes we lia\e
already »|Uoted :
|{KI> R|\KI{ Sktti.kmk' •.
AiU'uiit \i'M\
'.8-^
Sni, - Hh\ iiii,' fit this iiKiiiieiit a vrry strnm; lielief tlmt we s niv
.f tl
MS c'diintrv. .'i
n<l
as
hdlf luvfds. liavi- the riu'lit tn liiin- '\ur- in
tl
u-
lliulsdu's Hftv rniii|iaiiy'8 ti-rriturii's wliiMieviT we tliiiik |ini[,oi',
sell tlinse furs tl) the hi''host biiMor ; lik
I'WISC
. at;aiii
hiiviiiu H ihtnliv thfii niiiivfs
^tl
1 line
cif this cinuitry can he prevunteil frmn trading and tratti
.motluT ; We wnuM wish to have ymii' opininn nn tlie svi. ,i>'r.. lust we
should commit ourselves liy dnini; anytliini; in upiiosition, either to the
laws of Euijland. or the honorable comjiany .s piivilej^cs, and, therefore,
lay Itefore yon. as (iovt'rni>r df IJcd River Settlement, a few (|ueri(s,
which we bej,' von will answt-r in conrse.
1. Mas a half-breed, a settlei' the liyht to hunt fnrs in this country '
2. Mas a native of this country (not an Imlian) a right to hunt fur.s !
.'! If a half-ltreed ha.s the right to hunt furs, can he hire other half-
lireeds for tlii' |iurpose of hunting furs f
4 Cm a half-brei'd sell his furs to .my person he pleases?
T). Is ;i half-bieed obliged to sfll his furs to the Hudson's Ray < 'onipany
iit whate\er price the company may think proper to gi\e him :'
t). fan a half-breed receive any furs ,i8 a present from ,in Indian, a
re ative of his i
7. Can a half-bn-ed hire any of his Indian relatives to hunt fnis for
him >
8. Can a half-breed trade fnrs from anotiier half l>reed, in or
the settlement I
out
!>. Can a half-bieed trade furs fmin an Indi.m, in or ont of the settle
iiient
U). With regartl to trading, or hunting furs, liaxc the half-breeds, or
natives of Kuro])ean origin, any rights or privile<reH -.ver F]urope:in.s ?
jl'V
ll
ill
in
M
2(12
IIISTOHV »tr Till; N(»UTII-\VKST.
II. A sett it!!' hnviii<; |iiii'cliasuil IhiiiIn frmii ],nr(l Sulkirk, <>r uvcii fr.
Ill
thu MuilHDirs Way ('uiii|>;iiiy, without niiy cuiiditioiiH liltiiclietl tn tlitm, t,v
witliiMit li!iriiii{ hI^iumI miy itmiil, lU-t'd, or iiiHiniiiu-iit whiituvur wliuntiN
liu iiii^lit liiivt' willutl awiiy IiIn ri^lit to triulu fiiiH, cuii liu lie pruMMiti I
from tiiidiii'' furs in thu sottUMiiciit with settluiH, or uvuii out of tlir
NUttI
eiiieiit
I'J. All! the limits of the si'ttlfmi-iit ilfHm-d \>y tho miiiiici|Mil liiw, Stl
kirk
Kiant, III'
liiil
l.'kll Hlllu
IM If li perHoii cannot tr.tilc furs, t-ithur in or out of the suttlununi,
can hu puirhiise them for liis own aii'l family uhi>, und in what ipmntity '
14. Ilaviiiii nivui' soon any olhciiil statidiifutH, nor known, hut 1)\
roput, tiiat tho Hudson's I5ay Company lias poouliar iirivih'j^os over
British Huhjocts, nativos, and half-ltroods, rosidont in tin; sottlomuni, wc
wnuld wish to know what tlnmo iirivilogoM aro, and the [jonaltius littaohod
to tho inti'in^omoiit of tiio ^amo '
Wo romain your iiumlilu sorvants,
.Famks Sinci.aiu,
Hai'tist La I{i»/i k,
Thomas Looa.v,
.FciHN 1)ka.-k,
.Nl.KXIS (ivi l.AT,
Loi IS LkTKNKKB I)K Ha7ochk,
Wim.iam McMillan,
xVNTOINE MolUl \N,
Hat. WiLKie,
John Yi.n«knt,
William Hikd.
I'ktkh (iAIUHII.
Hknkv Cook,
.FoHN Sl'KNCK,
• loH.N AnI>KK.SON,
Tho.mas McDkkmot.
AliALL TkoTTIKK.
Chaulks Holk,
Jo.SKI'H MoNKMVN,
Hai'TIht Fakman.
To Alk,\amikh Chrihtib, Esi/.,
tiovornorof Rod Kivor Settlement.
|iii!i|i
■ \ '- '■ I
I
I,
Mr. Cliristit! replicil us fullosvn: —
FoKT (Jakky,
Soptumbor T), IM.").
(Ikntikmkn — T recoivod your lettor of the 2!>th ultimo, on tho uveniii.:
of tho Ih'd instant, and I am suro that tliosoiomn and important proooid
inj^s in wliioii I was yostorday oiii^a^ed will form a sutticient apojotfy
for my having allowed a day to pass without noticing your communica-
tion.
Howovor unusual it may l>o for tho rulor.s of any country to answoi
legal imjuirios in any oilior way than througli the judicial tribunals which
can ahme authoritatively tlecido any jtoint of law, 1 shall, on this particu
lar occasion, overlook all those considerations which might otherwisi
A .STI{r(;<;|,K K(>|{ KKKK THAhK.
•2M
|ii'iiin|>t iiu' to (U'clinu, witli nil diir ci'iirtoNV. flir dimMmsinii of yuur Iftti-r;
himI I iiin tlu> ritthur iiKliKuil t<> mlopt tins oimsc li\ y<>iir iisumiiI, fur
wiiiili I Hill 111 mini to give you full rit'<lit, timt you aii' intuntt'd by iu\ uii
willinnmsH to do iiiiytliiiiL{ in oppoHitioii, t-itlici' to the lii \s of KuuIiiihI,
111- til tin- IIiuIsoii'h liny Coniimny s |iriviU'm's.
Vour tiiHt nino nufriuM, iis wt-ll hh tin; liody of ynur UitiiT, ::'.\- n'ouinl-
1(1 oil tin- Mippositiou tliiit till) liiilf-hreod« posHess ctrtaiii pri\ ilinfs over
tliL'ii filliiu iiti/,»'iis, who liiivi- not lieeu liorii in the country. Now, us
liritish siilijiTts, tlif half liii'fdH liavf ih-iiily tlu' siiiiic ri'^htn in Scotland,
111 ill JMi^land, as any poraoii lioin in (iifiit IJritaiii, and your own HfiiHU
uf jii.Htico will Ht unco seo how uuroasonahlu it would Ik- to pliuo Kii;^li.sh
iiit'ii and Sc'ot('liiiK>n on ii Iohh favoialilu footing in Itiipcrt's I^huiI than
yoiirst'lvi's, ^'oi.r supposition, fiirtluT, smns to draw a distimtion l>e-
twct-n lialf-hrufdH and piT«ons horn in the muntry, of Kuropeaii piiront
ago. and, to iiicii of your intflligoiu'c, I need not say that this distinction
is still iimrf uni'casoiialilc than the other.
N'liiir tenth ipieiy i.s fully aii.swered in these olwerviitionH on your tir»t
nine ipierieH.
Vour eleventh <piery asftuinos that any purchaser of lamls would have
the ri;,dit to trade furs if he had not " willed " it away hy a.ssentinn to any
restriitive condition. Such uii a.ssuniption. of course, altliou<,'li ailniissi-
l)lf of itHelf, is inconsistent with your general views ; the conditions of
tenure which, by the bye, have always been well understood to jirohibtt
any infraction of the company's privileges, are intended not to bind the
iiidixidiial who is already bound liy the fundamental law of the country,
liiit merely to secure his lands as a special guarantee for the tlue discharge
of such, his essential obligation.
.Vftei- what has been said, your twelfth cpiery becomes wholly unim-
poitalit.
Yiiur foiirt If nth query, which comprises your thirteenth, and, in fact,
also all the <pieries that you either have, or could have, proposed, reiiuests
me to enumerate the peculiar privileges of the Hu Isoii's Bay Comiiany. on
the alleged ground that yoii know them oidy through report. Consider-
ing that you have the means of seeing the Charter and the Land Deed,
and such enactments of the Council of Rupert's Land as concern yoiiiselvtjs
and your fellow citizens ; and considering furt er that, in point of f.ict,
some of you have seen them, I cannot adnii*^ that you reipiire information
to the extent which you profess ; and even if you did nfipiire it, I do not
think that 1 could offer yo.i anything more clear than the documents
themselves are. on which my enumeration of the company's rights must
be based. If. however, any individual among y<m, ur among y<Air fellow
citi/eiM, should at any time feel himself embiirras.sed in any honest pur-
I ,.-
i
V
1
m
1^!'!
2«i4
lllsTniiv (»| INK NulMII-WIisr,
Hiiit, liy li'i^al ilmilitH, I v.|iall liii\t' uiiitli |ilfa)«iii'c in att'niiliim Inni a |ii-i
Hitiiiil interview,
I am, L^ciitltMiicii,
\in\r iniist iilitMliciit Mcrvaiit,
Al.KXAMiKK L'MKIVriK,
I riii'yriiiif iif .1
sal II II 'III II
Mi'HHiH .lanii'H Siiiclaii', \M. \,n U(i(|nc,
TlioiiiHit l<i>^aii, iiiid iitliera.
Tlir Molciiiii iiidI iiiijMii-taiit jir<>cccilinu;s iTfi«i'i'f<I to in tin'
first |»Hni};iii|ili of Mr. CliriHtic's Icttrr wt-iT in coiMifction w itii
the tii'st fXfcution tliiit cvcr took |»liicf in Hnl Hiv.-i An
lixlian — M Smiltfaiix — (Hit of rtvi-nyt* liu«l uliot a Sioiix, an<l
in <loino- so. Iia<l also killi'<| ont- of his own tiilif. Hi- u.is
])roni|>tly an't'stt'<|. tritMl, ami Ix'in;;' convicttMl. wiis liun;; tVoni
tlic walls (tl" Kort ( lai'iT on tin- .')tli Scptt'nilM'i-. lN-1-.'), as mm
fxani|>l<' to ilt'ttT otlit-r Indians tVoni connnittiii;!; niui'lfr.
Tilt' i<'n|\- of ( lo\ fiiioi' ( 'liristir was not. aH niav In- iniatrint'd,
vciy satisfactory ti) tlif parties to whom it was atlilit-sst'ij. and
it certainly did not tn.d to allay tlu- fcclin;^' of ojtpositioM
against the t'onipany. No opportu'iity to cntVart' rt'sjicct for
the chartered rie;|its was at this period ne;,decte<l liy the an
thorities at Koi't (iai'i-y. and e\ en in the jtrepai'ation of a land
deed,
.lit
I condition was incliiilctl l)\- winch the siy-ner houinl him
th
h
dh
self not to \iolate any of the licensed pi'i\ileMes of the com-
pany. \'et the Immlwritinji- was on the wall, and the accom-
plishment of free trade was iKjt far ort". A petition iir^iii;:
complaints aj^ainst the Mndsons l>ay ( 'omjtany was framed
for presentation to the Imjierial authorities. an<l numerous
si^natTires were attached to it. The document was then foi-
rded to Mr. A. K. ishister. in Kns'land, who Dresented it to
wa
the Colonial Secretary on the 17th Kehruary, 1S47, and the
•government in I'eply pj-ojiosed .seiidin;;" out cominissiont'i's to
the North-West to in\-estipite the ehai'^es. Piut this the eom-
A STHr«)(il,K KOU KIIKK TUAhK.
•n
I.)
jilaiiuvntM woiiM in»t imrt'r t<», mi tin- siiij;iiliir ;;roninl timt tlif
llmlMon's Miy (itlicials at Kurt ( iai'iy wniil.l he altl<- t(» uii-
iliilv iritliu'iiff tln'iii. Kail ( Jjcv, wlin vva> tluii Sccrctarv ul"
• « •
Stiitf lor tln' Colonii'H, rt'Cfivcil tt-stitiioiiy tnr Mini ayaiiist flu-
(•ni;ii»aMy, ami tln'ii notitif(| Mr. Isliistrr tliat ln' iiiiiNt asfsuiin-
tlif t'\|i<'Mst' lit" a jinlicial pnicfss il' In- di-Niicfl t<> liavc unr,
iiihliii;;. li(»\vt'Vt'r, that tlif n aliility nt' tlir rliartiT was not to Itr
i|iit>.sti()ii«i|. Mr. Ishistrr ilcclint'il to iiitK-ml. an<l altli(>ii;^li lie
(■iiiitiiui*'<l to a^jitatr lor a raiici-llatioii ol' the coinpaiiy n
iiiono|ioly, ami mucccciIciI in iiitt'rt'stiii;;; a miinlM'r ol" proini-
lll'llt lllt'IlllM-rH ol' tllf Mouse ol' ( "ollllllOIIH ill tin- SllltjcCt, ln'
lailt'il to accoinpliMli tlif olijcct In- had in \ it-w
Mr. .laiiirs Sinclair, whose name hea<leil the list ol" si;;iia-
tures to the letter a<|ilr»'s.se<l to Mr. ( 'hristie, on the 2!tth Aiie.,
|h4'), hail hu.sieil hinisell' in ]ire)iarine- the |ietitioii to the
llmiie ( loNcrniiK'nt. ami in other ways nunle hinisell' coiiMpicn-
• >iis in aeitatin;; aeuin.st the llmlson's liay ( 'oiii]iany. lie
leceiveil his I'ewanl ill the rollrwine- letter:
SiH, — I Im'j; to Htate that in a |>rivjite letter IVom Mi-. Sirre-
t.iiy Smith, ilateil the iSth April last, ami reeeiveil on the
25th instant, I am re<|Uesteil to aci|uaint you that no uood.s
will he shipped in your name on lioanl the Mudsoii's Hay
( "oiiipany 8 ships for York Factory,
I
am sir,
V'our niOHt ohedieiit servant.
Alknankkk CmusTii;
H
li|i!!, i,,ii
.Mr. .1
ime
Miiclair.
The meanmj,^ of which was that .Mr. Sinclair s hiisint'SH was
ruined for thai year.
The j)roceedin^s of the company in thus punishing; those
who were opjiosed to them, and forcing eoiapliance with tln.'ir
'-. i
• 1 jna
■? '■
11 <
I
10
;
lil«»
i
u
ii
fl
1
I
:
(
Hit
2(i0
HisToKV or riii; NourM-WKsT,
r<';^nilatii)iis .i^ainst trtulinj; in furs, may a|nti'Hr liarsli an! uii
juist. I»\it it must hf honic in mind that tlicy lookt-il at th
m
attcr j)un'ly from a business stand-point. They lia<l 1
M'.'ll
p'antcd exclusive privile^fes l»y tlie IinjX'rial authoritii s. with
the |io\ver to «'nl'orc'e respeet I'or them. an<l it" they lia<l |ii)-
issrsst'i
niitted infrinj^^enientsot' their rit^hts. tlie license tliey jx
would not ha\'e heen woi'th moi'e than waste-paper. l!ut to
the people (»!' the country', who iveai-ded tiie Hudson's \',ny
Company as the e-overunieiit with power to make and unn.ake
laws, it appeared in the lij^'ht of oj»pression, and the halt-
hi'ee(ls, who were of an exeitalde nature and easilv nmviil for
(rood or evil, l)eoame the ready tools of desif^niinif ]>ai'ties.
Thus matters stood, with an under current of discontent ap-
proachine- i-ehellion, hut no open hostility to the conipiiny.
when in .lanuai-y, 1H4(J, thi' iidluen/a raj;e(l. and in May \]\r
measles hrdke out in tjio settlement. Neither of these epi-
demics pi-oved very fatal, l)ut in June, the hloo<ly Ihix lie;^,iii
its ravaji'es amone- the Indians, and .soon s])read with I'eartuI
rapidity amon;;,' the whites, carry in;^' of!" Iar;j^e nundn-rs nl'
them. From 1 Nth June to the 2nd Anj^'ust, the deaths ax ei-
aired seven a <lav, or
:i-2I i
n al
an<l
th
lei'e was hai'dlv a lioiiie
that did not mourn foi' the loss of one or more of its nieni-
l)ers: indeed, a nundter of houses were closed altot^etl;! r. iint
one of the family, old oi- yonne-, 1 (-in^ left in them.
This affliction for the time heine- (tvershadowecl all inatteis
relatiiiir to trade oi- husine.ss of a nv .sort, and hardl\- had tlir
plaji^ue ceased wh(>n a force of Hritish troops appeai'eil upmi
the scene, and, while they remained in the countiy, all uppusi-
tion to the Hu<lson's Hay Company ceased.
In tin- UKMith of Septenil)er, LieUi..-Col. (h'ofton arrivecl ,it
Fort (iari'v, in conunand of a wini;- of the (ith rt>ii*inunt "I
A STI{r(;(iLK K(>|{ I'lJKK Tlt.VDK.
267
t'odt, (U'('(>tnpani«i<l by ilctiichiiicnts ot" AftilliTV ami «>f the
Koyal Kn^iiit'crH. This U^rcv. ('((iisistin^j of ('i;,flitt't'ii ottict'i's,
three hun(h'e(| and twenty-nine men. s«'venteen women and
iiiiiet«!en children, or three lunidred and ei<fhty-thi'ee in all,
left Cork, in li-eland, hy oiiUts of the Duke of \V»'llinet(»n,
mnh'i' special instructions, and lamled at York Factory on the
7th AuLTUst. Thev had twentv-eiiiht i)ieces of artiliei'V with
them, hut only convey«'d nine to Hed l{i\er. Imt their nund»ers
and armament were sutHciently strone- to strike awe into the
hearts of the di.satl'ectetl, and, from the moment of their ar-
rival, lawless defiance was ictluced into silence.
The real object which the IJi-iti.sh (Jovernment had in view
when tlu'y st'ut this hody of troops to Hed Rivei- is not
known, as they were <lespatchei| under secret oi'dei's. hut it is
suj)p(jsed that the disputes arising' out of the Ore^^on (piestion
had somethin<>; to do with it. It is not to he considereil for a
moment tluit so stroiij^ a ioi'ce was .sent merely to U]»hol<l the
rights of the Hudson's Hay Company, or that the deUKJUstra-
tiouH made in the .settlement ay;ainst their authority had any-
thing; to do with it. The impression created in the minds of
the people was. however. hi;;hly favorable to the maintenance
of law and oi'der.
liavini^' referred to th-' ()re<;-on (|uestion, it nuiy now he as
Well to ^'ive a few particidars reeardinj,^ it. and the estahiish-
iiient of a boundary line between the British North-West Mud
the LTnit«'<l States. In 1807, the pretensions of the Americans
to the Oregon became the subject of diplomacy between the
two ;4(»verinnents, but nothing' definite was done. In 1HI4.
ptMdint;- the treaty of (Ihent, the sidiject was renewed, an<l it
was then a<4i'eed that the places sei/.e<l l)y either party .should
he retui'neil to the other. In ISIH the subject was renewed,
f
,it
'I
I
:l|tlli!|
2(jH
IIISTOKV (»K THi: NOKTH-WKST.
Hiid it was !i;;r(M'(| tluit tlu; country west ol' the llocky Moiin-
taijis slioiiM Itf open to Itotli jtarticN for U']\ years, witlnpiit
prt'judic' to tlu'ir rcspcctivf claim. The convention, tlicii iv-
co^nii/iiij^- tilt' fact that tin- noitli-wcst corner of tlic Lake n\'
tilt' Wotxls on tlu- castci'n siiji' of the nunnitains nnVlit lie dis-
tant from tilt' 4!>tli |»ai'allt'l, proviilt'il that the line from tlmt
coi'iii'r should run thic north or south, as was rt'(|uiri'il. till it
.sti'uck that |tai'allt'l, ami th; ucf westward o!i tiiaL j)arallf| tn
tilt' crtsts of tilt' Kockics. The (|U('stit)n of homitlary. Imw-
«'Vt'r. it'iiiaiiii'd a, matter of tlis|iute, ami the Americans ijiil
not conceal their ilesire to excluile all Kuropeans, es])eciall\
British subjects, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 'I'he 4itiii
(le;;ree t»f latitinle was the extifiiiest northern limit that tlif
Americans eoulil ;;t't to their claim in their litdtiest assum|>tiiiii
of i'i;;lit. yet the I'l-esiilent, in his formal me.s.sap' tt) ('onj;it'ss
on .')tli Deceiiihei'. |S42. ,says : "The Tnited States have al-
ways contenileil that their riehts appei-tainetl to the whole
re^itjn of ctmntry lyine- on the Pacific, and embract'd within
42° and ')4 40' of north latitu<le." Knt;lainl hail alst) Hiissiji
to ileal with on the north, while the Americans wei'e annoyiii;:
hei' at the .south of lu'r jiossession, and it was not until IS40
that it was aeiccd between the two ji-overnments that the
Hud.sons P)av ('omi)anv shonltl eiiiov for ten veai's the e\-
elusive use of the country exteniline- from .')4 40' north to
Cape Spen.ser, near 5S iiia'th.
By the Ashbiu'ton 'i'reaty, concludei.l Aue-ust !)th, 1.S42. anil
which was assailed by Loi'd Palnior.ston as the " Ashlmiton
Capitidation," the bountlary line is tlescribed as runiiiii;;
across Lake Superior, thence alon^* several waterways, str^'anr-
and portages to the Lake of tlie Wooils, and across that "ake
to a point tixetl at the north-west corner (40 28' o5"), aud
■ m
1 1 r ii 1 1
A STI{r(!(;LK FO|{ niKK TitAin;.
269
tli'ii s<mtli to tlu' 4!>° ])arHllt'l, and along' it ui'stcily to the
iii<i\iiitaiii.s.
riiis <lL'ci<K'<l the houinhiry cast of thi' Kockics. aii<l tho
tii'iity of IS4(i ilt'tcnniiit'il the -IKth pafallcl fcoin the nioiin-
tiiiiis to the sea as the Ixtuiids, ainl |)i(>vi(|»'(l tliat the 'iin' on
tlif 4H° n. lat., liavin;;' struck tlif watrr, sliould follow the iiiid-
illc of tile cliannel dividiiij^- N'aiicoincr Island from the main,
and thence procet'd thi'<ju;,di the middle of. Kuea Stmits to the
Pacific.
Tin- disputes over this houndjiiy (|Uestion wrre at times
Very warm, and it is not unlikely that they were the chief
ifa'«>n for (Jrcat Hritain sending' troojts to Heel Hi\t'i- in 1)S4(I,
.Old in support of this, is tlie fact that they Wfif recalled al-
iimst innnediately after the disjiutcd f|uestion hail hecn settled.
The <itli foot left Ked Hiver. in .luly. I'S4S. and in the autiunn
(if tlie same year. Major Caldwell, with tifty-six pi'usioners,
iion-connnissioned otticeis ami men. ;iiri\ ed at Fort ( Jarry to
take tlieii' place. Major ("aMwell was also appoinU'd ( Jov-
< riioiv and it may lie wdl to state hcrt' that Mi'. ( 'hri.stie, who
appears prondneiitly in tins ciuipter, tilled the nuhci-natoiMni
chair from dime, l88-"i, to June. IH'.V.), and was siicceedecl hy
Mr. Duncan I'^'inlayson, who remained in office till .lune, 1844,
wlien Mr. Christie enjoyed a second term \n)til .lune. IH4().
When Colonel C'rofton airived lie tilled tin- position of
iliief-iiiat>i.strate for one year, at the <nd of which time he re-
turned to Knt^land and was succeeded in the eonunand of the
triiojts and in tiie ( Jovernor.ship by Major (Jriffiths, who liel<l
til.' otHce until the (ith foot left the settlement. Majoi" Cald-
well tlien l)ecanie ( iovernor, and, as will l)e seen fi'om the fol-
li'winj; letter of instructions iuinded him witli iiis a|)pointnu>nt,
lie was charged witli very important duties.
<.)
1
I (
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■ r
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liH
!:i
i'\
•270
IIISTOHY OK THE N( >I{TII-WKST.
DowNi.No Stuket, lOtll .llUlf, 1.S4^.
Sir — I Hill diructud by Knrl (iiey to iic<niaiiit you tlmt so somi as t ii-
cuiiistancf.s will juliiiit, iifter ymir finival iit Assiiiihoiiie, Her Maji ■^ty s
(jovunniiont, will ex|(ect to ruccivi' from you ii full mid coiiijiU'ti- aciomii
of tlio coiiditidii of iiHfiiiK at tliu Red River settlement, mid iMiiticulfnly nf
the mixed and Indian popuhitioii liviiig there ; clnii'geH of iiialadiiiiiiistra
tioii and harsh conduct towards the natives having been jireferred again.st
the Hudson's Bay Company, which it is of the utmost importance, should
be either established or disproved. Her ^[ajesty s fiovernment e.\|uc't
from you, as an officer holding the Queen's commission, a candid and de-
tailed re|)ort of tlie stat*' in which you find the settlement you have liceii
selected to jireside over.
I would particularly direct your attention to the allegations whicli iiavc
been made of an insulticient ami partial adiiiinistratioii of justice : of tin-
embarrassments occasiont-d by want of a circulating medium, except pio-
niissoiy notes payable in London ; the insuthcient supply of goods for
ordinary consumption, by the company ; and the liardshijis sfiid to foUnw
from an interference, which is reported to be exercised in preventing half-
breed inhal)itaiits from dealing in furs with each other, on the grouml
that the privileges of the native Indians of the country do not exteiul tn
them. These are only meiit4oned as instances, and your own judguuiit
is relied o!i for eiujuiry into other points.
I have, tVc .
(Signed), Ii. H.\w k>.
.Mujor Caldwoll, iiowcvor, did not jirovc to he a .stii-ccss
eilluT JUS a j^'ovi'nior, I'oiiiiiifindcr, (»r invcfsti^atoi", a o()od (l.;il
of disHatisfMctiou hoiii^^- cxprt'wsfMl liy the people witli his ad
laiiiiHtratioii of artaii's ; atid the peiiHioiiers were neithof iv
spected nor feared, for hardly had the (ith foot ttiriied ttnii
hacks on the Hettlenieut, wheti wi^-ns of di.saflection once iiwy
ajipeared. Mr. I.shi.stei-, in the nieantii)ie, continued at work in
I'jiojjind, agitatino the cause of th" Red Hiver peojilo aoaiii'^i
that of the company, liut with indifferent success, an<l to jiiil-v
from the following extract taken from a despatch sent I'V
Lord I'ilo'iii. ( <oVfrnor-( jeiieral of Canada, to Earl (Irey, tin ic
were men in hioh positions who were not disposed to place
euich faith in the righteousness of the peoples case.
A siiMtKii.i; I'oi! i'i!i;i-; iuadi;
" It is iiidrnl." s.'iys \jn*\ K|n-iii. •• possililc that the ]irii|^rr.ss
(il Iiiiliaiis towards civilizjiiion iiuiy tint (MurtspoiKl witli tin-
t \|n'ctatit)iis of sonic <it' those wlio aic iiitt'icsttMl in their wd-
fiirc. iJiit <lisa|)])ointniints ot" this nature are ex[»erienceil, I
t.ai', in other (|narters as well as in tlie territories of the
Hudson's \'u\y ('oni|iany, and persons to whom the ti-adin^-
privileees ol' tile c'<jnij)any are (tlmoxious, may he tem]>ted to
asciihe t(» theii- rule the existence (jf evils which it is alto-
L;t'ther heyond their power to renietly. There is too much rea-
M>n to Teur that il' the tiade were thrown open, and the In-
dians left to the mercv oi" the adxenturers who mii-'ht chance
.lit
to ennjin-c III it, their condition woulil lie ^^reatiy deterioi'ated
W
III*
th
•se ihscussions were j^oiiie' on alii'oad, and opinions
liein;:,' expressed, while committees were in\ esti»^'atin;^' the ni.il-
ter )iro and con, an excnt occurred in the settlement which
turned out to he U (lea
th-1
)ioW
to tl
le exercise ol t heir excl Usi \ i
iriv.lcMes hy the Hudson's Hay ("ompany. In the spring' ol"
|N4!t, a French hall'din-ed, William Savers, with tin
ee others
named .Mc(iillis, Lai'on<le and (loullc, were accused ol' illicitly
tiatlickin;;' in I'urs. and held to hail to stand their trial, tin-
(•liai'L!'e ayainst them heini"- that thev had accepte(l Inrs rroiii
Indians in exchaiiue Tor i^'oods. which was contrarv to the rules
and re;;ulatioiis ol" the company s chailer. Althoueh iln- jm-
tliorities had made use (jf hiehdianded {)roceedin;^s il'orce
what they deemi'il tlu' rights of the C(jm])any, tin as the
first instance ol" a pul)lic trial Tor the otFcuee, and M ir ('aid-
well and .)ud;j,-e Thom in hrint;ine' it to this
^Tuat mistake. It was throwine- down the gaunt' 'o the na-
pa >. made a
tive population at a time wlieii they had no ]>owei Niitiicient to
eiil'oice respect for their authority. The ITtli of May was the
day appointed for the trial, and before it took jilaee, it was
li
I
i
■ r*' ,
l>
i
1
i
Rii
•)7-)
lllsTuKV oK Tin: N«>lt'l'll-\Vi:sT.
ilt'cidi'd hy lIic tVit'iiils of tlir |»iiM»iicis. iind iii'lfcil l.y tin- .u-
tiri' (•iiiiiiiiiiiiity ol' l-'i'dicli linll' hrccils, to imjiUi' ji 'li'iiiunsiiii-
tinii in tlirir t';i\(ir.
AccDldilinlx', (III tllr liMiniiii;;^' (if tlir I7tll Miiy. ;;r(ili|i> 111'
oxcitnl |ic()|)|c were seen liMst ciiiii;;- ill till" dirt'ctiiiii df t|,,
coui't lidiist', aiiil lidiits ;iiiii (MiKics were |ias,siii^' niicl it'|iassiii:^-
across till' ri\ i-r. tillt'(| witli imii IkmiihI U>[- l-'oit (ianv. Tlir
cniirt-lioiisc wliicli was a sinall I>tiil(|iiiH- (ailsidc the I'oii. was
siDTdiiiidcd liy a ^^'^.|l(•ss iiioli (»!' |i('(i|i|c. who liccaiiic tli'^ mkiIi'
tlnvati'iiiiin- as a ruiiidr s|)i(ad tlial Major ('aid Wfl I intrndid
to lia\r his |»ciisioiicrs iiiidcr anus to resist any attack. TIm'
iiiilitjiry, lio\vc\ (T. did not make tlitir a)i)nai'aiicf. and w in n
tlir hour ol" trial caiiic. t he .Major .liid^^c Thoiii. and the ma _;'!><-
tratcs. took their seats on the Iteiieh without aiiv' dis])la\ of
armed i'orce to protect them. IJiit hy this time tliere wciv
alioiit 4l)() arm.'d men cdHected around the coiii-tdioii:-c and
thai
iii'liv I'Ina
oi Mis irieinl
when the case of William Sayers was calhd
old not a|)|'ear. heiii;;' held ha ■,', hy a niimi)er
until at last, after a consultation of the lieiich, word was m lit
out to the half hiii'ds that they mi;;lit a|i]ioiiit a lead<'r to as-
sist Say<'i-s ill lie cdiirse of his trial, and this was accepted, a
mail iiai I Sinclair hein;^' chosen for the |)iii'|>o,se.
'The trial, however, was a farce, for after Sinclair had ehal-
ieiim'd niii It of the tw elv e jurymen, Sayers co(/ily adndtled
that h did trade furs from an Indian, and was thereu|(.i
I a<l
uum'eil I"'
uilt\-, and a \er<lict ii
I accordance entered
aLlMIII:-!
e colli ■
him. Ihit, on tin' jirisoner statin;^- that an otiicer of tl
liuiiy named Harriott had uixcn him permissitai to trade, he
was released, and the case a;;ainst .Mc(iillis, Laroii<le and
( Joullo was dr()|i|)e(l.
This action on the |iart of the court was taken to mean a
I ^ )« * I; t : V
A STUr(i<;i,K lOH I'UKK IKAHK.
'27l\
victory for the lialf-l)re»'<l.s. whidi it really was, atnl iiniii«'tli-
Mtt'ly the cry went up from the uiol), " i^e coimiieree est lihre 1
Le ('oiiiiiH'rce eHt lihre ! N'ive In liliert^I ami. shoutiiiyf these
words, iniflst yelling', \vhoo|iiii(;- and tiriiij-' of ;^uiis, the ei-owij
went surpii;; on to the river hank, whei-e they were liouted
across, and on ariivin;^' at the opposite side they y;a\ e three
chwrs and fii-ed three volleys in hoiiftr of • la lihert^."
M
ii
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I ' t
(5
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\Mt'.\
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f
I -
f
CHAITKH Wll.
TIIK (IUKCII IN Tin: NOKTII-WKST.
In .1 |)if'\i(»us cliMjiter we rd'cncil t<» tlic liiliois iiml tiiiiU
of tlic early luiHsionai'it's, and now wf will ^ixt' an account nf
tilt' work and HprcatI of the cliurcli in the Ndrtli-Wcst. 'i'n i\<>
so, wc will he ohliet'd to cctracc our steps to tlie time wIkii
the first niissioiiaiy a|)))eai>M| in Hed h'iver. We lia\e alfeady
h
H.
shown how ne\'. rci'e .Messaecr acconi])anii
M.
d V
eranui\'e nw
his first expeilition to the .N'mth-West. and how j'cie Aineaii
was massacred hy the Sionx Indians at Lac de la ('iiii\ liin
the tiist sei'ious attempt of missionai'ies to settle in the enmitiy
s in IMS. when Rev. Joseph Ndi-liert Prosenchei and the
wa
Rev. Severe Dumoidin, ari'ived at Red Rivei',
>n aftei tlii'
'hurch
I ami missioii-liouse w»
-h
■re erected at St. Honifac
e Mil
ti;t eastern hank of tho Reil Rivei'. opposit*' the mouth of rln
Assinilioine, and here the Kiencli-( 'anadians tlocked to tie
services.
In I S2() another priest. naiiie<', Th. Destroismais
I 'MS.
arrived in the countrv, followed hv another in IS22, naiin-d
« «
.Jean Harper, and in the latter year. Rev. .1. N. Pro\en'-her was
con.secrated Hi.shop of .Juliopolis, a name derivecl from a town
in (Jalatia, under the metropolitan see of Ancyra.
In the meantime, the Scotch settlers had heeii promised a
minister of the Presbyterian faith, and indeed Lord Selkirk
had selected a couple of lots on which a church and schm)!
house were to he imilt for them. But a ^^entleman, named
TIN-: • iiri{( II IN I'm; Noirrii-wKsr.
.1.)
Mr Sa;^!'. .son nl' I'-v, Ali'xninlcr Siih-i-, of Kililoiian. Scotlmiil
who WHS n)>])oiiiti'i| to tin- iiiiiiistrv at Hi'd HiNt-r, for moiih'
irasoii. lu'VtT iiiailt' Ills appfaraiicf. .-iimI a Mr. .laim's Siitlh-i-
laiiil was sflcctf<l l»y tlic sfttlcrs to marry aii<l lia)iti/<', ami to
i\|iitMml tilt' Sci'ijitun'N, altlioii^li In- was not an onlainnl min-
W\r\: |{f|H'att'i| a|t|ili('ations wcrt- ma<lt' hy tin- (•()|oiiists foi
tilt' sfr\i('fs of a rt'^iular ministfr of tlmii' own tlciiominatioii
llioiil siu'cfss. and a iirtition was cvi-n sent to '{cv. .lolni
wil
Mi|)<inalil. of tlif |iarisli of I'ltjuliart, Moss-sliir»'. statin;;- tlicir
I'Mndition. ami juayin;;' liim to do sonn'thin;; in tlifii' iiclialf.
liiit Mr. M( l)onald ncNt-r rfplifd to tliis petition, ami it is pre-
>\nn('d. tlM-rt'l'orc. tliat it did not reach liiin. s(» Mr. Siitlierland
nintinued in his ministrations.
On the 14th Octoher, \H-2i). Hev. John West arrived in the
>fttlement, who. in his jonrnal afteiwards pnhjished, says that,
in his appointment as ehaphiin to the lindson's P>ay ( 'om]>any.
lie was instnietei' Ni reside at the Hed Hivcr settlement, and
under tlie rneoina.
•nt and aid of the('lnM'eh Mi.ssionarv
S(KMet\'. to set
k tl
e inst rnction. an(
i end
eavor to inelioiate tin
condition of the native Indians. He, sailed from ( Iravcseml on
Itoard the Hudson s |]ay ( 'ompany's ship Kdili/sfmu'. itw the
27»^h May. IK^O.sm that it took him ahont five months to reach
his iestination at Ked Kisi-r. Immediately aftei- his arrival
111' l,»"M-aii the Work of his mini.stry. and, spt^akin;^' of the
'•hnrcl»<»'s in the settlemtiit at that time, he .savs : "There w'a.s
an untiniii^lied huihlint; a»* a Catholic church, and a small hou.se
adjoinin*;'. Mie residence of the priest: hut no Protestant man.se,
church or M'hool-house, which ohli^^ed me to take up my
ahode at '^he Colony Fort ( Kort I )ou;i;las ), where the ' chare-c
d affaires of the settlement ivsidetl, and who kindly afforded
the accommodation of a room for divine worship on the Sah-
ii
w
4f I:! ii I 'I
t|'
II
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M
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270
HIsToKV <>|- T»IK Noinil-WKST.
\mt\i. My iiiinistiA' wii.s y;»'ii('nilly well attriidtMl l»y tim s.t-
tk'i'N. hikI ,s<m)Ii iil'tfr my arrival I i^at a lo;,' Ikiusc rrpairfl
aUmt tluM'c miles hcldw tlw Ini-t, aimm;;' tlii' Scotcli |»u|uil,i-
tioii, wlicrt" tln' sclKMilmastci' (a Mr. Harliid^f) took ii|) his
al)o(|f, ami Ih-mjui tcacliiii;;' froiii twt'iity to tW(^Mty-Hvf cliiM-
ri'ii. "
III DKcrmlK'r, Mr. West t(M>k up liis rcsidfiicc on a larm \»--
loii^iii^ to tilt' rstatf of |j)r(l Selkirk, which was aliout, >i\
miles (Hstaiit IVom the school-house, aiitl. to use his own woi'U.
continued to have divine service reeularly on tiie Sahhath. In
tliis way, throui^h the ministrations of Mr. Sutiii-rland, tlie
Catliolic priests, and Mi*. West, the moral and social ol»lii;at'Mii
of Jiiarriajie cume to he eni'orced upon those who were living-
with, and had families I )y, the Indian (»r half-caste women, and.
as Mr. West .says, he hud the ha|>j)in(,'ss to ])ei'forni the ci-i-e-
mony for several of the most respectalile of the settlers, under
the conviction " that the institution of marriaet-, and tin-
security of property, were the fundamental laws of s(jciety."
Mr. West's instructions were to ati'ord, in a<ldition to his
work amone' the Indians, relieious instruction and consolation
to the servants in the active employment of the Hudson's Hay
Company, as well as to the company's retired servants ami
other inhahitants of the aettlemeiit, upon such occasions as tin-
nature of the country and other circiniistaiices would permit.
Accord inely, early in the winter of 1821, he visited Hrandun
House and (^u'Appelle, on the Assinihoine, on a missionary
tour, and in the following' summer paid a visit to Norway
House and Voi'k Factory. While at the latter place, he organ-
ized an au.xiliary to the British and Foreign Bihle Society, in
the form of a IJihle Society for Prince Rupert's Land and the
Keil River Settlement, tlie company's officers .sul)scrihin;Li' at.
if}
TMK <iii i<( II IN riii: \oimii-\m;si.
::< i
(iiicc over ((iH- Imiiilrnl aii<l twciitv |MtuinlM ^tcrliii;;- Inr tin-
|iiir|t(»Ht', 1111*1 iiM II I'cmilt ttl" tins I'H'ort tlic scri|»tMi't's. piiMislit'il
ill Ku},flisli, ( Jiit'lic. ( It'riiinn. huiiisli, Italian. iiikI Kn-iicli. wtic
iit'td'uaiils circiilattMl in iliH't'iriit parts <il' tin- cuuiitry In
.liiiii' t'dlluw iii^, a lilMTiil iloiiatinii was rt-ccix cil tVoin Kii;;laiiil.
ill su|»|i(»rt of tin- iiiissidiijiiy woik in tin' Nnrtli-W fht, ami
aliDUt tilt' saint' tinitv Mr. Wist ti|M'nt'(|, w itii iliviiif .>.fr\ icf, a
liiiildin''' wliicli was intt'iidi-il as a x'luiul limisc ami ti-iiipurarx
)lact' ol \v
(irslii|i in tli«' scttlt'iiit'iif . i>ii wliicli occasitni
In- I
tap
tizcd two ot" the hoys iimlcr liis fliar;;T, one of \vln»iii at'tt-r-
wards JM-canif a cltTt^yiiian in tin- i-ountry ( Hf\ . II. I>udih.
Soon at'trr this, in St')ttt'iiiln'r. \H'2'1. wliilf on a \ isit to Wivk
Kactoi'V, lu- iirt'sidt'd at tin- rirst anni\ »'i'sai\- iin'ftiiii'' of tin-
Auxiliary IJililc Soi-icty. at wliicli, it may Itr niciitioni'd, ('apt.
Krankliu (uftrrwiirds Sir .iolni Franklin) was prt'scnt, lniii;^
at the time on tlic I't'turn fi'oni Ids nortlifin trip to tlic inoutli
of tlu' ("oppt'iiiiint'. 'I'lic donations, in aid of tin- sucicty.
fiinountt'd tlu'ii to €2()() Os. (id., of which sixty pounds was
sul
sui)Kcnix'(.l 1
it tl
ic annncrsarv nicctinj'-.
'Dius the Christian religion was hcin^i- spread, and Mr. W'tst.
hy his zealous ctiorts in the sottlenu'iit and dui'int^ his travels
through the countr\ . di<l much to lav the foiuhlatioii t»f the
Protestant Chui'ch in the North-West. Writinein .June, l'S2M,
lie says, '• Our Sunday School is eeiu'rally attended \>y nearly
tifty scholars, includiii;;' adults, inde])endent of the Indian
children; and the oon^reeati(jii consists, ujion an axcranc of
from one hundred to one hundred and thiity persons. It is
a most ^ratifyin^' sjeht to .see the colonists, in eroups, direct
their steps on the Sahhath nioi'nine' towards the Mission-house,
at the rin};in<i' of the hell, which is now elevated in a spii-e
that is attache(l to the Ituihliiii:-."
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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716)872-4503
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27'S
HISTOHV (»F THK XOHTH-WEST.
On the lOth June, \H2li, Mr. West preached liis far. \\.1|
sermon in the church Just described, and in a few days lift
for York Factory, from which phice he paid a visit to tlir
Esquimaux, and tlien returned to Knt>1and.
While the Church of Ent^hind was thus pro^ressiny in its
work, the Catholic priests were (|uietly establishing themselvts
on the l)anks of the Red River, amon^ the people of thtii'
faith, and jireparino- the way for the planting- of the ;;iv;it
missions wliich, in after years, spread themselves in ahiinst
every corner of the \ast Xortli-West. In addition to their
church at the couHuence of tlie Red and Assiniboine rivers,
tliey had erected one at Pend^ina, where a nuiidier of Camnli-
an families were settled, and in this way [irovided for their
tlock. preparatory to the arrival of more pt-iests to assist in
the work.
The Scotch settlers, however, remained in a state of dissat-
isfaction because no Presbyterian minister was sent out to
them, and some very unjust statements have been penned in
relation to this oversii^ht to provide for their spiritual wants.
The ([Uestion is, who was responsible for the nei>'lect ^ Mr.
West has been assaile<l, the Church of Enj^land has lu'eii
acctised of connivini>- at it, and the Church Missionary Societ\'
rejtroached for sendin<;- out an Episcopalian, when a Presby-
terian clergyman was needed. There is no do\d>t about a
minister of the church of Scotlan<l having been promised to
the Scotch settlers, and the only way to account for Lonl
Selkirk's omission is, that about that time he was in the
mi'lst of serious ti'ouble and complications, arising from his
contest with the North-West Comi)anv, and that his woi'ldh'
atJjiii's caused him to forget, for the time being, the promises
lie had made to his people.
iMj^lMliilll:!
THE CHIHCH IX THE NoHTH-WEST.
•27! t
Mr. Wt'st, it must be reinembererl, was ap])<)inted chaplain
tu tilt' HudsoiTis Hay C<)iiij)any, with liis field of dutit'S extoiul-
iiii; to various posts and not eontined to the settlement, and
iKi doubt the directors of the conii)any, as well as the Earl of
Selkirk, had soniethini; to say about his appointment, 'i'he
col'iiiy was his lordship's particular charge, and the neglect of
stiidini,^ a Scotch minister must be laid at his door, or at that
of his agent, and can only be accounted for in the way we
have already mentioned. Was Mr. West or his successors to
iciiiain idle among the Scotch settlei's. or was it their dutv to
pit act) the (iospel to all whom they could induce to listen '.
As missionaries, their path was a veiy plain one, to do their
lust, under the circumstances, and this, fi-om all we can
Icaiii, they did, but at the same time, it was only natui'al for
thr Scotch to wish for a minister of their own denomination,
and the wonder is tlmt the Presbyterian church of Scotland, left
thrill so long without what they desired. This, we do not say
ill a spirit of reproach, because there may have been circum-
stances perfectly justifiable to cause this seeming lack of in-
terest in the settlers. In 184(J, when a petition was sent home
to the Free church of Scotland, to have a. minister sent out, it
itiiiained for three years unanswered, and at the end of that
!is, that communications had bee
L-eply
>1>
with tw(^ or three on the sultject, but none of them felt it
their duty to accept. Surely, then, if this apparent luke-
wai'uniess was disi)laved by the Pivsbyterian Church, it was
liiu'dly fair to lay the ])lame at the door of the Church of
England. However, we are antici})ating, and must return to
the consideration of our subject in its proper order,
In 1828, shortly after ^[r. West's dejiai-ture. Rev. D.T.Jones
aniveil in the settlement to take his place, and, like his prede-
I
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\immi
2N()
HISTOKV OF TIIK N'OMTM-WKST.
cessor, t'ouixl a oood <leal of oj^positioii to liis success ainDimst
a certain class of the people. Some remarks of liis re*iar<linn
the different classes of settlers, puhlished in the Mis.<i(,,n, ri/
Register, and which \\H»nld have het^i lietter left nnw littiii.
were (pioted ai;'ainst him, and made liis path all the niojc ditH-
cult. Hnt Mr. -Jones was a (;-ood ant 1 earnest man, as well as aii
elo(|nent j)reacher, and it was not lon;^- nntil he fonnd his way
into the heai'tsof all classes of the connniuiity. even his (greatest
opponents admitting" that he pos.sessed amiable (pialities aiiil
was tender-hearted, kind, and liberal to a faidt. Kindini;' so
much opposition on tlie part of the Scotch to certain i>arts i>i'
the Liturgy and fornnda of the Episcopalian church, he laid
them aside for the time being, jmd also held prayer meetiiiLrs
in a manner somewhat after their own heart. This he ilid tn
win them, in ordei', as he said, to do good to theii" .souls, aiid
certainlv, if we are to iudu'e by the way he manatjed to gain
the love and I'esjiect of the whole peo])le. his efforts were siic-
ee.ssful.
Tn 1824, he commenced the erection of a sec<)ud church.
about six miles farther down the Red River than the upjit r
one, and Vieing joined l)y Rev. William Cochran, in lS-2o. the
two clergymen conducted their work eoniointly for t)ne \rar.
at the end of which time Mr. dones paid a visit to Knglaml.
In 1827, a settlement having sprung up at a spot called (Iraiid
Rapids, about twenty-five miles from the mouth of the Ucl
River, and fifteen from Upper B^ort ( Jarry, Mr. (\)chran cniu-
menced the ei'ection of a third church, where he officiated for
seven years. In I8.S1, the original building was i-e[)laced by a
larger structure, and that in turn was toi-n down to give way,
in 184!), to one of greater proportions, and more .substantial
construction, which to this day ivmains, and is known as St
1
i
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1
1
r
i'i
IMI-; ciiriicM IN I'm: noktii wksi.
2S1
Aiiurcw s ( 'liurcli. In \H'M'>. Kev. Mr. (.'oclirnii, who was iiidc-
tatigahlt' in his cflorts to pi'oniote the cause of i-elij^ion, erected
a s'linll wooden ehiu'ch abotit twelve miles down the rivn Ironi
hi> jiHrsonii;^f, at St. Andrew's, which was afterwards known
as tiie I'arisli of St. Peter, where he oathered jii'ound him a
ciinp edition composed chiefly of Indians.
I'.y tliis time tile Roman Catholic priestliood in the settle-
ment was aueineuted l)v the addition of five to their numl)er.
iiiiil\in^ altogether, exclusive of the Bishop, eieht pi-iests lahor-
in;,^ in the settlement, and thus the Catholics and Kpiscopalians
tiirove in their woi'k. while the Scotch were still without a
minister of their own denomination.
The tii'st Roman Catholic mission estahlished in connection
with the church at Re<l River, was at a place about thirty
miles up the Assiiiihoine. named Saint Paul's, the Rev. (}.
A. Pjelcourt heinj^' placed in charti'e of it. Here the worthy
priest succeeded in Catherine- n round him a few Indians and
lialf-ltreeds. by whose aid he manaj^ed to erect several hoiises
and a church, whei'e he labored for a number of years. The
next mis.sion was founded by Rev. Jo,sei)h F.. Darveau at a
point on the Winnipee- Ri\t'r called ' Wabassimon^," about
200 miles south-east of Red River, where another church was
built, and a settlement formed around it. This was followe(l
al)0ut a couple of years afterwards bv a third mi.ssion on the
shores of Lake Manitoba, which for a time flourished, and a
church. parsona}j;'e and .school beino- Iniilt, it was hoped tluit it
would continue to prospei". Hut the (.'atholic ju'ie.sts expei-i-
euced many difficulties, ard, bein^' poor, had not the same op-
|)0rtunity to extend their labors as ra])idly as the Protestant
missionaries. What they lacked in means, however, they
made up by zealous perseverance, and gradually they made
1 i' ^
(
Bv
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1
282
inSToHY OF THE XOHTH-WEST.
di
I I
: If
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ill
i
tluiir way inidHt (Irawback.s and (lisappoiiitnientH. In Is-l-i.
twelve priests had joined the dioceHe of .luliopolis, and in tiiat
year, some sisters of charity h»'loni,nnt;- to the onh'i- ol the
(Jrev Nuns, or " Filles de Ma(hinie de Vouville," canu- t< thi-
settlement, and founded the Hrst convent in the N(jrth-\\'ist.
In that year also. Rev. Mi'. Darveau met his death hv diown-
in^, while on his way to '" WabassinKJii^-," and not lon^' at'iti-
wards the mission at that place had U) he abandoned.
Early in IH45, at the ivijuest of the Bishop of Juliojiolis.
Rev. Pere Aubert, an Oblat Father, was sent to assist liim.
and accompanying^ him was Fi-ere Tacln!^, a novice of the ( )i-
der, who, upon his arrival, was admitted into the ranks of
priesthood l)y ordination of Bishop I'rovencher. Rev. I't if
Aubert was then made Vicar-General of the diocese, mi id,
throu<^h his at>ency, the youno- priest Tach^ was received into
the Order of Oblats.
Thus matters stood with the Roman Catholics in 1845, and
now we will once moi'e turn our attention to the Church of
R^n^dand. In 1888, Rev. Mi', Jones took his final departure
from the settlement for Enu'land, and the entire charu'e of tlir
parish was left in the hands of Mr. (\)chran, thus 'mposino'
upon him more work than he could well attend to. Hack
Sunday he regularly attended service at the uppi-r. niidillc
and lower churches, at the hour arrani^ed for his convenifncf.
thus necessitating' a journey of between thirty and foity
miles, in addition to his rej;ular clerical labors. Mr. Cochvaii
was an indefatii^-able and earnest worker, and no doubt \n-r-
foi'med his extra duties cheerfully, but he must have experi-
enced a feelino- of relief when he welcomed the arrival of
Rev. John Smethurst in 1889, who innnediately took chai'ge
of the church at St. Peter's. In 1841, Rev. Abraham Cowlev
lii'T 1
Tin: ciiriicii i\ Tiir xoirni-wiisT.
ls:\
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1
7
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canic to the settU'iiH'iit and took over tlu- niidWIt' cliurcli. atnl
ill |S44 Kov. Jolin .McCallniii ariivrd, aixl Ix'caiiu' iiu'iiiiiluiit
(if tliL! ui)per one, thus allowing' Mr. Cochran to <;'ive his wholf
attention to St. Andrew's. In iS-Ki, he lH';^an niaUin^- pri--
parations for thi' erection of the second church in his parish,
and while thi' work was in progress, he handed ovit the jias-
toi'ate to Rev. Kol)ert Janie.s, and paid a visit to En;>land. he-
iii<^' absent Tor about a year. Soon aFter his return, the death
of Mr. iMcCalhini left him the e.\tra duty of attendniu' to tiie
waiiis of tlie upi)er church, in addition to his own. and thus
it came about that for einht years, from 1S8!) to 1H47. Mi'.
("ofhran performe(l work which would have tried the strenjuth
of the strongest man. Indeed, he is regarded to this day as
lia\ ine- been oi;e of the mo.st active and zealous ndssionai'ies
in the countiy, and not only did he labor for the salvation of
his Hock, but he assisted them with money, and in othei- ways.
often clothino' and fee<lin<>" them when in want.
The Church of Flngland now be<;an to extend their missions
beyond the Red River, for we hear of Rev. Air. Cowley estab-
lishing one at Lake Manitoba, and about the same time, the
Wesleyans established themselves at Lac la Pluie. In 183!>,
the Hudson's Bay Company invited and encouraged the Wes-
leyan Society to extend their missions to the North -West
Territories, and shortly afterwards, six stations were establish-
ed, namel}', at Moose, Michipicoteu, Lac la Pluie, Fort Alex-
ander, E<lmonton and Norway House.
The following extract from the minutes of a council held at
Norway House, on Jmie 24th, 1840, will show the position
held by th(> Hudson's Bay Company in regard to the Wesh^y-
!in etibrts: —
Resolved, — That three missions be established in the North-
i2s4
IIIST(»|{V <>|' Tin; N'ouril-WKST.
m
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Vi'
»rii 'lr|i;irl imiit tliis si'ilsoii. siiy (iiic at Norway I loiisr. iindii
t he cliiiruc "f |{f\ Mr. I']\aiis; niic at l^ac la I'luif, uudri- tln'
cliarijf <>|' tlir llr\. Mr. .Mason: and (meat Kdiiionton. u
niii'i
till- fliar::!' of l{i'\. .Mr. Ilundl*'; that r\fi'y facility If atl'ordrd
tlirm for successfully conducting: tlirir spiritual lahoi's; and
that a ci i\iy ol' the I'tli |iai'iini'a]ih of the ( lo\ crnoi- and conmiit
tff's dfsj.Mtch of .March -l-tli. IS4(>. on this siiltjcct. he forwarded
to each of the eentlenien in cliaret' ()f the al)o\e districts, for
purjiose of ei\ inn- full ellect to their llonoi's' instructions. '
III a letter dated Aueust. IN4I, Ilex, .lames Kvans. (lei
ier;il
Sujierilltelident of the Wesleyail Missions in the Hudson s lljiy
t.'rrit<iries. writes as follows: "Since ui\' arri\al in the couii-
tr\-. I Inive visited \'oi'k Kactoiw of wliich I made the (
oill-
iiiittee aware last autumn. < )n my return. I remained at
Norway House until Decemlier. and left it eai'ly in that
month, to \isit the iiosts within mv I'each. Dufine- the win-
ti-y
I
\ isited
M(
Lake, the I'as. ( 'umherland House, Shoal
l\i\er. Fort I'elly. iJeaver ("reek. Hod Ki\er. on my way to
Kort Ale.xander and liehrine's jJiNcr: and retunic<l to Norway
House at the latter end of March. I was received at e\ery
|iost of till' Hoiiorahle Company with the fjreatcst kindness,
ami experieiiceil e\-ery attention froui the t^eutliMiieii in
cjiari'v I intend, hv the l)i\ine hlessiiiir. to \isit the
follow ine- places durine' a journey whicli it is iny purpose t(t
melv. Ctimherland. Carlton. Fort Pitt, and Kd-
commeiice. na
montoii. where I hope to mei't my o't)od brotlier. the Kev. Mi
Kundle. After sjieiidine- a few weeks ill that vicinity, I shal
proceed ov Winter couNfyaiiee (snow shoes and do^' earriat;'es).
to Forts .laspar. Assinilioiue, Lesser Slave Lake, Dunve^an,
Vermilion. Chi])ewyan. Fond du Lac, La Crosse, (Ireeii Lake,
an
(1 liack l)v Carlton : thence to Norway House bv the S;
IS-
His Grace Archbishop of Rupert's Land.
t'-''*pr-'""'^''- "•'">>•■*
ii.
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Tin: ( III i;< II i\ iiii: \<»I!TII-\vksT.
■ih;
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N
KIW II V
II
dllM' III
Juiif or .Inly, |H4*2. Tlif joiiniry is uiiilt'itiikrii with tin-
ilrciiltMJ ii|(|>r<tli(itioii of till- < !o\ fiiior-iii-cliift'. Sir ( !roi';^t'
Siiiipsoii, who Uiiidly iisHurrd iiic tluit lir woiilij, hinisfir. in
|i.isHiiiH' the SiisUiitclifWiiii, SCI' tlmt excry |ir<'|i(ii'jitioii slioiiM
hi' llliult' for nil' to |i|dn'ri| thrlicr.
Tlir iiiiiiisti'i's I'linMucil ill till' Wi'slryaii missions at tliat
fllllfW
cfi' Hi'W Mi'ssrs. IC\ans, l>arnh'\', Mason, HuihIIi'. .lacoli
iihI tlii'\' I'i'i'i'isi'tl i'\ iTV rncourMci'iiii'iit and asNistancc in thrir
W II
ik, l)Ut thi'ic I'tl'orts wi'ii' not crowiii-d with thr suiriss
W.'sl
r\'ans ha\(' contuiurd ivi-r
thry dcsifi'd. althoiinh tl
siiK't' to woris in thf country.
'ruining' once inoic to the Koiiiun ( atlioiics, wc lind tliat in
1n42 the Hev. Mr. 'rhiheanit travelled westward, a i was the
first pi'iest to \isit the SasUatchew an \'alley and lOnciish
llivcr DiHti'ict. In the foniiei-, he fonnded the mission of Stc
.\nne, in iS^.'i, and in the latter, the stations ealled Notn^
Dame lies Victoires, and Isle la ( 'ro.s.se, at Red Deir Lake,
and al)uut this time tlie Catholie missionaries must have heen
very active, for we find in the re])ort of the \Vesle\an mis-
sions of 1S4.S, that Mr. Rundles position at Kdmitnton wa.s
jiarticuhii'ly trying;', the people around him bt'iii<; chiefly Ho-
iiuin Catholics, and the j)riest from Red Hivi-r liavinc- that
sunniier visited extensively both the company's posts and the.
Indians.
The (jitholic missionaries built comfortable mi.ssion stations
in diflen'nt parts of the country, which were erected after the
expenditure of much trouble and hard laboi*: and not only
this, but the entliusiastic buildei's of these houses wi're e\-er
on the move, and may be described as belonj^in^' to a class ( f
tiu'U who, at the first intimation or hope of permanent work,
II
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!
11^'
I I
•2S(;
HlsKdiV n| nil; Nnlijll \V|:sT.
\\
•ir (|uitc williii;^' to takf U|) tlnir jilMnlf in tlif w i;^\vain>> nl
tlir sii\ii;^rN. until siicli tiiiif as tiny ((iiiM cslaltliMh tlu'iiiscK cs
ill ninrt' cDiiiriirtalili' <|iiait<'rs. In this w ay. tlif ( 'atlmlic miis-
siiins .sprtaW i'a|»ii|ly, llifir udiU IxTdniin^^' iiioii' iiii|tui'taiit
t'acli y<'ar, until tln-ir laliois txicnilnl to t'\cry part of thr
t'onntry.
I'^roiii IS-!-! to |S.')(». l)is|io|i I'rox tiiclii r aioni' (•oinliict,(i| tin'
Imsinrss (»!' Iiis ilioccsf, imt in tlir latter year a i-oatljutor anil
sncci'ssor w as ap]»oinlci|, in llir |ii'rson of I'riT Tacln''. who, as
a N'oun^' no\ icr of tin- ( )i<liT of ( )l»lats, ai'i'ivi'd in t hf connt i\
III
,S4.-
In li'ss than tivc vars hr rose IVoin that hiiinlili
position to hrcoiiic the liishop of Aratli, the titlt' which lir
assiiiiic'l as coailjutor to the liishop ol' .Inliopolis. ami when,
in i-S.');}, .Monscij^ni'ur l'i'o\ fiichi'r ilicil, he lnTanic the l!is|i(i|i
of St. Honifacc.
Tlu' Scotch sctth'i's, durinj;' all this tiiiic. had contiiiiird tlic
til^itation for a niinistci- of their own crct'd, hut so far w itli-
(jiit success It seems .somewhat sinj^'ular that the IIimIsoh's
iJay ('oinpaii}' siiould lia\t' shown .so mucli sympathy, and
extended so much assistance to the other deiioiiiiiuitioiis. w hilc
the [u'titions of the Scotch for a minister were received w itii
a deaf ear. There is this, however, to I)e said about it tlic
('hurchof Kni;land ami the W'esleyans a))peured to taU( an
interest in the subject of the North-West missions, while llie
(Mnirchof Scotland, so far as can he learned, took no active
.steps in the matter. The agitators on behalf of the Scotch
took the ground that a promise had been made l)y Lord Sel-
kirk to .send a Scotch mini.stcn' to Red River, proihicing- at the
same tinu! ])roof that such was the case, and held that the
Hudson's Bay Company, in taking- over the settlement, had a
righc to carry out the ol^ligations of their predecessor. Tlic
Hi
1 \
TIIK • III lit II IN iiii; MiitTii WKsT.
•2H]
t'(iiii|»any. on tin- utlnT lniii<l. lonkinu' at it |ini't'ly in tln' liy;lit
lit ,1 cliiiiii iiiMilf nil tlii'iii. ti'i'titnl it timii .1 iHi.sint'NN point ol'
\ii'\v, witliDiit scutinii'iit . iiii'l ilrrliiii'il tlint w litii till' tiiinsl'iT
wjis nmiti' to tlii'in tlif |iro\ iiliii;^ ol' ,1 Scoich mini^lir I'oi' Ifcd
His rr WHS not cM'Ii iiii'iitioiiril, ainl on t'lut ;4;roiiiiil llifV it-
I'tisi'il till' cliiiin. Iliiil till- niiittiT l)i-rii |irrsi'iitt'i| to tlii'in in n
ilitiirrnt I'oriii, it is (jiiiti' iiossihic tin- Scotrli wonM li,i\f liad
tliiir niinistri' )it a iniicli raiiiiT |)i'rioi| tlian tliry iliil. Now,
it must lu' cK'ar to i'\ I'ly unliiascil niiml, lookin;;' ut tlic siihjt'ct
;it tills lilt*' <liiv, tliiit t'ucli sitic jiail a n()oi| casr in tlir \ it \v
tiikm ot* it. Tilt' St'otcli, it'lyinj^' on tin- |iroiiiist' iiiaijr t(»
lliriii. cxpt'i'tt'ti its rnlliliin-nt, ami tin- lliidsons Day ( 'oiiipany,
flaiiiiin;;,' to lia\i' no sliari' in that |»naiiist', ri'|)niliati(| all rt'-
s|Miiisil)ility in rt'^aril to it, wliiir tlif I'lt'sltyti'iians in Scot-
I.iihI, IVoiii whom the niinistfr was ti hr ohtaiiifil, slot
III alotil
iliirin;^' tht- tinif thf ilisfiission was y;<)in^' on. This, it a|i|it>ars
to IIS, is a [(lain, Mn\ aniislifij statt'iiifiit ol" tht- cast'.
Ill ortliT, howt'\rr. to placi' thr siilijt'ct clfaily lii'Toii' our
iviilcrs, wt' will tjuoti' from thf convsjiondi'iict' that took jilacc
lirtwt't'ii tlu' various jiaitii's in ndation to it. In a |iftition,
pivst'UttMl hy tliL' Scotch .st'tth'i's to thf ( Joviinior ami commit'
t.'f of the comi>aiiy. in IS44, the foilowini;' claust- appfars :
•'riiat vt)ur iiftitioiifrs, hcforf jt-aviiit^ Scotlaiul, had a
Milciun promise from the latf Karl of Selkirk, that a clfriivmaii
til' their own church wouhl fither accom[)any them to this
tiumtry, or join them the foUowino' year in it. That when
his Lortlship visited the colony, in the year 1817, this promisi-
was then renewed: hut the trtjubles, or rather the lawsuits, in
which his Lortlship was fni;afetl in Canatla, tletaineil him lon^-
t'liere ; and the state of his health after ^"ointi^ htmie, rend"rin^-
it necessary for him to travel on the Continent of Europe,
Jt
(? I. i
t I
I t
in
II
I i ■ffl
I I
2SS
IIISTOKV OK Tin; N()l!TII-\Vi;sT
wlici! lie miroi'tuiiMtvly ilit'il. |»ut Mil ciiil to tilt' liopc \vlii( h
they, n\) to that ju-riod, had chcrishctl, and wliich has not sincr
ht'cii rcahzt'd. "
Tlif IctttT then drt'W attention to the fact that the coiiipMiiv
were assistin*; other inissioiiaries in the eouiitrv. while t!ie
Scoteh were heiii^- allowe<l to nropc in the <larl<, and it <(mi-
ehi(h'd as follows :
" Therefore, voiir petitioners would most Imnihly and ic-
sjiec'tfully int|)lore your honorahle hoard to send to this colnnv
a Prtjshvterian (•leriiVi"*'". <>l the Kirk of Scotland, for their
editieation and instrnction ; and, as their means will furnish
him with hut a small sti|)eiid, you would he plea.se<l, aeeordiiii;-
to your u.siial lihei'ality, to ('oiitril)ute soinetliin«i" tovvar<ls his
support, in like manner as you have done to all the missidii-
aiies sent to your territories. '
'Plu' ( iovernor and committee replied to this letter on the
Ulst March, IS45, an<l the following- is an extract from their
letter :
" The reasons ur^ed in support <.f the petition are the nriuit-
int»' of similar iiidult^'eiices to missionaries of other denomina-
tions, and a promise made hy the late Earl of Selkirk to the
orio-inal settlers of Red River: with respect to which the
(iovernorand coniinittee have to ohserve, in the first place,
that the indulgences t^rantetl to missionaries can form no jui
cedent for maiutaininn- the minister of a Preshyterian con<;iv-
natioii at Hed River Settlement, as these iiiduli;ences are
allowed in consideration of the services rendered Ity the iiiis-
.sionaries in instructing- and converting- the ahoriginal inliahi-
tauts, who are unable to jjrovide religious instruct'on Inr
themselves: ami .secondly, that they know of no such j roniiM'
as that stated to have heen given l)y the 'ate Karl of Selkiik.
TiiK (111 itni IN TiiK \oitri;-\vKsr,
2.s!>
in con;:;!'*'-
Dui'ino' thr tiiiif tluit tlic scttK-incnt was uihUt tin- dirrc
tinii of tlir Ijiti' Ivirl of Sclkii'k,
st('j)s Mppcai' to have liccii
t.ikcii with a view to the a])j)oiiitiiH'iit of a I'rcshytcrian
cIci'i^Tiiian. ' ( Xott' — I'liis was incorrect, as Mr. Sa;;'c was a))-
]i(iiiitt'(l l)y his Lordshiit, hut iicxcr \isitcii Hcd Hixci'.) ' Nor
when it was traiiHiVrrt'd hy his Lordsliijt to the Hudson "s I'.ay
( ouipaiiy, was any sti]iulation to that cticot nia<l(' with tlicin.
Ni\ crthck'ss, if you and those you re])resent are ])re\ i'iite(l
hy conscii'utious scru))k's from availine- yourst-lves of tlie I'e-
li^ious sei'\ ices of a cler^'Viiian of the Churdi of Knulanik the
( i(i\ ernoi' and coniniittee will oi'der a passa^'e to he ])ro\ided
ill one of tliei)' ships foi' any minister to lie supported hy
y.iurselves whom yon may think ht to eii^'.-m-e.
Tile I'epi'esentatives of the Scoti'h then [)rocured atH(ki\ its
fi'iim sex'ei'al of the settk'rs in confirmation of I^ord Selkirk s
judiiiise. and forwardeij them with another petition to London,
I on tlu' (ith June, IS4(i, the (Jovernoi' and connnittee sent
aiK
the followino- re))ly :
• (TKXTr.KMKX — I am directed hy the (Jovt'rnor, l)eputy-( Jov-
)n s May ("ompany to ac-
•rnor, and Committe of the lludsc
ktiowled<>-e receipt of vour letter of the ISth .lulv last, with
accompauyinii' <locuments, and to act|uaint you that they can
ith
th
tl
vth
iieitlier I'ecoenize the clanu therein a<lvance<l, nor do anvtMine'
luoi'o towards the object you have in view than they have
already stated their willini^iu'ss to <lo.
" I have tlie honor to l»e. etc.,
"(Siuned), A. Bahclav,
" Seci'i'hiri/."
This reply beinj;' decisi\e, the settlers tiirned to the Free
riiureli of Scotland and laid their [)osition l)efore that body,
>iit tor three vears received no replv
< it
In 1845), however, Rev,
f
t ^
I
f\'}
;!l
2!)0
HISTORY OF THE XoHTH-WK.ST.
John Bonar, thf convenor of tlie colonial cotnniittoc of tin-
Free Church of Scotland, wrote tliat hr had not succccclcd in
finding a suitable minister, several to whom he had ap)tli('.|
having; declined to go, hut tlie hope was expressed that oiic
would be foun<l.
The Scotch settlers, or their representatives, then tunifl
their attention towards gaining possession of the rppcr
Church and ground, whidi they held properly belonged tn
them under the gift of Lord Selkirk. This necessitate! n
good deal of correspon<lence with the company's officials, ainl
the clei'gy of the Church of England, who then occu])it'd tin
property in dispute. At last, in October, ISoO, a comjiromi^.-
was effected, by which the Scotch gave up their claim to tin'
Upper Church, receiving, in return, a dee(l of Frog Plain a t'<\\
miles farther down the river, for the purpo.ses of sites t^i'
church, church-yard, school-house, ami glebe, and a grant if
£150 towar<ls the erection of a suitable Imilding.
While the.se negotiations were going on, the case of tli-'
Scotch settlers had been transferred from Scotland to the
Presbyterian Church of Canada, where the matter was taken
up with some spirit, an<l the indications were that a minister
for Red Piiver wo\dd soon be procured. The settlers then lieM
a meeting, and. as a residt of it, a manse was at once erectel
at Frog Plain in antici))ation of the arrival of the expectevl
clerjxvman, but for .some rea.son his cominii' was delayed, iiinl
it Avas not until the I'.hn September, IHol, that the Rev. .Tolin
Black was welcomed into the .settlement as the tir.st Presby-
terian minister to the long neglected Scotch of Red River.
An<l now, in order to show the interest that was awakeniiii:'
in church cii-cles respecting tl\e missions in the North-VVeNt.
we will refer to the visit of the Bishoi) of Montreal in 1 S44
Ui
THK riU'HCH l\ THK XoHTH-WEsT.
291
His Loi'dsliip liad elu'ri.slu'd for some yt-nrs tlu- liopc of inak-
iiil'' a jouniev throiiiih tlu' Huilsons Unv ttTritories. hut mat-
tfi'.s c ).Hiected with liis diosesf juid lon;^' ilhiess pivvcnti'd liiiii,
until May of the year above lueiitioned.
Leaving- Lachiiie on the Kith May. in a Iai"<;v canoe manned
hv eiu'ht Frt-neh Canadians, ,ind Six Iiociuois Indians, he as-
eended the Ottawa to wliere the .Mattawan joins it. He then
passed IVom this throui^'h La I'etitc Riviere, and some small
lakes traversing' the hio'h hin<ls, luitil lit- reaehcd Lake .\ipiss-
inu'. and liavino- ci'ossed it descended the whole leni>th of
French River into Lake Huron. C'oastini;' u|) the northern
shore of this lake, foj- liK) miles, he came to Hault Ste. Marie,
and, crossing- over, passed intc) Lake Superior and alon;^' the
northern shoi'e until Fort William was reached. Hei'e the
lai'e-e canoe was e.\chan<i'ed for two smallei' ones, and the jour-
ney hy rivers, lakes, and portaj^es made, until Lake Winnipeg-
was reached and the Red River entered.
Li his journal, which he jnihlished aftei- his return to Mont-
real, he thu.s writes of his treatment at tlu' company's posts.
"I Carrie 1," he says, 'a lett'jr fro:n Sii- (l.'jr^'e Simpson t-) he
presented at every post where 1 sliould stop : but the kinibioss
and attention whicli we everywhere experienced at th.e liamls
of the company's servants were marketl by an empresseinevt,
wliich showed them to proceed from spontaneous feelin<;'. aiul
<;ave the better zest to those comforts and refreshments dt'-
nianded by the body, which were tei»dered in a manner and
unthir circumstances stampin;^' them with a resemblance to
the exercise of primitive hos[)itality towards the way-worn
stran<fer."
'I'he P)ish()p arrived at the Indian Settlement on Sunday,
2lird June, 1844, and thus speaks of the scene which met his
1 ;
^ I
m
r. ' ■ *
1
I
'*'!
202
HISTOUV OF Till': NORTH -WEST
ores: " Tliere on the iiKtniin;;' of th(! Lonls own l)l('Hst'(l iImv ,
\vc saw them (the Indiiins) oatlu-riiit;' (iliH'fuly aroun<l tlicir pas-
tor, who was l)eforo his dour : their ehihh'eii t'olU'ctino- in thi'
.same manner, with theii" I)ooks in their liaiuls, all deeeiitly
clotheil iVom head to loot. Ai'ound were their humhle dwel-
ling's, with the eommencement of farms, and cattle <jra/,inn' in
the ineatlow ; the neat modest parsonage or nii.ssion hoiisr.
with its j;'ai'den attache<l to it. and the simple hut decent
church with the scliool house as its appenda<i'e. etc., etc."
I)urin<>" his stay at He(l Hi\t'r, the Hisho}) onlained as priest
He\. Abraham (\)wley, and as deacon and priest, Rev. .lohn
McAUum, l)(!sides holdini;- scvcr.il confirmations at the dirt'eieiit
churches, and it mav lie interestiuii- at this time to note his
description of the four l..iiii'lish Churches in the settlement, as
they appeared then. " 'I'he Indian Clnxrch," he says, "is a
wooden Iniildin^', painted white, fifty foot or upwards in length,
with a cupola over the entrance. It has s(piare-toi)ped win-
<lows, whicii, .so far, ;4ive it an unecclesiastical aj)pearance.
The ].,()wer Churcli is al.so of wood, and of the lenoth of fifty
feet. The Middle Church, whicli is not (piite completed, and
which has been built bv the unaided exertions of the coui'Te-
<;'ation, is an edifice of stone, sixty feet lono-. The Upper
Clmrch, which is also cjf stone, is ten feet Ioniser, and will ac-
conniiodate 500 persons. Alxnit 400 upon one occasion, nu^t
me there." The Bishop also describes a boarding-school at
the upper church, which was being conducted by Rev. Mi'.
McAllum on his own account, with the help of an allowance
from the company, where childriin of the Hudson's Bay offi-
cers and others were educated, and he gives some very inter-
esting particulars in reganl to the population, etc., of the set-
tlement.
TIIK ( III l!('ll IN TIM-: N(»liTM-\Vi:sT.
29»
Tlic whole jxtpnlatioii of tlic HimI Hixcr ( 'olony, aceorflin;^' to
liis statt'iiH'iit, was 5,14.'}, of wliicli imiiiltfi- 2,7!»N were Konuni
( 'atliolics, and 2,'}4o Protestants. The heads of families were
S7(), of whom 571 wei'e Indians or half-hreeds, 152 Canadians,
(il Orkneymen, 4!> Scotchmen, 22 Kn;4lishmen, and 2 Swiss,
Wales. Italy, Norway, Denmark, (Jei-many, Poland and the
I'liited States, each conti'ihuted one to the list Thei'e were
7:{() dwellines, 1,2I!> harns or stables, IS windmills and one
water-mill, 821 horses, 74!) mares, 107 hulls, 2.207 cows, 1,5S0
calves, 1,!)7() i>ies, an<l •S,5!)!) shee|). These particulars were
from a census taken in Maich, IN4.S.
The Bishop, after a pleasant visit, <lurin;;' which he did
much to aid and encouiaiie the missionarv work, left the In-
dian settlement on the lOth July, and arrived at Lachine on
the 14th August, having' been absent alxait thi'ee months.
In 1840, Mr. Henry Hudd (afterwards oi'daint'd as a
piiest), tiu' boy whom Rev. Mr. West ba]»ti/ed in 1822, was
sent to Cumberland Hous(! as a catechist, and met with so
much success that Kev. John Hiuiter was appointed to take
charm' of the mission. We have alreadv referred to the sta-
tion estaljlished at Manitoba Lake, and in addition to this,
a mi.ssion was organized at Fort EUice, and thus matters stood
with the Church of Enj^land about the time when the Bishop-
ric in Rupert's Land was formed.
In 1838, Mr. James Leith,achief factor in the Hu<lson'sBay
Company's service, beipieathed a smn of al)out £12.000 tt) be
<'xpended for the benefit of Indian missions in Rupert's Land,
but on his death his family disputed the be(piest with the
executors, which resulted in a process of litigation. This was
closetl in 184!), by the Master of the Rolls, Lord Langdale,
the decision being favorable to the missions, on the undt-rstand-
:l :
;) I •:
i
1 .
IPf
Ih
Wm. :
m
li:
^' > hUl
294
MISTOKY OF THK NOUTII-WEST.
Ir !?
V ■ ■ '
1
!
Hil
iii^' that the HikIhou's Hay Coinj)aiiy sliould (louatf the sum nf
£SOr> ammally to Ix^ set apart for the pur|)ost' of enilowiii;^ a
l)i.sht)i»ric ill Rupert's Laud, which, added to the iutei-ests nf
the t!l2,()()(), reudered the iiicoiue of the see about £701). 'I'liis
aii'MU;>('Uieut wa8 cariied out 1)V order iu Chaucerv, aud in
l<S4!t the Diocese of Rupi-rt's Laud was established by Lettris
Patent un<ler the (Ji'eat Seal. ami iu the same year He\ . I)a\ii|
Audersou, who was at one time tutor of St. Bee's 'riieolooical
Collep', Cumberland, was consecrated Hishopof Ruperts [..iiinl.
in the ('a^iiedral oi' C'antei'bury. He ari'ived in the settlement
during' the autunni of l(S4!>. and establishe<l his head-(|uart('rs
at the rpper Chui'ch, wiiich he named the Cathedi'al of St.
John.
Previous to this, the P)i,sliop of Juliopolis had erected a
cath<'(lral, and a house attiiehed to it, used as a i-esidenoe
for liimself and liis priests. Tlu' cathedi-al is .said to h.-nc
looketl remarUal)ly well when seen from a distance, its two
spii'es, one lum<b'ed feet hi^h, towei'in<;' hi<;h over the pi'aiiif.
and its chime of bells, of sinoular melody, being- heard a joii^
distance oft".
There wei'e several changes made iu the location of the dit-
f(;rent clergymen of the Church of England, after the Hisho]) s
arrival, and we cannot better close this chapter than by noting
the number of Church of England clergymen in the Xortli-
West about the year 1857. Tlu^re were then nineteen clergv-
men, exclusive of the Bi.shop, fifteen of whom were furnisheil
and paid by the Chui'ch Missionary Society, two by the
Society for the Propagation of the (Jo.spel, one by the Colo-
nial Church Society, and one was chai)lain to the Hudsons
Bay Company.
CHAI'TKK XVI II.
V()VA(ii:ri{S, I'liKKiHTKHS, lir\Ti:US, and IliAl'l-KHS.
hi.
t -; : .;
Harmon, in liis jom-nal of voyji^^cs mikI travels in tlic iiitfr-
ioi' <jf North Anicrifn. in ISl!*, thns (Icscriltcs the cliaractcr of
tlic vovawnr.
"Like their ancestors the French, the Canailian vovaueurs
lev are rareh' sui)-
pOHwess lively and tickle dispositions, and tl
ject to dei)res,si()n of spirits of loii;^' contiiniance, e\t'n when in
circunistances the most adverse. Althoue-li what they consider
H'ood eatine- and drinkine- constitutes their chief e()()d, yet,
wlien necessity compels them to it, they suhmit to ;;i-eat pi'i-
vation and hardship, not only without c()mj)lainine-, Init even
with cheerfulness and eaietv. Thev are vei'v talkative, and
extremely thou^ditless, and make many resolutions which are
broken almost as soon as formed, 'i'hey never think of j>ro-
vidin^' for future wants, and seldom lay up any part of their
earnings to serve them in a day of sickness, or in the decline of
life. Trifiin^ provocations will often throw them into a raj^e,
but they are easily appeased when in anuer. and they never
iful
St th
•h
th
narnor a revengetul purpose aj^anist tliose hy wiiom tliey con-
ceive that thev have ])een injured. Thev are not brave, but
wlien they apprehend little dan^ei', they will often, as they say,
play the man. They are veiy deceitful, are exceedingly smf)oth
and polite, and are even gross flatterers to the face of a person,
whom they will basely slander, behind his back.
/
M
I > '
il
I I
i!
if:
296
lllSTdliV <»!■ rilK NoltTII-WKST.
"'riii'\' |i;iv littlf iv^-MT'l t(» Nt'iMfitv <»r to lioiit'stA'. 'I'lnir
word is Hot to Im' ti'iistt'd, ami tlx-y arc iiiiicli a<l(lictt'(l to |iil-
I'tTiii;;', ami will even steal articles of coiisidcnihic \alue, wIhu
a laNoraliJc o]»|)ortuiiity ofiers. A secret, they eaiinot Uec]..
Tliey I'arely i'eel nratitude, tlnaii^'li tliey ai'e often j^eiiorous.
'I'liey are oltedieiit, l)Ut Mot faitld'ul servants. IJy llatteiiiii^
their vanity, of which they have not a little, they may i)e |m'1-
Hiiaded to nndertake the most ditlicult enterpi'ises, ])ro\ided
tlu'ir lives are not i'ndan;;t'red. Altho\ii;h they are iicneraily
tniahle to read, yet they nc(|uii'e considernltle Unowleduc ,,\'
liuman nature, ami some ii'eneral information in regard to the
.state of the country. As they leave Canada while they are
youn^', they have hut little l\nowk'd<;'e of the ]irinci]iles of tin
relii;ion which their pi'iests profess to follow, and before they
liave Iteen lon;^' in the Indian country, the}' ))ay little moi'e at-
tention to the Sahhath, or the wor.shijt ofCJod, oi- any other
divine institution, than the ,sava<^o.s theni.selvcs."
Such is a de.sci'iption of the men who manned the canoes
of the fur companies, and underwent the greatest hardships
and ))rivations durino- the lono- and arduous journej's they
undertook for their masters. The picture may be ovenlrawn.
but from all we can learn they wei'e a reckless, and at times
a dis.sipated lot of men, ready for the most onerous duties
when reipiired of them, and, when not enj^-a^ed in trippinii'.
idle, wasteful and dissolute. Accordin*; to Sir (Jeorj>;e Simp.son,
there were 500 of them in the em[)loy of the Hud.son's Bay
Company annually durinif his time, but of these many were
Indians ent>aj^"ed merely for a trip in sununer, and a nund)er
of those lived at the Indian settlement, where Mr. Cochran es-
tablished a mission.
In the early days, cauoas, some of them being very large
v<)V.\(;i;ri{s, I'ltKHiMTKits, iirsTKits and ihai'I'KUs.
'Ji>7
iiinl Htroii^", wcri- iisccl, hut tlit-s'- ^i-iiilually ;^m\<' way to lioMts,
wliicli Wfi'r workfil liy iiiiic iiifii, ri;^lit ot' wlioiii wtif idutrs
;iiii| tlif other the stt't'i'MiiiHii. r>ri<;ii(lt's coiiijiosfd of t"i"om
I'mir to rit^iit of these ci'aFt, wei'e kept constantly ^'oinn- <hiiMn;;
tlie summer hetween the various posts, can-yine' su|i|)lies and
lirmifinii" hack the hales of furs collet'ted ihirin^' the season.
When Ji stronji' ra|)i<l was encountered in I'iver travellin^r, th(^
lioats Were unloaded, and, alon;^' with their frei;xl't. were car-
ried overland, sometimes a c<" siderahle distance, so that the
work was often veiy severe. If the luplds wel'e not sutfi-
ciently formidahle to render a jtoita^e necessary the crew,
yoint"' asliore, would pull the vessels alonj^' hy means of lines.
On the lakes, the men rowed, uidess the wind was favoraljle,
when a lar^c sfpiare sail was hoiste<l, and they, for tlie tinu'
l)cin^', were free from toil, hut this only hapjiened occasioiuilly
during a lon^ trip.
Th<' e()()ds carried in the l)oats were usually done up in
hales, each wei<.jhinj;' about a Innidi'ed pounds, and as there
were generally from se\enty to eiehty of these in a hoat, the
task of porta <;'iii<^ them was not an easy one.
Tliis, however, at one time, was the ])rinci|)al mode of
freifrhtin^ the supplies and furs wliich the Hudson's Uay
Company had. and sometimes when the voyaj^eurs mutinied
and refused to carry the ^oods, it entailed heavy losses. Tlio
custom was to make advances to the men durinj^; their i)erio«l
of itlleness, and as they t;-enerally spent a hir^^e po)'tion of the
money in di'ink and dissipation, when they came to start uj)on
a trip, they were in a state of destitution. They would tiien
fre(|uently make unreasonable demands, ami, if not eomi»lie<l
with, would strike ajid refuse to carry out the contract they
had entere<l into. The voya^eur of the hoat was as rick le;-"-'.
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msToitv or TiiM N<)in"ii-wi:si
iin]»r(t\ idi'iit lunl iiiiiclialilf, as tlic vuya;;t'iir ol' tin- raiiui; in
tilt' caily <liiyH.
Tlir coiiipaiiy lattrrly traiis|i(irtc(l iinicli ol' tlifir .su|)|)lic.s liy
(»\-('art over tlif |»laiii.s, ami tin- cilliiii^" ol' tin- voya^^fiir Kc-
caiiir (tf less iiiiportaiicr to tin- I'lir trailf. Tin' cai'ts usiil
wt'Tc coiistnu'tt'd entirely of wooil without any iron wliatcver,
the axles un<l finis of the wheels forniine- no exception. If a
hi'eak ocenrred, it was iiieiided hy means of a sti'ij) of drieil
laiH'alo hi<le heine- soaked in water and wound round the in-
jured part, and as this dried, it eontracted and haidened, thus
liindiiii>' the hreak Hrnilv, and nudxine' the cait as strouii- as
e\er. Kach cart was drawn hy one ox or an Indian hoi'se, the
weight of the l(jad carried hein;;' from !•()() i > 1 ,200 Ihs, and
the common I'ate of progress, about twenty miles a day. The
number of carts in a ti'ain vai'ied, sometiuitjs aniountint;' to
several hundreds, and in that case it was divided into bri<;'ades
of ten carts each, strun;^' out in single tile alone- the piairie.
To efich three carts there was one man, and the whole train
jjad a supply of spare animals, vai-ying in number according
to the state of the tracks, in ca.se of accident, or the giving out
through fatigue, of oxen oi' hor.ses, an tivent that frequeutl}'
hap|>ened on a long trip. The rate of freight paid by tlu'
company from St. Paul's. Minnesota, to which place the
fi'eigliting carts went in large numbers, was from sixteen to
eighteen .shillings per 100 lbs., but a large pi'oportion of this
was paid in goods, at Fort Garry prices, which reduced the
actual cost of freight very considerably. Advances were
made to the freighters during the winter, to be ai)plied on
their spring and .sunnner work on the same plan as carried
out with the voyageurs, but in the case of tiie former, the
money was generally .spent in support of their families, while
VnVA<ii;i l!S, h'ltKHJHTKKS, HtSTKHS AM) I It AI'I'Mls. 2!M>
ill til*' lattt-r it was iisimlly spfiit in tlriiik. It was t'stiiiiatrd
tliat tilt' IIikIsoh's May Cntiipaiiy ami pt'tty tiaWii's riiipldyril
al«»ut fit'tt't'ii ImiikIi'oI oI" those cartN, Ix'twccii St. I'aiil ami
Ui'il Hivcr, ami IVdiii tlii't'c to tivc Iminlrcd more to tin- Sas-
kiitclu'waii hihI ((tiler inland district.s, so that there were tVoin
()()() to 700 men eiieaecd in this laisiness.
We now ('oni(.' to another class of men who wei'<' by lai- the
iiiiist important in the Noith-West at the period we are writ-
ing; al)i)ut. Tlio hunters ot" the plains were, as a I'uie, as reek-
less, and nearly as imi)i'ovi(K'nt as the xovaet-urs, onl\- thev
were a hi'avt! people, the nature of their calline' hi-iiiuin;^' them
lace to Face with dan;,^er in pursuit ol" the cha.se and in attacks
I'iDiii hostile Indians. TIk^ system of eivin<; them almost un-
limited credit which prevailed, at one time led these men to
lau'dcn themselves heavily with debt, under which the_\' strue-
^•ied From one season to another. 11" the hunt ]iroved success-
lul they were generally ahle to pay up arrears — if it w as had
they sank the deeper into debt, ami so they went for years,
few of them bein^- able to accunndate wealth.
After the union of the fur companies, the ])lain hunters in-
creased in numbers rapidly, the oxciteinent and freedom of the
life attractini;- numy to follow it. In 1820, the number of
carts assend)led to ^'o to the buttalo hunt was 'AO. In lS2o,
the number had increased to (iSO: in IS.SO, to 820 : in 1N3.>, to
!>70, and in 1840, to 1210, and to j^'ive some idea of the ca[)ital
invested in the business, we append the followine- statement
relating to the outfit of the last name<l year : —
1,210 carts cost - .€1,815 (K Od.
020 hunters' wages ------ |,8(j0
050 women's -------- l,4(i2 10
3G0 boys and girls' wages - - - - 8U0
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JlOO HiSTnUV OK Till; NolMH-WKST.
740 ;;uii.H cost ....... Cl.+XO <»s. (>,|
l.')() ;;iilluiiM H(iii|tu\v<l('r cuNt ... 120
I .."{()() |M>im(|s trn<liii;^' IhiUm cost - . - (io
<i.J4() uui, iliiitN cost |:{
KM) MtccI -Ilinovi-S '• 1.')
KM) coiltcMIIX tic cliassc j'ost - - - l.'»
4():{ Itiitlfilo niiiiii-rs (liorscs) (•(»>( - - »i.()4.') (»
(i.').') curl lioiscs (M)st .'),'J4()
.').S(i <lrini;;lit oxen cost .... ;{,.') Ki
l,2K) Hcts ot* harness •• 4M4 (»
4()Mn. linos,,, Mies • .... Kil 4
40:} l)ri<llcs and whips cost - . - -201 K»
1,240 scalping' knives " ... ;{| o {)
44S half axes cost oO
Canij) ei|uipa;^'e, tents, culinaiy iitcnsils,
etc., cost l.OoO Ki
t:24.(MM)
or ill ttie nei^^hliorhood oi' S12().0(M), one luill' at least ol" w liicli
lieine' advanced to the Imntci's on ci'edit
The pailies lieloneino- to the snininer hunt ^■ciH^rally staitcd
tVoiii the settlement ill .luiie, and returned ahout tiic heeiniiiii;^
oi' Aiinust, with their stock ol' peinniican and dried iiK-.it.
The I'all hunters left tluriii^' Auj;ust and I'cniaiiiccl away till
the end of Octoher or early in Novemhei', many f)f' them, how-
ever, remainiiiii' on the j)lainH all winter to liunt the Imtl'alo
for the rohes, wliidi they hrouj^ht into tlio Hcttlemciit for sale?
ill tiio followine' sprine'. 'j'hcn' were generally two parties,
one of which proceeded in search of the buti'alo in a .southerly
an<l the other in a south-westeriey direction, each party, how-
ever. actin<^- inde{)en<h'ntly of each other. The custom of the
VoYAUKlHS, KMKKiHTKHS, HINTKHs ANI> I'HAI'I'KUS. :R)|
liiiiitfrM was tu IfUNc tlif Mcttlt'iiH'iit ill Knmll luMlifM as mimih as
tlirii' an'aii;^t'iiifiits fur (Im' tl'ip wtif coiiiiilrtt'tl, ami at a y;i\iM
N|Mit on the plaitis all woiiM asst'iiiMc tor tlif |iui'|MiNr nl' t'orm
iii;^ camit.
W'lii'ii all wci'c assciii'ilftl, till- loll was callftj, a ('(luncii <»t'
tilt' |ii'iiu'i)ial iiifM lii'iil. iiiid a fliitt' ami statt' ntiiccis sflrctril.
TIktc welt' captaiMs ami guides aitpniMtcd. tin- latter liriiiy; tln'
stamlai'il-l)t'arci's of tlw party, aii<l tln' lioistiii^- ol' tin- liai;'
was tlif siniial cacli iiioniiii;^ I'oi" a start to In- iiiadf, aii«l when
it WUN takt'ti ilowii it siniiificd an onltr to ciicanip.
'riujs tlit'N' ti'a\fll»'<l on, ila\' at'tt-r ilav, uiulcr a rc'iMiai'
svsti'Mii/cil plan, nntil i\\v. haunt of tin- hiiflaht was rcaclicd,
Mild not onlv wnc tlit'V niidci' ((iniinand of coniiM^tt'nt men
I'luKscn fi'oni anioiiiiHt tin'insclvt's, lait tlu'V fi-anied laws wliicli
had to !)(' ol)st'r\cd 1)\- all. Of tlifsr latter, the followiii'' will
si'ivf as an cxaniph' :
1. No butialo to he run on tht- Sahhath day.
2. No party to fork, off, la^- In-hind, or ;;•() htd'orc without
perniisHion.
IV No person or party to run huthilo heforc the ^fenera!
order.
4. Kvery captain, with iiis men. in tuiMi to patrol the camp,
and keep {^^uard.
5. For the tirst trespa.s.s aejainst the.se laws, tlu; ott'eiider to
have his saddle aiid hi'idle eut up.
(i. For the second otfence, tlie c^^at to be t;iken oft the otten-
der's back, and be cut up.
7. For the third oti'ence, the offender to be Hoif-red.
S. Any per.son convicted of theft, even to the value of a
sinew, to be broui^ht to the middle of the camp, and the
If H
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•iO-2 niSToKV OF THK NORTII-WKST.
vr'wr to call out his or iu-r naiiio three tiiiu's, addiui^ tiu'
word "'I'liicl' " fit ciich time.
K jiiOHty was ))i-overl)ial amono-st the luiU'-lireetls of tin ■
plains, and the |)unishnu'nt in clause M was the worst form in
which it could he administered, as the disgrace of heinu- cuii-
sidered a thief was taken much to heart by the very worst of
them.
The formation of the cam]) was circular, all the cai-ts heiun-
placed side hy side, the ti'anis outward, and within this line
the tents wei'e [)laced in double and trebli' rows, the animals
l)ein<i' kept within this cii'cle of barricades in time of dant;cr,
l)ut when none was a[)prehended the iiorses and oxen ^ra/ed
on tlie outside.
The proceeds of the hunt were })enimican, dried meat,
sinews, tongues, rol)es and skins. The pemmican we have
already describeil in cha})ter ei^ht. The dried meat was
sin\i)ly the tlesh of the buffalo cut into stri[)s and dried in the
sun, the ro])es were the winter skins, when the fur was thick,
tanned by a process fannliar to tlie hunters, and the skins con-
sisted of the hide of the animal divested of hair, and tanne*!
into soft leather, from which moccasins and clothing weir
made.
When the hunters entered the country in the neighborliood
of wliich the buffalo were known to be, no gun was permitte<i
to be tired until in sight of the herd, and the word of com-
mand was spoken by the captain. At the word Ho! the
horsemen would start in a body, loading and firing on horse-
back, and leaving the dead animals to be identified after the
run was over. The hunters would enter the chase with their
mouths full of bullets, and, when loading, the powder was
poured into the l)arrel of the gun from the hand, a bullet
>■ :
iri-
It
V(»v.\(ii;ri{s, riJUKiHiKKs, ihntkks ani> rirMM'KKs. ;i()3
(Iropped Fioni thf iiioutli into tlu' imizzlt', and almost Uefore
till' hall had thne to ivaeli the powd t the pieee would In- tii'ed.
without puttino- it to the shoulder. In this way <;uns IVe-
(|Uently exphxled, and it was no unconinion thinj;- to st'e a
hunter without a thuinh or some of the tin<i;ers, as a n-snlt of
this carelessness.
These hunts wei'e partiei{)ated in hy so many, an<l the
slaufihter was so nreat, that a serious decrease in the nuudu'r
of liurt'alo took ])laee, which threatened the transport husinesH
of the country, jx-mmican and dried ni(>at hi'in;^' the staple
articles of food used hy the freii;hters. The Indians, too,
were most wasteful, and l\ille(l the huttalo oftt-n out of pure
wantonness, when the carcasses would he left to rot on the
j)lain, thousands of animals being sacrificed each year in this
way, so that it is no wonder that to-day the hutialo is almost
extinct.
Ahout the year 1S34, private individuals lu-gan im))orting
miods from Enuland on their own accoiuit, and for theii- own
use, and gradually the system extende<l, until they who com-
uienceil importing foi' themselves soon eidarged the field of
enterprise, an<l sent for goods on s[)eculation. This foi- a.
time was eoinitenanced hy the Hudson's Hay Company, until
agitation against exclusive trade in furs began, when they
jilac'il obstacles in the way of it, especially as the petty trad-
ers had taken part with the agitation. Uut this did not de."--
trov the trade, for the pettv merchants, beinn- not alton-cthei'
dei)endent on the Knglish markt't, I'eceived a large portion of
their suj)plies from the Initial States. I'^p to the time of tin-
ilemonstration in favor of Saver, in l.S4!>, the.se petty tiaders
confined tliemselves to buviu": and sidlinir ordinarv merchai;-
<liHe, tile trafiic in furs being forbidden, although un<loubtedly
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804
msTOKY OF THE N'OHTH-WEST,
they did a ^'ood (k-al in a (|uiet way in the tradinji; and snnin-.
jrliny of peltries. After 1S49, liovvever, tliey l)ecanie bolder
in this respect, and <^a-adnally cavne to deal openly in fins,
until they finally threw off all restraint, and openly outfitted
men, and sent them into the interior to traffic with the In-
dians. The company, then, instead of endeavoring,^ to punish
them, entered with all the force of wealth and superior iul-
vantages into keen competition with them, in the hope of
being able to crush them in thnt way.
f
CHAPTER XIX.
(CANADIAN CLAIMS AM) THE ('()MMITTP:E <>F 1857.
Tn July, 1 849, the British House of Coiunions passed an Ad-
dress to the Crown, prayiiif^ that an en({uiry nnj4ht be made
into the le<ijality of the powers claimed by the Hudson's Bay
Company, in respect of territory, trade, taxation, and govern-
ment. Earl (jrrey, accordin<;ly, connnunicated with the com-
pany on the 28rd August, asking for a statement of the rights
to which they considered themselves entitled, and the extent
to which they were exercised. The directors comi)lied with
this request, and, in September, forwarded a carefully-prei)ared
document, in which they set forth their various claims very
Fully, giving the authority in each case. The several acts re-
cognizing the claims of the company were quoti-d at length,
and in regard to taxation and government, the statement sub-
mitted liy them declared that, under their charter, they were
invested with power to make, ordain, and constitute necessary
laws, and to levy fines, taxes, etc., and that it further jn-ovided,
■ that all lands, islands, territories, piantaticms, forts, fortifica-
tions, factories, or colonies, where the com])any's factories and
trade were, should be immediately under the power and com-
mand of the (lovernor and company, their successors and
assigns, an<l the said Governor and company were empowered
to appoint and establish governors, an<l all their officers to
govern them." In pursuance of this authority, it was claimed
1
Ill
1 1
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III
806
HISTOKY OF TIIK X( »UTH-\VEST.
that the company invariably oxerciseil all the powers of <>()\ -
ernniont necessary for the administration of Justice, and !i|)-
pointed proper otficei's, wlio acted jndicionsly. It was also
claimed that no exact system of taxation had been exercised,
the whole expenses of the jrovernment of tiieir territories ha\ -
m^ been defrayed without the aid of any contributions from
others.
This statement was sid)mitt»'d, in 1M50, to Sir John Jer\is
and Sir John Romilly, tlu' law officers of the crown, to ex-
amine and rejiort upon it, and they expressed the opinion that
the rights claimed by the company properly belonged to them,
adding that, for a more formal argmnent and decision of thf
(|uestions at issiie,the best tribunal would be the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Privy Conncil.
Earl (irey then wi-otc to Mr. A. K. Isbister and the parties
who had presented the petition against the compa)iy, in IS47,
upon which chiefly the Address to the Crown had been based,
asking whether they would appear as complainants against the
com])any in order to test the case, but this they declined
to take the responsibility (jf doing, and so the matter ended
in 1850.
In I S57, with reference to a despatch from Cana<la, laying
claim to much country claimed by the company, the Crown
lawyers (Sir Richard Bethell and Sir Henry Keating) gave an
elaborate opinion, in the course of which they stated that—
"The charter could not be considered apart from its existence
for nearly two centuries, and nothing could be more mijust
than to try this charter as a thing of yestenlay." They held
that the Crown could not with Justice (juestion the validity of
the charter, nor the company's territorial ownership of the
land granted to it ; but, suljject to certain (pialitications, they
CANADIAN CLAIMS.
:\()7
tlioii<,flit thftt excliiHivL' ri^flits of tj^overniiH'nt or monopoly ol'
tratlc could not Ix.' insisted on by the company as liavin<i' been
^ranted by the Crown, filtliough it did possess Hmited powers
ol passing ordinances and exercising- civil and criminal juris-
diction. With regar<l to tlie ^geographical <'xtent of the com-
pany's territory, the Crown lawyers recommended that it
might pi'operly, and with advantage, be subjected to jtidicial
rii(|uiry, which might best be eft'ecteil (with the consent of both
Canada and the company) through the -Judicial Committe*' of
tilt' Privy Council.
A Select Committee of the House of Commons wiis then
ordered in the following wonls: "To consider the state of
those British possessions in Xorth America which aic undei-
the administration of the Hudson's Vnxy Comi)anv, or over
which they ])ossess a License of Trade. ' The first session of
this committee began to take evidence on the 2()th February,
1.S57, and the nineteen mendx'rs composing it were as follow :
The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Sii' John I'akington, Lord
•lohn Kussell, Mr. (}ladst(Mie, Loi'd Stanley, Mr. Hoebuck, Mr
Kdward Ellice, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Lowe, Viscount Sandon,
^b.'ssr8. (irogan, Kinnaird. ( Jregson, F>lackbui'n, Charles Fitz-
william, (}ordon. (iurney, Percy Herbert, and Hell.
This connnittee sat until the Jlth Afarch, and on 12th and
b'Uh May. Its composition was s(Mnewhat changed for the
second session, Messi-.s. (Jordon. P>ell and Adderley retiring,
and Mr. Alexander Matheson, Viscount (Joderich, and Mr.
Christy taking their places.
The investigation aiul examination of witnesses ended on
the 2)ird June, an<l during tlu; two .sessions of the connnittee
a mass of valuable evidence was taken respecting the North-
West from witnesses of the highest standing. The gentlemen
' I
1 M
mn
IIISTOUV Hi- Till'; NOKTII-WKST.
oxaiiiiiu'd were Mi', .lolm Hoss, Lieut.-C;)l. Lei'roy, Dr. Hne, Sii'
Oeoi'o-o SimpHon, Mr. William Kernaf^lum, Hon. Charle.s Wil-
liam WcMitwortli Fit/williaiii, Mr. Alexander Isbistei-, Rev. (J.
(). Coi'hett, Sir .lolm HiehanlHon, Colonel Crol'toii, llear-Aii-
iiiiral Sir Cleor^c liaek. Mr. James Cooper, Chief JuHticc
Draper, Bishop Andoi-son, Mr. Joseph Mayiiard, Mr. Alfred
Robert Roche, Cajjiaiii David Herd, Mr. John Miles, Mr.
John McLaufjjhlin, Mr. Richard Rlanshard, Liout.-Col. Cald-
well, Di'. Kinii;, Mr. James 'i'ennant, and Ri^ht Hon. Edward
Ellice.
We have ^iven the names of the witnesses in order to show
that the testimony taken before the connnittee came from the
very beat sources of information obtainable, and the personnel
of the committee is sutiicient guarantee that the evidence w.is
well wei^'hed before the final report was passed.
Before giving- that report, however, we will refer to the ac-
tion taken by Canada ])revious to and durin*:,' the time when
the committee sat. It seems that in reply to their despatch,
the Secretary of State for the Colonies had sent word to the
Canadian authorities tlat it was the intention of Her Ma-
jesty's Cioverinuent to propo.se to the House of Commons to
appoint the committee already referred to, and on learninii'
this they selected Chief Justice Draper, and sent him to Enji,-
land to watcli the investicjation which was about to take
place. As it is of some importance to know the position taken
})y Canada at this time, we will give in full a petition pi-e-
sented by the Board of Trade of the city of Toronto to the
Legislative Council of Canada, on the 20th Ajn-il, 1857, whieli
fairly represents the sentiments of the Canadian public on
North-West matters at that period.
Tiie petition was as follows :
CANAIHAX CLAIMS.
im)
V
■'That ill) fissociatioii of triKlers, under tliu title of the " Hunnraldi'
IliiilsDii's Hiiy ('oiiipiiny,'' (lining a long period of time, i)ivve elainied and
exercised a sovereignty in the soil, together with the rigiit of exclusive
trade ovi'r a large portion of the province of Canada, and that the I'xer-
cise of audi claim is suhversive of all those rights and pri\ ileges which
were guaranteed to the inhiihitants of Canada I))' Royal proclamation im-
imdiately after the con(|Ue8t of the country, ami suliseipieutly secured to
them l»y those Acts of the liritish Parliament wliich gave to Canada a
constitutional government.
" Your petitioners further show that up to the year ITO.'J, when, by the
Treaty of B'ontaineldeau, Canada was ceded to the liritish Crown, the
whole region of country, extending westwanl to the !*acitic Ocean, and
northward to the shore of the Hudson's Hay, had contimied in the undis-
])uted poHseHsifiU of the Crown of P^ranee for a period of two centuries,
and was known as La Nouvelle France, or Canada ;
" That during the half century succeeding the treaty al)ove alluded to,
.111 extensive trade and traffic was continued to l>e carried on throughout
the country, de.scrii)ed l»y connnercial com])aiiies and tiaders, who had
e.stahli.shed themselves there under authority of the Crown of France, and
tliat a trade was likewise, and at the same period, carried on l»y other
traders of British origin, who had entered into that country and formed
ostahlishments there consetjuent upon its cession to tlie British Crown ;
"That such trade and trattic was carried on freely ami independent of
any restrictions upon commercial freedom, either as originally enacted hy
tlie Crown of France, or jironndgated by that of Great Britain ;
"That in 1783, nearly all the aforesaid traders and companies united
and formed an association, under the name of the "' North-VVest Company
<if Montreal," which said company made many iinj)urtant discoveries, and
extended their establishments throughout the interior of North America,
and to within the Arctic circle and to the Pacific Ocean :
" That in the year 1821, the .said North-We.st Company united with the
.so-called Hudson's Bay Company a tMunpany to all intents and Tur])oses
foreign to the interests of Canada, and owing n<j responsilnlity to htv.
" That under the name of the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company, thoy
advance claims, and assume rights in virtue of an old charter of Charles
n. granted in 16(59, (the year given here is wrong, should be l<i7<>), that
bearing a date nearly 100 years before that this country had ceased to bo
an appendage to the Crown of France, it pertained to that of Great
Britain ;
"That under 8\ich pretended authority said Hudson's Bay Comi)any
assume a power to grant away, and sell the lands of the Crown, acquired
by con(]uest, and ceded to it by the Treaty of 1(573 ;
Il
lii
In ! •
I'!
lif^
.'no
HISTOUY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
" Tlidt 8(ii<l t'oini»Huy Imvu hIhc* HSHiniietl thu power to eiinct tiirifrs, rol
lect ciiHtotns (liu'S, and luvy tuxes ugfiinst British .sul)it'ct.s, iuitl hiivo en.
forced uiijuBt luid iirliitrfiry laws, iti detiaiice of every principle of riulit
and justice.
" Voiir petitioners more eH]teciftlly pray the attention nf your Hoiioralilt-
House to that region of country, designated as tlie Chartered TciritMiy.
over whicli said company exercises a sovereignty in tlie soil as well .is a
inono|)oly in tlie trade, and. which said company claims as a right that in-
sures to them ('/( iiirju'tiK), in conti'adistinction to that |iortion of cnuiiiiy
over which they claim an exclusive riglit of trade, hut for a limited [lermd
only.
"Whilst your petitioners believe that this latter chiim is founded upnn ;i
legal right, they Iiumhly suhmit that a renewal of such license of exclusive
trade is injurious to the interests of the countiy so numopo ised, and in
contravention of the rights of the iidiahitants of Canada.
"Vour petitioners therefore huud>ly pray that j'our Flonorahle Tlonsf
will take into consideration the subject of how far the assmnption of jiow
er on the part of the Hudson's IJay Company interferes with ("anadiaii
rights, and as to the necessity of more i)articularly declaring the l)ound
aries of Canada on the westward, and on the northward, and of extending
throughout the jirotection of Canadian laws, and the benefits of Canadian
institutions.
" .\nd your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
" (Signed) Thomas Cl.vrkso.v, Presiil>'iif.
" ClIAKt.KS HoilKRTSOX, Svcfclanj."
The instnK'tioii.s ^iven to (^hicf Ju.stiec Drajier, \v<'i'o as
follow : —
Skckktauvs Opfk'k, Tokonto,
20th February, 1857.
Sir — I have the honor, by command of His Excellency the Governnr-
General, to connuunicate to you, hereby, his Excellency's instructions hn
your guidance, in connection with your mission to England, as the speci.il
agent, appointed to represent Canadian rights and interests, before the
])ro})08ed Committee of the House of C'onnuons, on the subject of tlic
Hudson's Bay Territory
I am to premise, however, that as it is impossible to antici)iate tlic
nature of the evidence that may be taken, or the conclusion that may be
arrived at by the Committee, or the course which Parliament or Her
Majesty's Government may think pro}»er to adopt on the report of the
connuittee, it is not in his Excellency s power to con', ey to you at present,
any instructions of a piecise or definite cliHracter.
f,
CANADIAN CLAIMS.
811
His Kxci'llt'iu-y lni8, linwcver, ontiri' (••inHdiMue in \"\\v kiiowltMli^o ami
(liscrctinii, and liu lias tlic- inuiu readily iiUrustod tliis iiii|M>i'tiint iiiisHinn
to yiiii, iiiasniufli a.s your liigli position in thu colony rt-niovuK you from
111! tho ordinary inHuencoM of lotal or party fonsidfration.
Iiiiiiifdiatt^ly on youi- arrival iis London, you will plare yoursidf in roui-
uiuiiitjition with thu llight Honora))lu tho Secntary of State for tlui
CiiloniL's (to whom thesu iiiHtructionM luivu heen communicated), and a»
siMin as any pirliamuntary couuuittee, on the suliject of the Hudson's Bay
CiJiiipany or torritoiy is constituted, you will take stej)s for ofl'erin.n to
.iltiiid all information in your power relnting to the interest or claima of
Cunadii.
Vou will consider it as a part of your duty to watch over those interests
liy correcting any eironeous impressions, and l>y lirini,'in<,' forward any
clftiiiiH of a legal or ecpiitable kintl, which this province may possess, on
account of its territorial position oi' past history.
^'ou will not consider yoursi-lf as authorizetl to conclude anj' negotia-
ti(iii, or to assent to any definite plan of settlement ati'ecting Canada,
without re])orting the particulars of the same, and your own views there-
in, to his Excellency in Council.
His P'iXcollency has full and comjtlete confidence in the justice and
iniisideration of Her Majesty's (Jovernment, and he is sure that the in-
tcivsts and feelings of Canada will l»o consulted so far as is consistent with
lii^lit and justice. The people of Canada desire nothing more.
His Excellency feels it particularly necessary that the importance of
securing the North West territory against the sudden and unauthorized
influx of inuuigration from the United States shouM he strongly pressed.
He fears that the continued vacancy of this great tract, with a hoinidary
nut marked on the soil itself, may lead to future loss and injury hoth to
Kngland and Canada. He wishes you to i rge the expediency of making
nut the limits, and so ju-otecting the frontier of the lands ahove Lake
Su|»erior. about the Red River , and from thence to the Pacific, as effect-
ually to secure them against violent seizure, or irregular settlement, until
the advancing tide of emigrants from Canada and the United Kingdom
may fairly flow into them, and occu[)y them as subjects of the Queen, on
hi'half of the British Empire.
With these objects in view, it is especially importnnt that Her
Majesty's Government should guard anj renewal of a license of occu])a-
tii)u (should such be determined on), or any recogniti<m of rights by the
cniiipjiny, by such stipulations as will cause such license, or such rights, not
to interfere with the fair and legitimate occupation of tracts adapted for
.settlement.
It is unneces.sary, of course, to urge in any way the future imjtortance
Vancouver's Island as the key to all British North America on the side
!
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of till) Pacitic. Hituiitffl us it is lietwouii tlii' exti-iiHivi' hciiIupui'iI nf Miissinn
Aiiii'iiiii, Hiitl till- viist tt'iritmy in tlic liiuids uf tin- rnitod Stiitivs.
His Kxtollunoy online it fiirosue tlie cninHo wliicli a cuiniiiittfo nt iln
Hmistf (if ('(iiiiiMoiis limy sco tit t(i imrsiiL' in the piiiimsi'd uni|iiiry, (ir dc
teriiiine linfurtdiiind on wlitit puints i'\ i Iciice iiuiy \tv ri(|iiirfd.
At nny iiKununt, Imwi'ver, his Kxcflli-my will hu rendy tn iittuiid to
ynnr 8n<,'j,'t.'9l!i(iiis, and supply such iiifomii'tion, uitlier hy docuiiiuntan
fvidontt', (ir liy witnesses fmni Canada, as yuii may think iiecessaiy, .md
lie nia}' lie ahle to send over.
Yon will, of course, not upon suoh further instructions as may fruni
time to time lie conveyed to you hy his Kxeelloncy's direetuuis.
1 ha\e, etc.,
(Sij^nieu) K. A. Mkkkiutii.
Ansisfaiit iieeri'l'ini.
Hon. W. n. l)raj)ef IdhI liccii ton ycai'.s on tlii' Itoiicli of
Upjicr CaiuKla, during one yoai' of which he had tilk'<l the nt-
fiee of Chief Justice. In 188(). he was a iiiciiil)er of the Kxe-
cntive Council of tlie province lici no- appointed the year fol-
lowing. Solicitor-CJeneral, and in IN4() he becanie Attorney-
(lenertd, a position which he held tnitil in l(S42 he was ele-
vated to the bench. He was therefore highly (|ualiHe(l to act
as C'Jinada's representative, and the evidence which he oave
before the conmiittee showed marked abilit}'. Accordino- to
his statement, the emjuiry instituted by the British House of
Commons particularly affected the interests of Canada from
tliree points of view. First, very materially with reo^ard to
the true boundary of Canada. Secondly, with regard to the
deep interest which the people of Cana<la had that the terri-
tory under (piestion should be maintained as a British posse.s-
.sion, and thirdly, because the people of Canada looked to it as
a country into wliich they ought to be permitted to extend
their settlenumts. He admitted, however, that so long as
there was no jiroper means of connimnication between the
])rovince and the Hudson's Bay territoiy, Canada would not
CANADIAN < I, AIMS.
:h:J
lie ill n jHwitioii to take o\<'r the latter. He sn«,';,'eHt«'<|. tliere-
t'div, that the iiiterveiiiiin' e<miitry he first settleil ii|t<>ii, ami
that ill the iiieaiitiiiie ail "'/ Intevlm iirovisimi he iiiade tor the
;;()\t'rnnie!it of the North-West. He expresstMl the opinion,
ton, that ('aiia<la wouhl he willin^f to umlei'take the work of
surveys ami estai)lishiii;j; coiiiniunication on the iiiiderstanrliii};;
that the territory \vo\il<l he eventually transt'erre<| un<ler its
imisdietioii. He was not in favor ol" distni'hinj; the HikIsoiih
Hay ('oiiipMiiy in the posse.ssion of their forts ami tra<le.
Ileie are his exact words: " My own opinion is, that for the
purpoHe of preserving peace among the Indians, and prevent-
ing ditticulties arisini;, it is (jf ^rcat importance, for some tiiiitr
at all events ( I should say a limited time), that the HudsoiiH
liay ( 'om|>any sliouhl maintain those stations, and that trade
which they have liithert(j carried on, which ha\e kept the
Indians at peace I should not h(> speakiiij^- candidly or
fairly t(j the committee if I did not say that 1 think a very
lar^e portion of those (in Canada) who are most prominent in
the movement, are so from a desire to share in the commercial
]ii'uHts of tlie fur trade ; I tiiink that that is uiit|uestionah!e ;
I lilt r think there is another portion of them, and a very con-
siderahle i)ortion, too, who look to future consecpience more
than to that <|uestion Ijookini^" ujxin the determina-
tion of C'anachi as a Ci^ntingent determination, to depend upon
tlie result of survey and exploration, I should sunee^t that
while that state of thines, namely, the contingency on the one
side exists, on the other side, the exclusive right of trade
shouM exist also: in this spirit the Imperial (iovernmentgave
to the Hudson's Bay Company the power of settling Van-
couver's Island for a limited period, and it is in the nature, I
presume, of an experiment. I w^ould ask, on the part of (Jan-
•C-}
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HISTORY OF TIIK NOHTH-WKST.
a" In, t<» lmv«! ut Uui»t tho hhuw priviirm* hh was i^'iveii t<i ilir
HudMons hay ('oinpaiiy to Ht'ttk* tliis country, aiitl in ih.
iiH'antinu' I think tlu-re woiiltl he no rcaHonaWIe ^nanul to nli-
"H'ct to tlic lludHonH Hay (Jon»))any, «lurin;;' the Haiiic tinir
havinn- th<' cxchjMivc i-ii^ht to tnuhs hh I have HUj,'^«'Htt'<l it it
Canaihi can <lo nothinj^ with that coinitry, then it \h for .iii-
otlinr authority to <UH|)o,stj of the whole (|iiention."
Hut Chief .lu-stice |)ra|)er hml a Hrni helief that ( aiinla
coiiiil <lo Honiethiuj;" with the country in the way of «level((|i-
nieiit, and in proof of this we (piote the following icinarkalpli'
words spoken l)y him h»'fore the eonnnittee: "I liope," lii
said, 'you will not laujjjh at nie as very visiouary, hut I 1i(>|m
to see the time, or that my chihh'eii uiay .see tlu; time, w Imh
there is a railway ^oin;;' all across that country and endinj^' ;it
the Pacific : and so far as individual opinion j^oes, I entert.iin
no douht that the time will arrive when that will he aceom-
plished." Twenty-ei^ht yeai's after these words were utteiv.I,
the last spike of the C'anailian Pacific Railway was driven h\
Sir Donald A. Smith, thus comj)letinj^ a track laid from occiin
to ocean.
While the eonnnittee was sitting' in London, the Provinei;il
House of Parliament was in sessi; " in Cana(hi., and a com-
niittee of that House, composed of Hon. Messrs. Terrill (chair-
man), Robinson, Cauchon, Hrown.and Solicitor-General Sniitli.
was appointed to take evidence with the view of a.scertainin;^
Avhetlier all the rei)re.sentations which had been made as to
the impos.sibility of approaching; the North-West, and a« to
the comparatively small (puintity of fertile soil capable of
supporting an ai;Ticultural population, were well founded oi'
not. Tiie witnesses examined were, Allan, MacDonell, (ieorf^e
Gladnian, and William MacD. ])awson, and their testimonv.
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r.WAKIAN < I, A IMS.
:n5
wliifli was nitlit'r ui»l'ii\<iial>lt' to tin- llinlsoii's iJny ( "ompaiiy,
was Mt'Ut lioiiu' for the eoiiHidcratioii o\' tin- roiimiittff in Hin^-
Tlic 'olMliiillDlls ('\ i<|fiiCf ciillcctt'd l»y t lie (•(tliiliiittt't' of tin*
I'.iitisli Hoiisi' of ( 'oimiioiis fiiil)i'aft'(l t-viTv .siihjcct of any iiii-
|iinlaiKM' relating to tliti Nortli-Wcst, tlif fur ti'adc, ami tlu»
.iiliiiiiiiHtration of tlif HiidsoM'H May ( 'oinpany, ami tlic n'|)ort
of tlii.s tt'stiiiioiiy, witli the various ilocuini'iitH prrtainiiij^ to it,
is one of tilt' inoNt \alual»lf puMicatioiis on tlic .sul))f('t t'V«'r
issui'il. Tilt' spaw at our ('t)iiiiiiaiitl forliids ilt'aliti;^ with its
foiitt'iit.s as \vt' would lia\ f likt'tl to ilo, hut tlit-rt' is ttiif point
of wliicli nit'iitittn slioultl Ik; iiiailt'.
Tile (|Ut'stion of tilt' hountlary hftwi'i'ii ( 'anada and tlu' lliul-
sim's Hay tt'rritoiy was an important oiif, ami, in sulaiiittin^f a
iiii'iiitd'amluni wiiii'li ]\v had pi't'pari'il on tlif Huhjt.'ft, Cliiff
.liistict' DraptT thus alluilt^s to it: ' Astlif con.struetion of thf
iaiinuaye of tlif chartfr, and tlu' fxtfut of thf territory pur-
)ii)i'tiii};' to l»e ^raiitt'd, ai'f invt)l\('t|, it may hf ('(jusitlfrt'd dc-
sirahlc that the matter shoultl ht; referretl to the Judicial Com-
iiiittee of the Pi'ivy Council. In this event, I venture tt) re-
i|U('Ht, that counsel on the ])art of the Province may he ])er-
iiiitted to attenti to watch the artfunient, ami, if it he deemeil
lU'ce.ssai'V, that they may he heartl in suppt)i't of those views
which more immediate!}' att'ect the intei'ests of ( 'anatla.
'I have .su<;'}^ested a refertiuce to the Judicial Committee, he-
cause I think its opinion woultl commami the ready actpiies-
ence of the inhahitants of Canada as to their le^al rii;hts, ami
hecaust! I helieve they entertain a \ery strong ojtinion that a
considerahle j)ortion of the territory occupied or claimetl hy
the Hudson's Hay Company will he fountl to lie within the
proper limits of the Province.
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lllSTdlJV OK TIIK \<II{TII-W1:ST.
■ Wliother it wotiM he (l(;,sinil)I(' to sever this trum the xwovf
eciieral (piestidii of thi' le^^ality and validity of tlu; eiiaiter is
a inattei" I shoidd desire to htave for your consideration, l.iit
ill any event I thiid^: it expe<lient that counsel shoidd he |.ii'-
initted to attend, to watch the interests of tlie Province. "
The inenioraiKhuH jirepared hy ( 'hief Justice Drapei- coii-
chuh'S as follows: " Knou;^h, it is IkjjkmI, has l)eeii stated to shew-
that the limits of the Hudson's Hay Company's teri'itory aiv
as open to question now as they have ever l)eon, and tiiat
when called upon to iletine them, in the last century, they ilid
not advance the claim now set u{) hy them : and that even
when they were deriinne- the boundary which tluy desire(l to
obtain, under the Treaty of Utrecht, at a period most favor-
able to tlu'm, thev desie'iiated one inconsistent with their
present pretensions, ami which, if it had been accepted liy
France, would have left no tritline- portion of the teri'itojy as
part of the Province t)f ( "anada.
"So far as has l)een ascertained, the claim to all the countiy
the waters of which ran into Hudson's Hay, was not advanced
until the time that the comi)any took tht; opinions of the late
Sir Samuel Homilly. Messrs. Cruise, Holyroyd, Scarlett and
Bell. Without presuming" in the slightest decree to question
the hieh authority of the eminent men above-named, it may
l)e obserNe<l that Sir Arthur Pi^ott, Serjeant Spankie, Sir
Vicary (Jil)bs, Mr. Heareroft, and .Mr. (now Lord) Brougham,
took a widely ditterent view of the letjal validity of the char-
ti'r, as well as ree;ards the indefinite nature of the territorial
erant, as in othei- imjioitant particulars.
" Of the very serious bearing* of this (|Uestiou on the inter-
ests of Canada, there can be no doubt. By the Act of 1774,
the Province of (^)uebec is to 'extend westwar<l to the l)atd<s of
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CANADIAN CLAIMS.
317
i]\r MissisHippi, and iiortliward to the southern boui'.iury of
till' territory granted to the Mercliaiit Adventurers of Kn*;-land
trading to Hudson's Bay.'
"And in the division of tlie Provinces, \uider statute of I7!)l,
the line was declared to run due north from >Lalve 'reniiseani-
arv, ' to the bounchiry line of Hudson's Hay,' and the U[)per
Province is declared to consist ' of, or include all that part of
Caiiiula lying to the westward and southwai-d of the said line.'
•' The union of the Provinces has given to Canada the
lumndaries which the two separate Provinces of Tpper and
Lower Canada had : the northern boundary being the terri-
tory granted to the Hudson's Hay Company.
" It is now becoming of infinite importance to the I'rovince
(»f Canada to know accurately where that boundaiy is. Plans
for internal connnunication, connecte<l with schemes for agri-
cultural settlements, and for opening new fields for comnu'i--
cial enterprise, are all, more or less, de|)endent upon or afi'ected
hy this question : and it is to Her Majesty's Goveriniient alone
that the people of Canada Ccan look for a solution of it. The
riglits of the Hudson's Hay Company, whatever tliey may be,
aic derived from the Crown : the Province of Canada has its
houndaries assigned l)y the same authority : and, now that it
a])pears to be indispensable that those boundaries should be
settled, and the true limits of Canatla ascertained, it is to Her
Majesty's (Jovernment that the Province appeals to take such
steps, as in its wisdom are deemed fitting or necessary, to
have this im])ortant (piestion set at rest."
On the 81st July, the committee agreed finally upon their
report, after Mr. Christy had })roi)osed one of his own, and
Mr. Gladstone a set of resolutions. The following is the
report as agreed to : —
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HISTOUV (»F Tin; XOUTH-WKST.
1. The; lU'iir fi](|ir<iacli of the jicriod wlion tlie license nf exclusive timlc.
'^niiitod in lKi8, for 21 years, tn the Hmlsun's I'xiy ('onip.-iny over tlmt
north-wtiHtcrn portion of Hritisli Anieriuu, which i^^oes hy the name of tin'
Indian Territory, ninst cxiiire. would alone make it necessary thai tlic
condition of the whoU- nf the vast rci^dons whit'h are iindtr the adminis-
tration of the eomjiany should be carefidly considered; hut there arc
other circumstances which, in the opinion of your connnittee, woidd have
rendered such a course the duty of the Parliament and (lovernmeni dt
this country.
2. Among thesj, y(jur conuuittee would sjiecially enumerate, tlic
growing desire of our Canadian fellow-sidjjects that the means of exten-
sion and regular settlement shoidd lie afforded to them, over a portinn ,,('
this territory : the necessity of providing suitably for the admim'stiatioii
of the affairs of Vancouver Island, and the present condition of the set-
tlement which h.is heen formed on the Red River.
;$. Your cnmuiittee have received much valuable evidence on these imd
other subjects connected with the iiKpiiry which has been entrusted to
them, and especially have had the advantage of hearing the statements (jf
Chief .Justice Draper, who was I'ommissioned by the (Jovernment of ('im-
ada to watch this incjuiry. in addition to this, yoin- committee have
received the evidence taken l)efore a conuuittee of the Lejjislative As-
sembly, a|)pointed to investigate this subject, containing much valuable
inforupition in reference to the interests and feelitgs of that important
colony, which are entitled to the greatest weight on this occasion.
4 Your committee have also had the opinion of the law othcers of the
Crown communicated to them, mi various points connected with the
charter of the Hmlson's Hay Comjiany.
."). Till' territory over which the company now exercise rights is uf
three descrii)tions : —
Ist. The land held by charter, or liupert's Lanil.
2nd. The land held by license, or the Indian Territory.
Mrd. ^'ancouver's Island.
6. For the nattire of the temue by which these countries are severally
connected with the company, your committee would refer to the evi<kiitc
they have received and the documents appended to their re])ort.
7, Among the various objects of imjierial judicy, which it is imi)oitaiit
to attain, your committee consider that it is essential to meet the just
and reasonable wishes of Canada, to be enabled to annex to her territory
such portion of the laud in her neighl)orhood as may be available to her
for the purposes of settlement, with which lands she is willing to o])eii
and maintain comnuuiications, and for which she will provide the mtaiis
of local ailnnnistration. Your connnittee apprehend- that the districts mi
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CANADIAN (I, AIMS.
:uy
llio Red River iind tlio Saskiitulu'WHii aiv .iimniii, iIkimc likt'ly tn lie dosir-
I'd ftH' I'aily ocfuii.itinii. It is nf yix'.'it iiiiiiurtaiu't; tliiit the jit'iicf fiml
.fund (irdcr <>f tlioso distrii'ts slmidd 1)1- ftt'cftiudly siTiired. Vmir cuiii-
iiiitti'L' trust tliiit tliuri! will ln' im dittirulty in I'tlbi'tiiii^ HrraMi^i'iiiciits as
liclwoeii Her MajeHty" i (lovi'i'iiiiiuiit and the Hudson's IJay Cimipany, by
wliicli tlu'si" districts may he ct-tU'd to Canada on ei|uitaliU' |)riiH-i|ilt's, and
within the districts thus annoxod to lior. the authority of the Hudson's
liay Comiiany wouhl of course I'ntirely eease.
H. Your committee think it best to content themselves with indicatiiVJ!
the outlines of such a scheme, leaving it to Hi-i' Majesty's (iovi'rnment to
consider its details more maturely before the Act of Parliament is prepar-
I'll. which will ])robably be necessary to carry it into effect.
'.(. In case, however, Canada should not lie willing, at a very early
period, to undertake the govei'ument of the Ki'd Kivci' District, it may be
proper to (Minsidei' whether some temporary jirovision foi- its ailministra-
rioM. may not be advisable.
jO. Vour committee are of opinion tiiat it will be projier to terminate
till' coiuu'ction of the Hudson's Bay ("oiui>any witli N'ancouver's island,
as soon as it can convenuMitly l>e done, as the best means of favoring the
<luvelo|»ment of the great natural advantages of that important colony,
means should also be provided for the ultimate extension of the colony
.iver any portion of the ailji>ining continent, to the west of the Hocky
Moiuitains, on which |)ermanent settlement may be found jii-acticablo.
11. As to those extensive regions, whether in Kupeit's Land, or in the
Indian Territory, in which for the present, at least, there can be no pro.s-
pect of permanent settlement, to any extent, by the Kuropean race, for
the purposes of colonization, the opinion at which youi' committee have
arrived is mainly founded on the following considerations : 1st. The great
iiiilMirtance to the more j)eoj)led jiortioiis of British North .\merica that
law and order should, as far as possible, be maintained in these terri-
tnries ; Iind, The fatal efl'ects which they believe would infallibly result
til the Indian population from a sy.stem of o])en i'oni])etiti(in in thi^ fur
trade, and the conse<pient introduction of sjiirits in a far greater degree
than is the case at present : and JJrd, The probability of the indiscriminate
destruction of the more valuable fur-bearing animals in the coiu'se of a
few years.
12. For these reasons, your committee arc of opinion that whatever may
be the validity, or otherwise, of the rights domed by the Hudson's Bay
Company under the charter, it is desirable that they siiouM continue to
enjoy the privilege of exclusive trade, which they now possess, except so
far as those [irivileges are limited by the foregoing reconnueinlations.
l.'{. Your conunittee have now specified the principal objects which
they think i!: would be desirable to attain. How far the ciiartered rightH
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320
HISTOUY OF TJIK XOKTH-WEST.
claiinod l)y tliu Hudson's li.iy ('niii{)fiiiy may provo an iil)stacle to tlitii
attaininent, they arc notable, witli any certainty, to say. If tliis dilli-
culty is to ]»e .solved by amicable adjustment, such a course will be ln'st
promoted l)y the Government, after communication with the company, us
well as with the (iovernment of Canada, rather than by detailed suji^es-
tions emanating from this committee.
14. Your connnittee cannot doubt but that, when such grave interests
are at stake, all the j)arties concerned will approach the subject in a spii it
of conciliation and justice, and they therefore indulge a contident hi.|„-
that the Government will be enabled, in the next session if Parliament,
to present a Bill which shall lay the foundation of any e(|uitabk' and
satisfactory arrangeiuent, in the event, which they consider prol)al)le, nf
legislation being found necessary for that juupose.
31st July, 1857.
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CHAFTKR XX.
DKfLlXK OF THE HIDSON's 15AV COMPANY'S AUTHOHITY.
One re.stilt of tiic Sayer trial, and tlu' donionstration of the
Iialf -breeds caused by it, was tiie temporary removal of Judge
'I'liom from the bench, and, for about a year afterwards, (Jov-
citioi- C'ahlwell acted in his phice, but a military officer was
liardly a suitable dispenser of the law, and in 1850, Mr. Thom
was again called upon to officiate. His first case was about as
unfortunate in its results as that of Sayer, only on this occa-
sion the dissatisfaction caused by his administration of the law
did not rest with the half-l)reeds, but with the governor and
orticers of the Hudson's Bay Company. The action in rpiestion
was that of Foss vs. Pelly, brought by an officer of pensioners
resident in the settlement, against an officer in the company's
service and others, and Governor Caldwell, believing that a
gross miscarriage of justice had ])een perpetrated, addressed a
statement of his views to the board of the company in Lon-
don. The result was the permanent removal of Judge Thorn
from the bench, and his appointment as clerk of the couit,
which he held until 1854, when he left the settlement and re-
turned to England. Colonel Caldwell })resided at the sittings
of the court while Mr. Thom acted as clerk, and on the retire-
ment of the latter, Mr. Johnson (afterwards Sir Francis John-
son) became Recorder, a position which he occupied until
1H58. From the time of the Foss vs. Pelly trial, down to the
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HlSToliV (»l llli: \(il!TH-\VKST.
<l('|)artiii't' ot" liccordt r .lolnisoii. a jn'rioil ot" fi;^lit Vcjiis, no
• •vents of ii stjirtlin^' iiiituif occiii'i'cd to diHtui'l) tlw (Mniaiiiinitv
of the court, altliou^h violatio)i of the law, so lai' as it iflVi iv(|
to tlie e\chisi\<' privilewt.s (if till' Hudson s May ( 'onipany. Irc-
quently took piaci'. Indeed from the time of the Saver trial
the company may he said to have almost eeaseil to enfoici' its
claims in that direction. Heccjrder .lohnson theiffore had mi
ea.sy and jdeasant time of it. and after his departure, his ntiice
remaine(| vacant till lS»i-2, the dutii's p<'i'tainin;;' to it heini:
perfoiiiieil hy Dr. IJunn, the principal medical practitionn in
the settlement.
Fi'om {(S')') till IS')7, there wej-e no i'e<^ular troops at Ivd
Ki\ei'. hut in the lattei- ye;ir a company of the Hoynl ( 'aiia-
dian Kifles was stationed at Fort ( iarry, and remained then-
until I8(il, when they irturned to C'anada hy ship from ^'(l)■k
Factory, and fi'om that time on no force of .soldiers was nn-
ployed in the settlement dui'inn- the regime of the Hudson s
iJay (bmpany.
The report of the committee of l'S,57 hecame fairly wdl
known at Red Hiver. and this. cond)ined with the knowltMl;iv
that the license of the com])any would soon ex[)ire, tended to
lesson the influence and authority of the Hudson's [5av Com-
I)any in the minds of UKjst of the settlers. In May. IS")!*, tlii-
license y;ran ted in I S;])S terminated, and liefore its expiration.
Sir Edward Bulwei' {.rytton, who was then Secretai'v of State
for the Colonies, otH-reil to extend it first for a period of one
year, and aftei-wards for two vears, hoth of which were de-
dined hy the conijiany, who i^avethe following' reascjus for tlo-
in^ so : " Tliat the acceptance on tlieir pai't of the license for
any period of shorter duration than that which had heen
usually (.^ranted since the [)assinfi' of tiie Act of 1st and 2n(l
IIIDSONS MAY co.MI'.WVS A I •llloli I ^^■
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(liM). 4tli. ('mji. (!(i, woiil'l in their opiiiimi only t'urtliri- iiicrrasc
till' iiicoiiNciiirncfs resulting' t'lnin tin- stjitc dt' suspense in
wtiicll tlie (jUestion liatl l)eeil l<e|it lor tile |;ist t W m Vejlfs. So
r,ir I'l'oni streiie'tlienine', it wouM ]i;irMly/e, tlieii- autlnn'ity,
e\en within t\\"\\' own territory. tVoiii the impression it would
■re.lte ol
th
le <'l)i|)|-oiU
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hin;^' t
ei'nnnatioii ol that authontv
The ("aiiMilian ( lo\ ernnient, expectine' proliahly that some
imuiediati action would l>e taken on the line proposed hy ('hiel'
.lustice I )ra])ei' to the ( 'olillllittee of the House ot" ( "onUMOns,
w ith I'eeai'd to surs'eys and e\]tlorations, fitted out an explor-
in;^' ex]»edition. under the eommand of Simon .1. i)a\\soii. cixil
iiie'itieer, anil lleni'y ^'oule Hind. M.A., each of whom had
(•liar;^'e ol' a separate dcpai'tment of the work. Mr. l)awsou
ami his party started IVom Toront(j in .Inly, ami sinAcyed
alon;^' the we!»tern sJKti'e ol' Lake Su|ierior. commencine' at Fort
William, and during' the succeedin;^- winter he cari'ied his
operations to the coast ol" Lake \Vinni])eti' and the \{ri\ Hiver. he-
tween Foi't Alexander and I'emhina, niakine- l-'ort (Jarry his
liea<l-i|uartei's. In thi-spvinghe conducted a sui'\-ey westward
to the Saskatchewan, and on his return directeil his attention
particularly to that portion of the country between Rainy Lake
and Lake Suj)erior. completing' his lahoi's in l.S5!>. I'rol'cssoi'
Hind's work was directed to the ii'*-^oloi>'ieal nature of the conn-
ti'y. its natural lii.story, y-eneral topoi^rajdiy, and he was also
expi'cted to report upon the chai-acter of its .soil and ve<^eta-
tion.
H(
e nuide a thoroue-n exannnation ot these ni co-o|)ei"a-
tion with the surveyiu},^ party during tlu' summer of 1X57,
and I'eturned to Canada in the autumn. In the spring of the
following' year, howevei', he rent'Wed his exploratoiy work,
and examined the countrv alone- the rivers Assiniboine and
Saskatchewan, which occupied until September. Hind's book
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relating to these expeditions, wliieli lie arterwjird.s j)ul)lislh i|,
eoiitaiiiH a vast aniotiiitot' valiial)le inl'oniiatioii coneeniiiin' tin-
c'a|)ahiiities ol' the North-West, and served to draw attentinn
to the country. As an outcome ol' the Dawson-Hind oper.i-
tions, and also in line with Chief Drajier's proposals re^-ar<lini,f
the openiujE^ up ot" connnunication, the; Canadian (loverniiicnt
ina<le an attempt, in IHUH, t»» establish a mail service hetwfin
Canada and the settlement, hut after a two years trial it wms
ahandonecl as a failure. Previous to I85H, the ]»ostal service
consisted only of the packets of the company twice a year, our
via Yovk Factory in sunnuei*, and the other overlantl in wintfi-
from Canada. In ISoH, however, a mail service was or^aui/fcj
by the .settlers once a month, from Fort (Jarry to Fort Hip-
ley, wh(>re it coiniected with the United States jK)stal sy.stein.
and in IH(i2, ti»e American (Jovernment havinif arran^etl a bi-
weekly mail to Feud)iiui, the authorities at Red River increa.scd
theirs to once a week.
We have already referred to the fact that traders in the set-
tlement carried on Inisine.ss with the United States, wliieli
made them indepen<lent of the English market, and the route
via York Factory. In 185!), the Hudson's Hay Company were
induced to try the ])lan of bringing in supplies by way of St.
Paul, and in that year brout;ht in a largts consignment of g(jods
over the prairie to Pendiina, and thence to Fort Garry, thus
establishing, on a Hrm basis as it were, this means of com-
munication with the settlement. The company were so well
satisfied with their experiment in this direction that, in I8(il,
they placed a small steamer, the Pioveer, on the Red River, to
ply between Fort Abercrombie, in Minnesota, and Fort Garry.
The goods were then convev'^ed by waggon from St. Paul to
the point where they wore loaded on the boat for transport to
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IIIDSONS ItAV COMI'ANYS AITII(»inTV
'M'i
till' sfttlciiM'iit. Tilt' (»ri<;iiml iiuiiic nl' tin- Pidorrr was the
AiiKoii NoTthiip, ami tlw little stcaiiici' was huilt on tlif H»m1
K'ivtT, although licr iiiacliiMci'v at one tiiiu- ht'loii^^cd to a Mi.s-
.sissipjti hoat, ami was traiispoi'tc*! ovt-i'laml from St. Paul.
Till' Pioni'er j^'avc way, in tlic s|»i'iiij;" of |.S(I2. to a liu';^t'r
.sti-anuT, tli«' Iiiferndfioinil, which the coniitany huilt at ( Jcorp'-
tnwii, ami which was loO feet loii^, -SO feet hcaiii, with a ton-
iiaj^f ol" l.*{'J;', tons.
Tlif |)(i.sH<'.SHi()n of a lai'p' stfanu'r on the H('<1 Kivor, which
wa.s run almost ontirelv for tln'ir own uho, travc tlic Hu<l.son's
Hay ('()ni])any an a<lvanta}.jc over the \'vvv tradcr-s, who con-
tiiiutMl to utilize the cart trail over the praii'ie.
Kvents in the march of pi'o^^ress took place rapidly ahout
this time, for in 1 850 the Hrst new.spaper at Hed River made
its ap[)earanc(!, and was puhli.shed once a fortnijfht. The
itaner, which was destined to i)lay an imT)ortaiit j)art in ()i)i)()s-
pia}
opp
iii^' the Hudson's Hay C^jiiipany, was named the Nor -Wester,
and was established by Huckinjfham and Caldwell, two Cana-
<lian journalists, who conducted it until 1H()(), when Mr. .lames
Ho.ss, a writer of no mean attainments, became a.s.s(K'iated with
it, Mr. Buckingham retirintif.
In 1852 and 18()1, tin; Red River again overflowed its
hanks, the settlement being irnnidated, and the Hoods were
followed in 1857 and 18(54 by visitations of grasshoppers, de-
va.stating the crops throughout the country as in 1818. But
notwithstanding thest; drawbacks, the .settlement prospered
each year, the settlers' buildings aud farms shewing mark»'d
signs of improveuient, and in the neighborhood of Fort Garry
a few stores and dwellings were erected, wlu'i'e a good deal of
trading was carried on with the Indians, half-breeds, and in-
habitants generally.
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FIISToHV o|' I'lIK SoKTII-WKS'l'.
Ill the liifiilltiliir, (lie task ot" ;;()\ rriiili;;- the ((iiliitiv ic-
iiiiiini'il ill ilir IimimIs oI' the I linlson's \\i\y ( '(iiii|i)iM\ . lln
rf\(';nir.s liriiin- dcrivcl cliirlly Irniii cUMtoiiiH duties, wliidi
WfiT l('\ icd fit .1 iiniriinii lutf (,s|iiritii<»UH liquors r\cc|iiid i dt
lour |ii'r (•(■III. ((II t III' net invoice piicc (»!' the ;;•()( m Is. 'I'lic is
<'i'|)t ions to tlii.s rule woe fiiticics dcsion(.(| \'(,y Inditin inis-
sioiis, Htiitioiiny, li.ir iron, sti-rl, scimt itic instniiiM'iits. iiy,ricul-
tiiial iiiipji'iiii'iit.s. si'imI.s, root.s, |»lniits, toinlistoiifs, n^i-indstniio.
I'tc, etc.. and tlnic was no i-siiort duty. l''our stations lur
till' (•ollcction of t III' dntii's wcrr I'stalilislii'ii at I'oiiit ( 'oii|i('c
I '|»|i('r and l.ow rr l-'oit ( !arry. aii<l W'liiti- llorsr Plains, and
the Hudson's r.ay ('oiii|)any paid <liity, as wrll as tin- si'ttlris,
on all nii'rcliaiidisi' iisrd hy tlicin in tlir srttlciiiriit. 'I'lic duty
on sjiirituous lii|Uors was our sliilliiin' sti'rliii;^' jirr ;^allon. ainl
once a ycai', unicrally in I )c('i'iiilH'r, tlw iiiaj^istratcs sat as a
lioard, for tlir ]iur|ios(' ol' ;^rant iii;^' lici'iiscs to distil and retail
liijUoi', the limit lieine' aii\' iiiiantitA' less than ti\e eMiloiis. and
the cost of the license tell |iouiids. Any peisoli coiixicted ol'
selline' without a license was lined ten |»oiinds. and the ohjec-
tioii of a niaioi'it \' of his tweKc nearest iieiehhoi's was lata!
to any candidate Tor a retail license. No lii|uor was allowed
to be sold heroic six o'clock ill the iiioniiiie' niid al'ter ten at
niji'ht, or on Sunday, and .selliiie' into.xicants to Indians was
l»rohil)it(id under hea\y |)eiialti('s.
The ))uhlic cxjieiiditurc was chielly for tlie inaintenaiicc <>!'
roads and huililin<i' ol" hrid^'cs, tlie work lieiiie' in charec nf
ten fsuperintt'iuk'nts in ditt'crcnt parts of the country, and two
.surveyors to tix boundaries, sui'vey lots, and arbitrati' in cases
of dispute relutin^" to land matters.
Laws existed for the preveiitl.ai of prairie tires, aj^aiiist
dainam's done liv cattle wanderino' at hii'i,je, for tiie re<;ulatii»n
Ill IinoN's MAV roMI'ANVS AITIH »|{|| V.
:{L'7
III' liay-ciittiiiu-, iilli riiiM; iirciniiiiiis for tln' killiii;;- nl' woKt-M,
11 Intiii;; to flt'ltt. the Niih- nl' iniiiinvalilf |»r«i|M'ily, iiiiil nttitcli-
liicllt ill (ln' CHsr lit" Mliscoinlilij^ i|('l»tn|'N, rtc , t'tc, itc.
Tlicif w t'lf jtftt y cniirts. t lin-c in miiiiiImt, I'stnltlislnd lor
till' lit'iiriii;^ of ciisfs ol' III' lor iiii|ioitiiii<'<'. micIi iis tin- rccoNi'iy
i<\' i\ ilrlit iilKlt-r livf |>oiiii«|.> |i«'tty oHrliccs iii\i)l\ iii;^ n liin' of
IfSH tliMii I'orty ,sliilliii;;,s, jiinl (vii.iiii inriMctioiis of thr JKiiior
IflW. 'I'lirsr courts Wi'li' liild ill .<o||ii- cjISfs oiirc .1 liioiitll. IIII<1
ill ntlu-rs only six tiini's n year, fiii'l tlit-y w t re jiii'siili-d ovt-r
li\ II )»rt'si<lciit mid two |Htty n insist in Irs. Tliric w en' iilso
jiisticfs of tlic |n'fici' ii|»|)oiiitcd in ditrfitiit |iarts of llir coun-
try, n coroner and sliciitf I'or tin- wliolc sett Icincni, mid a con-
,stal»ulary of twcKc lucn, whose duties, lio\\c\cr. were of a.
iiniiiiiial cliaractcr, as tlic work of inaintainine' order rested
cliiclly with three s|iecial c<inNtal'les. There \\a> aUo a ( leii-
irai (^hiarterly ( 'oiii't, presided over liy tlie (loxeinor, or a
judiff Hjipointcd for the )iur|)ose, an a lieiich ol' iiia;^ist rates
to try tlic nioi'c inipoilant cases.
'rhis short outline of the ju-oorcss of the seitleineiit and tli*^
institutions ustal»li.she(l I'or the re^^ulation ol" law and ordei-,
all indicate a more ad\ aiiced state ol' afl'airs anion^' the settlcrn
on the Kud liivur, a ^renter dt'<;rcc ol' contideiice in thenisi-K es,
and more indcjicndencc of feelinii'. With the exjiiration of
the conij)any's lici'iiHO the question of their exclusi\e )»ri\ ile;,fcs
was no lonjfor to he feared, and free ti'adin;;", in different ])a!'ts
of the country, increast'(| rapidly. The uncei-tninty of the
company's position as a f^overnin^^ power, however, tended to
weaken its intluenci' in that respect with the settlers, and
there being no force at their conniiaml to enforce the laws if
n(!ces8ary, they governed a good deal hy moral suasion, and,
through the good-will and law-ahiding character of a majority
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HISTORY (»K THK NORTH-WEST.
of tilt.' pc'opli'. Hut tills was not a safe |)Osition for tin-
authorities to be in, especially when intriguers and a^^ntatois
were at work to overthrow them, and who niij^ht, at any tiinc.
succeed in excitin*; public opinion against them.
The officers of the Hudson's Hay Company realized the un
satisfactory position they occupied as rulers, and events, whicti
we will relate in a sul)se([uent chapter, soon proved \u,\\
powerless they were, and caused them to openly express a
desire to he relieve«l from the responsibility. .
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C'HAITKH XXI.
Ni;(i(-ilATH).\S l-OK TlIK rHANSKKH OK TIIK X( HJTII-WKST
TO CANADA.
In lsr).S. the Hriti.sli 'iovernmont ilccided to make N'aiicou-
\rr Island a Crown colony, an<l, in antic'ii)ation of such a dcci-
simi, Hi;^dit Hon. H. Labouchov. Secretary of State in 1S5(),
SI lit insti'uctions to ( Jovei'iior Douula.s to call toiictliei" an
,iss('nd)Iy for the jairpone of forniine- the machinery of future
Icffislation in that jMirt of Hei- Majesty's |)osse,ssion.s.
In clause II of the instructions sent at that time, the fol-
lowino- words a})|)ear : " An additiojial rea.son in favor of the
course whicli 1 now prescrihe is to be found in the circum-
stance that the relations of the Hudson's Hav Comitanv with
the Crown must necessarily undt^i'j^o revision befon- or in the
year IHoi). The position and future j^overnment of N'ancou-
\ er's Island will then unavoidably pass under I'eview, and if
any dirticulty should l)e experienced in cai'ryin^ into (!X(;cu-
tion any present instructions, a convenient ojiportnuity will
be afforded for reconsidering' them."
On the liOth May. 1851), the Hudson's l>ay Company's
license to exclusive trade in British Cohunbia expired, and on
tile followiuf^ 8rd Novendiei", (Jovernor Douj^das, by instruc-
tions from the British (Jovennnent, proclaimed its i-evocation,
thus raising it to the position of n Crown colony. Previous to
that, the home authorities ex])ressed a wiilinj;nes8 to renew
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^30
HISTOKY OP TirK NOHTH-WKST.
the lic'ciist' ol' tlu! company, ho far as it rclatccl to the Nurth-
West, cast ol' the inouiitains, for a term of 21 years, iit tli.'
same time ofi'erin;;' Lo refer the ((Uestioii of the ( "aiiiiili;iii
Ijoundaiy to the* Privy Couneil, if both parties eonscntiil
Thr Seei'ctary of State, however, I'efused to allow the validity
of the ehartei' to he called in quefstioii, (luring- the [doposcil
proeeedin^^s, and the (^madian (lovernmeiit thereupon dei-lii-
ed the ort'er, on the ;!,round that Canada should not he f\-
peetcd to compensate the com])any for any jiortion of tciritory
nn<lt'r such conditions.
Tlicrc was ahout tliat time a stron*;" feelin<;' in Canada tluit
the wliole of the Noi'th-West 'i'erritor}' ouo-jit to he umlir
Canadian ( Jovenunent, and as early as l.S5(i, Honorahle Mr
^'ankou^i■hnet, then President of the Executive Council (if
Canada, at a public meetinfj,', declared that he sou;4ht a bovmd-
ai'V for Canada, on tlu' Pacific Ocean, and that no chaitti
could j;ive to a body of men control over half a continent, nwA
that he would n<it rest until that chaiter was abolisheil.
'Hw Hu<lson's Hay Company at this period api)ear to have
been willine' to come to terms for the transfer of a })ortion of
the North -West Territory to Canada, althou<;li they held tli.it
to do so would likely entail loss upon them, through an in-
crease of t'xpense in conductinjij their trade. Hut the C'ana-
<lian (loverinnent insisted upon testinj>' the validity of the
charter, as is sliown in the following' clause, taken fi-om tlic
joint address of the Ijet;Mslative Council and Assendjly, to the
Queen, in August, 1858: "That Canada, whose ri^'hts stand
affected by that chai'ter to which she was not a party, and tlu
validity of whicli has been (piestioned for more than a century
and a half, has, in our humble opinion, a rigiit to i-ecpiest from
your Majesty's Imperial Government, a decision of this (pies-
THAXSKEU OK IMIK N(»|{TH-\VKS I' To ( WADA.
.S3 1
rioii, with a view ol' imttiiii;' jm end t() flisciissioiis and (pU'S-
tioiis of conHictiufj; rit^lits, j)i't'ju(lic'ial as well t(j vdui- .Majesty s
liii])iTial ( Jovormuent, as to ('ana<la, aiiil whicli, whilf nii-
sfttlt'il, imist provt'iit the coloiii/atioii ot" the couiitiv.
Followiiie' this, oil the 4th Septemhei', a minute oF the Kx-
ecutive Council of Canada was transmitted to .Sir I'Mward
liuiwer Lytton, the Secretary of State for the ( "olonies. which
drew attention to the inijtoi'tance of openiii;^' a direct line of
loiiimunication, hv railwav oi' otherwise, fioui ( 'anada. throuii'li
the Ke<| Kivei'and Saskatchewan 'i'erritories, ♦^•^ [''rasers Hive;*
aiiil Vancouver Island. Aliout this time, Messi's. Cai'tier, Koss
and (Jalt, visiti'il Knelan<l, in c<)unection with the Hudsons
Hay Com](any question, and intimated to Sir Kdward l^ulwei'
Lytton that the Canadian (iovernment would undertake the
necessaiy leeal proceedines to test the validity of the charter:
hut when the Secretary of State wrote to the authorities in
('anada, (^n the 22nd Dec, l'S')N, ui'eiuM' them to take this ste|),
he received a rei)lv fi'om Sii- ICdmund Head, the ( Jon en
lOl"-
(leneral, datifd l!>th Api'il, IS')!*, sayiun' that his KxecutiN'e
Council would not advise steps to he taken for testing' the
validity of the charter by sfire fdcids.
Previous to the receipt of this connnunication, Sii- Kdward
liulwei- Lytton had written, on the i)th of Maicli, iSo!), to the
Covei-nor of the Hudson's Hay Company, ui'eiue- upon him to
come to an amicable arran<j,ement with ( 'anada. but. Hndine-
that no understanding could be ert'ected between them, he re-
solved to test the vali<lity of the charter before the Judicial
Connnittee of the Privy Council, without furthei- reference to
Canada: but, before this could be accomplished, his j)arty went
out of ])ower, an<l he resi<;'ned otHce.
In 18()() and ]Hi]\, a bill was contemplated in Knelan<l by
iJNI
l>
:i
^1 '•
H: I
m\
ft
t I
i\
I'M :!i
?|:i
**l
:i.S2
mSTOHY OK THK NOHTH-WEST.
the Duke of Xt'wcasth', to facilitate the ac(|iiisition from ih.-
company, of hiiuls re(|uire(l for settlement, copious ininntts
l)('in(r pasHed on the subject, which entailed a ^reat <l<al n^
correspondence between the (»overinii(!nt and the Company, Imt
the measure was never actually brought before parliaintnt.
because no a<;reenient, satisfactory to both sides, could lu- ar-
rived at. The ]»rinciple of the bill appears to have been that
the Crown mi<;ht take, from time to time, such portions of the
territoxy as mi;iht be recpiired for colonization ])urpos»'s, tor
which the company was to l)e compensated, but the source
fi'om which com))ensation was to be derived was not statctl.
The Canadian (lovei'ument next ad«lresse(I a lettei- to Mr.
Dallas, the resident (lovernoi- of the Hudson's Hay Company
in IMontreal, on the loth April, 18(12, expressing an urgent
desire to come to some amicable arrangement, by which a i'(ia<l
and telegraph line could be constructed through the company s
territory, in order to unite Canada with British Columbia, aii'l
to open the fertile portions of the territory to settlement.
To this. Ml', Dallas replie<l as follows:—
While fully fulniitting tlie fdi'ce of the above arguments, and the iin-
mediiite nece.ssity of some arrangements l»eing eome to, T am reluctantly
compelletl to admit my inaliility to meet the (Joverinnent of Canada in
this forward movement, for the following reasons : —
The Red River and Saskatchewan Valleys, though not in themselves
fur-bearing districts, are the sources from whence the main supplies of
winter food are ]U'ocured for the northern posts, from the produce of the
butfah) luuits. .\ chain of settlements through these valleys would not
oidj' deprive the company of the above vital resources, but would indirect-
ly, in many other ways, so interfere with their northern trade as to lender
it no longer worth prosecuting on an extended scale. It would necessari
ly be divided into various channels, po.ssibly to the public benefit, bnt the
company could no longer exist on its present footing.
The above reasons, against a ]>artial surrender of our territories, may
not appear sufticiently obvious to jtarties not conversant with the trade,
or the country, but my knowledge of both, ba.sed on per-sonal experience,
' V]
THAXSFKK OF THE N(tHTll-\VKST To CANADA.
•saa
from tin-
iiiiiiuti's
it <l»'al til'
paiiy, I'Ut
U'liiuiiciit.
uM '»■ ar-
becn that
ons of tlir
I'pOHt'S, t'lii'
jlu' sourer
b Htatt'd.
iter to Mr.
Company
an ui'^fiit
lic'li a r(ia<l
company's
imbia, aii'l
nii'Ut.
and thf ini-
11 veluctuntly
if Ciiniiila ill
tlieniselvt's
HU|)l»lie8 uf
xhice i>f tin-
jK would nut
luld indirect -
as to render
lid necessari-
nefit, but the
■ritories, iimy
th the trade,
1 exiHiriunce,
aii'l from other sources o]ieii to nie. point to the conclusion that partial
ffiiiiessioiis of the districts, which must necessarily he alienated, would
iiiivirahly lead to the extinction of the company.
Granting that the company were willing to sacrifice its trading inter-
t'.sts, the very act would deprive it of the means to carry out the proposed
inea.sures. There is no sort of revenue to moet the most ordinary ex-
piniliture ; and even under present circumstances the company has prac-
tically no jiower to raise one. The coo(eration proposed in calling on
till' company to i)erfoi'iu its co-relative duties, pre-supposes it to stand on
ane(|ual footing with Canada.
It is not to be supposed that the Crown would grant more extenHi\e
powers to the company than those conveyed l)y the charter. If any
change be made it is presumed that direct administration Ity the Crown
wipiild be resorted to as the only iiuasure likely to give public .sati.sfaction
Not having anticipated the i)resent ipiestion, 1 am without instruc-
timi.s from tin Hoard of Directors in Tiondon for my guidance.
I believe 1 am, however, safe in atating my conviction that the com-
[liiiiy will be willing to meet the wishes of the country at large, by con-
.sonting to an e([uitable arrangement for the surrender of all the rights
conveyed by the charter.
Soon aftei- tlii.s, Mr. Edward Watkin, then connected with
th(! Grand Trunk Railway, interested himwlf in a scheme to
provide a teleo-raph .service and means of travtdlin^" witii re-
gularity between ('ana(hi and tlie Pacific Coast, and a letter on
flic subject, dated 5th July, lS(i2, was addressed to the Duke
of Newcastle, sii^ned by Thos. Hariiiy, (Jeo. Carr (Jlyini, and
otiier.s. An interview was then ai'r.moed })y the Duke be-
tween the directors of the Hudson's Hay CV)m])any uid the
]mi'ties interested in this schenu', tlie meetinj;' taking- place
early in iW-i.
in the meantime, the aj^itation in favoi' iA' opcnino- uji the
Hudson's Bay TeiTJtory continued in ( "anada, and in Septem-
Iter, 18()2, two members of the Canadian (Jovernment, Messrs.
Howland and Sicotte, were deputed, by order-in coinicil, to pro-
ceed to Kn^land, and press upon Her Majesty's Govenniient,
its ;^n'eat importance. In the followino; l)ecend)er, a meeting
V
f
1
1
i>
■1 . .
Si
^*.'l
384
IIISTOHY OK TIIK X(»KTH-\Vi:sM'.
"I,
of gentlemen intereHtctl in the telegraph service to r)iifi>.li
Columbia already referred to, took place at th banking limisr
of Me.SHr.s. (}lynn,(i7 Lombard Street, Lonclon, at which Messrs,
Howland and Sicotte, the Canatlian delegates, wei'e present. A
course of action was then formulated, and at a subse((Uiiit
meeting on 21st January, 1^(13, for the purpose of s'Up[M)rtiii;;
the scheme, Mr. Edward Watkin moved the following rcsnlu-
tion : "That this meeting, considering the growing imjKnt-
ance of British North America, an<l the extent of Hritisli in-
terests therein involved, is impressjvl with the desirability dl'
more closely connecting the mother country with her American
<lependencies, and is of opinion that the com[»letion of a liin'
of eonununication across the British portion of the continent
from the Atlantic to the Pacific is a necessity (jf the times, aii'l
this association pledges its support to a well-devised scheme
for accomplishing the ol)ject in view."
Shortly after this, Mr. Watkin became associated in a
scheme for the purchase of the whole rights of the Hiulson s
Bay Company, and the restdt was that the company was ic-
constructed, and its capital increased to ,i!2.0f)0,()0() sterling,
the directors under the reconstruction being: The Kight Hon.
Sir Kdmund Head, K.C.B., Curtis Mii'anda Lampson, K<len
Colville, (leorge Lyall, Dainel Meinerthagen, James Stuart
Hodgson, John Henry William Schroder, and Richard I'otter.
A prospectus was then issued soliciting subscriptions to tlic
new stock, and Mr. Kdward Watkin was sent to Canada to
negotiate with the (Canadian (Jovernnient for aid in carrying'
out the colonization, telegraphic, and postal plans of the com-
pany across its territory to the Pacific, but apparently he did
not meet a favorable reception, as will be seen from the foUow-
extract taken from an order-in council passed by the Canadian
Government, viz. :
THAXSFKIi OF THK NOHTM-WKsT To CANADA.
33')
inn' limisc
•ll MtSMN.
rcsfiit. A
?\i|i|i()riiii;_f
njj; rt'siihi-
|0' illljKllt-
Bvitish in-
irability of
L' AiiK'vican
111 of ii liiii'
• c'ontiufiit
tiiiit's. iui'l
sfd selitiiic
A ti'lejurapli lino will nut ficconipli.sli tliosi- uhjccts (montioiifd in prr-
viiiiia clfinses of the order), though it intiy serve an imiiortfint purpose iiiiil
leiul iiltiiiifitely to their fittiiininent . Hut unless the "' Atluntie iind Paci-
lic Triinsit find Teiegriiph CouipJiny," (Mr. W .itkin's selieiiie), are prtpjir-
ed to undertake the eonstruction of h rmul /<((//' ikiksh with the telegraph
line, the coiiiinittee eannot in tlu' present eondition of the Canadian ex-
ilie<|uer, and with tlu' important (juestions of l)oundai'y, territorial juris-
diction and form of government in the vast territory proposed to l)e open-
t(l, still unsettled, recommend the Hceeittanoe of the " Heads of Proposal "
iis siiliniitted l»v them, and conditionally approved hy his gi'aee.
'I'lie committee are of opinion that in view of tlie rt-eent ciiange in the
I (institution and ol)jects of the Hudson's Bay Company, whieli from the
correspondence laid before the House of Lords appears to have lieen eti'eet-
cd, iind the claims which the new organization have reiterated, with the
,i](parent sanction of Hisdrace the Duke of Newcastle, to teriitoiial rights
over a vast region not- included in their original charter, it is liighly ex-
licdieiit that steiis be taken to settle definitely the North-Western bouiid-
,iry of Canada.
Tiie committee therefore recommend that correspondence be opened
with the Imperial (Jovernment, with the view to the adoption of some
speedy. inexj)ensive and mutually satisfactory plan to determine the im-
IMPitant ([uestion. and that the claims of Canada be asserted to all that
[Mirtion of Central liritish America, which can lie shown to have been iii
tlie possession of the French at the jierind of the cession in 176H.
(Certified) W. H. Lek.
Clerk (if the Execufire Council.
Sir Ediuund H«'iul was, however, of the opinion that a coiii-
pK'to purchase of the company's territoiy by the Crown would
he the best sokition oi the question, but reco<(nizing tlie ob-
stacles to this, he made the followintf ,suo-^estioiis in Noveni-
hor, 1803:—
" 1. An equal division of the portion of the territory tit for
settlement between the company and the Crown, with inclu-
sion of specified tracts in the share of the former.
" 2. The company to construct the road and telei;i-aph.
" 3. and 4. The Crown to purchase such of the compatiy's
prt'inises as should be wanted for military use, and to pay to
I !
miiii
i I
w
\l
jl
11
1
1
1
1
iV.Ui
JIlSToliV n\- Tin: NOKTM-WKST.
the coiiipMiiy i\ net tliir<l ol" all rutnc*' rcvcimr fi'om iroM and
•silver."
Tilt' rt'CfjiiHtructioii of the coinpmiy, liowcvur, .'ukI tin- in
crt'iiHo of it.s capital .stock, liatl created a feeling- of fjistnist in
the iniiidH of .some of the piihlic men of Canatla. and one ])i(i-
ininent statesman deciai'ed that the capital had l)eeii intlatnj
with the view of demandinii' an unreasonahle sum in exclian<'T
for the North-West territory. Hut there is nothine; of this
shown in the .several })ropositions presented by the company,
and it must he remendiere<l that the reconstruction and in-
crease of capital took place when the company was contem-
))latinj.^ the work of constructing a road and telegraph line in
connection with Sir Kdward VVatkin's scheme, which would
re(]uire a hwjre amount of money to carry it through. The
capital stock of the company iiad heen increased only five
times in two hundred years as follows : —
l(i7() it was - - - - £ 10,500
KIDO increased to - - - IM/M)
1720 " •• - - - !)4.,r)00
1821 • - - - 400,000
1857 ... 500,000
The actual capital at this time stood :—
Assets . - . - ei,4(;8,:i()1 l(i :}
Liahilities . - - - 2(m,2:W l(i I!
£l,2()5,0()7 10 4
- 2.000,000 00 00
C'aj)ital
18()8 increased to
On the lOth Fel)ruary, 18(i4, the (jlovernor-General of Can-
ada, in his Speech from the Tlirone at the opening- of Parlia-
iiient, said :
"The contlition of the vast rej^ion lyinj;^ on the north-wost
of the settled portio)is of the |)rovince is daily becomiii;,' a
li
Ti{ANsi-i:i! OF rm; xoitTii wkst to cwmia.
'.m
Ml
ii'stioii of ii'iTiit iiitri't'st. I linvc ('()ii.si(l«'r<'(l it miK isiil)lt' to
i iiortli-wt'st
opt'ii M corfcsiMJiiilt'iicc with tln' liii|irriiil ( l<i\ iTimiciit . witli u
\ir\v to mi'I'Inc at ii prrcisf (Icfiiiitimi i>\' the ;^i -on rapl ileal
iMPimdarics of ('aiiaila in that ilir^-ct ion. Sncli a dt'tiiiit ion of
houndary is a (h'siraMc in't-hininary to t'urthi'i' |iro('ff(liM;;,s
witli v<'S))f('t to tin- \a.st tracts dl' land in that unaiti'i" luditnt^f-
iii;^- to ( 'anaila, l»ut not yet hron;;,ht luidci' thf action of our
)iohtical and nunii('i|»al H\'stcin."
In the ilcl)att' on tlic Adch'css which t'ollowcd, lion. Win.
Macdoiiuail. Minister of ( "row n Lands, who had chai'm' ot' tlic
(|iU'stioii. said :
" 'riic ( loNcnuiit'iit of ('aiiada Hoon catiic to the conclusiou
tliat the tirst thiiiu" to he done was to dctci'iniiic whfthcr the
Hed River Ten-itorv helon<'ed to Canada or to snine other
col
intry, and tlu^ ('o!:8e([Ueiice was that a coi'ivspondeiice had
heen ojteiied witli the Inijierial e()verniiient on the suliject, as
stated in the Sjieech. He did not know tliat there was any
.sel
liol
inn in his statiiiehis individual \iew <»i the case at the \m
it time, which was that Canaila was entitled to (daiii
1 as a.
tion of its soil all that ]»art of the North-West territory.
that could he pi'oved to have lieeii in the possession of the
I'lcnch at the time of the ce.sHion of Canada to the l^.i-itisli."
On the I Ith March, aial oth Aju-il, 18()4. the Duke of X
eW
castle de(dined the su;^'^»'stions of Sir Kdmund Head, hut
made the following counter pro[)osal8:
"1. The company to surrender to the Ci-own theii- terri-
torial rights.
"'2. To receive one shilling- for e\-ery acre sold hy the
Crown, hut limited to €15(),()()() in all, and to tiftv veais iu
duration, whether or not the receij)ts attained that amount.
" ■]. 'i'o receive one-fourth of any gold revenue, hut limited
to Cl()(),()()() in all, and to rifty years in duration.
liifHI'
fl
1 |.:r' •
'1!'
\w
< 11 ' .:
1? ii
I)
: I
1 1
Si
mm
!)l
:V.\H
lllSToitV <»l' Till'; NuKTM-WKST.
"4. 'I'o have oiu' s(|Uiiic mile of iifljiicfiit laiul tor cmtv
liiit'iil iiiili> ('oii.sti-uctcd (jf j'(»a<l and tcli'nra|th to Hritisli ('i.l-
unil)ia."
On tlic I'Hli Ai»ril, tlic coinpaiiy acccptLMl tlic |»rincii»l»' of
tlicsi" proposals, hut said that tlii' ainouut ol" paynu'iitH within
firtv ycai-H should hf cither not limited, or else ]»laeiii ;it
£ I, ()()().()()() instead (jf Cl'oO.OOO. They added some other prn-
poHiils, including' a oraiit to them of o.OOO acres of wild lainl
for every ;')(),()()(> acres sold hy the Crown. .Mi'. Cardwifll, who
hud suceeeded to the otHce of Secretary of State, stated on the
iith .June that he could not accept the company's \iew of tlic
j)roposals, and so Sir Kdmund Head, in Decemhei-, while n( t
receding' fi'om his former i)osition, threw out an alternative of
which the {)iMncipal feature was a payment to the company of
£ I, ()()(),()()() sterlini;- foi- the territory which he defined in his
letter.
About this time, Hon (!eo. Hrown, who was in Enj^dand, re-
presentingf his coUeanues in the Canadian ministry on this
<piestion, contended that the company were seeking;' to sell to
Her Majesty's (Jovernmeiit for an enormous sum, territory to
which they had no title under their charter, and expressed the
opinl.ai that it was the part of the Imperial authoritit's to
«ecure the extinction of the company's proprietary rights ami
exclusive privileges of trade, and that then Canada should un-
dertake the (hities of government.
In the spring of 1805, a delegation, of which Mr. Brown was
a member, visited England, and among otlun* important topics,
took up the (piestion of the Hudson's Bay Territory. Mr.
Cardwell, the Secretary of State, gives the following as the
result of his meeting with the delegates: "On the fourth
point, the subject of the North -Western Territory, the Can;i-
THAN'SKKK n|' ||||; M »l{ lll-WKST T( » ( WADA.
:V.V.)
I!
f
li.iii iiiiiiistcrH <|csin'<l that tliiit tiTritorv slioiiM l»r nuulc »»\t'i'
tn (aiiaila, aii<l uiidi'itook to in'y;<)tiiit»' with tin- lIudsniiH May
(Miiijiany for tlif ttiniiiiatioii of tlicir ri^^lits. on coiiditioii that
the iiitlcnmity, il" any should he paid, would !«■ raised hy
Ciinada. hy means of a loan uncK-r Imperial ;;uaranttM'. With
till' sanction of the ( 'ahinct, wc aasontcd to the projKKsal, un-
(IritaUin^- that if tlu' nt';;'otiations .should Im- sut'ccHsfuI. we, on
the part of the Crown, Ix-inj^ HutisHed that the amount of the
iiiiltinnity was rcasonabh' and tlic security sutiiciont, would
iijiply to the Imperial Parliament to sanction the arran(j;emont
jitid ;^uarantce the amount.
No inuiietliate results followed the visit of the delej^ation of
|S(!.'), and in February, 1800, Sir Ednnui<l Head connnunicat-
ed to Mr. Tardwell, a pro]Kj.sal made to the company (throu;;h
Mr. McKwen) hy certain Any-lo- American capitalists, to buy
its cultivable territory in order to .settle it on American prin-
<ij)les of orj^anization, upon which Mr. ('ardwell, in reply, ic-
miiided Sir Edmund Head of the understanding- existing'
I'etween the Canadian delej^^ates and Her Majesty's (iovern-
iimnt. Sir Edmund answered that the company had never
lost sijjiht of it, but bej^^ed to know how lon^ the option on
tile i>art of Canada was to be .suppo.sed to remain open, and
pointed out the conseipiences to the pecuniary interests of the
c()iiij>any, if they were to be considered Ixnnid to lose favor-
iit)le opportunities of .sale, and were restrained by a very inde-
finite understanding l)etween tw<j other parties, from dealin<(
to the best advanta^'e with their own property.
'i'hese views were connnunicated to the Canadian (Joveni-
uu'ut, who, in a minute of council, dated •22nd June, 180(),
replied to the following effect : " The Executive Council, while
c'ontestinji; in many respects the pretentions of the company,
■
1 •
I in <
It
ill ; ■
I ■
M 1,
I
'f
pi? in
ill III
t!
'Mi)
lllSTOltV ol IIIK Nt»|tTII-\Vi;sT.
lit tln' saint' tiiiif t'Xpit'sscil II stidii;;- cniiN id imi nl" tin- iiii|ii.it.
Miiec iA' I'stnliliMliiiiM- at an rally dati', a rc^^iilaf ;;t)\('niiii(iii in
tile ttrritoiifs iiitrrx riiiii;^' lift with ('anaila aiwl Uritisli ( nl-
iiiiiltia, aixl sajtl that tlii-y wniiM Iia\f (i|iciiri| iir;;(.tiatiuii«.
wit!) tln' niiii|iaiiy lor tlic fNtiiictinu of their claims, wcic ii
not tor tlif )iros|n'ct of a s))ct(|y conlVdcratio!! ol" thr I'n.-
xiiicrs. Tin- ( 'aiiaijian miiiistrrs had tliounht it iiii|iro|ii'i' tn
filter upon iie;;'otiati(>iis which coiiM only he c(ani>lete(l ami
I'llltilled hy the COM federate ( !o\ eriiliient and l.ej^islatlll c, hut
had no doiiht that these Wiaild feel it to he one of theii' tii>r
duties to ojieli liefiit iat iiMls with the Hudson's May ("oiii|iaiiy
for the transfer of their claims to the territory. The mimit>
of council then insited the aid of Her Ma jesty's ( Io\ ('inment
ill disciainteiiancine' and |»re\entin;^' any such sales of aii\
portion of the ti-rritory. as contemplated hy the coiii|iaiiy
The lejdy of the ('aiiatjiau uiinistoi's was communicated to tin'
company in July, l-SIKi.
In the following' .laiiiiary. I^ord Carnarvon su^f^^'csttMJ to the
Hudson's Hay ('om|tany, that whilst douhtless they were free
to consult their own interestH, yet, with reference to what had
|)assed with the Canadian (Sovernnicnt. it would not he advis-
alile to take any step which would emharra.ss the oxpecteil
iieo<)tiations.
The followinir year tlie dcleiiatcs fi'taii FJritish North Aiiiei-
ica on Confederation, while in sesision, deprecate<l the forma-
tion of a Crown Colony in the Hu<l.son's Bay Territory, ami
added the following; I'esolntion : " KeHolved, that tliis confer-
ence luivinj; had communication of an (tr«ler in council of the
Canadian Government, hearinj^f ilate *22nd June, IStiti, on the
subject of the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company, and .1
proposition of certain parties to purchase such portions of tli'
Iti<
I,
Tlt.WSI'KIt (II TIIK NOUTII-WKST lo • ANADA.
:!4I
.\oitl>-\N'»'Nt Tfrrittd'y us niiiy \>r cjiitultlc of <iilti\iitii>n, iivi' ftf
Mjiiiiioii tluit the \ ii'WH fxprcsscil Ity tin- ( 'niniiliiin (i(i\rrn-
iiii'iit cii hotli jiuiiits jiic w t'll-t"(iiiiiilt(|, iiinl will lie coiitiniHil
l.y Mif I'lirliniiit'iit of ("niimlii."
Tin* Mclit'iiH' <>r ('<tiirt'»lt'niti<>ii, ttri^i'imitiii;,' MM it <li"I in rlh-
Mfiritiiiir l'i'«i\ iiict's, witli siicli • iiifii ns Howr, 'ru|i|M'i'. Tillcy
\rcllil)Jll<l, (ll'MV Mini .lf»llllSOll, IrMllillJ'' til'' WIW. WHS tilUrll up
liy tlif ( MiNtTllliM-iit of ()|il ( 'aiiiiil;!, Mtiij filiioii;;st tliosr who
tddk n ]ii'<)tiiin<'iit |iai"t in tlir t^ii-af work iiir to lie foiiini tin-
iiaiiit's of Sir John A. Macijoiiahl, Hon. (iiMM';;'!' Ihown. Sii-
< icoi-^c K. Carticf, Sir Kticnnc I'. Tacht'. Sir A. 'I', (lalt, lloii.
.lohn HosH, )'ii«l others, wlio, sinkin^.j pci'sonai ami political ilil-
iVriMic'eH for tht; time ht'in;^', unite"! to carry out the ;4iaiii| |ir<i-
ject of Fnioii in British N<irth America.
The result of the iiie«'tin;;' of <leledates airea<ly refeiieil to
WHiS the franiin;;' of the British North America Act, w hich was
pasHCil in l?S(!7, an<l on the 1st July of that veai-. Lord Monck
issticd a jiroclamation announcin},^ his aji|»ointm<'iit as ( lo\ -
irnor-(Jeucral of Canatla.
The (listin^uislietl statesmen who laid the foundation of
('onfederation, foresaw that in the near future, the older I'ro-
xiucesof the Dominion would rtM|uii'e room to extend their
irtorts in the march of j)ro^'ress. 'I'hey realized that at an
early day tields for enterprise would he necessary, and that to
encourage and Hustain the ^reat mainifactui'inj; and shiiipin;^
interest of t^anada, a lar<4;e increase of farming- population
would be rerjuired. The example of the I'nited States was
before them, and thev could not .shut their eves to the fact
that the rapid development and settlement of the Western
States constituted one of the j^'reat secrets of thi' succe.s.s of
the American I^nion. With this exainjile before them, our
If
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342
IIISTOIIV OF TIIK \(»HTH-\VKST.
stiitt'siiifU wrrt* t'(|ual to tlit.' ot'casioii, fur, in brin|;inij; ahoiit
tilt' union ul" till' I'iDvinci's. tlu'v hel<l to tlie ])rinci|)h' tliMt
until ( "onlVilt'Ditioii fxtendiMJ tVoin the Atlantic across the
continent to the I'acific, it wouM not he conipli'te, and, with
that y^reat i(iea in view, they jtroviiU'd for the extension (jf the
Dominion accord in^^ly.
In the terms of the British North America Act of I8(i7.
Article XI., sec. 14(5, provi<led a.s follows: "It shall he lawful
for the (^ueen, hy and with the advice of Her Majesty's Most
Honorable I'rivy Council, etc., on addresses from the Houses
of the Parliament of Canada, to admit Ruperts L.:'ul and tlir
North-West Territory, or either of them, into the T'^.iion. on
such terms and conditions in each case as are in the addresses
e.xpressed, and as the Queen thinks tit to approve, subject to
the provisions of this Act."
On the 4th December, 18(i7, Hon. \Vm. McDouj^all, then
Minister of Public Works, introtluced at the Hrst session of
the Dominion Parlian!«!nt a series of resolutions, on which tlir
addresses provitlcd for in the British North America Act were
to be bascfl.
The resolutions were as follow :
1. Tlidt it would pniiuotu the prDspui ity <>f the Cjumdiim people, ainl
conduce to the Jidvfintivge of the whole Kiupire, if llie Douiinion of Ciiimd.i.
constituted under the provisions of the Bi-itish North America Act, IH(t7.
wi'ie extended westward to the shores of the I'.icitic Ocean.
'2. That colonization of the lands of the Saskatchewan, Assinihoia and
Red River settlements, and the development of the mineral wealth which
abomids in the retfions of the North-West, and the extension of coimiici-
mercial intercourse throuj^h the British |)ossessions in America from the
Atlantic to the Pacitic. are alike de[iendent upon the establishment of ;i
stable jfovernmunt, for miinten^ince of law an 1 order in the NorthWest
Territories.
.'{. That the welfare of the sparse and widely scattered po])ulation of Brit-
ish subjects of European origin, already inhabiting these runtotu and un-
TltANSlKIt <)|' TIIK N<»l«TM-\Vi:sT To < .\\\|>.\. :14:}
mv^iinizoil turiit(irii!s, winiM bi- iii.ittTiiilly fulmnct'il by the foriuHtiiiii
ilu'i-ein of jiolitio.il institiitiniis lu'.-iriiii,' ,in;ilii!.^y, iis far as oiivinnstaiu'ca
uill adiiiit, to tlmsu wliicli exist in tlio sevrial I*rnviiR-e» >>f this Du-
iiiiiiiiiii.
I. That tlio 14r)tli Hucticiii of tlu" British Xoith Aiiu'iici .\>t, \SCu. |>ro-
\iiles for tlio adinissioii of Hiiprrt's Land ami tiic Nort li-WCst 'IV'iritor\,
iM- oither ()f tiu'ni, into union with Canaihi. n|i<>n Iffnis and i-oiiditions to
lie i'X|ii'e8si'd in achlri'ssi's from thi- Houses of I'arliamt'nt of this no-
minion to MiT Maji'sty. and wliiidi shall lir apjU'ovod of l.y th» ',>nfi'n in
I ' Hm''il.
.1, That it is at'i'ordiiinly ex|(i'dii,'nt to address Ihr .Majesty, lliat she
UMidd be i^racionsly pleased, by and with the advice of Her .Most llonoi-
alilf l'ri\y < 'onneil, to nnito IJupeit's I/md and tlie N^'ith W I'st Teriitniy
uith the dominion of Canada, ind to i^r|-,||,t to tlu* I'arlianient of Canada
lUtliorily to h'l^islate for theii' fiitnie wilfare and ^ood government
tl. 'i'liat in the event of tiie Imperial (
lovernn
lent a''iia'inu' to I lansfer to
( aiiada I he jni'isiliel ion an<l eoni lol ov it 1 his region, it w oidd be expedient
to pi'o\ ide tiiat till' h'L^al i i'^lits of any corpora t ion. compaiiv , or imliv idnal,
witliin tlie sanu!, will bu lospL^cted: and tliat in case of ditrereiiee of opinion
.IS to thi' exti'iit, nature, or wiliie of these riiihts, the same shall be snli-
liiilled lo jiidieial derision, of be ilelellimied by liiunial .•e.'reemelit be-
tween thi' (ioveriiment of Canada and the p-ulii's interested. Sinii .i^ree-
iinnl to have no etlect or validity until (irst sanctioned by the I'arliaiiient
• >\ < 'anada.
7. That njioii I
le ivansfereiiif of the teiiitoiies in ciiiest ioii to t In' Call
(hall ( iovernmc'.it, tii>t claims of tlie iinliaii tribes to compt n>ation for lands
iei|iiired for pni'pose <'f settlement, would be eoiisideied and settled in
conformity with the eipdtalile prini iples which uniformly governed the
''low II ill its dealings with the .Mioiigines.
■'^. That a select committee be appointed to draft all hiimlile Addvi'sH to
ill r .Majesty on the siiliject of ilic foregoing resoliit ion->.
It
Hull. Win. .Mel hni^illj. in his s|i-'ei'll Ml]i|inllil|^ thrsi' llcsolll-
tions, (•(iiH-linlfd with the lolhtwiiig' wui-ds: ■ l-'iist. it is dr.sii'-
■llllc tllMl this (•(nilltfV (the Noftll-WrSt ) sin 111 1. 1 lie llil 1 Ist'iTlfi 1
liniii liii|iefiiil to ( '.iiiaili.iii Jiiithoritv. Srcimd. th;it thccon-
iii'I ol' (hilt coiiiitry oiiojit to lir ill the Iniiids nt' this I'arlia-
ineiit. Mild iiiidci' fhf direction ol' (his I.,coisl,it iiie. Thcii, il"
I he coiiijiiiiiy iiitikf nwy claim to any |ioftioii ol' the st.il occn-
U !■
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IIISTOKV OK TIIK \<)HTM-\Vi;sT.
pifd 1)\- o\ir sc'v.ints, tlu'V will come into the courts to iiiiiki-
o-()()<l ilu'i; claim, jiikI tlicy will have tiie riuht. if the decisiiHi
is advei'Hc to them, to fi])i)eal to the Pfivy Council. "
This summing- up was contrary in s])ii'it to the niinutf i>\'
council ])ass<Ml on the 22n(l .luni', I8()(i. which said 'that tlir
Legislature would, no doul)t, i'eel it to he one ol' their tiist
duties to open neo-otiations with the Hudson's Bay Company
for the transfer of their claims to the tei-ritory, a stateimnt
which, as we have seen, was afterwards endorsed hy the dele-
j-ates to Kniiland on confedei'ation. Ihit to make it more eh ar
that the Canadian .Ministei's wished to re])udiate the positidii
which the\' held in IN(i(i, Hon. Mr. McDitnuall fuither said in
the coui'se of the deliat<', " that, in I'en'ard to the (|Uesti(in i>\'
terms, the honorable gentleman had pretended that the ( in\ -
ernmeui was prepared to reconiii/,' the ri^Iit of the lludsons
l);iy Company to demand a lar;;'e sum of money fiom tlif
people of this country. He denied tliei'e was such inti'ntion
They j)ro])osi'd to claim this country as hein;;' part of .\c\\
i'^rancf. as lia\in<>' heeii ceiled to tin' {'Jiiilish (Io\crnment in
I7(i(), ami as ha\iiij^- I'emained in th.-it [losition fi'om that time
(h)wn to the present."
An amendment to the Hesolutitms was nio\ed hy Mi'. Ihil-
ton in the.si- words: "That it is. therefore, inexpt-dient [<>
a<lopt an address undei' the I4(ith clause of the liritish North
Amei'ica Act of l(S(i7. until the n!itur<', extent, and \aluc
of the claims with wln'ch the tei'ritories in (pu'stion are hur-
deiied shall he aseertaineil. This amendment was lost, and
the Hesolutions, sliohtlN' ami'uded, were cai'rii'd hv a lar-ic
majority.
l)Ut the Hudson's Day Company would not i-onsent to a
transfer of the territoiy until terms were first settled, aucl tlif
< to iiiakf
■ (lccisii)ii
TKANSI'KM OK TNI-: N( (MTII-WKST To CANADA.
:u:
aiiiiiuiit to hv |»ai(l to tliciii stipnlfitccl lit't'orclDiml. mikI soinu
It ("aniKla Iwul practically a^i'tM-d to this, it was not siirpiis-
to Ileal- that the liiitisli ( !o\ ci'iiniciit niult'itook to have
til
111!
tlic iiinlcrtal\i]i<^ carrictl out. The Duke of l)Uckiii;^liaiii. Sec-
ivtniy of State for the Colonies, sent a ilespatch to Locii
Mi)iick, the ( ioveriioi'-( ieiieral of ('aiia<la. statiiii:' that the
clamis ol
th
le coiii))aiiv woi
lid lia\(' to he tiist settled liefoii
any trausfei- could he etl'ected. addiii;^- that a hill, hased mi the
|iio|)()sitions of the Hudson s Hay Coinpany. would he pre-
>ented tt) the luipeiial I'ai'lianient.
The result of this was that Sir (leor^t. K. ( 'artier and Hon.
W 111. .\!(d)ou;iall wefe a]»|ii»inte<l. hy nidcr-in-crdincil. a <lele^a-
tioii to |)foceed to Kiiyland and settle the terms nf tin' traiis-
hr. and on the :{rd ( )ct()her. iMiN. tlie\-
saileil (III their iiiissioii.
< )ii their arrival the\- at once prcK led to eiit'-r into nrootia-
lions with ilie Hudson s Day ( 'oiii|iaiiy. thidii^^h the iiie(liiiin
nf the Duke of iJuckinjihani, and were in the niid>t of ihein
•n the ( io\ eminent in Dritain was defeated, and Ivirl
w II
(Iran\ille heeaiiie Secretary of State. At first t he ccaiipanv"
)|io.se(l to reliu<|uisli its riiilits <>f ^dsernment and claims to
iin
the
ten-itory, reser\ in;;- a royalty interest in the lands and
mines, with certain reser\ aliiais for hiintiii!'' and tradiic juir-
poses, hut after the aci-essiuii of Ivirl (Jranville to otlice, an
ji^reenient was Mnally reached, and arraii;^'enients for the
transfer concludeil on the Hth March. |Nti!l. Dy this ai;ree-
iiieiit the Hudson s Hay ("(aii|iany were to receive ♦;:{(>().()()(>
--terlin^i' (HI the surrender of theii- riL;lits to the Imperial ( !o\-
irniiieiit. who should, within (aie month from such transh-r.
iv-ti'ausfei- the same to ( "aiiada. The company also retained
leitain resersatioiis of land in the \icinityof their forts and
tradine' jiosts, and were to have two sections in each surveyed
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HlSTtilJV (JF THE X< >HTH-\Vi:.sT.
township, or about oiie-twi'iitietli. 'riic Inijicrial ( ioNcniiin nt
aj^reed to ouaraiitt'c a loan of t:U)(>,()()() .stt'ilin;^' to ])ny tin
Hudson's May (N)iiii)any. ami the Dominion ( Jovfrnnicnt iiii-
(lertook to ivsju-ot the rights of the Imiians ami H.ilf-i!ii nU
in the ten-itory transferri'd.
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CHAITKK XXII.
KFKECT <»r THK \i;(i< (TIATH >NS (»N THK HKD IMVKU SKTTI.EHS.
Thk cft'cft, on tlu' H(m1 River s('ttl<'iiM'nt, of tlw iic^'otiations
liitwcc'ii Britain, ( aiifula, and tin- Hudson's Hay Company.
was to create a feelin^^ of unrest in the minds of the people.
Tlie offieei's of the fur trade wei-e not wholly satisfied with
tlie eliano*' in the jiolicy of the company, hrou<;ht ahout by
tile plan of reconstruction which had taken place in London.
The future of the ei'aiid old concei'n appeartid to them to bo
very uncertain, an<l their own pi-ospects far from satisfactory,
The settlers and half-breeds, on the other haTul, seein;^^ that
some <;reat chan;^'e was at hand which mi^dit seriously att'ect
their welfare, beoan to ^row uneasy and restless under the
unsettled state of atl'airs, especially, as in the nej^otiations
w
hid
1 were e'oini'' on. then
th
feel
in^s or desires appearet
1 to b
jnored alto<;etlu'i-.
Sir (Jeoree Sim[).son died in Septend)er, 18(i(), an<l was sue
(•ee<
led by Alexander (irant Dallas, who ha<l for .some years
l)een a director and extraordinary aj^cnt for the company, on
the Pacific Coast. He, however, only held office for about
four years, and in 1S(!4 William Mactavish was appointed
ntil the transftn* of the
• iovernor, and tilled the j^osition ui
• ituntry to Canada took place, when he went home to Kn^Ianti.
where he died soon after his arrival.
The population of Red River had by this time increased to
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HFSTOltV OF rHK XOUTH-WKST.
))»'t\V(H!U I2,()()() and l.'i.OOO s(Mi1h. of whom about om- linlf
were French half-breeds, en^a^ed cliietly in huntinj^, tiadinn,
traj)|)in<;' and Frei^htin;^. 'I'hey were the nio-st restless of the
people under the proposed chanf^e of administration, aii<l
strange to say, althoii^h they had been the stronj^est oppon-
ents of the Hudson's Hay Company throughout, they wtir
more inclined now to remain under tiie sway of the comjxiny
than to be transfeiTcd to the care of Canadians, whom tln-y
hjoked upon very mucii in the li^ht of strangers.
We must not anticipate, however, but will take up tlif
thread of atiairs in the settlement where we left oft'. Jn tlif
spring of 18(12, owing to the Hood of the previous year, tlniv
was nnich distress at Red River, and the offices of the Hud-
son's Hay Company at Fort (Jarry were besieged by numbers
of the poorer people asking for food to tide thtun over until
sunnner. Seed wheat was furnished by the company to those
who required it, and the sufferers among the settlers were ]>ii)
vide<l for by the (Jovernor and Council of Assiniboia until tlif
crops were in, and matters improved. On May 18th, Governoi-
JJallas arrived at Fort Carry, and, contrary to the usual cus-
tom of Sir (jleorge Simpson, who kept himself aloof as much
as possible from mixing in the afi'airs of the settlement, he en-
deavored to gain a practical ac(juaintance with it and its
inhabitants, and at first was ])opular with the people. Hut,
when, soon after his arrival, he issued orders to his subordin-
ate officers to discontinue the system of paying cash for
'■ country ])roduce,"' it changed the sentiment of a large chi.s
of settlers toward him. The Hudson's Bay Company i)ui
chased most of the products of the farm, for which they hii<l
))een in the liabit of paying oiic their notes in exchange, nmi.
as these were redeemeil l)y l)ills of exchange on Lon<lon, they
KI'FHCT nr Tin: NKOOTI ATK »NS (»\ Till". SKTTI.KHS.
:un
\irnially infant cisli juiynifut. The notes, as we lia\(' alrciuly
shewn, were usimI as tlic eui'iciicy oi" the eountiy, ami wlicii
(idxcinor |)allas round that tlit> nioiu'V paid out 1>\' his othiMM's
^ I •
till' |iro<hi('t' I'ouikI its way into the hands of ri\al parties, wlio
were strong;" ()[)i)on(.'nts of the ('oin|iany in the fui' trade, lie,
\t'ry naturally, decidi.'d not to jtlay any loii^^er into tlieii' hands
ill this way — hence the order. ( )f course the action of the
lloveriior lessened very considerably tht; ani(»unt of money in
circulation, ami, in conse(|uence. thei-e was a ec'ncral outcry
icainst his measure, l)ut his order remained, and at the com-
iVH jiosts " country protluce" continued to Ite paid for in
uai
iiier(
hand
ise
'i'lie only newspajier in the s<'ttleiiient, the Nur'-Wt'fiter,
to which we allu(h'd in a ])i'e\ious chapter, was edited hy Mr.
.lames HosH, who at the same time acted as sheritf, and on the
occasion f)f (!o\-eriior Dallas's (ji'der in reoaid to "country pro-
duce," it ])uhlished a scathine- ([enunciation of the action taken
liy the company and fr(»m then on, the Xor- Wrsffr niay
lie said to have lieeii a thorn in the .side of the ^•overnment
otiicials at K<'<1 Hivei-.
About tliis time two jtarties of distin;4uislied travellerH
visited tlie settlement, one in Aiieust, 1N(!2, c(jm])osed of Lord
Milton, Doctor Cheadle, and their attendants, on their way
iici'oss the continent to the Pacific: and tlw othei* in Octohei-,
coiisistint; of the Karl of Ounmore, and a party of otHcers. who
were returning- from an extended hnntine- expeclition on the
]ilaiiis. Doctoi- Cheadle afterwards published an interesting;
account of the trip, which did a j^^reat deal towards drawing
attention in Kn^^land to the o-vcat North- West and its re-
sources. When Loi'd DunuKjre and his party arrived, the
Sioux outbreak was in proj;'ivss in Minnesota, and they were
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:{.')(»
iiisioitv <»i' iiii: no|{|ii-\m;si'.
(ililil^fd t<» takf !i sdiiifwliat i'i>Mii<l-iilM)Ut join m-y. liy wliat w.is
nillfd tlir '■ \V()(m| |{(iii<l." in ortltT to rt'ucli St. I'miiI. witliuiit
I'oiiiiii^' into (M)ntact witli the Imstilf IihHjiiis. Tlif risiii- n\'
\\\r Sidiix at tlif south of tlw sfttli-iin'iit causrd a j^ooil di'.-il mT
iiMi'fisiiicss to tlif |M-o|>|r ol' Hi'il HistT. as at oiii' tiiiir it look,cl
as if their su|»|ilit's coiiiiii^' \ ia tlic I'liittjil States woiiM he cut
oti'. 'I'liis, ho'ex'T. did not lia|p|)eri, ahlioMH;li die lliid^-nu's
|>a\' ( i| i.iei w ith a hea\y loss in thi |»ilhine ol' oi I'
their t;''!i- It- :' hand of ( "hi|i])e\vays.
'I'he is ied • ■iition of most of tlie settlcl'S, should tlie
liostile Indians come north, was such as to leave tiieiii at the
nierc\' of the sa\a<j,es in case of an attatds, and it wa*- tejt that
some means of ]irotection on^ht to he provided. Aecordiu^dy.
a meetin;^' of the ('ouncil of Assinihoia was held, iu'esiiinl
o\i r li\- (!o\ernor Dallas, at which a {M'tition was drawn ii|i,
asl<in^■ the ( 'olonial otlice in hln^land foi' troo|ts, and to this
document ll'S.'i sie;iiatures were attacheti. ''"he Xur'-\V>sh,.
however, saw in this an opportiniity to make an attack on t!ie
M-ovcrnmeiit. and at once (Irew up a counter ]ietition. whieli.
while askin;:' for troops, conmiented disparaeiuoly on the
maimer in which the coni])auy s jni'isdiction was exercised.
l)oth petitions foinid their way to the ( 'olonial otlice. ami at
the same time into the waste haskei of that department.
Meanwhile the action of Mr. .lames |{oss, in thus attackine-.
throU;;h the columns of the Nor' Wrs/rr. the edscrninent 'if
which he was a paid otiicial, coidil not remain unnoticed, and
at a full nieetin;^' of the coinicil he w as depi'ived of the jmsts
he held as sheriti-;;'o\ ernor of the uaol and postmaster, Mi'.
Ilein\' McKenny l)eine' apj)ointed sheriH", and .Mr. A. ( i. M.
Ilannatyne liecomiu;;' postmaster. Mr. IJoss, freed from the
trammels of utlice, now hocaine a .strong- a^itatcjr against t!ie
M I'
L
lyini i i
i:ki'i:«t nr tiii; \i;(iiiii.\Tin\s ftx iiir. sriTi.KUs.
:\rA
■.llnlll.l till-
fill lit till'
IS t'.'lt that
(•(•iirtliii;;Iy.
il. jirt'siitfii
ihiiwii lip.
tiiil t(i tli:^
'()?•- 11 < >^ ('.
icl\ on t!i''
Kill, wlii'li.
(•iiiiijmiiy,.!iii(l liy iiiDins df his |)M|Mriiiiil tin- hoMiii;; ol" piilijic
iiiictiiiifs. he iiiiHic iiuittt'ls lisily in thr sctthMiMiit. At nm-
<i lilriin
th(
tiiiir it WMs )ii'(»|i(tsc(| to st'inl him In Kn;,Hjinil I
canst' (tt the si'ith'is, hut. tlir t'niiils t'nr the tii|» not Iti'iiin'
tMitlicotiiin'i. .Mr. Woss nhjinihuH'il thr iilca. aM<l Mr. SjiiKltmil
r li'iiiinj^', \vlio .•iltcrwarils licciinir proniincnt in comicct ion
with the ('!in;i(li;in I'ncific Hailwjiy, wns sricctfil in his stca<l.
Siiuii alter this. Hex. (I. ( ). ('orhctt, who, it will In' rcinciii-
li( Ti'ih was olH' of the witlirssi'S lirhirr tlir Collllllit tir nt |S')7.
whi'ii hi' ;,;'aM' I'vidrncc ilisparaeiiiM to thr coiiiiiany, ami w lio
hai
i all alonti' Ih'cii oiw ol' tin- chifr aiiitatuis ajiainst
>v
•iiiiiiriit at Fort (!arrv. was ai'rcstcil on thr ('harui' i " attr )t-
ahort ion on the prrsoii ol
a N'ouni:' uirl in his i'i',.l»:
i lie
trial oi' this case cxcitril a ;4ooi| ilral of t'rclin;^' in t' ■ -irtfli'-
iiHiit . owiii;:' to the tact that ( "orlirtt a|i|n'ali'(l t> •niilic sym-
[lathy on tlif ;^rouml that he was lirinn- jxTsccutt'o
'hriV,
W'csln' took u|i his canst' stron;^ly, ami cohnnns of niattt-r
ri' pnhlishcil in an ftlort to niakf thr i'f\ irfiitl }.;'fiit Irintii a
W I
ma
rt\r: l)nt. notwithstamliii''' all this, hr was cons iit
i'<l am
siiiti'iift'il to ini|iri.sonint'nt I'or a tfiiii of six months, infar-
ciiation ill prison, liowi'\i'r. ili<l not ])ii<'\fiit .Mr. ("orhrtt from
ciiiitinniii*; tt» ap|>i'al to his frifmls oiitsidf. ami. as a nsnlt.
petitions askin;^' for his rt'least' were forwanlfil to the anlhor-
itii's. i)ut < lovernoi' Dallas, ami .Iml^f lUafk. who ti'ifd thf
fast', ilt'clini'il to srt thf prisoiit-r at lihi'ity. althoiieh thf pfti-
tioiis contaiiifi
I tl
If naiiifs o
f sfVi-ral of thf Irail
iim' f If ri'A iiif n.
If f \ nif iii'f. aiiii t lit
and others of proniiiifiiff in thf sftt If iiif nt, on thr ^^inuml
that the verdift was in aceortlance w ith tl
puiiislinicnt justly <leser\fil.
•X^itation in faxitr of Corhett, however, f-ontiiiued, until, (ju
tlif "iOtli of .Ajiril.a few detei'iiiineil charafters snri'oiiinli'<l the
wmm
ii i
I >
ii|
i!l
:{:)!>
IIISTUIIV i»|- IllK SnlMH-WKST.
jail. Iiioki' in t lie tlonc, ;iml lilMijiti'l liiiri. Mr. Jjiiiifs Stt-wai i
<iii<' III' till' riii;;|riiiifis on tliis (icca.sjon, was tln-n nrrt'stt-il, Imt
III' li.i'l Iticn coiitint'il only a iVw ilavs when a party oi" iimh
Icij hy Mr. William llallt'tt an<l .lolm Hourkc, l)<)tli nu'ii ol in-
llni'nci' anion;^' tlic I'lii^^'lisli liall'-la'i'rds, liroki' into the |)ii,>-nii.
ami rt'lca.scd liiin. NcitlitT ('(»i'lu'tt ma- Stewart wci-c yi-
arri'stfil, ami .shortly alter tlifir lilicratioii tlir Jiisticfs of tin'
jicaci' a<Mrt'.vs('(l a letter to tin- eiixcrnor, ail\ isin;;' that until .1
it';^iilar I'oree etaihl lie oiitained to sii|t|iort the authorities, im
tui'ther proceeclines should lie taken against the rioters, an(l
pointed out that, e-Xcejit as reearded suits lia\ in^i' no pulilie in-
tei'est. without a force at'tine; under the <^>ueen's direct autlmr-
ity, justiee could no loneei- l,,- administered.
It was soon after this that the Hudson's Uay olliceis of tin
fur tra<le heard for the (jrst time of the reconstructidn of tin'
c<im|iMny in l'ji;;laml, and the I'etirenient <if most of the old
III! inl, a piece of intellinfnce that was not I'eceivecl with fa\iii
hy any of them. Indeed this, comhined with the trouhles ,uid
excitement existine- in the settlement, seemeil t<i foreshadiiw
the downfall of the whole fala'ic, which foi' so many years iiad
held sway in the North-West. The administration of atlJiiis
in Red Hiver, however, went on smoothly aftei" the Corliet-
Stuwai't incident, hut no attempt was made to try any criuiii -
al cases wliich mit>-ht tend to excite ]ml)lic I'eeliiie-, the author-
ity of the Hudson's Hay Company, unsupported as it was hy
any force, l)iMn<)' practically dea<l.
In lS(i4, jtist before his retirement from the goveniorshi|i,
CJovernor Dallas succeeded in arran^in<( with the American
authorities for a throu^li mail-ba^ fi-om St. Paul to the settk'-
ment, which was a ereat impi'ovement upon the previous pos-
tal facilities.
tuy
KKi'K" r (»K ini: \i:(;nTi.\iii»\N <»\ ink sk'iti.kus. ;{.'».{
Ill till' iiii'Miit iinr, tlif sctllciiifiit was tioiililfii liy occasioiml
\ isits I'ldiii (lif Si(ni\, Mini it WMswitli somt- sfttist'tictinii tli.il
till' ^1
■ttliTs liciu'l of till- t'stiililisliiiniit iit I'riiiMiiii nl' a t'orcf
mI' AiiH'iicaii tr<M>|is umlfr ciaiimaiiil of Major ilatrii. TIh-
Sioux. lio\v»'\ IT, coiit imii'tl to visit tlif llritisli siilf of tin-
lioiiMilury line, ami iiiadr .srvrral att('iii|ils to |M'niiaii<'iit ly
talvi- lip tlifir (|iiaitt'rs in tlic tcnitoiy, Imt the Saiiltcaiis.
('n'cs, aixl ( 'lii)i]ic\vays uoiiM yi\f tlitiii no |tcacf. ami tlic
llmlsoii's liay ('oinpany ai,i<l srttlfis, rct'usiii;;' to |ii()\i(l<' lliciii
with aimiiuiiitioii, tluy \\cit tiiially rorccd, with the t'\cc|itioii
III )
I small haml. to it'tiiiii to Ainrricaii soil.
Ill IS(I4, Mr. .laiiH's [loss rtfircil froiii tin- nlitor.ship of tin-
Xi>r'-\\'ishr.nn>\ |)r. .loliii Sclmit/, in coiiiiiany with Mr.("oM-
vvi'll. carricil on the paper, ami tln' ijoctor, on In-half of himself
.iimI partnei'. issued the followin;^' iiit rodiietory address;
NN'c iiuud Imnlly iisHurc mir n-Hili'i's tliat tin- tlicei y nf tlic <in'iil;itinii
will liL' attfinU'd tn in future, and all liail limiiuis \\ ill lie fliiiiin.ited irem
niir (.'iiliunn.s. ULseases in ninHinial system will lie viiininiisly attended te,
;iiiil mir hcst oxurtiiniH nsud tn keep the Imdy pdlifie in snund liealtli .ind
'^niid wiiikint^ iifder. Persons in I'lw s|iiritsand nf ;i despondinjj; tuin of
mind, will only li;ivo to read the A'n/'- ir«.s/rr to he cured in an iiiNtant.
Patients will lie waited on (liy our Devil), at their own rcsidi'iiccs, with a
copy of the paper, if they will only lileed to the extent of foiir-|iencc for
c.icli nuniliei', or they will Ito conipoinided with an<l kejit in !,'ood spirits
for the whtile year, at the rate <if ten shilliiiLjs ]ier aiiiiuiii.
Whether the pi'otiiist's in the alio\c notice were m»t fiiltilled.
or the paper havinj^' lieeoiiie a oovernnieiit oroan, its editorials
were without tiieir usual spiee and xio'or. we eanmit tell, Imt
the ^' or -Wester lane'uished until, on the 2.')rd Kel.itiary, I.Stio,
the otliee and all its contents were ilestroyed, and in the fol-
lowing- .Inly, after startiiio- tin- Journal afresh, .Mr. ( 'oldwell
dissolved [)artner.ship with Dr. Sdinltz. who t-arried on the i-n-
terprise alone.
^mi^i^m,&
Il
pi
m\
\i t
i
ft' II!
t
1
1
*
1
!
I (If
:{:.4
IIIM^It^ o|' llli; So|(|H-\Vi:.sT.
Ill Miiy. l'S«i4. ( Ji)\fiiiiir hnllns left tin- silt li'iiii-nt. i>\\ lii^
I'l'tiini to Kiiyliiii<l. Mr. Win. .M;irtii\ isli siwcrciliiii; liiiii, nn.!
nil till' :{|st (»r till' liioiitll riisliop Ainlcrsdii Innk liis (Ifjuilt iliv
• li't'liK' rt'«'lTttrc| li\- liltlllN <i|' tlir scttlt'l's.
TIm' ciiiiiiiMiiy iiiiw <^n\i- si;;iis tli.it fln'V wt'i'r in i-tii'inst
.iliiiiit liiiililiiiy fi ti-lrnia|ili line, mill in iMi") mhI out l>r. .Intni
ll.ii'. tlir All-tic fxnjoirr, til iisi'fitiiiii tin- |ii';irticjiliility i>\' r^
tiiMisliiii:^ iniiiiiimiic.itiiiii in this way iicfuss kin- cuntiiMiit
|)i'. IJfir was acc(»ni|)ai!iri| liy an fn;^iiir<'i' naiinil S<|i\\ icni r.
aiiil tli<' twn iiiaili- a can'riil ixaiiiinat imi nl' tlir ronli' ti> I'liit
isli ( '(iliiiiiliia. ami al'tri'waiils siilnnit tnl an i'\lianstivc I'i'|miii
oil till- siil>i»'ct. loit. witli till- i'\ci'|it inn i>\' ti'ans|M»i'tint^ a iai^v
i|iiantity ni' wire tn the Nnrt li-\\'i'st . tlic cnniiiany ih'Mt |an-
itimIimI I'nrtliiT wit li tlir w <irl\.
In lS(i4, the i;ra.ssli(»|>|M'rs a^jiin \isiti'i| tin- si-t tlrinciit ami
itirrly ili'st nycil tlir cmiis. Init. iiwiii;^' tn tlir rxtrrnir shal-
rl
Inwiirss III' tlir l'i\rr tliat srasnii. tlir stranirf / ii tmiill nni'il
lliailr nnl\' nlir tli|i. ami tlir cnjiiiiany Wrrr nl)|i;4ril tn rliijplny
a lar^ir nninlirr nl' trriu'lltris. wllirll rlialilnl tlir srttlrrs tn
l)ii\- llirir sn|i|tlirs. Tlir limit tliat year was alsn r\cr|itinii-
all\' ^nnil. SI) tliat tllrrr was plrllty nl* Inm | ami 111) ilrstitnii
W'r nnW cnliir tn all iliciilrlit wllicll. at a sulisri|Urnt Si-
nn.
in tlir liistnr\-
)!' tlir srtt'
•iiirnt, was ilrstiiinl to pliiy all in
iinrtant part ami tn crratr I'lirtlirr tmnlilr t"nr the aiitlini'itirs
at h'nit (iany. I )r Scliiiltz. wliniii wr lia\ r alrrady iiiriitinii
ril in cnnnrctinli W itil tlir Nn/'-W'rslrr. Iiail riitrrnl iiitn pait-
iirrslii]! with Mr. Ilriiry McKmnry, Jiml with him cairiril nn a
Hi 111
n-rnri'al trailing; Imsiiit'ss, which in l(S(i4 was ilissnK cil, ai
clo.sin;^' ui» thr acc<jnntH, the iloctor daiiiiril a siiiii of C-iOO. a,--
hciii'"- iliir him. The matter tiiialK' came hcfnrr thr court, ainl
in thr course of thr triiil l)|-. Scliult/ iiiadr ceitain rmiarks
rf
if
The KiKht Ho i. Sir John A. JVIucdonuld, K.C.H.
i
1
I.JI.y
1(
I'l 'i
1
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1
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KKKKCr or llli: Ni;»;<)||.\TlnNs ON IHK sliTTI.KIJS.
;);>
-lii'(»^jit<)rv to tln' Ih'IU'Ii. wliicli 111' ilfcliiit'il to I'ftract. I'poii
this lie was I'clust'il tlif i'i;4lit to ji)»|M'ar in liis own iH'lialt' in
tilt' cjisc in <|nt*sti(»n. and scNcral otlit'is which he hail prnilin;^'.
,iMil Iti'in;;' Htill projirictoi- of tlu; iVor- U^'.^•^'/•, hi- iiiailt' use of
that shcci to (It'nouncci tlic anthoritii's tor thi'ir attitmh' to-
wai'ils hini.
I-
roni
this t
inu>
th
\m\
n'V iM'canii' a much more
hitter o|»j)oncnt of the comitMny than it i'\fi' was iluiin;;' the
iMlitorshi|) of Mf. .lames Koss.
In I.S(j(i the ivmnant of the Sioux that remained in the set-
tleintnt were attacked hy a hand of Ked Lake Indians, four of
the former liein;;- killed, and the authorities, fearin;;' lest it
iiiii^ht lead to hostilities Ix.'tween the two trilies. decided to
call out a f(jrce of frotll ")() to KM) of the settlers to defend the
^ittlement, but foitunately the Sioux ne\ei ,sou;^dit to retali-
ate. SJiortly aftei- this, a half-hreed named Desmarais killed
a Saulteaux in a i|uanvl, and was ti'i«'d, convicted, and sen-
tt'iK'ed to l)e han^^ed. The prisoners fi'iends petitioned for a
commutation of the sentence, and the Indians in the neieh-
hurhood tlireatened to take the law into their own hands un-
e.ss
l)e
smarais was
hane;(
itl
d. so the authorities adopted a
middle ccturse. hy secretly conveying,' him from the .settlement
and hanishine' hint for life.
It will thus he .seen that the condtu't of court business at
lied River about this time was attended with no small dilii-
cl
iltv. Indeeik it cam
e as near lieini"" a
farce as it well could
i f
It was, liowe\er. a [leriod of ridiculous proceeilinj^s in the
settlement, and j)rol)ably the most absurd was a meetine
which took place in the Court House at Kort (Jarry, on the
Nth l)ecend)er, bS(i(i. At this meetine- there were just live
ptrsiais present, who [>rocee<led to draw up a memorial to the
It
n
:v\
m
tf
ill
I ■ \'
850
HISTORY OK Tin: NoKTII-WKST
IiiijK'rial ( Jovcniiiicnt, pi'ayiii^' to In- r^'i-civcd into, ami tn roini
))art of, the (iiaiid ('onl'cdei-atioii ot" Hni'sh North Anici ici
in consort witii \ fuicoinci' ami l>ritisli ( "olunil)ia, in or<li'i ii.
rurtlitT iJritisJi intcrt'Sts and cont'cdt'iatitai I'roni the Atlantic
to tilt' I'acitie. The i\^;»- - HV'.sY^ /• dcscrilM'd tlic as.sfnd)laiL;t' of
Hvf as a ft'|)ns('ntativ(' and important move to ;4t't lid of tli.
yokf of tlie Hiidsons IJay ( 'oinpany. and so it was a(((pttd
ill Canada, while in ifality it was the jokr of the srttliiiiint
AnothiT ahsnrdity was a so-callcil invitation IVoiii (lir In-
dians, addi'i'ssrd to the I'rincc ot* Wales, asking' him to \ i>it
the Xoith-West. a iloeumeiit emanatinjj," IVom the fertile inaiii
of a white man. M'ho wisheil to <listin^'nisli him.sejf heforr !ii-
fellows as a mail of resomre. The ori;^'iiial ijraft of the ine-
niorial was written in Kne'lish, and translate<| into Indian l>y
a youn;.i' lialf-liree(l at scliool in the settlement, and no Indian
.so far as known, had anythin;.;' to do with its production.
'I'his e.xti'aordinary document reiid as follows: —
'I'd the First-honi of our (Jreat Mutliei'. aurnss tlu- <irt';it Waters.
(li'L'iit Cliiof, wlieiii wo call Knyal Cliiof, — Wu and niir pcdplc lu;ir
that (lur relations, the half-bivi'ds and pale-faees at l{eil Kiver, havi- a.skfl
you to coiiu' and see tlnan next siunnuT. We and oui' ]ii'o|)le also \\\s\i
you to come and vi.sit us. Kveiy lodj^e will i^ivi' you ioy;d wi'lconii'. W t-
have the bear and the liutliilo, and our hunting; L;round.'< arc free to you .
our horses will cai'vy you, and our do^s hunt for you, and we and oui
|)e(»Iile will <j;uar<l and attend y» " : our old uuii will show you tlicii
iuedals, which tiu'y receivt'd for heinij faithful to the Kalher of our (iri'at
Mfithor. (ircat Hityal Chief I if you wdl couu', send word to oui (luidiuu'
C'lnof at Fort Ciarry, so that wc may li.ivc time to meet and leceive you.as
hecounny oiu' ( ireat HoyaM'iiii'f.
In dune followiiio'. a letter was receiveil 1>\- Mi-. Tlionia^
Spetice. the author of the menK)rial. from the SeciX'ttus' <d' the
( iovernor-deiieral of Canada, cnciosine- a ccpy of a o'sjiatcli
from the Duke of P>uckinol»ani, acknowled<,nno' i'ecei])t i.f \\'\-^
comnuinieation. Jind statine- that it hat! been presented to tie
EI'KKCT or I'lii: M:<i<ii lAiioNs ON iiir. si;iTi,i:i{s.
.)(
I'lillCC «tl' Wales. Tllis McUlKiW lc(lo;illi'llt of till' Wnl-st I'laUil
rxcr |M'r|i('trat»'i| on l^iyalty is. we lirlicx »•, (|i'|i(»siti<l in tin-
;ii<'liivfs of tln' Dominion at ( )tta\\a. aii<l ou;^lit to he carrtiilly
]|('St'l"\('(|
I )i'. Scliult/ now piojiosfil to sfcnif I'or hinisi-lt' a H-at at tin-
mncil lioai'fl ol" Assiniltoia, a \acancy lia\ int.; occunrd. ami a
itition to that rtf'cct was ]trt's<'nt('<l. Imt tlir |io\vfrs at Fort
llari'V would lia\f none of liini. ami a^ain the
*'/• - II I'shi
ihundrit'i! forth its anathema ap.rnst the Hudson's Hay ( 'om-
pany authorities, for their usur|iation of the rit^hts of the
W
In 'H(i7, the first re<;ular attein]it was nia<le to estahlish a
trade hetween the Dominion of ( 'anada and the N'oit h-\\ est.
the o'ooils used in jniliaii ti'adinu' and in tlie settlement ha\ iu"-'
heen im|ioi'ted alt<»eetlier u]> to that tiuK' fiom llritain and
the I'nited States. In the snmmei- of |S(i7. .Mr. W. Iv San-
tnid (now Senator Sanfor«D. heiiie' in St. I'.iid on a \isit. met
Mr. I
>ei!'<>',
the wiiter of this hook, and indueed him to under
take at Ixeij Hi\'er. the opetiin;;- u|) of a trade with ('anada.
Mr. Said'ord on his return home indm
several |iroiiiinent
lionses in llamiltoii and, Toronto to taki- |part in the scheme,
and .Mr. Ifi'j;'^ |iroi-ee<led to |''oi't (Jarry with a eom|.any of
traders who had heen in St. I'aul dis|>osin^ of their furs and
piu'chasine; stippliis. At tirst the merchants in the s-'ttlement
would have notliin;^' to do with Mr. \>*"^'^ and his ('anadian
;;00(ls. helievin^', as they said, (hat there was nothint;' to com-
))are with the Hritish and American manufactures. Hut time
and jiei'severance oscrcame these ohstacles. and a set of e.xcel-
leiit samples of ( 'anadian-made articles served to conxince the
sceptics that (^iiiada, aftei- all. couM furnish supplies ,'(|ual in
"(Uality and nnich cheapei- in price than those they had heeii
i I
lll^
:i5S
HISTOIJV OF THK NOKTII-WKST.
in the lial)it of huyini;'. 'I'lif ivsult was that in .lanuaiy. iSiis.
Mr. Hvn;*^ rt'tui'iHMl to ( 'aiiaila with orders iunouiitin^' to in aiU
.i*9(),()()(), which hf ha<l rfccivcd from the frco traders of thr
North-West. Senator Sanford was tht; moving H[)irit in this
new enterprise, and to him more than anyone else helongs tdr
honor of havinu- Hrst established trade rehitions l)etween the
Dominion of Canada and tiie North-West Territories. 'y\\<-
outcome of this Hrst effort was tliat from that (hiy CanaiHiin
n()()ds each year found their way in hiri;e (juantities into thr
setth'ment. Canadian merchants, other tiian those in Hamil-
ton and Toronto, heeame interested, and hid for tlie trade, un-
til t;ra(hially the British and American ma<h.' articles were
forced out of the way, and Canada held the traile almost
alone. Hut to the City of Hamilton, Ont., helonj^s the cre(lit
of havin*;' taken the initiative, and to the ])lucl< and eneri^y of
lie-r merchants is due the fact that the Dominion trade thus
early secured a foothold in the North- Went.
And now we will refer to the dosino; scene in the McKm-
uey-Schultz disputes, which not only caused a jijreat <leal of
trouble to the court at Red Rive)-, Imt served the purpose of
a<;itators to brand the Hudson's Bay Company with nuich
undeser\ed ol)li(juity. When .Messrs. McKenney an<l Schulrz
dissolved partnershij), there was a consiri'-rable sum due a Mi'.
F. K. Kew, of London, Kni;-land, for which the {parties gave a
joint promissary note. 'IMie in<lebtedness was afterwards rr
duced to al)OUt £(>()(), which Mi-. McKenney, it aj)pears, was
forced to pay Mr. Kew, while lie was on a visit to Knglaini.
and on his return to the settlement he instituted proceedings
against Schultz to recover from tliat gentleman his share in
the transaction.
Ml'. McKenney obtained judgment by default against lii>
T .
Kri'Kcr OK TiiK .\i:(i<>TiAi"i(».\s (IN Tin; si;ni.Ki«s.
:{.')!»
)t'ars, was
) hn^laini.
.■.i\ .
i| |)!ii'tii»'j', mill, tlirrt' ln'iiij; a))]»ar»'iitly im otlicr way to re-
r the .ii'l)t, lie, as .slici'itf, procrcWcd to li'\y «»ii tlif M•lMMl^
,iii<l cliattf'ls hclonjriiijr to the doctor. Hut tli*- lattt-r rcsistf.l
the Jittt'iiipt to (le|)rivt' liiiii ol' his poHscssioiis. ami aftefa scul-
llr with the sljerirt'aiul his sati'llitt's, \w was homul with eonls
ami cast into prison, on a ehar;^T oi' liaviii;^' assaulti-d an otlict-r
of thf law i]i the <li.sehar;iC' of his duty. The doetoi- was
i'louj^ht hei'ore a magistrate, who connnittfd him to stand his
trial at the next (^)uarterly Coiiit, and lie was oiu-e moie in-
earcerated in the jail. Hut that ni;;ht a nundxT of Sehult/s
tVieiids i'oreihly entei'ed the jiri.son, overpowered the eonstahles
nil duty, and, breaking in the door of his cell, ri'jcased him.
No atteinitt was made to re-eapture tlie doctor, or aiiv of
those who had lieen instrumental in lihcratin^ him, Imt at a
iiict'tinj;' of the Council of A.ssinihoia, convened for the jmi'jiose
(if consideringly ti.e condition of atlairs, it was resol\e<l to call
(lilt a hody of sjiecial constahles to preserve order, A numher
(if iiirn were afterwards sworn in, hut their sei'vices were iir\ fi'
ivi|uired, and so ended what may he termed the final hlow to
the authority of the Hudson's Hay Company in the Ht'<l
I
\n cr.
While the events just related were a<^itatin^' the minds of
the i)eoi)le in the vicinity of Fort Carry, the man of ourcc
.Mr. Thomas Spence, of Indian memorial fame, ha\ i moved
tn I'oi'taire la Prairie, undertook to create a littlt
•itement
aiiion^- the iidiahitants tliric, and at the .same time _ ..ii a little
iiotorii'ty foi- him.self. Wy persua<liii^r a few of ' <■ peojtle to
idii
1 him, he organized a new and separate foi f ;;,()Veni-
11. cut, to be altojfethei" distinct from that of the Hudson's Hay
('(•iiipauy, and name<l it the Republic of .Manitoba He was
dtilv elected President, and had a council of the fre> and iiide-
hm
IJ)
!i} •
iilM
IrB
iv '
!ii
iM
f-*ii
i»,ii
ir
I i<
h I
Mil
:{(i()
HISToltV ol' IMK \(»|{ril-\vi;sT
jK'inlciit to adsisc him, tlic first step t!ik<-ii l»y liiiii l»ciiiM' t..
|tii)vi(Ir for tilt' lf\ yiii;;' of taxt's. iH'omsf, MS tlicy soon fuuii'l
out, no ;;'oVfiiiiii('iit. no mattci- hcnv ^oo»l, c-an succccil wiilmiit
funds. Hut tlicrt' were rdx-ls in the I'cjiulilic from tlif \ri\-
stai't, who rt'fuscd to conti'ihutc to the supjtort ol tlif I'rcsi-
dcnt and liis council, and one of these. n;imrd .Macpherson. \\a^
duly indicted foi- trea.son. and arrested, hut his friends, nojn^
at once to his aid, rescue<l him. and then turned the ;;()\eni-
nu'ut of tlie I'epublie <»ut of doors.
Ml'. S|)en('e, ho\ve\('r, did not mean to allow the oppoj'tunit v
to slip of a^ain hrinyine- himself hefore the notice df the Im-
pevial authorities, and so, in {''elauaiy, IHtlS. he addressed tin'
i'ollo\vin^■ letter to the Secii tar\ of State {'<,]• the Colonies:—
L\ I'liAUiiK. .VlANrroiiA,
i'i'i Ki'd KJMT St'trlfiiiL'iit.
Fcla'Uiiry i'.K iscs
.M^ LouK -As I'lvsitlcnt elect, by tlif iitjuph) <if tliu iiewly-oi'^jini/ed
( iiivuniiiR'iit uiid ('oiMicil of .M u itobii, in liritish torritoiy, I lifivc the
(hititiii lidiiiir nf l.iyiiiL,' hufnro your Lonlsliip, t'<>r tlio consideration ufHiT
Mo.st (iracio.i-, .MiiJL'sty, oni' beloved <.i>neeu, tlie circuniHtauoe.'f attendiic
tlie creation of tliis self-sn|)|iortin}; jietty government in tliis isolated poi
tion ot Her Majesty's doniinions, and, as loyal British aiihjeets, wo lium
hly and Hinceicly trust that Hur Most (Iracioiis Nfajesty, and her ad-
visiM-', ,vill lie pleased forthwith to j^ive this ;,'overnnient favorable recog-
nition, it being simply our ain> to develop oui' lesonrces, improve the (icii-
dition of the people, and generally advance and jiresorve British interests
in this rising Far West.
An humble address fi'om the pi'ojile of this si'ttlenient to Ibi
Majesty the <^*iu'i'n, w.is forwarded through the (jo\ernor-(n:noral nf
Canada, in dune last, briefly setting forth the superior attractioi\s of thl>
portion of the British DoUiinions, the growing population, and the gradiic\!
intlu.x of immigrants, and humbly praying for i-ecognition, law, and jirott'c-
tion, to which im reply or acknowledgnu-nt has yet reached this pe<)ple.
E uly in -lanuary last, at a jiublie nu-eting of settlers, who duuiImM'
over four hundred, it was unaiumously decided to at once proceed to tlu
electioix and construction of a government which hii.s accordingly bceii
carried out— a revenue imposed, public buildings commenceu, to carry out
!li
i:kii:< r m- tiik NiKioiiviinNs on iiik si:rri,i:i{s. :{(il
ihf 1 uvs, |(rii\ isiiiiis niiiilc fur liidiaii trotitieH. tlu' couHtnictifin of rnads.
,iiiil itlitT piililii! Wiiks, ti'iitliim to jirnmiitu till' iiilfii-Hts aiitl Wflfaic of
till' |M'o|ili!, tliu l)oiiiiil;ir OS of tlif jiirisdjctioii liciiii^, for tln' time, pro-
il.iiiiit'il as follows :
.Vi>i7/i From a jioiiit riiniiiii!.,' diif iiortli fioni tlir i)oiiii<iar\ line of
\>simlioia till it strikes l.akc Maiiitolia. tliciicu, from the |ioint stnirk, a
siiai'^lit liiif across till' said laki; to Maiiilolia Port ; thfiici' liy lom^dtiid
IiimI lino r»l, till it iiiti-rHi'i'ts lino of latitude iOU.
ir.s/ — |5y liiii' of latitude KM) to tiie hoiiiidai'y liiiu of tlic I iiited
Sluti'sand lliitisli Ami-rira.
I'I'isI -'I'lii' liouiidary line of tlio jiirisdirtion of the ("oiiiieil of i\s»iii-
I lima.
,Si)i(//( - The iioiindary line lietweeii British North Aiiuriea and the
liiiicd States.
1 have the honor i^i remain, my Lord,
^'onr Lordship's ohediuiit servant,
T. S|'K.S( K.
I'll s, lit llii ( 'nil mil .
']'" tile Secretary <»f State for Colonial affairs. London, Kii'^daiid.
To this letter Mr. Sjioncf rcrcixod the I'dlhiwiiio- reply: —
I >o\VMNi ■ I • '-.KT,
May .'«»th. 1 868.
SiK I am directed liy tlit: [)uke of Hiiekin<4liam and t'haiidos to in-
foriii 3'(>ii th.it your letter of t!ie JUth Fehrnary last, addressed to tlii'
Secretary of State for Korei^^ii Atiairn, has iteeii forwarded to this depart-
ment, and tliat His (ii'aee has als(» ii'oeivi'd a copy of a letter addressed
liy yoii to Mr. .\iiL('is .VIorrison. a memher of the Canadian Parliament,
il.a d the I7tli Fohruary last.
In these eoniniuuications you explain the ii easnre.'* that have heoii
t.ikeii for creating a so-called self-supportinLj ;^o\crnineiit in Manitoha,
within the territory of the HinlMo?rs Hay Company.
Till people of Manitoha are prohahly not aware tluit the eieation of
•■! ■separate 'jiovernmeuL. in the inauner set forth in these ]>a]iers, has no
fi'rce in law, and that they have no authority to create or oi'<rani/.e a ;,'ov
<ruii\ent, or even to .set up iiuinieipal institutions (|iro|ierly so-called) for
r'leiiisolves, without refurenco to the Hudson's Bay Company or to the
< 'rown.
Her Majesty's (government are adviseil that there is no ohjeetion to
the people of Manit<d)a voluntarily subniittiny themselves to rules and
ru!,'ulations, whicli they may agree to ob."orve for the greater protection
and improvemetit of the territory in which they live, but which will have
II
iUI
;iu2
uisTniiv OK Tin; Nourii-wi:
nt) fnrcc lis re;'iir<ls utlu-i's tlmii tliimc wlm iiiiiy Imvc Hiiliiiiittcil tin i
iisfht'it.
As it is iiifci'ioil tli.'it tlio iiitt'iitidU Ih to cxt'iciHi- JiiriHilictiun <>\,
(iUV'iiiU'is ill fiiiiiiii.il easts, tn levy tiixi's tninpiil.suiily, iiiiil to iittfiii|
put in fiircf ntlicr |Mi\vcrs, wliicli can oiilv ln' fXtTcisoil liy a |iio|icil\ ,
I i<
St I
tiiti'd liiiMTiiiiii'iil 1 am ilfsiri'd tu warn vmi
that
Villi a
lul
vmii
(Ijiituis an- in'tiii;^ illi'f^'ally in tliiH inattirr, and tliiit, l)y tin; course \ini
liiliti
all) aduptiiiK'i y»'" >^^^ inciirnnii miive irspiiiisihilitieM
am Sir.
Voiir n)n'di»'nt, si-rvant.
lie reel
i|.t
tins .
itlici;
II III
K'llllll'llt CilllSl'll til
<■ IIIIIIM'lll-
!ltr ••iilliijisf ol' till' Hi|illl)li(' lit' Mailitohji, ht'caiisc Mf. S|iiii(|.
wliilr i|iiit(' williiio to niiikr liiiiisclf iiotoiioiis. Uiis not piv
l.;i:i"l iit till' saiiif tiiiir to iiiciif tin- orjivr ii'sjiunsihilitifs niiii
tioiii'iriii tlic IrttiTor His < iracr till' hiikcot' liiickiiioliiiin.
lie lirW s o
r tilt' procrfiliiios iii i'ortiio
u Iraini', uiiirh w -
li;.\f lit'scrilti'ii, ami tin- ijistiii'liaiin's ai'isiiio' out tit' tlif Mr
Ki'iiiii'X' Sclmlt/. atlair. ifarliiMJ ("aiiada in a ijistortril nianiiri
and hail tlu' rtl'.ct of )>i'oi|iicino- a, .iiiprfssioii that thfy wnv
finsi'd liy till' iiiiso'oN cninii'nt ami tyranny of thf Hnilsiiir->
[)a\ < 'oni|iany : hut \vi' lia\i' now i-ohh' to a ]iffioi| w hrn a ili\ i
sion of till' |iro]i|f toiik placi' on this \fi'y suh)rft, innl it will
hf si'fii that a \fry small niajoi-ity In-lil tin- o|iiiii()U that tlif
actions of tin- conqiany wrn' opprrssiv r. In point of fart, tlii
sfttlfniriit was ni'MT iiion- contfiitiMl than a,t tlu; tiint'
wi- a IT
rv
wi'itino' ahont. ami althou^'h thi' ^o\ fninii'iit of tlir I'ouiit
was arknowlcdufil to hr wt-ak. if not jilto<;"('tlu'r jiowfi'li-ss, tti
sittlfi's. as a nilr. wn'i' law-.-ibidiiio'. and tlir condition of tli
coumninitv. on the whole
satinfac'toi'v.
Tilt' iiiajoiity of the settlers weiv not. therefore, in accord
with the few disturhers of the |ieace. ami a^^'itators who iiad
reached the point where there was ■ method in tlieir mad
ness.
the purjiose heiiio- to phiv iuto the hands of Canada, hy
diowin;^- the weakness of tlie company's otivt'rnuiettt.
I till IIISI'lvcs.
silictiiiii ..\(i
til atti'iii|ii I..
|iri>|it'rlv (■..II
III iiiiil \..iii
It' cmirsc \ ..11
1
i
1
urn
CMAITHW Will
I'l.dSlNd |l\^•s (If IHMSdNS li.W (<i\||'A\V itri.i;
lii;i
•III
r;l
TlIK Ni'l'-W'sfir liMil imw lircdiiic (lie liK HI t ll | lifcc of tll(»
Icnlltcllfs ill tllf .Srttlflllfllt. Mini I'lirll issllc CM HI til J IM'< I it> Inll
ntii III' tiliUx' III' till' ciiinimiiy. Its iciimiks, Imw ever, lic-
lllc Ml iitlrllsiN <• tllJit the llllljiifity lit" till' |ir(»j»l»' Ih-ciiiiic (ji.s-
oiistcil w itii it. Mini its cilitur. Mr. Wnltii |{ llnwn wIhi liii<l
Im I II |iImci'i| in cliarnf liy l>r. .Scjinlt/. ijuriiiu lii^ nliscncc mi m
\ isit til ( jiiijiila. was iiiit what may 1m' callfil liciii'ially |)<H)U-
lar. Tlir iiifliiciift' nf tlir |ia]ii'r at tlir tiinr may lie ;;'au^t'«| hy
an inciilcnt lliat tmik |ila(r -non al'ti-r the .M(•K^•nny-.*^(•llult/-
iistiirhaiifi'
ilvaiit
lU
;•' III' tllf |iit]nilar excitement
MccasioiK i| liy tlie III'. )i I-. in;;' dpeii of llie jail, the X<>r-\\'t s/ir
:iil\ ocatetl an alteratimi in the s_\-stein ot' i;ii\ I'liiineiit, to ailnw
.if |i'l)l'eselltati\e COtmeillors heine- rlccted tiy the |ie(i)»le. Kor
tiis |»tir|itise a |it'titi(>ii to the ( iovennneiit wa.s |tre|tai'e(|. ami a
iiiiiiilier of siMiiatures attachei'l hut iniiiHMliately a eoiinter-
p'tit'.ion was ijraw h n]> liy another party ol" settlers, .statiiijji',
niioii;, other tl)iiiL;s. that the iinlawt'nl liheration of |)r.
""•hiilt/ l.iH«l not the eMiintenance of the majority of the Ked
Hivei- ])0]!<*ilation, and this ijocinnent received no les.s than -StJ-i
■>iL:iiatures.
The J'/<r- II ('.s7r'/' nei;le(t>d to jiiihlivli the counter-petition,
Mlion which a party of settlers called upon the editor to de-
III
ind its insertion, hut w itlnail succes.v. 'I'liis so annoyed
i !
a
ir
i !
''M
^ ■■-
'MA
lllsTolSV i»r Tin; N«»ltTII-\VKST.
IIIII||Im-|' nt' tliosr will) llfl'l Mi^'IIIMl till' < |l K'tl lllfllt , tllllt tlliv
NtarlftI out witli tin- iiitt'iitictii of ilnnolisliiiiM' tin* otiicf. Tlii\
wtTc, liow t'ViT, n'str.iiiH'il lis t In- ( lovi-nior, M|)(»ri iJnsvu iiinlii
tiikiiij^' to |iiil»lis|i !i ••(•iliiiii iiiiiiiIm r of copirs of tin- pi'tition
lor wliicli tln' iiu-'rifN cil scttli'i's ai;i'<'t'i| to pav. I'lif oiitcoiiM
ol' this littlf IVacas was a snit tor (Icraiiiatioii ol" cliJiiMrtci
liroiiu'lit liNtwool' ilic iiicii aijaiii.st liown, wlio was coikIciiiihiI
to |iay a sum of ti\r |)ouiuIh, wliicli lie rcfiisrW to ilo. \\r \\a>
tlifii (;la]>]))-*l into Jail, lait in alioiit an lioiii- a fi-iciiij ]iaiil tin
amount, ami tln' wiatliy <'(litor was rcli-asiil. 'i'liis inci<lrni
was lirral<li'(| in < 'aiiaila as an attempt on tlir part of tlir coiii-
pany to mn//Jf tin- pirss of tlir r(aniti'y, anil of course ciiatcil
the usual amount of indimnation in places whefe the cireuin
stances of the ease w eic not known.
In .Inly. i-StiS, Mv. jlown liecame sole piopiietor <tf tl,i
paper. Dr. Sell lilt/, retirini;, ami the issue Itecame weekly ii -
stead i>f foiinielitly. With the eliaii;;*' of ownershiji, how
ever, the tone of the journal did not imj)i'o\(', hut, on the coii
trary, virulent ahuse of the authorities heeame e\en woim'
than ever. In Au;4ust, however, the Nor'-Wt'stcr did ^^'oimI
.service to the settlement in calline' attention to the distre.s>
that prevailed, owiny' to the ravaj^es of the ^raHsho))])ers. In
the autumn of 1^(17, the whole covnitiy was invaded hy
svvaiMiiH of locusts, and tliese ha\ int;' depositiMJ their euirs, tli''
youuf^' insects in the followine- spring devoured every <;ic(ii
thintr on the face <>i the land The result was that actiml
starvation stared the settlers in tlu' face, and the iVor'- llVs/( /•
puhlished an earnest appc'al for n'u\, addressed to the iidiah:-
tants of Canada and the Tnited States.
'I'he Karl of Kimbei-Iey, (Jovernor of the Htidson's \\;\y
Company, an<l others, puhlished letters on the subject in the
(•|,OSIN<; hWs <»l' mi>SUNS MAY cuMl'.WV III !,i:
It.)
L ii'liiii TittKs, ami us »i rcsiilt ot' t.'n's»' rHuitM, ;;ciii'n»\i,s ilmia-
ri.>ii> |K>un'il ill IVoiii nil smirccs. It was tin- ilaikrsl sfa.snii
I'lir the .m'ttlt'int'iit in many \ rais, for not only were tlir croiis
(|fstroy«'<l, Jiut tile laitlalo liiint ami tlir fislicrics pioNcd to lie
(■uiii|tli'ti' f'ailni'cs, ami fxt-n tin- ral>l>its and pliiasants in tin?
(■Mimtr\'
ha.l
<lisaii|H
IT
'ai'tMJ. 'I'lific w a>^, tlicnt'oii-, im I'ooil lor
tin- |iro|ilr, t'\c«'j»t what collM he olitaitH'il iVolii tlir lilnral
■ loliatiolis of outsiilf iVirlHls.
'I'lii' niucli ahnst'.j council of Assinilioia was tin- lirst to
come
to the rescue of the si'ttlcis, \>y votin;;' a sum of L'l.tiOO, to he
immt'tjiatt'ly spent in the followine- manner: tiiOO were aj)|iro-
|tiiatetl to puirhaHe seed wheat : .t!')()() for llour. aii<l l'.')()(» for
twine, hooks, and ammunition, to l>e distrilmted amoiii;' snch
settlers as desired to use thrm in procurin;^- tisli and name.
The donation of the ( 'ouncil of Assinilioia was (piickly fol-
lowed Ipy a lilieral amount ( L2,()(K>) from the Hudson's l>ay
( otupany, which made a total of C^JOOO in all recei\cd from
llritain: then came *('ana(hi with a jifuerous sum, foil
owed
hv the I'nited States with i<r>.{H){).
cen
tral
ori-a
ni/ation, named the " Hed Hiver Helief ( "om-
iiiitte
comnosei
1 of some of the principal residents, including;
the (Jovenior an<l the IJishops, was then formeil for the jair.
post' of reeiilatin;; the distriliution of the supplies. The flour
and provisions had to he hrou^ht from St. I'atd, and in order
to ^ive the distressed settlers an opportunity to earn food for
their families, a lartje numlier of them were emjdoyed to c«»n-
\ey the supplies over the ja-airie, the freifjjht heinjif paid in
provisions, and as the work of freiehtin^j relief stoi-es. owiiiL,'
m
■The Ontario (iovornmciil vote<l S.l.iKK) for the relief of the Red Hiver HeftliTH, but Hon John
.'^iindtitld MaedoiiaUl, for some reason, oi)])Osed its pa.vment. The private contrilmtioiis from
till' province, esi)ecially Hamilton, were most liberal,
W
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
^
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#
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\i i\
i^iiii^i
^1
m
ma
Hl.STOHV OK THK X( )in"H-\\ KST.
to the lateness of the season, had to he cairieil into the wim, ^
months, it enabled many to tide ovei- the scas(jn.
In the autun)n thei'e arrived in the settlement, a partx )f
Canadian Government em])loyo's, in eharne of Mr. .hilm A
Snow, for the pnrpose <jf eonstrnetinn' a I'oad l>et\veen the l!c .1
Kiver and the Lake of the Woods, the idea heinjj^ to prosecuti'
a pnhlie work, and at the same time afford I'elief to the settlt is
I'V employin;^' them on it. With Mr. Snow came Mi-. Ciiarles
Mair, as his assistant, and this gentleman. Ixiny- of a literal v
turn of mind, oeen|)ii'd his s})ai'e moments in writinj.;- letters tn
friends, whieh, unfoi'tunately foi' him, were afterwards |iuli-
lished in a numbei' of Canadian jiapers, the Toronto (Huhi
amon^' tlie nnmbei'. 'Hie c(jntents of these letters were, to say
the least, injudieiotis, and Mr. Mair's ei'itieisms not onK-
l)ron<4'ht him into disre))nte with the settlers whoJii lie had
ridiculed, hut they also created a had feelinj^' towards the ex-
pedition of wliich he was a memher.
The Fi'ench half-breeds, of whom Mi-. Alair w rote dis])araL;-
inyly, were ])ari!'jularly ott'ended at the tone of his letters, and
resented the calumnies which he had endeavored to cast ujinii
them as a class. We would not, however, have mentioned this
circumstance, if it were not that tjiese letters, from the pen i»t'
i\lr. Snow's assistant, aroused a verv unfriendlv feeliny on the
part of the half-breeds against Canadian lU'W-eomers gener-
ally, which, later on, had much to do with the difficulties that
arose between the two.
W'e will have occasion to deal with Mr. Snow's work on the
Lake of the Woods road, in a later chapter, and will thererniv
proceed to j>-ive our readers a short deseri})tion of the settle-
ment as it was immediately ])rior to the transfer of the coun-
try to Canada. '
closing; days of mj).s()Ns may comtany hci.k
:Ui7
lu' wiiili r
!\ piuty •>!
■. .lohn A
L'U tlu' Kt<l
1) pv(ts<'cut<-
the st^'ttl. T-
Mr. Charli-
f ii litrrary
!(■■ IfttO's In
■wavtls |)uli-
ronto alof"
wt'iv. to say
,j^ not only
1\(«11 1h' Iwi'l
amis tU*' '•>^-
)te (lis])ava;j,-
is letters, aii'l
to cast upon
,entioiK*d this
,n\ tlu' pen of
IVeliuii' on tlif
[oiners i;vn<T-
rticulties that
work on th«'
Iwill thi-rffniv
,,i' thr sfttlr-
ol" the coiiu-
I'ci'ore (loinir so, however, we would like to reniind our
rraders that for nearly two centuries tlie Hudson's Bay ("oni-
pjiny luid occupied Rupert's Land and tni-neij its resources to
the best advantage, considering' the l)ai'l)arous nature of the
I'i'i'ion and the oTeat ditHeulties thev had to contend aa'ainst.
For nearly fifty years of this time, they had heen instnmieu-
tal in estalilishiny' and sui)portiii,<i' a eivili/.ed .settlement, which
formed the micieus, in after years, of a chain of civilized coni-
iiiunititis thr()U<;hout the country. Much has heen said and
written foi" and a^'ainst the rule of the Hudson s Hay ( "om-
|i;iiiy, hut it must be remembtred tiuit in spite of all the many
(lirticulties that surrounded their path, and the frequent at-
tempts to dislodge them, they lield the coinitry as British ter-
ritory, when, in default of such occu))ancy, it would jirobably.
if not surely, have passed into jiossesssion of the Cnited
States. And above all, it is to the wise and considerate course
adopted by the company in their ilealin^ with the Indians,
that Canada has been able to enjoy possession of the land
with so little trouble from the native tribes.
The number of settlers aloji^' the Red and Assinil)oine
rivers, including' the French and Euiilish half-breeds, was es-
timated to be from l-2,()()() to l.S.OOO soids. In the vicinity of
rpper Fort (Jai-ry, the town of Winnipeg had grown to some
<limensi()ns, containing, as it did then, over thirty buildings.
Of these, eight were stores, doing bnsiness with the settlers
fuid outfitting half-breeds for th" Indian trade, two saloons,
two hotels, one mill, a church, and the balance chieHy ifsid-
ences. The town could boast of an engine-house, ])ost otlice.
and a small hall for entertainments, and at times. es])ecijdlv
wluMi the fur traders and Ininters arrived from the intt'rioi',
the vicinity presented a veiy lively ai)pearance, indeed. Along
*
:}(;s
iiisTonv <»!■ TiiK Noi:rii-\M:sT.
f':\ <
l* 1
li|l
1 1
n
'!
tilt' h.'iiiks of the Hcil and Assiniboiiic rivers scttlt'iiit'iits Ii.kI
spi'cad, and f\ crywlicrf conld hr seen sii^ns of eomrort mikI
]»|-(»s|ieritv. 'I'he settlei's, as a IMlle. were peaceful and law-
aliidini;', ami the disturbances, wliicli we have noted IVoni tiiiir
to time. ;ii'ose ocncnilly iVoni the acts of a few men, and wnr
not participated in by the community as a. whole.
'Die I'^rench half-hi'eeds, who had on several occasions <,nvcii
tlie Iludsons IJay ('om[)any a j^reat deal of trouble, wi'iv, ;it
the time we are writine' nbout, amon;^' the most peaceful and
loyal of the settlers to the e'overnmi'iit of the day. The Scotch
and JMi;.;'lish had always becMi law-abidino', and, exce[)t in the
case of a few W(tn ovei' bv aei tutors, the\' hail invariublv siiu-
ported the authoi'ities. Hut the company, knowing- its weak-
ness, unsupported by any force of .soldiers oi- constabulary,
was uuabh.^ to e'ive that protection, thi'ou;;'li its courts, which m
well-oi-dered connnunity has a riyht to expect, and foi- this
reason there was an undefined lack of confidence amoii;.; all
classes in its adnunistration of atlairs. The company's otiicer.s
realized this, and were lookine- foi'ward eaj^erly for some
chane'e to indiove them of the responsibility. The Council, al-
thoue^h appointed by tlu' Hud.son's Bay Company, was really
composed of representative men of the settlement, becau.sc.
before an appointment was made, the views of the settlei's on
the subject were first ascertained, and if the councillors had
been elected by populrr vote the same men wonld probal)ly
liave been chosen in most cases, and, what is more, the author-
ity of the Hudson's Bay Company woulil Jiavc been niaintain-
od, as it was not only the cliief source of revenue but also
l)Ossessed of most ))Ovver to do good to the settlement.
The cotirt-house was situated outside, but close to the walls
of Fort Garry, and although we need not repeat the particulars
(■I,<)SI\(i DAYS or llt'DSONS MAY CO.MI'ANY lUl.i:
:^()f)
■incuts liail
Diiit'ort ami
il and law-
l I'rotii titiir
n, ami wtiv
iHioiis !j;ivi'ii
1)1«!, wen-, at
[M'acoful ami
'riic Scotch
except in tlic
•arial)ly s\\\>-
\nf its weak-
constabulary,
nrts, whit'li a
and I'or this
ifi' anion;;' all
)any's otlicci's
ly for sonic
V Council, al-
y, was really
HMit, lieeausc,
ihe settk'i's on
)uncillors luul
uld proViably
e. the autlior-
eu niaintiiiii-
Miue but also
nent.
e to the walls
le ])articulars
relating;' to the administration ol' tlie law, we may say that the
process, thoueh well aihipted tor jau'poses of fail' ar})itratioii
ill siiiijtle cases.
w
as liable to abuse, owiiii-' to its summarv
Cll
iracter, and al)scnce of ])reliminary and other necessai'V
ai'iane'ciiiciits customary with reuular ci)iirts
aw.
Th
a'dtation ajiainst the authorities an<l aeajnst the ciairts pro-
(•ceded, as already shown, not so much from nati\es of the
cujoiiy as from new comers, and a few others who had an
(ilijcct in wishine- to upset the i;o\ crnnieiit o!' the day.
The culti\'ated portions oi' the farms aloii^ the i'i\ers were
small, but imnieiliately bacd-: of thi'iii could lie seen ^reat herds
(if domestic cattle, feedin;;' on the plains, unherdeil and left to
ream at will. ;;'ra/,ine' freely on tln' rich erass of the praiiie.
■Inst betore the harvest it was customary for the settlers to ;4'o
■ lia\' cuttine," which the\' did li\' tra\cllinu' oxei- the prairie.
ui
itil th
ci
icy came to a desiralile spot, when they would cut m a.
I'cle, and all the erass thus eiudosed beloneiMl to the party
liay-iiiakine\ no one. by the acknowledee(| law of the land,
hciiiij,' allowe(l to disturb him within that charmed circde.
Tlien a busy scene commenced, the mowers (for the settlers
had learnefl already to make use of ao-ricultural machinery)
were ke]it busy, and men. women and children niie-ht be seen
actively ene'ai^ed in stackine- the hay. Durine- hay time tho
jH'ople live(l in tents on the hay i^rfunul, and only retuiiied to
their houses when the work was tinishecl.
Almost inunediately after liayin<;', harvesting' commenced,
1 atiy one. to lu'.ve looke(l at the sjdendid tiidds of wheat,
aiK
Would have been impressed with the ^'i-f^at fertility of the soil.
At that time there was no settler away from the river, the liiu^
of settlement skirtint;' the river with tidy farm houses, com-
hirtable Vmrns and well-1'enceil lields of wavine-, golden ^rain,
lik(.' a b(?autiful fringe to the ^a-eat fertile prairies beyond.
,Mi
•
; IllJ
■
''' lli'l
1
1 1 1 *' 1
u
■ 1 '^1
^Md
E
,,v,T^^/i!l
r:.
I'l;
ill
I
\n
i'
-,
ill
ill
•STO
iiisToKv or Tin; N(»i!Tn-\v(:sT.
Soeially there was iiiucli ^'ood rcclin;^" cxi.stin;;' Itetw-t'cn all
cltisHes of tlie eoinnmnity, ainl ft more liospitahle oi* liiijiiiiri'
people eould liardl}'^ Ix- toiiiid on the face of the earth th.in
tlir setth'i's of K(;<1 Hivci' in lS()S-(i!>. Sueh was the state i if
the settlement when arrani^ements 'for the transfei" of tlif
country to C'ana<la were completed.
And now, in closin;;' this cliMpter, we will take a elaiiec :it
the ))roer('ss oi" the Church from 1S4!) to ISiiH, a period of
tw enty years.
The cathedral erected hy tlie Bishop of Juliopolis, wdiich wc
described in a former pae-e of this volume, was destroyed hy
tire in I8()0, and in ISIil IMsliop Tache visited Europe, partly
for the pui'pose of raisin^' money for the restoration of his
church, the result of which was the erection of tlie handsoinc
catluvlral still standine- in St. Boniface. About this time tlie
enormous extent of teri'itory included within the limits of the
diocese of St. Boniface, rendered its supervision extremely
ditticult under one head, and it was decided, with the sanction
of the Sovereii^'u Pontiti', to divide it into three, the Athabasca
and Mackenzie River district as one : tlu^ country draining;
into Hudson's Bay another, and the tliird consisting- of the
southern territory, with its headcjuarters at Red River. The
first-named diocese was placed under chare-e of Bishop Faraml.
the second under Bishop (Jrandin, and Bishop Tache remained
at Red River. Seven parishes were organized in the latter
diocese, with about three thousand regular connnunicants, ami
the Roman Catholic clergy succeeded in extending their mis-
sions in almost every direction throughout the North-West,
and in May, 18()4, Rev. Pere Vandenberglie, a member of the
general council of tlu' order of (Jblats, in France, and visitiiij;'
inspector of missions, arrived at Red River, and visited a num-
ber of the outlying missions.
(•|,(»SIN(; DAVS (»F IUDSONS l!.\^- ('OMI'ANV IMLK.
:{7i
'• ¥
il'i
III lS<)-2, the |)rf.scMt Kpiiseopal catluMlral at St. .lulms was
oiM'iicfl by Hishop AiKltTHon, on tlio site of tlu' old church built
in IH.'U, and ill IS(!4 thr hislioj) took his ultimatt' <l('{)avtur<'
tVoiii the scttlt'iiicnt, wht-n Rev. T. T. Smith orticiattMl until
liishop Mat'hray aiTi\t'il in ISUo and took chai'ye of the dio-
(csf. In the ineantiine, liev. Mr. Hunter, who had hem at
rlic ( 'umherland Mission, came to Hed River, and, as Arch-
d.acon, was appointed to St. Andrew's, which he I'etained
until I.S()5, when he i-eturned to Eni^land and was succeeded
liy Rev. Ardideacon Cowley. St. Paul's, which had no re^^ular
clcruyman initil IM4!>, was in that year placecl in chai;ne of
Hi'V. Mr. Chapman, and in 1851 a substantial stone church
liavinn- been erected at St. Clements between the Indian settle-
iiit'iit and St. Andrew's, Rev. Henry Cochran was a])pointed to
it. ( )n the river Assiniboine were the })arishes of St. .lames,
H('a<lingly, St. Margaret, St. Ann, and St. Mary: the Hrst
hcinij in charj^e of Rev. Wm. H. Taylor until I8(i8, when
Rev. W. C. Pinkham was apj)ointed. Heailini^ly at one tinie;
was under the Rev. (}. (). Corbett, to whom we referred in a
Former part of this book, lait in lS(j() Rev. James Carrie took
charge. The parish of St. Mary was formed in l8o7, by Rev.
Arelvleacon Cochran, who otficiated there until 18(15, when
Rev. Henr}' Georye succeeded him. St. Margaret and St.
Ann were also founded by Archdeacon Cochran, and in 18()4 a
regular resident clergyman was appointed to tlieni in the per-
son of Rev. John Chapman, who jjjave way in 18<i8 to Rev.
(lilbert Cook.
In all there w^ere twenty-four clergymen in the whole Dio-
cese of Rupert's Land, nine of whom were engaged in regular
parochial duty in the settlement, while the other fifteen were
laboring- in the interior missions, some of them lying- as far
h, t ;
\
■ h
■ -11
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;
kM
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■I
;
•II
hj
1
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Il
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1
1
1
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1
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1 :.;l
i
1
■ i
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M:
i^-^'
:}72
IlISToHV ol- Tin; N(»|{TH-\Vi;sT.
iioi'tli MS Atlifihascii. Oil the .'iOtli May, IMKI. tlic Hrst •■('oii-
I't'it'iicc lor clciny iiml lay dclc^ati'.s tVoiii jtarislirs" in tli.
|)i(i<'t'Sf of Hiipt'i't's Land was licM at St. .loluis, hy liislmp
Macliray, thus iuaunuratiiii; tlic work of orL;aiii/-iitioii in tin-
Clnircli of Kiinland, ami in tlic t'olIowiiiL;' ( )(tolM'r tlic \'<n(i-
altlc Aic*li(k'acoii McLean (al'tcrwaitls iJislio]! of SasUatilic-
waii), arrived in the sottlciuciit, who, by his ^rcat cncryy aii'l
uiitiriiiL; /cal, ^avo a dccirjcd iinpctiis to church matters in
Red liiv<'r. in I(S(!7, he eoniiiienced holdinc- services in tlir
town of \Viniii))cc', havin^' ohtainecl the use oj' a hail for the
{)ur|tos(>, and in l-Sd'S, a siiiall wooden church, ' Holy 'I'linity
the first edifice of the kind, was erected in the town.
Wlieii Kev. John J^lack arrived in Ked Kivei-, about .S()(» mJ
tlie Scotch settlers separated from tin; Church of Kneland aiil
attached themsch'es to him. In hSo.S, a secon<l I'resliyteii.ui
churcli was erected at Little IJritain, about fourteen milr>,
down the river from Fro^' Plain : and in liS(i2. Hew .lani's
Nisbet took charf.^e of it until lS(i(i. when he went to the Sas-
katcliewan to form a niissi(jn there, and was succeeded by
Kev. Alexaniler Matheson, who, in l<S(!8, was rephiced l)y le \ .
William Fletcher. In l<S<i(), a Presbyterian church was built
at Headin^dy, and in 1(S()8, anotlier was opened in Winnipeg
'I'here were then three regular churches namely, Kildonau
( Fro^' Plain), Little Britain, and Headin<^ly, and four preach-
ino- stations at Winnipeg', Poplar Point, Hi^li Bluff, and
l^orta^^e La Prairie, respectively.
In 1H()(S, the Wesleyans sent the Rev. Geor<fe Youiii:, a
worthy and zealous cler<.iynian, to Winnipeu", to estaljli.sh i
church there, and the Hudson's Bay Company, having donated
a lot of land for the purpose, he, soon after his arrival, com-
menced the erection of " Grace Church," and in this \vn\' tin-
Methodists gained a footiiold in the settlement.
tiun ill tl.<
till- \'i'iii'i
Saskati'lii-
('iicriiy aii'l
iiijittfis ill
ices ill tl:r
hull Tor till'
[y 'I'riiiity
'11.
jout :}()(» -I
lii^'laiiil aii'l
CHAI'TKH XXIV.
l)|,SSATlS|-.\( TION IN Ui:i) ItlVr.l! SKiri.K.MKNT,
()\ the I'Stii Sc|)teiiil)L'r, ISdH. Mr. .Inliii A. Snow, rcccivcfl
iiistructii)ii,s tVoiii llonorahli' Win. McDonuall. thru .Minister of
riii)li(; Work.s, to procrcd to the Hnl Hi\fi' Sett Icimnt . aii<l
(•(iiiiincncc the oi)t'iiiiii>- ol" a road from l^nt (iarrv to the Lake
ot the Wood.s. on the route rec-oinmeiided liy Mr. S. .1. |)a\vsoii.
At that time, ( 'aiiada had no rinlit or title in the territory,
iic^otiation.s boiiijn' then in proi^ress for ac<|uirinL; the same.
MossrH. Dawson and Hind, it is true, hail ex|)lored an<l sur-
veyed certain districts in hehalf of Canada, hut tliis was iloiiu
with tlie knowledge and eonsent of the Hudson's l>ay ( 'om-
pany, hut Mr. Snow was ])ut to work without so much as say-
nu
*y yonv leave
to tl
le cluirtere(l proprietor:
1 1 was
done with the ostensible object of att'or<linu relief to the dis-
tressed settlers', but, as a matter of fact, there is nothing; to
hIiow^ in the official correspondence that this feature of the un-
dertakinii' was ever carried out. Mr. Sik
)W sa\'s.
that
on hiH
arrival in the settlement, he received the verbal cousent of
(Sovernor McTavish to carry on the work, but in o[)position to
this, there appears the followin;^' pai-aj^raph in the rejxirt of
Hon. Messrs. McDoui-all and Cartier, the delegates to F^neland
ill 18(j8-(): " Durintr the progress (jf nee-otiations, a formal
complaint was made to the Colonijil Secretary by the repre-
sentatives of the company, against the Canadian ({o\ernment,
, I
I:,, I
'1»
'I;!'
! '
i
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f
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^■i
:i74
msToitv (»r Tin; N(ti!Tii-\vi:sT.
for mi<li'rt;il<iiiu' tlif conHtnictioii tif n ruiiil Iti'twt'fii liiikc of
the \\'(tu<|s Mild tilt' Ui'il Kivir Scttlt'iiH'iit, without lm\iii;f tiist
<)l)tniiHM| tlif coiisfiit ol' the ('uiii|(;my."
It was, to .say tin- leant of it, soiiH'wIiat int'iiiatiirc on tin
part of ('aMa<la to taUt- tin- step it <liil in face of the fact tli.ii
ti('n»)tiatioiis foi' tilt' |)iirclia.sc of tlif country were then peiiil-
iii;;. ()iily a few .settlers were eiiijdoyed, the greater uunilier
hein^' ("anaijians ami Aniericaiis, and these latter it seems
^ave Mr. Snow a tjood deal of trouMe on account of tln'
lowne.ss of the wa^es paid. ()iione occasion they seized aii<l
threateutMl to drown him unless he settled their duuiand.s,
and referrin;;- to this uiattei" in his report, Mr. Snow thus eii-
lo^^i/es the natives of the country : " I nniat, however, state
that the conduct of the French half-hreeds employed, was, with
very few (exceptions, respectful, and tln'ir labor honestly j»ei-
formed, and tliat the di.safecti(jn that occurred (hirino- the sinn-
iner amon<j;" the men em[)loyed, was ahnost entirely contine<l to
Canadians, and deserters from the American army."
In another report, he hits iiis assistant, Mr. Mair, rather
liard, althou<;ii lu' does not sjiecially .single him out by name.
He says: " That letters written by Canadians here, which
have appeared from time to time in the new^spapers in Canada,
have done harm I must admit, l)ut I have had no hand in their
production, they have been published in opposition to iii\
wishes." There is no doubt Mr. Snow meant well, and tried
to do his duty, but he unfortunately allowed hinuself to become
allied to unm wiio simply used him as a tool in the t'uitherance
of their own ends. In February, 18(5!), a disturbance arose at
Oak Point, the headquarters of the Lake of the Woods roa<l,
owino- to a scheme having- bten entered into for the purpose of
buying from the Indians their title to the lands, irrespective
DISSATISKACTIKN IN HKH UI Villi sKI TI.IIM KM'.
:{7:)
«*!' tilt' clainiH (if tln' Ilillt'-Krt'rd scttlcr.s. Messrs. SiMiW Mini
Miiir Wert' ,su|»|kj,s«'<| to In- iinpliciitfil in this nmttcr, ami tin-
Litter l)i'iii<; sci/iMl hv ii partv of f.\citf<l iiini. was l)i(tu<;lit 1)\'
I'mfc to Kort (iarrv, aii<l unly ii'lfasfd liy tlic intfrt'iTiiK I'
(Juvrnior Mc'ravish in liis Itclialt'. Mr. Simw, li(»\Vf\<'r, was
,irrtsti'(| aiHJ coiKlt'iiiiH'd to pay a tiiii' of tt'ii pomuls tor hav-
ing; sold iiiiMor to tilt' liidiaiis in tlif coiirsc of, and in conin'c-
tion with, the land ti'aii.sactioii.
Tilt' wlit)lf cttiiiliu't of thf uniltTtakiiin was inarkftl rrt)ni
first to last l)y a scrit's ol" iniutli('it)iis acts t)n thf part of tin-
iiitMi in t'liar;^t', ami tlif results wt'if most niil'ortuiiatt' at that
[larticular tinit'. ( lovcnior MeTavish I't-lt it iiicuinlHiit tai him
to write a letttT on thcHuhjct't to Hon. W i. Mi'l)ouj;all, who, in
ivply, iiiHilc the followinj^ .sini^nlar HtHt«'int'nt : " that the mom-y
a|)j>ropriate(l towards the work on thf Lakf til" thf Woods
loail was intt'iiilfil for thf rcliff of the sfttlfrs. as the Had-
son's Hiiji Compunt/ had ilovc not/nag for tlw sftirvinr/ pi'oplr
of Red River." Wo have seen how much tnith thert- was in
tlif latter part of this assertion, and, as for thf first, a very
small amount of the money exjiendeil passetl into the hamis tjf
the starvin;^' })eo])le. The whole amount j)ai<l out on this
Work was al)Out S''S(),0{)0, antl it mi^dit just as well have been
dumped into the H(m1 River for all tlie ^ooil it diil to t'anada,
or to the settlement. It was the caust; of the first of tlu^ dis-
turhances that broke out amoni; tht; half-breeils in opjiositiou
to the transfer of the country to (/'anada, and, immediately
following; it, Hon. Wm. Mcl)ou;.;all took another premature
and unwise step, which only tended to increase the bad feeling
already existing.
On the lOth July, 18()!), he directed (Colonel .1. S. Dennis,
1).L.S., to repair to Red River and prepare a plan for laying
Pi!
Will
m
fe
!i!
,S7»;
IIIST((HV ul' TllK NuUTII-WKST.
out tow iislii|is, mill utlinwisf iimkiii;^' n nrin'rnl survi-y t>\' tli.
country, ('ol. I )fniiis at niicc jirncccdid witli liis witik, jiimI
iil'ttT roiisultiiin- with tin- ( 'i(»\\ II l^.iinls I )(|ini t iimiii, siiliinii-
tt'<| )i inriii(ii'tiii<luiii on tin- Hul)ji'ct, in wliidi In- intinmtfil that
thci'c uoiiM jii'ol)jil)ly III' oh)rctii>n on the |ijiit uf tlif iiiill
liifcils to any sni\ry nntil their riainis had hern iii\ rsti^intr.l
ami sctth'd l)y the |)i>niinion ( iox iinnii'iit. Mr. McDon^^iill
li(t\vt'\('i-. |i)iii| no attriitioii lo ihi.s waniiii^'. Init, with thf
UMsont of tilt' l'i'i\y ( 'oiincil. issunl an ordci'. in ( )ctol)t'i'. U'V
tilt' .sui\ ry.s to |tr(»('ft'(|. ( 'ol. I )('ijiiis a('conlin;;ly wrnt towdik
to carry out lii.s instructions, and |inl inrn in the tirld for that
|»nr|)osc, hut IuhI liai'dl_\' coninit'iicrd njicrations wlirn, mi \\\r
lith ol' <)ctolitr, a party <ii' nini. headed Ky Loiiis Kiel, in-
terrupted the survey, and threatened violence if it was ih't
stopped, |)r. ( 'owan, the oMicer in char;;e of j-'ort (Jarry.then
made every etl'ort to imluce jxii'l and his iiait\' to withdraw
their opposition, hut without s\iccess. and the ("atholic cleiny
Were e\en solicited to Use their inllueiice in the same diicc-
tion. l)Ut the sjiirit of rehellion had lieen aroused, and could
not lie allayed li\ reaHouine- with the malcontents, nnd so tip'
suryt'ys and work on tlie Lake of the Woods I'oad hail to lie
aholislied.
The oj)p()sition on tlio part of the French lialf-hreeds wa>-
caused throu<^h distrust of the intentions of Canadians to-
ward them, and this was broueht al)out in a ^rcat measure hy
tlie acts of a few men in the settlement wlio. professine' to
have the cause of Caiuuia at heart, were really more con-
cerned in filling their o^vn pockets. These men, as soon as the
work of survey liad connnenced, staked out hir^e claims of
land for themselves, which they openly hoasted would he
theirs ns soon as the Canadian Government secured possession.
l»lS.S.\TISI'A(Tli»\ IN |||;|» 1! IV Kit SKTTI.KMKM'.
ii (
Tliis, ill foiiJuMcl inn with tlic pntrrcdini^.s nt ()al\ I'ltint, on rlic
Lake of tin- Woods I'oiiil, |iroi|iicci| till' iiii|in'ssioii in tlir iniml'i
lit' tlio Mini|>li' li!i,lt'-l)it'f<lN tlicit tlirir lioincs tin<l tlnir IjiihIs
uiMilil Im' cuntiisi'iiti'd MS soon us tin' trfinsl'ci' took |iiji(i'.
Till' |iro|)l(' (»t" tin- si'ttli-nirnt IijuI licfii nifuliiiiljy uorki-il n|)
fii ;i stiiti' of unii'st. Miiij till' lluiisoii s r.jiy ( 'oni|i(iny liml liccn
niisi't_'|if('S('ntr(| iunl iiiali;^iii'i| to such an i-xti'iit that thf st't-
ili'i's wtic in si-rions dotiltt as to the real position the authori-
ties oc('n|iit'(| in thf (•haii;,n's w hich werr niniorcd as ahout to
takr phu't'. Thi! French |»oi'ti<(n of the coiiirnnnity, from this
feeliiiu' of rcsth'H.sness and unci'itaintN', hcnan at last to sus-
]icct that tiic t'()in)taiiy was |)layin^' into the hands of ('anada.
to liaii<l tht'in over without any I'enard for their interests.
I'ntil this fi'ciini'' took root, the\ were |o\al to the coni|>an\\
and really had no desiie for a ('han;;t', hut their susjiicioiiH,
ciucc uronst'd. had an etf'ect on their excitaMe teni|ieraineiits,
w hich it was inipossihle to control.
In the nicantinic, as we ha\t' alrtjiidy shewn, ai-rjin^^cinents
for the traiisfei' of the country had hceii made, and 1st ( )(i()-
her, IS(I!>, set a.s the date on which the j)urchase money was to
lie handed over. It was then expectexl that, on oi' ahont the
1st Deceuiher followini,', a (^>ueens Proclamation would be
issued, tixinjj' a day for the union of the Xoith-W'est with
("anada. ,
On the 2.Sth September, lH(i!>, Honorable William McDou-
pdl wan appointed Lieutenant-CJijvenior of tlie North-West
Territories, to take etf'eet from and after the day on which
such territories were tran.sferretl by Her Majesty to thi; Do-
minion, the salary of the otHce Ijein^ placed at seven tiiou-
sand dollai's per annum. On the same day as this appoint-
ment was made, the Secretary of State for the Provinces
378
mSToKV OK THE N'oKTH-WKST.
addressed a letter to Mr. MeI)oui;all, iiiHtructin*^ liiiu to ino-
ceed witli all convenient speed to lM)rt (larry, to superintcnil
the preliminary arranj^enients for t]ut orj^anization of the tci-
ritories, and report to the CJovernnient at Ottawa on the
following suhjects :— SuitabU' names of persons to aet on iii.s
council — the state of the laws — system o\' taxation in force —
state of the Jiulian tribes — nature and amount of the curren(\-
— systr-m of education — lands desirable to open at once lor
settlement — relations existini;- between the Hudson's Hay
Company and the different religious bodies in the territories —
otiicei's employed hy the Hudson's Bay C\)m)>any, salaries, etc..
and V.nt names of those who should be retained: and, finally.
Mr. McDou^all was instructed to take steps for the extension
of the teleoraph S3^stem to the North-West.
Soon aftei- his ai»pointment, Hon. .Mr. jVrcDou<;all left for
the North-West, via the Tnited States, and on tlie 11th Octti-
bei', the Secretaiy of State for the Pi'ovinces ti'ansmitte<l, ]»y
the hands of Mr. .1. A. X. Provencher, the following docu-
ments : —
1st. A conunission apjiointin*;' him as Lieutenant-Governoi'.
2nd. A conunission to Wm. McTavish and others, to ad-
minister the oaths of alleti'iance and office to Mr. McDouji'all.
.Srd. A conunission to same parties to administer oaths of
office to all persons appointed to office in the North-West Ter-
ritories.
4th. A commission appointing Mr. ^fcDougall Deputy-(}ov-
ernor for signing marriage licenses in the North-West Terri-
tories.
All tliese connnissions v/ere to take effect from and after the
day to be named by Her Majesty, in pursuance of the British
Nortii America Act of bS(i7, for tlu' admission of Rupei'ts
J)ISSATISFA(TI<)N IN UKI) lUVKI! SKTTLK.MKNT.
.S7f)
Land and the North -West 'IV'rritorit's into the l)<»niinion of
( 'anada.
On the .SOth Oc'tobfi'. Hon. W'ni. McDouiiall anivfd at the
II. B. post at i\'nd)ina, hnt in the nicantinit' cfitain fVcntH
hail taken phiee at lied Kiver, which it will he ut'ccs.sai'V to
chronieh'.
In th(i fall of 1 8(ir), previous to the arrival of Mr. M('l)oui;,all
at Pond)ina, Hon. Joseph Howe, then Secretary of Stati'! for
the Provinces, in company with Messrs. 'I'urnei- and Sandford,
of Hamilton, Ontario, paid a \isit to tiie settlcnK'nt. an<l on
its becoming- known that so distinj^uislied a party had an-ived,
a few Canadians undertook to hoist a flat;- in lu.nor (»f the oc-
casion. There would not have })een nnich harm in this, l)ut
the individuals in question had taken a British ensiun, and
tacked on the words " Canada " across its face, 'i'herr was no
sense in this })roceedin^', which, in ])oint of fact, was a jture
mutilation of the national emblem, and if the Maji' had been
hoiste(l, under the existin<; state of fetdinj^' aniont;' tlic French
iialf-breeds, there would })rol)ably have been a sei'ious disturb-
ance. Hon. Mr. Howe, however, was too ('X])cririiccd a man
to countenance any such demonstration in his behalf, and in-
timated his wish. Jis soon as he heard (jf it, that the lla^- wouhl
Hot be hoisted, a circumstance, howtxi-r. which tui-nt-d hi.s
would-be friends into actual enemies.-
Mr. Howe's reason for visiting- the country was to sec for
himself what it was like, so tliat h<' nii;j;ht be the better able
to Jud^e when dealin;j,' afterwards with niattei's coiniected
with it. He did not \isit Red Hivei- to take part in any party
teclin^ then existing, or to 2>i"<>poinid the policy of the ex-
pected Clovernor. He came to see the people {^vnei-ally, an<l
;;ather facts about the country, the saine as any private indi-
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HISTOllY OK TIIK XOHTH-WEST.
vidual ini<4;ht wish to do. Rol'uMinn- all invitations of li(),s])it,il-
ity, ho kept liinist'if a ^(jod deal in liis (luarters at the Imtil,
receiving visits, but payinu' none. In ecjnipany witli Mi\ W.
E. Sandt'ord (now Senatcjr Sandford), lie made a conplf i>t'
trips jiip and down the Red and Assinibijia Rivers, in tlir
cfMirse of wliich lie became conversant, no doubt, with a ^dod
deal of the feeliiijn' then existin*;' amongst the settlei's in re-
gard to the pro[)Osed change of government. Hut at tluit
time tliei'e were only gnunblings, and acts of hostility toward
Mr. McDougall were not even suspected. Mr. Howe's Wfll-
known fighting ijualities as a statesmen, and the attitude he
took in d<'fence of the rights of his native province, no doul)t
gave the impression to some that his instincts were somewhat
of a rebellious nattnv, and that, therefore, he sympathized
with tile French half-bree<ls in their complaints, but whatever
may have been liis inner feelings, his words to the people of
Red River were tlu.)se of assurance that Canada would dn
justice in all cases.
Soon after his departure, however, the troubles commenciMl
by Riel, with six or eight followers, erecting a barrier acioss
the road at Riviere Sali', for the purpose of preventing the en-
trance of the new (iovernor. Public and private meetings
were then held among the French, in which Riel took a pi'o-
mineiit part, the result being that three or four hundred men
assembled at the barrier with the avowed object of keeping
Mr. McDougall out at all hazards. A council was formed, (if
whicii John Bruce was made President, and Louis Riel, Secre-
tary, the council chamber being at Riviere Sale, in the house
of Rev. Mr. Richot.
The next step was the sending of a messenger to intercept
Mr. McDougall, with the following missive, warning him not
to attempt to enter the settlement : —
1
I)ISS.\TIS1'A( TI<»N IN l!i:i) I!IVKI{ SKTTI.K.M KNT.
:i,si
•• .MoxsiKiK — Le Coinitd XntioTial drs Metis dc hi Riviere
Ronge, intiinc a Monsieur \V. McDou^^all roidrc ilr lie j);is
enti'er sur le Territoire ilu Nunl-i )iiest sans line [(erinissiou
speciale <le ce coniitt^.
'■ I'ar onlre ilu l'r(^siilent,
•.loHN l)l!l('i:.
'• Loris RiKL, Scrfi'lairf.
•' r)ate a St. Norbeit. Rivi«re Ronj^o,
'■Ce 21e jonr<r()ctol)re, ISO!)."
Tlie iollowin;;- day an atHdavit was sworn to l)y \V. Ilyman
Ix'fnre Dr. Cowan, at Fort ( larry, which we will ^ive in I'lill
as it fairly re])resents the action of the French at the time;—
»\ . llvMAN uiakfth (i;ttli, ainl suitli : —
Tn wit : I
Dmiug the aftoniiKUi nf yi-'sterday. scnae twenty men, cn- tliiTraluMtts,
fully aruuMl. iikkIu their a])])L'araiR'u at the cm.ssiiiy df the Riviere Sale,
im the road betAveen here and IV-nihina : and nthei- and smaller part ie,s of
nieii. al.sii armeil, kept cnniinn' in dnrinii the afterniMin ;ind eveniiisj;, till as
iiKiiiy as ferty men were in the jiarty.
That the said i)arty nf forty men are imw hilleted (i.r were when the
ilfpnnent left Imme this a.m., at which time they had sent nil' sunie more
iiit-n for nioi'o provisions) round in the adjaeent houses.
That the men composin;.^ the said pai'ty, de|)onent lielii-ves. :dl ludong
tip the parishes of St. Norliert, ahove meiitinned, and St. N'ital ; and tha
the avowed ()l)jeot of tlieir meeting in arms, and waiting at the saiil point,
was to turn back the new Governor, Mr. McDougall, and not allow him
to enter into the colony — one of the men, in eonversafion with the de])on-
ent, who was naturally anxious to find out the meaning of such an assem-
hlagc, with arms in their hands, told the deponent the above wa.s their ob-
ject : and further said, that if the (Governor persisted in attempting to
ciiine farther than that point, i.n., the cro.ssing of the Riviere Sale, they
would shoot him.
That he was informed liy this jiarty, and believes the same (inasmuch
as lie saw a number of horsemen jiassing previously), that another party,
innunted, supposed to consist of twenty men or more, are now in advance
somewhere about Scratching River, accompanied ))y a man named Riel,
whose intention is to stop the (iovernor, and to submit to him several
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HISTOHV <»K THK .\()l!TII-\Vi:sT.
(|iU'sti(ins, or rather <l'.'iiiaii(ls. in tlio cvont nf ri'fiisint,' wliicli lie is wanud
iiiit to proeuud. Tlieru is a furtlicr anil tiiinl jiarty hulwoeii the two puints
niuntioiied, wliidi this (lepi)iieiit , frmn inforiiidtinn roceivod, lu'lievos tn
niniiber forty ini-'ii. Slimild the (iovornor persist in f((nnn;ii; forwanl. n i-
witlistandin^' ropi'iitcd waiiiinus, tlicse parties will fall liack on the rusei \>'
at the Kiviere Sale; and tiieii tinal action will he taken, as ahove men-
tioned, shoulil he still further endi'avor to foree his way on to the settle-
ment.
That, anionir other houses in the \icinity, where ei'rtain of the fnity
men at l{iviere Sale are liilleted, ten of the armed Jiarty find tpiarters at
the house of the Cure J{ev. I'ere iviehot.
Finally, that the deponent seriously believes that the said nu'U ,iic
tridy in earnest ; and that without [jromjit action heini^ taken hy the .ni-
thorities, toa\ert the same, a serious calamity is about to ensue— in ;ni
outrage, which may be of a fatal cliarai'ter on the pei'son of tlu' lioii'i-
able geiith'man now aliout enteriui,' the colony to assume the cliargc nf
guverumenl
(Siiriied), \V. HvMAN.
Sworn before me at Fort (Jarry, )
this L'2nd day of October JKfilt. (
(Sigiieil),
Wii.i.iA.M Cowan, .).]*.
^Ii'. .Mfl)()tij4'all, while on liis way across tlic plains, had met
Mr. Howe, wlio told hiiii that thciv was a certain aiii<niiit of
uneasiness anion;^' the Ki'<l River people, which wouhl re(|niiv
delicate handling'. l)ut that he did not anticipate any armed
insurrection, and therefore tiie newly appointed (irovernor was
jiartly prepared for opposition, Init not for the form which it
assumed. After partinj^' witii Mr. Ho,,e, lie soon after met
Mr. \V. VI. Sandford, who liad deferred his de[)arture a lew
•lays after Mr. Howe left, and he it was who first informed
Mr. McDou^all of the erection of the bari'ier at Riviere Sale.
It appears that when Mr. Sanford was ready to leave tlie set-
tlement, the barrier had been raised aiul he could not ;.;et
through without a [)a.ss. He thereupon consulted with Mr. \.
(_J. B. Bannatyne, a prominent resident, who sent for Riel, and,
in a few words well chosen for the purpose, intr(xluce(.l Mr.
DrsSAl'IsrA-lloN IN l!!;i) lilVlllt SKTTI.K.MKNT.
he is wiiiui <I
lie t\vi> piiiiits
\, iK-liuVL'H to
fniwanl, ii"t-
11 thf rt'scrw'
s iil)iive iii'U-
to the scltle-
I of till' fiiity
nl (|uartt.'i- :ct
said iiH'ii iiir
i<(.ii liy tlu.' .111-
) enKHf - ill :ni
of the luuii'i-
tlii' cliaii^f lit"
\V. HVMAN.
Siiiniror'l, iind that Li'ciitlciiinii, at thr cxjh'Iisc of a coiiplt' (»!'
liiis. hail iin't
n amount nl
(Hiltl r(M[uiiv
e any aruuil
Jovenior ^vuh
orm whifli it
)n atVr iii<'t
arturc a IV w
rst infonueil
Riviere Sale,
leave the set-
oiild not ;;''t
1 with Mr. A.
for Kiel, ami,
ti-odueed Mi'-
ittli
es oi elianij)a;Liiit', succec led m olitamnij;' troni the Scci'c
tary of the in«\ir^'e:its, thr neeessury authoiMty to enahlf hin
li.
avr Mr. M( I )ou-
tii jiass tlie obstruction at ivivioi't- Sali
iiall a verv cleai' idea of tlie troulilfs he mii^ht exitect ahead of
liiiii. a suhject U|)on whie
d< f
(• )Ul(l sjicaK iriMii personal i'\
lici'ifnee. At tin- solieitntion of (ioNcnior Maetavish. he had
delayed his departure from the settK-ment a few days, for the
purpose of liearin;;- tlie decision of tlie Council of Assiniioia,
al)()ut tlui French unrisiiii'', which tlie\' were then consideriii<'-,
so that word miiiiit he sent to Mr. M(d )oU!'all, whom .Mr.
Sand ford expected to meet on the way.
In the meantime, (^)l. Dennis had jx^nw down the l{e(| Ri\er
to s(!e what could he done with the Scotch ami Kii;4lisli set-
tlers, to raise a force to escort the new (io\(!rnor in. and the
followinji', taken from his report, will show the state of feeling'
in the settlement outside the Fn-ncli. lie thus describes tlie
sentiments of the settlers: '"We (tlie Kti^^lish settlers) feel
coiiHdenee in the future administration of the uoxi'i'iimeiit of
this counti'V, under Canadian rule: at the same time, we have
no
t b
en consulted in any way, as a peo])le, in entenn*;' nito
the Dominion. The character of the new j^overnment has
been settled in Canada, without oui' beino- consulteil. We ai'e
ltre))ared to accept it res|)ectfully, to obey the laws and to be-
come f^ood subjects: but when you present to us the i.ssue of a
conllict with the Fi-eneh party, with whom we haxc hitherto
lived in friendshij), i)acked up, as they would be, by the Roman
Catholic church, which appears probable, by tiie course at pre-
sent beini;- taken by the priests, in which conflict, it is almost
c<M-t;^in the aid oF the Indians would be invoked, Mini perhaps
obtained l)y tliat j)arty, we feel disinclined to enter upon it,
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IllSTOlJV OF TIIK N(»KTII-\Vi:sT.
aiiil think tluit tlif Dominion should assume tlit; rt's|)on.sihiiit \
of o.stal)lishin;^- amongst us, what it, and it alone, has decideij
upon."
On the .S()tl> Octoher, ( Idveinor Mactavish addressed tlic
t'ollowini' letter to Mr. .MeDoUi-all, at Pembina: —
Hon. Wii.i.iam ]M(l)nr(; m.i,, l'.l\.
My Dkak Sni- It is with nuicli cnncuru I hfivo to say, tlnit fuiKni^ ,i
certain poi'tiun nf tin; lialf lireed [joptilatioii liore, tliero ]ii'cvails a ilcniti-
nf fxritomoiit at the prospect of your arrival in tlie country, whii'li sih'Iiin
to luaki' it necessary that in coniinj,' into the settlement, you should iinc
great eircinnspection ; and it is for the ])urpose of pointing attention t.i
that apparent necessity that I send you this conununicution.
For some weeks past, rmnors have l)een reaching me through more or
less reliahle chaiuiels, of dissatisfaction among the French half-lireeds.
witli the recent arrangements ; l)ut liclieving, as I then ilid, that tlie.sc
feelings had no very deep loot, 1 indulged the hope that they nnght pass
aw.iy. But in this res|)ect I am dee[ily pained to .say I have heen disap-
))ointi'il, and that within the last few days the feeling of di.sconteiit has
manifesti'd itself in such a manner as to create serious apprehensions for
the result. After interfering with the surveying oi)eration.s of Colonel
Deiniis, these people, in considerable numbers, have cond)ined for the
avowed |iur[)ose of stoi)pnig your entrance into the settlement, and witli
that \ iew they have actually taken up ])ermanent jiositions on the road by
which, in the usual course of travel, you would advance.
Ever since matters beg.an to assume a seri(»us aspect, the conduct of
these people ha.s been, 1 may say, constantly engaging the efanestdelilier-
ations of the local a\itliorities, but although every eti'ort hns lieen nwi'le
which the Coiuicil deemed |)rudtnt or jiracticable for biinging these mis-
guided ]>eople to reason, and for j)rueuring their peaceable dispersion, yet
I am sorry to say that hitherto all has been without effect, and that the
ditticulty, the serious and now somewhat alarming diltieulty, still remaiius
unsolved, as to how you are to be etiectually protected from molestation
in a|)pr(jaehing the settlement.
From t'olcmel Denius T learn that, by different hands he has lately been
sending you reports upon the state of matters here, and that in liis last
connnuincation lie has advised you t^ renmin in Pembina until you should
ascertain, through reliable intelligence from this, by some means or other,
the course has been cleared so as to make it prudent for you to come on.
It appears to me that, under the rn'cumstances, the advice so tendered iiy
Colonel Dennis was sound and judicious, and it relieved my mind from
pon«iliility
las (It'ciilnl
Irosst-'tl till'
hilt alllnll;^ :i
,'fiils a ilegl't'i'
which sL'L'Uis
)U shi'wld usu
fitteiitiou to
DW^h UK Hi' i>V
I liiilf-hrut'ils,
i<l, tlifit tht'Sf
ey n)iy;lit puss
i; been (Hsa]i-
iscontout lias
rohc'iisitms fnv
\s of Cdlmu'l
liinud for tlic
^■nt, siiid Nvitli
11 the mad \>\
le enii<liict i>f
inest dulihi'i-
is lifiii iiwi'le
)g theso iniH-
is]ifi'8i<iii, yi
and that tlu'
still reiuaiiis
luolostatiiiii
18 lately liofu
lat ill his I'l^l
til you should
cans or otlur,
lu to come on.
o tendered hv
iiy mind from
PISSATISKACTloX IN lll'l) ItlNll! srT'lI.KM IlN'r.
MS')
iiiiK'h uiixit'ty to iu'ar tliat otlicer so cxjircPs a litdief that yoii wmild he
inclined to act upon it : althoiii.di I cannot liut add that I fully share in
ills fi'diiiL? of nioitilicatioM at lieini,' so ciri'Uinstaiiced as to he constrained
tn counsel such a course.
1 have not myself seen Colonel l>ennis"M coimiiunii'atious to ymi en the
suhject of these unfortunate occmri'iices, hut he has heen kind enoiij^h lo
read them to some memliers of the Council, for the purpose of eiiahliiiLi
ii III, and
aviii''' that the contents of
hciii to jud^e of the accuracy and completeness of his infoiiuat
iiiion
their
assurance
I h
lave no hesitation in
till' Coloiud's conimunications to yon, may lie relied ujion as coincyini,' in
tiio main a correct narrative of the occurrenct' to which they icfcr. and a
fair representation of the popular sentiment tliroui^hout the set tleincnt.
T
le iiuestioii w
h.icl
1 now presses
its.'lf
upon every mind is
what l^
to I)
dune to secure your peaceahle entrance into the settlement '. So far, all
(lur expedients have failed ; and unh'ss the eti'oits nf a tempori/iiiii char-
acter, which are still lieint,' earnestly used for tlu' dis|risicin nf the mal-
tents, succeed, it is to he feared that 3'our coming into the settlement,
c< m
at the piresent moment. wouM not he free from coiisiderahle danger.
From Col. Denis's despatches and this letter, you will (h'ri\('as full and
acciiiate know ledi^e of the pnsition nf the att'aiis here, as I lu'lieve can
;i\i'n ill writiii'j; ; and having satisfied myself that you are
i-ei}- w
dl 1.
aci|uainted with all the material I'ircumstances of the ease. I think that
yoii are now in ])ossession of the principal data for cnahling you tn detei-
iiiiiie the impnrtant (juestion of your iiin\ eiiu'iits : and 1 need imt say that
1 shall most anxiously await your ilecisimi.
I '.lit wi
thoiit,
if course, ill any way meaiiiiiL; tn piesciil
the line ti
|Hiisued, I may he permitted tn add that, to those who with myself lia\i
lieeii deliherating u|)on the most advisahh' steps to 1k' taken in ciicuin
stances of so embarrassing and so critical a nature, tlieix: havi' lieeii sug
'ested three courses f(
111
eetinif the dilhculty as it now i-tands
The first is, that, there happily lii'iiiL:; among v\vi\ the {'"leiicli ha
ilf-
bieeds a considerable element of
Wl'
l-.l
isp
>sed iieisniis. there should be
carefully seh'cte<l, from that section, a body of fieiii twenty to thirty men,
who. mounteil and armed, should jiroeeed to Pembina and t'scort you
entirely clear from the roads on which the malcnntents are ki
H iW II
t., 1
ia\i'
taki
n up
tliinr
positinllS.
The second is, that of ma'.
d!
iiig a public call upon the whole loyal portion
of the settlement to turn out in the cause of order, and to tln' nuinher of
sa_\ .''00 unarmed, ablediodied men, if such a foice could he mustered,
proceed to Pembina and escort you into the settli'iiu'iit, by the usual
route, whether the malcontents remain u]ion it or not.
And the third is, that yon slmuld remain at Pembina and await the
issue of conciliatory negotiations, with the view of |)rociiriiig a peaceable
dispersion of the malcontents.
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IllsroUV (II TIIK N<i|(TII-\Vi;.ST.
Now, witli rcspfi't tn till! lirst uf tlieso coiirst-s, it is. in my <>|iiiiinh.
opt^ii to the (,'i'ii\i' 'iliifftidii tlifit cvt'ii if it WITH to issiui in yor.i' nhIi'
arriviil aiimiiyMt iis, it wmild ulivimisly invnhc ji virtiiul ackiiow lf(iii;iiiiiii
(if tlu' .isct'iuliiiu'y iif tlii'so liiwk'SH in'iiplc, and wcnild liavc a iliix'ct tcn-
(Umuv t<i ins|iir(' tlii'Hi witli fiusli cnnraf^r in tlui |>rii.si'fnti<in uf tin ir
di'siyns ; ami lifsides, I am wlri>nf^iy of opinion that inidor jut'Sfnt i ir-
cunistunces j'onr personal safety conlil not lie snlficii'iitly pi'ovidi'd for \i\
the attenduni't' of so small a liody of mi'n as that pcoposcd a liody lai'iii;
unoMj^di to pro\dki' a i/ollisioii, lint proi)alily far from strong unotiifh h.
niuL't it.
Till' si'i'oinl is onr whirh, all alon;.,', tho local aiithoritii's havf liei'ii poM
ilcrini,', Imt one which, a.s in somewhat sindlar I'mer^encios on foi'intr
Dirasioiis, they have hitherto shrunk from a(hi|ilinj^, partly from a mis
j^ivin;:; as to the extent and the ."pirit of the response to such a call as that
proposed, and partly also, but luim-ipally. from an apprchonHion of pii'
cipitatin'^ a collision hetwuen diHurcnt sections of tlie people, whiclnninlit
jilunue, not only the settlement, hut the wiioK' territory into all tho ilis
asters of a war of races and reli^^ions — a war in which the legitimate
ohjcct. for which it had lieen lieL,'un, wouhl prolialily soon he lost si'^ht of,
iind passion and prejudice alone animate the minds of those en^aj^ed in
it.
'I'd tlie coinicil and mysidf it appears that under tiie present circmii
stances the third proposal is the only one that can he regarded as prudent
or practicaltle ; and it is, therefore, our opiidon that you should remain
at I'emhina. and await the i-^sue of conciliatory negotiations, in the hope ef
procurinu; a peaceahle dispersion of tlie malcontents.
1 have only to add that although this letter prnceeds ostensibly from
myself, it endxtdies the views of the Council of Assiniboine, and that, at
a meeting of the council to-day, held for the express purpose, it was un-
animously adopted as the connnunication which 1 slioidd immediately
mike to you.
Karnestly hoping that ere long some peacojible solution of all these
ditlicidties may be arrived at,
I am, my dear sir,
Yours faithfidly,
W. Mactavisii
I my <)|iiiii<in.
ill yiiiir Nuir
iiiiwli'di^incni
a tlirt'ct ten-
itioii iif tluir
■r pri'st'iit cir-
•ovidt'il for li\
ii Ixuly liu'i^f
ll|4 t'linlli^ll |i.
:iVl' lit'i'M [MiM
ic's 1)11 fiiriiici
y from a mis
1 a cull as that
uii«i'>ii of |iii'
', wliicli mii^'lit
iti) all tho ilJN
lu' k'Ljitim.iii'
L' Inst si;^'llt of,
(SO fiij^ai^cd in
esent circmii
led aH iinulcnt
slumld remain
in the hiipe «i
stensibly fniin
e, anil that, at
(SO, it was im-
l immediately
n of all these
Malta visii,
CIIAITKIJ XXV.
nri-|il!i:AK OF TIIH I'KIACM II A Li- l!l!l,i:i»S.
Mlt. .1. A. N. I'l!n\i:\(iii;i{, wliom we inrntioiKMl in tlic last
rli;l|»t('r MS llHvillo- hcdl St'llt liy Mf. Mel )nUoi|ll tn l^ift ( i.llTV
with a iiic,s.san-(' to ( lovcriiof .Mju'taN'isli. was |»roiiii)tl\' stopjxMl
at the hai'fit'i', l)y the I'^fi'iicli. and tiinii'd liack to I't'iiiltiiia.
C"a])t. ('aincron, who caiiic witli Mr. .Mel )oiin';iir.s |iarfy, also
attriiipteil, about the same time, to j^aiu t'litraiice to tln' srttlc-
it. liut he, too, was sent to the rlniit-Jiliout, a o'uaid of 2')
iiH'M jict'oinpaiiN'iiiu' him aii«i I'fovciichcr to the hoiiiulai'X'
iiii'i
or .1
liiif. aiKJ this .same niiard, uiidrf command of a Ki'cnch halt'-
hit'cd, named l^e[)ine, coudiu'teil Mr. M(d)ounalI and party from
till" H. H. Post iiitf) the ITnited Stati's tei-ritory. and warned
them not to ciiter the settlement a^'tiin. ( 'ol. Dennis, who had
ioineil Mr. Mel )(mt''all, then went to work with ener^'v, and
arran^X'd comfortiihle (jnarters for his chief and his followers,
close to the American Customs Kotise.
( 'ol. Dennis, however, liefore leaviim- the settlement, com-
iiii
MH
tted
an act w
hicl
1 mii-'ht have
le.l t
o verv serions conse
ences. ["^nder cover of contiiminy the stirve\s in the direc-
tion o
f 1=
ortaj;"
(' la 1 rairie. he si
lit a
nuinh
XXSHl
r ol his men in
that
direction, with instructions to l•ais(^ if jio.ssihle, a force to brinn-
in Mr. McDon^'all,l)nt fortunately the attempt did not succeed,
unl bloodshed was avoided.
On tlu! l!)tli November. Mr. McDoui;all recei veil a despatch
_,„
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UlNToNV or Tin: Nnltlii-WKsr,
from tin- Sccrftiiiy of State at < )tta\\a.a|.|.rii\ in^' of the ((.ins,)
ln' luul j»urHU(.'t| ill rfiiiniuiiin' at I'.'iiil.ina, ami stati!i<;- f\|,li-
C'itly as follows:—" As nmttci's sta,ii(l, you can claim or as-.,.|t
no authority in th.' Hudson's l!ay tciiitory until tlic(^)uccirs
IVoclamation. aimcxino' the country to ('aiia<la, reaches vuu,
* * * * if (lovernor Mactavisli either declines to adinit
you, or is |M.\verless tn ;L;i\e you safe conduct, stay where \,,ii
are until further advised. \'ou had hetter inrorm ( lovein.a-
Mactavisli that you are only i)roceedino- to l''ort (iarrv on tin-
aw.sunied consent of the Conii.any." In the meantime, how-
cver. Mr. Mactavish had written ^fr. M(d)ounii||, advisiii;^ hiin,
in the interest of peace, to return to ( "anada. as his jireseiiiv
at I'emhina was likely to cause the periietuatioii, and jio.ssihlv
a<;'era\ation. of the «listurl)ances, at the same time adding', that
Ih' mio'ht |)osti)one his departure for a few days, in the hopmf
a turn of atl'aii's for the hetter. Mad Mr. McDouu'all then act. d
uj)ou tlu' advice of Mr. Mactavisli. we mioht not have had tu
chi-onicle the series of unfortunate events that followed, aii'l
he would prohably have tilled the position of ( ioveriior. l!iu
he chose to follow the coun.scis of .supposed friends in the set-
tlement, and remained at I'embina only to beat an i^'nomini-
ous retreat in tlie end. In fact, there was no enthusiasm n\\
«
the part of the Red River people in re^iard to his entry im-j
the c(aintiy. and in makine' him l.i'lieve the conti'ary. his
friends nrisled him.
On the 2nd November; Mr. McDoupdl wrote a singular In-
ter to (iovernor Mactavisli. reminding' him that he was re-
sponsible for the preservation of the public peace, acknowledg-
ing at the same time that he (McDouj^all) had no power to
assume or e>fercise the powers of ^^ovennuent until Her
ajesty's Koyal Proclamation permitted him to d<j so, and
li
;|-
nisiasiii I'll
»
fiiti'v iiii'j
iiti'aiA'. Iiis
nIT-llUKAK (»l' TIIK lltKM || ||.\l.l-lllU:i:i»s.
:{.s!>
this tact slioiilil lie rt'iiifiiiln'icd ill tlic li^lit uf Ml'trr f\t'iits.
AliHiit tilt' sMiiir tiiiif, li(i\\ f\ IT. II iiuiiiltcr t>\' ('miiikIImiis iTsid-
iiil^ ill tliu .sottlciiK'iit, snit an a<|ilrt'ss to ('<il. Dt-imis, offfriii;^^
at his call to procffil to i'fiiiliiiia, ami cscnrt linn. Mr Mf-
hdiii-all into the c-omitrv. Slioitl\' alter this, the St'ci't'tarv of
r. . . f
State at Ottawa wi'ote to Mr. Md )ou^all. that iiir MaicHt/'s
( iu\ criiiiifiit liail litM'ii iiiailc aciiuaiiitcl with the facts idatiii;:;
to the o|>|)ositioii of the |''ifiich lial f-la'ee(|s, and at the same
time iiistnu'titi;^' him to avoid all collision w iih the insiir;^-eiits,
and aiiv violntioii of the neutrality laws of the I'liitecl Sti'tes,
and tlins. with his exjilicit instructions on the (aie liaii<l, and
the otlicious ofVers of his friends on the other. Mr. .\Icl )c)ii;^all
may truly he said to lia\e hceii lai the horns of a dilemma.
'riie FrciU'li, dui'ini'' this time were ca.iTviii<;' tliiims with a
lii^h Iiaml, which was not conducive to the success of their
ca
use. Parties were stopped at the liarrier, and the mails de-
taine(l, thus inciMivenieiiciiin' all classes of the community, and
I'll the 2iid Xovemlier, it was decided hy l^iej ( who was actual-
ly the head of the uprising', liiiice liein;^' only nominally so),
that Fort (lany should lie taken possession of. Accordinely
nil that day, he, with a jiarty of Ills followers, made their a|)-
pi'arance before the e'ate of the fort, and on heino- askeil their
mission, said that thev had come to (■•naril the place. Dr.
( "owan, tlu' otHcei- in clmree, protcstccl strongly against the
pr(
)eeedinii', but Kiel paid no attention to his renionstran
and, settine- hi.s n'uards. took comniand of the fort, lie next
paid a visit to the Nor'-Wt'slrr otiiee, ami reipiested Mr. Bown,
the e<lit()r, to print oil'. some e»-)[)ies of a notice to the people of
Hed River, which that i-ei'tlfnian Hativ refused to do. There-
Ho\
upon nown was made a finsoncr m his own ottice, while a
couple of con)i)0.sitors, eni.;a^(Ml for the purpo.se, {U'inted off the
ollowinii' doctnnent
loct
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iiivruin nr riii; N<»iiiii-\vi:sr.
IM ULU NnTK i; Id IHK IMlAltir A.NIS uF Kl I'KI!'!' s |, \M».
'I'lir ri't'Miilciit mill |{i>|ii'i'st<iittitivi'H of till) Ki'i'iicli K|K'iikiiiK |ii>|Miliiti..|i
• if Kii|)i'rl'H liaiiil, ill rnllllrll. (tin- ilivililcrs nf i>lll' ^i^lllN lirill^ li<>\\ i'X|i('l'
Ifil), ali-rai|\ aware i>t' y>\i\ synijiat liy, ilu i'Xtt'iiil tlit- liaml uf frii'iiilslijp ti>
yoii, mil' frit'iiilly tVlluw-iiiliHliitaiitH. ami in iliiiii)^ nh invite ynii to ^iinil
twelve lepieseiitatives ffiiiii tin- t'lillnwiiiu |ilaees, vi/.. :
St. .InllllM
lleailiiif^iy
St. Miir.vH
SI. I'anis
St. .Vmliew.s
St ClellKMltH
St. MiU'HurotM
St .laiiu'H -
Kililiiiiaii
St. I'etefH-
ill:
'I'l.w II c.f \\'iiiiiii»eK • • 2
ill ni'ilei" ti) fiifiii uiie liuily with tlii' a^nvt' eniiiicii, ciiiisiHtin>,' uf twelve
iiieiiibi'is, til cmiHiilei" the |iit'seiit pulitieal state of this euiiiitry, ami t"
juliipt Niieli iiieaHiiri's as i.'iay lie (U'eiiieil best for the futuri" welfare nf tlir
BHinu,
A iiieetiiii^ iif the almve cntmcil will he hehl in thi'roint Miniso, at Knit
(iarry, (Ui Tiiesilay. the Itlth ilay of Ni'\iiiiln:r, at which the invited n •
pi'o.seiitativeH will atti-iiil.
Hy diiler nf the I'resiileiit,
NN iiMiipei,'. Niiv. <ith, IHti'.l. Lolls KiKl.. ^'irrrhnii.
A niiiiur now ii'.iclit'i] tlic rars nl' the iiisiii';;Tiits. tlmt .Mr.
MeDou^^fill. lia\ iii^' lifmiulit with liiiii a i|iiaiitity nf arms rrmii
Caiiiida, iiitciult'd i-mmiii<;' tli'in into thr scttloniciit to he itsnl
l»y till' ('ana<lian party, ami tlii.s wa.s sei/nl upon as a |»ri'ti'\t
liy Uirl to examim' i-xcry cart at the liarricr berorc allo\viii<;
tluMii to pass ill, a pidci'cilin^" that {innoycil ami incoiiNi'iiinireil
all tho trailcr.s in the country, ami caused a niind deal of ill-
foclin;^' toward tln' l*'rrmh. it was al.so an unt'oi-tunatc cir-
cuuistaiicc that ai'iiis should he allowed to loriii part of Mr.
McDout^'all's lia^^pin'c.
Soon after the takiiin' nf Foft ( Jarry, (lovernor Mactavish
wrote to Mr. McDouijall, inforniint'' him of what had taken
plact!, and received a reply from which tlit> following' extract
i.s taken :■ —
"I wrote you two letter.s, lioth in one envelo)ie,detailin<>' the
III
i I
;|{TS L\M>.
\iU |)<>|ltll.'ltlM||
Uii now l'Jl|ii'l
f frit'iiilH)ij|itii
1' V"M III >rhil
iiiiitrj', .iiiil t'l
wclfiirt' lit' tliu
loiiso, lit Fiiit
III' iiiviteil n
rs. that Mr
t' anus tVi'in
t to Itc USril
as a pretext
ire allowiiiL;
()ll\eiiieiicei|
(leal of ill-
)'tuiiate eir-
part of Mr.
r Mactavish
had taken
iii<;' extract
Ol l-llltKAK Ml till I l(l,M II II.M.I -ititi;i;i»N.
:{!»l
|i|iifeer|illUM MIhI |lOMitiiill of thilie;M here alli| sn.:L;est 111;^' a
|iiii('limiatioii froiii y^iir ;4ip\ eiiiment, ex|ilaiiiiii;^ the nature of
the chaiiet' ill Ki»\ »'riiiiiciit. ainl w ariiiiiy; the iiiah-i m tents of the
riiiise(|iience.s iif their arts. I was <li.sa|i|ioiiitei I to hear from
thiise who met me, that they hail nut luen infuninil hy any
ill authority tliiit the chaiiy.e of ;^o\ernment \\a^ an Imjierial
Aet, aijil hail the sanction uf tlie (j)iieeii."
It will he ohselM-il fldlii the fi)ren()ii|n' cxf laet that Mr. Mc-
h.iiieall advised (liiveinur Mactax isli to issue a ilneunnnt
wlilcli woiilil liave lieeii liilslea) lllie'. lliaNlllUcli as no eliaii;;e tit
'^iiverniiieiit had then taken place, a fact df which he was
auiire, jiideini; finm the l'o||<iwin<;', taken from the same lettti';
Isii remiiH
led
\(iu and Ndur council, that, until the a(
tiial
transfer and proclanmtioii, yoii are the le^al rulers, and re-
spiiiisilile fol' the |ireservatioll of the pulilic peace."
The whole tune (if Ml'. Mel )i iliealTs (itiicial cnriespnlidelice
ahout this time was marked with irritahility, ami, instead nf
w ritiiiii' to Mr. Mactavish in a frieiidU- manner, his letters were
ahiiiist of an insiiltiiie- character. He even insinuated that
there was no desire on the part of the authorities in Him! River
Ui put down the leliellioii, taking" his cue, no doiiht, from the
letters (jf his so-calle(l friends in the scttlcllieiit, who were cdii-
stantly sendin<;- him niisl«>adine' statements aliont aH'aiis. As
an instance of this, we will ,i;i\i' a few extracts from letters
sent to Mr. Mcl)ou«j"alI \>v inirties who st\led theinselve.s
Friend.s of Caiuida
"The Hudson's liay ( "ompany are evidently with the rebels,
uid their present nllc is to pre\ cut your liavine' any otHcial
iuterc(jurse wi
h
th tl
lem.
ssue proclamation, and tlien you may come leariesHly
down. Hudson's Bay ( 'ompaiiy evidently shaking. l>y no
means leave Pembina. '
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HiSToHV OF THE N'(»HTH-\VEST.
" 'I'lu! CMdiipMiiy, iH-yond all (lucstioii, nvv ilcfjily {•oncfnuMl in
the inattui'. Half-bivods tliemselvcs (Icclaiv that they lia\r
received as.siHtaiice. * * * Issue yoiii- jiroclaii atioii. and it w ill
be responfUjd to by .')(»() uu'ii.""
Mr. Mcl)uu<fall ini^ht well have exelaiiiied. " l'i'eser\e nir
from my friends, " l)ut it would seem that lie was in acti\r coi'-
respondence with these parties, throu^'h ('olonel Dennis, i'uy wr
Hud, in a letter adtlressed to tlu.t n'entleniaii the follnw jn^-
remark: — ^" We will have a stroni^- protest in to the autlimitics
here at (juce aeaiu.st their inaction, and emhoilvinu' the su"'v>-
tious made in the lettei'."' The faet of ( 'ulonel Dennis liaxinL:
acte<l with the anthoi'ity of Mi'. MeDou;^al!. and intri^Ufd with
parties iu the .settlement to interfere with .Mr. .Maeta\ish in
the disehare'e of hi.s duties, was, to sav the least of it. unili"ni-
tied ou the part of an in-eomiuo" i^'overnor.
The pi'otest uu'utioned in the letter to ("ol. Dennis was jmr
in. and the Nor -Wester made known the fact in the most dt-
feusi\(' manner, undei- the followiu]n' headiu<;': — "The Crisis!
" Loyalty Ti-iumphant!" " The ( lovernors Proclamation!" Tlu'
protest was then <;'iven, at the end of which appeared the fnl-
fowiui;' words: — ''Here ?'n (he Pi oclo iiKitivii <h'tiy:a froni
Governor Mactarish on t/it- presenf state of of airs."
(Jovernor Mactavish, however, did not view matters from
the same stand-point as Mr. Mcl)ou<;all, for. in a letter to tin'
latter, he says: — "It appears that you are under the hrlirf
that a Proclamation from this <,;overnmeut, explainiu>;' the latr
Imperial Act re^'ar<liu<;- th<> territory, and warning- the pe(i]>li'
of the eonsecpienees of steps tendin<^' to impede any action that
mi<;ht be taken mider its provisions, would have a salutary
effect in checkiuo- the present unlawful movement on the part
of the French population. It is ditfictdt, if not impossible. ti>
liii
I
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!one('nii'(| m
t- they li;i\('
I. and it will
Preserve me
11 acti\'e i-di-
I'liuis. fur We
lie i'olliiw iiii;'
e Jiuthnrities
!; the suj^^es-
eiiiiis lia\ iir:^'
itri^ned with
.Maeta\isli in
if it. HUiliLiiii-
iiiiis was ]iur
the most iif-
The Crisis:'
ition! " 'llie
aiv<l tlle fdl-
Irnivn f I'd III
Is'.
natters from
letter to tin-
er the lielief
iiiut;' tli«' latr
o' tlie [)eii]ile
ly action tliat
(' ji sahitary
t on the [lart
impossible, to
OUT-HHKAK OF TMK FKKNCll [lAI.F-HUKKDS.
iVXi
sav with any «lei;ree (jf certainty, how fai- that measni-e mieht
have produced such a i-esult: hut if due consideration he ;.;iven
til the peculiar circumstances in which the local authoritii's
jier.' stood, there will, perhai)S, appear to he Imt little ground
for surprise at a mea.sure of that kind not having' heeii a-
<|(ipted. The Act in (pu'stion referred to the pi'osjx'ctive tran.s-
fer of the territory: hut uj) to this moment we have no otH-
cial intimation from JJritain, or the Dominion of Canada, of
the fact of the transfer or of its conditions, or of the <late at
which they were to take practical effect upon uie ;.fovornuient
of this country.""
( Jovernor ^lactavish, however, knowinii that a convention
of deleu'ates from ail parts of the settlement had heen calleil
t(^ meet on the lOth Xovemher, deciiled to i.ssue a Proclama-
tion, and entrusted it to his secretary, Mr. Har^nvive, to he
leail at that meetiiiy'. On the day appcjinted, twenty-four
delegates a])pearetl, and as the}' entered the Coiut House at
Fort (Jarrv a fea-de-jo'ic was tired hv tiu' French half-breeds,
and a .salute cjf 24 ^uns from the walls of the foi-t. The con-
vention consisted of the followini;' members :
EN(iLlSH.
Tnwii of Winnipeg, Huury McKuu-
ny, H. F. O'L.me.
Kildniian, .Fames Ross.
St .Iiilins, Miuu'ico Lmviiuni.
St, Pauls, Dr. Bird.
St Amlrews, DenalJ (Junn.
St. Cloniruts, Tlios. Uunii.
St. Petors, Henry Prince, (Indian
Chief of the a ttlenient).
St. .Fames, R()l)ort Tait.
Hoadingly, William Tait.
St Anns, Geo. Gunn.
Pcirtage La Prairie, John Garrioch.
KRKNCH.
8t. Francois Xavier, Francois Dau-
pliinais, Pierre I'oitra.s, Pierre
Lavieller.
St. Boniface, W. B. O'Uonoluie.
St. Vital, Andre Beaucheman, Pierre
Paranteau, sr.
8t. N()rl)ert, Louis La Serte, Baj)-
tiste Tournon.
St. Anns, CharlcH Nulin, .lohn Bap-
tiste Prrrault.
John Bkuce, Pnitlilcnt.
Ljuis Kiel, iiecretury.
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394
HIST()1{V OK THE \( »l{TH-Wi:sT
At the upeniii*;, Mr. HaiLiiMvt' j)r('Kt'nto(I tlif ( Jovcniois IK,-
claiiiatioii to Mi'. Hoiuy MeKt'iiiu'v ami icinuistcd liim to ivail
it aloud to the iiKJiiibtTH present. The followin;^' is the <l(icn.
meiit in full : —
WnKiU'.As 1, Willifiiu M;ict;ivisli, (jovornor of Assinib.iia, liavc Kciii in-
formed tliut, a nieutiiig is to In; lield to-day of ])?r,soii.s from tlie difluiiiit
di.strict.s of tlie suttlemont. for tho ostonsihle pur|Misi; of takiiii^ into ecu-
sidcratioii the ])ri'suiit political condition of tliu colony, and for simm'St in-
such measuri'S as may ap|)uar to l)e best adapted for meeting tlie ditliciil
ties and dangers connected with the existing .state of piil)lic aHiiirs. Anil
whereas] de m it advi.sable at this eonjunctiu'e to place before that nuct
ing, a.s well as befoi'e the whole body of the peoi>le, what it a])pears nici s-
sary for me to declare in t' e interests of public order, and of the Nifety
and welfare of the settlement.
Therefore, I notify all wh.om it conci'rns. that during the last few
weeks large bodies of armed men have taken u|! ]iositions on the public
high road to Pembina, and, contrary to tlu' remonstrances and protests nf
the public authorities, have committed tlie following unlawful acts : Kir.si.
they have foi'cibly obstructed the movements of varii>us persons ti'avillin;:
on the ])ublic highway, in the peaceful jirosecution of their lawful busi-
ness, and have thus violated that i)ersonal liberty which is the undoubtid
right of .'dl Her >rajesty's subjects. Secondly, they have vudawfully
seized and detained on the road at La Riviere Sale, in the parish of Sr.
Norbert, goods and niei'chandise of various descriptions, and of very con-
siderable value, belonging as well to jiersoiis coming into the Cf)lony as t«
citizens already settled here, and carrying on their busine.ss in the settle-
ment, thereby causing great loss and inconvenience, not only to the
owners of tho.se goods, but. as has formally Iteen complained of, also to tlir
carriers of the same, and possibly involving the whole colony in a ruinnus
responsibility, Thirdly, they have unlawfull}- interfered with the public
mails, both outgoing and incoming, and by thus tampering with the est.ili-
lished means of connnunication l)etween the settlement and the outsiilc
world have shaken i.ul)lic confidence in the security of tlie mails, ami
given a shock to the trade and commerce of the colony, of which the mis-
chievous eHects cannot now be fully estimated. Fourthly, not only with-
out jiermission, but in the face of rejieated remonstrances on the jtart vi
the Hudson's Bay Company's officer in immediate charge of Fort Garry,
they have, in numbers varying from about sixty to one hundred and twenty,
billeted themselves npon that establishment, nnder the plea of protectiiit;
it from a danger which they allege was known by themselves to be ini-
luinent, but of which they hav« never yet disclosed tho particular nature :
i
Ol'T-ISHKAK oi" TIIK I'HKN* II I! ALl'-UHKIMS.
:i<)5
they liiivt,' pliicLMl ai'iiR'il giuinls at the yatt's of an i'stal)lislniK'iit, wliicli,
every stick tttnl stoiu- of it, is private projierty. in spite nf the most tlis-
tiiii-. protestations (lyiiiust such a disregard of the riglits of property : tiu'y
lia\e taken possession of rooms within tlie Fort, and althongli tliey have
tliere as yet conunitted no direct act of violence to person or projieity, lie-
vond what has Ijecii enunierate<l, yet liy tiieir pi'esence in sucli nnniln is,
witii arms, for rio legitimate purpose that can he assigned, they have cre-
ated a state of exi-itcnient and alarm within an<l around the Fort, wliicli
seriously interferi.-. with the regular liusincss of the estalilishment.
Fittldy, a hody of armeil men have enti'red the Hudson's liay Company's
post at Pembina, where certani gentlemen from Canada with theii' fand-
lies were peaceably living, and uiuU'r threats of violence have comiielled
them to quit the estaldishment at a si'ason of the year when the rigors of
wintei were* at hand, and forci'dthem to retire witliin American territory;
and in the last place, they have avowed it as tlu'ir intention, in all those
unlawful proceedings, to resist arrangements for the transfer of the gov-
iriMMi;nt of this countr\', which have liet'U made undei- the sanction of tlie
liniieiial I'arliameiit. and thus virtually set at delianci' the Royal author-
ity, instead of ailop'ting those lawful and constitutional means, which,
under the enlightened rule of IK'r .Most (Jracious .Majesty our (^»ueen, are
suthcient for the ultimate attainment of every obji'et that ii'sts upon rea-
son and justice, the persons who have been engaged in connuitting these
unlawful deeds have resorted to acts which directly tend to involve them-
sehes in c()nsei|uences of the gi'avest nature, and to bring up(Ui the colony
and the I'ountry at Urge the evils of anai-cli\. and the horrors of wai'.
Therefore, in the interests tti law and order. i;i behalf of all tlu- si'curities
yuu have for life and property, and, in a word, for the sake ni the present
ami the future welfare of the settlement and its inhabitants, I again earn-
estly and emphatically protest against each and all of these uidawful acts
and intents. I charge those engaged in them, before they are iiretri(!V-
■ihly and hopelessly- involved, innnediately to disperse themselves, and
]ieaceably dei)art to their habitations, or to their lawful business, uinler
the pains and penalties of the law ; and whatever in other respects may
he the conclusions of those who meet to deliberate upon the pi'esent criti-
cal and distracted state of public affairs, I adjure you as t'it i/.eus. having the
interests of your country at heait. to ratify and ]iroclaini. with all the
might of your united voices, this public notice, and protest and so avert
from the country a succession of evils, of which those who see the begin-
ning may never see the end. Von are dealing with a crisis, out of which
uiay come incalculable good or immeasurable evil : and with all the weight
of my official authority, and all the influence of my individual jiositioii,
li't me finally charge you to adopt only such means as aie lawful and con-
.stitutional, rational and safe.
1 '
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3! Mi
MISTOUY OF Tin: N(»I{T1I-\VEST
(Jisfii iiiiiliT my Iwuicl ami stul, at Fnit (iaiiy, this sixtvcutli day nf
NosciiiIkt, iSd'.t.
\N . iM.U TAVISII.
(mri'llKlf llf . l>'S('/ll'/n/.l,
Til i'<'r('i'fiii'4' to tlic al)()\<' I'l'oclaiiwition, Mr. McI )()umm11
thuis wi'otf to tli<' Srcictfii'V of State at Ottawa, on tlic L'.")tli
?\ovriiilM'i' : "I have i'('c<'i\c(l a ])ri\att' note tVoiii ( Jovt'iimr
Mactavisli, iiiroi'iiiiii;^' iiic of liis liavinu' issued a Proclaiiiatinii,
iiiofe, he ol)serves, ill ilet'ereiice to iiiy opinion than IVoiii ;iii\
expectation of a faNoralih* result." 'I'his, indeed, was the fjict
of the ease ; hoth ( lovernor .Mactavish and .ludii'*' l>lack hein"
of tlie o))inion tliat no n-ooil would ensue from issuiii;^' tlir
docuiiieiit, l»ut ha\ ill;;; lieeii iinpoituiied hy Mr. Mel )ou;4all so
often on the sulijeet, they ileteriiiined to follow his sue-e'cstidii
As it turned out. (lovernor .Maeta\ish and .lud;^-e lilaek iiii-
dcrstoud the character of the ]ieople they had to deal with
•better than the man who set himself ti]) as their adviser.
When the I'l'oclamatioii was handed to Mr. McKenney, tlir
French delee'ates at tlie convention at once ohjected to its
bein*;' read, while the Kn^^lish memliers in.sisted upon heaiiii;^
it. This caused a wrang'le, and. from the ver}' outset vif the
meetine-, a feeling of iintagoiiism between the two parties w,is
thus created. Had no Proclamation ))een presented to disturh
the deliberations of the a.ssembly, there is no sayin<;' how miicli
u'ood miu'lit have resulted from the convention. Hut as it W!'s.
all chance' of a union of the two parties was broken befoiv
even their di'liberations connnence(l.
Tlie N^or- HV.s7r'/' was not alone in the newsjiaper field of the
settlement, at this time, Mr. Win. Coldwell, whom we had oc-
casion to refer to in a jirevious chapter, having brou|;ht in a
plant, and started t\w Pioneer. To this paper, (Governor Mac-
tavish sent his Proclamation for publication, but the Nov-
■•,'C'iitli (lay ..f
>t .l.''S('/li'l.iiil,
M('I)(m-,ill
1)11 till' I'otli
II ( io\rrii(ir
•ocliiinntiMii.
,11 IVdiii any
A'flS tllf t'.icl
l')lack \n']w^
issuiii;^' tlh'
cl)(ni''"iill SI)
SUn-O'cstKHI
' l)l;UM< uii-
() (U'ill with
Iviscr.
veiiucy, till'
'ctt'il tip its
[)()ii hcariii;;'
itst't nl' till'
lartit's \v;is
to (li.sturli
how iiuu'li
it ais it wi's,
Dken lu'l'mc
tiel<l of till'
wi' liad ()(•-
I'ouu'ht ill a
renior Maf-
the Nov-
Sir John Youri);.
(LORO LISGAH).
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oKT-mUlAK OK TIIK I'HKXCll H AI.K-lilJKKDS.
im
W'sfcr. liiivin;^' .sui'ifptitioiisly procunMl a copy, piiiitcil it in a
iiiiitilatt'd t'onii, under tho lieji<l-lim'fs we liavt- already men-
tioned.
The " Friends uf ( 'aiiada,' li»)\ve\i'r. were not even satisliecl
when tht! Proclfunation was issued, for we rind them writin<r
to Mr. M(d)(>u«iall, after its appearance, as follows: —
■ We ha\e no faith in the sincerity of that Proclamation,
liiit l)eli(!\e that the pressure l)r(juy,iit to l)eai' up(tn them hei-c,
li\- the loval partv, was such tluit they could no lon<rer resist,
and their own conviction of the utter hclplessiit'ss an<l impos-
siliility of further resistance compelled them to issue it, as
iiiucli for theii- own safety, as for the contiiniancc of tlieii-
aiitliority, if any poi'tion remains."
.Mr. .Mcl)<)Uj4'all, takin;;' his eue fi-om this letter, wi'otii as
folhnvs to Mr. .lose])h Howe, the Seci'etary cjf State, on tlu^
•JOth X()vend)fr : — ' Tlie conrirmed l)elief of every pei'son 1
have seen, or whose testimony has reuciie<l me, is that the
Hudson's Hay ('om})any'8 em|)loydH, with .scarcely an excep-
tion, are either actively or tacitlv encuuraiiini; tiie insurrec-
tion. It was the ])revalence of this helief that determined mo
to force the authorities into a public declaration of some kind,
that would dispel this illusion — if sucii it should prove to he —
or c()m[)el them to show their hand as abettors of the insur-
rection. The ' appeal ' of the loyal inhabitants, n'ho had pre-
vioHHly opevcd correspondence with me, was the last screw
applied, and seems to have accomplished the i)ur[)ose." Mr
McDougall, at the same time, insisted that, based upon infor-
mation received by him, the company bein<:^ aware beforehand
of the insurgents' intention to take possession of the fort,
did not take steps to prevent it. The absurdity of this state-
ment should have occurred to him before he made it, as there
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nisTdHY «»r Tin: \(»KTH-wi;sr.
was notliiii'f tfi sliL'W that the compaiiN' wnuld uiiiii aii\tliiii(r
l)y .sii(;li action.
'I'll*' Hudsons \Uiy autlioiitii s wfif in a dfcidcdiy |M'culi;ii
position. On tlx' one side, tlicy \vcr<> at'CMi.scd by tlu! ("anadiiin
party of playin^i' into the hand.s of tln' Kri'iich, and on tlir
otlu'i", tlif lialf-hrccd.s .suspected tlicni of Ix'in*.;' in eoiln.sinii
with the ('ana<lianH, .so that Mr. Mactavi.sh oceupicMl a \(i\
trying' po.sition, csijccially as the Knj^lish atid Scotch sctthis
were iiiclincil to stand altoo^cthcr aloof in the niatt<'r.
TIk! next step taUcn hy Kiel was to sci/c the furniture, in-
tended for the use of Mr. .Mcl)ou<;aIl, at ( lovcinincnt Hou.'^c,
while it was in transit from l'end)ina to the settlement, and he
afterwards appropriated it to his own use, and that of his fol-
lowers, in furnishing their (juarters <;o)'geously in Fort (Jaiiy.
The convention of the JiJth sat until the eveinno- of the
17th, and then adjourned till the 22nd, without having nifiile
any headway, an<l it then a))peai('d as if the English and
French would he unable to come to any mutual understanding
On the ISth, th(! last (Jeneral Quarterly Court, under the
Hudson's Hay (Jompany's government, sat, Judge Black pre-
siding, and the most im])ortant case was that of Mr. .lohii A.
8novv against his men (Canadians) for assault. Two of the
accused were fined foiir poiuuls each, and one of them, Scott,
who was afterwards shot hy Kiel, is said to have exdaiinod,
on hearing the verdict, that " it was a pity they had not
ducked Snow, for then they would have got their mone\ s
worth."
Riel now placed guards in the town of Winnipeg, who
patrolled the streets with arms, evidently on the look-out fer
any rising among the few Canadians residing there, and tins
action was brought about by the numerous secret nieetiiigs
held by the so-called loyal party at that time.
oiT-uuKAK oi' I'lii: riU'.M II iiAi.i -i!i{i:i:i»s.
a!»!>
I iiiiytliin^
11\- jH'culiai'
(' ( '!iuii<liiiu
and ('11 tlir
IM collusiuu
piofl a VI TV
)tcli scttlfis
ter.
uniiturt', in-
mcnt Houst'.
neiit, !Ui<l 111'
it ol" lii^ l'"l-
Fort (lany.
('uin;;' <>t tlic
laviii^' iiiii<l<-'
Kiiolisli iiii'l
itlcrHtuiidiii^'.
•t, muler tlio
(• Hhu'k pro-
Mr. .)ohn A.
Two of the.
them, Scott,
e exi-laiined,
jhey had not
heir moneys
|iiuipoj4', who
look-out for
lere, ami tliis
[ret meeting's
W'c have rcterred to the repeute*! iissertiniis on thi- part of
Mr. Mt'Dou^all and his friends, that thf Hudson's P.ay Coni-
paiiy w'rrc in sympathy with tlie in.sur<;ents, hnt the followiiitf
Iftttr, addre.sscd to the Secretary of Stato at ()ttn\va, will
show how much trnth there was in tlu-st' statements :
" lilDSONS IJ.VV t'o.MI'.VNYS ( )|'ll( K,
MoNTIU;.\l„ 24th Nov., ISdi'.
The Honorable th<' Secretary of State for Canaila.
■ Sli{ — 1 have to-(hiy receivet.!, from the Hudson's May
House, London, an extract of a h'tter from (iovcinor Mac-
tavish, dated Fort (Jarry, 12th Octohcr, and lia.\e now the
honor of transmittin<; it to vou. In doini>- so, I am directed
l)y the (lovernor and committee to state that the company an^
iuixioiis to atl'ord all the assistance in their power in imhicinii'
the Ked River peoph^ to allow the survey's to he proceeded
with, and to use their influence in any other mannei-, with the
view of assisting' the authorities at Red River to make their
arrangements for the government of the country.
"And in view of the more serious aspect which affairs at Red
River have recently assumed, I beg further, on behalf of the
company, to otter tiie assurance that tJHiir Governor, factors
and officers generally, will use their influence and best etfoi'ts
to restore and maintain order throughout the territory.
" I have, etc., etc.,
" I)()XAiJ> A. S.MITH."
'
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CHAI'TKH XXVI.
I'lMHiitKss OF I'm: iii;iii;i,i,iu.v.
Druixc. tlu' cxcitcmont ami niinoyiiiici' attdnliii;^' flic actinii
of the I'^t'iicli liall'-lyi'i'i'ds. ( iovcriior Mactavisli was \rry ill
most of tilt' tinii', no nmcli si» that lie was imal)lc to atttii'l
soN'i'i'al iiit'<'tiii;4's of tlic couiicil. Hail liis hciiltli Item licttrr
howevt^r. it is douhtful. wlictliri', iiiisii])portt'<l as lie was liv
;inv' forct', ju; could luivc i-rt'cctcd inort' than he diil. Tlu'
council of Assiuihoia, at the \aiious mcctinj^s which they li'M
to consider the state of the eounti'y, an<l the best way to ovi r-
conie tlie ditliculties of the situation, wei'e forced to a<liiiii
that anion^* the Knelish and Scotch settlers there was no dr-
sire to sii))})ort them aj^'ainst the F^rench, even if they had
thoui;ht proper to call out one class of the people against the
other, as Mr. Mcl)ou(;all wished.
On the 2;'5tii October, 18()!>, the council had sent a jiaity of
French half-breeds to endeavor to reason with their country-
men, and prevail upon them, if possible, to forego the attempt
to keep out Mr. Mc])oui;all, and the following is the resolution
passed by them on that occa:.ion. " It was moved by A. (i. H.
Baiuuityne, and seconded by Mi". McKeath, that Messrs. Douse
and (Joulet be appointed immediately, to collect as many of
the more respectable of the Fi'ench connnunity as they could,
and with them proceed to the camp of the })arty who ii'tnid
to intercept Hon. Mr. McDougall, and endeavoi', if possible, u>
iMuxiiiKss (»i' Tin: i!i:iii;i,i,i<»N.
UU
|iiMcni't' tlicir |it'a('t'al»l»' (lisjicrsiuM. jiinl that Mi". I )ra.s(' report
to Mr. Mucta\ isli, on or licl'oic 'I'liiirsday next, as to tlirir huc-
ct'ss or otluTwiHc, ' Messrs. heaseaiid <i(Hilet were iMisiiccess-
I'lil ill tlieir liiisHioii. All classes lield that they lunl imt lieeii
treatt'<| I'liirly in the iien()tiatioiis lor the transler, in imt hav
iijii- l)een coiisulteil. ami that the\- had l»eeii sold as mere
ehattels ill the har;;'aiii. It' Kiel had ad(t|)ted iii)re iiioih-rate
iiieasures, and had refrained Iroiii interrerinii' with the lilier-
ties of the settlers, there is reason to lielie\e that he wonld
r\ fiitually ha\e carried tin- whole sett lenient with him in his
(ip|iositioii to the mode of ;^'o\ crnment [troposeil t'la' tin- coun-
try under Mr. Mcl)on(;all.
l)Ut unriU'tnnat.ely tor him and his cause, he had iiiitler
taken a task for which he was unHtte<l. N'ouni--, headst roii';-.
iiiiiietuoUN and iiiexpcritMiced, lie adopted measures which an-
ta<^'()ni/,ed the Kii;;'lisli-speakiiie- pai't of the settlement toward
liini, and he was, tliereFore. ohlioed to Hijlit the hattle l)v the
aid of liis own [)eo[)le, an excee(lin^|y ditHcult and dangerous
laattor.
Before any risiiij^' took jilace, Kiel had ;^<)iie ahout, visitiiit;
the Enelish settlers, askiiit;' them to take some united action,
ill company witli the Fi-ench, to prote.st nj^ainst the i)olicy of
the C'anadian <>'overrnnent, hut he had met with no success.
Then, taunted by the vain hoastines of irresponsible Canadian
residents, as to what Canada wonM do to keep down the na-
tives, and excited bj' the actions of these same men, in claim-
iiiti-, beforehand, larg-e tracts of land, he and liis followers took
the initiative in rebellion, 'i'he fact, too that Mr. M(d)ou<''all
was known to be in sympathy with the irresponsible Cana-
dian element in the country, and on close terms of intimacy
with some of the leaders, led the French to conunence by vis-
J
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msToMv (»i nil: Noitm \vi:sr.
■M f
itiii^' on liis liiMiil tlii'ir first iiiniUs ol' ilis|ili'a.Miii'. I'liry
wt'iv tlctt'cmiiti'il to |iit'\t'iit liis Mcijiiiiiiiu' tlic It-ast .sfiiiliLinic
ol' nntliority in tlic .scttlriiifiit , as llir surest inrniis nl' nli
Htructin;;,- aiTaii;4t'iii('iits fur i\ I'linn;;*' of ;^o\ fiiiniriit , until siidi
tiiiii' as tliry were st'currtl in their I'inliis.
While matters were in this coiidition, ami e\cr\' etl'ort lieiun
inatle to keep him out of the settleiiiciit, Mr. Mel )oU;;(lll.
muone' other tliiu;;s, eneaneil acti\ely in a corresiiondence
witli Mr. Z. (1. Sinnnons, the ['resident of the North-W'esti in
1\'le;jira]ih ('oiii]iany. w ith tlie\ie\vof piepai'in;;- for the (•.in-
struction of a line fi'oni l''ort (lariy to eonneet with the irjr
y;rapli systems of the I'liited States and ('anada.and a pro
position t(» e<i on with the work was accepted Ity the .\mi ri
can company, as will lie seen fi'om the followini;' exti'act, from
a Icttei' written hy Mr. Simmons, on 27tli ( )ctohei'. |S(i!):
" I ha\(' assumed tluit it (the proposition) would l)e .satisfac-
tory, and iunuediately orilered the purchase of jioles, and ha\e
now to I'eport the contracting' of all that may he necessary tn
couiplctc tlic line to Pemhina. For the iialauce of the dis
tance, wo will depend on ^ettine' the tiuiher nearer. 1 trust
\\v. Hhall reach you at I'^oit (larry. hy tcle<rrapli. in the fall of
1S7(). and if the raiin>a<l .-.nould he completed as soon as con-
t*'Ui])latcd, it will he early in the fall."
On the '22ud Noveiul)er. Mr. iJown liad a petition prepared
mid haudiMJ round, for the puri)o.se of upsi-ttine- the ajtpoiut-
inentis of Me.ssis. H. McKenne^' and H. V. O'ljone, as delegates
to the convention, and Mi\ A. (>. B. Hauuatyne, the postmaster
of the town, wrote the followiny' letter, ^ivine- his reason for
refusing- to sig-n the document.
.\ iR'titidii, written !ii)pjiroiitly hy Dr. Sduilt/,, hIj^iuhI princiiwlly liv n
lunnbor (if strungors .■uul etliers in till! settlement, and hoiidud by .Janus
i'i{«M;iti>s III' Tin: iii;iiKi,i,i<>v.
4(m
Sti'U.krt, liiH jiirtt b.a'ii lii'oii^lit lilt' hy Mi. I'l >\vii, witli it ic jiiiMt | mIhhiIiI
ni^ii it. I li ivi' Ti-fii v I fti ,si:(ii tliix il iriiiii miI , li'iiiHi' tlpMc i'ii.;,ii^i' I in
({iiltiiin it ii|i li.ist' 1)1(11 til II vi'iy >^nmt KXtoiil tin- iiiiim' nf nil mir IiimiIiIuh.
Till! I'Hiirsf tlii'V liiiM' ii(|<i|)tci| in tlitir ril'iliiuiH with llic ('aiiailiini (i>>\
ll
ii'ir cniiht'i'tinn
■ I'liiiicnt mill its (ttlii'i.-ils is well known to all lu'ii' ; iiml
witli tilt' liittt-r liiis iinf luH'ii fniitfiil uf ^,,ni\ to tlio i-uuntry. 'I'lif |Kttitiiin
li.is liccii written liy I'ln- wlm lius tirnkcii mir I.iws, liculnl In nwf wlin
lii'iik
en olll'
i.'iv>.s. itnil
li.'il
nil'
l>
,1|M 1
ins
limki
niir
IiiWH. 1 I'oiilil imt roiisi'iit tn nii\ niysi'lf with sncli |ir<i|>li', lunl linvc
■ 'II tlioso Ki'"iii"l^ I'L-fiisuil to 8i;{n it. |{i'|iorts linvi- of lute liccn iniliis-
tiiniisly circtilattMl, it'tlfitin'.^ both on my iirivatc ami |iiil)iir tliaraotur
11^ |iostiiiastur. It lias lici'ii said I liiivt' assi.stfil to niisi- tln' Kri'iich
h I't' l»i<' ' Is to ci'slst .Mr. .M •!> 1,14 ill. an I as-iisti'l liy proviiliii.; provi-
HJoiis, mill othi'i'wisi', to iii'iiiitain llir |ii'i'\'ailin<r u.xi'itcnu'nt aiiinn;^ tliciii.
Till' truth of tlnjHis ulaii I.toih ram •l'.^ I titilly ih-ny I iiniiuniii' with
til) pirty of action hi far at thuy iMiljavor to olit/iin thoir airl oiir
ri'^lits — that I ever lulvisod or enconi'a;;e(l theiii in any way to take up
.inns, or to perfoiiii any illej^al aet. is false, ami the ni.iii who utters such
.■•tati'iiients is false too. With ref^anl to my cliaiaeter as postniaHter, the
stateiiiint.s niaile aj^ainst nie are yronmllesa, ami any man who protesseH
to have proof to the t-ontrary hIioiiM now conie forwanl and prodiiee it . I
liiii Holenuily Mwoar th:
it m
ttcTM hiivo i)i!i'n taiiiporc'd with so far as my
|iOHt oHiee is eoneeriied ; and altlioiij^h the mail lia^s were detained a
(oiiple of tinie.s fill' an hour or two, no man's letters were tampered with.
My earneHt wiwli is that the Canadian novornnieiit should hi- estalilished
as early u.s po.ssilile ; only lut us have our elective and other aeknowledyod
lights. T luive tried foi' this from the first, and will eontinue to do ho.
My ow
speak out tlieir minds on what they deem justly due them in the new
older of the go\ crniiieiit. This oiiee obtained by the settleiiieiit t^eiierally,
and found to bo what every fii.'e people has a rif^lit to expeit, my belief is
that those who have, as it were, fou;i;;ht our battles (althou^rh in a diH'erent
w ly than we h;ive done), will have the thanks lioreafter of the people in
e settlement and their posterity ; and that their wishes will be the
n desire is that the French portion of the settlement should now
III
wi
slies of the rest of the settlement ; and that
wil
eombine in <
k-
iiianding our rights — the unassailable rights of a free people, worthy of
having a thorough and eoiiiplete voice in the inanagemont of their own
atl'airs.
\Vinnip3g. Nov. 22, IHti'.t.
.\. v.. 15. li
.\NX.\TV.NK.
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rinci pally by .1
ided by JaiiKS
The above letter, and iiiiothcr, |)ic]).if('<l. it is .said, by Mr. 1).
A. Grant, on Col. Dennis's statt', on «K'in^- presented to the Con-
J
I' I'i'i
404
HISTORY Ol' TllK XORTH-WESI'.
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velition, were .suppressed, as ejileulated to inflame ratliei- tliaii
to soothe the excitement prevailiiif,''.
"^Phe adjotinied meetiii^^ of dele<i,ates took place on the dny
appointed (22iid Novendier), but, us was ex])ected. there \\;is
no unanimity amon*; them. A jiroposal was ma<le by some uf
the Kn};lisli to admit Mr. MeDou^all, in ordei- to plac<' tin ii
{grievances before him. whereupon Kiel excitedly declare<l tliat
M)-. Mel)ou<,nill woid<I ne\('r enter into the settlement, eitlui'
as a ])rivate individual, or as (iovernor of the country. This
dechiration created a wider breach than ever in the conxcii-
tion, and when, on the next <liiy, it wa*- di.scovered that l^id
had taken the extraordinary stej) of placing' ( lovei'fior .M;i(-
tavish, Dr. ("owan, and othei's, under arrest, and holdinjj^ full
possession of Fort Ciiariy. the iMi^^lish dele<;'ates hesitated .Mboiit
attendiiip- the mei'tiu';'. 'I'hev tinalh' decided to do .so, how-
evei-, and then Kiel slunved his hand by proposing' to form ,i
Proxisional (Jovernnu-nt t(^ ticat v.ith Canaila. and asked tlif
Kn>;lish and Scotch to join him. 'I'his, the dtdej^ates repiv-
sentiu{( the latter couhl not aj^ree to do without tir.st consult-
in<; the people who elected them, and the con\ention w.i^
therefore, fui'ther adjouriUMl until the bst ■)ecember.
In the meantime, the French allowe(l them.selves to be ad-
vised and directed to a certain dei>ree l)v a Col. Stutzman, an
American subject livino- at Pend)ina, which liad a bad etl'ect on
theii- cause in the eyes of the rest of the .settlement. This in-
dividual had the luudihood to (haw uj> an addicss on behalt
of the Indians livin^i^ near the international boundary line,
and endeavored to persuade them to pi'esent it to Mr. Mc-
Mcl^ougall, but the Intlians were better adxised. and decline!
to do so.
Riel has been credited with wishinii" to form a uni(jn with
PROGKESS OK rilK IJKISKLI.loN.
405
atlici- tliiiii
miiou with
tlic English-speaking settlers, an<l tlinc is little ilouht that
at first he was sincei-e in his desire, hut he now committed one
net after another ealeulated to drive them away instead of at-
taching^ them to his cause. He and his followt'rs undei'took to
overthrow tlie Hudson's Hav ( lovei-nment at one sweep hv
seizini; all the hooks i-elatinu' to the atlaiis of the settlement,
and taking' possession of the office of the collector of customs.
These acts decided the })eople in the Knglish and Scotch settle-
irients not to send hack their delegates to the convention on
1st Decemher, and for a time all hope of a union of the two
sides was at an end.
Kiel next seized a lot of Canadian (!o\eniment stores, ware-
liouseil with Dr. Schult/.. and, on the strength of this, an
attempt was made to I'aise a force of men to I'esist the
seizure, a scheme, which we regret to have to say. Mr. McDou-
gall was concerne(l in, although his insti'uctions were e\j)licit
not to hring ahout a collision among the people. Writing to
Hon. Joseph Howe ahout that time, he says: "They cannot
eat them up at once, and if measures I ha\t' taken to organize
an armed force to seize Kiel and his ccjlleagues. ami disix-rse
the rank and tile of his followers, should pi'o\-e successful, the
provisions will soon again he in our ])osse.ssioii."
Fortunately, howevei", for the ))eaci' of the settlement, the
armed force did not matei'ialize at that time, although it came
near doing so, and an effort was niaiie liy .some friends of
order to induce the French to consent to a medium course, viz.,
"That the Hudson's Hay ('omj)any sh'-ul.l continue on in its
government of the country until tiie .settlers came to some ar-
rangements witli Canada, aiul that a c nn)ittee should then he
formed of mend)ers chosen from amongst the p.(o|)i.- to ti'eat
with Mr. McDougall, on hehalf of the Canadian (ioNeiinnent,
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HISToKV (iK Tin: N(i|{TII-\Vi:sT.
or with the DoininicMi direct.' Thi.s jjiopositioii, dii Kcin^
iii!ul(! to the French, was at first lavoi'ahly eiitertaine(l ],y
them, and Kiel, in the presence of thr<'e residents of Winni-
pji;', AEessr.s. A. (i. Ij. Ijinniityne, H. S. I) )nalds()n, and Oscar
Mahn:iros (the American Consul ), ^avc an assurance that tin-
French would meet the Kn^lish on eipial terms in i'ormini;- an
execnti\(' council to lay the claims of the people hefoic
(^anada, the Hudson's Hay Company to I'emain the (iovcrn-
nunt of the country, in ths' m.-antinr'. Messen;.;tu's were then
dispatcheil to the various Knuiish ])arishes to sound them mi
the new turn atlairs liad taken, and when it was discovered
that they also favoreil the pro[)osition, efforts were made to
call the deleijates tom-ther aiiain on the 1st. Decendier.
F)Ut in the meantinu', dame rumor was husv, and all sort>
of I'eports were lly' y,' a1)out, one of which was to the I'fltH't
that the C'anadians in \Viiniipe<i' were ))rt'|)arine- to luake a
dash upon Vavt (Jarry, and caj)ture it from the Frencli.
Althou<;h there was no truth in this, and other rumors j4,oinL;
the rounds, they .served to unsettle public feelin*;-, until finally
Kiel chantjed his mind, and would not ai>Tee to allow the
Hud.sons Bay Companv to continue the <;overnment.
'J'his chanj^ed the wliole asj)ect of affairs, as the En^'lish peo-
ple W(>re sending their delegates to the convention on the un-
derstanding that the Com))any should remain in power, until
such time as an agreement was reached between the ])eo[)le ol
the settlement and the Dominion. But at a public me(>ting in
Winnipeg, about this time, Kiel, who attended it, said that the
idea of having a Provisional (lovernment was simply because
the Hudson's Bay Company was too weak, and that there Wii>
uo desire on the part of the French to coerce the rest of the
settlement into their views. The Englisli delegates then as-
i
pu(m;hks,s (»!•' rm: liKitKi.i.ioN.
M)'i
moi's ^"oiiii
sciiiMt'd touctlier, and were in tlic miilst of di.scu.ssiiiif wlu'tluT
!(• attciiil the conveiitioM, when wonl was l»r()n<rlit in that Col-
(lucl Dennis had arrivt'(l in tht' scttlcnicnt I'loni I'cnibina witli
the (()ue('n's I'rochiniation in hi.s ])()ekt't, and Mr. Robert Tait
soon after appeared witli the startling' Intel hgfi km- that he liad
a copy of the (U.'cnnient in his possession. At that time only
one man, Mr. He/iry McKenney, tlouhted tlie authenticity of
the Proclamation, ami as the French council was then in ses-
sion, it \^•as resolved to send Mr. A. (1. \>. Uannatyne for tl o
iiurpose of placing- the document before them. This was done,
and th(.' gi'cater part of the French seemed inclined to I'eganl
tilt' event in a favoi'able light, so much so that Mr. IJainiatync
sent the followiiiL; note to the Fnglish deleg'ates, who were
waiting" to ht-ar the restdt of his nnssion.
To Dr. Bii'.l, Mr. Hown, W. aiid R. 'I'^it, Mr. (iuiui, .iinl iill iho Kim-
lisll (lolOif.lto.S — I llHVU si
luwn
the ProcliiHiatioii to all the Frciicli ik;k';';ites
lin jiro hure ii<>\v : tliey will bu ylail if you fome up
ill
;uo (|iiii
Hiid
ilo.'isod, uiid I ht'lievo luuch j^ood van l)e dune by C(jiniii!i hvvv at oiu't
Youi's siiH'ori'ly,
A. (J. H. n.V.N.NATV.NK.
Thereupon the luiglish deleg-ates in accordance with the
above note, proceeded immediately to Fort (iariy, and re-
mained in council with the French luitil 4 p.m., whrn the
meeting- adjotu'iied till (i p.m. in the meantime, co|)ies of the
Proclamation (which will be found in the ap|)endix ), written
out hastily by zealous volunteers, were displayi'(l in \arious
parts of the town of Winnipeg, and throug'liout the settlement.
At (i p.m. the convention again asseml)h'il. and the Fi'ench
l>resented the following" Hill of Rights," which was ja-actically
agreed to by botit sides as the basis of a joint claim to be pre-
83iited to Canada :—
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4()S IIISTOia' Ol' Till-: N(>KTH-\Vf:sT.
1. Tlif ri'^li( to t;ltH;t our own [ieyisliitui'i'.
2. 'I'lie Lt'gislHtiuv to liiivi' power to piiss all laws local to the terii-
tory, over a veto of the Kxeeiitive, \>y a two-thirds vote.
M. No Act of till! Doniiiiioii I'arliaineiit (loeal to this territory) to lu
hiiidiii^' on the peojile miti! saii<;tioiieil l»y their representatives.
4. All Mheritfs, inagistrates, eonstal'K's, vie, etc., to he elected Ity tlic
pt'ople — .\ free homestead pre-enijition law.
r>. A portion of the piililie lands to he appro|iriated to the lienetit of
schools, the Imildin^ of roads, briilges, and parish hiiildini^s.
<i. A guaranti-e to connect Winnipeg,' liy rail with the lU'arest line uf
railroad -the land grant for such road or roads to he snhject t>>
the Legislatui'e of the tei'ritory.
7. l'"oi' four years the puhlic e.xpensi's of the territory, civil, niilitaiy.
anil niuniciiial, to l)e paid out of the Dominion treasury.
K. The military to he ccMupo.sed of the people now existing in tlif
territory'.
!•. The French and English language to he connimn in the Legislature
and Council, and all public documents and Acts of the Legisl.i
tuie to he published in both languages.
1(1. I'hat the dudgi- of the Superi<ir Coui't speak French and Kngli.sh.
11. Treaties to be concluded and' ratiiieil between the (iovcrninent am!
the several tribes of Indians of this territory, calculated to in
sure peace in the future.
12. That all privileges, cu.stonis, and usages existing at the time of tli^
transfer be respected.
l.*?. That these rights be guaranteed by Mr. McDougall before he \n-
admitted into this territory.
14. If he have not the power himself to grant them, he must get an
Act of Parliament passeil, ex|)ri'ssly securing us these right> ;
and until such Act be obtained, he must stay outside the ter-
ritory.
ir». That we have a full and fair representation in the Dominion Par
liament.
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It was then proposed to send delej^ate.s from the convention.
consiHtino- of two from the French side and two from the Kn^-
lish, to confer with Mr. Mel)ou<;'all at IVmbina, hnt Kiel arose
and said the bill of riohts wonld have to he secnred to tln'
people, and that initil Mr. Mcl^on^all could produce such an
act, he would not be allowed to enter, as no written or verlial
I'lioiUKSS <)!• Tin: lU'.ltKLI.loX.
4()!>
ininioii T'ar-
[.roinise from liini on the >*ul)j«'c^, would hi' satisfactory. This
|iiit an <'n<l to the dt'lc^ation to IV'iiihiiia, and the nirctin^
soon after hi'oke up, without acconn»lishin<;' any [)raetical
-•ood.
It may he well now to aseertain how the so-called (^)uerns
Troclamation of the Ist I)ecend)er came to he issueil. it will
li.' rememl)ere(l that the" Fiiends of Canada" were continually
ur;^inu' ujion Mr. M(d)ou,<iall to issue his proclamation, while
his instructions were to await the actual transfer of the
country. ( )n the 2i)th XoNcndier, \\r. appears to have j^iveii
way to the importunities of his adheivnts in the settlement,
for we find him wi'itin;;' to Hon. Jos. Howe as follows:
I luive tliL' limior to roimit that I am .still at I'einhina, in tin; torritofy
nf the riiitod States, ami unabli-, in ci)ii.so(|iieiici! uf tliecoiitimieil ociiipa-
ticiii of tho roail hy ai'iiiod men, to proeeetl to Fort (iariy. I liave fuitlici'
to re|iort tliat T liasi' not roceived any instriu'tions for my ^nid.'ini'c on
and after the day of tlie transfer of the territory to Canfuhv, iu>r any
uotiee of tlu' oi'der in council, which has no douht been pas.sed to elleet
it. in the.se circnmstances, I am compelled to act npou the general
jiowi'rs and directions of my commission, and of the .\cts of Parliament,
Canadian and lm|)erial, which seem to hear upon the case. I harf (ii-( nnl-
ntiihj pit fiiircd a I'mrliondtion, to i)e issued on the first day of Uecend)er,
reciting so nuich of the several .\cts of Parliament as seemed nece.s.sary to
disclose the ro(iuisite authority ; and stating, by way of recital, tin fori i>J
siirrtitdtr hij tin; Hvdioii'.s H(i>i ('ompiDUi, arc pf'tiir.r hy Hrr Majcfty, (Uid
trntiafer ti) Cumtda, from and after the 1st r)eccml)er, A L). IHtlil 'I'hese
facts T ijiithir fimn tin; iieir.timixrti, (nnn a private letter to me c)f the
nepnty-(>overnor of the company's, and my own knowledge before I left
< Ittawa, that the 1st Decend)er had been agreed upon as the date of the
transftr. In the jiresent state of affairs in the settlement, it is of the ut-
most importance to announce the transfer in the most tiidliciilir and
Kiilemu manner possible, in order to give confidence, and the pfottction of
li'fjnlitij, to the act of the loyal and well-disposed, and to put the malcon-
tents and their American advisers and sympathisers publicly and techni-
cally in the wrong, etc., etc.
Mr. McDougall therefore concocted his Proclamation, hut,
not content with going thus far, he issued a second one, cut-
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HISTORY OK THK N'oUTH-WEST.
tiiiLf ott' (lovernor .MactaviHh's licad, uiid a tliinl, appoint in^
Colonel DoiuiiH 1 )epntv-< 'overnor, both ol' whicli are to l>c
found published in full in the Aj)peiidix to this volume. In
his letter to .Mr. Howe, Mr. ]\Icl)ou<jjall expresses a doubt as to
the propriety of the course he was pursuing, for he .says:- ' I
hope 1 am right in using the name of Her Majesty as piomin-
ently as I have done."
Iminodiately before the appearance of the bogus Proclama-
tion, an attempt was made to excite the Knglish aii<l Scotdi
settlers to resist the French, which was ,so far successful that
arming and drilling of small bodies of men took place in dif-
ferent parts of the settlement, and matters were in this coii-
<lition when Mr. McDougall i.ssued his famous documents.
Immediately after the .second Proclamation, thi'ee French
half-breeds, nanu'd Fran(,'ois and Augustin iSolin, and one
I'erratdt, xnvX Mr. Bannatyne, who persuaded them that Hiels
stul)born attitude was likely to get the whole settlement into
trouble, and they proposed to have fifty English and fifty
French assend)le and discuss the rights, and then send dele-
gates to Mr. McDougall, and if he {tromised them, or even
promised to do all in his power to obtain them, they wouM
take a force of men and bring in the new Governor in s))ite of
Kiel's oppo.sition. These three men were in earnest, and went
to work to carry out their understanding with Mr. Bannatyne
with good prospect of success, as Kiel and his council were
being won over, when the action of the Canadian party in the
settlement once more threw everything into chaos, thus ))lay-
ing right into the hands of Kiel.
It appears that a party of Canadians went to join Col.
Dennis and form a militarv force, and this at once drew all
the French together, some who had initil then kept aloof join-
ill
I'IMMiKESS OK THK KKHKI.I.loN'.
411
\\v^ llit'l's staiuliird. Tlit' Fivncli tMjuiii'il was •■ncm in stssioiu
iloliboratiti;^' ovtT tlic (|Ut'.stion of sfudiiif^ dck-yatcs to Mr. Mc-
I)oufjfall,aii(l a coiniiiuiiication to that ^riitlt'inan was actually
in course of itrcpai'ation, wiicn won! was Uroutjht in that the
( 'anadian nai-tv, assisted hv h^nejish settlers, wei-e ahout to
attack Fort (lari-y. Like a flash, tlie Frencli rose to a man.
iie(£otiations were at an end, and all the eood that had l)een
ilonc! went for fiauj^ht.
Ill the tneaiitinie, (Jovernoi- Mactavisli, lyin^- nick at Fort
• iai'i'V. had not even heeii shown a co]>y of the I'roclaniation,
none havinir been sent to him until a frieiul placecl one in hi.s
hands; hut tliis treatment was only in keepine' with the wlwjle
conduct of .Mr. McHont^all in his attitud<' toward the man
whom h(! ex|iected to succeed, and who was the tii-st one with
whom he should h;ive endeavoi-ed to connnnnicate in so im-
]iortant a matter.
The news[)a|»eis Xor'-Wf.sftr and Pioneer wt'Vc now both
seized by Hiel. who als-o ma<le a search of several ))ri\ate
liouses for suspected persons and arms, an<l all was excitement
oiice more in the noighl»orhood of Fort (Jarry. Frotii the re-
port of ( 'olonel J)ennis, it seems that it was at his instance
that the (/'atuKJians in Winjiipey- were enrolled, and that his
instructions were to orijjanize a force in the settlement to put
down the F'rench if tliere was any hope of such a ste|) Ix'injj;-
successful. Thus another fatal bluiuler was committed at a
time when everythine- appeared to be auspicious for a peace-
ful ending of the troubles. On tlu; 5th December, the Lists of
Ivightswere issued in printed form, and distributed anion j; thi^
settlers, the 13th and 14th clauses bein^' omitted.
In the meantime, the excitemmt in the settlenunit, especi-
ally in the vicinity of F'ort (larry, contimied, and was rather
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IIISTOUY HI' TIIK .\(»|{TM-\Vi;sT.
iiitcMHitii'd, when a rumor njuclKid Wiimipejj; that tlie Sidiix
IndiaiiH, to tlu; iiuiiibci' of clrvt.'ii liuii(Ir»'(|, wcit; on the \\;i\ to
Re<l Itiver, licadt'd Ity a (ie.speratc cliaractt'r named dcot;^!'
RacL'ttc, alias " Sliawinan. ' Tlu! worst fcatui't' about ilir
rumor was, that this man "Sliawman," a French half-hricd.
known to ho disrt'j)utahif and unrt'liahle, liad been nuiiloyid
by Colonel Dfiniis. Tht'ic is not, however, the sli^ditest ivm-
son to suHpt'ct that the latter in any way cncouraet'd his im-
ployo to tamjx'r with the Indians, but the fact of "Shawinan
havine- iiccii adopted l)y the Canadian pai'ty, was sulKcient tu
create a\('i'\' bad feeling, esijeeiallv amon^' the Krench. 'llurr
is I'very reason to think that Kacette actually endeavored to
excite tlu' Indians, because, not only did word to that etl'ect
reach the settlement, but the man himself had boasted that lie
would bring" back a large enougii band to wipe out the whole
comnnniity.
The next serious matter was the return to \Vinnij)ee' of the
Canailians who had enrolletl themselves under Colonel ])emiis,
and their collecting- together in the house of Dr. Schultz foi'
the ostensible purpose of defending the government pork
8tore<l there. This, however, was looked u])on as only an ex-
cuse for the step taken, and a strong suspicion was created
in the minds of the French that they had g-athered togethei-
for tlui purpo.se of fornnng a nucleus of attack on Fort Carry.,
should the opportunity arise.
Colonel Dennis thus refers to the subject in his report:
" Received a note from Dr. Schultz this morning, in which he
states that a number of the enrolled Canadians and others
collected at his liouse last evening — it is presumed on his
request — anticipating a possible attack on his property, and
the government provisions in his ciuirge." The gathering of
I'HiMiUKss (tF Tin; ki:im:m,I(»n.
U.S
tlii'Hc mou lit this time was a iiiohI uiit'ortiiiiatc atf'air For
uliicli, liov/t'vor, Colonel Dennis was in no way resjionsihle, as
lie (listinetly ordered tlie men to stay in tlieii- lo<|(^rin;;s until
i'urtlier ()i'(lers were reeeivi-d I'rom liim. Indeed, when lu^
heard what had taken place, he at onee sent an oi'der to have
the men withdrawn, an<l to \h: Sehult/ he said, "Shut u))
yoiM- premiseH and let the jiroperty taUe its chance." Hut im-
r<atunat»dv Ins insti'uctions were (lisoheved, and the Canadian
party in Wiinii)»e<.i' decided to rcMuain where they wei'e, c()oped
u|» in a shell of n huildin^. where, il' hostilities had eom-
menceil, tiiey could have hid no hope of lieinj;' able to defend
themsolves.
While Colonel J)ennis was thus busy enrollini,' men, and the
I'anadiauH in Winnipeg- were keeping- up the exi-itement. Mr.
McDougall at Pembina was not idle. In a letter to Hon. Jos.
Howe, dated '2nd Dec, he says: "'Yesterday evenin<;', after
finding that the road was clear, I took with me .Messrs. Kich-
ards and Provencher, and four others of my party, and pro-
ceeded to the Hudson's Bay Company's post neai- Pembina,
in order to execute on British .soil, and so fai' in a public
in
miner, the Proclamation and othei- documents wliid
1 are t
( I
take eftect within the territory, 1 havi' resoKcd to do no otli-
cial act on American soil, and have made arrangements to
occupy the Hudson's Bay Company's ])ost, and, if iiece'.ssary,
repel by force the attack of any .such party as the one that
drove u.s from it on the 8rd Noveml)er. * * * j j^jmU ^q^
openly take this position and attitude unless I hear fnjin
Colonel Dennis that he has a force in the field, and is thus
ifiving Riel and his party something to do at Fort Garry."
The printing and circulating of the List of Rights, to which
we have already referred, produced a good effect on the Enc--
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IIISIOHV or TIIK N(tl!lll-\Vi:sT.
liHli-sjH'iikiiiy; st'ttli-rs. ns tliri'c seniit'il tu lliriii imtliiiin im
reiisniiiililc ill tlic (Iniiiiuil, iniil in coiisi'iUH'iifc (•!' this, ('olninl
Dniiiis round ^rciit ililliculty in ixcitin;^' iiny ciitlnisiaMiii Jilioiit
niiHinu' Ji I'orcc ( )n tlif Stli I d'ccinlirr, lit' <iii\c vent to his
Ft't^liiiMH ol" (|is)i|)]M)iiitiiii'nl in l\\r InHow iiij; fxtriiorilinaiy l,iii-
<^UJi;;,"c, (M)iitaiiit'(l ill a Ifttci' to his chief, Mr. Mel )(Hi;^.ill :
lliiwcv IT, if the |)<'i>|)|r were willin;^'. thry cuiild nnistcr ariii>
L'ii»)n;;li to [)Ut (h)\vii tin' halt'-lacnls, hut they won't "In it
The fai't of the matter is. I/k 1/ nvr nnrdrds oiw ami all uf
tlu'.iii. Aithouj'-h th('\' ai'f iii\' couiitrvnifii. I must speak the
truth jihout tliem. '
On the 7th I )eeeuil)er. a few nl' the ))riliei)ia! residents ill
Winuiiiee' and vit'iiiit\' met toecthei', and ih'i-ided to m) to i>i
Schiilt/., and point out to him how lie was eiidan<;t'rine' the
whoh' setth'nieiit, hy keepilie' a foi-ee of men in his Ikhimv
otieriiie- at the same time to l)eeome respoiisihie for any dain-
a<;'e done to his ])ro|»erty or the (iovernment sui)]iiies. While
these u'eiith'nKMi, however, were on their wa\- to cai'rN- nut
this misHion of peace, l^iei, at the hea<l of aliout three hun-
dred men, with pieces of artilii'ry, appeared on the road fivim
Fort ( Jairy, for the purpose of dislodn"ine- the Cana<liaiis. It
was a critical moment, and the party of jieacemaker.s at once
went to Riol, and asked to he allowed to see Schult/ Hist
hefore anythino- further was done, to which Kiel consented,
but ileclared that only an unconditional surrender of the
Canadian nartv would satisfv lum.
The result was, that after some time was taken tip in ne^o-
tiatino-, the followiiie- order was .sent in by Kiel :
Communication receded this 7th day of December, 18G9, Dr. Schultz
and men are hereby ordered to give up their arm.s and .surrender tlien -
selves. Their Hves will be spared should they comply. In case of refusal,
|i: '■'
i'i«Hii{i:ss ui iiii; i!i:i'.i:i,i,i(i\.
41,
iiotluiin- un
this, ( 'oluiul
iisiasm filidut
(• M'llt t(l liis
ordiimry laii-
. Mc|)(Ml-;ill:
iiiustfr anii>
wont i\n ii
If ii ml (ill iif
iHt H](cak till'
I residents ill
I to ;;■() tti 1 h
liiii^'eriii^' tlir
ill liis limiM',
I'di- any 'laiu-
)\)\\rs. Wllilr
to earrv "Ut
lit tliree Imii-
tlie road IVoiii
'aiiadiiuis. It
ikcrs at oiicf
Schultz first
{iel consented,
ender of the
en up in nejio-
[809, Dr. Scliultz
svirreiuler tlieiv -
n case of refusal,
II tllU Kiii^HhIi lllllf lil'eeil.s iUlil ntlitT il.'lti\'cs, Wiililt'll Mini t'hililrcll. all' ,i\
iJH'rty to (lci)iirf niiiiinirsted.
liOl IS ItlKI.
I'uliT (lAlllt^, Till I »r(clulicr. iMti'.l,
The siiiii'iuler will lie ;ict'i!]»teil at m lifteeii iiiiiiiitis at'ttir tlu' dtU'r.
I )i'. ( )'|)oniien. w ho was then stayin;^^ with I )r. Sehnh/, set
tiie exaiiijde, which tlie Test of the party followed, liv sinning
III
he docuineiit, and two who wen- imt in the house at the time
[('has. (lari'et and •'aiiii's Mnllinaii) wen- sent I'or hy lliel and
included in the nunilier.
The sin-iiiltures to the suneiiiler were; —
.Idsfpli Lyiicli. M.l>. Will, (ii ihaiii,
.Inliii Scliiilt/. M.I). Will. Niiniiiniis.
aiiii'.s
.\rtliiir Haiiiiltdii
(i. I). McN'iuiir,
|{. l\ Moaao,
\\ in. Kitsnii.
■ Iiillll FiT^^llsiili
W
111. Sjiicc
lines St'.'wart.
Ik"iry WoixUngtuii, Tlicis. liiisted,
W. .1. Allen,
Tlioiiia.') Laii^iiiaii.
1). r. ('aiiii)liull,
('. Kent,
.1. .M . ('iii)inlis,
.V. |{. Cllisllnllil.
.Inlin Kecks,
• liiliii Ivy,
!•". ('. Muj,'ri(lj4e.
K. Kraiiklin.
11. w
ei'^litinaii.
h. W. .\ivliil)al(l,
.Inliii <) Domiull, .M.I) , ('. K. i'altner.
iL'e. Nic!)
Mill
W. F. Ilyinaii
C
liiil
lar,
I)
nies Davvsim.
.1,
W. .1. 1);
IVlS,
.1. B. Haines,
'ienrge F\)rtney,
Vy persons in
Matthew Davis.
A. Wright,
P. McArtliiir,
Knbeit H. Smith.
.lanies H. .\>liihi\Mi,
.\ W. (irahain,
D. Cameron,
• I. H. Stncks,
■ lanies Miillig;
( Mmrles ( iariet.
Ill,
all.
There were also three ladies in the jiarty, Mrs. Schultz, Mi's.
^h^ir, and Mrs. ()'J)onnell, who, of their own accord, accoiii-
pauied the prisoners to Fort (Jarry, whither Kiel inarched
tlu'iii,and Mr. J. H. McTa\ sh, of tlie Hudson's Bay ("oni])any,
placed his apartuieiits at the service, of the ladies, who were
thu.s made conifortalile. But the balance of the jiarty found
tlieinselves hacked up in (piarters very much too small for their
accommodation, and without sufficient food or coverinir.
t
^iilifi
u ,.
,! I
ffi
ii
'iiji
tiu'
!
i
1 ■ i .
1 i
1
1^
1
1
■ 1
■1 1
i ^
■ 1
1
i M
i ' ;
1 ■ !
416
IIISTOUV •»!• Tin; N(»ltTII-\\KST.
On tlif Htli I )t'Cfiiil»fr, Rifl issiicil tlir Inllowin;,' •IcclnratiMii,
jil'intt'tl in l'!n;^lisli mikI l-'irncli, inul coiiirs wrw I'lrfly ciicii-
hiU'A tlMi)U;^li()Mt tin- si'ttlcnicnt : --
DKCF.AKA'rioN oK TIIK I'Mol'LK OF Ml I'KK'I'S |.\N|t \M»
TIIK NOKTII WKST.
Wlx^rt'iis it Ih iidiiiittiMl Ity nil iiicii, its n fiiniliiMiciitiil |iriii('i|ili', that tlii'
piibMc authority cnininaiMls llu^ itlii'diciii'c and ri'Mpi'il nf its siiliji'cts h
is hIbo H(liiii(tu<l that ii peiiplu, when it Hhh no i;iiv< rniiient, ia fnc in
ttdu|)t onu funii nf ^ovuniinmit in prefori'iujo to anonior, to uivn or refuse
Rlk'^iancej to tliat which is pinposed. In atcordantt! with thu aliove liisi
|ii'in('i|il(', tlu( ) eople of tliw ennntiy iiad olieyed aitd respected tli.it
Huthority to wiiieli the eireunistttnii-H Burroundin^^ its infancy eonipelltil it
to 1)0 Hlliijeet.
A company of advent iui-ih known as tlu» l.'iidson'.s Hay ( 'ouipany. anil
invested witli certain jiowers f^ranto I liy His M.ijcNty (Lliarles II.), e.stali
lisiied itself in Kiipurt.s Land, and in tlio N orth - Went Tun 'tory, for trad
inj^ pinpc ses only. This company, coiisistirii^ of niany persons, I'eqiiiitil
a certain constitution ; hut as theirs was a question of commerce only,
their constitution was framed in reference thereto. Yet, since there
was lit that time no government to see to the interests of a peo|iI(' already
existing in the country, it became necessary for Judicial affairs to iia\c
I'ecourse to the oHicers of the lludsoii's l'>ay Company. 'I'liis inaui^uiated
that species of government which, slightly modified hy sid)sc(pient cir
cumstances, ruled this country up to a recent dote.
Whereas that government thus accept eil was far from miswerint^ to the
wants of the people, and hecinie more and more so as the population in-
creased in nundiei-s, nnd as the country was developed, a d commerce ex
tended until the present day when it lommandsa place amonyst the coln-
nies ; and this people, ever act uattid hy tlu; ahove nu-ntioned piinciples,
had generally su|)[)orted the aforesaid goveinment, and gave it a faithful
iillegiance ; when, contrary to the law of nationf, in March, IHtiM, tlit
said goverjiment surrendered, and transferred to ('anachi, all the riylii--
which it had pretended to have in this territory, hy ti'ansactions with
which the people were considered unworthy to he made ac(iuainted : ami,
whereas it is also generally admitted that a pe(»ple is at liberty to estab-
lish any form of government it may consider suitalile to its wants, as s(ioii
us the power to which it was subject abandons it or attempts to sidijugale
it without its consent, to a foreign power, and maintained that no ri^dit
can be transferred to such foreign power. Now, therefore —
1st. We, the representatives of the people in council, Hssenibled at
I'pper Fort (jarry, on the 24th November, \HitU, after having invoked the
M^
m
I'liiKjuKss ui rm; hkiiki.mox.
417
i|)'('tnrutiiiii,
ri'crly cirrii-
I.ANI> .\M>
u'i|ii<', niiit iiii'
H SUlljfC'tM I'
eiit, is fit*' I'l
I liivo iir fffiisf
tlio iihnVf tirsi
if.s|iiTt»Ml tlmt
;y ctniipfllitl it
('i>iii|iitny. ami
rli-H II.), •••Htnli
'tnry, for t i.kI
rsiMis, n'(|iiii>il
(iiiiiiiui'ci! mily,
•t, siiic't! till re
|ifnplo iilroiiily
allUii's to Imvf
liis iiiiiiit^uiati'd
^iil)SLMHH'iit cii
(iciil iif NutiotiM nlyiiiK on tluNt* fiiii<litiiiciitikl iimrnl |ii'iii('i|ilt '^t, Hii|i>iiiitly
iji'clui't', illtlh' liaiilt'H iif mil' I'liiiHtitlH-lltH, aliil in oiiiiiwn iialiirH, lirfnl'it
tinil mill man, that frnin lliu day on uliicli tlu> (invcniini'iit we liail alwayM
iis|H-('tril nliaiidiiiu'il us. Iiy traiiMfci'iiiii^ to n stran^r piiwrr the Nacifil
iiiiiliniity t'lintiilt'd ti> it, llii' |ifii|ili> of |{u|icrt'N Land and tlif Nm-tli-
(iiil
«'\('iii|it fi'iiiii all alli'uianct
tn til
iid (
• iivcrn-
Wctt Id'caiiif fn
iip'iit.
U'nd. 'I'liat \vf ii'fii i' to ncHj^iii/.r tlir mitliority of ("iiuada, wliuli \i\c
t> imIh to liHVf a ri){lit tokuciri mm, and iiii|HiMi> upon um n dt<Hpotic form of
u'ovfinmfiit, still moru oii'iiaiy to uiii' ri^litN and intuivstH aH ItritJNh niiI»-
ji'ilH than Was tliat ( ■iiVfi'i'iiiciit to wliicli we liad Hiilijci'tt'd oiirHulvoH
tlii'oii;^di iii'fi'H.sity np to a I'ritain datf.
.'Ird. Tliat l»y scndinK an I'xpt'iiitlon mi llic 1st Noxcnilu'r nit., cliiirxi'd
to drive Imok Mr. William M('l)oiiv;;ill and liis rompanionH. t-oiiiiiig in lliu
iiaiiit' of Canada to riili- u.s witli the md of dcsputisni. witlioiit a pri'vioim
ititication to tliat tll'i'i't,
\\v liavi' a<
tfd coiifniiiiaMy to (liat sacred riylit
«liicli I'oiiiiiiaiids I'M TV citi/cii to otl'iT ('!i(rt,'('tic opposition to prevent liin
country l)oin;; I'lislavcd.
4tli. Tliiit wu coiitiniii', and sliall ('iintiniic, to npposc, with all oiir
strt'iiyth, tho i-Htalili ^hiiiji of the Canadian authority in our country under
till' aniioiincci
1 fi
And in case of pcisiiti'iui' di the pait cpf the Cana
dian (Jovernnieiit to enforce i^s uhiioxjniis policy upon us hy foice of
anus, we jn'oti'st liefori'hand a^aiiist such an unjust and unlawful course ;
and \\t' declare the saitl Canadian tlovernment I'esponsilile lu'foro (Jod Hud
iiicii for the innuniei'uldu evils which may lie caused l)\ sn iinwai'ran
taMc
It rolll'sc.
Ri
It
,11, therefore, to tin.' world in I'eneial. and to the
Ciuadian (iovernnicnt in ])articular. that as we lia\e always heretofore
successfully <lefendt'd our country in freipieiit wars with the neii^hhoring
tiibcs of Indians, who jire now on friendly relations with us, wo lire
tii'iiily resolved in fiiluri'. not less than in the past, to repel all invasions
from whatsoi!ver ijiiarters they may come.
And. furthermore, we do dcclari' and proclaim, in the name of the people
(if Rupert's Land and the North-West, that we liavi', on the said L'4th of
N'ovomhei'. IH(1J(, ahove mentioned. I'stiililished ;i jirovisional j^o\ ernnu'nt,
and hold it to he tin- only and lawful authority now in existeni'i- in
Kiijiert's Land and the Nortii-West which claims the olifdience and resjiect
.f th
I "•'"!'
That meanwhile we hold oursi'lves in ri'adiness to enter into such nego-
tiations with tho Canadian (iovernniiuit as niivv bo favorahli' for tho uood
fjlovenunent and prosperity of tiiis people.
In support of this declaration, relyin;^ on the protection of I)ivine Pro-
vidence, we mutually pledge oiusolves on oath, our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honor to each other.
M\
i i
It
i' )
i a
1
I ■
i;
1
Vj
I ' ■
;
u
1
■['
mM.
\ '.
. j :
' 1 '■ ■
■ \
' {
' 1
!
418
illSTOHV OK Tin: N(»l!TII-\Vi:ST.
l8s\ie(l fit Fort (J;iiiy, tliis Stli diiy of Doi'.'iiiIkt, in the year *>i mu
lionl niu' tlioiisaiid oi<,'lit iuiiiilrfd and si\ty-niiii'.
John Hki (K, I'nsiilnif
l.ixis Uii:i,, Si'i-i-fttiiih
Hit'l tlit'ii .sent a ^•uard of forty int-ii to dcciipy tlu- Hiiil.son s
Hay post at Pcinbiiia. to pi'evciit Mr. McDouoall IVoiii riitnin-
it, and li. Mtitilu-d Mi. .1. A. Snow . tlic superintendent of tli^
Lake of the Woods road, to arrano(. Iij.s atlaii'sand de|»;irt \ivn\i\
the .settlement within a fortnio-ht. Mi'. l>o\vii. the editor i.i
the N(>r'-]Vrsti'i\ thinkin<;' di.seretion the hetter part of valinir,
hud left the .settlement, it is sai<l. in ilisonise, and Avas staving'
at a j>ost in the interior. eallcMl l<]aL;le"s Nest, whieh heloiiovd
to the Hnd.sons Hav Coiiiiianv.
It seems tliat Col. Dennis, at the time when Sehnltz and his
men were l)e.sie.i;ed hy Hie!, attempted to rai.se a f(jree in tin
Lower Settlement tt) rescue them, hut did not succeed, and on
the (ith Decemhea'. the day hefitre the surrender, he i'ecei\ril
tlie following" lettei' from the I'ishop of Hu])ert s Land, '•■Jiich
thi-ows much liuht on the state of afl'airs in the settlement.
Hisiinr'.s CoritT, Dec. (itli. l.sii'.i
Dear Coi.onkl Dknms J ^'l■il•ve to say that tliu state of things is a>
.sinning daily a graver aspett, I an. greatly dis;i|i|H)inted at tlu' niauifest.i-
tion.s of loyalty ;ind ;i determination to support flii' government of Mr.
MeDoiigall, on the part of the K'nglish population. Instead of a hreakin,'
down of the force of the insurgents. I feel cert.iin from my oi)servatioii>
at Fort Oarry to-day. and from information from Mr. Miicta\ ish ami
others 1 can rely on, that ovei' r)0O mon art \v in aims, and they arc
well armed. I see no ri'ason to dei>enti on want of courage or deteriniii.i
tion on the part of these men. In addition to this strong e.xhibition 'it
force, there is a belief, apparently on good authority, of a determination
to avenge loss of life, if they are attacked by house to house massacriii;.;,
or, at any rate, by individual assassination
I feel, therefore, that success in an .attack with such forces as yon can
briiiL' together, with nothing <if the common action the insurgents have, i'-
problematical, and that the warfare is likely to be such that a victory will
only bo less fatal to the settlemi'iit and the interest of the Canadian (.i'<\
erinnent, than a defe.at.
'iiiKiur.ss III' iiii; i!i:iii;i.i.i(i\.
-H!>
e year of mn
•:, l'r<sl,l,i,f
t^iinliiiii
lie Hinl.soiis
•Olll flltrl'illi;
ulcilt of till
»loj)Mrt Iriiin
lit- cilitor nf
It of v.-iltnir,
was stayiii'4
it'll l)t'lon<ifil
lult/ Mini Ill's
fon'c in till'
•{•I't'd. aii<l '111
. lie l'L'C('i\ril
Laiul, 'vhicli
ttii'iiifiit.
;. (itli, l«»i'.».
f tilings is a>
tlu' iiumifi'sr.i-
nnirut <if Mi.
I nf a liif.ikiii.;
ly oDsoiv.if ioii^
Mactjn ish ami
i. and tlifv all'
• or (letL'rniin.i
f exliiliitidii lit
(leteriiiinatiiiii
ise ina.ssaciiiiu,
ii't'S a« ymi tan
ii'gents iia\o, i>
I a vit'tiivy will
Canadian (»nv
\'iiii iiiust nut sii|i|i(isi; tliat this eniiics ficnii mw wlin is lininri'iis
Tlmiigli i neviT said it la-foro, I wnit in tin.' tirst uicrtiiiL; nf tliv CipiiikmI
(pf As.siniln>ia, pieiiart'd tn ri'Cdiniiii'nd a forfihii' juittin^ down ot tin' in
siiiri'c'ti(tn, and wlu-n yon I'anii' in. 1 lio]R'd that thf oxliiliition ot force
wi.iild 1)1' siilhL'ii'nt : Imt tlic Unce of the iiisurt^cnts has only i,'ro\\ii «ith
iipiMisition and is iiow. I liclicx e, c|iiiti' a match for all thai can tic lni U'-;lit
tiii,'cthor a^'aiiist tliciii. I would cariicstly adviMc, tiu'icfoic tlu- i^dviii;; ii|>
of any idea of attackiiii.' the Krciu'h jiosition at Fort (iarry at present, and
also any iilea of seizing liy stealth mi any reliel. I'lit away such counsel
for a time at least. I feel tjial tlu result to lie ant icipated would lie very
di'-astroiis I see ever\tliin!' to he gained l>v dela\ : at aiiv rate there
«oll
Id he some opportn-Sty, perlia|is, of hringiiiL; ahoiit some dii'ect coii
lUiiication hetwv ii ( loveriior .Mcl)oU''all and the disallected
lie I
lliil
ik Villi siioiild on everv aci
iiint, lii'i
iig that alioiit. Finlher. it would
lie well Hot to act till yon ascertain clearly the mind of tjie Canadian M n-
istry and people, on the way of settling this atlair, and I think soiiiethii g
is due to the jieople from (in\crnor .McDoiig.ili. I for one am at this
iiionieiit |>erfectly ignorant of an\ detail of tlii' character or policy of this
government. Personally 1 do not eare foi' tliis. I am not only fei\ curly
loyal to the <^>iU'en, hut i have iinipie.^tioiiiiiL; contidciicc in the manage
iiieiit of Canada. 1
iiiow all will he ri'
:ht
>tiil
tl
leii' IS not less a great
wa:.t, a very conciliatory attitude is what is ^^ anted from ( io\ ciiior Mc-
l>oiigall, and a ]>lain setting forth of how tin- goxeinineiit is to lie con-
iliu-ted. ineetim.;. as far as possihle, any of ihe wishes e.\prcssi'd hy the dis-
.•ill'ct'ti'd jiersons, and iieiliajis referring others to ('anada, hut promising a.
ueiieroiis consider/it ion <if the whole 'grievances.
This may not he altogether palatahle, hut the crisis is , a grave one for
Caiuda, and niiich wisihun is luedeil. 1 would not so write, did I not
t'cel certain, that if the present numlieis of iiisurueiits keep up, an .attack
i.s not feusitile. and did I not also feil that .•^onie attempt should he made
hy those having authority and kiiowledjic, to enter into cxplaii itioiis with
tliem hefore making any attack. The late goxeinineiit <■! ,\ssiiiili(iia,
cui
Id nut. do this, foi' it had no infojination : all th it could he d
oiu' was to
Counsel loyal ohedicnce, hut .at this t
than that.
line, soiiiethiii'' mure
is c.allcil fi
or
\\ ith kiiidesl leuards.
1 am. iVi
U Ki I'KH'rs L.vMi
Colonel Dt'imi.s fvideiitly coiicluilcd to take His Lor(!shij)s
advice, for, on till' nth hecoiiihrr. ho sont the follow iiio- Irttor
to -Ml". A. (!. 15. Hiinnatvne :
i!
1 1
ill
i :.
N'^;
;i
i-l
;
M! 1
!i
■ 1 i
IliMf
420
HIsroHY OK THE NoltTH-WKsT.
LowKH Fort Gahhy,
December, Oth, 1S()!).
A. (I H. ("VXXATYXF., ES(,V,
, Will iii ])('(/.
1)i:ai{ Mi«. Haxxatvxe— I Hope tlie enclosed will satisfy
tlie French pai'ty of my desire not to see the countiy iiunle
desolate npon a ((Ucstiou whicli I am convinced admits of a
peaceful solution.
Be <ifood enough to make it known tcj the parties in anus,
if I can contribute in anv wav to biinjj,' about a settlement, I
shall be t.-lad to to so. The paper will be pi-inted and distri-
l)uted to-(lay.
Believe me, Dear Sir,
Yours, vVc,
J. S. Dkxxis.
The enclosure referred to was the following :
Pc-vcK Pkoclamation.
L')\VKK FOKT GaKUY,
lied Hivt-r Settlement,
December 9th, 18(i<>.
Til nil trhoin it moij co)icefn.
By certiiiii printed piijjers, of late put in circulatinn by the Frencii
party, ccinnnunioation with the Lieutenant-Governor is inrlicated with .i
view to layinu; before him alle>,'ed rijjhts on the i)art of tVio.se now in arms.
I think that course very desirable, and that it would lead to yood results.
Tnder tlie belief that the party in arms are Hincere in their desire foi
peace, ami feeling that to al>andon for the i)re8ent, the call on the loyal to
arms, would, in view of such connnunication, relieve the .situation of mucli
eMd)arrassnu'nt, and so contribute to bring about jieace, and save tlic
country from what will otherwise end in ruin and desolation I now call on
and order the loyal party in the North-West Territories to cease finthcr
action under the appeal to arms made by me. and I call on the French
party to satisfy the people of their sincerity in wishing for a peaceful end-
ing of all these troubhs liy sending a deputation to the Lieutenant-liovcr-
or at I'embina without any unnecessu'y delay.
;
i - :
1 i
; ■ 1
:
.h, iHii'.t.
v'ill satisfy
intry ina<li'
(liiiits of a
;» in uniis,
jttleineiit, 1
iiud (Hstri-
Dexnis.
I'HOiJHKSS OF THK KKHKI.I.loN.
4-21
(^liven under my hand at Lower Fort (Jarry, this 5Hh diiy of Deeeiuber,
i;s()!».
.1. S. Dknnis,
Litiiliuant titiil CditsvrvitUtr of thv Peace tu nnd
for the North -Wist Trrritorirs.
Two (lays after i.s.suiiif^ the al)ovo proclainatioii, Colonel
Dennis left Lower FortCJarry to rejoin Mr. Mel)(ju(;all at l*eni-
l>ina, and the latter, finding that all et!brts to oaiu admission
into the settlement had failed, }>acked up his ba^'^a^'e and took
his de))artni'e on the 18th Decemlvr for Canada,
eiuent,
r i»tli, 18(W.
the FruiRli
icfited with m
now in anus,
good results.
eir desire for
n the loyal to
ition of nnicli
md save the
I now call on
cease fiutlar
II the French
peaceful end
eiiant-Govcr-
Ml
M !
. J
I lilt l! !■
CHAPTKK XXVI I.
A I'ASSIVK COMMISSION.
The only attfinpt (as far as we know) iii;i<ii' hy Mr. M( -
Dounall to eoinimiiiicatc with tlic iiisiu'oeiits ami tiiul out tlif
ti'iie cause of tlii'ir ui-icvaiiccs, was when five days before his
departure i"oi' Canada he adilressed the t'ollowiiio' lettfi' \n
Kiel:
(I'liruh:)
rKMliiN A, Dfcemliur I'J, 18()!».
Fi )i'is TtiKi,. Ks(,i..
Sir — 1 iiefir fmm the Hudson \h\y Tnst that ymi are expected to airi\f
tliere from Fort (Jarry to-niLjIit. I scinl this note to inform j'ou tli.it I
am anxious to l)a\o a converHatiou witli you before answeriujj; <h'S|iutcln"-
whifh 1 have recently receivnl from the Dominion (iovcrnment. 1 havr
not \et had any conuMunication from you or from anyone else on ])ehali'
of the French lialf-hreeds. who liave prevented me from jjroceethn^,' !■.
Fort (iarry. stating' tlieir complaints or wislies in reference to the new
government. As tlie reiuesentativi' of the So\ereign to wliom you ami
they owe, and is I am told, (h> not wish to denj', alletfiance, it is propn
that some si'xli oomnnniication should reach me. It will he a great mi--
fortune to us all, 1 think, if I am obliged to return tt) Canada and hand
over the powers of government here to a mditary ruler. This will be tin
inevitable result, unless we tind some solution of the present ditticulty
very soon.
I liave full powers from the (lovernment, its well as the Mtrongest desire
personally, to mei't all just claims of every class and section of tlu" jieoplt
Why shoidd you not come to me and disou.ss the matter !
I beg you to belie\-e that what occurred will not aft'ect my mind against
you oi' those fiir whom you may be authorized to si)eak. The interview
proposed must be without the knowledge or jnivity of certain American
citizens here, who pretend to be m Kip/iort v,ith you I trust to youi
honor on this jioint.
Very faithfully yours.
William .Mr Dot ti am..
mind iij^aiuHt
le intfi'viow
,in Anierii'Hii
•list tn ynin
A I'ASSIVK (((MMISSION.
4.2:i
'I'lic aliovc invitation was sent too latf in the day. and Hid
iK'VtT rt'.s|)on<li!(l, renicnilH'i'inji' prohably tlic fact that it had
hccn })reefd('(l l)y too many niniii.stakahlc proofs that the man
who wrote it was not imhucd with friendly f<M'linL;s toward
the Frcncli popuhition.
Mr. M(d)()unall hcini;' thus disa])point«'d in his cfioit to con-
ciliate the leader of tht; insui"<;ents, took u[) his pen and ad-
dres.sed (!(^vei"noi" Mactavish in the foliowinjH' extiaordiiiaj'V
iiiannei':
"If, in con8e(|uence of the action of tlie Dominion (lovern-
iiieiit (withholding' payment to tlu' Hudson's Hay ('om)tany of
tile purchase money), the surren<lei' and transfer of the cdiin-
tiy did not take place on the first day of December, as pre-
viously aei'eed upon, then you are the chief executive otiicer
as before, and respousil)le for the pre.sei'vation of the peace,
and the eidorcemeiit of the law. If. on the other hand, the
transfer did take ]»lace on the tii'st ^hiy of Decemliei-. then, I
take it, my commission came into force, and the notice in the
iorm of a inoclamation, issued l>v mv authority on that dav,
correctly recite<l the facts and di.sclo.sed the leeal status of the
respective parties."
At this time (Jovei-nor Mactavi.sh was Ivine; sei-iouslv ill at
Fort (Jari-y, a fact which must have been known to .Mi'. .Mc-
l yet, with what may l)e almost looketl u])on as a
•u^r,
ill,
aiK
s[)ecies of cruelty, he indited the abo\-e insultine' document.
l>ut wi! will now see what the Cauatlian authoi'ities thoueht
of ]\Ir. Mc])ou«iairs action while at l'end)iua.
The Secretary of State at Ottawa, wj'itin;;- to him on the
■24th December, .says :
As it would iippcjir fmni tlicso deciiiiiciitH iliat vmi luixf u.^id tlie
'^tuoeu's iiiime witheiit Iilt authority- iittributed to Her Majesty jvcts
I :|
h.
■'1
,
1
i
p
( i
[
' i 5 -
i ^
j
: i;]!:!';^
■ ,1 ■ :•:
' 1 i ':
1
■ 1
ii
424
HISTOKV OK Tlir: N'OHTFl-WEST.
which fhii liHH not yut performed — niul orijaiiixed an armed force within
the territory of the Hudson's Bay Comjiaiiy without warrant or instriK
tions. I am commanded to assure you that tin; grave ooeurrencfs wliicli
you ri^|inr( have occasioned here great anxiety. * * * * \i\i\ .^j^ flu,
org.ini/.ation and use of such a foice by you was, under the circumstances,
entirely illegal, the (Joveinor-CJeneral and council cainiot disguise fnnn
you the wtiight of responsibility you have incurred.
Acting on the l)elief that the country would be c[uietly transferred,
with the general assent of the inhal)itants, all the ])re])arAtory an;mg(;-
ments were made, as you were awaie, in anticijiation that on or about tin
Ist December, the territitry would l)e surrendered hy tht^ com])any to the
Queen, and that thereupon Her Majesty would issue Her Proclamation,
fixing a day for the union of the coinitry with Canada.
The Proclamation, when otticially eonnnunicated, to you would enable
you, under the commission and authority given in anticiiiation of that
event, to enter legally upon the a])pointed day on the discharge of your
official duties as (Jovernor of the North-VVest.
In the commission issued on the 28th September, you were emi>ower
ed to enter ui»on the duties of government only " on, from and after the
day to he namad" in the (Jueen s Proclamition ; and in the insLructions
handed to you with the connnission you are directed to proceed to Fort
Garry and be ready to assume the g<jvernment of the territories on theii
actual transfer to Canada.
I wish I could inform you that this report had entirely relieved the
Governor-General and council from the anxiety already expressed, It is
true that no blood had lieen shed up to the <Jth, and you had not carried
out your intention of occupying the stockade near Pembina with an armed
party ; but the proceedings of Col. Dennis, as re]iorted by himself, arc
HO reckless and extraordinary that there can l)e no relief from solicitinle
here while an officer so imprudent is acting under your authority.
Hid the inh ib'.tuits of R'tjiiirt's Lmd, on the breaking out of tlic
disturbances risen and put an end to them, or had Governor Mactavisli
organized a force to occupy his forts, and maintain liis authority, all
would have been well, and Kiel and his people would have been respon-
foible for any bloodshed or pro])erty destroyed. But Col. Dennis, with un
legal authority, ])roceeds to seize the fort not in possession of the insur
gents, but of the Hudson s liay Company, and to garrison it with a mixe<l
force of whites and Indians, and ])roi)oses to give battle to the insurgents
should a junction be formed with some forces which he has ordered to he
drilled on the Assiniboine. He appeals never to have thought that tlu
moment war commenced all the white inhal)itants would be at the me cy
of the Indians by whom they are largely <nitnumbered, and, divided as
they would be, might be easily overprtwered.
1 fnrce witliiii
it or iMstruc-
•ITIICC'S wliicli
Hut fis tlie
rcuiMstiiiui's,
lisyiiise fioiii
trfinsfuiTcd,
.tory firraii!,'*;-
1 <H' al)<iiit tin
iiijiaiiy to tlic
I'rocliviiiatioii,
would enable
mtiuii of (liut
liarge of your
eroompowfi-
luul aftor tlic
t) iiisU'uctioii.s
oceeil to Fort
ories on theii
I'elieved tlie
res.sed, It is
id not carried
rvitli an arniDil
r liinisi'lf, arc
oni solicitiiiU'
nity.
out of tlic
lor Mactavisli
uitliority. all
hoeii rL's|)iin-
iinis, with im
of the insur
with a mixeil
he insurgents
Drdored to he
light that the
at the me cy
id, divided as
A PASSIVi: COMMISSION.
42."
It is iiai»i)ssil)lt! t > read tlio (' )loiiur.s aocoutit of iiis atti'inpt t<> per-
suade tludge Black to aid h in in proclaiming martial law, without strong
feedings of regret that you should have been repr^•^ented in the settlement
liy a person of so little discretion. It is no wonder that .Fudge Hlack was
frightened at the piopo.s.vl as he iiiu.st have known that <'ol. Dennis
would have to answer at the bar of justice for every life lost by such an
Hssumption of authority, and that ♦he illegal seizure of an Ameiic.ni
citizen would at once provoke interference in the (piarrel, and lead to vciy
serious complications.
1 have the honor to be. eti
usKiMI
If
OW K.
Sffiild Iff <if Stall- fur till I'lnrl iifis.
Col. Dennis, ai'tt'r\vai'<ls. in a Icttrf a«i(irt.'.ss«.'(l to the Hoimr-
al)l(i tin; Miiiistt'i- of Piililic Wojks, on tin- 12th Krl»niai-y,
1870. ittJidr nsr ol" tin; t'ollowino- words in rc^^'Mid to liis actions
in the North-West, uikIci- the coininission issued to him liv
Mf. Mehonoall : —
" I acted in ;^ood faith throtioliout, not hcino; awaic, till I
met (^)l. l)eSala))eriy, on tin' 2.Si-d Dcccnihrf, on the plains,
while on my way to Canada, tliat the Proelaniation and Com-
mission liad heen issued by Mr. M(d)ouoail uiidci- ;i nii.sappic-
hcnsion of the facts (tlic transfer of the tcriitoiy not havinof
taken [)lacc on the ist l)cccml>cr as snpjioscd ). and wcic wortli
no more than waste paper.
" I may he jiermittt'd to say here that, althoiij,di I liad pre-
viously felt niortitied at not havino- heen ahic to hriiijf about
[leace by means of any kind, on hearino' the statement of
Colonel l)e Salaberry, that feelino- chaiiircd at once to one of
heartfelt thankftdnr'ss that my pi-oceedino-s had not liccn
tlu! cause (t.'Vcn to the extent of a ilro[>) of lilooilsheil amono"
th
peoi
lie
in justice to Col. Dennis, it must be .said that he, undoubt-
edly, considered himself fully i-mpowered to act as he <lid, and
althouj^h he went the wronj.^ way about brin,i,'-ine- peace to the
ii
m
M.
hOr
! •■
a<
it 1.
42(i
IIIST(»UV ul' TMK \(»|{TH-\VEST.
sottlciiuMit, ills actions were in line with tin- whole |)n|i(v
!nlo|)t(Ml l)y his fhief. Mr. McDounall, after his expnlsion ridm
tlie settlement, on the JJrd Noveniher. As Toi- Mr. Mel )()U;f,ill,
liis misfortune, if not his fault, lay in his j)laein_>,'' too miicli
(^oiiHtlence in tlw statements and advice of suj)])ose(l fiimils
in the settlement — men who sit the time had made themscUcs
wholly ol)jectional)le to a larj^e class of settlers. The dilii-
eulty witlt Mr. McDouyall was the ahsence of any conciliatory
spirit in dealing w ith the ditHculties that confronted him, .iikI
this, cond)ined with his overhearing' majuier, and tlie injudici-
ous lan^-ua<.je attril)uted to him. and whieli, unfortunately,
characterized nearly all the letters an<l documeuts emanatin;^
fiom him, (jnly served t(» widen the hreach between him jdk!
the French. K\en had his acts proved perfectly let;al, and tln'
transfer taken })lace. it is douhtful whether the French section
of the .settlement would ha\-e been willing- to accept him as
their goxfi-nor. His whole course, from the day of his arri\;il
at Pend)ina until he took his de])arture, was hasty, and con
trary to the instructions he had received, and the only excu.se
that can be shown in his favor is the distance from the seat of
i^^overnment at Ottawa, and the ditHeulty and delay in com-
nuniicatinn- therewith. Had he remained passive, awaiting-
full advices from Ottawa, all might have been well, but, uii-
fortiniately, he pvve way to the importunities of irresponsible
parties, was guided by their unwise counsels, and adopted ex-
treme measiu'es without the necessary authority, and by this
means ruined himself, politically, ever afterwards.
After his departure from I'embina, matters in the settle-
ment (juieted down somewhat, and most of the French dis-
persed to their homes, leaving about sixty men in Fort CJany
to guard it. On the 10th l)eeen»ber, Riel hoisted the flag of
II
A I'A.SMXK (•(».M.MIs>lnN.
42:
till' proNisioiial LiDVcriniicut, thi- ilosiyii Ix.'in;;' <\ coinliiiDitiuii ol'
till' ih'tirx lie /?•>-• ami sfitimrncl,'. tlic l.ittt'f Ih-Iii;;'. it was suiil.
in honor of \V. 15. < )"l )oiiolni<', who had Irl't thr cojlfni. of St.
Ilollifi
ict\ whiTi' 111' wa.s stiiilyiii;;' foi' tlir |)iii'sthi
)OI|
ami
jimicil till' iiiHurycnts. |)r. Tu|»|m'I' ( now Sir ( ■liaili-s 'rM|)]Mr)
altont this tiin».' |)aiil a tlyiii;;' \isit to thr si'ttli'niriit for tlir
f o])ti
purposi' oi oi)taiiiin;( posst'ssion ol soiin' lii;;';x"ii''' '><'l"ii;;in;,f to
liis ilauy,hti'i\ Mrs, ( 'anirron. whioh ha<l hi-rn sii/iij with ^Ii.
.Mchouuall's furnituii', hut In- in no way took pai't in tin- jiol"
tiral ilitli'rrnci's I'xistiii;^'.
It now hi'canii' known in tlu' si'ttli-nit'iit that tlu" proluiiia-
rions issiu'il hv Mf. Mchoniiall woit without aiithorit\- of thr
(,>ui'('ii. ami vahicii'ss, ami thr rrvnlsion of fn'liiiL; that took
)ilaci' in thr mimls of thr si'ttlcfs n-(Mn'i'ally, only scrvfij to ftii-
tluo' sti'»Mi;^'thi'n tln' luimls of Hirl Thr iiiifortmirtte jirisomTs
ill Kort (lan-y, wiio no ilonht luul actrd from a .sj)iiMt of loyalty
to ( aiiuchi, folt thciusolvcs sohl, ospccially as lioth Mr. McDoii-
^all ami Colonel Donnis had taki'ii thcif ili'parture, tluis li'a\-
inf>" them to their fate. Steps were taken, howi'\rr, hy jiartirs
ill the settlement to procun-, if possible, their rrlrasi-. hnt Kiel
would not a^ree to any proposition of the kind, and in this hr
made a j^reat mistake, for had he g-ivcui the iiirn tlu-ir liherty,
it Would have prevented in a ;^ii'at measure, thr hitter feelin;,^
that sjiraii},;' up ai^ainst liim amon<,j the English settlers.
The fact is, that from the time of the eollapse of Mr. MeDou-
^i'all's illegal plans and his subseipient departure for ( "a nai la,
Kiel because abiti'ary and inflated by the temporary power
whicii he held. His first hi^fh-handed proceeding- was to cause
the safe of the Hudson's Hav ('f)nn)anv to be carried oti' from
their office, and to abstract several thousands of pounds ster-
linfT from it, it even being said that part of this nu
oney
was
I!i
42S
msToHV ol" Tin: NoliTII-WKST.
I !
I . I
4a B^i !»i
iiHt'il ill pMviii;;' Mr. ('iddwcll tor tin- plniit of tlif I'loniir
nowH|)ii|)iT, which wiis at'tcrwiinls used in |iul)Ii.shiii;;' t\\v. N( "■
Ndtioii. Wifl'.s (jroMii. |)r. Schiilt/i fihdut the saiiif time \\,is
t.'iki'ii tVoiii the (|uartrrs. win re hr had hccii allowed to reniMJn
with his wife, and eoiitiiied with the rest ol' the pi-i.soiiers, iiini
ill fact tlie leadei' of the h'ti'iicli lic'-'aii in e\er\' wa\' possiiile to
make hinisell' oliiioxioiis to tiie I'liieliHli-HpeaUiii;;' [leople of th.
settlement. Aliout this time also, rumoi's were afloat thai
l*Y>nians and Americans were in collusion with Uiel. which \\r
l)elieve had no f(tuiiilation in fact, altliou<''li it was well kiiown
that \V. r>. ()'hoiiohue. hioh in thi' councils of the French, had
a tenileiiey in that direction. Kiel, on heine- approached hy
pai'ties upon the suhject, stated that there was no truth in the
rumors, and that all he wished was the formation of a I'rovi
sional » lovernineiit in which all classes would he represented.
an<l that then he would he i>lad if either (!o\eriior Mactavisli
or .)udj.;t' lllack would hecoiue head of it.
Kiel now continued to make arrests of parti<'s sujtposed to
he in sympathy with the Canadian party, and so (piietly was
this done on .^onie occasions, that it was really unknown how
many j)risoiiers he had contined in Fort (larry. He and his
followers al.so lielpe(| theiiiseK «'s to whatever they wanted
from the Hudsttn's I5ay ( 'ompany s establishment, and in some
eases from the stoi'es of private merchants.
On the "i.^th l)eceml)er, IS(!!», John Bruce resi<,nied the posi-
tion of President of the Provisional ( Jovernmont, a ])ositioii
wliicli 1h' hail only held nominally, and f.,ouis Kiel, the real
head of the insurrection, succeeded him. and ahout the saiiie
time word was received of the expected arrival (^f (Iraiid
Vicar Thihault Ji^id ("olonel de Salaberiy, two eommi.ssioncrs
appointed ))y the Dominion (Jovernment for tlu' purpose oi
\
^ tln' A'l "•
• time \\,is
I to iciiiiiiii
SOIICCS, illni
possililc li>
'Opic of till'
tllloflt tll.lt
, whicli \\r
Vfll IslldW II
''I'clicli, liail
rdaclicd li\
ruth ill tile
1)1" )l l'l'0\ I
v|in'Sfiit('(l.
• Miictiiv isli
U]I|MI.SC(| to
uiftlv Wiis
iiowii how
Ic and his
t'V wautctl
11(1 ill soiiii'
1 the })osi-
a jioHitioii
1, the real
it the HHiiie
of (Iraiid
imissioiu'i'.s
|)iU'i)()se til
//^r/z-'-'/t^
■-z^/i^^' , -.
/
Hin. William McUou^all
Il
ii
I
': 1
- ; 1
A l'AS.s|VK • uMMissioN,
\2U
riii|nii'iiiy; into tlif ;4;rii'\;iiici's dl' tlir |n'n|(lr, miiiI |iiiciryiii;^'
tlifiii. il* |t(tssil)lt', SI) IIS tu Miiiii tlir (I'liiiiMsiuii mI' Mr Mchoii-
l^'illl illtii tlir tillitniy. ( )ll llir WllV u\ iT tllf |ilaills. tllfsc
two «iiiiiiiii.ssiniii'is lint Mr. .Mrh(iii;4iill iiii'l lii^ |ifiity liuiiinl
t'nf St
.nil. .'iiiil t'li
llllllllllicfltt'il tn tll.'lt UVIitli'lll.'in tlir I'llct
tliiit till' traiLsFri' hii'l imt lifcn inniir. ,'iii<l t li.it . t liiicforr. lie
lia-l iictnl illfn-jilly ill all that lie I a<l tlniic at I'i'iiiliiiia. Tliry
llirli prdrrcilnl toWjiT'l t l|i' set t li'inci 1 1 . a I id. < >| | a lli \ i 1 1;^' a t till'
iMtilliilary liiir, it was ilcriijcd that thr (Irainl \ icar sIkuiM ;^ii
I'll aJnin- to St. I'loiiirari', as tlnTc was sninc i|oiilit whi'tlnT he
Sii'alii-rry would hr adinittfd. Thr lattiT. as a inattir dl' prr-
raiit'oii, I'rtaiiifd all tlir paprrs comifctrd with tlirir inissicai.
and it was not until tlir iltli .laiiiiary that lir w as ninhlrd to
jdiii his ('oJIcay'Mr in tlir srttlriiinit. 'I'hr ( iraiid \ icar and I )r
S.ilahrrry tlirii |)rriiiittrd tlirir |M|.rrs to pass into thr hands
uf Kirl. who Itrinr' thus iiiailr awai'r hrt'orrhaud of tlirir cuii-
tiiits. and Iff thr fact that tln-y wric iii\rst<'d with no author-
it)', was not incliiiril to pay iiiuch rrsprct to tlirir mission of
pracr. Indft'd.at his rrtjurst, thr two coiiiuiissinnrrs rrniaiiiril
'|uirtly at th;' liishop's I'alacr, and did not \ isit to any r\trnt
.iiiKai^' tlir pi'o|)lr for soiiir tiiiir at'trr tlirir arrival. Tlirir
prrsrMcr ill thr srttlrllirnt had no rtl'rct llpcai thr r't'lHTill state
nt'ati'airs in l»rinrin<;- ahout a hrttrr iindristaiidinr- unions; thr
proplr. Mattrrs wriit on as usual, and IJirl carrird tliiiirs jn
the sjiUK' hinhdiandrd niamirr, prisoners lirinr' arrrstrd and
kr))t ill coiiHnrniriit — e^tiard.s Itriiio posted as usual at l-'ort
( Jarry. and soiiietinirs patrolliiiL; the streets ot" Wiiuiiper, and a
uciieral feeline- of uiiL'Jisiness pervaded the whole settleinout.
Ahout this time, too, another Siou.x scai-e oeeurr<'<|, and
a [)firty of these Imliaiis aetually came down from Porta^^e hi
I'rairie to within a few miles of Fort (Jarry.and were only in-
AA
i«
u
i
4:U)
msToiiv OK Tin; \f»i!Tii-\vr.sT.
,^ i
1
li
u
1
If
i ' ■
• liU'tMl to I'ctni'ii liy ;;i\'iiin' tlirin ]»i't'.s»'iit«. Otlit-r Indi.-iii--
l)r()k<' into fiinl stole some of the ( Io\('niiiu'iit pidvisions iit
Oak Point, aii<l, in JHldition to tlnsc causes for dis(|uietiii|.
threats beean to lie used hy some of tlie Knylisli settlers, thai
unless Kiel released the ( 'aiiadian |»iist)ners, an attack n'ouM
be made on the fort to li))erate them.
In the midst of this state of j)ulilic feeliii;^', the Niio Nnfii'n
ma<le its a])pearauce, edited by Mnjoi' IJobinson, and brimfnl
of Annexation i(h'as, of which the following headlines, taken
from its tiist issue, will eivc some idea:
CONFKDKHA'J'KKN :
Till-: lutnisii .\Mi:i{ic.\N i'i{(»\ i\<'i;s :
Proposnl Annexation to the United iSldte!-, J'Jtr., Etc.
A X N V. X A 'I' I ( ) N :
15KITISH ('OHMIilA J)i:i'VIN(; Tin; DOMINION '.
AniieA'ation onr Ma n ifesf DeNtirit/'.
The publication of this papei'. with such sentiments ex-
pressed in its columns, <lid much U) wiilen tlu' breach between
the Engli.sh and Fren.h, as tiie New Nation was the acknow-
ledged orean of Kiel, althoueii the latter I'epudiated altoectlii i
the annexation doctrine pn'ache<l by it.
(!rand Vicar Thibault and Colonel de Salabei'iy now hail an
interview with the French council, and, on ivceivin^ theiu,
Kiel said: — " 1 am sorry to see that your j)apers <,dve you ih'
authority to treat with us, but we will be very y,lad to hear
you, trusting that you ha\e onlyji;ood news to tell us." Xotli-
lu^, however, came of this interview, and in ordei- that onr
readers may .see how jtowerle.ss the commi.ssioners were to ai-
complish any practical j^ood, we will eive in full the letter of
[.•lild to llrai
US." Nittli-
(Icr thjit uiir
were to ik'-
the letter <'t'
A I'ASSIVK COMMISSION.
4:{l
instructions wliicli ( Iraml \'ic;ir Tliiliault rfccivt'd iViiui lion.
Jos. Howe, tlic Sccn't.'ny ol' Statr for ('aiimlii.
( >ri\w \. |).i-.iul>t rJ, IH()M,
Till' \'v\\ IJcvt'iciiil (!r.iii(l N'ic.ir, M. '!'liil>;mlt.
SIK
|{.f.
rlliu III I lu' ciiinfisal loll
IhIiI u ith .1 ((Piiiiiiit tec iif tlif I'
i-iin>
•lit to iii.iliTtaki' til
(• dclR'MtC
t oimcil ycstfiilay, ami tn yniir kiml
t i^k of n'lu'i'soiitiiiu'. ill c piijiiiK'tion with Coloiirl i\i' S.ililirirv. tlic \ icws
ami |ioiii'V of iliis i,'o\t'iiiiiK'iit to ihr pi'iijiK' of tlic Hudson's Kav 'I\t-
III ory.
1 am rommaiiilotl 1)V H i.s l'].\c'i'll»inv tlic ( Jovrrmir-iJcncral ti
>]]
vi'y to yon in tlu' form of instnu'tions foi- \
our ''iniiancf
th
rroinnls of
liojn- fiitiTtaiiU'il Ih'Io tliat yonr mission of |u'aoc ami conciliation will lie
entirely siRiH's.sfnl.
You will not fail to direct tin- attcnti'iii of tin- mixed sofiefy inliahitin<4
ilif cultixati'd hoi'diTs of tlic Red Kivn and .\ssinil)oini'. to tlic fact
which CDiucs within your d.iil}' knowledge an I (■Its.'i'vatioii, and is patent
tj all the world, that in the fojr |nd\inces of this j) miinion. men of all
iiijinH. cn^cd.s and com|i|exioiis stand upon om
lit fool in
perfect
ei|uality in the eye of llie liovt'iiimciit and the law : and that iio .idmin-
istration could confront the enlightened jnililic sentiment of this country
wliich fitfcniptod to act in the North-West upi'ii principles more ri'-
sliicteil and less liberal than tlm.si' which are tiiuiK estahlisheil lieic
So far as you m v\' have intercourse with the linlii
.•hief
in duels HII'l peo|(ie,
Villi will lie gooi I'lioULjh to remind tiii'iii thai uhile Moody and costly
Indian Wii''s have ra;_'ed often for long periods in ditt'erent sections of
the (iiired States, there has hi-en no w;ir with the Indians in any of
the Provinces I f Uritish .\iiierica since tJu' I'oiiipu'st. For mo;-e tlian a
: while the rii'hls
century the Micniacs of Nova Scotia hive lived in jiea
iif the Milici'tes of New Briiuswick have liei'ii respected. Isverywhc
within the Can.nlas, the proirress of settUunent, wiiile it furnished in
an
iploynients to the Imliins, was rendered practiciMe hy treaties and
angi-meiits nintiialiy sktisfactory, that h,i\e formed th
e secure liasls o
if
e sympathy and co-operation winch
lia\e disiinuiiished I he ('anadian.>^
uid Indians, not only since the Treaty of I'aris, i)iit from the earliest ex-
ploration of the country.
It may fairly he assumed that the just .ind judicious treatment of tin-
Indian trilu's forms the lirii^hti'st p.ige in the history of Mrilish .\merica.
Canadians cannot att'ord to sully it liy any un.;enerous treatment of the
Indians in the North- West. That the disturhinces which have taken
jilace at and around Winnipeg and Fort (iarry, have grown out of vague
apprehensions of danger iiu'ident to the transitory state of things, which
t!ie
liensio
action nf the linpi'riaKIoverniient and Parliament rendered inovitablt
II
1
li
I!
■ i
i'
ii::S<
m
ill!:
f I
i:
I 11
4:^2
msToitv OF Tin: \(»i{Tii-\vi:sT
tliiTo is 11(1 rt-asoii t > di iilil ; liiit it is (|iiitu appiiriMit tli.it, iiii«lurlj'inti wli.ii
IS ii;itiii"il and |»!ir<l<»iiiil)Io ill tliis iiinveiiu'iit, tliiT'j hnvv l)ueii umiuics ,it
work, wliic'li liiy.il siilijufts caiiiint cuiiiitciiaiicn. and that aitfiil attfiii|(K
have lieeii iiiadi^ tu misU-ad tin; |)i;ii|)lu by tlio iiKih;. tlaj^rant and al)i-urii
inisri'iirt'smitatiiiiis. Had tlu? <Jiifi!ii s (inviM'iinient or tlu- (lovfrniiifiit nf
tlio Dniiiiniiin iiiiitatud tlic rasli and ri'i'kli'ss conduct of snme of tlioKr \s\\<>
liavt.' taki'ii |iart in this distiiilianti'. tht'ii' would vw tliisliavi- liii'ii liloml.
sliud and civil war in Kii|ioit's Land, with tho pros|K'ct of the tlaiiK-
spreadiiiL; along the frontier as tlio tiru spreads over the |irairie. Kortiin
ately calmer counsels liave picviiiled l)oth in Knglaiid and at <>ttawa. 'I'ln
Proclamation of the 'jMiei'ii's icpit'si iital ive,* witii copies of wliicii vmi
will l)e furnished in French and Knglisli, will convey to Her pi'oplc, the
Solemn worils of their Sovereign, who, possi-ssed of ample powi'i- to eiifoui;
Her authority, yet contiiled in tlu'ir loyalty and atl'eetionate attachment in
Her throne.
The instructions issued to Mr. .McDougall, on the 2.Sth Septemher, Imh.;
lii'fore there was any ri'asoii to ap|(reliend serious opposition on the lud
River, will show how titti-rly groundless were the suspicions and apinr-
lu'iisions of unfair tn-atiiu-nt which have lieeii widely circulated in tlu'
Nortli-\N'est,auil to which unfortunately some of the ( "aiiadian newspapers,
for party |iiirposes, at times gave tlie niischievoiH color of their aiitliuiit\ .
Voii will percei\ethat at no time was the aUsiird idea I'litertaineil i>\
ignoiing the municipal and political rights of the peojile of the North-
West, that the only two persons that .Mr. .McDougall was formerly in
structed to call to his aid, were (ioveiiior .Mactavisli and .Judge lilack. \\liii
were known to hi' universally respected, and that any snhsecpieiit sek(
tioiis were to l>j tirst rei)ortiMl here, with grounds of his belief th.it tlicv
stood eipially high in the confidence and aH'ectioiis of the peojile.
All the Provinces of the Uritish Kmpire which now enjoy represcii
tative institutions and responsilde goveininent, ha\e pa.ssed tliron;;li .i
probationary period, till tin- growth ofllie jiopiilatioii and some political
training prejiared tlu'in for self-govi'rnnient.
In the I'nited States, the territories aio ruled from Washington, till
the time arrives when tlu'y can prove their fitness to be included in the
family of ^^tates, and, in the li;ills of Congress, ch.illenge the full iiieasuie
of power and free development which .American citizenship includes.
It is fair to assume that some such training as human society re(|iiireN in
all free countries, may lie useful, if not indispensable, at Ked ilivcr ; hut
of this, you maybe a.s8urLd, that the Governor-ijeneriil unci hi.s coinuil
will gladly welcome the period when the (^)uooii can confer, with their en
• The I'roclunintion of the tiovi'rr.or(itm'ral of Cnnnila. wliii'h will lii' found in thcAviH inli* ,
Till!) ilociinifiit Wits ])liu'('<l III till' liiinils of Hitl liy Coniiniiuiioni'rH Tliiluiiilt nnd Du Salal'iin,
iiiid wa.s tlierefori' never made piililic al Kid liiver.
A I'ASSIVi: ('(tM MISSION'.
V.VA
liTlyiii',' \\li.ii
II ai^iiiciis ill
tfiil atti'iii|ii-
t aiitl alisiuil
iivcriiiiH'iii "f
J (if tll'iKf W ll"
V llfl'll 111 I-
of till- tl.'IIIIC
rit". Knitmi
Ottawa. 'I'lic
of which >"ii
>l' |K!0|lU', till'
WIT t<i I'llti'irc
attiichiiuiii In
Iptl'lllllfl', 1"MU
II on the Ixiil
na Jiiid a|i|iii-
.juhltt'tl ill llir
III iiewspaiH 1^.
ht.'iraiiihnrii\ .
eiitei'taiiii'il "i
of the N'nilli
S fnlUU'lly 111
1^1' l'.iai'k. \\li"
HlM|IICllt Sl'Kl-
liff tliat iWy
i|llo.
i>y ri')ii'ostii
I'd thl'nll;.;ll a
soiiit.' piplitiial
ashinjitnii. till
irhitU'tl ill the
• full iiii'a^un'
iiK'lmk'H.
c'ty ri'(|uiii"- in
eil Uivt-T : hut
lul his I'liiiiicil
with their in
tire .'ipiirohiititiii. the laf^est iiieasnic of Helf-^overmiieiit mi lier sulijoets
ill that ii'i^ioii, I'oiiipatihli? with the pn-servatiuii of British interests on
tliis eontiiieiit, ami the iiiteifiity of the Kiiijiife.
I think it unnecessary to make nmie than a |passin<{ reference to the
ails of folly anil indiscretion attiilmteil to jiei-smis who have assumed to
repriMeiit the Doiiiiiiion and to speak in its naiiii', hut who havi' acti'tl <>n
ilit'ir own I'espoiisiliility and without the kiiowh'di^e or the sanction of
this (lovt'iniiu'iit.
ill iindertakin<4. at this season of the yi'ar, so loiiy a journey in tiie pul>-
iif service, you display, veiierahle sir. a spirit of patriotism which I am
r iiimiHiided to assure you. is fully appreciated hy the <^>iu'en's |{epiesciita-
ii\e and liy the Pri\y Council
I have the honor to In'
\
our most olieilieiit servant.
.losKIMI HoWK,
Sni, till II iif Sldh
Tlic I'ollowiiio- was iii('lu<l<M| in ;i h-ttof sent liy lion, .los
IIdwc, on 7tli I)cc('inUoi'. to Mf. .McDoiiuall, luir, rrccivcil hy
hiiii al'tiT ho liiitl h'tt I'oinhiiia, ••iinl was, thcn't'orc, not iinnlc
ptililio at K(m1 H:\ri- until the '2()t\\ .laimaiy t'oHowiiio-, when
Mf. l)onaM A. Smith, at a mass incrtin;^' in Fort ( lany. ifad
IVom fi cojiy ol" tlic h'tti'f with whirh ho liail lioon t'tiiiiishoil: —
" Von will now lie in a position, in yonr commnnications
with the rt'sidfiits of the Xoftli- West, to asstiic thorn :
(I ill thi'.Vvpiiiili*.
iiiid Df Saliilicio,
1. That ail thoii- civil ami ivlijLjious lilu'itics ami [)ii\ iK'j;cs
will 1h' saci'odly i'('s]H'ctt'<l.
2. That all thoii- |ifo]>cftios. fiohts and oimitios of f\fiy
Iviiul, as (Mijoyod nndof the ;;-ovoi'inm!nt of tlu' Hudson s iJay
("ompuny, will Jx- contiinuMJ to them.
-S. That in orantino- titles to land now occniiioil 1»\- the
settlers, the most lilu'ial ]iolicy will ho pni'snod
4. That the jii'csont tai'ifl" of customs duties will ho contin-
ued fof two yoai's fiom the 1st .laiiuai'V next, oxcojit in the
case of Hpii'ituons lii|Uors, as specified in the ordei -in-coinicil
idiove alluded to.
til
• t
!l ■
■<
ii
if it
I
mm
'■■ i 1
. r 1 '|!
'' i' ' ' 1 1
I- 1 1
1 likfl i
ill Ii; , , :. 1 |.
4:U
III.SI'<»I!V Hi' IIIK X(»|!l'H-\Vi;sr.
."). 'I'liiit ill foriii ill;: your •"••niicil the ( Jovfnior-* iriicr.-il will
see that not Kiily tlic lluilsdii's liny < 'ompaiiy l)iit tlir otln'i
classes of till' rrsidriits arc liilly ai <l fairly n'liri'Sfiitcd.
(!. Tliat your i-oiiiicil will liaNc the |)o\vt'r <>f I'stalilisliin-
iiiuiii(*i)ial s('lf-;4<>\ rniiiifiit at once, ami in sufli Miaiiiicr ,)-.
tlu-y tliink most Itrin'ficia! to the conntry.
7. That the ronntry will Itr ^ovcnit'd. as in thr pasiKv
ISritish law. ami accia'diiiL; to the s))irit of liritish justicf.
S. That the iircsciit li'o\ frniiifiit is to lie (•onsi<lrr('(l as men ■
ly provisional ami ti'iii|)orary. ami that thr ( !o\ frnnifiit nt'
Canada will he ))ri']iarrd to snliinit a iiicasnrc to jtai'liainnit
"■rantinu' a liht-ral constitution, so soon as \-ou. as ( Ionciiku-
and your council, ha\c li.nl an o]ij)ortuiiity of report iii;^' fiill\
on the wants and re(|uirenients of the territory.
\'oii had, of course, instructions on all the ahovc-ineiitioiicd
jioint.s. e.\ce|itiii^ as re;4ards the taritl". hefore yoti left ()tta\\;i
liur it has heeii tlioiieht well that I should repeat them to ynii
in this authoritative form.
i!ut it will 1 l)ser\cd that the intentions of the Canadian
(loxernnieiit were ne\cr made Unown to the |)co])le of the
.sottleiiieiit liy -Mr. ^hd)oUj^•all, or anybody else in his hehall'
and now that he had taken his depjirturc, the conimi.ssioiieis
sent l»y the Dominion had neither instruetion.s nor »iutliority
to make known the jiurpose of Canada, in reeard to tlu' pi"
posed clianec of n()\ (.iiiiiient. Hut, on the 27tli Deceiniiei.
18(i!>. a (•■('iitlenian arrived in the fsettli'iiient, who was not oiiK
Nested with authoritv to act, hut who also, hv iiis experience
t «. I
ability and cool jiidenu'iit, understood how to brine matters
properly before the peo])le, and hi.s important mission to ,i
suocesufnl i.ssue.
il
till- I last, li\
Justici'.
Cfil as nirlr-
iTIllllfllt i>\'
])ai'liaiiiriit.
IS ( loNfllK iV.
lortiii;^' fully
ic ( 'anaijiaii
'oplc ol till'
1 his l)cliall'
iiiiiiissiitiicrs
»• aiitlioiitv
1 to tlic |iiii-
1 I )t'crinl)( r,
vas not only
I, expcrit'iicr
■illy iiiatti'is
lission to ,1
CIIAI'TKK X.WIII.
Sl'KilAI. ((iMMISSloNKl! SMIIIIs Mlss|u\.
On tlic 27tli D.crml.rr, lS»i!», Mr, Don.iM A. Smitl
1. accoiii-
[laiiinl lt\' Mr, llarilisty. of tlio Hudson's l!ay ( 'oiiipaiiy s scr-
\ ier, arrivcil iiuictlvat lM>i't ( larrv, ami licforc Im'Ium adiuittcil.
wiTc met 1)\' llit'l. who <l('iiiaiiih'(| l:li('ii' husiiu
Mr, Smith
tlirrcujfoii statcil that he was (•oiiiu'ctfd with the coiuiiaiiy,
liut ht'ld a coninii.ssion tVoiii the ('anadian ( lovcniiiinit. which
he WOI
lid |»rt'H('iit. with otiu-r dociiiin'iits, at the proptr tii
Uf
kt'^'ping, wei
and oil this he and his companion were iillowcij to \isit ( lov-
cnioi" Mactavish. Hid, howcNor, was not then inlornicfl tlwi
Mr. Smith was clothed with authority of an (Wccptioiial cha
ractcr. or tliat the ilocumciits with which he hail 1 n en-
trusted, and which he had left hehind him at l*eml>ina foi- safe
re very iniportnnt indeed. Indeed, the true cha-
racter of ^[r. .Smith's mission did not become ))ul)licly known
for some time afterwaids, while plans were matui'iiiL;- to en-
sure its success.
It may l)e well then to know how Mi', Smith came to pay
a visit to Re<l River at sucii an inclement season of the year,
and the nature of the business he had in hand.
On the loth December, while in Montreal, he receivecl the
followintr letter. apj»ointinn' him a Special ( "oiiimi.ssioner to
oceed to the Ked Hiver Settlement, where, aftei- eiuniii'-
pr
(pUI
iiiiT into tile causes of the discontent and dissatisfaction ex-
! I
im
'i..t
11 ■ :ii'
436
HISToin (H TIIK NOHTII-WEsT.
iHtin;; jiiiH)n<,r tlie {H-oplf, lie was ciiipowt'ic*! t<» act accdi-iliii^
to the ht'st of his iuil^iiiicMt in hriii^^iii!^- alumt a solution n\'
tliu diffieultit's : —
•• Oi'KK i: oi' I'lii: Si;( liKTAiJV of SiAii:
• ion I'lii: l'i!(»viNri;s,
••Ottawa. DccriiiluT lOtli. isii!*
" Donald A. Smith, Ks^.,
" Montreal.
"Sii{ — 1 liavc tlic honor to inform you that His Exft'llfucy
the Govfrnor-( Icncral has been pleased to appoint yon Spcci.il
Conunissioner. to inquire into and report upon tlie causes aii'l
extent of" the armed ohsti'uetion ottered at the Red Hivtr. in
the North-West Tei'ritories, to the peacelu! iiijuress of thf
lion. W'm. Me])ou<.;all, the nentleman selectc(l to he the Lini-
tenant-(Jovernor of that country on its union witli Canada.
" Also, to en<|uire into and report upon the causes of tin'
discontent ami dissatisfaction at thf propo.sed ehanm' that
now exists there.
'• Also, to explain to the inhabitants the principles on which
the (Jovernnient of Canada intends to t^overn the couutiy, and
to remove any misappi'ehension that may exist on the subject.
And also to take such stejts, in concert with ^Ir. Mc])ou;^all
and (lovernor Mactavish, as may seem most proper for ettect-
in^' the peaceable transfer of tiie country and the <;overnment
from the Hudson's Hav authorities to the (iovernnjent of tie'
])()minion. Vou will consider this conununication as vniii
letter of appointment as (lovernment Commissioner.
" With this letter yon will receixc :
" A copy of the letter of instructicjus ^dven to Mr. McDou-
gall on leavinjf Ottawa, dated 28th September last;
,
iH
Sl'ECIAI. COMMISSIONKK SMITHS MissloN
VM
•('<)j)y of i'mtluT K'ttcr ol' iiistnictioiis to Mr. .M('l)oM;;all.
ilatt'il 7tli instant :
• ('oi)V of the I'roclaiiiation issu»'«| hv His KxcfllrncN llic
( loV('rn()i-( Jcnoal, adfln'sscd to the inhabitants of tlif Noitli-
Wt'st 'I'crritoriL's, l»y tin- ('X|>r<'ss tlcsii-c of Her Majrsty.
• These will enable you to speak authoritati\cly on the snh-
jict of your mission.
• Vou will pioceed with all <lispatch to I'eiiiliina, an<l ai-
iMii^e with Mr. McI)ou;iall as to your futni'e course of action ;
and then ;^o on to Fort ( lairy, ami take such .stejis as. after
such consultation, may seem nwtst expedient. ^ on will, of
course, consult ( iovernor Mactavish, ami endeaNor to arran;;e
iiiie system of concerte<| action in the ])acitication of the coun-
tr\-, with Mr. .M( I )oueall. the Hudson's l'.a\ authorities, and
\oTirse
'As the ild'oi'ination receive(l Ity the ( loveriMneiit hel'e is
necessarily inijit ifect. and as the circumstanc<'s at the j>ed
Kiver are contimially chan<;ine', it is not coiisidereil e.xjtedient
to hamper you with more specific instructions, ^'ou will,
therefore, act according!' t(» the best of vour judLinient in con
•il with Mr. M(d)ou,t;all, and you will keep me fully in-
iiincd bv e\crv mail of th<' i»ron;ress of excnts.
■ In addition to the more immeiliate oliiect of vour mission.
ct
you ai'c reipn'steil to report on the best mode oi deahnu' with
the Indian Tribes in the country, and nvnerally to make such
sui^ecstions as may occur to you as to the rei|uirements of the
country for the future.
" 1 ha\t' the honor to be, etc.,
" .b)si:i'ii Ibtwi:,
Sevretary of Sfafr for the Pror'tncci*,
HI
1
II 1 1
ii
^1
-'"r ■
! I
^1
4:{s
iii>'r()i!V <•!• iiii; N()i:i ii-\vi:si',
.Mr. DonaM A. Smith was tlifii I'liniislinl witli dtlifi- ihn'ii
inciits lirariiiii' tiuoii his mission, ami at inici' h-l't Inr l''nrt ( lanv
aii-i\ 111
;; thcv
»'. as \vt' na\t' sci
'II. (Ill the 27th I )rcc|iil)rr, ( )|
n-achiii;;' thf lioiimlary lint', h<'. howcxiT. tixik the pn'catitinn
ti> leave his pajM'is in char^ie n\' Mr. I'lux eiichiT, at l'einltiii,i .is
hi' siispcctiMl tliat Hie! woiihl enilea\iir to take |Mis.sessiiin n|
thep" sh( ilil thi'V lie roninl with him. on his ani\al in tlir
•p* i i"inf:,t. This, as it sulise(|uently transjiireil, was a wi.sr
lit on the part of the ( 'ommissionei-, ami eiiahleil
iiiiii
to I'heel., .; te Kiel in an attempt to (lisci'edit him het'ore tin
)!»•
peoi
Foi' nearly two months, ( 'ommissioiier Smith remained in
l"'oi't ( lari'v, jiractically a jirisoiier, luit «liirine' nil this tinie lir
II.
was h\' no means idle, as
alio\
Kiel
soon ijiscox'efed to Ins cos
t. II.
\ ed no opportunity to slij) to impiv.ss ujion leadine'
on Itoth the l''reneh and l-ji^^lish sides, the lihenil iiiteiitioi
tlu' ("anailian n()\ einnieiit, and his inllueiice heean to s|
IIM'll
IS 111
lew-
its.
ill
Hi
.11.
more esjiecially aiiione' som.' ol niel.s pnneipal loMowei>.
It was reported aliout this time, that otters of assistance had
also.
h.'eii otiered to h'iel, liy jiai'ties in the I'liited States, ami
• that oveftui'es had come iVom Canada to s.'ttle the ditiicultv
w
llKl
ith him. I'or a pecuniary consLU-ration. 'rii.'i'.' is r.-asoi
think tliat tlw tirst rumor was correct, altli()U<;li th.' otiers
not com.' IVom any .itlicial source, luit, as to tlie latter, tlniv
was no s.'iiihlance ol" truth in it. 'riie Americans, inside and
outsid." the settl.'iiient, were at this till!.' close in till' councils
of the Kreiicli, and cliiel" amone- them was the man Stutsmaii
ti) whom we ha\.' ali'.'aijy r.'r.'rr(3d. The very day on wliicli
Coiinni.ssioner Smith arrived, the I'ollowine' letter, t'liejosed
o[H'n in a n.'wspa[)er, and aildres.scd to Kiel, was interc.p-
ted:
SI'KflAI, ('t».MMI,SS|oM;i! sMIIIIs MIsMuN.
4W
riMlirw. I>ir. -jr.! Il, IMC! I.
Dkak (iRNKUM. I wish ymi anil yoiir t'lU'iuls a lia|i|)v Cliristiiiiis. 1
lii'i'i'witli soimI yiiii a St. I'aiil |ia|it'i', cuiitaiiiiiiL; a ciiiiiiiiiMiii'atinn tVi'iii
Mr. N\'ls<pii, (if tlii.s pliict'. Tui'stlays mail will luiiiy us St. I'aiil |ia|i(rs
ii'iitaiiiiii>{ inalturH nf iiitfii'st <iii Keil Kivcr aH'airs. I have mil m'»ii <'ii1.
he SfilalitMTV yt't. Dr. 'rii|)|ici ralh'd cm iiif a fi-w iiinmciits sincf. Hi-
(.aiiie til taki' liniiu' lii.s ilaui,'liti r, wlm is tlic wife nf ("a|itaiii ('amt'inn.
I>r. 'I'lipper is a mcmlK'r nf the hiiinininii I'aiiiaimiit. frmn Nuv.i S.citia.
If it 1m' (Icciiifd iR'ri'.ssary I" cniifor with tlu' (amnliaii ('nmmissininTs,
wciiilil it imt Itr ailvisahlr that such I'linfi'iciur shinijil takt' |ilaii' mh this
frniitie'- ^ I am afraiil that if Dt- Salaliciry uml Father Th ilia nit (wlm I
SCO li,\ I'fci'iit t'anailian |iiijii'rs, is jnst as nmcli nf a ( 'nmmis.sinnfr as ("n|.
!>(• HalaltiTiy) arc permitted tn have free cnnnnnnie 'ti with ymir | enple
they will yivc ynn tinnhle. iiiitsmmh as Kiilhei < in dt I'lmu's in an
I'tticial capacity, he shnnld he rei^arded iis an nlhc ', ;iii it as n uiiiiiMter
nf ("hrist. If he, lieini,' an nllieial a^cnf nf the ' .i. I'liaj. i; ivernment , Ik'
admitted, why reject McDuU'^.ill nr De Salaliei
IJcuiirds tn friend Dnnnjnie.
Kxcr ynnrs.
StI TS.MAN.
Tlir |»!l|icf rcr«'flril to \\M> till' St. I'.Ull /'/V.s.v, of I "til Dc-
(.•i'IiiIm'I', I8(j!>. Mini tliis iicwspMpff, cacli week, coiitaJiril false
ami I'xannciatril ai'comits of tlir iloiiins at iliil Hi\ii', writtrii
|Miijtos('ly l»y Stiit.sinaii ami otlici-.s of Kii Is .Vninicaii syiii-
|tatliiz<'i'.s.
()ii tlir !ltli .Ininmi'v, a imiiilH'r of piisoini-.s fsca|)i(| in tlM-
iiin-lit, tlii'otinli a wiiulow of tlif cotirt-housc, but, a.s tlie
woathcr wa.s cold, tlicv wcfc uiialiif to tiavri fast ami sonn- of
tliiiii Wfic I't'-captiirnl \>y a n;n}ii'<l sent aftri- tlniii, as soon as
tlii'ii- alisciiec was ilisco\ citiI. Hitd, pfcniotis to this, Iwnl iv-
k'ascil a ft'W of the iinii. hut thcic wiir still ahout si.xtv
iTiiiaiiiiiin- in (M)uHnciii(Mit at Foit dairy.
Oil tlit3 8th .JaiiUiiry, the followiii;^^ onliis wnr priutt-il at
the ottico of the Nor Nation, and circulated : —
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4*0
HISTOHY OK TIIK N'Oirnr-WKST.
nUKKUS or T IK i'u ivisroN \i. ( Jovv.hnmknt (iK Ut i'kki's Lvmi.
Tlic |u'(i|ili' of Uii|i('rl s Liiiiil .ire imtilinl l»y tlii-Hi' priHuiits : —
TImt Ht a )iii)utiM<4 nf ilit- Kc]in'Sfiit;itivfs of the I*cn|ilc, lul 1 at K^ii
< ifirry, nil tllO liTllMlliy of Di'ITIIiImT, ISCilt. tlir fiilliiwili;^ rcHollltinliH wnr
ailnplfil : —
Isl.— Mf. .Iiiliii Mnu'c liitviii^, nil acciiimt of ill liciltli, ii'si^^iii'"! Iiis
|niHifinii as pn-Hiilont, Mr. Lniiin Kifl was clinsin in ri|ilai'i' him.
Till' iifw |iii'siil('iit taki's this (>|t|><irtiinily. in ciiiiiiiiictiiiii with the l\(|i-
rcsfiitativi'H iif tlu! I't'cipU", tn i'X|mvsm thrir hiyh si'iisi- of tlif i|iialitifs
whith (liHtiiij^iiish the fX-|iicsi(K'iit Ainniii kIIkts, his lunihsty. tin
natural nil Mlcrat inn nf his eharacti'v. !Ui(l the jiistiuss uf his jii(l>,'iiiiiit.
'l'li('S(M|naliti('H, which wcri' nf such '^'icat assistaiuT tn the itrnph', (U-sitm-
|Mil)lif ri'cnj^nitinii. and tin- licprt'si-ntativrs ac(t|itfii his rtsi^natinii nuly
in the hnpt! tluTi'hy to prt-HiTvi' the lu-alth nf niu' dear tn thfiii
2nil.— .Mr Fiun^'nis Xavii-r l>anpliiiiais h;is lucii chnsfn N'ifc-l'n-i
(h'lit.
Urtl —Mr. Lnni.s Si'lmiidt has Ik'cii appuintfd Sfcri-tary nf tin- (.'niiinil
4th.- Mr. \V. I'>. O'DniinJiui' has Ihtii appnintcd Sucrutary-Troasiin r.
Tttli —y]v Aiiilirni.si- Lfjiiiu^ has hofii ap|inintt'd .Adjiitant-i iiiural.
(Ith.- 1'. has Ik'cii dc-idi'd that Mr. .\. <J. l\. ISannatyiii' shmild Ik-
fniitiiuu'd in his pnsitinii as I'nstiiiasti'f.
7th.— .Ml the nltici-rs nr I'liiplnyi's of the nld i^nM^nmu'iit wlm mi^lit
pri!tuiiil t(i o.M'iuiHt' tliatnhl aiithmity shall la- pmiishfd fnr hi<,di tn-aanii.
Hth - .Instii'u shall la; adniinislcri'd liy tlu' Ad jiitant-(ii'nera], whose
cniincil shall lie loinpnsi'd of Mr. A. (i U. IJannatyiif, K. X. Daiiphinai-
and Pit'irc I'nitras. This cn'mcil will sit nii the tiist and third Mmidit^
of each iimnth
!lth --.Ml lii'i'iiscs for thi; salt- of intn.xicatini,' liipinrs nnist la- L;i\iii
l>y till' .Vdjutant'a cninicil, and all thosf who took this kind nf lici-nsf nii
the 1st Dfci'iiiln'r l;ist. must ha\ f thi'iii ifiu'wcd \>y tho said cnuiifil
In pulilishiiii,' these orders the President and Kepresentativi's nf tlir
IV'nph'. an.xinus tn draw upnn thi' e.xercise nf iln-ir aiitlmrit^' the hh-ssiiiu
nf Heaven and the appinhatinn f>f all. annnunue tn the peo|de of Knpeit s
Land that they have pardoned twelve political prisoners, shewing' theiv-
l>y that elemeney and fniM^iveness ai-e as familiar tn them as severity.
Lot IS KiKi,, I'n'silcnt.
Loi'is >Si.'ini(iiT, ISeci-ftiirii.
y\v. Bannatyiic consontc*! to join Riel'.s council on the nii-
(IciNstainliiin- tjuit ii tiiiion of tlic whole scttlt'nient wotiM take
place for the ptirpose of tivfitin*^ with Ciinada, and ffoiii a ilt-
ii'l 1 at F.iii
lltinlis Wi'|<'
IC fdHllCll
Tn'iisiiifi .
ii'iii'ial.
slllllllll III'
wild iiiiulit
ijili tri'iisiui.
lural. wliosr
Daii|iliiiiai^
iid MiiikUn
Sl'i:< lAI. ( I >.M MISSION Kit SMI IMS MISSUtN,
441
>iif to t|(» M^ddd, in i| ktt). ill cluck tin- l-'rciicli |iiiity. I'lil the
l>iilili('iitii>ii of tlir nnlt-rs wns, it m|i|i<-;ii's. imt Miitlinri/.ril. uinl
,ill !'(>|iii's |Missil>|c to lit' 'ilttiiiiifti Were ciilli'il ill .-iikI ilcstmyfil.
M.ittrrs Wert' not ^I'ino- nltnj^ctlit'r sun »••; lily iii tlif lunks of tlif
I'lcjicli alHiiit fliis tiiiM'. Mini ji'iiloiisy iiiiil ilistnist ucrc kiniwn
111 exist lllllollM' the IcailtTS. W. !>. ( ) I )i >||( ilillc W iis callHlit t lllll-
|ifrili;4' with Wit'l's letters, .IH)! eirnlls Wele liiaile to secure Up-
lit tint lliellts ill the ;^(>velllliielit tor A liielicuiis. which so t\\y-
■listeil se\-erai (if the {•'relicli ci )i||icill( li's that fllcN' thrcateiieij
to witlnlrnw
This hail the etl'ect III' check iiiir \\ . I!. < )'! )iiiiuhiii
w liM was the inoviii;^' spirit in the cumicil in favor of anne.\;i-
tioii. iiiwl Stutsman, who hail come to take up his resitleiice in
the settleiiieiit. returned to i'einliina in (liseiist, while ( )sciir
Maliiioras. the rniteil Stat's consul, who hail, it ap|tears, heen
iiiixiiie; himself u|i in the afl'airs of the country mote than his
otlicial pttsitioii wananteil, hecame aware that his elloits were
iM'iii;;' thrown away.
Affairs were in this couilitioii. when, on the I ')tli .laiiuary.
Kiel ilemamU'tl aeain from ( "ominissioncr Smith to see his
pa]iers, who replieil that they were Hot ill his posscssiuii. Hiel
then proposed seiii line' for them, and demanded an order for
their delivery, which was decidedly refused, hut on Mr.
>Miiith s hciiij^' assui'cd that the documents would not he inter-
fered with, he at last consented to send a messenj^'er (Mr.
Hanlisty) for them. Uiel. however, despatched one of his
;;uards with Hurdisty. in order, no diaiht, to sei/e the papers
I'cfore they reached the ( 'oiiuiiissioiier s liiinds, hut certain
|)roiiiineiit individuals jimon^ the French, who were not alto-
;:'etlier satisfied with Hiel's doines, heard ahout this, iind on
haviiiu; an interview with Oovenior Mactavish, with whom
Mr. Smith was in communication, a suspicion arosi- tliat every-
|M
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442
iiisToitv or iiii; soitiii-wrsT
tliiii;; wiiH not till i-i^lit. and n sinall jtaity ol' I'ivmcIi mikI Kn^-
lisli wttU'Ps Ht't ntf towartls I'cinlmi.i to iiitrrcciit Mr, Haiili--i\
and liis ;fuar<|, mihI mi iniii-tly ami (|Mi(kly was tlii> «luiic. ili.ii
tin (iiii- ill llif lort, i'\('i'|)t the ( 'niiiiiiiMMioiicr iiinl (iiivcinMi
Mactavisli, was awaii- nl' ulial iiail taken |tlat'i'. Almiil this
tinif, liowi'MT, wlii'ii Mr. Stiiitli's mfMMt'n(;;cr was cNiifct".! i,,
n'tiitii, Hit'l wctit out to iiit'i't liiiii. and. at tlw Iioiim- of i.u.'
Lttlioiican I >aii|iliinais, In- round liis oimi-d a prisoner iniln'
hands of a party of men. and llardisty l>eiiin- cniidncted luirk
to Kort (Jarry witli tlie pii|iers all sjil'e. Kiel, on per(ei\iii-
tliis, attempted to intert'eic, liiit a l-'ieiieh lialt' Inced imnii'l
I'ierre liaveiller, pjaciii;.; a loailed pistol to Ids liead. tlireiitrind
to iijow Ids lirains out if he did not Tail into line u ith the rest
of the men. The whole party, now nillldieline' hetWeell si\ty
and seventy. ;^ath<'fed from the stirrotindinu- .settlement in
sympathy with the movement, then drove on to l'"ort (Jaiiy.
and the jiapeis Wi-re safely delivered into the liainls of the
( 'oinmissioner.
We will now refer our leailers to the report of Mr. Smitli,
which is ptihlislitd in t'hajiter \.\.\i.. for a full account of
what took place iiinncdiatcly after the delivery of the papers,
and proceed to describe the std»S('(|Ucnt events.
.ludee lll.'ick, who was present when the papers nrriveil.
opened them while Conniiissioiier Smith was havin;^^ an iiiter-
vit'W with Kiel, and it was then deci(le(| hy the party who had
eH'ectecl the rescue, that a ptdilic nieetiii^^ sliouhl he lield the
followine" dav to hear them read. Me.s.senm'rs were ut once
dispatchcil to call the settlers to<;ether, and on the i!>tli
Jaimarx', 1<S7(), fidlv one thousand i)erH()ns assembled in the
court-yard of the fort, representing all classes of the commun-
ity. This was a ^avnt triumph for the C'oniniissioner, and was
.sl'i:<l\l. < MMMlssiuNKIl N.MITIIs MIsn|uN.
44:i
U llJtt lie lunl Wtlltt'il iiIhI \M)|
kr.l f,
IV. )l> 111 \\)|s ilrttllllilH'l to
■ liiil iiiily with tlic scttli'i's )!■' II V, lidlf .'iiiil lint with iiiiy I'lir-
ticiiliir cliis.s III' tlit'iii.
Tlic ilii\' \vii> liitti'ily colli, it Itciiin' (i\i.r •_'() lidow /.cro,
\r| till- |M'0|i|(', without <'.\Ci'|lt loll, irllUllllrii fjosr l|str|ir|S
III
|iMi;^hoiit the w
holi
|ii'occc.|iiiy;s.
Mr. 'riioiiiiis Ihiiiii w fi'^ I'lt'cti'il (•liMifiiiiiii ; Riil, iiitfr|trftrr :
iiiiil .liiilur rdfii-lN. Si'cirtiiiy : ( 'oloiii'l I >i'S;il,ilii'iry hi-iii^ iiIm>
IHTsriit.
CoiiniiiHHioiit'r Smith \vii> tlnii iiit io.Iikm'iI to tin- iiH'i-tiiitf,
Mini filtrr M shoi
t ailil
rt'ss. III wine
III' r\I)li'SM'i|
lis lIl'Nilf t(
linii;;' alioiit a solution <il ihr troiililis, at tlir sainr tiiiii- assiir-
ili^ the pfoplc of tin- ;;()oi| iiitriiljons of ( 'aiiailn towanls tlniii,
III' I'caii his Ifttri" ol' a]i)>oiiit iiniit. which will )><■ roiiinl at the
I'oiiiiiiciiCL'iiieiit of this cha|iti r. He thin icail the lollowin;,'
Icttcf IVoin the ( lo\ eini)i-( leiuTal of ('anaila. iliiiin^ which he
was fi'pciitt'iily iiiteiiii|)tei| \>y Hiel aiiil others:
'tllAWA. il'lll Die. ISdll.
My Dkak Mit. Smith- I Kani with .satisfin'timi that ynii lia\c |ilaccil
\niir st'i'vifi's at till' tliM|iu.sal of tlu' Caiunliaa < invci'iiiiiriit, ami tliat jtmi
arc |iii)c-i'iMliiiji In |{i'il |{i\i'r to 'iixe tlu' |iartii'N lliat arc at vaiiaiicc tlic
liciictit iif yuiir L'X|n'rii'iicc, iiifliiciicc and iiiciUatinn.
In my fiipiifity us Her Majesty's ii'|>ivsi-iitati\c in the I'.iitisli Nmth
American |t'>s8ossitiiis, I have aililicsHcd U'tteis to «io\iriioi' Mactavisli.
tho I'loti'staiit IJisliop of I{ii|(crt's liaml. aiul the \'icai-(iciicral, wlio actH
III lii;u of the Roman Catliolic ISislioii iliiiiii!^ Iiis inocnce in Kome. I
have sunt them co|iies of tlic messai^e reccivcil l>y tilij^'raph from IIit
MajuNty'M Secretary of Stale, which forms the ataple of the |iroclamaf ion
.•li.lrt'HHed to her sulijects in the North-NW-st 'reiiiloiy. Voii will ohsi-rve
tl, f it calls upon all who have any coiiiiilaints to make, or wiHhes to t'X-
lire« . to address themsehiH to me as Her Majesty's representative.
And 'Oil may state with the utmost contidi-nce that the Imperial fiovern-
luent lia.s no intention of actiiiij; otherwise — or peiiuitliiijL; othen to act
otherwise — than in perfect good faith towards the inhaliitants of tlu Hed
lliver district of the North- West.
si ■'
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444
IIISIOKV o|- Till-: \»»|{|||-\VKST
TIh' |K'i>plt> may ivly ii|>iiii ii ili.it ii's| i-c^i ami pnitiMtinii will In. iaIch,]
c'(l to till- lUtliTi'iit I'l'litiiniis |ii'i.siia.siiiiis ilial lilies to ex i rv (li'scii|iti(iii i,t
|iri>iKTty will lu" iK'iftHllN i^nanUil. aii<l that ail tlic fiamliiscs w liitli liur
cxistril, or wliirli till' |k'ci|'1c may |iiip\c iI.iihsiIms <|iuililii'tl tn cMriisc.
shall Itf iluly i-niitiimi'il of lilicially iiPiitVrrcil.
Ill ili'i'lariiiii tlu' tlfsiii' ami tliU iiniiialiini i>f Her Majesty's Caliiint.
yuii miiy very safely use the terms nf the aiuieiit formiilii, that " Ki-lii
shall he clone ill all lases."
WishiiiL; yoii a 1 losjieidiis |oniiuy. ami ail Micce.-s in ynir llli^silln <>i
|ieaie anil Ljood will,
I remain fait ht'iiiiy ymirs.
John Vol M,.
Tlif ( 'oiiiiiiissidiicr iiuw .lciii;ui<lc«l the itrdiliictioii of critain
ilocllliM'llts which hild liccii cut I'll.sted to (Ifjiinl \'ic;il' 'rhihjililt
jiikI sci/.cil IViiiii th;it oi'iitl('iii;ni hy Kirl's oi'dt'i's. and tliiso;i\i'
I'isc tit M o;(mh1 ileal lit" (Miiij'iisiiiii, dui'iiio- \vhich jihusivr and
even thnT.tciiiiio' laiiotiaof was made use ol" towafd Mi-. Smiili.
l!tit he I'eiiiaiiied tifiii. and was >ti]i|Mii-ted hy M-xci'al oi' tlie
most iiillueiitiiil I'esideiits. and liy tlie majority of the |ieu]ile
present, 'i'ho doctuiients wei-e then |)iodiu-ed. hcino- round in
tilt' desk of the Secretary oi' the Pi'o\isional ( lovei-iniient, and
in the meantime .Mf. Smith i-ead tli^' (^hieeirs niessaof.
it was dated NoNcmhei- 2(!th,aiii| had heeii sent in the t'nini
oi" 11 ti Ico-fam from Karl (!ran\ille to Sir .John ^'o^nl"■, as
follows :
" 'I'hc (^)ueen has lieai'd with surprise and reo'fct, that cei'tain
niis;(uided pei'sons have imndcd toocther to o[)posc, hy t'oree.
the entry oi* the I'utni'c l^ientenant-( Jovci'iiof into our tenitm)
in Red Hiver. Her .Mtijesty does not ilistrust the loyalty of
her suhjects in tluit settlement, and can only ascrihe to iiii--
untlerstandino- or misrepresentation their opjiosition to ,i
chane-e plannt'd for tlu'ir a<l'antai;e.
"She relics on yonr ( Jovernnient to use every effort to ex-
plain whatever misundi'r.standiiios may have arisen — to ascei-
ill l(f .■\tcii.l
lll'M'li|ltiMll uf
'Swllirh l|;i\r
(1 lit rxcvilsi',
;t_v's (':il)iii.l.
ili.it •• Kl-lil
ur iiii>siMii ..f
II ol' ccrt.-iiii
Ml' 'riiiiiiiiilt
id this p[\ !•
.liusi\i' iiii'l
N'oiiiiL''. as
lilt cHTtaiii
', liy I'lirci'.
ir tcrriti'iy
loyalty I'l'
11)1' to iiii'-
iitioii to ii
ort to r\-
-tu a^ct'l•-
SI'KCIAI, »(>M.MlS.s|(»Ni:i{ SMITHS MISSION.
44:
lain tlicir wants, ami conciliate the ^[oo'l will of tlic pcojilc of
UimI Hi\cr Scttlenit'iit. Hut in the nicantinic, she authoi-iz'-s
you to si<;'nify to them the sorrow and <lisplt'asui'»' with which
she views the uiircasonalilf and lawless proceeiliuM^s which
li;ive taken |)lace, and her expectation, that if any parties have
desires to express, or complaints to make respectinj^ their con-
dition anil pi'ospects. they will address themselves t<i the (Jov-
enior-( leneral of Canada.
•The (()ueen expects from her representative that as he will
le always ready to i-eceive well-foum
led
i-rievances, .so wi
11 h
tl
•xercise nil the power and authority she entrusteii to him in
t of order and the su])pression of unlawful distur-
le su
ppon
nances.
It was then decided to adjourn the meetiny' till the follow-
uiij; day, and on this a .settler naniecl John ihii'ke made a de-
mand for the rtdease of the pi'isoners. hut Kiel replied. " Not
just now ! w
heivui)on there were cries of ' Ves ! \'es !" and on
this a number of the P^rench Hew to tlu'ir arms, and some con-
fusion ensued, which fortunately soon suhsiiled. and the assem-
l.h
lire ins]ierse(
(1.
spt-
Wlu'U the peo[)le re-a.s.seinl»led the next day. on Judet' Mlack
declinin«( to act as secretaiy, Mr. A. (i. 15. Ilannatyne was
ivppointeil in his place, and several settlers were selecteil t()
kee]) order in the crowd. Comnn'ssioner Smith then came for-
wai'd anil contiiuied the i'eadin<;' of his pajiers, the first one lie-
in<'' the followiuir letter from th(> (}overnor-( Jeneral to (Jover-
nor Maetavish.
(JoVKKNMKNT lliHSK,
«>TTA\v.\, DeCL'iiiltor, Utli, 18<i',».
W M.MTAVisH, E.sg., (/overiKir uf A.ssiiiihoiiv.
SiK— I had the honor to iiddro.ss you in my cjijHvcity as reprcsuntiitivc
•if the Queen ivmi <iovernor-(}enerfil of Her Miijuaty's British North-
BB
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! I
. ii,
;i
I
^
^4n
Ui\
msToitv OF Tin: \(»|{|ii-\vi:st.
Aiueric-fiii pD.ssi'ssidiis, anil ciiclnsicl fi'i- yuiir iiifcpiiiiatiun, a tii|i;k(>f a M, >
sfijro reci'ivftl from Kai'l (Ji'anvillf in ivnly tn llu' aciMunit wliii'li | >,iii
utKcially of tlu' ovi'iits MccHirinjjf in Hi-tl |{i\i'r Srttk'niini. The .Mi-.-.i._r,
riinvcys tlu' matnic npininM nf tlu' lni|ii'rial ('aliinct. 'I'lu' iH'iclaniatiMU |
liavo isH\u'il is hascd nn it, and yi'n will nhsciAc tliat it rctiTs all uh.i
Imvi' (li-siri's tn I'Xpi'i'ss, or coniiilaints to niako. to icfcr to nm as in\i-^t(ii
with authority on brlialf of tlu- I'liitish (Jovi'inincnt. And tlie inlial.it
ants of |{n|ii'rt'.H Ijand of all classes and luTsnasions may lest assnifd tli.it
IliT Maji'sty's (lovi-ranirnt has no intention of interfeiiii'^ with, or settiii:;
aside, or allowing oth'T.-. to interfere with the religions, the rights or tin
franehise hitherto enjoyeil, or to which they may prose themselves ei|Uil.
Make what use you thiid< liest of this communication, and of the in
closed.
I iia\ e the honor to he,
^'our most olieiiieiit ami hundile si'rxant,
.John \i>\ S(i.
'I'lic ( 'omiiiissioMtT tlicii ri'.iil i\ cdpy til' tlic lottof written liv
11(111. .l(iSC|)ll Howe to Mr. Mcl)iH|o-;ill, on the Ttll Drcrlliinl-
foiitaiiiin;^' the iissiii'mici-s to the |M'o|)lf ol" Hnl Hivcf, jis (jiiot-
o(l l»y lis ill tin- last chapti-r. after wliidi lie read the lettii nf
instructioii.s oi\,.ii to Mr. Mchoiiuall on 2Stli Se|)tfiiilMT. |M;:t
Tliis cIosimI the i'ea<liiio' of tlic iiajiors t-iitnistcW to the Sjieeial
( "oiiiiiiissioncr, l)nt the I'roeianiatioii of the ( Io\ crnor-l )eiiri;il
liavin<;' evidently Ik en concfalcd or dostroycfl was m'scr madi
juililic at H<'d j^ivcr, citlior on that occasion or afterwards ,i
fircinnstancc which .shews the extent to which Kiel and hi'-
iiiunediate followers would lia\f oi)n,' had they ohtained pcs-
(sessioM of Mr. Smith's papers.
When tlie reading' of the several documents had heeii liii-
ished. the ineetinjj,' adjourned for half an hour, uiui on re-
asHcinblino' it was moved hy Kiel, sec(tnde(l hy Mi\ A. (i. H
Hivnnatyne, and carried, that twenty ivpresentatives from tlii'
English side, iiml twenty from the French, sIk uld meet on the
'i.'itli .lanuary to consider the suhject of Mr. Shuth's commis-
sion, and to decide whiit would he best for the welfare of tli'
col Ml try.
iMil
Sl'i:<I.M, rnMMlss|nNi:i! SMIIIIS Ml.ss|(i\.
44;
>y of !i Ml >
hull I M'Ut
'1k' Ml— .1.',
K-laiiiiiti'iii I
\'r> all \\h"
• as iiivc^lfil
till' iiiliiiliit-
issurid tha'
1), or si'ttiii.;
I'iylits or tin
sflves fciii-il.
1(1 nf the 111
liii liccn till-
As (lie motion \V!is liriii;^' put. a sottloi' olijoctfil tluit tlio d
(lutiou sociiit'il to cjisl ji iloiilit on Mr. Smith
s conimi^sK iTi,
\vlu;r«Mi]»on Kit
;nni ( ) I )oii(ilmr liotli cxcljiiiiicil
W
(■ !lCCrl)t
till' conimissioM as Honuinr. aiiil aro nn'i'ily to consiilrr w
hat.
to he iloiir iiniliT it. A cotiimitti'i' was tlion a|)|ioiiiti'il to
a]>))()i'tioii the Kiiulish ri|iir.sciitati\ l■^^ tor thi- liitirrrnt |iar-
isjics ill tllC Si'ttli'llH'tlt. anil to ili'trlltlillr tlir moilr ot" I'li'ctioii.
after which short .sjicrchi'.s were m.-tilc hy tho ISisliop nj'
KiiiM'i'ts l.,aiiil, Kathi-r Hichot, ami tlio nii-rtini'' was closi'il li\'
1 ^ «
Hid iiihln'ssiiin^- thr ci'owil in tho t'ollowiiin- woril.s:
" licforc this as.snntily lin-aUs up. I cannot lait i-xprcss my
I'ccliiios, however lii'ietly — 1 came iiei'e with fear We are nut
V«'t enemies — luit we caiiii- \er\' ne.ir heino' so. As soon as we
niHlerstood each otiier we joineil in ileinandino what our Kiil;-
hsii fellow suhjects, in commnii witli us. lieliexe to he our just
rif^hts. I Jim not afraid to say our ii;^hts : for we all have
lij^hts. We claim no half ri;^iits, mini! you. hut all the riiihts
We are entitled to. Those riLi'lits will he set fortli lt\' our re-
prest ntatives. and. what is mor^
oeiitit
men, we will lift them.
Iiiiniediatcly after the ineetino'. the utmost oiiod f(.TlinLi'
prevailed — cheers were ;4i\t'n and caps thrown in tlie air —
Krencli .'iiid Kiiolish shook hands, and. for the first time in
many niontlis, a spirit of unity lietweeii the two clas.ses of
settlers ajtpeared. Thus the Sjiecial ( 'ommissioner scored a
second triumph in uniting;' the jteojile toi;i'ther for the jjiirpose
of conjointly ])lacin>; their orievunces hefore him.
I ill
1 s coninu"
!' ™i|i|
W i'
V:
'V-
• 1 i' ,
r
m
I
S:
n
!':
'S
1
' ^^H
W
ill
C'HAITKH XXIX.
THE roXVENTIoN AND lUI.I- (>K HHiHTS.
On tilt' 21st DwL'iiihfi', I8()!), the comiiiittt'O aitpfjiiitt'il to
apportion the Eiif^lisli ropreseiitativos, mot at the re.sideiu'f of
the Hislidp of Hupert's Lantl, and iua<le the t'ollowiiig- allot-
ments :
LS .-— -
Winnipt'j,^ - - -
- 1
St. James -
. 2
St. John - - -
- 1
Headin^dy
2
Kihlonan - - -
2
St. Anns -
2
St. Pauls - - -
- 1
St. Mai-^arets
- 1
St. Andrews - -
- :i
St. Marys - - -
- 1
St. ( 'laments - -
. 2
—
St. I'ftiTS - - -
. 2
20
'I'he ehoict' of <lele^oites then occu])i»'d the attention oi' tln'
people, Knjflish and French, throui;hout the whole scttlemcnl,
and a j^ood deal ol' I'eelin^^ was evinced by rival pai'tics. in
their eti'oi ts to secure the cifctitMi nf favorite candidates, lii
Winnipetj. rspecially, then was nnich I'ivairy between tlir
American and British elements. Mr. Alfred H. Scott bein^' the
standaid-lieaifi" of the furmci', and Mr. A. (J. H. Hannatyni' of
the latter. The responsible men of the town mostly supporter i
Mr. Hannatyne. but Mr. Scott had the lareest luunber of votes
anil was elected, much to t!ie disappointment of the residents,
who had the most at stake in the ])lace. The New Ntifion
continue 1 to preach annexation, but the doctrine found no re-
.i. (
rrTii
I
THE OA'VKN'TION AND Ml LI, (»r KKiMTS.
449
)poiii
t.-.l
to
reHidfUct'
of
win--
all
ot-
.
2
-
2
s])()ii.se in the settk'inent. and co])it'sof the pajnM* wen- " ivtni'n-
imI " to thi' ortice of puhhcHtion, in lar^v niunhcrs. niari\('(l
ici'nscd. It may '><■ iniai^iiuMl, thcrcfort', that the I'K-ction ol"
AitVt'd H. Seott, a vounn- man of no i-t'Hi»onsihilitv in tlic ooni-
iiiunity, and the niouth-pieco of the Ann'rican jiarty. was not
very !tcct'|ttal»ie to tho Kii^li.sh-speakint^' si'ttit'is, ami, as it
turned out. the selection of this youn;^' man was a must unfoi-
tunate blunder.
While the Knji'lish side was husy in eh(tosino tlnir repre-
sentatives, the Kreneh were no less aetivelv em|ilti\'eil. and
Kiel spared no effort to hrine- aliout the election of men fnxor-
al)le to him, in opj)osition to those who had lieen instrumental
in la'in^in^ in ( 'onnnissioner Smiths papers, and supporting-
that ^('ntleman in the stand he took. Kiel, however, was only
partly successful, as, after the elections, it was found that a
u-ood sprinkling' of l"'rench half-hi-eeds wei-e chosen representa-
tives, who were not altogether suhservient to Hiel's will.
As a matter of i'ecor<l, it may he well to ;;i\<' the full list of
mend)ers selected : —
iiu:n<ii i{KI'|{i;sknt.vtivi:s.
tt i)eni^' tile
SI. Pauls:—
IMerre Thihert.
Alex. I'aod.
Maiiiuis liirston.
Si. Fravcnis Xavicr: —
Xavier I'a^e.
Pierre I'oitras.
St. Charles .•—
Baptiste Heauehendn.
.S7. ViUil:-
Louis iel.
Andi lleauchennn.
.SV. Norhi'ii .•—
Piet re Pari'anteau.
Xorhert ( 'aronce.
I' I lUton.
J\nide Coupee : —
Louis Lascerte.
Pierre Delorme.
.-'H
f! V<
n
4.")()
Mi.sToKV or iiii; N(»i!iii-\vi:sT.
FHKN< II I!I;I'IM;s|;N TAIIVKS.
St. /I'm I fih'c : —
\V. 15. O'DollnliUi
.\iiilii'()isc I.c|iiiit'
Jits. ( Iciltoll.
Louis Scliiiiiilt.
OiiL- I'i.lut ;—
Tlioiiiiis Haiiisoii.
( 'liMilcs Ndliii.
Puiiitc i) a nmclft' : —
( ic()rn;r KlyilO.
i:\(ii.isii t{i:iM{Ksi:NT\Ti\ i;s.
SI. l\t,'rs:--
II
St. .fo/iri'
i'\-. Ili'iny < Dclirniit
lios. S|irll('t'.
iinrs itoss
H.
St. Cli'iin'itlx : —
I Ihis. 1)111111.
Alt >;. McKiii/ii
SI . .1 ,/(//vwr.
Judyc IjImcIn.
Doiii-iM < !uii' . Stiir,
St. James : —
<;.•(., Klrtt.
HolH'it 'I'fiit.
Uidil lugl ji :
Joiiu Tiiylor.
W 111. Loiisijiilf.
>S7. Mil ,ii.< : —
Kfiuit'tli M<'kfii/i«'
Ali
St. I'duls
roi l)o\(l
>SV. Mil fijii rf'ts ,
Will. ( 'mniiiiii;^>
1)
.s7. .1
r. 1)11(1
I' lies
( ilM. i lllllll.
h'ifll
iiiuni : —
1). S. Si
it'licc
.loliii Frascr.
.lolin Sutlu'J'liiiiii
W
nnipeij
Alfivd H. Scott.
'li
#il>l
i',S
Oil the 2or(l \)v. Scliult/ rscajifd iVoin I-'^rt (Jarry and as
lie was rcjKirti'd to lia\'t' none in tlif ilirrcl idii nl' Lowfi- Knit
(iarry, K'icI sent a party ol' his im'ii to n-cajiturr him, imt thrv
dill not siu'cccil in tiiidiiii;' him.
( )n tile '2')t\i. the iv|nvs('ntativ('s oi" thi' srtth-rs met, Imt as
st'Vfral of the {"'rriich di'lc'-alcs liad not arriscd, the nicrtinti'
iifV a!i<l as
Mi, but tiny
ii!('t, liut a>
the iiKx'tiii.u
I'IM; I nN\|;\ri(iN ANI» lUI.I. <'| IMtillls.
Wy\
was inljiiunitMl until tin- iii'xt "Iny. ' Jn flif 2(itli, Imu f\fr, tlir
ri.liXfllliuli iisscllll'li'il, .lllil pI'iK ilcil to lill^illfSN. liy rli'ct iliu
• lil'l;;'. nijirk. clifiiniiaii. Win. ( 'nMw ell. sccivt.-iry. on tlif I'lii^-
lish sidr. an<l l.ouis Sclmiiilt on that of tin- l"'ifn(
li. T
II' coii-
ri'^tril election cases Were then taken n|i. and deciileil a^^ainst
^le^sl•s. A. (i. I'.. Ilannatyne, Ani;ns McKay and .lohn !■'. (liant.
Hill. lieinL;' |iarticnlarly anxious that the jattei- ;^ent lemeii
-IliiuM not sit. The ( 'oinmissioner's |)a|iel's Wel-e next sent I'ol
and handed to Mr. Schmidt, to I.e translated into h'l eneh. altt l'
which till" conNeiition adjoni'ned for the day.
< 'n the •JTth, n|Min the re-a.ssenihline' of the ijele^ates. Mr.
aines i\i iss ca
lied for the I'roclaniati
on I il
the ( !< i\ ernor-( ii-n
■ral. wliich had not l-een ri'ad at the mass nieetine. I'ait the
iocument coidd not he foniid. and the niatter was allowed to
Iri'ji. althouuh there was a strone- feeline- <in the jwnt of the
I'lnelish that il had lieen desin-iK
!(aie a\\a\' with.
'I'h
I'loclainatioti will Ire found piililished in • he .\|(](e;iilix t<i thi^
\o|iiijie, and it may he well to exjilain that tin- reason tin
Kiie-jish did not jaess for its production, was I.ecaiise they did
not wisii to hie.ik the harmoiiv of the convention at the out-
set.
•mmissicaier Smith then attem
d th
c<)n\cntion li\' iv-
(jiiest, and in course of his address stated that ( 'anada was
jirejiared to respect the peo|)le of the coiinti'V, and e-ijnit them
e\ i-iythiiiii' that was fair, 'riiereiipoii, Kiel desired to ask liis
opinion on the List of Uiehts prepared hy the I'^rench party in
l>ecenihe;', linl .Mr. Smith decidedly declineil to do anythiiii;' ol'
the sort, as he was there to deal with all clas.ses of the .settle-
ment, and not one portion of it. Aiiytliin;^' comiii;^- from the
con\ fiitioH then in session, lie said, wdiild recei\c his most
<-arefu! consideration.
K»
il ii
I
!''
> .liiijjil
|!
II
'Hi H:
I I
452
HISTOMY OK THK N( Umi-WKST.
'riuH positinn takni l)y tlic ( "oiimiiMsioiici' was ho |)nl)ial>l\
I'orroct, that Kiel vnuhl not ohjcct to it, aixl .s(» it was im'suK.,!
to foi'iii a coiiiiiiittoo to fniiiu' a list ot" ri<;lits to 1»' s\il»iiiitt< 'i
to Mr. Siiiitli, ami the t"ollowin<;' were the <lrl('pit»'s ap|»oiiit"'l
to act :
Frrui'h — I^iouis \{\{'\, \aa\\s Scliiiiidt. ( 'liai'k's Noliii.
Kinilish — .laiut's Hoss, l)i'. I>inl, 'I'lioiiias liuiiii.
All these ii'elitleliieli Wfic liiiti\i's oi' the eoillltrv.
The coiiveiitiiiii then ailjourned to permit the committee t^
proceed with their lahors, and did not meet !i;;ain nntil \\\>-
2!*th, and in the meantime |{ir| tooU it upon himself to call
upon ( 'ommissioner Smith and propoiuid a (pK'stion w hetlpr
the hominioii would he willing;' to ereate tlif \{^'A Hi\'er Teni-
torv into a pro\ ince. hut he ilid not succeed in olitaiiiin;^' any
8atist"action on the suhject. as will lie seen l)y rel'crenire to Mr
Smiths report contained in ( 'haptei' X.Wl.
The committee havine^ finished their report, the ileleyate>
conimcnced on the 2!ttli January, to consider it clause hy
clause, and. without },;<jin,ii into the details of the deliates that
took place, we will ^^ive the • IJill of Hiiihts." a^ presentedi and
passed :
i-i.s'i' 111- itiKirrs,
l.st. — Tliat ill \ii'\v lit' tlif incHi'iit i'.\(.-f|pl ioiial [KKsitmn of the NiTtb-
Wost, (lutiL'.s iijMiii ^'iiiids iiii|n>i'te(l iiitd tho country Hhall coiitimu' a.s at
pri'.snit ^i'xce]it in tlio case of s|iii'ituon.s li(|uors). for thi'i'e years, and for
Bucli fiu'tlier tinii' a.s may elapMU until tliere Ite uni.itLTrui)ti'<l I'ailroad (.'0111
muniwition lietwucn Hed Hivtr Settlement and St. F*aul, and also steam
navi;,'ation l)etwt'un llc(l River Settlement and Lake Sujterior.
2iid. — .As lon^ as tliis eountry remain.s a territory in tlu' Dominion of
Canada, tliert; shall lie no direct taxation except such as may l>e impo.se<l
hy the local legislature for municipal or other local purpt)ses.
3rd. — That during the time this country shall remain in the position of
a territoi'y in the Dominion of Canada, all military, civil, and other puhli'-
expenses in coimectKin witii the general government of the country or
that have hitherto been home hy the public funds of the settlement, lie
(' (lt'l('i;!it<'s
iliUist' l>y
.'liMt.- tli.ir
'Sfiitcif ail' I
111' iiuposc'l
tin: (((Nvkvtio.v and I'.ii.l or uHiiri's.
4r)a
V<t
lid till- I'nct'ipt iif flic alidvi! moiitiniu'il diitifs. slmll lif nift l»y tlit
IH
Doiiiiiiiiin if CiiiiHilu.
4tli. 'rimt wliilo tilt' Imnli'ii of |iiililic i-xpfiisu in tliis territory
Imhiu' liy ('iiimiJii, tin- ci unit ly ho jj;<ivei'iit'(l multr n Iiioiiti'iiaiit-(«iivt'i'iii>r
tliiiii ('aiuida, ami a Li'^jiHlaturo, Hiri'i' iiiiiiiIhi-.s nf \s Imni ht'iiii; lit-uds of
dci>artiin'iits uf tlic j,'iivi'iiiiiii'iit, sliiill hv iniminjitud liy tln' (JMVoniiir-
( ioiiural I if Canada.
Titli. — That after the t'X|iinitiuii cif this oxfi'|itioiial pcrind, the cniintry
■diall Ih' Lfdvonu'd, hh ri't,'anlH its hical afj'aiis, as the Provinces nf Ontario
and <ihudit'c arc imw ^dsciiit'd liy a I,ei,'iHlatiiir liy the peii|i|f, and a Min-
istry reHpdimihh' t<i it iiihU'r a liienteiiant < invcriKir ap|iiiiiiled hy tho
< l(iveriiiir-( loneral tif Caiiuhi.
()th. That there shall lie im iiiteifereiire liy tin- I ><iiniiiiiin I'ai iianieiit
in tlio hteal atl'airs nf iIuh territory, otlu-i than is allowed in the proviiifuN,
iiiidthal this territory shall have aii<l eiijuy in all respects the same privi-
le;j!es, a<Uaiitai;i'H and aids in ineelin^' tlir pulilie expenses of this terri-
tovy, as the proviinieM have and enjoy.
7th. — That while the North West remains a teiiitoiy, the legislature
have a right to pass all laws, loeal to the teiiitniy. over the veto of the
Lieiiti!naiit-(i(iveriior hy ,i two-thirtis \i.te,
iSth A homestead and pre-emption law.
SUh. — Tiiat while the North-West remains a territory, the snm of
*'jri.(IOO ■ yt'ar he appropriati'd for sehools, roads and hridyes
idtl 't all the pulilie liniltlin'_'s lie at the expense of the I>ominion
I leasury.
11th. — That there shall lie guaranteed nninleniipted steaui eoiumuniea-
tioii to Lake Sujieiior, witliin live years, and also the estalilishmeiit hy
lail <if a conneel ion with tiie Ameriean railway as soon as it reaches the
internatioiial line.
12tli. — That the military t'oree re<piired in this count ly lie composed of
the nati\ t's of the country, durim^ four years.
(The abtivc was lost liy a vote of Hi yeas to '2{\ nays, and conseipieiitly
struck out of the list.)
12tli. — That the Kn'.,'lisli and Kri'iich lans»iia<ies lie lomiuon in the leg-
ij«lature andcouil-. .ind that all public dticnineiits and .Vets of the le<j;isla-
ujure lie imhlisheil in both laiiLtuaLjes.
13th Thai the .ludi^'e of the Supreme Couit speik the French and
Kn^lish laiignai^es.
I4th. — That treaties be conohuU'^l between the dominion and the several
Indian tribes of the country, is soon as possible.
IStli. — That, until the population of tliy country entitles us to more,
we have three represeiitative.s in the Canadian Parliami'iit : oiu' in tho
Senate, and two in the Legislative Assembly
i^iiijl
r
; \l\
! i'
l!L . ^ tl
I
I [
I I
I I
I I
I
I
m
m\
■ V
■ i
t
1
:ii
■■:!
1
•if
Nil
4.-) ^
lllsroit^ Ml' I'm; Nuitiil W MMT.
Hilli. -'riiiit .ill llii; |(rn|Mrlu's. ri;;lit.s hikI piiv ilcycs, as liil Initu ciij
"\iil
liy lis. l»c n'>.|(ffii'(l, ami rliat the rcrnanit inii ami arruii'ioinunf 'itj' i ij
ciiMtMiiis, iisa'^'i's ami I piix !!(•:;(•■. lie iiiailii iimlti' I lie fniit ml nf tin- I.ixal
l.f^islatiiri'.
ITtli. 'I'liat ilic |,.Ma! I,<i,'islaliiit' nf this Icnitury liavr lull ruiihi'l <>f
all tlic lamis iiiMiilf a lircimitVri'iRU' liuviiii,' r|i|)or Fuit (iiiny ii,s a trnin',
ami iliat llu! radius iif tins tirciimfi'rciito Im tlir iiiimln'r nf milts thai
till) Xmi'iicaii liiif is .listaiit t'lnm Foil (iaiiy.
JMtli That cvciy man in tln' riiiiiiliy (rMc|il iiiiciv ili/nl ami uiisi'ttlnl
linliaiiH), who has atlaim-il t|i
iLju cf "Jl years, ami I'vury llritish siilijiii
a straiivjtr til this toiiiitry. wlm has risiilod tiiriMt ywirs in this iniint i\,
ami is a liniisfhcMfr. shall have a ri^hl tu vote at tin- i-K'rtiun nf a imiii
la-r tc. srrvf in the Ic^islainn! nf llu; tuiintrv, ami in tlm hnminicni I'u
lianiiMit : an<l ivciy turciL;!) siilijcft, nthi-r than a jtritish siilijcct, who has
rcsi.li .1 the same lin«tli <>( timr in the I'luiiitry, ami is a himsfliMhl,].
shall ha\c thn saniu riijht tn vntc, nn conililinn of his t- kiiii,' tlu; nafh nt
alli'i,'iatu;if. if Imin;^ nmlurstuu I that this artichi lie siiliji'i't i<> airn'mlinmt
t'Xcliisivi'ly l)y the F.ncal Li'u'islatiiri-.
I!>ih. -That \\u' Nniih Wftt T.'rrit..ry shall nrvor lu- lu'M iial.h' tnraii\
liKfticin nf till' f;! 10,0(0 |iaiil tn the Hinlsun'H Uay Cninpany, nr fni any
pnrtinu nf thf |)nlili<' <lcl)t i>( ('anaila, as it stamlsat tim tinii' nf nnr fiitci
iiilj; this Cniifcili'iatinii : ami if thcrcaftiT wi- Ito ralh-il n|inn tn assume nm
.share (if Slid i>iililic ilehi, we mnsent nnly nn enmlitiun that we llr»t lie
allnwecl the .imniint fniwhitli we shall ln' held lialile.
As soon MS till last iirtifli' IuhI lirt-i! Diffirij. |\it'| |»ro]Hiseil
tliat. MS tln-y Iniil I'lilly <lisiMissi'i| the tciiiis iijioii wliicli tiny
wiiiiM I oiiir a ti'fritofy iti tlir Doiiiiiiion oi" ('ainula, the
<li'li';^att'.s .sliouM now coiisiilcr tlir ail\ aiita;;f of fiitt-riii;^" ("mi
ri'ilcratioii as a |»fo\iii(T. Tliis (|tii'stioii was accoi-ilinnly ftilly
fU'liiitiMJ upon ijiifiiin' iMdiiiiai-y 4tli, ami rrstilti'il in tlie o|)ii
of till' coiiNcntion licinn' in lasof of Itcconiiiin- a tn-ritorN'.
Hull
It was tln-n |iro|io.snl tlint ( 'oiiiiiii.ssiont'i- Sniitli slioiiM lie
ri'qiie.sttMl to attt'iKl tiu' nn'i'tin;j,' on tin* lollowin^' <lay, when
Hifl roH(> ami sai<l that lif had still aiiothrf claiisi' to pfopose
naimdy : —
■' That all har^'aiiis with the Ilmlsoii's litiy Company t'ni-
tlu' ti'anslV'i' of this tcfritorv la- considi'ivil null timl void; ami
TIIK joWKNTInN A\|t Ull.l. <il' Uh.lllS,
4.V>
I nil til <'ii i"\ I'll
t-iiioiit <ii \> I III
>1 nf till' I iM ,1
full Culltrnl uf
ly .i.^ a ii'iitii',
iif IlliicH l!l;il
.'lixl Mllst'ttliil
lirilisji siilijiii
I this ciiiiiii ly,
iiiii of ji nii'iii
Diililillioli I'ai
iiji'cf, \vln> lias
u lioiisilii'Mir.
11'^ lllc ilMtll i.(
til aiiiL'iiiliiiiiii
I lial)lf for ;ui\
ly, or for ,iiiy
(• of ollf I'lltii
to a>siiiin' oil)
lat w I' tii'ht lir
ml
IIS
flmt jiiiy Hi'i'iiiiyi'iiii'iits witli ffrrri'iicf \n \]\r trfiiisrir i)\' tlii-
iiiliy sliiill 111- ciiiiinl III! (Hily with tlir |ic(i|ilc ol' tl
tiuiiitry. '■
Till' iit'xt il.iy this ])rn|)()snl was (liscnsscil, jiml, w Inn jtiit in
li'iiii 1)1' )■ iii()tii)ii. was i|i't'i'atf<l liy a xnti' n|' 17 yras ami 22
iiHy-<. ii|i(ai wliicli Hill aiusc in rxcitrini'iit , i\c!ainiiiio;, " 'riic
iii'\il tiiki' it ; wi' iiiiist will. Tlir sntr may oi, ;is it jikis Liit
til"' iiirasiiir iiitist 111' cafiii'il. Ill' llii'ii alaisnl. in viry sirnny;
la 1 1'^ 1 1.1 or, t liii I • nf till' {''I't'iicli liairiiifi'il ilili'oatis, Nnliii, Klyiif.
;iim1 llanisiin. wlm liail vntnl aoainst \\\-> iiiotmn. I>iil Noliii
ri'si'iitiil tln' attack \ iyoCDiisly. " i.rt iin' toll ynii, Mr. iJicI,"
III' >aii|, that I was sent hrir li\' iii\' iiaii>li. I in'\ ir suiioht
till' |ii)sitinn, anil il'. as ymi say, I am Inst tn |iiil(lic aH'aii's, I
wiiiiM 111' rathiT ol.nl (if it. \'iiii, .Ml'. |{it'l,ilii| what ymi cuiilil
t'l |ar\i'nt my ftiiiiiiio- hn-r, anil lailfil ; ami it" it siiitnl my
jiiirpn.sc to ciiiiit' hack a;4ain. I would cniiir at the call nf my
jiarish in s|»iti' ol" ymi. Tin' cuii\ mt imi thni laoki' u|i in
•siiiiii' cont'iisiun, hilt not until it wj
arraiioril that ( 'omii
Is-
sioiii'i' Smiths views on the ' List oi' lliohts" shoiilil he lnanl
the iie.st ilay.
In the meantime I'iel. who seeineil to lia\e lost his heail
lAiT the ilel'eat which he hail sntrei'i'il in the coiiM'tition. went
in a cowanlly niannei' to the sick-heil of ( loveiiior .Macta\ ish
ami ahu.scd hini, e\en, it is sai<l, threateiiiiio' to ha\e hini shot
that iiio'ht. lie then to«»k l)r. ('owan prisoner, and confined
him with the rest of the |)risoners, and hehaved altoo'cther
like a madman. He lu'Xt took Mr. A. (1. I>. iJannatyuo
|»ris()ner, toi' ha\ ino' \ isited the fort aoainst his orders, am
started out to cajitiire ('has. Nolin, hut the latter and his
friends showed such a hold front that Kiel ahandoiied the at-
teiiqit. If he had persisted, there is no doiiht the Nolins
wduld luivc killed him.
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. M580
(716) 873-4503
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HFSTOUV OK THE NORTH -WKST.
A j^iianl Wits tlii'ii sent to capture the mails, but did not suc-
ceed, and iiuittei-s generally were heiujLj carried hy Kiel in such
a hi^h-lianded manner tliat the Kn^lisli dele^'ates hesitated
for a time alxait attending;' the convention. They, ho\V(\. r
finally resolved to attend, and on the 7th February, at I I
a.m., Commissioner Smith, who was present by invitation, ir-
ceived the List of Kii>hts for consideration, one p.m. bein;^' the
iiour arranged for liearin<i; his answers, and references to lii^
report will show the ar])itrary and discourteous treatment ac-
corded to him by Kiel while he was enj;af.jed in this nio'^t
im})ortant work.
At one (j'clock, however, the ('ommi'.^ioni'i- met the drle-
<4'ates, as agreed upon, and addresse<l them as follows :—
" With regard to the first article in the Bill of Kights. tiic
convention has already had a conuuunication to the effect tiiat
the Dominion (Jovernment had provided. In- ()rder-in-( "ouncil.
for tlie continuance of the present tariff' of duties in the tci -
ritory for at least two years; and I feel convinced that the
Government will be prejvavd to recommend to Karliament
such measures as will meet the views of the convention, as ex-
pressed in this article.
As to the second and third, 1 believe the Canadian (Jo\-
ernment will ask the Dominion Parliament to meet the vie\\>^
of the convention and their constituents in respect to these ar-
ticles.
Fourth — The Canadian (Jovernment assured me of their de-
sire to consult the wishes of the people of the territory iu
I'espect to matters connected with the composition of the Local
Legislature, and of their intention to select at least two-thirds
of the council from among the residents. This ccmncil would
have reported as to the best mode of ])roceeding in introduc-
TMK CONVKNTION AM) IJILL OK HKillTS.
457
uv^ the elective principle, jiikI Parliament would then have
Ix'en asked to pass an Act on the 8ul)jeet, the (Joverniuent
havin;^' no power to settle such a matter without an Act.
Beariiii;' this in mind, I do not hesitate to o-ive it as my opin-
ion that the Dominion (iovernment will ask Parliament to
provide a liberal tj^overnmeut for the country while it remains
a territory.
F'ifth — I have the most explicit assurance from tlie Cana-
dian (iovernment that such will ])e the case.
Si.xth — For this, the Doniinion (Jovernment will provide in
a liberal spirit.
Seventh — This article brinj^s up .sou»e con.stitutional consid-
ei'ations, with which it would be presumption on my ])ai't
were I to deal sunnuarily. But I will repeat most distinctly
that the Dominion (Jovernnient will pay the utmost deference
to the wishes of the convention as regards this and all other
matters in connection with the government of the country,
and I have full eontidence that the decision arrived at will be
acceptable to the people.
Eighth — I have been instructed by the Canadian (Jovern-
uient to make known to the people of this settlement that all
))roperty held by residents in peaceable possession will be se-
cured to them, and that a most liberal land policy' in regard to
the future settlement (jf the country will be adopted — every
privilfge in this respect enjoyed in Ontario or Quebec being
extended to the territory.
Ninth — I feel certain tliat an amount even exceeding that
here mentioned will be appropriated for the purposes referred
to.
Tenth — I can safely promise that the Dominion Govern-
mei:t will defray the cost of all the public buildings re(|uired
for the general business of the territory.
ill
458
msTonv or tiik xohtm-wkst.
,;!'
hi
n
Eleveiith--I do not licsitiitf to oivc this assuraiK't', ms tli^'
works on Lake Superior I'outc, which \\a\c hccii ])ro^rcssiii-
actively since the early part of last .summer, will doubtless 1m-
com])loted much within the time specitietl. As to the i'ail\\ii\-
to I'cmhina. shortly after the American line reaches tli.it
])oint, it will certainly he cai'ried out.
'I'welfth — This will uufiuestionahly he p)'o\ ided for.
'I'hirteonth — The answer ;;i\t'n to No. 12 will Mpply eiiually
here.
Fourteenth -Fully alive to the necessity of this, the |)m-
minion I'arliament will not fail to take an early opportunity
of dealin^i' with the matter, in order to extiniruisli, in an e(|uit-
ahle maiuiei', the claims of the Intlians. so that settlei's m.iy
obtain clear and indisputable titles.
Fifteenth — Tlu' convention will not expect mo to s[te,ik
detinitely as to the nundier of representatives to be allotted t"
the territory, but I can pi'omise that the circum.stances and
reijuiivments of the country will be ftdly and liberally con-
sidered in dealing- with this matter.
Sixtet.-nth — On the ])art of the Canadian (Joverinnent. ;i^
well as of Ffer Majestys representative in British North
America, and also as coming innnediately from the Sovereign
assurances have been jj^iven to all, that the pro[)erties, ri^ht^
and privile<;os hitherto enjoyed by the people of the territory
M'ould be respected, and I feel sure that the Dominion (Jovern-
nient will confide to the Local Legislature the recognition aii<l
arrangement of local customs, usages and privileges.
Seventeenth — My knowledge of the country, and of the
extent to which the concessions here desired might att'ect pub-
lic works, etc., is too limited to permit me to give any decide 1
opinion on the subject, further than that full ami sub.stantiaJ
justice will Im; done in the matter.
11^
\u
riiK ('()N\i;n"I'I(»\ axd i'.ii.i. <»i' itKiiris.
4:)!>
Einiiteeiitli — Without ciitci'iii;^' into tlie tlftailsot' the article.
I would say that the franchise will he so adjusted as to lie
satisfactory to the puhlic, hoth nati\'e and iinini;4rant, ami in
a manner conducive t(j the ;4'eneral welfare.
Nineteenth- - My helief is that the ( "anadiaii ( !o\'ernm"nt
lias no intention of iiiH)osin<.;' on the North-West Territory the'
jiayment of any })ortion of the €;?()().()()0, and I have much
contiflence that tliey will he so actuated in I'veiy resjtect l>y
w ise and just motives that in arran^in;^' for the distrihution
of the ])ublic deht of Canada the Noi'th-West Tc'ri-itory will
not he held liable foi- anvthine' it ou^^ht not to hear; in shoi't,
that here, as in e\'ery other particular, suhstantial justice will
he done."
Havine- <.()ne throue-h the articles, the Commissionei' then
spoke as follows : — " I would hee- to say that althoue'h author-
ized, as Commissioner, to act ^•enorally as mielit ajipear liest in
the state of aflairs here, it was thoueiit prohahle some points
iiii<.jht ai'ise with which I could uot deal personally, ami to
meet this I was instructed by the Dominion ( io\ crnnient to
invite a delef^ation of two or more of the residents of He<l
River to meet and confer with them at Ottawa. This I now
do, and on the part of the government promise that the
gentlemen sent to Canada will be cordially reci'i\t.'<l."
The invitation to send delegates to Canada, thus opporttniel}'
•'xtended to the convention, was unanimously acce))ted, and a
resolution to that effect, signed by Mr. Wm. Cohlwell and
Louis Schnii<lt, the secretiries, was handed to Commissioner
Smith on the 8th February.
Thus the third important st(;p toward the solution of the
ilifficulties in the North-West was brought about by the skill
and judj^ment of Connnissioner Smith, but his labors were
4()()
iiisroijv <»!•' TiiK N(»i!rii-\\ Ksr.
not oxer as \vc will soon see, altln)Uy;li mattci's wcit now in
.siK'li slia,))(' that tlif way was |(i-t'])ai't'i| for an un<lri'staiiiliii^
to lie an'i\fi| at lictwccii tlic I )oiiiiiiioii and tin' |»('ojili' dT tin
Xortli-Wfst.
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IrrstMlJililiL;
oiilc III' tin
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His Grace Archbishop Tache.
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CHAITKU XXX.
TliK I'ltoVlsloNAl, (in\|;|{\.Mi:N r.
])i'iu\(i tilt' (sittino- of tlir (•(invention, tlif •lolt'j'att's mi tlic
Kii;;li.sli side \vt re unloi'tiiiuitcly lianipi'ml l)y the liiiiittMl
powers investofl in tlu'iii by tlieir constituents, while the
French, having a free haiul, work'-il unitedly, and in such a
way as to <4;ive Hie! nioiv jjowei- than lit; should have had, ami
tiefore the representatives took their ileparture lor home, he
a;;ain brouj^ht up the suhject of the Provisional (loverinnenti
tor the purpose of u-ottinji,' the Kne-lish pledged to it initil
such time a.s their deleuates to Ottawa could he heard from
The En<;lish, however, before coming* to any conclusion on the
matter deemed it a<lvisable to con.sidt (Joveiiior .Mactavish,
and, on a committee, consistin<;" of Messrs. Sutherland and
Fraser, visitinu- him for that pur])ose, he exclaimed on the
()uestion bein^ )iut to him, " Form a e-overnment for (lod'a
sake, and restore jieace and order in the settlement." But on
being asked whethei' he wf)uld delegate his authority to an-
other, he replied," I am dying, and will not delegate my power
to anyone," whereupon Kiel asked wliether ]\Ir. Mactavish de-
clared him.self the (lovernor, and (jn being answered in the
negative, renuirked brutally, "It is well he did not, as out of
this convention I would have formed a council of war, and we
would have seen the conse(|uences."
For peace sake, the English at last consented to the forma-
cc
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4U2
iiisTouv or Tin; N(iitrii-wi:sT.
tioii (if (he I'rovi.sioiiiil ( JoverniiH'nt, niid tlif t'olluw iiiH- iiiotim,
ujis cjinird : " 'I'lmt tlif (•(timiiltti'f )»r<'\ iniisly ;i|i|i()iiiti'i| t^
ili'iiw ii|» tlic liist (>r Hiylits l)f i't'-M|i|Miiiiti'(| to discuss, iiiid di-
• •idf (III the l»asis iiiid dftails of tlir I'lov isiniiJil ( lONcriiiiiini
wliicli we liiiNf ji^Tcrd is to hf I'oriiird i'ur |{ii|)ci1's Lund and
the North-West 'IV-i ritory. " .Mr. W. 15. ( )'l )oiioliiif took tli..
]iliicc<)l" Mr. Scliiiiidt, wlio wns ahsiiit, mid tlir following' \\;
till' I'csult ol' tlic (•oiiiiiiittfc's l.ihoi's :
as
Ist. 'I'hut till' opimcil i'i>ii.si>t nf twciit ytmir iiirmlu'is, twi'hr tidiii tin
I']ii^lisli, find twflvi! from thu J^rt'iicli-spuukiiiy |in|iulHti(iii.
liiid Ivu'li side dcc'idu ii.s to tlic .•i|ij)niiitincMt nf it.s own iiifinlpiTs nf
council.
Iiid. Tiiat Mr. .laiiit's l{o.ss lie .liidiji' of the Sii|iri.'nu' Court,
4tli. That all tlif -liisticus of tlm iV'acc, IVtty Magistrates, Constalilcs,
etc., retain tlu-ir placu.s. with the u.\i'i'])tion of Mr. Dcasc, .J.I'., wlmsc
jiliice shall l)o taken hy Norliert liaroni'i-.
.■")th. That Henry McKeiiney, F.si|., he sheiitl', as hcfoie.
()th. That Dr. liird lie coroner, as hjfore.
7th. Thiit the (Jeiieral Court i)e held at the same times and place.-, as
formerly, and that tlie Petty Court l>e held in five districts : Lower Mid-
dle, ri)]ier, St. .\nns, (I'ointdo Cheiie), and St. Margarets, (Ltiprnirie).
Sth. 'I hat Mr. I'lannatyne he contimu'd Postmaster.
9th. That John Sutherland and Uoger < Joulet he Collectors of Customs.
loth. That the President of the Provisional (Jovernment he not one <<i
the twenty-f(Jiir uieinl)ers.
11th. .\ two-thirds vote to override the veto of I'resident of the Provi-
sional (Jovernment.
I'Jth. Tliat Mr. Thos. IJnnn he Secretary to Provi-sinnal Government, and
Louis Schmidt Under Secretary.
l.'Jth. That Mr. W. B. O'lJonohue he Treasurer.
It will be observed that nearly all the persons ajjpointed to
office were Enji'lish, but the most ini[)ortant position of all,
that of President, had still to Ite tilled, and although it was late
in the evening wlien this question came up, the convention
took it in hand, and a stormy discussion ensued. Kiel and his
iViends, however, carried their point, and lie was elected. Wy
Tin: l'lt<iV|s|(i\Al, <itt\ r.lsNMKNT.
4ti:!
(•p' llintldll
poiutcil t"
ss, (Unl il' -
(ViTllllM'Ilt
liiiiiil aii'l
(' took ill''
lowing' was
■Ivi' tl'llll tlif
1 uii'iiilnTs lit
.rt.
■8, Colistlllilis,
., J.l'., Whns^.
and l)lia'i's ii^
: Ijowrr Mi<l-
, (Ijiipniirii')-
,1H of Custdiun.
It \>e not out' of
lit of the I'lnvi-
ivernineut, mul
a})poiute(l to
Uition of all,
i-h it was late
le convention
Kiel and his
elected. l>y
tlii> time it wiiH nii(lni;,'lit, ami wlnii tlif news wont nut tliat
I lie Provisional ( loNci-nnicnt was loinird, and would lio lol-
lo\vo(| initiiciliati'iy \>y tlir I'rlcasr ol' tlio |ii-isouors, tliorc was
i;rcat n'joii'ino', lion-tiros lioiiiu li;^litod. ami liioworks sot otl.
tlio lattoi- I)oinLr tlio |)ro|(orty ol' \)\\ Sdiult/. wliidi lie liad
iiiijtoi't('<l t'of till' |(ur}tosr ol' cojoliratiiio' tin- iu-coniiiii: ol
lion. W'ni. .M(d )ouoall.
(ioNcnior Mactax isli, |)r. ( 'owan. and Mr. I'annatyiH' wn-c
at oiico rolcasfd. luit ( 'oiiiiniHsionoi' Sniitli was dotainod in tlir
fort, practically a |»risonor. owino' to tVars that his inlluoncc
aiiion;^' the scttliTs nii;;ht intoit'cir w it h coi'tain |ilans, which
Kiel had in \ iew.
The llth Ffliruai-y, IHTO, was tho last day of the eoii\ou-
tion, and was taken up in apportionino' the sottlonant I'oi'
ileetion purposes. Kiel then statod. as the first act ol' the
New Pfovisional (loxernmont, that Dr. Sehult/s ]iro|porty was
(•oniiscate<l, and also the otliee ol' the Kor -Wcsft r. most of tho
type helonpn^' to the latter heino' al'torwaivjs, it is sai<l, run
into hai" lead an<l hullets.
The t'ollowinjj" <lele<!ates foi* the mission t() ( )tta\va wore
then apj)ointcd : — .ludoe IJlaek l{ev. .M. Kichot, ami All'i'eil 11.
Scott, the selection of the lattei' <;'entlen»an heino' universally
ilenoiinced by the Kn^Tish settlers as soon as it hecaine
known.
On the 12th, sixteen pri.soner.s were ivleased, namely, Wm.
Ilallett, Charles (Jarrett. Wni. Drever, jr., .las. Mulligan, ('has,
Stodoall, T. Franklin Murray,!). T. ranii)l)ell, .las. Stewart,
.\. K. (/hi.shohn, Dr. O'Donnell, Lani^nian H. Wertrhtnian, A
Wrioht, aTul two half-breeds (names unknown), and at the
same time M. Davis, another prisoner, escaped while the
others were beinjj^ liberated. There was, however, a ii^ood deal
it
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4(14
HISTOKV OK Tin: NoltTM-WKST.
of «li.sNiitist'iictioii tliroii;;li<>ut tlir Kriylisli panHlirs nt tlif noii-
ri'lcasc of tli<' wliolf of till- iiit'ii coiiliiicd In h'dit (lurry, luul
Kiel, if Ik- IdiiI r'-lciiwd tlicin, wouM not only linvc stn-n^tlu'ii-
«'il his po.sition, l)Ut li*> wouM liavt> ])r(>vcnt*')l tiir nnfoitiiniiti'
o('t'Ui')TM('«'.s tliiit aftcrwanls took place. A moxtnicnt wiis
MOW coniniciiccd at Porta^ii- la I'laii'ic, to laisc a hody of iiiin
to liln'i'at(' the priNonci's, and a party nmnltfrin;; Ix'twi'm liO
and loo canic down as far as llcadinulw when' tlicy caniiMtl,
and after a Nliort stay |)ro( led to the l^ower Settlement
On theii' way they stoppcMJ at a house where Hiel had heen in
tlie hahit of stuyiiie- at ineht, in the hope of ea])turine- hini,
hut fortunately for himself, he happeni'd to he al)sent at the
time. An effort was then made to raise a force for the pur-
pose of attacUiiie' Kort (larry, which to a certain extent was
succcssfid, and at once had the etl'ect of ;.;atherinj;' the Freucli
in mnuhers arouiul Hiel. and for a time it lookeil as if the twn
.sides of tlu' .settlement would e(» to war with each other. .\
laree hand of Kne;lish and Scotch s(;ttlers indeed collected in
Kihlouan, and rumors were j)lentiful as to their propo.sed
moveuu'uts.
The rising-, however, was ill-timed and unfortunately pro-
ductive of consequences, which nearly set the whole settlement
in a hlaze. The party at Kildonan, it appoars, took a coujilc
of men prisoners on suspicion of hein^- Kiel's spies, and one lA'
these 'nanuul Parisian, in his ettbrts to escape, shot a yoini^
ocotch settler, the son of Mr. John Sutherland, who after-
wards hecanie one of the senators froui Manitoha. Younji'
Sutherhmd died from his wouiuls, wliich only increased tlic
hitternesH of feelinf( existing, and Parisian, who was also
badly wounded by his captors, was kept a jirisoner at the
Stone Fort, and ultimately succumbed to his injuries on beiii;^
removed to his home.
riii: I'KovisKiN'Ai. (i(ivi;n\Mi:\T.
4(;:i
liitlif midst III' t lii'sc ti'diilili's, IJirl icsolvi'il til fclcasc till-
prisoiiiTs ill Kort (lany, mihI, hm tliiir tnkiiij; tin milli in ktip
till' |Mii('(', all \v
ere liJM'nitiil, wliicli lia<l tln' i-Hi-ct nl' ti-iii
M»r-
arily clicckiiiM- tlir rxcitt'iiiriit iiiiiiiii;^- tin- l'!ii;;lis|i, until tlif
allair III' yiiiin;^ Sutln rlaiiil unci' iiimii' cnatril a I'lTlinu' Imstilt'
to the Krt'iicli, wlm mi this cniitiniiril to niaki- |»rr|iaiat imis to
ifcrisr an attack. Wisi-r (•iiiinsrls. huucvir, |iri'\ailri| at last,
anil on thr liith aii<l ITtli {''rlnnary. the haiLilish |iai'ty ilis-
pcrst'il to thiir hoiiirs. Thi- iiii-ii tioni l'orta;^r la I'rairir. aUo
starti'd to n-tiirn, hut. nnrortniiatily, instiad ol' takiii;;- a road
soiiic distanci' IVoiii l''ort (lany, thry chose mii' which in!
(Hiitc near to it, and, as they wrn- discos rii'd liy the i-'ifiicli,
a party rode mit to interceiit them. The I'orla;^!' paity liein^-
on toot and in sleds, were at a disadv antaj^e, as coiii|iaied with
their oiiponeiits, who were on horsehack and IuIIn' armed, and
when
the r
aiia<liaiis were calleil n|ion to surrender, their ji
a<i
er, ( 'a|itaiii Piolton, in order to |ire\ent hliHidshed, deeided to
c<)miil\'. The whole iiartv, niimlieriii':' l'ort\-eieht, were then
marched to iMirt ( larry and contiiied as prisoners, ("aptain
holton, it is said, heiiie' placeil in irons.
The I'ollowin;^' are the names of the men captured, most, if
not all, ol' whom had no idea when they suhmitteil, that they
would b(! contiiH'd as prisoners ol" war: —
C'fi]it. Hnltiin.
.lolin McLean.
Kdbt. McHuin.
Wilder Hartlett.
.Ijiiaes McBiiiu.
Diiii Sis.sons.
A. M
iirniy.
in.
ariiier,
Lawrence .Smith.
CliiLs. McDonald.
Jdlin Switzer.
( ii'ii. SaniliHun.
Will. l'ai|Min.
.1. Dilhvnitli.
Win, Dillwi.rtli.
H. .\ilanis.
M. McLend.
Arch. McDonald.
James Jock.
Thus. Scott.
Janu^s Sander.snn.
Geo. Wylds.
Wn
Ml
1. Sajtir.
Hi
ii,Miiis nriiwn.
N. Morrison.
W. Siitheiland.
Kolit. Di-nni.son.
Jo.s. Sniit!'.
Cha.s. Milhiii.
Tho8 Haxter.
John Taylor.
John McKay.
Alex. Parker.
I
IN
IMS
\h
t r^ ■
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i I
m
It
■ t
i .
1 I' '
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i!
4))(!
msloitV ol' IIIK NOiiTll-WKST.
H. Williams.
Alux. Mcl'llLlS..! .
\V. (1. ISird.
Ak'.x. McL(';in.
.J()8. PiKjiiiii.
I), 'i'aylor.
A. 'I'aylur.
(ii'ii. New imiiiI;l'.
II. Taylnr.
.1. I>. Moiiisnn.
Stij^oiuit rowers,
.Inlin Ivy.
(}. Parker.
And two uiikuowii.
Tliu.s, liaifliy hiul one sot oF prisoiu'i'.s been released, wlitn
theii" places were tilleil ])y others, and th<' iiieiiace to the peace
of the settlement eoiitimied. On the one hand, Kiel was teo
dilatory in releasino' the first ])ri,sonei's, an<l on the other, the
Porta^'e party, althouoh ])i-()iiiptei| hy n M-orthy desii'e to res-
cne tht'ir eonu'ades in [ii'ison, were ill-advised in the step they
tooU, at a time when there was v.vvvy prospect of a nnioii ol'
Enji'lish and I'^reiieh, for the pui'pose of ending the dithculties,
l»y treating with Canaila.
The captiire of the Portage party now ."orved to keep u]i
the excitement in the settlement, esjx'cially as nnnors began
to float al)out that some of the ]»risoner.s had been condemnnl
to be shot. A court martial, as Kiel termed it, was indeeil
held, and four men had sentence of death passed upon them
Cajitain Holton being of the number, and when ^Ii'. and ^ir-
Sutherland (whose son was siiot by Parisian) heard this, flu y
went and pleaded for theii' lives. Hiel granted the lives of
three, liiit C^iptain Polton. he declared, would be shot.
Several prominent residents then interceded for the eou-
dennied man, Init without success, and the people living in tlir
vicinity of Fort (^larry felt the most gloomy forebodings of
wiiat would likely happen shouM the execution take [)lace
Midnioht (jf the l!>th Febvuarv was the liour set for tlif
shooting of Bolton, find on the esfMiing of that day groups of
nu'u were seen conversing (|uietly, but glotjmily, over the pros-
pect before the coinitry, should blood once 1)o shi'd. Numbers
of the English jiarishes hail expressed a determination not to
!■
TlIK I'UnVISloNAI, ( ioVKUNMKNI',
467
sriid meiiilx'i's to the I'l-ovisioii'il couiumI, .•iml .Iuili;v iU.-ick Iiml
fleeliued to act as a dfli'^^utt' to Ottawa, so that tlic lio|)<' oi"
ceiiR'ntiM;^' a union ot" Kii^lish and I'^fcncli was not proiiiisin;;,'.
Added to this, thf risiii!^' ot" tlic Kiii;lish scttlrrs ami the action
of the I'orta;^!' ])arty, had fxaspfratrd IJicl sti, that iir was not
in an aniiahle mood.
( 'onnnis.sioncr Smith, on h.cai'in;^' of IJoltons dany^cr, lost no
time in sccin;;' Ivid, and usimI every argument to tui'ii him
tVom liis purpose, lie pointeii out tlu; impo.ssiljility oi' heino'
able to unite thi' two sides oi" tin- settlement, ii" l)loo<l was shed
in the wa-v I'iel eontmiplated, and at last hndert(X)l< to n'o and
visit the Kn<;lish parishes, and induce them to send members
to the council, if he would agree to spare Holton's life. Kiel
finally a<rreed to do so, ami stat(!d t'urther, that on the first
meeting of thi; Provisional (io\ernment he would release all
the prisoners.
There was a deep feeling of relief throughout the settle-
ment when it became known that Holton would not be shot,
and CommisHioner Smith, true to his word, visited the iMiglish
parishes, and by his intiuence and advice pre\ailed upon theui
to select and sen<l theii- delegates to h'ort (iarry, a work in
which he was assiste<l by th(} clergy and other ))roininent
men. On the 2()th February, the elections were ovei- and the
English had practically joineil midei- |{ie], but still matters
lookt'd gloomy. Rumors of all sorts were alloat — of Indians
on the war path — of risings an)ong the settlers, and, added to
this, periodical raids of the French upon diHt rent parts of the
settlement, for the ostensible purpose of capturing Dr. Schultz,
whom they deelaivd they would take dead or alive if they
found him. No word was heard of the delei-'ates leavinj>' for
Canada. No council was called, au<l Bishop Tache, who was
B f 1
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468
HISTORY ()!•' THE XOUTH-WEST.
daily expectt'd, did not aiTi\f, it lit*in<i' liopfd that he wouM
influence Kiel to adopt a more moderate course than he was
<l(jin^r. Reports were constantly Vjeinjif heai'd rej^ardin^j,- tin'
hardships of the prisoners, an<l the connn(in exclamation \va>.
"God knows where all this is ^"oin^ to end ! " Was it n fon--
runner of the terrible crime which was soon to he jierpi-
trated '. On the 4th Mardi, a deed was committed that struck
horror into the minds of all classes in the settlement — an act
of cruelty that can ofl'ei' no palliation for its committal, au'l
one which suddeidv i)h;niie<l the whole community into
mourning. Xothin^' trans])ired to prepare the minds of tlu'
people for what was ^'oino' to take place. Kumor, generally
so ready to make use of her pliant tongue, was in this instance
silent: the deed was as sudden as it was horrible. No time
was ^'iven to allow of any steps beiny; taken to prevent it. A
human bein^' was tried at ni^ht. told to prepare for death the
next morning', and shot at twelve o'clock that day. Uhl .shame
on the spirit that prompted .such an act!
Connnissioner Smith only learned of the contemplated nun-
der abotit an lujur before it actually' took place. We .say
murder, for it is the only word that can express its true char-
acter. Hurrying- to Kiel, he rea.soned fervently with him, aii'l
im[)lored him not to stain and burden the cause of his country-
men and the settlement at lar^e with ])lood. when everythiui;'
tended to a favorable termination of the difliculties. But
Kiel was obdurate, and the stroni;' appeal made by Mr. Donald
A. Smith for the life of a felhnv bein<r failed, because the man
to whom he addres.sed his words was at the time a madman,
whom circumstances had placed in a ])osition he was uttei'ly
mititted to occujiy.
At twelve o'clock noon. Thomas Sc(jtt, blindfolded, was led
1 m
I i
THE I'HOVISIOXAL (iOVKHNMEXT.
4(10
he woviM
in \u: wa.s
vdiu};' tilt'
\tion \v;l^
; it a t'uit-
1)0 pei'l"'-
lirtt struck
it — an act
nittal. ami
nity int')
nds of till'
•, ^t-nerally
is instance
No time
^•ent it. A
L' death the
(Jli! shanu!
(I, was h'li
out, attended hy the Rev. Geo. Youn^, to a spot a few yards
difitant fron< the postern g-ate, and, while the eler<ryinan prayed,
the unfortunate man knelt on the snow. Then a volley was
tired wdiich did not kill him, when one of the French half-
breeds shot him throuj^'h the head, an<l all was over. The body
was refused burial outside of the fort, and to this dav it is not
known where the ^rave of the nuu'dered man is located.
Thus ended this dreadful traj^edy, and with it all hope of a
sincere union between the French and Kn<rlish : from that day
also, Kiel's power amongst his own people decreased, until at
last he was left almost alone, and he could not have taken a
surer step to give his enemies a victory over him, than when
he connnitted this vile deed. The feeling of horror at tlu;
crime was as strong amongst a large portion of the French
as it was with the Fnglish, and it must not be thought that it
was the desire of the French people that Scott should sutler,
for such was not the case. One can hardlv imauiue the degree
of indignation which swei)t over the .settlement when news of
the shooting of Scott spread abroad. The feeling, to a great
extent, was subdutMl. l)ut not the less strong on that account,
and if representatives had not been elected by the Fnglish to
attend the council of the Provisional (JoviTiihient, it is doubt-
ful whether any further steps to join with the French would
have been taken.
C'onnnissioner Smith, having now pi-actically brought his
mission to a successful termination, resohcd to return to Can-
ada, but it was not until the 18th March that he was able to
get away. He had succeeded, in the Hrst place, in protectintr
his ci'edentials from Ricd's clutches, and afterwards in ])rcsent-
iug them to a meeting' of settlers representing all classes of
the eonnnunity. He had then brought about a convention of
i
|liH-
:i|j|
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rill
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470
HFSTOUY ()!•' TlIK XOKTll-WKHT.
4leIt'nfit(!S from all [)fii't.s of the .settleinent who liad pivsciucil
tlit'ir oTicviuicc'S ])of'oro liiin, and fippointed a tU'luH-atiou, on lii>
in\itation, to <;'o to Ottawa, and treat direct with the Cana-
dian ( Jovernnu'nt, and, by his infiuonce, hi; liad induced tiic
Engli.sli ami French to work together for the preservation ul
peace until such time as the transfer (^f the coinitry could lie
i.'tfecteil. He had, in fact, Itrou^'iit tlie people of Ile<l Hivrr
and Ciinada toyx'ther t(j settle their dis[)utes, and it only re-
mained for these two to complete a settlement. What iiinrr
was thert^ to he done f The North-West was \irtually saveil
to Canada without the t)loodslie<l and desolation which a cixil
or rndian war would have caused. A delicate and exceedinu'lv
dirticult mission had been fulfilled, and we refer our readers tu
the able report of the Connnissioner, which will bu found in
the next chaptta*, for the |)articulars regardinj;' the many try-
in<;' obstacles which he liad to overc(jme before success crowned
his etibrts.
On tlie !)th March, the following- notice appeared in theNev
Nat'iov, which, by this time, liad droppetl its annexation sen-
timents : —
A lueotiuLf ipf tlio Council of the I'rovisioniil Government uf |{ii|)i'it's
Lfind is liereby ordered to he lieM ;it Fort (JfU'ry, on ^''Jdnes(l,•ly, '.ttii
instant.
By order of the President,
Louis SoHMinT,
Hut as there were very few of the Enj^'lish present, a num-
ber of them not having seen the notice, the meeting, after
Kiel h.ad addresse(l it, adjourned initil the I5th. 'i'he t'ollow-
ing notice was then sent out to each of the representatives
elected :—
1 1
Tin: I'ltdVlSloNAI. (idVKUX.MKNT.
471
Mr.
^'I'li Jii'o hi'i'i'hy siiiiiniiiiit'd tci iittoiid a iin'i'tiiiLC <'t' tlu' CmiiK'il
ipf tliu I'l'dvisiniial (iiiVLTiniu'iit, to be Iield (it Foit (ijiny. nu 'I'liL'stlHy,
I5th instant, at 10 o'rlock a.m.
Uy oi'dur of tlio I'lvsidunt,
TllOS. BUNN,
1^1 en fid II.
Headijiiai'ters of Provisional (iovernuuiit, ^
Fort(;any, ittli .March, 1870.
Ill tlic iiicMntiinc, l)isl)()|) 'I'ficlid, \vli(» lia<l lui'ii ('Xpcctcd for
sdiiif tiiiK', jin-ivtMl ill tlir .si'ttlt'inciit, on tin- Mtli .M.nrli. He
Ii.nl liccii alisciit ill Home fluriii^' all tlir troubles at K(>«1 Rivrr,
ami, on lu-ariiio- of tlicin, had at oiuh' placed his scr\it'es at the
dispo.sal of the Canadian ( lovi'i'iinH'nt, and undertook a winter
voyan'e jicro.ss the Atlantie to o() to I^mI Ki\'er. On the Kith
I\'iii'uary, IH7(), Hon. .Joseph Howe, Secretary of State, ad-
ilre.ssed the followino- letter to him : —
Dki'Aktmknt of .SKeKi:TAiiv or Statk
KOI! TIIK PhoVI.NCKS,
F(d)iuary I(;th, l.STO.
Tlio Very Reverend the Bishop of St. lionifaee :--
Mv Ijohk — I am commanded l)y His Kxetdlency the (joveruor-Gen-
eral to aoknowledgo and thisiik you for tlie |iromi)titude with which you
placed your services at tlie disposal of this (iovernment, and undertook a
winter voyage and journey that yon might, by your presence and inllu-
ence, aid in the repression of the unlooked-for disturbances wliicli had
broken out in the Nortli-West.
1 have the honor to enclose for your information : —
1 — A coi)y of the instructions given to the llunoral)le V\'m. McDougall,
on the 28th September last.
'2 — A cojjy of a further le'ter of instructions addressed to Mr. ^^c-
Dougall, on the 7ih November.
.'! — Copy of a letter of instructions to the Very Reverend Vicar-General
Thibault, (m the 4th December.
4— Copy of a Proclamation issued by His Kxcellency the Goveriior-
'ieneral, addres'sed to the iidiabitant.s: of the North-West Territiiries, by
tin- exjjress desire of the Queen.
— Copy of a letter Hddre,s8ed to the Secretary of State by Doiiahl A,
Smith, Es(|., of Montreal, on 24th November.
fi— Copy of a letter of instructions addressed by nie to Mr. Smith, on
December last.
if! 1^
11 if I
ill
jj'i
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^ll
if
1 f
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II !
1 i
• 1
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1
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,1
472
HISTORY f»F THE \OHTH-WKST.
7 — A suiiii-orticiil letter addressed by tlie Minister of Justice, uii iln>
.'Jrd .Ifuiujiry, J 870, to Mr. Smitli.
H — Copy of the coiiimisHioii issued to Mr. Smith on 17tli .January. Is7n.
Copies of the Prochiniation issued by Mr. McDougall, at or near I'em
bina, and tiie coumiission issued to Colonel Dennis, liavini,' l)een printed
in the Canadian papers, and widely circulated at the Red River, are it is
assumed, (piite witliin your reach, and are not furnished ; but it is im-
portant that you should kjiow the proceedings by which tlie lives ami
properties of the people of Rupert's I>ind were jeopardized for a tiinr,
were at once disavowed aiul condemned by the Oovernnunt of this Dom-
inion, as you will readily discover in the despatch addressed l)y me to Mr.
McDougall, on the 24th December, a copy of which is enclosed.
Your Lordshi|) will perceive, in these pajjcrs. the policy which it wa*
and is the desire of the Canadian (ilovernment to establish in the Noitli-
West. Tlie people <)f Canada have no interest in the erection of institu-
tions in Rupert's Land, which public oi)inion comlemus : nor would they
wish to see a tine race of pei>ple trained to discontent and insubordina-
tion, by the pressure of an unwise system of government, to which British
subjects jire tniaccustomed or averse. They look ho])efully forward to tlu-
period when institutions, moulded ujion those which the other jirovincLs
enjoj', may be established, and in the nu;antime would deeply regret if
tlie civil and religious libei'ties of the whole population were not adeipiate-
ly protecte<l by such temjjorary arrangements as it may bu iiruilent at
present to make.
A convention has ^been called, and is now sitting at Fort (iarry. to
collect the views of the people as to the powers which they may cousidti
it wise for parliament to confer, and Local Legislature to assunu-. Wjun
the proceedings of that conference have l)een received by the l'ri\y
Council you may expect to hear from me again, and. in tlie meantime,
should they be conmninicated to you on the way, His Excellency wil' hv
glad to be favored with any observation that y(ju may have leisiue ti>
make.
You are aware that the Very Reverend the Vicar General Tliibaidt ami
Messrs. Donahl A. Smith and Charles de Salaberry are .already in l^uiicit's
L»nd, charged with a connnission from (Jovi-rnmeut. Enclosed are letters
to those gentlemen, of which you will oblige me by taking charge, and I
am couuuanded to ex])re8s the desire of His Excellency that you will co
operate with them in their well-directed etibrts to secure a jieaceful solu-
tion of the ditticulties in the North-West Territories, which have causcl
His Excellency nuich anxiety, but which, by your joint endeavors, it is
hoped may be speedily removed.
I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
.JosKi'H Howe.
;U_. :
SticO. nil the
muniy. 1^7".
nr near Teiii-
liocii jiiinti'il
iver, aiv it is
Imt it is ini-
thu livL's .•uul
ed fnr a tiinr.
nf this Doiii-
liy nil' tn Mr.
ISt'll .
f which it was
in thi' N'nrtli-
ion nf iiistitu-
lor wmilil tlifV
il insiihni'clina-
i which British
forwaril to tlu'
ithcr jii'oviiiccs
ceply le^Tct if
not aiU'i|iiati •
bo iiiiiiU'Ut ;it
Fort (lain, t"
may cniisiilti
siinu'. Whni
by till' Privy
he nioantinif.
lUcncy wil' 1h'
avc k'isinv I'v
ThihaiiU aii'l
uly in ItujuTt's
iscd arc letters
charge, ami I
lat yon wi'-l co-
leaccful sohi-
;h have cause!
■luleavors, it is
SKl'Il HOWK.
TIIK I'UOVISKtNAL (iOVEUNMKSr
473
Oil tlio SniKlar followiiio- his niTivnl (KJtli March, 1H70),
liishop Tache jircachiMJ an chMiueiit scriuon, in which he ex-
pressed his sorrow at the <listurhances whicli ha<l taken place,
juul counselled united action on the part of Catholics and Pro-
testants for the common y;ood, as C'anada Avished (jnly to do
what was fair for the people of the North- West.
On the loth, the Council of the Provisional (Jovernment
held its nieetiiio-, the Knj^dish members beinj;' punctual in their
attendance, and the foUowino' nujtions were carried : —
1st. Tliat we, the re)»resentatives of the inhabitants of the Nortli-West,
consider tliat the Imperial (Jovernment, the Hudson's IJay ('ompany, ami
the Canadian (iovernmeiit, in stipiilatinij; for the transfer of the govern
ment to the Uominion (Jovernment, without first consulting, or even noti-
fying, the people of such transfer, have entirely ignored tmr rights as
people of the North-VVest Territory.
2nd. That notwithstanding the insults and siitlerings borne by the
people of the North-West heretofore : which snti'erings they still endure- -
the loyidty of the pecjjile of the North-West towards the Crown of Eng-
land remains the same, provided the rights, propertie.s, usages and cu.v-
toms of the peojjle be respected ; and we feel assuied that as Hritish siili-
jects such rights, proiierties, usages and customs will undoubtedly be
respected.
In the meantime, Bishop Tachi; had eiitt'ivd the chamber,
an<l, on beinjj;' introduced to the memliers of the council, ad-
dressed them, referring" to liis trip from Rome, on hearino- of
the troubles, the good intentions of Canada to the peofile of
the North-West, and the satisfaction of the Dominion Govern-
ment at the prospect of meeting their delefjates in Ottawa.
He stated that his mis.sion was one of good-will to the people
of Red River, and alluded to the actions of the Canadian offi-
cials while at Pembina, (|uotino' from a speech made in the
Canadian Parliament by Mr. Howe, to shew that the course
pursued by Mr. ]\Icl)ougall was condemned by the iJominicjii
authorities. At the close of his speech. His Lordsliip asked
li
li^'
i^iiii
1^:1^
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i
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1 1
474.
IlISTOKV OF I'lli; \i»l!Ti|-\Vi:.ST.
Tor the I'l^Icasc of liall" the prisniici's. I)ut why tin- wliolr miiii-
l)i'r was iKit incluilt'd in the r<'(|U('st ilors nut a|)|)t'ar, as l!i.I
lia<l i^ivcn a solemn proniisi.' to ( 'oinniissionci- Sinitli that all
the men contincil in Fort (larry would he lihcratcd iniinrdi-
ati'ly after tlie lii'st meeting' of the council. The next day.
howi'N'er, seventeen Were set at liherty. and ati'airs in the set-
tlement he^an to quiet down. The iW"' Ndtion now fell
under the <iis]ilt;asui'e of Kiel, and Major Holiinson, j)rol)ahI\-
tindin;^' that his annexation pfinciples wei'e not ])o]»ulai', le-
tii'ecl from the mana^^'ement of the paper. ()scar Malmoras.
tlu! I'nitcid States consul at Wiimipej.;', left alnrnt the same
time for American tenitofy, and shoi-tly after his <lc[)arture.
some rathei' compromising^' letters of his, which he had written
during the troubles, ap])eai'eil in |)riiit, which would lia\-e
made his st.ay in the settlement rathei- unphiasant, and no
doubt hasteiie(l his };'<»iu(;' away. Mr. Thomas Spence, of In-
dian memorial fame, and ex-pi'csident of the republic of I'or-
tat^e la Pi'airie, now undertook tlic editorship of thi' Nan'
Nation, and from that time " Anne.xation "' never darkened its
payes. Colonel Rankin, wlio arrived in the settlement on the
oth March, next appears on the scene as the [)romoter of a
]-ailwny sclieme, and was busy goinj.^ about the settlement
with a petition addressed to the Dominion Government, ask-
ini;' a ^rant of Umd foi- the purpijse, wlien Riel pounced upon
him, and ^'ave him six hours notice to (piit the country.
Everythinj^ tended toward a ])eaceful solution of the difti-
culties, Itut only two of the dele<;ates on the Ottawa mission
had consented to ^o, namely, Rev. Pere Richot, and Alfred H.
Scott, and as they did not represent the voice of the whole
people of Red River, it was most important that Jud^e Black
should be prevailed \\\Km to accompany them. On the l()th
«'
TIIK l'l{<t\ IsKtNAL (iOVKKXMKNT.
475
Mareli, tlu'ivtVirt', (^)IlllniKsi<)n('^ Smith wmt to sec him, and,
as a rcsuh ol' this \ isit, .Imloc Black coiiHciittMl to <^o as n-pro-
seutativf of the KiioMsli-Hpfakiii;^' popuhition. a decision which
washailtMl with pleasure by th<' settlers.
On the IStli Mai'cli, ( 'ommissionei- Smith left Foi't (larry
<in his return to ( anaila, ami on the "iMi-d, the two deleeates,
l!ev. I'ere Hiehot and Alfred II. Sccjtt, took their ilepartun;
for Ottawa, followetl the ne\i ilay hy .hide*' Hlack, who was
accompanied hy Captain llolton. the latter ;^'entleman lia\in,n'
l)etin lilH(rate(l from prison on the Kitli. I'^ach day now saw
several of the j)risonei's icleasecl, until all were at litierty, and
so far Kiel kept his jironiise eiveii to Commissioner Smith.
The followint:' is the commission and lettei* of uistructions
handed to the deleoates
Cin\ KUNMKNT IloTSK,
W INMI KC, Assillilioill.
SiH^Tlio Prusi<.l(!iit of tlio Prnvisidiifil (joveriiincnt of Assiniboiii,
(formerly |{in)t'rt's L nd nm\ t\w North-We.st), in council, do horohy aii-
thorizo and delc^^atf you to ]iroccod to the City of Ottawa, and lay licforo
the Dominion (Jovurnmont the accompanying list of propo.sitions and con-
ditions as the terms iijion which the peojile of Assinilioia will consent t(»
inter into (,'onfederatioii with the other ])rovinces of the Dominion. Vou
will also herewith receive a letter of instructions, which will he your
i;uide in the execution of this connnission.
Signed this twenty-second day of March, in the year of our Lord ono
thousand eight hundred and seventj .
liy order,
Thomas Binn,
S>rrv((U!i of Slide,
LETTKK OK IN.STKICTIONS.
Sir— Enclosed with this letter you will receive your connni.ssion and
also a copy of the conditions and terms ujion which the people of this
country will consent to enter into the Confederation of Canada. You
will please jiroceed with convenient sjjeed to the City of Ottawa, Canada,
and on arriving there you will, in company with the other delegates, put
yourself immediately in communication with the Dominion Government,
on the subject of your commission. You will j)leiise observe that with
! i.H
(■ I ill
47()
IIISTOltV OK Tin: NuHTII-WKST.
'.«r
in
ii
repaid to the iirtii-li's niiinlicretl I, 'J, .'{, 4, (1, 7. IT), 17, IS', aii'l L'((, ymi
iiro U'ft !il libi!i'ty in coiicitI wiili yiiiii' fillnw t'DimiiiMsidiifrN. In cxfi'cis,.
yniir (liscrotinii ; Imt licjir in iniiid, tliat as ymi rarry witli ymi tlic full
cuiiliiU'iK't' nf tliis pi'dpli', it is fX|ie(tc(l that in thr cxt'irisf of t lii-.
liberty, ynii will do yoiir utmost to si'iiiri' tiiuir lights and jiri\ ik'^i;*
•which havi; hitherto l)ei'ii i^noit'd.
With ii'fi.'innce to the n inainin:^ aiticK-s. 1 am din-ctcd to inform yiii
that thi-y arc |it'r»'m|)tory. I ha\»' fiirthiT to inform you that you arc not
em|K)Wi'r('d to (■oncludc linally any Hrran'^cmcntH with tlu^ Caiindian (!o\-
ornniL-nt, hut that any ncyotiations ontiMed into liftwoen yon and the said
"jovfrnment must tirst havti the a|i|)ro\al of and l)f lafitii'd liy tin- I'rci-
visional (iovciinnc'iit, liidori' Assinilmia will lioconii' a [Uovinco of Cnn-
fudoriition.
I havu tla- honor to \n\ Sii',
Your obedient servant.
'i'llos, UlN.N,
kN'id'i..".. i>f Shih .
Tlif I'ollowino' is tin; List ol" Hiohts, in tlii' fonii liiiiidrd to
tlio <lel('0)it('>i.
Ist. That tht! Territories, heretofore known as Ru|iert's liand and
North West, shall not enter into Confederation of the Doniininu, exiijit
as a province, to be styletl ami known as the Province of Assiijiboia. and
with all the rights and privileges connnon to the ditt'erent provinci-s nf
the Donnnion.
2nd. That we have two representatives in the Senate, and four in the
House of Commons of Canada, until such tinu; as an increase of popula
tion entitles the province to a greater re]>reseiitation.
3rd. That the Province of Assiinl)oia shall not be hi'ld liable, at any
time, for any portion of the j)ublic debt of the Dominion, contracted In
fore the date the said province shall have entered the Confederation m;
less the said province shall have first received from the Dominion the fn I
amount for which the said jirovince is to be held liable.
4th. That the sum of eighty thousand dollars l)e paid annually by tl;c
Dominion (Joverninent, to the Local Legislature of this province.
5th. That all ja-operties, rights and privileges enjoyed by the peo])le (f
this province, up to the ilate of our entering into the Confederation. It
re.spected, and that the arrangement and contirmation of all custom>.
usages and privileges be left exclusively to the Local Legislature.
6th. That during the term of five years the Province of Assiniboia shall
not be subjected to any direct ta.xation, except such as may be imjiosed
by the Local Legislature for municipal or local puri)oses.
,VL :
i', iiinl lid, _vuu
IS. til CXlTci.-i'
ynii tlif full
I'lrisc of I hj.,
111(1 |irivili'j,'i's
111 iiifipini ymi
iit yuii arc not
'llliniljllll ( in\
II .'iml till' sMJil
il l)y tlic I'm
iviiicu of C'liii
<■;■;,■ of Shih .
II llMlldcil til
t's Land and
iiininii, oxc'i'|it
Lssitiilioiii, all! I
t iiroviiircs I if
nd four ill tin
liisu of po]iiila
liiil)k>. at any
L'ontractt'd In.'
t'doration un-
ninion tho fii'l
iinudUy liy tl;f
vince.
,• the iJt'iiplt' (f
ifedei'ation. lo
f all customs.
lature.
issinihoia shall
iiy be inipiwid
^
/
'^
/'
V'/ r;/'t /(
Hon Joseph Howe.
f
III
i;
1
i
1
'
i
Ij ^ ;
1
1
i
Mlu
i.^ ■
TIIK I'luA isiuN \|. (;ov|.;ii\MKNT.
477
n till' r,n liaiiiiMt uf
7tli. 'I'lmt a (Hiiin "f iiiMiicy, ri|iiitl tii fii;lil_\ icnrH |ii'i IhmiI nt tlif |m>|iu
lalii'ii lit' this |ii<iviiii'i', In' [tuiil liiiiMiiilly liy tlic Citiiailiitii < ioMi iniu'iit to
till' liiii'iil L<'i{iH|iitiiri! of tlio Niiiil |ii'iiviiii-it, until hikIi time n>. tin- wkiil
|i.i|iiiliitii>ii iliiill hiivt' iiicrt'iiHfit to xix liiiiiiircil tliniiHaiiil.
>'tll. 'i'lmt till' I.oi'iil Li"^i>.lnturc mIihII have the n.^lit to licti'liiiiiU' the
i|iii(litii'uti(iiiM of iiii'iiilii'iN I.I r(>|iri'Mi'iit tjiin jiinv iih
CaiiMila ami in tlic Local l.t'^islatiiri'.
I'tli 'riiat in tlii.s |iiiivim.i', witli tlu' fXi't-ption ot uiiiiviliz<c| .imj uhhi'I
tli'il Imliaiis, uvory imilt> iiiitivu citi/ifii wlm lias attaincil tlii' n-^r o|
twenty oiii! yeai's ; ami every fori'i^ner, lu'iii'^ a Mi'iti».li .siilijeit, wlm has
attaiiieil the sanio, ami has ii'sideil three years in the |iio\iiiei', ami is a
liouseliujilei' ; ami evefy t'oreij^ner other than a British Hnl)ji'(t. who liiiH
I'l'HiiKtil here iliirin^ tliu huiiu' purioii, lioin<^' u hoiiseholiler, ami litivini{
taken th f oatli of alle'^'iancL', shall lie entitled to vote at the election of
laenihei's for the Itoea! I.e'^i^I'itnre ami for the Canaliaii I'ailiainent. It
lieiiiLC iimlerstooil that this article in* suhjecl to umen<lnient, e\clusi\ely
liy the Local Li'^,'islaliiie,
Hlfli. That the hai'LCain of the HmUoii's Hay ('oni|iany, in the ri'spect to
the traiisfor of tliL> yovorniiieiit of this country to the Dominion of ( 'anada.
he anniillud ho far as it interferes with the iii,dits of the people of Assini-
lioli
I, and so far as it woiild afl'eet oiir fiitiiie relations with Caninla.
llth. That the Loi'al LcL^islatiire of the I'roviiu'o of Assinihoia shall
have full control over all the public lamls of the pnniiico, and thu ri,i,dit to
annul all auts or arran^'umeiits niado or entered into with rifforenen to tlu;
piililic lands of Uupeit's Laml and the Noith-W 'est, imw called iho I'lo-
\ iiice of Assinihoia.
rjtli. That the < iovernmeiit of Canada appoint
oIlimissioMel' o
f I-
n
ithin five veiirs from the date of our eiitoriiiL' into Coii-
;.,'int'L'rH to cxploro thu \arions districts of thu Province of Assinilioia. and
to lay hefore thu Local LuLjishiture a report of thi' mineral wealth of the
province, w
federation.
loth. That treaties ln' conclmled lu'tweun Canada and the ditferuiit In-
dian trihcs of thu I'l'ovince of AHsiiiil)oia, hy and with the advice 'uid co-
"[leratioii of thu Local Lei,'islature of this province.
14tli. That an iininterniiited .steam communication from L.ike Superior
to Fort (>arry he 'guaranteed to he completed within the space of five
years.
ir)tli. That all public buildings, bridt^es, roads, and other pul)lic works
bu at the cost of tliu Dominion Treasury.
Kith. That thu Knirlish and French laiiyiiaj^'us be common in thu Legis-
lature, ami in the Courts, and that all public documunts as well as Acts of
the Luyislaturu, bu publishud in Itoth languagus.
DD
m
478
\i\
HISTORY OF THE NOUTH-AVEST.
17tlK Tliat whereas tlie Freiicli ami Eiiglisli-.'^jicakiiij^ jieojile <pf Assiiii-
V)v''i are so tMiually divided as t<> minibers yi-t so united in tlieir intenNt.>..
and so connected by coniiiierce, family connections, ;:nd oilier ]i(»litical ii'iil
social relations, that it luis ha|M>ily been found inijinssibki to bi'inj; tiicui
into liostile collision, although repeated attempts ha-.e been made by <lr
Hif^ninjj; straiijL^ers for reasons known to themselves to briuf^ abmit so ruin-
ous and disastrous an event.
And whereas, after all the troubles and apparent dissensions of the past,
the result of misunderstanding among themselves they have, as somi as
the evil agencies referred to al)ove were removed, become as anitcil and
friendly as ever : therefore, as a means to strengthen this union and fricinl
ly feeling among all classes we deem it ex[)edient and advisal)le :
That the Lieutenant-Governor who may be appointed for the Provinic
of Assiniboia should be familiar with both the French and F'nglish lan-
guages.
18th. That the .Judges of the Superior Court speak the English and
French languages.
10th. That all debts contracted by the Provisional (iovernment of the
Territory of the North-West, now called .-Vssiniboia. in consecpience of the
illegal and inconsiderate measures adopted by Canadian officials to brin^
about a civil war in our midst, be paid out of the Dominion Treasiu'y, and
that none of the mendiers of the Provisional (iovernment oi- any of those
acting under them bi' in any way held liable or responsible with regard to
the movement, or any of the actions which led to the present negotiations.
2()th. That in view of the present exceptional position of Assiniboia
duties upon goods imported into the pi'ovince shall, except in the case of
spirituous li(piors. continue as at present for at least three years from the
date of our entering the Confederation, and for such further time as may
elai)se. initil there l)e uninterrupted railroad conuinnncation between
Winni])eg and St. Paul, and also steam conuinuiication between Winnipeg
and Lake Superior.
The delegates, having taken their departure, for Ottawa,
the council of the Provisional (lovernnient ended their tir.st
session on the 2()th March, and adjourned until the •2(itli
April, and the following- were some of the principal resolu-
tions adopted :
Ist. That we, the people of Assiniboia, without disregard to the Crown
of England, under whose authority we live, have deemed it necessary for
the jirotection of life and property, and the securing of those rights and
THK I'KOV'SIONAI. OOVEUXMEN'T.
470
jilu tif .\>siiii-
leir iiiti'iT>ts.
r jiolitical ii'.iil
(t \tvw^ tluui
iiiiuli-' l)y <l*'
iiljdut so ruiu-
jH of the piist,
,vc, as soon as
ail anitotl ami
ion ii-.'-A fritiiil-
ablu :
ir tho Viovinii'
id Kny;li«l> Ian
le English ami
L-rnment of the
\su(iuencf of the
iitticials to hriim
11 Treasnry, ami
or any of thosf
^. with ri'^artl to
(ut negotiations.
m of Assiniboia
.t in the case of
years from the
lier time as may
ication between
tween Winnipei;
I'oi- OttaAva,
led their tirst
Intil the iOtli
ucipal resoUi-
Ivrd to the Crown
it necessary f"r
those rights aii<l
l)rivileges wliich we are entitled to enjo'' as Britisli subjocts. and which
rights and privileges we have seen in danger, to form a Provisional (lov-
ernment, which is the only acting anthority in this eonntry ; and we do
hereby ordain and establish the following constitution : —
2nd. That the country hitlierto known as Riipeit's Land and the North
West, be hencefoj'th known and styleil " Assiniboia."
3r<l. That oiir !iHsend)ly of reprt'sentatives be hcucefortli styled " Tin?
Legislative Assenilily of Assiniboia."
4th. 'I'hat all legislative anthority be vested in a President and Legis-
lative Assend)ly, composed of mend)ers elected by tlic people ; and that
at any future time another house called a Henati- sliall br established, when
deemed necess-iry, by tlu' Pre-ident and the Legislature.
5th. That the only (pialitication necessary for a meml)er of the Legisla-
tive Assend)ly be, that he shall have attained the age of twenty-three
years : that he shall have been a resident of Assiniboia for a term of at
least live j'ears : that he shall be a householder, and havi' ratable pro-
perty to the amount of t20() sterling, and that, if an alien, he shall hav(>
tirst taken tlie oatli of alli'giance.
Kiel then took the following- oath a.s Pi'esideiit : — " I, I^ouis
Kiel, do hereby .solciiiidv swear that 1 will iaitht'idlv i'ldtil, to
the be.st of my ability, my duties as Presiileiit of the Provis-
ional Govei'iiment, proclaimed on the 24th Novendjcr. LSdi),
and also all the duties which may become connected with thii
office of President of the Provisional Government of Assini-
boia, as they may hereafter be defined by the vt)ice of the
people."
The effect of closing' the stores of the Hudson's Hay Com-
pany at Fort (larry was now beino' felt by the whole settle-
ment, and business was more or less paralyzed by it. There
was little money in circulation, and only a limited market for
the produce of the settlers, who were nuich inconvenienced by
the general stagnation of affairs. Neo()tiiitions were there-
ft)re opened for a resumption of business by the company,
and the following letter was addressed by Riel to (Jovernor
Mactavish : —
ill!
I'll
m
i i\
480
HISTORY OF rilK NOirPH-WKST.
fJ^
S' I
i I
f;i^
^w
To Willi.Mii INInctavisli, (iovenmr of tliu Hiulson's Bfiy Company in ilic
North-West : —
Sir — In referuncc to our intcrvit'ws rc^ardiiig tliu jiffairK of tliu Tliid-
son's I'ay (^mipany in tliis country, 1 liave the lionor to assure you tliat
my great desire is to opiMi, as soon as |)ossil)le, in the interests of tlie [luo-
plo, free ami undisturbed, tlie connuerei: of thi country.
The people, in rallying themselves to the Provisional (Jovernment witli
unanimity, ]irescril»e to each of us our res])ective conduct.
The I'rovisional (iovernnieut, established upon the principle of justice
and reason, will fuilil its work.
By the action of the Hudson's Bay ('.mipaiiy, its commercial interests
may besived to a certain extent, but tint is entirely for your considera
tion, ami de]ieiids upon the eom]>any itself. 1 have had the honor to tell
you that arrangements were jxissible, and tlie following ai'o the con-
ditions : —
1st. That the whole of the com])any in the Noith-West shall recognize
the Provisional (Jovernment.
'2ui\. That you, in tiie nauu' of the Hudson's Bay Company, do agree
to loan the Provisional (}o\ernnu;iit the sum of -three thou.saml pounds
sterling.
.'{rd. 'I'hat o i demand, i)y the I'rovisional (Jovernment, in case arrange-
ments with Canada should be oppo.seil, you do guarantee a supplement of
two thousand j)ounds sterling to tlie al)ove-mentioned sum.
4th. That there shall be granted i)y the Hudson's Bay Company, tor
the support of the pi'esent military force, goods and provisions to the value
of four thousand pounds sterling, at current prices.
5th. 'I'hat the Hudson's B.iy Company do inunediately put into circu-
lation their bills.
(ith. That the Provisional <iovermnont shall also retain an additioiml
si)ecitied (piantity of goods in the store of the Hudson's Bay Com{)any.
In accepting the above condition?, the Hudson's Bay Company will bo
allowed to rosunij its business under the protection of the Pro\is;on;d
Government.
Fort Ciarry will be open ; but, in the meanwhile, it being the seat of
government, a small guard of fifty men will be retained.
Only the buildings at present occupied by the govenunent will be re-
served for government purposes.
Such, Sir, are the conditions which the situation imposes upon us.
I have a <lnty to jterform from which I shall not retreat. I am aware
that you fully possess the knowledge of your duty, and I tru.st that your
decision will be favorable.
Allow me here to express my deep feeling of .sympathy for you in your
!;l
Tin: I'lioVlsKiN.M, (i()Vi:i!NMi;\T.
481
ipany in the
iliiill I'fcnj^iiize
continued illness, and to sincerely trust that your health may he speedily
restored.
I havi' the honor to he, Sir,
\'our most ohedient servant.
Loi IS RiKi,.
, I'rrsi'li itf,
(Jovernnient House, Fort (larry,
March 28th, 1H7<).
All ao-n'fiiH'ut was arrixcil at on the 21x1 A|iri'., lictwccii
{ Jovernor Mactavisli and liicl.aiid ti.'i'iiis aorccd upon Ity wliicli
tlu' keys of tlie several warehouses in Foi't (!arry weir iiaiid-
ed over to the eoiiipaiiy, v* ho, howevn-, only opened their
stores for business on the 27tli, as it re(|uireil the intermediate
time to i-eoiilate their aii'airs aftei- the shock thev lia<l sustain-
ed. On the 9th April, the comjiany granted hills (d' exchaiioe
on J^oiidon. l)ut the supply of notes foi' the purposes of enr-
rency beino- small, they afterwards issued a nuinl)er, printed
on a very infei'ior ([Uality of paper, the followino' heino' th<'
wordino- : —
N(
One Pound Sterlin<'.
N<
)ut into eircu-
for you in your
On demand, I promise to i)ay the hearer, at Fort (Jarry, the sum ot'
One Pound Sterlinif, in a liill of Fxchanye on tlu' Hudson's l'.ay Com-
pany, London.
Dated at Fort (Jarry, this (hiy of 1870.
.1. H. MAtTAVlSII.
For Hudson's Bay Company.
Thus liusiness afi'airs in the settlement heoan to move more
satisfactorily than they had done for many months, and, with
the exception of a few unimportant incidents, the feelino-
amono- the peo})le oenerally (juieted down.
Early in April, Kiel had issued, in printed foi-m, the follow-
ing- proclamations.
r i
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II
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ill'
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482
HISI'OKY OF Tin: X(»llTII-\VKST.
(>(l\ KUNMKNT HorsK,
FoKT Gakky, A.\m\ 7tli, ISTO.
To till.' iiili!il)it!viits of tlif Nnrtii ami tlio Nortli-Wcst.
Fi;r,i.t>\v-('()i NTUYMKN— VdU all' awiiro, ddubtless, Imtli of tlit- Hciii's nf
events wliicli liavo taken place at Heil IJiver. and hoconie aeeoniplislieil
facts, and of the causes wliidi lia\e ln'ougiit tlieni ahour.
Von know liow we stoitped and I'ondiicted V)ack to tlie fi'ontiei' a (lnvei-
nor whom Ciinmlii— an Englisli colony like ourselves -iiinorini^ our aspi-
rations, ;vnd our existence as a iieojile, fornettinjf the rii^hts of nations,
and our rights as British sultjects — sought to impose upon us withoui
consulting ore\en notifying us.
Vol! know also, that having been abandoned by our own goverinueiit,
■which had sold its title to this country, we saw the necessity of meeting
in council and recognizing the authority of a Provisional (Jovernmeut.
whicli was proclaimeil on the 8th December, 18(j!(.
After many ditliculties raised against it by the )iartisans if Canada, and
the Hudson's Bay Company, this Provisional (iovernment is to-day master
of the situation- l)ecause the whole peojjle of the colony have felt the
necessity of miion and I'oncord— l)ecaiise we have always professed our
nationality as Uritisli subjects, and liecause our army, thiugh small, has
always sutticed to hold high ihe noble standard of libei'ty and of coinitiy.
Not only has the Provisional (iovernment succeeded in restoring order
and }>acifying the country, l)ut it has inaugurated very advantageous
negotiations with the Canadian (Jovernment, and with the Hudson's Bay
Comjiany. Vou will l>e duly informed of the results of these negotia-
tions.
People of the North and of the North-West I You have not been strang-
ers either to the cause for which we have fought or to our attections. Dis-
tance not indifl'ei'cnce has sejiarattMl us.
Your brethren at Ked River, in working out the mission which (iod
assigned them, feel that they are not acting for themselves alone, and
that if their position has given them the glory of triuni])h, the victory
will be valued only in so far as you share their joy and their liberty.
The winning <if their rights will possess value in their eyes only if you
claim tln)se rights with them.
\^e possess to-day, without ])artition, almost the half of a continent.
The expulsion or ainuhilation of tlie invaders has rendered our land natal
to its children scattered throughout this vast and rich countrj', but
vmited to a man — what matters distance to lis since we are all brethren.
and are acting for the common good I
Ileeognizeil by all classes of the people, the government reposes upon
the good will and union of the inhabitants.
rilK l'i:()\ISl(»NAL (iOVKKNMKXT.
483
,ril 7tl<, 1H70.
Its duty ill (itticifilly iiifni'iiiing you of tho political clmiiyos t'tlfcttMl
aniong us, in to reassure you f(U' the future. Its hope is th.it tln' people
of the North will show themselves worthy of their hrethreii in Red
River.
Still the government ft^-irs that from a niisapprt'hension of its views,
the peo])le of the North and of the North-West, intiueiieed by i-vil-in-
tenticjued strangers iniy commit excesses litted to compromise the jtuhlic
safety. Hence it is that the I'resideut of the Provisional (iovernment
deems it his duty to lU'ge upon all tliose who desiri' the jtublic gond, and
the jirosperity of their country, to make the fact kuuwnand luiderstood liy
all thosi! half-l>reeds or Indians who mii^ht wish to take advantngi' of this
so-called time of disorder to foment trouble, that the true state of pid)lic
ati'airs is order and peace.
The government established on justice and reason will never permit
dis'irder, and those wlm ;u'i' guilty of it shall not go iiMpui'ished. It
must not be that h few mischievous individuals should compr(unise the
interests of the whole pi'ople.
People of the North and of the North-West I This me.ssagi' is a mes-
sage of peace. War has long enough threatened the colony. Ii(»ng
enough have we been in arms to protect the country and restore order,
di.sturbed by evil-doers and scoundrels
Our country, so happily surroinided by Providence with natural and
almost insui»erable barriers, invites us to unite.
After the crisis through which we have passed, all feel more than evei'
that they seek the same interests — that they as|>ire to the same rights —
that they are meud)ei's of the same fannly.
We hope that you also will feel the need of rallying round the Provis-
ional (iovernment to support and sustain it in its work.
Hy order of the President,
Loiis ScHMinr,
Asst. Sec 1/ of lititti'.
The above proclanuition was widely cirt'tiUited aiuon^ the
half-breed trader.s and Inuiter.s, and Indian tribes thronohout
the interior, and on the !>th. Kiel issued the following to the
people of Red KivM-: —
reposes upon
PROCLAMATION.
TO THE PEOPLK OK THE NORTH-WEST.
Let the Assembly of twenty-eight representatives, which met on the
IHli March, be dear to the people of Red River ! That assembly has
1 '.'■
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484
HISTOUV <»!• TIIK N'OHTH-AVEST.
shown itself woitliy <>f greiit contidfiici'. It 1i;ik worked in union. Tlir
members devoted tliemselveH to tlu' public interests, and yielded only t..
sentiments of good-will, duty and generosity. Thanks to that nolile eon-
duct, piddic autliority is now strong. 'I'hat strength will be empjoyi'd to
sustain and protect the people of the country.
To-day the Government ])aidons all those whom political ditl'erenci's liil
astray only fr)ra time, .\mnesty will be generously ai'corded to all thisi.'
who will submit to the (Jovtn'nment : who will discountenance or infonu
against dangerous gatherings.
From this day forth, the public highways are open.
The Hudson's Hay Company can now resume liusiness. Themselves
contributing to the public good, tiiey circulate their money as ot old.
They pledge themselves to that course.
The attention of the («o\ernment is also directed very specially to the
northern [)art of the country, in order that trade there may not receive
any .serious check, and peace in the Indian districts may thereby lie all
tlie more securely maintained.
The disastrous war. which at one time threateneil us. has left among us
fears and various deplorable results. But let the i)eople feel reassureil.
Elevated by the grace of Providence, and the suffrages of my fellow-
citi/.ens to the highest position in the government of my countrj'. 1 \)\'>-
claim that peace reigns in our midst this (hiy. 'I'lu' (loverinnent will takr
every precaution to prevent this peace from being disturbed.
Whih' internally nil is thus returning to order, externally also mattiis
are looking favoral)le. Can'ida invites the Red River })eople to an amic-
able arrangement. She oti'ers to guarantee us our rights, and to give us
a place in the Confederation ecpial to that of any other province.
Identified with the Provisional (iovernnient, oiu' national will, basid
ujjon justice, shall Vje respected.
Hapi)y eounti'y, to have e.sca|ied mau}- misfortunes that were prepared
for her I In seeing lier children on the point of war, she recollects the
old friendships which used to bind them, and by the ties of the same
[tatriotism. she has re-united them again foi' the sake of preserving their
lives, their liberties, and their happiness.
Let us remain united, and we shall be happy. With strength of unity
we shall retain prosjjerity.
(> my fellow-countrymen, without ilistinction of hmguage, or without
distinction of creed — keep my words in your heart I If ever the time
should unhappily come, when another division should take place amongst
us, such as foreigners heretofore sought to create, that will be the signal
for all the disasters which we have had the hap])ine.ss to avoid.
In order to prevent similar calamities, the (Government will treat witli
all the severity of the law those who will dare again to compromi.se the
11
I'lii: i'U(»\ isiuNAi, i;(»\ i:i{.\Mi:Nr,
485
•ncth of unity
j)iil)lic weciirity. It is rotidy tn iirt .'i^'iiiiist tlif disunlor of piU'tii's, iis
well as (vy.iinst thiit nf individiialH. Hut let us hdpe rather tlmt extreme
meiiHures will be uiikiinwn, and tliat the lessons of tlie past will ;4uide
lis in the future.
Loi IS IllKI,.
OovernnuMit House,
Fort (Jarry, April '.•tli. 1«7<».
On the 2()tli April. Hii'l oi'deriMl tlic rnioii Jack to he hul.st-
v(\ at Fort (Jarry in ))]a('(' of the eiiihlfin of the Provisional
(lovennnent. When Coniinis.sioner Sniitli addrew.stMJ the mass
meeting on tlie U)th .Fanuary. one of tiic first thing.s he called
attention to was the floatino' of tlie ihio- (p^'lciu-ilc-lis ami
Shamrock) over liis head, and asked that it Im- taken down.
'I'liere was strenuous objection at the time l»y Kiel and his fol-
lowers, and not wishino- to cause any interruj)tion to the meet-
ing, the Commissioner sinqtly entered hi^ protest. I>ut a
change iiad now come over the spii-it of the President, and
no douht tliinking that his loyalty should be made appai'cnt
to the eyes of the peoj)le, lu- had the Ih'itish Ihig hoisted.
O'Donohue however and a few of his inunediate followei's
hauled <lown the Union Jack, and ran up the Fleur-de-lis
and Shamrock in its stead. This caused a row between the
two leaders, the result l)eing, that Kiel won the day, and then
as if to please O'Donoliue, he sent and hail the pole taken from
Schultz's premi.scs, and erected in front of <!overnmeut house,
and there the Provisional Hag was displayed while the British
emblem floated from the centiv stafl'of Foi't ( !arry.
The second .session of the Provisional ( !o\ finment eiuled on
the 9th May, after i)assino- a numbei- of laws, a synop.sis of
which will be found in the Appendix to this volume.
On the 17th Mav, the steamboat InfermitiDunl .started on
her second trip up the Red River, ami on l)oard were Gov-
ernor Mactavish and his familv, on theii- wav to Fnoland, in
Pi
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HISTOHY OK Tin: NOUTH-WKST.
i; I
the liojH! that his licjilth iiii^ht Im' roHtoriMl by m cliaiinc of
cliniatc!. A iiuniltcr of j)('()j)le went to tlu' landiiii;, to .sirtlicm
off, ami a short time before the hour of .startiii^i' the (J(nt'ni()r
drove down to the bank of the river, and there aliiihted, bein"'
aHsi.sted l)y Mr. Harjj^rave, his Secretary, and Mr. .1. H. Mc-
Tavinh, the accountant of the Fort. All were .sjioeked at the
feeble appearance of the ^ood old man, reduced as he was
almost to a skeleton. Kestin^- on his walking; stick, he totter-
ed slo.vly toward the .steamer, every now and again casting
his eyes around as if bidding farewell to the scenes of so many
yeai's of labor. All were dee[)ly touched at the sight, and it was
not many days until they were called upon to mourn his loss,
for (Jovernor !Mactavish oidy lived two days after his arrival
in Liverpool.
On tile 1 7th June, Kev. Mr. Richot, one of the delegates
from Ottawa, arrived at Fort (Jarry, and on the 24th met a
special sessi(jn of the Legislative Asseudily of the Provisional
Government, and on presenting the Manitoba Act, as passed by
the Parliament of Canada, it was formally acce])ted by the re-
presentatives on behalf of the people of Red River.
\':s
i
CHAITKH XXXI.
jlJ!
HKPOHT OK SI'KCiAL < '( >.MMISS|oNKI{ SMITH.
Oil the 8tli July, Mr. Alfiv.! II. Scott retunifd to the settlo-
nuMit, liut no notice was taken of liis ari'ival, fui'tlicr than a
sliort ])ara<;Taj)h in the Aciv i\nfion, announcing the fact.
.Iu<l;^<' IMack did not return to Heij River, and Dr. Cowan, wlio
was tlie H. I>. otHcer in diarp' oil F(jrt (Jarrv during- tlie
troubh'H, took hi.s departure for Scotland, on the 81st of May,
\ia York Factory.
Matters now pro<jjresse(l without e.xcitement, and the French
lialf-hreed.s returnin<;' to their honies and usual avocations,
Riel and a few of his immediate followers were left almost
alone at Fort (larrv.
( )n the 2()th .Inly, Cai)tain Butler arrlveil in the settlement,
being- the bearer (jf the followinj:^ Proclamation, the printing
and circulation of which was superintended l)y Riel :—
To THE Loyal iNHABrrANTs of Manitoba :—
Hei' Majesty's Government, having deterniined ujmn stationing some
tiuops amongst you, I have been inHtructeil l)y the Lieutenant-General
cdunnantling in British North America, to proceed to Fort Garry with the
force under my command.
Our mission i.s one of jteace, and the sole object of the ex))edition is to
secure Her Majesty's Sovereign authority.
Courts of Law, such xs are connnon to every portion of Her Majesty's
Emi»ire, will be duly established and justice will be impartially adminis-
tered to all races and to all classes— the loyal Indians or half-breeds being
as dear to our Queen as any others of Her loyal subjects.
{
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ursTOHY <»r Tin: n'ohtii-wkst.
Tlic fiMcu which I hiivu the ImiKir of c'uiMiiiiiinliiiK will I'litor \i>uv pii.
viiifi', ri!|iri'Bt'iitiiiK no party, cither in ri'li;,'inn nr pnliticH. imd will (ifjMnl
fi|iial pnitfcl ion to tin' Hvch and inupcrty of all ract's and of all I'l'co.dN.
Tin' strictest ordi'f and <liscipliiic w ill lie maintained, ami private pin.
perty will lie carefully rcHpected. All supplies furniHlied l>y the ndiahit
imtH to thi" troops. hIII he duly paid for. Shoidd imy oin- consider him
golf injured by any imlividual attached to tho force, his t,'ricvances >hali
lie pronijitly impiired into.
.Ml loyal jpeopli' lire oarncHtly invited to aid me in carrying out tin
altovi' mentioned olijects.
K. .1. WolSKI.KV.
Vohinel C'ciiniKiiiilinii H<tl Hln-r Fnn; .
Lientt'naiit-( Jciicnil Liiulsav, howcxer, wislu'd to aUff the
above, hut liis hitter diil not arriNc till at'ti'i- the docuineiit was
is«ue<l. The t'ollowiuy; iw the (ieiierals letter on tlie Hul)jeet.
(,'r.irroN IIoisk. ri.ii-TON.
July 11th, ls7t(.
Mv liOnn -Colonel WolHeley, connnandiny ihe e.xpeditionary force < n
rtiulf to Fort (Jarry, has tran.smitted to you a Military l*roclaniati"n ad
dresHt'd to the iidiabitants of Manitoba, which will be forwarde 1 to you via
Winnipeg.
t have the honor to request that before i.ssuing it you will lia\i' the
goodness to erase the itaragrajih in which the F]nglish translation com-
mences with the words, "Coiu'ts of Law," and terminates with those of
" Hei' loyal subjects." — legal atliiirs being altogether within the functions
of the civil iUitlioritie.s.
T have tlie honor to be.
Your liordshiji's oiiedient servant,
.Tas. LiNIISAV,
Lii'Hti iinnt-Oi III nil
Cotnniniiiliiiij H.M, Fmrex In lirifixlt NorHi Anniic'i.
UitiicT Rkv. Hisnof Tachk,
Fort (larry.
The issiiinjT^ of the I'roclaiiintion by Kiel, was done, it a) -
pears, witliout consulting- Mr. \V. H. O'Donohue. whose Feniaii-
American proclivities were not in sympathy with the iieai
approach of British rule in the country, so he indited tlie fol-
lowing" characteristic letter to the New Nation : —
iiKi'oifi" OK si'i:<i.'i, <(»MMissi(»Ni;n smith.
480
Hilitiir Xi'ir Niiliiiii ; —
Sin Hiiviii^; iintirt'il tlm t iaiii|iiillity uf iitriiiis ciiiiMiili'mlily iliMturl)L'il
for till' piiHt twii <liiys, wiMild it lie lunisN ti> t'ii(|niic' intu tlm riiiiso W'l-
hiivo riMiiaikt'il. iiniiu'iliHtoly iifti'r tlii' liiiidinn uf tho luhnittinunl
(steaiiiei) uiMids tlviiiH; i" "11 ilirortionH, uiid tniiiul out, i>n I'lupiiry, tlmt
MDMif niyrttuiioiiH iii'i'Hoii (('a|)ttiiii Hiitlur), a iniSHOiif^or tliciruii. Imd madiii
li'!i|i fidiii the ttoat as slic tiinu'd tlu' |Mpiiit to I'litcr tlif As.siiiilioi.i. N<i\\,
wild can tliiM linld, dariii;^ adxi'iitiiii'i' l)i' '. Aru wi; always tn lit.' di.sturliud
by ft>rt'i<j;ui'i'H uiakiiiK thoir way into tliiM country in dis'^iiisi'.
Au'aiii. tlii'^ iimrninu' tlu- euriosity of tho piiUlii' was arousod liy a Pro-
(.•laniatinn siii(|)cisi'd to lie from CnloMid \\'iilsi'lt'\ , tot'ic '• Inyal inlial)it-
ants of ManitoUa," tlio issuing; of wliidi frnm yonr ntliiT tliis nimnin^j;,
explains the euriosity we hid ahmil ymir othci- liein;,' li'^hted up all lust
niyht, and the (H'eHoncu of I'residi'nt Kiel there, .superintending tho w>iil<.
Many people seem to douht the authentieity of this I'roelauiation and
want to know if oertitied to liy any person, hnt this is impossihle. as it
eaine hy mail. \N i' are afraid the whole tluML! is anotlier ('olonel Duunis
affair.
I 'lease answer the (pieries .ind ohliu'e the puhlie.
Vours,
A Si use It Hi Kit.
Tilt' f(illt)\viiio- noto to tilt! rditor w.is attaclit'il to the aliovn
iloeunicnt: "As yoii have not iTiniii-i'il coiTt-.sjtondcMits' names,
it is not necessary to have the wi'iter's; let the President eouie
out with the explanation.
\
ours.
O'D."
This \V!is about the last attempt made by W. H. ()'l)onohue
to stir u}) trouble in the settlement durintf the days of tlie
Provisional ( Jovernment.
And now, as a tittinj;- termination of this period in the His-
tory of the North-West, we will ask our readers to carefullv
peruse the following able and faithful report of Special Com-
missioner Smith, which will give them a much clearer idea
than anything we could write of the difficulties he had to en-
counter in bringing about the accomplishment of his most im-
iliit:
!l
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490
lltSToltV up TIIK N'oHTII-WKHT.
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Nil
portiiiit iiMMsioii. til)' N(ic(;('SHi'ul i'ultiliiiriit oi' \vliii>li .sfciirnl
the tniiiMrt-r (»f tln' Noi-tli-Wt'st to ( 'iimula, not only witliimi
ltl(»()(|.sln'<|. I)ut also with the eoncuiTcnce and IVieiullv IVi'linuM
of till' Wllolf |MM»|l|f.
"Ottawa, I2tli Apiil, I.S70
"The lion. .Im.si'|iIi Howe: —
" Sfcrctiirv III' State for the Pi'oviiiecH,
" ( )tta\vn.
"Sii! ill pui'suaiKM' of tlif coiiiniiHsioii conlitli'd to iiir liy
Hi.s Kxi'i'llciiey the (lovcriior (it'iici'al, in rflatioii to tlic fitDiifs
of tilt' Nortli-Wt'st Territorit's, I addressed you from time ti>
time duriiiu' iii\- i-esideiu-e within l''ort (lairwa eoireHpondencr
carried on under scry unl'nxoiMlile cii'duiistiinees. as will ;i|)-
poar fi'oiii the rejiort I Iuinc now the honor to siihmit.
" Leavine- ( )tt!iwa on the IMtli l)eceml»er last, I reached St.
Cloud, the terminus of railway cfimmunication, on the I7tli.
contiuuinn' on the same day l»y stae'e, and ai'ri\ iii^' at Alpei-
crond)io on the evening' of the l!>tli. Here we had to ahandoii
wheeled carriages, and procm'in*; a .slei^di. after a couple of
hours rest, wt> resumed the Journey, and on the afternoon of
the 21st met Hon. Mr. McDoui^a'l and party, about thiity
miles beyond (»eor;.;et()wn. Fi'on> him I learned how serious
tlie aspect of affairs had latterly become at Red River: and
pushing on, we y,()t to Pembina about ] I p.m. of the 24tli.
and to Fort (Jarry on the 27th.
"The j>'ateof the fort we found open, but i>uarded by several
armed men who, on my desiring to be .shown to Governor
Mactavish's house, retjuested me to wait till they could com-
municate with their chief. In a short time Mr. Louis Kiel
appeared. I announced my name : he said he had heard of
ni}' arrival at Pendjina, and was about to send oft' a party to
I '
KKI'nKT <iK sl'l-f lAI. cnMMISSInNKH SMITH.
40t
lii'iii;^ nil- ill. I tlii'ii M('('iiiii|)iiiii*'<l liiiii to n rodiii occupirtl l>y
tell i»r a ilo/.rii iiicii, wliMiii lie iMti'oilu(')'(| to iiif MS iiiciiilicrM of
tlic "Provisional ( lnvcniinciit Mr rt'<|Ui'Ht«'il tn kimw tlio
|tiir|toit i»r my visit, to wliitli I n'|.lifil in sulistancr, tliut I
was coniH'ctcil witli tlif lliitlson's Ma\' ( '<»iiii)an\', Itiit also held
u coMiiiiission i'roni tlif ('anmliaii ( lovrrnini-nt to tlii> |M'o]ii*' of
|{»'<| |{i\t'r. Mini \V(Mil(| lu' |ii't'|)ai<'(| to slmw my crt'tlfntials so
soon as tiify, Ilif |h'(i|»|i', witc willing;' to irftivc me. I was
tlicn ask('«l to take an oath not to Mttt'iii|it to leave tlie fort
tiiat ni^ht, nor to upset tlh'ii' ^<»veiiinient, legally estMliiislied,
Tliis re(jUeHt I peremptorily reFuse(| t(» coinply with, Imt said
that, ht'in;^' \ery tin-d, I had no desire to n<, uiitside the i;ato
thMt ni;^ht, and promiscMl to take no immeiliate ste])s t'ojcihly
to upset the so-ealled "Provisional ( loveninieiit. " leoal or
ille<fMl. as it mi<;ht he, without first aiHKMinciiiu my intention
to <lo so," Mr. Kiel takin;;' exception to the woi-d illeual. while
1 insiste<l on retaining;' it. Mr. O'honohue. to ^et over tlio
ditiieulty, remarked : ' That is as he," (ineaninu- my.self,) " un-
• lerstandH it," to which I replied, " Precisely so, " The aKovo
explanation 1 am tiie more particular in j^ivinn, as it has hecn
reported that I at once acknowlcd<;od the Provi.sional (Jovern-
incnt to be le^'al. Neithor then nor afterwards did I do so.
" I took up my (piarters in one of the houses occupied liy the
Hudson's Bay Company's officers, and from that date until to-
wards the close of Febi'uary, was virtually a prisoner within
the fort, altiiouj^h with permi.ssion to ^o outside the walls, for
exercise, accompanietl l»y two armed <;uar«ls, a privile<»e of
which I never availed myself.
" All my official papei-s l\ad been left in chari^e of Mr. Pro-
vencher, at Pembina, as I had been warned that, if found in
my possession, they would uncpiestionably be seized, as were
il
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492
HISTORY (»!•" THK N()I!TII-\VKST
those lir()u;;-lit into tht- scttlriiifiit sliui'tly artfi' by the \<i\\
Mr. Tliilmult fiiid ("oloiiel dv Sulaljt'iTV.
" The state of niattL'i's at tlii.s time, in ami aiouii<l I'^oil ( Jai r\',
was most unsatisractoiy. and truly Inmii Matin;;-. Tpwards of
sixty lii'itisli subjects Wfi'c held in close eontinenient as " ])()li-
tieal ))i'isoners : " secui'ity tor persons or })i"oj)erty, there was
none: the I'ort. with its larnt- su|)])Hes ol" ainmunition. ]ii(-
visions. and stores of all kinds, was in tlie possession of a few
hundre<l French half-hi-ceds, whose leadei's had (h'clai'ed their
determination to use eveiy etlort for the jjurpose of ainiexiuL;
the Territoi'V to the ("nitetl States: and the ( !o\ernoi' anil
Council tA' Assinihoia were powerless to enforce the law.
"On the (ith .lanuary. 1 .saw .Mr. j-viel. and soon came to tin'
conclusion that no ;j;ood coidd arise fi'om entei'inn' into anv
nej^otiations with his ■('ouncil," even wen; we to admit their
autliority, which 1 was not prepared to do. We learnt that
on tlie i:?th. the ( Jrand-\'icar Thihaidt and Colonel de Sala-
herry appeared before the "President and Council of the
People," when .some explanations ajid compliments were e.\~
chauu'ed, after which the Very Rev. ijentleman and his a.ssoci-
ate were politely bowed out and lest sijjht of.
" Meantime we had fre(pient visits in the Fort from .some ol'
the most iiiHuential and n\ost reliable men in the settlement,
who o'ladly made known to the peo])le oeuerally the liberal
intentions of the Canadian (lovernment, and, in conse(pience,
one after another of Kiel's councillors seceded from him, and
bein^- joined by their friends, and by many of their compariots
and co-reli^ionists, who had throughout held aloof from the
insurgents, they determined no longer to submit to his dicta-
tion. This change evidently liad a marked effect on Kiel,
causinij^ him to alter his tactics and to profess a desire for an
IU:i'(»|{T ol' SI'KCIAI, coMMlSSloNi;!} SMITH.
4!)8
Hcconiiiiodatioii with Cuiiaila ; acconliiiijh', on the 14tli Janu-
ary, he calle<l on me, infoniieil luc that hv had seen Mt'ssrs.
Thil>aiilt aii<l Dc Sahihcirv, whcjse instructinns did not authoi-
v/M thcni to <;ive assurances that the people wouM he secured
in ]i()ssession ol' their rie-lits on eiitei-iuLi' into the C'oni'eilera-
tion. tlieir errand heinii' nierelv to cahn tlie I'^reiich halt'-
l)reeds. He then aske<l to see my ( 'onniiission, and on my
explaininu' that, owini;- entirely to tlie action taken hy him-
self, it was not in my ])os.sessi(jn, in an excited, yet falter-
ing' manner he said, ^'es J know, 'tis a ^reat pity, hut how
soon could you have it '' " I'rohahlv in five oi' six da\'s.' 1
I'eplied. ' That is too lon^'. far too ionii'. '"' resp()nd<'(l, and
the'.i ii.v.ked where the ilocunieiits were ilep(jsited, i'e(|uestini;'
at the same time, a written (jriler i'(n' their <lelivery to his
messenger. To this I wnuld not acce<le. hut on his a.ssurii'n'
me that they woulil hi' delivered into my hands, and that I
shoulfl l)e afi'onled an (jpj)ortunity of eonnnunicating their
contents to the people, I consented to .send a fi'iend for them.
It was so decided, and imniediatelv aftei' the messenifer had
received his instructions fi'om me, I was placed under strict
arrest, a captain's guard being assigned me, whose instruc-
tions were, not to lose sight of me for (^ne moment day or
night, and to j>revent me frtMU connuuuicating either veibally
or in writiui!" with any individual. I ])r(jtested, sayin<r, 'Am
1 to consider myself a prisoner \ ' He replied, 'Oertainly not,
I have the iitmost confidence in yoin' honor, Init oircunistanees
denuind this.'
"It was now about 10 o'clock and \\\\ messene-er havinir
l)een marched out, I retired to bed, but only to oe awakened
tw'ixt tw.o and three o'clock in the moi'uing of the loth, by
Mr. Kiel, who, with a guard, stojd by the Itedside and again
E£
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494
IIISTOHV OF Tin; N(»l{TH-\Vi;.ST.
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demanded a written oi'dei- For the <lelivery of my OtHcial
Papei's, wliicli I Mf^ain jx'i-emptorily refused to give.
" Tlie well-atlected Fi'eneli ))arty became aware of what had
hap[)ened, and, not helievinii' in Kiel's o-ood faith, deterii'in.il
to prevent the pa[)erH trom fallino- into his hands. They ;;ut
too'ether some sixty or eighty men, wiio met my friend on his
way l)ack and were escorting him, when on the iSth, ahonf
ten miles from the Fort, they were accosted by Kiel and sonif
of his party, and by the Kev. Mr. Kitchot. An altercation
took phiee, Kiel attempted to use his [)istol, saying, ' Ii.-
woidd not b(; taken alive in his own country," on which a re-
volver was levelleil at his head, and Mr. Hielutt, having intcr-
po.sed, he was uiieeremoniously told to stand aside and 'not to
interfere any further with matters uneonneeted with his
s[)iritua] duties." It may Ix' well to note that all those wliu
took ])art in this att'air wei'e Catholics, and, with one or two
exceptions, P"'rench half-breecls. Nothing more serious haji-
pened at this time, ami the |)arty ])roceeded together to Fort
(Jarry, where tliey arrived in the forenoon. A few ndnutts
before they entered the house, the \'eiy Kew Mr. 'i'hibault,
Pere Lestanc and Colonel l)e Salalieny, called upon me and,
with the exception of my guard, they were the first indi-
viduals with whom I was {)ermitted to converse since the
14th. I'hey a[)peared to be nuich concerned, and said it was
currently reported I had been endeavoring to incite the dif-
ferent parties to hostile collisions. I repudiated any sucli
charge, explaining that 1 had acted only in the cause of peace
and order, an<l with the desire of making the people, both
P"'rench and Fnglish, fully accpiainted with the liberal views of
the Canadian Government, so that a peaceful transfer of tl;e
territory might be effected, adding that I was pleased to thii k
ii t t
i!i:i'<»i!'!' OF sin:<'iAL (•<».m.missi()m:i'. smith.
405
leiul on liis
IStli, alxnit,
1 and some
altcvcatidii
lyinir, ' 11.'
whicli a if-
Lvinj4- intcr-
aiul 'not to
(I with liis
1 those whn
one or two
serious ]\:\\>-
thcr to Foit
few niinutts
r. Thibauh.
)()n me aii«l.
lie first intli-
ise since the
I said it was
licite the dif-
4 any such
use of peace
people, both
leral views of
Imsfer of tlif
used to thii k
tliore was now eveiy hkelihood this would sjieedily be acenni-
plisl\ed. In tlie uieantinie. the party in jiossessidu of my
|)apers entei'ed the adjoinine' room, in whieii I'ei'e Lestauc
joine<l them, whih' ^^'.ssrs. Thibault and I )e Salaberry went
outside. Inunediately after they retireil. Mr. Kiel came to me.
savinu' : — ' ^'our Connni.ssion is liere : but in the hands of men
who had no rii^lit to ha\e it." I expressed satisfaction that it
liad been liroue'ht in, and said. bein;j,' now in po.s.session of it, T
must lie relieved from all resti'aint. and l»e permitted freely to
connnrnieate with the people. He at once remo\'eil the euard
and We Went up to the ])arty who had just arrived. Messrs.
\{\v\ and ( )"I)onoe;hue, v.ill, a few of theii' friends, wei-e pres-
ent, and velieuH-nt' \' protested ae'ainst the action now beinn'
taken, while the e.\-conncillors ai-cused them of treason to the
lnn)erial Crown, and of usin-'' evei'v etlbrt to briui:' about the
annexation of tln' country to the rnited States. Kiel rej)lied,
'that was only supposing- the people d(>sii'eil it, Iiut that Im
was willini;' the question should \)v submitted to them." I'ei'(*
Lestauc spoke warmly in favor of the • President," who. he
said, had actt'd so as to merit the e-i-atitude of his cotniti'ynieu,
and beifgecl them still to place contidence in him. 'I'his e\ i-
dently had no effect, and idtimately. after a ;^-ood deal of
recrimination, it was ai'ran;^'e(l that a nieetine' of the iidiaV)it-
ants from all parts of the settlement should be called for tin;
morrow, tlu> l!)th, at which the pajiers bi'arini^' on the sid)ject
should be read, a euard of forty men remainine- in the house.'
to ensure the safe-keepine' of the documents.
" Riels men were now fallinn-away from him, while the lov-
al party expressed their deterinination no longer to lie guided
in the matter eithei- by hiui or by I'ere Lestauc and his associ-
ates. They were full of hope, and confident that the follow-
i? ff'
4!Mi
IIISIOUY OK Tin; .\<»inil-\VKST.
Jili
11'
I';!
!''itl|j' '1 it
I.I
hv^ tlay would liriu^- with it coiiiplctc .succoss to the ciiuse of
Viuiivhi.
" Lutt' that ni^^ht, I'lTo Lcstuuf ])Jii(l thcni auotlier visit,
which was pi-oloni^icd for seveial hours beyond iiiidnii^lit, and
iirxt nn)rnin>;' it was found that a majority of these who liad
s('('('(|r<l from Kiel, wei'e auaiii on fi'iendiv tei-ms with liini.
The hour foi' the meeting' luiviuii' an-ivcd, tij)war<ls of a tliou-
sand |)co|)ie attended, and, dcemiiio- it of nreat inijxjrtunee that
the explanations to he made on hehalf of tl'.e Canadian (lov-
ernment should he faithfully lendered to the Fi'eneh-s})eakinj;-
poi'tion of the settlei's, whose leaders had studiously withheld
from them all knowledn-e of the ti'ue state of matters in eon-
uection with the projiosed ti'ansfcr of the eountiy, 1 request-
ed Colonel l)e Salaberry to act as interpreter, but the Colonel.
<lillident of jus own al)ility as a translator, pro})osed ]\Ir. Kiel
as interpretei', and the latter was appointed accordingly.
"At this meetinii', ami that held tlie fijllowiim" dav, the reail-
iie-' of the Conunission, the (Jueen's Letter, and everv other
document, was contested with mucli obstinacy, Ijut nltimately
carried : and threats were used to myself in the presence and
hearing of the Chairman, of the Secretary, Jiidge Black, and
others, more especially by Mr. Kiel and Rev. Mr. Le.stanc. At
the connnencement of the meeting, 1 re(|ue.sted the Chairman
and tlio.se near him to beyin by insistin^^' that all arms should
l)e laid down, and that the Hag then flying (iknir de lis and
shamrock), should l)e replaced by the British ensign ; this tluy
thought, would come better at an after-stage: but the op})or-
tunity of doing so, now lost, never recurred.
'• As is generally known, the result of the meeting was the
a)>pointment of forty deU'gates, twenty from either side, to
meet on 25th January, ' Witii the object of considering the
REPORT OK Sl'KCIAr. ('((M.MIS. lON'KK SMITH.
4!t7
:m r
! cause <)i
subject of Mr. Smith s ('oimniHsion. and to dt'cidc what would
be Ix'st f(jr the welfare of the country." the Knnlish, as a body,
and a lar^-e nund;!'r of tlie French, declai'ino- their entire satis-
faction with the ex])lanations oivcn, and theii' earnest desire
for union with Canada.
"On the 22nd, Kiel hail several conferences with the well-
affected French within the fort: he was melted even to tears,
told them how earnestly he desire<l an arrangement with
Canada, and assured them that he would lay down his authoi -
itv innnediatelv on the meetinii' of the Convention. 'I'liev be-
lieved him sineeiv, and althouu'h I considered that their euard
in the fort should not be decreased, they held that ten men
would be amply sutHeient to leave while thev went to secure
their elections: the ('oiise(|uence was, that they liad hardly
jr()ne when repressive measui'es were resorted to. and the
Hudson's P)ay Company's stores, which had hitherto l)een only
partially in their hands, were now taken complete po.ssession
of by Kiel.
" Fttbrts were made to have the prisoners released, bnt with-
out effect.
" The delef^^ates met (tn the 25th, and continued in session till
tlie 10th February. On the 2()th, I handed to tlieii' chairman,
Judi;"e I)l;u'k, the documents read at the nieetiny;H of the l!Uh
and 20tli Januarv, and, on the 27th. attende(l the ('oiiNcntion
by appointment. I was received with much cordiality hy all
the delej^ates, explained to them the views <>[' the Canadian
Government, and ^ave assurances that on enterini;' (-onfedei-a-
tion, they would })e secured in the possession of all rieht.,«,
privileges, and innnunities enjoyed by f^ritish sid)jects in otht r
j)arts of the Dominion: but on being' recpiested by Mr. liiel to
give an oi)inion regarding a certain ' List of Hights," prepared
U
4').S
IIISTOHV OF TIIK XOinH-WKST.
'r-l
•5 1 I !',
«i
Ity liiis party in Dccciiilx'r lust, I decliiitMl to do so, tliiiikiii;^' it
bcttt'i' tliat tlx- pn'st'iit ( 'oiivcntioii sliouM placf in my hands n
])fi|)('r Htatin^' their wishes, to wliidi I should ' l)e hii])|)y to </\\r
sueh nsHurances as I helieveil would Ite ii\ aceordance witli the
\iews of tlie Canadian ( Jovennnent." The Convention then sit
about the task of ja'epaiin^ a ' List of Hi<ilits,' endjodyin;,^ thi'
conditions on which thev wotdd he wiUin''' to enter the con-
federation. While the discussion rej^'ardinj;- this list was ^'oin;;
on, Mr. Riel calle<l f)n me, ami aske<l if the ("anadian ( lovern-
nieiit would cons(!nt to receive them as a proxince. My i'e])ly
was, that 1 could not speak with any (le;.;-ree of certainty on thf
Huhjcct, as it had not been referred to when I was at Ottawa,
the intention then l)eini;' that the Xorth-West should, in the
tirst instance, be incor])orated under the Doniiin'on as a terri-
tory; but f added that no doid)t it wotdd become a ])i'ovince
within two oi- three years. On this, Mr. Riel, with much em-
phasis, exclaimed, 'then the Hudson's Hay Company is not
safe yet,' to which I answereil, • Mi'. Kiel, that cannot in-
ikience nie in the slio-htest decree, and 1 am <[uite pre])areil to
act as nuiy be reijuirefl of me in my capacity as Cfinadian
ComniisHioner." This was on the ovcnint;- of the 'hNl of l''cb-
ruary : on the followino- day. the pr()])osition to enter as a
])rovince was negatived by the Convention, and on the .")th.
another motion directed aL-ainst the Hudson's IJay Company,
also failed; the laneuuge used by j\lr. Riel on the latter occa-
sion, having been violent in the extreme. 'I'he same eveninn,
Kiel proceeded to (Jovernoi- Mactavish, who had been dangei'-
ouslv ill for many weeks back, and was then barelv able to sit
uj), placetl a <>uard over him, and heaping reproaches and in-
sult on him, declared that he would have him shot before
midnight. Kiel then sought out Dr. Cowan, the othcer in im-
■ i
II
l!i:i'(il!T 111 SI'KCIAI, COMMISSIONKI! SMIIII.
499
iiH'ilifitt' clmr^v of IJcil Hixii' I )istiict. uplirjiiilcil him for 1 lis
lii'i'sistcnt opposition ti) ' tln' people.' the insui'^ciits, .ukI ile-
clariii;^' that his naiin' woiiiil '^n iluwii witli iiit'aiiiy to jioster-
ity, tor tht; pai't he had taken. deniaiidiMl tliat lie woiihl
inniiediately swear alle;^iaii('e to the l'ru\ isioiial ( ioveninieiit,
or |»repar(' for (h'ath within thi'ee lidurs. ;;i\ iii^' him a (piarter
ot" an hour lor eonsiih'rati
on.
'Tile Doctor imniediati'lv re-
plied that lie knew no lei-al authoiit\- in the cManiti'V l>ut that
of (Jreat Bi'itain. to which his alleoiance was due. and that he
would not take the oath reipiired of him. lie was then seized
and put in coiitiiiemeiit. alon;^' with the ])risoners taken in
l)ec(;nd>er last. 1 was also jait under sti'iet uuanl, hut not
removed tVoiii tlie house. Notwitlistan<linn- this, and the pain-
ful doubt createi] in the mimls of the Kn^'lish nieiiihers of the
Convention, as to the course they should pursue, after these
arrests, the delegates a^'uin met on the Ttli. ( )ii the .")tli, they
had resoUt'fl to iilace in m\- hands, the List of Hijihts thev had
di'rtwn 11)1. which was done at II oVlock.oii the 7th. with an
intimation that the CoiiM-ntioii wouM Im- j^'lad to meet me at I
o'clock p.m.. the interxcnint;' two hours hein^' allowed me to
frame my answers. In drawine' up these. I was allowed no
reference to any document, either written or [)rinted, except
the List of Ri^'hts, and a e-uard sto i 1 over ni ■ to see that I
should write nothing else than that to he pi'eseiited to the
Convention. 1 had just tinishe(l writing-, when Mr. Kiel and
his ' Adjntant-Cieiiei'ar Lepine. who was also a meniher of
the Convention, came in, and Kiel, lookiiiL:' at the latter in a
significant maniu'i', said. The answers to the List of Rights,
Jiuist be sini])ly yes or no.' ( )ii this, I remarkeil that I
thought otherwise, and wouM act as circumstances might ap-
pear to me to re(|uire. 1 tlu'ii I'etii'ed, and on returning to
.r^i!
1
^'i!
500
HISTOIJV oJ' Tin: XOHTTf-WF.ST.
n.
f
^'1
Jl
the room a few niimitcs Iat<'r. found thcrt: Mr. Kiel, the l{c\ .
Mr. 'riiilianlt, and Colonel Dr Salaberry. W'v proct'etled to-
gether to the Convention, and in (ourse of conversation, < 'n|
I)e Salal)t'i'i"v said, he would "ladlv have come to .see nie lie-
foi'e, hut could not, as he ' had heen a ])risoner throufjhout.'
" Tile proceedings of the ( 'onxention, as reported in the A/ "•
J\r«^)'on newspaper of the 1 1th and 18th Fehrnar\', co[)ies <i\
which 1 have had the lionor of addressing" to von, are sutH-
ciently exact, and render it unnecessary for me here to entec
into <letails. SufHce it to say, that a large majority of tlu'
delegates expressed entii'e .satisfaction with the answf.-rs to
their List of Rights, ami pi-ofessed contideiice in the Canadian
(lovennuent, to which 1 in\ ited them to send delegates, with
the view of effecting a s[»eedy tiansfei' of the territory to tin
Dominion, an invitation reeei\ed with acclamation, and unani-
mously accepted, as will ap])ear hy resolution hereto amiexed.
alone' with the List of Hie'hts, and niv answer to the same
The delegates named were .lohn Hlack. Ks(|., Recorder : tln'
Rev. Mr. Richot, and Mr. Alfred H. Scott, a good deal of op-
position having been ottered to the election of the last-named
of Jie three.
"The proceedings of the Con\'ention came to a close on the
loth Feln-uarv, bv the nomination of a Provisional (lo\ern-
ment, in the formation of which several delegates declined ti>
take any part. Governor .Mactavish. Dr. Cowan, and two or
three othei- persons, were then ndea.sed, and tlu' Hudson's Hay
Company's officers again allowed to come and go at pleasure,
but I was still confined to the fort: Riel. as he expressly
stated to Judge F)I;'.ck, being apprehensive of my inttuence
with the people in the apjtroaching election. Riel promised
tliat all the prisoners sliotdd soon be relea.sed. On the llth
i«:[^
II' 1
1 1!'
KKI'oKT OF SI'KCIAI, coMMlssioNKH SMITH.
.-)()!
aii<l I2tl), six or t-i^lit of tliciii were set iit liberty, atul ])r. Cow-
im was iiifoniieil in my [iresonco, that as tlu'V wmtc all to In*
(liscliar^fcd witliout (Jclay, the rooiiis tlicy lunl oecupitMl would
1)1' placed at his disposal in a day or two : Hid reinarkiu}; at
tho saint' time that he would have them thoiouj^hly cleaned out.
" Humors now liei^an to circulate of a risiujn' at the Portage,
and, on the nights of the 14th and loth of Fehruary, some
ei<fhty or one hundred men from that district passed down
close to Fort (Jarry, and pi'oceeded to Kildonan, where they
were Joined l>y from •'}()() to .SoO men, principally Kni,dish half-
breeds from the lower jtai'ts of the settlement. Had these
men, propei'ly ai'meil and ore;ani/ed, hecn prejiarcd to sui)port
the well-atlected French i)arty, when the latter took action
about the middle of .fanuary, or even in the lieninniu},; of
Fel)ruary, durini;- the sittin<:,' of the Convention, onlei- nuuht
have been restoi'ed. and the transfer to Canada provideil for
witliout the necessitv of tiriiiii- a sinole shot: but now, the
rising" was not only rash, but purjioseli'ss, as, without its in-
tervention, the pri.soner.s would un(|Uestionably have been re-
leased. The iiartv was entirely unoriiani/ed, inditf'ereiitiv
armed, unprovided with i'ocA, even for one meal, and wholly
incapable of copine' with the French, now le-uniteil. who, to
the number of at least 700, were ])repared to otf'er the most
iletermined resistance, which, as they were in ])ossession of a
number of ^uiis (six and three-[)oundersj, anijiie stores of ain-
iiiunition, provisions, and every other re(|uisite, they ci>uld
have done most eti'ectually. My sympathies were, in a ^reat
measure, with the I'ortai^v men, whom 1 lielie\e to ha\e be<'n
actuated by the best of motives, but, under the circumstances,
it was not difficult to foresee that the issue couM not Ite other-
wise than disastrous to their cause. The attempt was there-
ill
■' H
I
502
IIISI()|!V OF rilK Nnlflll WKST
h \.
I,
'I
I r
i r,
W\
1
■f
i
1
t
I
i^-:
■■i : ■ ■
1^ ' '■■:
t ■-■
fori" ti» lie <|r]»|()rci|, ;IS if I'l'Slllti'il ill plilciliH- tllf wlmlr st'ttlc-
im-iit at llir r<'('t (»r Ikirl. 'riic ^I'l'iit iiifijority of HcttltTs, Vavj:-
lisli !iiii| Scotcli, (|i>c(iuiitciifiii('('(l till' iiioNciiiciit. Mild Itittcrly
cuiiiplfiiiird (iT those who hml set it on loot. Korty-srxcn o|'
tllf |iarty were cnitfun'il on tln'ir way home, whih' iiassin-
within a few liiiinirt'cl yards of thr I'ort : tlic t'\|ihiiiat ion I
have heard n'i veil for their otherwis*' ine\|ili('ahie coiKhict in
having' taken tliis route, instead of niakiii;^" a di^toiir, which
would have I'lisiired safety, lieiii^^' a supposed promise hy Kiel
that they would he permitted to pass unmolesti'd. Their iiies-
.st'.iH'ei' ji \'ouiit;' man named .M(diean. on lieiii(>' iiuestioiieil li\-
Archdeacon .M(d..ean and inyselt', in presence of the '»e\. Mr.
<!ardner, and one oi' two other n-entlemeii, admitteij that lliel
(jii hein;^' askeil 'if the party would he perniitteij to ))ass," was
silent, and only, on hein;^' iiil'oi'ineil that tlu'V intended ne.\t
<la.y t(» use the route just outside the town, reniarkecl ' Ah
tliat is o'ood/ and I'or his ])UrjM)se it no douht \\ as so. ("a|i-
taiii l)()lton leil the part\', anil he and his friends at the i'or-
tajic assured me that he exerted him.self to the utmost to keep
them from risinj'', and oiilv ioiueil them at the last moment,
when he saw they wei'e d(,'termined to yo forward. He
was captured on the ITtli, tried liy court martial," and coii-
denuied to be shot at noon on the following' day, l>ut at the in-
tercession (jf the Ijord IJisho}) of Rupert's Laud, Archdeacon
McLean, and, in sliort, every inllueutial man amon^" the \in*x-
Hsli : and, f ha\(' ln-eu toKl also, at the earnest entreaty of the
Catholic clerev, the execution was delayed till midujeht of
Saturday, the IDth. Further than this, Kiel declared he could
not, woulil not, yield, except, in(!eed, J)r. Selinltz should be ca}>-
tured in the meantime, in which case he would be shot instead
of Bolton. Archdeac(jn McLean had been in close attendanct;
!■"
!M
liolf Si'ltl...
ttlclS, KlIM-
iml liiltrrly
■ty-sr\rli (if
lili' |iMssiii-
|iliniiiti(iii I
(•(iinlnct ill
toui', wliifli
iiisc hy Kiel
Their iiH's-
I'Mtioiirtl liy
Iw Hr\. Ml
i\ that l!irl.
() ])nss," was
tt'iulcd mxt
arknl ' Ah !
iH «(). ( 'a)i-
at tlw I'oi-
lo.st t(» kt't'|j
st laoiiiL'iit,
•waft I. He
1,' aiitl coii-
it at the iii-
Archdeacou
•• the Knjj-
caty of the
uidiiit^'ht of
t'd hu could
)uld 1h' cnii-
iliot instead
atteiidaiR'c
i{i:roi!i' or sn;ri.\i, coMMis.sKtNi:!! smith.
rAV.i
MM ('ajitaiii I'lohnii for t w I'lity luiii' hniir^. had adiniiiistri-rd
to him thf Sacraiiifiit . rrcrivcd his hist coiiiiiiaiids, and had
|)i'oiiiis(>d to Im- |ir*-sciit with hint at tin- hist iiiiiiin'iit . and wln-ii
I
iiu-t th*
Ai
chdracdii (III iii\' wav to sec
Hi
alMiiit S .) clue
oil the cvciiiiiu' ol' the I'.Uh, he was (h'ciii\' atrcctcd, aii(| had
r> I •
^i\('ii ii|» all lio|K'. I roiiiid with Kiel Mr. II. N. Woliiiisoii, of
tilt! Xctv Nil I in It news] taper, and shortly afterwards, .Mr. .lames
Iv'isM, 't'liief .liisticc, eiitcivid, followe I ill a few minutes l»v
.Mr. II
aniiatyiie, ])ostniaster, who
lieell ordered to hl'lll'
the key of the mail liae, which Kiel openeil. and examiiiiii;^'
the letters, perused and ivUiiiied one or more. .Mr. Koss
|»leaile(| for lioltoii. hut was re]iuUe(| in the most contelilptU
oils maiiiii.'r. I had already heeii speakine' to Kiel on the siih-
ject, when interrupt
e(|
M
r. Kosss entrance, and now re
sumed the conversation, iiiel was oli(hiratc, and said that the
Kni;Iisli settlers and ( 'anadians, hut more especially the latter,
had laueiicd at and despised the I'^reiich half-lireeds, l»elie\iii;^-
that they would not dare to take the life of any one. and that,
under these circuin.stances, it would he impo.ssihle to have
peace, and cstaldish order in tin; country : an example must,
therefore, he made, and he hail tiriiily resoKiMl that lioltons
execution should he carried out, hitterly as he deplored the
neces.si
ty f
or (h)inii' so.
itl
reasoned witli liim Ioiil; and eai
iiestlv, until at len<itli, ahout 10 o'clock, he xdelded, and ad-
dressine' me, apparently with much feidine-, said : ' Hitherto I
have heeii deaf to all entreaties, ar, 1, in now ^aantin;^' you
v.iis man's life.' or words to tliat eHect, ' may I ask you a
favor'' ' Anvthiiii:,' 1 reiilied, 'that in honor I can do.'
He continued : " Canada has diHunitiMl us; will \ou ust; vour
iutlueiice to unite us
'on can do so, and without this, it
III
U8t 1
)L! war
-hloody
civil war
1 answereil that, as 1 had
it
noi
msT(tiiY (>!• Tin: noktii-wkst
,k
'ii
it ■
1.
1
;
1
1
1
1
i
1 ;
i
t|
j
'i
MLL
*.
on tii-.st coiiiiii^- to tin- cuiiiitiy, I wouM now rf|ifMt. tliat I
wiMiM Hi\(. my wliolo lu'iirt to cHl'ct ii pfiicfiildi- union ni' tin
founti'v with ( 'iinmlii.'
" ' W'f wnntonly our just »'i;^iits iis Hi-jtisli sultjt'cts,' lir Miiil
'ami Uf wiint the Kiif^liHli to join us. sinijily to olitiiin tli.M
' 'I'lit'ii, I irniai'kcMl, • I sliiill at once set' tlifin an<l imlucf tlicm
to ;;'o on with tl lection ol' dflfoati's I'or that i)in|)osf.' iukI
he rt'|tjif(|, 'if N'oii cin do this, war will Im avoidcil. not omI\
the lives, hut tile lilicrtv of all the ]il-ison!'rs will he sccnivij
I'oi' on your success (le])en(l the li\'es ol' all the Canailiiins iu
the country.' lie innnediately proceeded to the ])ri,sou.and in-
timated to Archdeacon .McLean that he hail Iteen imluced \,\
inc to spare ('aj)tain I'.olton's life, and had fuither promised t"
me. that innnediately on the nieetine' of the council shortly t"
he elected, the whole of the jirisoUel'S shouM he releaseil, iv-
(plestine' the Ai'chdeacon, at the same time, to explain these
circiunstances to Captain Holton and the other prisoneis. Tlie
moment was a fearful one for the settlement, e\cry man s lilr
was in the hands of Iviel, and, fully ap|)reciatin^' the siMniti-
cance of this, the l-Jishop of Muperts Land, and the I'rotest.int
clerity, et-uerally, now earnestly c()unselled the people to el(( r
tiieir deleeates without loss of time, as hy this means tiny
mi<4"ht to HouK^ extent control the course of (ivents, while otlui-
wise they were utterly powerless. I entirely concurred in
this view of the case, and Archdeacon McLean havinu' kindh'
otiered to accomjiany me, we visiteil the ditt'erent parts of the
settlement, and found that in several pai'ishes tlu; peo[)le. and
those the most loyal to tin; British Crown, and most desirous
for union with Canada, had already chosen their councillois.
I explainiMl to all, that the comicil was to he provisional, in the
strictest sense of the word, intended expressly for eflectine' the
II
UKI'nKT UK SI'KclAI, ruMMlssK >NKI< SMIIII.
:)or>
jM'ilt, tliat I
uniuii III' til'
1 1 ;m^.ri' relief of tin' cmiiit ly to ( 'm inula, .11 n I tor eiismiii;^' sni'ety
<>\' life Mini |ii'ii|ierty in the iiieMiitiine. In sniii<- in.stnnrt'N, I
ii'l tlit-y liml (liiiwn m|i ]ietitii)iis to Mf. |{iel n I'resiileiit,"
loll
>\|ues.siny; siiliiiiission, ef' , tlu'se I ri'<|iieHt»'il tliem to ijestroy.
aiixisin;: that iiothin;;' inoi • should lie done than nnder the
liri'Muistances was ahsohitely iie<'ess)iry, namely, that ha\
in;;' made tlieii' elertioii, yon .•■hoiild siiiijily intimate the
tact ill t'onnal terms to Mr. riuiin. \. ho had lieeii named Secre-
tary of the ('(Huicil, and not to Mr. Uiei. 'The elections in the
I'liiulish parishes havin;;' taken place on the iJilth I'^elnuary. I
a;;!iin saw iJiel, who re-assnred me, that all the prisoners
Would lie released witliiii a ilay or two after the tirst meeting'
"\' till' council. < )n the 2.Sth, he a;;aiii sent for me. and in pri--
siiice of .Mr. I''ras<'r, delee'dte from the Scotch parish. Kildonan,
I'epeatefl his pr(jiiiist'. that llie lives of the prisiaiers were se-
cured, and that tlnir release would sh tl\' folio
w
• 1 had no fuither communication with h'iel until .Monday
the 4th Mai'ch, when about H) o'clocU in the morninu' I'cii
Lesti
iiic called on nit
II
e nitoniieo me (I
l>ls||o|i
ache .s ex-
pected arrival, not later certainly than the Sth, and prohahly
M>nie days earlier, adding- that his Ijordship had teleei-aphed to
re(|Uest that, if ahout to leave tor Canada, I should defer my
departure till lie could comuuuiicate per.sonally with nie. He
then said that the 'conduct of the prist)nt'rs was \fvy unsatis-
I'actorv, tluit tlii'V wei-e \erv unrulv, insolent to the ' soldieis,'
and their l)ehaviour alto;^ether so very ha<l that Ik- was jifiaid
the euai-ds mioht bo forced to retaliate in self-dofenee. 1 e.\-
presseu much surprise at the intormation he ^ave, as the pris-
oners, without exception, liad promised to Archdeacon McLean
and myself, that seeing their helj)less condition, they would en-
deavour to act so as to avoid <nvin<«; offence to their ouards, and
flfl
rr""
\i\l- '
i
1
j
.')()()
il
I iii
.
i
i
■1" r ^
i ,
1
■ 'ii S
lllsTdliV OK TIIK .\(»l!TII-\Vi:sr.
vve i'i)('()iii'ii;^('(l tlit'iii to l(jf>k t'oi'WMnl to lie tipoetlily I'clcjiscd in
fulliliiiciit ol" the ])r()iiiis(' iiiinlc by Mr. Kiel. One iiinii, I'juls.i',
was nit'iitioiinl as liaviii;^' iiiailf liiiiiscli" jjarticulai'ly ulnioNidiis
\>y his violent comluct, hut not one word wa.s .said oti tiiis occ; -
sion ivj^ardinjLi" Scott, or the sli^^litcst intimation oivcn tliat In-
or any other person iiad heen condenined to he siiot. .Mhuh
1 I o'clock, I'cre Lestanc iel't nie ami went up stall's to com-
n.iinicate to ( iovei'uor .Macta\isli, as he .said, ' the oixid ii,.\v^
that l)ishop 'I'achu was expecteil so soon.' 'I'he Hescrend .Mr
Y<)vni<i", .Methoilist clerHyiiian, had just entereil the house, an I
ineetinjn' the i'ere in the hall, conversed with him a few iiiiii-
ntes. Mr. N'oun;;- then cam • uj) to me, and t )m him I li.id
the Hrst intimation *^hat it was intended to shoot 'I'hoinas
Scott, and that the sentence was to he cari'ied into effect at \2
o'clock noon, that day. We ayiH'ed in helievinn' that the thini;
was too monstrous to he po.ssihle, and Mr. N'ounj^' mentiouid
that poor Scott hiniselt' was e([uall\ incredulous on the suhject.
thinkiuLi' tlu'V merely intended to t'riehten liin
H
OWeVer
to k
even to keep him m suspen.se was ol i
tself
a liorrihle crue
and it was arrane-ed that, as Mi-, ^'oun^• had heen .sent t'or to at-
tend the man, he should see Kiel, ascc^rtain exactly how the iiiat-
t(!r stood, and, ii' reallv .serious, to let me know at once. Mi'
^'
ounii' acc(
)rdin<"'lv called on l^iel, was informed that Scott
had lieen condemneil, that i.lie sentence was irre\ocahle, ami
wouM not h(^ delaveil one minu
te 1
levoiiil noon.
Mr. V
ouiu
beee'ed I'oi- delay, sayint;', 'the man is not pi'epared to die,' l)ut
all witliout avail, lie was ]»araly/ed with horror, returned to
the prisoner, and immediately .sent a messenger to inform me
of the result of his visit. I determined to find out Hiel iimiie-
diately, hut recoUecting' that Pere Lestanc was still upstairs
with Mr. MnetaxisJ!. went t(» him, related what I had heard
lil
Klll'oirr (»|- SI'Kf'I.VI, CuMMlSSKtM:!! >MII1I.
)07
\\v\i
y rt'lt'ascd m
iiinii, l*!uk.i\
ly (»l)iiti.\iiiiis
oil this (icci -
ivt'U that lie
ihot. Ahdiii
nil's to ciiiii-
IL' 0()(|(1 lll'W-
{('Vfrt'iid Mr
r house, aii'l
II a t\'\v iiiin-
II iiiin I iia<l
loot Thomas
octrfctat 1-J
hat tlie thiiii:
ic iiit'iitioiii'il
the suhjcct.
Mowcvcr,
hh- cnicltx
lit for to at-
iOW the iiiat-
it OlU't'. Ml'
that Scott
Nocahh', aiiil
Mr. N'oiiiil;
1 to (lit', hut
I'ctiinu'il to
t iiifonii nil'
t Hid iiiiiiH'-
still upstairs
I luul hcanh
ami asked him if he knew aiiytliiii;^' ahout tiie mattei-. His
aniswer I cannot ;^ive in precise words, hut it was to the ethct
that they had seen Mr. Hiel on the otlier side (St. r>oniface).
and had all spoken to him al)oiit it. hy which I understood
tliat tliev liad interceded for Scott. ( Joxcinor .Macta\isli was
-rea
tly
Hliocke<l on heiiii-' iiitornied oi
n
lel s
huriio.se
ami
joiiu'd i.i reprohatin;^' it. I'cre Lestanc consented to accom-
pany me, and we calleil on >\\i
When We elltereil. hi
as
CO
ked
till
me 'w
hat
news tf; ;ii Canada
he mail
had
arii\
I
irectMlniii" dav
and
replied
oill\ the intelliii-elice
that Hisho]) 'rache wi
ill
liere \er\' soon.
I tl
leli nii'll-
tioned what I had heard re;;ardin^' Scott, ami helore Kiel
answered, I'ere Lestanc iiiti rjiosed in French words, meaniii;;-,
Is tl
lere no way oi e.scap
Kiel
replie<l to him.
M
l\e\ er-
•nd i'ere. vou know exactly how the matter stands.' then
turniii''' to me. he sai
w
ill e.\[)iain to you. s|ieakin^' at tirst
in Kimlish, lait shortly after usiim" the French, remark iiii>' to me,
•you understand that lan^'ua<je.' He said in siihstance that
Scott Jiad throughout heeii a most tr()ul)lesome charaetor, had
lieen the riii^leatler in a risinu- aj^aiiist Mr. Snow, who had
char<i;e of the party I'liiployed hy the Canadian (iovernnient
durma"
til
I'ecedinti" summer ui road-makiiii'
that
ha.l
risen aj;jiinst the ' Provisional (lovernment ' in Decemher last,
that liis life was then spared : thai he eseajx-d. had a^aiii heeii
taken in arms, and once more pardoned, referrin;^, no douht,
to the promi.se he had made to me that the lives and liherty of
all the prisoners was secured — hut that he was incori'i^ihle,
and ({uite ineapahle of appreciatinj^ the clemency with which
he had heen treated : that he was rou;4h and ahusi\e to the
guards, and insulting to him, Mr. Kiel: that lii.s' example had
X'en
pr
'o<
luctive of the very worst effects on the other priso
m-
! : I!
I r
PI
V I
508
iiisrouv (»i- Tin: \(>i!Tii-\vi;sT.
• •rs, who hail hci-oiin' iiisuljoriliiiatc to .s;:ch an extent that ii
was ditlicnlt to withhold tlie guards Ironi retahatine'. Ih
fuith
er sail
1, • I sat down with Scott, as w
e are doitiLi' now
and asked him truthfully to tell nie, as I would not use hi-,
statement against him. what he and the I'oitaee party intend-
ed to ha\e done with me. had they succeeded in ca]it uriii;.'; me
when they suri'ounded ( 'oiiture's house." to whi<'h he re|ilied,
' We inteii le I to keep \-ou as a hostai-'e t'ol" the sat'etX' of tin'
|irisonei-s.' I ai'eiied with lliel. and endea\ored to show that
some ot" the circumstances he had mentioned, and especially the
last, wei'e very strong' I'easons to ui'e-r why Scott s jil'r shoiiM
not lie sacriticed, and that. if. as he represented. Scot t
was
I'asli, thoue'litless man. whom none cared to have an\tlnn"- t
th
do wit h. no e\ ll neeil
appi
ehellded IVom his e.\amii|(
]»ointed out that the one ^reat merit i-laimed tor the insuiii
tion was that, so far. it had lieeii Moodless. exceiit in
one sai
nstance, wIik
h all were willing to look upon as an accident,
and imiilored him not now to stain it. to hurdeii it with \\\\n\
wo
uld he considered a hoi'rihle criii
le exclaimed
W
must make Canada I'espi.'ct us!' I re])lieil. "Shehase\ery
pi'o|ier respect for the people of Red |{i\cr, and this is shown
ill her haxiiie' sent ( "ommissioiiers to treat with them.' 1 told
him 1 had seen the prisoners some time hack, when they coiii-
inissioncd me to .sa\' to their friends at I'ortae'e that thev
vasoii
♦leHircd peace, and I ort'ereil to ;^() to them a;L;'ai" find r
with them, should that he necessary. On this he said, ' Looj,
here, .Mr. Sniitli. Mr. Scott, the re|>resentative, went to sec tin
prisoners at my desire, and on askiiie' tliem wlioni tlicy would
vott> for as councillors, if they were penuittcd a choici' outside
of their own hody :"' 'I'iios. Scott came forward >ind said, ' My
bov's havt- nothine' to do with tho.se Amcric ins." And when
|ii;
:tt'iit tliiit ii
atiii^'. Ill'
• (loiiii; iiuw
I not usr lii>
iirty intfii'l
ilitiii'iii;': iiic,
II lir rcjilicil,
ilViy uT thr
to sliDW that
specially tlir
's lit'i' shi MiM
, Scott was a
aiiytliinu to
cxainiilc I
tilt' iiisuni<'-
iit in iiiic s!\'\
< an acciilciit .
it with wlia!
lainit'd, ' W i
he has every
his is shown
U'Ul." 1 tolil
Ml they com
e that they
anil reason
said, ' Look
It to sec the
they woul'l
loice oiltside
nil suitl. ■ M)
Ami \vliell
Lord VV'olseley.
1-^^
ft
') '
1
1
'P
IJKI'oirr (»l- Sl'KClAL COMMISSIONKU SMITH.
509
I iTiiiarked, 'This is I't'iillva most tiMHiny atlaii'. and oiii^lit not
to have been repeated,' he said, ' Do not atteiiij>t to ])i'ejii(hce
us a<;ainst the Americans, for althouf^h we iiave not hern with
them, they are with us, and have been better friends to us
than the Canadians.' Mncli more was said on luith sides, but
ur'-umeiit, entreaty, and protest aHi<e t'aih'd to draw him from
his purpose, and he closed hy sayiu;^', ' 1 ha\ e done three u-ood
thin*;'s since I have commenced, I iiave spai'ed P.olton's life at
your instance, and 1 <lo not re^^ret it. for he is a tine I'eliow ; I
f)ardoned (iaddy, and he showed his ei'atitude l)y escaj)ini;' out
of the 1)astion, but 1 dont pnidi^'e him his miserable life, und
now I shall shoot Scott.' Le[)ine, the Adjntant-( Jeneral, who
was Presidentof the Council of Seven, which ti'ied Scott, — and
ti\ e of whom, IJiel told me. ' with tears sti'eamine' from their
eves, condi'mned him as worthv of <leMth,' a sentence which
he had confirmed — now entered, and, in answer to Kiel, .said,
' lie must ilie," Kiel then re(|uested the Ke\ . I'er<' Lestanc to
put the people on their knees for prayi-r, as it mi;;ht <lo ^ood
to the condennied man's .soul. Kefei'rin^ to I'ere Lestanc, and
makin;;- a final ajipeal unnecessary hereto repeat, I retii'ed. It
was now within a few miniites (;f one o'cloek. and on entering-
the (Jovernor's house, Rev. .Mi', ^'oun^' joined me, and said, ' It
is now consichu'abi}' past the hour, I trust you have succeeded.'
' No,' I said, ' for tiod's sake e() back at onee to the ])Oor
m-m, for 1 fear the worst." He left inmuMliately, and a few
mimites after he entered the room in which the prisoner was
confined; some jjuards marched in and told Seott his hour
was come. Not until then did the reality of his position flash
uj)on j)Oor Scott. He said good-l)ye to the other prisoners,
was led outside the pite of the fort, with a white handker-
chief covering his h 'ad ; his cotiit), having a piece of white cot-
^^3
i'
f '■ I
'I
510
HISTOHY OK Tin: N'oKTH-WKsT.
ton tlii'owii over it, was earrifd otit : his eyes \yr*' l»iiii<hi;4cil .
he contiiiucil in i)ravcr, in wliicli he liad l)t>t'n cni-aircd on tin-
\\a\\ for a tew minutes ; lie asked .Mr. Vt)unt'' lunv he shonM
place liiniselt', wliethei' standin<;- oi- Uneehn^-, tlien knelt in tin
snow, said farewell, and immediately fell hack, ])iereed Ity tliitr
hullets whieh had passed through his liody. The tirin;^' party
consisted of six men, all of whom, it is said, were more oi' liss
into.xicated. It has lieen further stated that only three of the
muskets wei'e loaded with hall eartrid^^e, and that one man
did not disehfir;;e his |iiece. Mi', ^'oun;^• tni'ned aside when
the first sliots were Hi'ed, then went hack to the hody ami
ajj^ain retired foi' a moment, while a man discharj^jed his revol-
ver at the sutf'ei'er, the hall, it is said, enterinj^' the eye aiiil
passinjj,' round the head.
"The wounded man groaned hetweeii the time of receivinj^'
the musket shots and the <liseharge of the revolver. Mr
Younj;' asked to have the remains foi- interment iji the ]»uiy-
in<i" irroinid of the I'reshvterian Church, hut this was nd
accedtd to, and a similar re(|Uest, [)referre(l l)y the Bishop of
Kupert's Land, was also I'efused. He was huried within tin-
walls of tile fort. On desceiidin^^ tlie steps, leadine- from tin'
prison, poor Scott, addressiiij^ Mr. Youn<;', said, ' Tliis is a cold-
blooiled mui'der,' then eni;a<;-e(l in prayer, and was so occupie<l
until he was shot.
" After this date I held no communication wliatsoever with
Riel, except in reference to ^-ettini^f away from the country,
whicli I was not allowed to leave without a pass. I felt that
under the circumstances it was not desirable I should remain
lon>;er at Ked River, hut it was not until late in the iii^ht o\'
the l^^th inst., Riel gave permission Wiv my departure. Al-
though not aceouiplishing all that could have been desired,
Hi:iM»IM' (»F SI'HflAI. ('<».M.MIsM((M;|{ smIIH,
r,it
the inis!si()ii to Hfil |{i\rr, as I sliall I'liclcavm' t(t show in a t'cw
words, has hccii iproductivc dI' soiiir ^ood. and tliat it was not
cntii't'ly succ'L'sst'nl, may I'aiily Ix- attrilmtt'd to tlir ciicnin-
•stances ahovc rt'tVrif<l to. in comu'ction witli the action takci ,
and nioetinji's lidd in .lanuaiv last. Success, altliouiih in a
lessor (U'^Tcc, niin'ht also lia\i' hi'cn ;^ainc<| at a later iiei'iod
hnt for the iMsin;^' in Fehi'uary. which. llion;;'h rasli and pro-
ductive of results the most unfortunate. I can hardly hianie..
knowing, as alreuily stated, that those who took part in it
were actuated and impejlfd ly nrnerous motives.
"On reachinjj' Ked Hi\er. in l)ecend)ei' last. I found the Kn<>"-
lish-speaking portion of the inhaltitants grer.tly di\ided in
opinion as to the eomparati\e ad\antant's of union with ('an-
ada. and the foi-mation of a ('rowii ("nlony, while a few. a
vei'v small numhei'. favoi'ed aniie.xation to the I'nited States.
The I'.xplanations ottered on the i)art of ("anada they received
as satisfactoi-y, and. witli hardly a dissentient xoice, they
would now vote for the immediate t)'ansfei' to the Dominion,
'riiey earnestly retpiested me t(. assure His Ivxcellency the
( ioveJ'nor-( Jeneral of their warm loyalty to the Uritish Crowi'.
'• Tlu' case is ditlicult as regards the i-^-ench lialf-ln-eeils. .V
not inconsidei'alile nundierof them icmained ti'ue to their alle-
ii-iance durinii' all the troubles through which thev hav<' iiad to
pass, and witli these will now he fouml jissociatiMl many others
whose minds had for a time heen poisond hy gross misi'ej)re-
seiitations ntade hy designing men I'oi- their own selfish ends.
A knowledge of the true state of the ease, and of the advan-
ta<irs thev wouM dei-i\e from union with ( "anada, had been
carefully kept from them, and they were told to Judge of Can-
adians irenerallv hv the acts and Ix-arinu of some of the less
reflective innnigrants, who had denounceil them as ' cuniberers
.11
512
IIISTOHV OK TIIK NoiiTH-WlvST.
^1
di
') '
of the fifi'ound,' wlio must spcorlily nuikc way ior the " sn[>i')i(ii'
race ' about to pour in upon tlicni.
'• It is also too true tliat, in tin- unauthorised procce(lin;j,s of
sonic of tlie recent Canadian ai'i'i\als, some plausible ;^m'ouihI
had btH'U ;fiven for the fedin;;' of jt'aloiisy and alarm with
wl)ieh the contemplate(l change of no\(.|iiment was iv^^arded
by the native population. In vaiious localities these ad\rii-
turers liad been industrious! \- maikinu' otf I'o)- themselves eon-
siderable, and in some eases very t'xtensi\-c and exceptionally
valuablr. tracts of land, tin rcby impi'essinj^' the minds of the
peo])le with the belief that the time had come when, in theii'
own country, they were to iic entirely supplanted by the
strani;er, a lielief, howexcr. which I have no d(jid»t mi;^ht ha\e
b'jon comi)letely precluded by the prevention of all such opera
tions until Canada had fully uid'olded her jtolicy. and shown
the ^^Toniidlessness of these fears.
" J^et ns further liear in mind that many of the ('atholie
clergymen in the country are not I'^reiich ("anadians, but
Frenchmen, an<l conseipK'utly, it may be pi'esumed, not \cr\
conversant with Ih-itish laws an<l institutions, and with the
liberty and pri\ilee-es eii'ntyed under them. W'arndy attached
to their tlocks. they deemed it necessary to exact some guaran-
tee, that in their new political condition they v/ouUl not be
treated with injustice. It is unnecessary here to point out
how the breach w ideiied. until at leiieth it attained a mai^iii-
tudo ami sio-iiiticance little dreamt of in the commencement.
even by those who jointd most heartily in the movement
It i.s far more ])leasine' to be able to state, which J do with
much contidence, that a larj^e majority of the French party
have no misgi\ings as to union with ( 'anada, and that joined
by and vnider tiie guidance of his Lordshij), liishop 'I'achc,
ji :d othei" meuibers of the clergy who enjoy their confidence.
IH
UKI'Oin" OF .SI'KCI.M, CO.MMISSIONKU SMITH,
513
tlicy will very shortly provt; tlnMusclvcs to br staiiiicli snp-
jiorters of tiu; Doininiciii, Hrm in tluiir alltiifiance to Eu^flaml.
" In course of tho IiisuiTection, (Jijt; deplorablu crime, and
many j^rossly ill»jj^al acts, liave untjuestionably Ijei'n cuinniit-
te<l, l)ut it \vo\il<l be alike uripolitic and unjust to chari^e tlieiu
on the French {K^pulation ;^enerally.
" Much obl()<)uy has b,*en heaped on the Hudson's Day Com-
pany and their (Governor and otlicers in the North-West,
which I consider it unnecessary at this moment even to at-
tempt to answer or refute, althou»;h not doubtin*^ that l)oth
could be readily and satisfactorily done. Erroi's, many and
i^rave, have, it cannot be denie<l, been coiumitti'd on all sides,
but wilful and intentional nej^lect of duty cannot, I feel con-
vinced, be laid to t.lie char^'e either of the Huilson's Bay Couj-
j)any or their re|)resent:itives in the country. Personally, I
have been entirely unconnected with the administration of
affairs in that department.
" 1 would respectfully submit that it is of the utmost injpor-
tance there should be a strong military force in the North-
W^est as early as practicable. The minds of the Indians,
especially the tribes in the Saskatchewan country, have been
so perplexed and confused by the occurrences of the past six
months, that it would be very unsafe to trust to their forbear-
ance ; and, irnleed, until the (juestion of Indian claims has been
tinally settled, it W(nd<l n<»t, in my opinion, be prudent to
leave the country unprotected by military. The adjustment
of those claims will require early attention, and some mem-
oranda and evidence in my hands on the subject, I shall, if
desired, be prepared to lay before the (Joverinuent.
" I have the honor to be, Sir,
" V'our obedient .servant,
" DoN.VMl A. S.MITH."
> t
514
IIISTOKY (»K TIIF, N(>MTH-\Vi;sT.
1
1
II
i,,.^
i
j
j
1
I
!
11,
r
Servit'L'H so valuuhk' jukI of .such iinjxjrtiiiicc to the Do-
iiiiiiion, should have huon rt'oo^iii/cil without dchiy.hut it was
not until Fel)ruaiy, 1 872, two yi'ars al'tor thcjy wore rcndcnMl,
that Mr. Donald A. Smith reci^ived any official rcco^jnition of
th(! f^ceat and loyal work pi^i-forniDd by hini. On th(! 22ri(|
Fohruaiy, 1872, the followin<; letter was received by him f'njm
the Secretary of State;, Hon. .lo.seph Howe: —
Ottawa, 22nd February, 1872.
Donald A. Smith, E.s(|., M.P.,
Fort (iarry.
Sill — The events which led to your appointment in Decem-
ber, 18()(), as a Special (\)nuni.ssioner to the North-West, are
now matter of history. But the (jiovernor-General feels that
the important services which in that capacity you rendered to
the country have not yet received that official recognition to
which they are justly entitle<l.
His Excellency, therefore, now commands me to convey to
you the expression of his appreciation of the patriotism with
which, on that occasion, you placed your services at the dis-
posal of the Cfovernment, and at an inclement sea.son of the
year cheerfully undertook a lon^ and fatijfuing Journey to
Fort (Jarry to aid, by your presence and influence, in the re-
pression of the luilooked for disturbance which had unhap[)ily
broken out in the North-West.
In selectinjij you for the delicate and important mission thus
confided to you. His Excellency was influenced by the convic-
tion that your thorough knowled<re of the people, and the high
estimation in which you were held by all classes there, emin-
ently qualified you to act with effect in disabusing the minds
of the misguide* I people <»f the settlement of the erroneous
HKI'OKT «)K SI'Kf'IAI. << »MM ISSK )NK1{ SMiI'M.
IT)
opinions they liinl Immmi lt'<| to lorni of tlw t'rt'liiin'i iiixl intfu-
tioiis of tlif ( !(»\('rniin'nt nl' tin- Dominion in ri'l't'icncr to tlu'ir
country.
SulwtMjUt'nt rvcnts Imvt', in Mis Ivxcttllfncy's ojiinion, i'ully
JustiHi'il tla' wisiloiii dI' his sch^ction of a ( 'oinniissionci'. For
if the serious tliin^rrs wliicli then tlirt'jitt'ni'd the settlement
wevv hii|)])ily averteil, jiml hiw an<l ordei' peacefully nj-estah-
lished at Fort (Jarry, His Kxcellericy feels that the result was
in no small «le^n-ee due to the ahility, discretion. an<l Hrnniess
with which you executed your commission, and to the judici-
ous use of the inlluence which your chai'acter and standin<;
enabled vou to exercise ovei- all classes of the ctjnuniuiitv at
Ked River.
J have the honor U) he,
Your oliedient serxant,
.I(tsi;i'ii Howi:,
Sccrctdrij of Sfiih' fitr l/o' Proi'i)ire».
When this tardv reco<Miiti(jn of (commissioner Smith's ser-
vices was written, the peo[)lo of the North-West had already
shown their apj)reciation (jf the great work he had pei'fonned
for them and for the whole of Canada, hy electin<( him as one
of their representatives in the Dominion House of Connnous.
Her Majesty the Queen, too, mindful of the services he had
•endered to the State while acting in the cai)acity of Sj)eeial
L'ommissioner, and in acknowledgment of them, conferred on
him the honor of knighthood, as Siu Donald A. Smith,
K.C.M.G.
#
§
m i
10
11
aimm:\I)Ix
•♦♦•
1. Koyiil L'liaitfi- uf I(i7().
2. (V.iwii (.'i.tnt of ICxilusivc Tia(l.«, IS'JI.
.'<. Civwn (iraiit of Kxcliisivf Tni<lt', 1S38.
J. ('omiiilssiun nj.pointin.^ Frmi. Win. .NfcDou.'all I
^Kiitciiaiit-
Hivcriior,
■■•. Pr.clamati..n issiu.,1 l,y ICt,. Win. .MrDoujjall ..„ Ui I )..,•,.... 1
M'f,
(1. ('
IHCi).
HllllllS.sKMl IsMlt'l
Dennis Cuiiscivatoi' of tlie Pi
I !)>- Iloti. Wni. .M(l»(,iii;al|. ap|i.iiiitiii^' Tol.
i'tH*'
7. Fim'Ian.ation issued hy IIoii. Wni. Mc|)(,uyall ..i, J,,.! Dcr.-ml
MT,
lS(i!).
Proclamation issued hy Sir John Voin,g. (iovernor ( MM.eial
Canada, on (itii l»ecenil)ftr, 1809.
D. ('oiuniissiou issuerl to Donald .\. Suiitl', I-
Special Connnissioner.
si|., a|>i>oiiitiri;; him
10. Laws «.f Assinii)oia passed hy the Pir.\ isinu.d (i
May, IS70.
11. The Manitoha Act.
"Veiiiinent , ( til
'tl
1
i
■ i ,
i .
\
1 ^X'^~^
AJ^PENDIX.
No. I.
|{(IVAI, I'lIAKTKl! KIK l.\( (Hil'DliATI.Nt; TlIK H lliSONS 15aV CoMI'ANV,
GHANTKK liY His Ma.IKSTY, KiNO C'IIAKLES THE SKCONK, IN TIIK
■22m) ykak ok his i{ki(;n, a.i>. H)70.
("iiAKi.Ks tilt' Second, liy tin- yr.ice of (Jod, King of England, Scotland,
FraiK'o find Iruland, dufunder of tliu faith, Ac, to all to wIiomi tlicso
presents shall eowie, greeting :
Whereas our dear and entirely heloved consin, Prinee Kupert, ("onnt
Palatine of the Rhine, Dnke of Bavaria and Cuniherland, Ac. ; Chris-
topher. Dnke of Alheniirle; W lliani. Kill of (/raven; Henry, Lord
Arliii'^ton ; Anthony, Lord Ashley : Sir John Robinson, ami Sir liohert
Vyner. Ivnigl-.ts and l^aronets ; Sii- Peter Colleton, Maronet ; Sir Edward
Minigorford, Knight of the Ra'h ; Sir Paul Neelo, Knight ; Sir .John
(iritlith »nd Sir Phillip Carteret, Knights ; .lames Hayes, John Kirke,
Francis Millington, William Prettyman, .John PY'iiii, Escpiires ; and .lohn
Purtinaii, r'itizen and (ioldsmith of London; have, at their own great
cost and charges, undertaken an exj)edition for Hudson's Bay, in the
nortli-west part of America, for the discovery t>f a new passage into the
Souiii Sea, and for the finding some trade f(jr furs, minerals and other
coiisiderahle commodities, and l)y such, their undertaking, have already
made such discoveries as do encourage them to ])roceed further in pur-
suance i>f their said tlesign by means whereof there may probably arise
very great advantage to us and our kingdom : And, whereas the said
uiulert;ikorH for their further encouragement in the said design, have
Inimbly besought us to incorporate them, and grant unto them and their
suceessora the sole trade and eoinmerce of all tliose seas, straits, bays.
rivers, lakes, creeks and sounds, in whatsoever latitude tlu'y shall be, that
lie within the entrance of the straits, commonly called Hudson's Straits,
together with all the lamls, countries and territories upon the coasts and
coiitiue.-i of the seas, straits, liays, lakes, rivers, creeks and sounds, afore-
i •
I\
AI'I'KNIilX.
Siiiil, wliitli ;iro Hot imw lu-tiiiilly pusscsHcd liy .'iiiy nf oiir siil>jt'ct'^. m liy
till' HulijcMt i (if iiiiy I'tlu'i' ('hristi.in Priiici! or Stfito Now Know Yt-. ili.it
wi:, lii'iii:; iltMiroiis to proiiiote iill uiitliJiivorH tiMuUn^ to thu piihlic g ,iil t<(
our people, iunl to I'lifoiir.'ii^i' the said luulertiikinii, liiivo of mir special
ijifiee, ci'rtfiiii kiiowK'd'^c .•iinl iiu-ro motion, i^iveii, i^r.'iiite 1, r.itilieil jiiul
continued, ;iiid l>y these presents, for in, our hi'irs .-ind successors do yivf
i^r.mt. ratify and eontirni unto dur s.iid eoUHin, I'rince Uupert. Chris-
toplier, Ilu'>e of AiUeniar'e ; William, Karl of ('r.,ven: Henry, Lonl
Arlington: Anthony, Lord Ashley; Sir .lohn IJo inson. Sir Uolnir
Vyner, *ir I'eter ( "olleton. Sir Kdward nun>,'erforil. Sir Paul Neele. Sir
.lohn (iritiitli and Sir I'jiillip (/ai'teret. Janu!s Hayes, John Kirke, Franeii
Millini^ton, William I'rettyman, 'dm Fenn and John I'ortman, that they,
ami such otliers as shall l)o admitted into the said soeiety as is hereafter
expressed, sli.ill lie one liody, eorjinrati' ami politic, in dee<l (iml in naiin ,
hy the I aiiie of * Tile ( iovenior and t'om|iaiiy of Ailventiirers of Kn^^land.
trailing; into Hudson's Hay,' and them Uy the name of tlie "(Jun-
I'rnor and Comiiany of Adventurers of Knulaiid, tradini^ into Hui!-
son's I'ay " one liody corjiorate ami politic, in deed and in nauu'.
really and fully forever, for tis, oiir heirs and successors, we ilo
mike, ordain, constitute, estalilish contii'iii and declare liy these juesents,
and that liy the same name of "(Joxernor and Comiiniy of Adventiiiti -
of l*]n<^land, tradin<^nnto Hudson's May, 'they sliall liavi' jierpi'tual siicio-
sion, and that tlu^y and their successors, liy the name of " The (Joveriior
and Company of Adventurers of l"',iit,daml, trariny it, to Hudson's IV-iy
be, mid at ail times hereafter shall he |iersoiial»le find capa'ih' in law, Im
have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy and i-i'tain lands, rent', privileges.
iibertii'S, jurisdictions, franchises and hereditaments, ofwhatkiml natiiif
or ipialiry soevi-r they may be, to them and their siiccessois ; and also to
give. gr'Mit, demise, alien. assiij;n and dispose lands, tenements atid liere-
ilitameiits, and to do and execute all .■ind singular other things by the
Siiiio name that to tlicni shall or may ajipertain to do ; and that they and
their successors, by t\\o name of "The Uovernor and Company of Adven-
turers <if Kngland trading into Hudson's Day," may p. e.id a d be imidemleil.
answer ami be answered, defend and be defen<led, in whatsoever eourls
au'l jilai'L's, liefore whatsoever judges and justices, and other |ieis(ins jiiiil
ofticers in all imd singular actions pleas, suits, <piarrels, causes and d( •
nuinds whatsoever, of vvhat.soever kind, nature or sort in such manner iid
form as ;iny other our liege people of this our realm of Kngland, biim.
luMsons able and Cft]iable in law, may or i-an have, purchase, receive,
posst'ss, enjoy, retain, give, grant, demise, alien, sssign, dispose, jdtail,
defend airi lie defended, do permit and execute ; and that tiio siid
•'( Jovernor /ind Company of .Adventurers of Kngland, tiading into Hud
stiu's Hay, " and their hiucessors may have a common seal to servo for all
AI'I'KNDIX.
V
tlio causes uiul Imsiiit'Hsi'.s of thoin ami tlii-ir .succfssnrs, iiiifl tluit it slnill
;i:i(l may bo liuvful to tla- siiitl (iii\ uiiiur and Ccniqumy jukI tlu'ir succl'ss-
ors, tiie s.'une seal, fi'om time tn time, at their will and jtleiisiire, to break,
■x]iediiiit ;
idt
cliaiiye, and to make anew or
alter, as t'> tliem 'hall seen
And fni-ther. we will, and 1>v tlu'se presents fur ns, imr licirs and suc-
ce siirs, wi' do nrdain that there shall he frcnn henci'fortli ime nf the same
Ciini|>any. tn he eljctiMl and apjiointed in sneh hirm as hereafter in these
presents is expressed, whieii shall lie called the (i(>\ernnr ni ilie gaid
('ompany : and that the said (ii>vern<>r and Coinpany, shall nr nmy eleit
seven nf their nmnber, in such form as hereafter in these jiresents is
expressi'd, wiiiili shall i)o ealleil the Ccinimitlee nf tlu' said (''im|)any,
wliich Cuiiimittee of seven, or ,iny three nf tjieni, tn^ether with the (Jnv-
ernor nr Deputy < Jnvernnr nf the said Company for the time bein<,', shall
have tin.' direit ion nf the Voyages nf and fnr the said Company, and the
md
ilso the sale of all mereliainli/.es, ynnds and nther thuiiis relnriied.
provision of the sliippini; and nu'rehandi/.i'S thereunln hejnnuin
111 a
11
nr HllV o
f tl
le \i>yai,'es or shii
>f or for th
lid L
oiupaiiy,
lese
ami tlu' miiia''inLr and liandiiiiL; of all other liusiness, .itfairs ami thiie's
beloii-iiiif to the saiil Company ; And we will, oid.tin, and ;4i;int by tl
jireseiits, for ii~
( 'oiupanx
ur iieirs and successors, unto th
d (
le saiil (lovel'iior am
,1
am
I their successors, that they the said (iovernor ami Com-
pany and their successors shall from henceforth, fnifver be ruled, order-
ed anil governed, accordiiiij; to such manner and form as is hereaftir in
these p.rcseiits expressed, and not otherwise; aTid that they shall ha\t',
hold, retain and enjoy the grants iibertiej, privileges, jui isilictions, and
immuuitii's oiil\ hereafter in tliesi' pri'sents graiitcd ami expressed, ami
no other : And for the iietter i xecnt mi nf our will and grant in this be-
lialf, we have assigned iiounnateil constituted and made, and by these
j>resents. for us, our heirs ami successors, wi' do assign, iiomiiiati', coiisti-
it
nd tncnntinue in the said njiice. fmm the
tiite and make our said cousin, I'rince Kuiieit, to be tiie liist ami presei
( iovernor of the said ( 'omp.iny, a
date of these presents uiii il the KMli Nn\cmber then next following, if h
the saitl Prince Hupert, shall so long live, and >o until a new (Joxeiiior I
chosen by the saiil Company, in form hereafter exjuessed : And also v
have assigned, nominated and ap|>o)nted, and by these |ne.-i'iits, for i
ir heirs and succissiPis, we do assiijn, nominati' ami constitute, tl
IS.
le said
Sir .b)hii |{obinson Sir I'oliert \'vi
ler. Sii
1'
•'er (
letoli.
.1,'
11
i\e
John i\irke, Francis
.Midi
ini'ton and John I'ortiiiaii, to lie th
e seven first
and present Committees of the said Company, from the ilate of these
l>resents until tlm said lOlh day of Novendier then also next following,
ami s'l until new Coinmitti'es shall be cho.«,en in furni lu'ififter expressed :
.\nd further we will and grant by tlevso pri'sents, b^r us, our heirs and
successors, unto the paid (jioxorunr au 1 Company, iii.d llair successor.-,
!J
IMl
i I
'I '
\ 1
\l'l'l,..l)l.\.
liany
that it sliall and may hf lawful to and f'(»r tlic .said <• 'Vornnr and Con:
fur till' tinic! l)eing, nr tlic yri'iti.T part of tlieni present at any pul)lii
siMnlily, cuinnionly called the Court (Jeneral, to he hoi en for tlii' saiil
Company, the (Jovernor of tiie said Ccmpany l)ein<^ always one, from
time to time to elect, nominate and appoint one of the said Com|)any to
he Deputy to the said (iovernor, which Deputy shall take a corporal oath,
before the ( iovi'mor and three or more of the (.'ommittee of the said Com-
pany for the lime heing, well, truly and faithfully to execute his said
otfice of Deputy to the (Jftvernor of the said Company, and after his oath !=o
taken «hall and may from time to time in the absence of the said (lovi'ruor.
exei'cise and execute till' otiice of (iovernoi" of the said ("ompany, in sui h
sort as the said (io\ernor ou'^ht to do : And further we will antl grant by
these presents, foi' us, oiu' heirs find successors, unto the said (iovernor
and ('ompany of Adventureis of Kngland trading into Hudson's Hay, and
their siuet'ssors, tha' the
the greater jiart of them, whereof the (it
ernor toi- the time lieing or his Deputy to lie one, from time to time, and
at all times hereafter, shall and may have anthorit}' and powir, yearly and
every year, betwei-n the first and last day of Novend)er, to assend)U' ami
meet tog< ther in some convenient place, to be appointed from time to
time by the ( Joveriior, or in his absence by the Deputy of thi' said ( iover-
nor *" ir the time being and that they bi'ing so assend)led. it shall and may
be lawful to and for the said (iovernor or Deputy of the said (ioverno)',
antl the said ('om[>Hny for the time being, or the gri'attr (tart of them
which then shall lia|tpen to be present, whereof the (iovernor of the said
Company or his Deputy for the time being to be om-, to tdett and nm
ui
nat
e oni' <
>{ tl
le sai<
IC.
luipany, w
hich shall be (iovernor of tin; said C
paiiy for one whole year then next following, which |)erson being so
electi'(l and noiuinated to be (io\ernorof the said Company as is aforesaid.
befon
lie at
Imitted to the execution of the said otHce, shall takt; a c<
poi'al oath before thi' last (iovi^'iKir, being his predecessor or his l)e[iuty,
m< re of the t'onuuittee of the said Coiupany for the time
md an\ tnree <
th
b»)ing, that he shall U'om time to tinu' well and truly execute the office of
(governor of the said Company in all things concerning the same; and
that innuediately after the sanu- oath so taken, he shall and nuiy execute
and usi- the said ottici' of (iovei'nor of the said ("ompany for one whole
year from thence ni'xt following ; And in like sort we will ami grant, that
as well, every one of the above-named to be of the said Company, or Fel
lowship, as all others hereafter to be admitted or free of the said Com-
jiany, shall take a corporal oath before the (iovernor of the said Company
or his Deputy for the time being, to such etlect as by the said (iovernor
and Company, or the greater part of tlu'm, in any public Court to be held
for the said Company, shall be in reasonable or legal manner set down
and devised, before they shall be allowed or admitted to trade or tratlic as
m^
Al'I'KNDIX.
Vll
11 fieisnmu of tlir sjiid Company : Ami fiirthcr wo will ami maiit liy tlu-so
prosoiits, for us, o\ir lit'irs and suoci'ssors, unto tlu' said (iovcinor and
ConijKiny and their successors, thht tlu' said (iovt-rnor or Deputy ( lovi'i--
nor, and the rest of the said Company, and their successors for the time
being, or tlu; greater i>art of them, whereof the fioveriior or Deputy-
(lovernoi' from tiuK^ to tinu* to he oni,', shall and may from time to time,
and at all timi-s hereafter, have power and authority, yearly and I'Vi ry
year, between the first and last <hiy of Ndvendier. to assemltle and meet
tof^etlu'r in sonu- convenient place, frt m time to time to be ajipninted by
the said (iovernor of the said Com])any, or in his absence, by his !)i'put,\- :
and that they l>eing so assemltled, it shall and may be lawful to ami for
the said (Jovi'rnor or his Dt'|>uty, and the Company for the time beini^, or
the greater part of them, which then shall h, ppin to be jiresent, whereof
the (iovernor of the said Company or his Deputy for the time being to he
one, to eUiCt and nominate seven of the said Coiiipany, which sliall be ;i
Connnittee of the said Company for one whole yi'ar from the next ensiling,
which persons being so elected an<l nominated to be a Conimittee of the
saiil Company as aftiresaid, before they lie admitted to the I'xecution of
their otHce. shall take a corporal oath before the Covernor t<v his Deputy,
and any three or more of the saiil Committee of the said Company, being
their last predecessors, that they and every of them shall wi-ll and faithfidly
perform their said oftice of Committees in all things concerning the same,
and that immediately after the saiil oath so taken, they shall ami may ex-
ecute and use their said otlice of Committees of the said Comjiany, for one
ivholeyear from thence next following ; And moreover our will and pleasure
is, anil by these presents, for us, our heirs and successers, we do grant unto
the said (iovernor and Company, and their successors, that win. n and as
often as it shall hajipen the (iovernor or Deputy-( iovernor of the said Com-
pany, for the time being, at any time within one year after that he shall
be nominated, elected and sworn to the otHce <if the (iovernor of the said
Company, as is aforesaid, to <lie or to be removed from tin- said oltice,
which (loveruoi- or Deputy-(iovernoi'. not demeaning himself well in his
said otlice, we will to be removable at the pleasure of the rt-st of the said
Comi)any, or the greater part of them which shall lie present at their
public assemblii's, commonly called their general courts, holden for the
said Company, that then and so often, it shall and may be lawfid to and
for the residue of the said Company, for the time being, or the greater
part of them, within a convenient time after thv death or removing of
any such (Jovernor or Deputy-t iovernor, to assendile themselves in such
convenient place as they shall think tit, for the election of the (iovernor
or Deputy-( iovernor, of tin? said Conqiany ; and that the said Company, or
the greater part of them, being then and there present, shall and mwy,
then and there, before their departure from the said place, elect and nom-
[i
vm
Ai'i'i:\i)i\.
iiiitu oiiL' iitlit'i" nf the s;iiil ( 'i)iii|i,iiiy ti* lir ( JuNfriinr or l>i.'i)iit,> (iosiTiini
for tilt' saiil ('<>iii|iany, in tlic plneu and stiatl nf liini tlint sn ilii'd oi' \Mt>
veniovc 1 ; wliicli lu-rson, ln-iiiu so u't'ttcd and noniinati'd to llic oilier ot
(loVLTMor or l)i'|nit_v ( iovoriior of tlic siiid ( 'oinpaiiy. sliall Iihm' and (An
cisi! tliL' Haid otlict' for and diiriiij^ the ri'nidiii' of tlie said year, takiiiu'
first a cor|H»ral oiitli, as is afori-said. for tin- due rxccntion tlicreof ; aiul
tluH to bo done finiii tiiuu lo tini
f so oftt'ii as I 111' casi' sliall Ho riM|uii'i
And also, our will ami ])li'aMirc \a, and liy llii'si; jircscnts for us, our li
inl-
and Hiicri'ssors, Wo dn v;raiit unto tlio said (Jovi-rnor ami ('oiii|iany, tliai
when, and as ofton as it shall ha|iiini, any |ifrson or persons of the Com
niittoo of tlio said ('oiii|iany, for tlio tinio l>cin<;, at any tinii' within oin'
year noxt aftor that thoy oi- any of tluiin Hhall ho nouiiiiati'd, olcctcd ami
Bworn to the otlico of Coiiiniiltoo of the said Company, as is afoicsaid, to
dii- or lu' rcniovi'd from the said otliro, which Coiiimittt'i's not (U'liicaninu'
thjiu-L'lvus \\A\ in tlioir said olhco. wo will to ho rniiovahloal tho ploasiiii'
of tho saiil <iovornor and Company, or tho i^i'oator jiarl of them, «lioroo|
tho (lovernor i>f tho aaiil Company, for tlio timo hcin'^'. or his Dopiity. to
1.
ino. that tlioii and so ofti'ii. it shall and may ho lawful
id for til
■said <iovorn'>r, and tho rost of tho Comjiany for tln^ timo hoim;, or tiir
greater pai't of thoni, whi'icof tho (oivoriior. for the tiiiu' lioinj^. or his
Dojtuty to l)o one. within ooinonitiit timo after iho doatli or roniovin<^ of
aiiv o
f tl
10 sa
id C
'ommitiot'. to a.ssonihlo thonisolvos ii
iicl
n such tonvonioiii
ilaoo as is or shall ho usual and aocnstomed for the oloction of the Covo
nor of tho s:iid Com|iany, oi' wlii'ro olso tho (Jovoinorof tho said Com
p.iiiy. for tho timo hoiiijj;, or his |)oputy shall apjioinl : And that tho said
(lovernor and Company, or the <j;roator put of thoni. whereof the (iov-
eijnor, for the time I oing. or his Deputy to ho one, being then and thoro
prosi'ut, shall and may. then and there, hoforo their do]iarturo from the
Haid place, oloot and nominate one or nmre of the aaiil Company to lie of
tho Committi'o of tlu' said Company in the place and sti'ad of him or them
that so dii'd, or won- or was so romo\ed, wliioli person or persons so nom
inated and elected to the otlioi' of Committee of the said ('■nipaiiy. shall
have and exercise tho saitl othco for and during the residue of the said
s aforesaid, for the duo execution
year
taking tiist a corporal oat I
as 1
Is
thereof, anil this to he dom- fi'om timo to time, so ofti'U as the case sh;
roipiire : And to the end tho said (iovornor and Company of Adyonture
of Kn^land. trading into Hudson's Ihiy, may ho encouraged to undertake
an I ort'eotaally '.o prosoouto the sad design, of our more especial grace,
oertain knowledge, and mere motion, w hayo giyen, granted, and con-
firmed, and by these presents for us, oiu' heirs and successors, do giye,
•'rant and contirm, mito the said (ioyorimr and Company, and their sue
cessors, tho solo trade and connueroeof all those seas, straits, bays, riyers,
hikes, creeks and sounds, in whatsoeyer liititudj they sliaU be, that liv
.\i'i'i:\i»i\.
IX
( (IJL'd nr wiiN
( thi- iiHiff "t
IVf )lll<l fXi'I'
yt'iir, t.ikiii.!
till rcof : iiiui
11 HI I nM|uiii' .
lis, (lUf lK'ir>
niiiiiaiiy, tli.ii
■. lit the Colli
lie witliiii <iiii
I, eluctL'il iiinl
s afin'csiiid, ti 1
lilt (ii'iiii'imiii'4
t till' iiluHstiic
laiii, svlu'ii'i't
lis Dopiity. til
til Jiiid for fhf
' lifiiiLi, <ir till'
J lifillg, iif ll!^
i)r ifiiioviiii,' lit
icli tiiuviiiii'iit
nf tliu (idver-
hi' saiil ("lUii
tliJit till' siiil
li'iif t lie ( liiV-
111 anil tlu'io
tiiro friiiii till'
|iH,iiy til 111' I't
liiiii III' tlii'iii
I'SiillS so liulll-
iiipaiiy, slmll
10 of till' saiil
duo i-xt'cutimi
tliu cast.' shall
f Advoiiluivis
to uiidertaki'
t'Siieciiil grace,
iitod, and cmi-
■MSorH, do givi',
and their suc-
s, liays, rivers,
ftU he, that hi.-
Nvitliiii thu untrance of thr straits I'liihiiiinily ealled llinlsiin's Straits, to-
gether with all the lands and territories ii|iiin the emintries, eoasts, and
eoiitiiies of the seas, itays. lakes, rivers, creeks, and soiuids aforesaid, that
are not already actually pnssessed li}' or granted to any of mu' siiltjei'ts. of
|iossi'»sed Ity the .siiltjects of any other Chiistiaii I'linct' or State, with the
fishing of all suits of tish, whales, stiirgeniis, and all other myal fishes in
theseas. liays, inlets, and rivers within the premises, and the tish therein
taken, together with the royalty of the sea ii|ion the eoasts within the
limits aforesaid, and all mines I'oyhl, as well discovered a.s not discovered,
of gohl, silver, gems, and precious stones, to he fnund or discovered with
in the territories, limits and ]ilaees .ifmesaid, and that the said land he
from henceforth reckoned and reputed as
it's in America,
Uii
pert
Land
le of our plantat
.\nd further, we
lolls 111' Cojiil!-
do, l>y these
presents for us, mir heirs and siiccessoi's, make, create and constitute the
said (lovernor and ('onipany, for the time heiiig. and their successors, the
tnu' and alisoluti' lords and piopiietors nf tin- same teiritory. limits and
placi's afori.'said, and of all other llie ]in'mises.
.a\iiii,' alwavs the faith,
allegiance and sovereign dominion due to us, niir heirs and successors, for
the same, to have, hold, pnssess and I'lijoy the said territory, limits and
places, and all and singular other tlu' premises hereh}' granted as afore-
said, withthi'ir and e\eiy of their rights, mi'iiihers, jurisdictions, pri'-
logatives, iiiyalties and appurtenances whatsoever, to them, the said (Jov-
erimr and Coiiipaiiy, and their siiccessurs for ever, to he liulden of us, our
II our county
heirs and successors, as of our manor of Mast ( iieeiiu icli, i
of l\ent, in free and coiiimiii soceage, and imt in capite or hy knight's
hli
service ; yieliling and pay
d
\i'arlv til us, I iiir heirs , -111(1 siieci'ssors, for
the .same, two elks and two lilaek heaxfi's, whensoever and as often as we,
our heirs and successors, shall happen to eiitei' into the saiil countries,
territories and regions lu-rehy granted : And further, mir will and plea-
sure is, and l»y these presents for us, our ln'irsand successors, w(! do grant
d to their successors, that it
iiiiti
th
sai(
I (
loxeriior am
1 C.
ipany,
an
^llall ,ind may he lawful tn and for tl
d (
le saiil t loveriior am
I ('
impaiiy, am
their successors, from time to time, to assi'iiihle themsehes, for nr ahor.t
any the matters, causes, atl'airs or liiisinesses of tlii' said trade, in any placid
oiiiiiiioiis nr elsewhere, a
ir.d
or places fur the same convenient, within oiird
there to hiild court fm- the said <'oiii]iaii3', and the ali'airs therenf ; and
that also, it shall and may he lawful to and fni ihi'iii, and the greati r
part iif them, heing so asseiiililed, ami that shall tlieiiaiid there he \)\-r-
seiit, in any such |ilace or jilaees, whei'eof the (Jnveriior nr his Deputy,
for the time heing. to he mie, to make, ordain and cniislitiite such and sn
many reason.'ihle laws, constitutions, ni'iU-rs and nrdinaiices as tn them,
nr the greater part of them, hi'lng then and there |irescnt, shall seem
necessary and convenient for the good govei'iimeiit of the said company,
GO
AIM'KNIMX.
and (if till gdVLTiiors if colonirs, foils ainl |il(iiitiiti<iii,s, fiictoiH, nuiNti-is,
iiiHriiiurs, ami otlier otticiTs eniployi'd, ur to 1)0 eiii|iloy»'<l, in any of tlic
tftritories ainl ImikIs afort-Hfiiil, anil in any of tlu-ir voyaj^is ; nn<l for tlio
ht'ttor advaufonit-nt and lontinnancc of tlie said trade or trattlc, and plan
tatioiiN, and tlir Hanu^ laws, lonstitntioiiH, ordta's and ordinances so made,
to put in, usi* and I'xiu'uti! accordin^dy. and at tlicir pleasure to ruvoki-
and alter tlu; Hanu'. or an;' of tlieni, hh the occasion shall re(|iiirt' ; and
tliat till! sai<' iovern " tnd Tonipany, so oftin as tlicy shall make, ordain,
<ir establish a>:y si* , ii.;v.-< (institutions, tirdcis and ordinances, in such
form as aforei. >>.)!.. •■■UnW and vuay lawfully ini|io8e, ordain, limit, and pro-
vide such paitis, i'..?i. , and punishmi'iits upon all oH'cnders, contrary
to such laws, consiitution . > lers and ordinances, or any <pf them, as to
the said (lovernor and Conipai.y, for tlu' tinu! being, or the greater part
of them, then aiul there being present, the said (governor or his Deputy
being always one. shall seem necessary, re(piisite, or convenient for thr
observation of the same laws, constitutions, orders, and ordinances ; an<l
the same tines and amerciaments shall and may, by their otticers and ser
vants, from time to tiling to lie appointed for that jiurposc, levy, take and
have, to the use of the said (iovernor and Company, and their successors,
without the impediment of us, our heirs, or successor, <ir of any the
otticers or ministers of us, our heirs, or successors, and without any ac-
count therefor to us, our heirs, or successors, to be made : All and singu-
lar 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, constitu-
tions, oi'ders and ordinances, tines 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 abvnidant grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have granted,
and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do grant unto the
said (iovernor and Conijiany, and their successors, that they and their
successors, and their factors, servants, and agents, for them and on their
Itehalf, and not otherwise, shall forever hereafter have, use anil enjoy, not
only the whole, entire and only trade and tratlic, and the whole, entire
and only liberty, use and privilege of trading and trathcking to and from
the territory, limits, and places aforesaid ; but also the whole and entire
trade and tratlic to and from all havens, bays, creeks, rivers, lakes anil
seas, into which they shall find entrance or passage by water or land out
of the territories, limits or plates aforesaid ; anil to and with all the
natives and people inhabiting, or which shall inhabit within the terri-
tories, limits and places aforesaid ; and to and with all other nations in-
habiting any of the coasts adjacent to the said territories, limits ami
plciceH which are n<it already possessed as afore.said, or whereof the sole
AIM'EN'IMX.
XI
liliL-rty IT privilo^'i- nf ir.nU' uii.l tnillic is imt m-aiitfd to ■•my ftliiT nf mir
siil)jectH : Ami Wf, nf (Mil- fuitliiT i<iyal favui. liiul nf mn' iiimi' is|ii'i lal
yrai'i'. ct'itiiiii kiHiwlodm'imd niuro iiiotinii, liiivi-gnintt'd, ami liy llusi- |iii'-
Hi'iits, fur lis, mil' lu'irs and succossoih, do j^raiit to tin- »aitl (JuviTiior mid
C"(nn|iaiiy, and to tlair siuch'ssoi-h, that nritlicr tln' said tiTiitorirs, liniitN
and placfs, luTi-liy manti'd as aforesaid, nor any pait tliiTi'of, noi- tin;
isbuuls, linvi-ns, ports, citios, towns, oi' plart-s tlicri'of, or tlunin lon-
taint'd, shivil In- visiti'd, frLM|uontiMl, or li.inntcd liy .my of the siiltitifs of
UH, oiu' lioirs, or Hiicii'SHors. contrary to tlio true nii'anin^ of tlusi' pr»'-
soiitH, and l>y virtiU' of onr proro^^ativf royal, wliich we will not liavt- in
that huhalf in>;ufil or iirou^lit into (piestion ; \\ f striitly cliar^ii', loin-
iiiaml and proliiliit for uh. mir licii's and snoiH-ssors. ;ill tin- sul)jrot>- f ns,
our heirs and sneeessors, of wlmt dej^reu or quality soewr they . !(■ '
none of them, directly or indirectly, do visit, hainit, fretiuent n tra^'.
trattic, or adventure, by way of merchandise, into or from any o: '■! .wi; i
territories, limits or places hertdiy L;r.inted, or any, or fitli' ^ i in,
othi-r than the s.iid ( JoM-nior and Company, and such particnla'' | >o.'is
as now lie, or liei ciftcr shall ln'. of that Company, their aj"''Us. taclois
and assij^ns, unless it he Ity the license and a<?reenu'nt of tl ■ !'<■ (Jov-
ernor and Company, in writiiitf first had and obtained, under tin- common
seal, to he ^{ranted, iijion pain that evt'ry such person or jn^rsons that shall
trade or trallic into or fiom any of the countrii's, territories or limits
aforesjiid, other than the said (Jovi'riior and Company, and their succes-
sors, shall incvir our indignation, .-iikI the forfi'iture and loss of the goods,
merchandise, and other thini^s whatsoever, which so shall lie hron^ht into
this realm of Knt?laiid, or any of the dominions of the same, contrary to
our said prohibition, or the purport or true nieaninu of these presents,
for which the said (iovernor and Company shall tind. lake and seize in
other places out of our dominions, where the said Company, their agents,
factors or ministers, shall trade, tr.illlc. or inhabit, by virtue of thcKO
our hitters jiatent. as also the ship and ships, with tlii' fiirnit ure thereof,
wherein such goods, merchandises, and other things, shall be brought unci
found : the one-half of all the said forfeitures to be to us, our heirs and
successors, and the othei' half thereof we do by these jiresents clearly and
wholly, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said
tJovernor and Company, and their successors : And furtliei-, all and
every the said otlenders, for the said contempt, to sutler such other pun
ishment as to ns, our heirs and successors, for so high a contempt, shall
si'em n»eet and convenient, and not to be in any wise delivered until they
and every one of them shall become bound unto the said (iovernor f<irthe
time being, in the sinii of one thousand pounds at th»' least, at no time
thereafter to trade or trathc into any of the said places, seas, straits, bays,
ports, havens, or territories aforesaid, contrary to our express command-
Ml
AI'I'KNDIX.
iiii'iit ill lliiit liclmlf «i't (luwii iiiiil |piililiHln'il ; Ami fiiitlicr, of uur iiiurc
^•^*|(l'^•illl t^riifc. wf liiiNu foiKli'Mcciiili'il hmI ;,'iiiMt('(l, and liy tlit'Mf |irt'Mfiiis,
for iiN, niir licirs and NiUTi'sunrs, dn ynint iiiiln tlie Huid ( lovt-riior ^nd
('niii|>(iii\, jiinl tlu'ir siuc'i'ssors, tli t .»»•, cmr lifirs iind siicci'ksoi'b. \mII
lint tjraiit lilii'i'ty, liruiisc i>r pdwor ti> niiy |ii!rsnii or |utsoiis wliat.sncxcr,
coiitiiiry to till- ti'iior of tln-so our IctliTs jiatiiit, to liadi', trallic. or in
lliiliit, unto or ii|ioii any tlic tcrritorifs. limits or jdiicfs nfurv .s|ii'cilifd,
I'onriMiy to tlic trm- mcaniiii^ of tlu-st' |irfsciits. without tlic ci'iiscnl of
till' said < loviTiior 1111(1 ('oiiipaiiy. or tlu' m<>>;t pail of tlu'iii : And, of our
more aldindnut yriifi' iiiid fiivor to tlio said (iovfiiior ami Conipaiiy, we
do licieliy declare oiir w ill and ploitHiiro to lie, that if it shull ho happen
that any of tlu,- persons free or to he free of the said ('oiiipaiiy of adven-
turers of Knylanil Iradiiii,' into ilndson's Uay, who shall, hefore iho ^{oinu
forth of any Hhijt or ships appointed for a voyai,'e or otliurwiist', promiHe or
a^ifi', l»y writing' under his or their lniiids, to advi-ntiire iiiiy sum or sums
of money towanls the fiirnishiiii^aiiy provision or mainti'iiamu of any voy
aj^e or Voyages, set forth, or to 1k' set forth, or intended or meant to lie
set forth, l>y the said (ioveiiior and Coiupaiiy, or the more part of them
present at any pulilie assiin
ii.lv,
immoiily ealU'd their <4i'neral court, shall
not within the space of twenty daya next after warniiijj; ^dven to him or
them Ity the said (loveriior or ("ompaiiy, or their known otliior or minister,
lirin<^ in and delivir to lliv Trcasnri r or Treafcuii is, appointed for tlu'
("omjiaiiy such sums of money as shall have lieeii expressed and set down
ill wiitiiij,; liy the .said person or \ < :sons. suliserilted with the name of .said
adventure or adventurers, thai then and at all times after it shad and may
lie lawful to .iiid for tile said (io\iriior and Company, or the more part of
present, whereof the said (Jo\eriior or his Deputy to he one, at .any
if their "eiier.il courts or i/eiii'ial .issemlilies, to remove and disfraiicliiso
th
•h
him or them, an<l every siieli person and persons at their wills and jileji-
.siires, and lie or they so reiiiovetl and disfranchised, not t<i he iiunnitted to
trade into the countries, territories, and limits aforesaid, or any p;irt
thereof, nor to have any adventure or stock going or remaining with or
aiuoi)t;«l the saiil Company, without the special license of the said (io\er-
nor and Company, or the more put of them present ;vt any ( Jeiieral (!ourt,
tir.st had and olitained in that hehalf, any thing liefore in these presents to
the contrary thereof in any wise iiotwithst.inding : .\iid our will and
pleasure is. ,uid lierehy we do also orJ.iiii, tli.it it shall and may bo lawful
to and for ihe said (Joveriior and Company, or the greater part of them.
II' tinu' lieiiig or his Deputy to lie one, to ad-
w hereof the (ioveinor
for t
iiiit into and to lieof the said eompaiiy all such ser\ants and factors, of or for
the .said Company, and all such others as to tlieiii or the uio.st part of them
present, at any Court held for the .said Company, the (ioveriior or his De
puty Iieing one, shall be thought tit and agreeahle with the orders and or-
f«
\i'I'i;ni»i\.
Mil
iliiwinct's iiDiili' i\n<\ \>> lu' niiilf foi' tlic (JoviTiiini'iit nf tl\c h.M ('niii|iaiiy :
And fiii'tlici-, iMii' will .iimI |plt'!iHiiri' in, ami liv flic"!' prt'si'iits, fur \ia, mil'
heirs aiii
I HII
Cl'l'SSIirH, \\ (• (
in m
nut until the ^<aiil < Miveninr a i
1 ('
i|Miiiy,
ami to tiu'if siuicssnrs, that it shall ami inav In' lawful iii all eli-it'iiis nml
li_V Ihwm til lie liiaile liy the (u'Ueial (' ailt nf the AiUi-UtUli'ls <if tile saiil
('niii|iauy that e\ery |iei'si>ii shall lia\e a iiuuilier nf vntes afmrdim,' tu his
stuck, that
I- ti
ly, fur e\fiy
hu
mH'i'il |iiiiiii
Is ll
MliSM'lillril 111
hi'iiu^ht iiitii the |ireseiit slnek, niie x'lite, aiid that any nf thn f that have
siiliserilieil nr hinULjht intn the |iresent slnek, niie vnte. ami that any nf
tlinse that havi- suiiseriln^Ml less than niie hnmlieil |inuutls, may jniu their
i'eH|iuetivu .sums In make up mii' humlreil pnuml~
ly fur th ■ sam ;. ami imt nt her
.1 I
ami liav e one vnte jnint-
« ise
Anl fuilher nf nui
•spe-ial '^race
oei'taiii kiinwleili^e and mere uiilinii, we t\i> fnr us
ir heirs ami suet'oss-
iM'H, i^rant tn and w ith the said < inxerunr and Cnmpiny n| Adxenlureis nt
H'<!L;!.ind tra<liie4 into lludsnu's May, tliat all lands, islands, territnrieH,
plautatiniis, tmts. fnit itieatinii <, faetnriis nr cnlnnies. where the said Cniii
paiiys faetnrii's and trade are nr shall lie. within any the pnsts nr plaees
afore limited, sh.'iil he immedialelv and tinui h
emi'lnrlli umler
th
r
.•ind cniiim 111 I of the said (inM-innr ami ('.Hupiny, their siiceessms and
insiisiis ; saviiii^ the faith and alle^^ianei' due tn lie performed tn us. mir
lii'irs and siiceessnis as aforesaid : and that the siid (Jnveriior and ('niu-
pany shall liasi' lilieity. full pnwei ami auilmiiiy tn ;ipp(iiiit and csialilish
<Iiivernnr.s and all luhcr ntlici'rs In Ljnvern them, and that the (invi'inor
ami his Couiu'il of the se\'ei;d and respect i\i' pku
es w Mere
tl
le sail
I Cnll
pany shall lia\e plantations,
tradi' within any of th
have iiowei' In jud'.
fort^
mnirie
factnlli'S. cnlonu s.
ands nr tcrritniit
"• 1
i.aees ni
may have pnw el' In pid'^'e all persnus lielnn^'iiiL; tn the said (in\ciiini
lieleliy 1^1 an
d "(i
ted
iml ('
I pany,
ir thit
II li
ve 1
imler them, in .ill caun
whet
u'r
civil or criminal, aeeordinu to ilu- law.s of this kiuudnm. .i
ml lo execiite
justiei
accori
liii.d\
am
111 case anv crime or n
lisdei
iie.'inonr
diall
he committed in any of tlu' said ('niupany's plaiilatinns fnits. factories, or
plact's of trade within tln' liiiiits aforesai<l, where judiiature cannot lie
executed for want of a (io\i
ir and C-
IIIUCII
ih
thel
I III KUeh i-isi' It
shall and may he lawful for the chief factor of that jdai'e iind his ( oiimil
to transmit the jiarty, toi^etlier with the oH'eiice, to such other pl;iut.itinii,
fuctoiy or fort where there shall he a < ioveriior an I Council, where justice
may he executeil, or intn this kiii'^'doui of Kii,d;ind. as shall lie thniii,rlit
most coinenieiit. there to receixe such piiuishmeiil as the nature of his
tfl'eiice shall deservi
And
nmreovt'r, on
wil
;ind pleasure is, ami liy
these presents, for us. mir heirs and siitcij.ssors, \\v do i^iNe and <;rant unto
the said (Joveriior ami Conipaiiy, and their successors, free lihcrty and
license, in case they conceive it iiec.essaiy, to .mud i-ither ships of war,
men or amiiiunition, unto ;iiiy of their plant.ations, forts, factories or places
' 'I
ill
4
i
Xl\
AI'I'KNDIX.
!(■
I.
!■
r
:^ 1
i' !
^ia.it
of trado afi'ii'Miiil. fnr tlu' Hec^urity ami tU'fi'iuT of ilm Maiiif, hihI to
cliiMiio ciirniiiaii<l<i'N ami iitliciTM nver tliuiii, anil t" ^'ivo tluin |iiivv(>r
ami autlmrity, liy c-niiiiiiiHHiiiii uimIci' tlit'ir ciiiiilii*>n Htal, i>r otliei wIho,
til coiitiinii! <•! niakt' piwu'f or war with uwy prim-*! or ju'oplc wliafso-
uvor, that arc not ('hristiaiiH, in any iilaccs whoic thcHaiil Company HJiall
havf any |>laiitationH. forts, or factorieH, or atljiiccnt tlu-rtMinlo, hh .shall
he nioHt for tim ntlvantagu ami liuiietit of thu Haiil (iovcrnor ami
Com|iaiiy. ami of thfir Irailo; ami also to lii^lil ami rccompinsi' tln-m
Hi^lvi'M upon the ^oods, r.statt'N or pi'oplo of thfisf poMtH, lij' whom the
Hniil (iovt>rnor ami Company aliali 'timtaiii any injury, hms or <lama)^i-, or
upon any otlu-r (it'oplo whatsoevor that Hhall any way, rontrary to the
intt-nt of tlii'Mc |ircs(>nt.s, interrupt wroni;, or injuro tlu-m in thi>ir said
tratlo. within tin* said placi's, ti-rritorivs, and limits ^rantid liy thiH charier.
And that it Hhall and may he lawful to and for the .said (iovurnor and
Company, and their succeHsois, from time to time, and at all times from
heneeforth, to ereet and huild such caHtles, fortitieationH, fortn. i^arriaons,
colonies, or plantations, towns or villages, in any post or places within
the limits and hounds granted hefuru in thuHu pruseiits unto thu said
(lovernor and Company, as they in their discretion nhall think tit and
reipiisite, and for the HU|iply of such as shall lie needfid and convenient.
to keep and be in the same, to send oiii of this kin{>;doni, to the said
castles, forts, fortifications, garrisons, colonies, plantations, towns or
villages, all kinds of clothing, provision of victuals, ammunition and
implements necessary for such pinpose, paying the duties and customs
for the same, as also to transport and carry over such nund>er of men,
being willing thomselves, or not prohibited, as the} shall think tit, and
also to govi'rn them in such legal and reasonable manner as the said
(Jovernor and Company shall think best, and to inflict puni.sh.neiit for
mis«lenieanors or impose such tines upon them for bioich of theii' orders,
as in these presents are formerly expressed : And further, our will and
jileasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, wi' do
grant unto the said Governor and Company, and to iheir successors, full
power and lawful authority to seize upon the ])er.sons of all such Knglish,
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
(Jovernor and Company, without their leave and license in that behalf
first had and obtained, or that shall condemn or disobey their orders, and
semi them to Knghind : and that all and every j)er.son or persons, being
our subjects, any ways employed by the said (Jovernor and Company,
within any the parts, places, and limits aforesaid, shall be liable unto and
sutl'er Bucli punishment for any oH'ences by them committed in the jiart.s
aforesaid, as the President and Council for the said Governor and Com-
jtany there shall think tit, and the merit for the ofl'ence shall recjuire, as
'I
«
AI'I'KNIUX.
XV
iifui't'Aaiil ; niiil in cuNtt niiy ticrriDii nr poi'Kiins Itciiii; cDnvieti'il nuA nru-
ti'iict'd \ty flu- I'n'sidcMi iml Coniiril <if tlu- siiiil (mivitii'ii tml CiiiiipiiMy.
ill tliu I'liinitrit'N, IuihIh or limits HforcHaiil, tlicir fuotoiH m- tk^^ontH tlitTf.
for luiy iiH'ciict* hy tlifiii liniio, nIwiII .'i|i|io;il from the hkiiio, tliiit thru ami
ill NiU'li ciiHk' it nIihII .'iml may he lawful to aii<l for the situl I'lfiiiilciit ami
Coiiiicil, factors or agtuifs, to sfi/.r iipoii hiiii or tliciii. aiitl to carry him
ur tht'iii liomi- priHoiit'iH into Kn<.''.in<l, to the Haiti (iovfiiior and Cuiii-
|iaiiy, tluio to rt'Cfixf such comlinn iiiiiiishmunt as his can *»■ shall ri'i|iiirf,
anil till UwH of thin nation allow of; and for thi; lu'tter diHcoviiy ot
uhuHtfH ami injnrirs to he dont' unto tlu' "uiid (lovuriior and ('Oinpany, or
tlipir siicci'SMors, liy any servant hy thom to lii> employi'd in tlu- »ai<l
Voyat{<-H and plantations, it shall and may l>f lawful to and for the naid
iJovcrnor mill Company, and their respective I'reMidcnt, Chief Agent or
(iovuriior in the parts aforuHaid, to examine upon oath all fnetorN,
masters, purHers, siipercHr^oeH, coiiitiiHiiderHnf eiistles, forts, fortitieations,
plantatioiiH or colonies, or other porsoiiH, touchinj^ or concerning any
matter or tiling in which hy law or iiHa^e an oath may he ailministered, so
<is thu Haid oath, and the matter therein contained, he not repugnant, Imt
iiijrecahle to the laws of this realm : And wc do herehy strictly charge
ami cointnand all and singular our Admirals, Victi-Admirals, .Tiistiii^H,
Mayors, Sherifls, Constahles, liailitls, and all and sin;,'ular other our
otticors, iiiiniHters, lii'j^e men and sulijects whatsoever, to In- aiding,
favouring, helping and assisting tn thu said (rovernor and Company, and
to their successors, and to their deputies, officers, factors, servants, as
signs and ministers, and every of them, executing, and enjoying the pre-
mises as well on land as on sea, from time to time, when any of you shall
thereunto he rei]uired : Any statute, act, ordinance, proviso, proclama-
tion or restraiuL heretofore luid, made, set forth, ordained, or |)rovided,
or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any-
wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caused thesis our
Letters to he made Patent. Witness ourself at Westminster, the
.second day of May, in the two-and twentieth year of our reign.
Hy Writ of Privy Sial.
PKIOTT.
f^
XVI
AI'I'KN'DIX.
X(
ChoWN (JkaM in TIIK Hi HSONS UaY CoMl'ANV (IK Kxci.lSIVK TliADK,
IS21.
(;K(l|<(iK I{.
(I., s.)
T<, <ill irh,
( JKoKiiK I'liK Ful KTii, l>y till' (iiacf of ilitd of till' I'liired
Kingdom of (Jix-at IJiitiiin and In-laml, Kin<f. I>«-
fi'iiiU'i- of till' Faitli.
//n
/'
i/.s .■ihiill ciiiiii , (;l{KK'l'IN(
VV'hkkkas An Act passi'd in llic scconil year <if "Hir ri'ii^n. intitiilei'i,
"All Ai't fop roi,'iiliitiii4 till! Fur TiwU-, and for I'staMisliing a Criminal
and Civil .liirisilictioii within ct-rtain jiarts of North America ; wln'roin it
is amon;4.st otlit'r t hinj^s fiiat'ti-d, that from and after tlif jtassing of tht-
saiil Ai't, it should liu lawful for us, our heirs oi- sufcfssors. to maki- nr.nits
or LJIVC I
>ur Royal liiti'iise, Miidor tlu- hand and seal of one of our Priiui-
|>al Secretaries of State to any liody eor|»orate or company, or jierHoii oi
persons, of or for the exclusive privilej^'e of tradiiiL; with the Indians in all
such puts of Noith America as should lie specified in any such (Irants or
Lici'iises respect ixily, not lieint^ pirt of the lands or territoiies heretofuie
granted to the (lovt'rnoi' and Coiii|iany of Adventurers of Fnylaml trad-
iiifi to Hudson's Hay, and not lieinu I'li'l of any of oiu' jirovinces in North
America, or of any lands or teiritories lielonuiiiLj to the Cniteil States of
Ai
nerica, and t hat all such < I
!n air
jicenses slioi
ild lie ''ood, valid and
etl'eclual, for the purpose of securiiiL; to all such liodies corporate, or com-
panies, or persons, tli" sole ami exclusive piiv
le<_'e (
if tradiii"' with th
Indians, in all such parts of North America (except as tlu'ieinafter ex-
cepted) as should he s]iecitied in such <!rants or Licens(^s, anythiiiLC con-
tained in any Act <ir Acts of i'arliaiiient, or any law to the contrary not-
witlistaiidin>f : and it was in tlie said Act further enacted, that no such
tirani or License iiiadi' or ^iven liy us. oui' heirs or successors, of any sucli
exclusive privilejfes of tradin<,' with the Indians in such parts of North
.\merica as afoi'esaid siioul) In- made or ^dveii for an}' lon<;er period than
lie leiiiiired or demanded for oi' in re-
21
md that no rent shonli
spoct of any suchtirant or License, or any juivile^es Lfiveii thereliy, under
the jirovisioiis tif the said Ai-t. for the tirst period of •_'! years ; and it was
furthei' enacted, that from and after thi' jiass.u^ of the said .\ct, the
< jovernor anil Comiiaiiy <if Adxeiitirreis of Fnj^land 1 radiiiy to Hudson s
Bay, and I'very liody corporate and company and ]iiMs(in, to whom every
such (iraiit or License should lie made or ;,dven as aforesaid, should re-
spectively keep accurate registers of all parties in their employ, in any
A. '
AI'I'KXDIX.
XVll
sivE Thahk.
.f tlie I'liiioil
,, Kiiiy. Do
[11, intitiiltM'.,
ij; ii Criiniiial
; wlii'iviii it
isnilltf nf the
iiijikf i;i-.;iit.s
f Kiir I'liiici-
nr iMT.siiU cii
Indiiiiis in all
It'll (Jnints 111
es lieretnfniL'
liiylaiifl ti'.-id-
ci's ill Nnrtli
I'll Stiites ipf
III, viilitl and
'ate. III" fiiiii-
II!,' witli tin'
reinaftor ux-
iythiii'4 Ci>li-
iitrary nnt-
liat Ml) sucli
nf any such
ts i(f N'mtli
|iurii>d tliaii
fur 111' ill ic-
troliy. iukUt
: and it was
id Aft. the
to Hudson s
wlioin evi'iy
I, shoiihl I'l.'-
iloy, in any
parts of Nortli Aim-rica, and slioidd onci' in i-arh yrar ri-tiim to niir I'lin-
fi|ial Serretiirios of Statt* afiMirutu duplii-ati-s of such i'i's,'istiTs, ami should
also untui' into siu-li si'ciirity as should In- rt't|nirt'il liy ns for the diu' I'Xe-
cntion of all criminal |iioi'i'ssfs. and of any I'ivil |iioc»ss in :\\\\ siiii wIrto
tin; niattiT in dis|uitt' slioiiid cxcffd 'J(M(/,. and as well williui the tcni-
torit's inclmlfd in any siicli j^raiit as within tho.so iii'antcd liy ('hartcr
to till' (Jovtiiiior and ('omi»any of Advfiitnri'rs of Kn^daml tra<linK to
sons Bay, and for tho prodnciny and di'liviry into safi' cii^tody. for
llnds
the piirposr of trial, all persons in their eni|»loy. oi' actinn under their
anthoi'ity, who should lie ehar^ed with any eriminal otl'eiu-e, and also fur
tile due and faithful oh.m-rvanee of all such rules, leuulatioiis and stipula-
tions as should lie eoiitained in any such (irant or i.ieeiise. cither for
j^radnally diininishinjj; ami ultimately iireveiitiie^ the sale or distrilmtion
of spirituous liipmrs to thi' Indians, or for proinotiu',; iln'ir moral and re-
1
igioiis improvement : or for any other obji'ct which \\f mi^lit deem neces-
sary for till' remedy or prevention of any other evils which have iieeii
hithorto found to exist: : And whereas it was ahso in il
le sill
1 Act I
that hy a Convention entered inti
'tween his lat
M
ijesty ami i li
eclteil
I Ik
I'nited States of America, it was stipulated and agreed that e\eiy coun-
try on the N'ortli-W'i'st coast of America to the westward of the Stony
Mountains should he free and open t>the citizens and siilijects of t he two
jiowers for the term of ten yeais from the dale of the sii^naluie of that
(
onvention
d it was therefori' enacted, that iiotliiiii,' in the said Act
eoiitained should he deemed or construed toautliorise any body corporate,
fonipaiiy or |iersoii, to whom his Majesty nii>;lit, under the pio\isions of
the saiil Act, iiiak
e or
;i'ant.
or uive
li
iceiise of exclusive
trail
nil' with the
Indians, in such parts of North .America as aforesaid, to claim or exercise
any such exclusive trade within the limits specitied in tiic said article, to
the prejudice oi- exclusion of any citizens of the I'nitci
Si ates of America
trade: l*i<>\iileil always that no
who miL(ht he entia'j,i'd in tii' sa
Hritish subject should trade with the Indians w it hiu such limits without
such (irant or License as was bv the said Act reouiiei
.And whereas the said (loveriior and t^)lllp:ln\ o|' Ad\entun
if I-:
land, trading into llulsius !>ay, and cerliin Assm-iations ot persons
tradi
nj' urn
ler tl
le name i
if th
out ll-w t'S
t Complin of .Montreal. " liavi
respectively extended the fur trade over man> parts nf North .\merica
which had not been before exjilored : .-Viid wlnii-as the eompetition in tho
said trade has been found for some years past to be ]iroduetive of i^reat
inconvenience and loss, not only to the said <'nmpaiiy and .Associations,
but to the said trade in Kciieral, and also of u'leat injury tn the native
Indians, anil of ntlier persmis our subjects ; .And whereas the said (inv-
ernnr and Cniiipany nf .Adveiitiirei's nf Kn^daiid, trading into Uudsnn's
Bay, and William M'(iillivray, of Montreal, in the province of Lower
t'
will
AI'I'KNDIX.
hi
'.I'
I (^
[M^ ' .'
Ciumtla, e8()uire, Siiimn M'Gillivray, of SuH'olk lane, in the City i>f Lon-
don, iiiorclmnt, and Kdward Kllice, of Spring (Jarduiis, in tlie county of
Middlesex, t'.s(iuirL', liavi- lejiresontud to us, that tlioy liave entered into
ail agreement on tlie '_'(>tli day of March last, for putting an end to the
sjiid competition, and carrying on the said trade for 21 years, coinmeiicin^^
witli the outfit of 1821, and eniling with tlie returns of 1841. to be carried
on in the name of tiie said (Jovernor and Company exchisively.
And wliere is tlie said CJovernor and t'oiupany, and William MXiillivray.
Simon M'dillivray and Edward Ellicf. have humldy besought us to make
a grant, and give our Royal License to them jointly, of an<l for the
exclusive privilege of ti'ading with the Indians in North America, under
the restrictions and upon the terms and conditions s|)ecitied in the said
recited Act : Now know ye, that wo being desirous of encouraging the saiil
trade and remedying the evils which have arisen from the competition
which has heretofore existed therein, do grant and give our Royal License,
under the hand and seal of one of our principal Secretaries of State, to
the said Governor and Company, and William M'tiillivray, Simon M'dilli-
vray anil Eilward Ellice, for the exclusive privilege of trading with the
Indians in all such parts of North America to the northward and the
westward of the lands and territories belonging to the United States of
America as shall not form )»art of any of our pri>vince8 in North America,
or of any lands or territories belonging to the said United States of Amer
ica, or to cny Euro|)eaii (iovernment, state or power ; and we do by these
))re8ents, give, grant and secure to the said Governor and (-onipany, and
William M'dlillivray, Simon M'(Jillivray and Edward Ellice, jointly, the
sole and exclusive privilege, for the full period of 21 years from the date
of this our grant, of trading with tin; Indians in all such parts of North
America as aforesaid (except as tln'reinafter excepted) ; and we do hereby
declare that no rent shall be reipiired or demanded for or in respect of
this our (irant and License, or any prixileges given thereby, for the stiid
period of 2J years, but that the said (li ■ ernor and Comi)any and the said
William M'Gillivray, Simon M'(Jillivray and Edward Ellice shall, during
the period of this our (Jrant and License, keep accurate registers of all
persons in their employ in any parts of North America and shall once in
each year return to (mr Secretary of State accurate duplicates of such
registers, and shall also enter into and give security to us, <mr heirs and
successors, in the penal sum of 5,(M)0/. for ensuring, as far as in them
may lie, the due execution of all criminal processes, and of any civil pr<i-
cess in any suit where the matter in dispute shall exceed 200/. by the
otHcers and jiersons legally enptjwered to execute such processes with'ii
all the territories included in this our grant, and for the producing and
delivering into safe custody, for the purposes of trial, any perbons in their
employ, or acting under their authority within the said territories, who
may be charged with any criminal offence.
AIM'KXIUX.
XI \
Ami wi> do iilisii licrol)y iTniiivo, tluit tlio caid d'oMa-iinr and ("oiiipaiiy.
and William M'(iii!ivray, Simon M'Oillivray and Kdward Kllico sliall, as
s<i()n iiH the samu can be conveniently done, make and submit for our con-
sideration and approval such rules and rei^idutions for the management
and carrying on the said fur trade witli the Indians, and tiie conduct
of tile jiersons employed by them therein, as may appear to us to oe etfec
tual for orradually diminishing^ or ultimately jireventing the cale or distri-
bution of spirituous liipiors to the Indians, and fur pronu)tin>i; their moral
and relijfious improvement.
And we do hereby declare, that nothing in this our grant contained
siiail be deemi'd or construed to authorise the said Governor and Com-
]iany, or William M'tiillivray, Simon M'Ciillivray and Kdward Kllice, or
any person in their emjiloy, to claim or exercise any trade witii the
Indians on the North-West coast of America to the westward of the
Stony M(uintains. to the prejudice or exclusion of any of the citizens of
the I'nit'd States of America who may be engaged in the same trade :
Provided always tliat no Hritish subjects otiier than and except the said
<Jovernor and Company, and the said William M'<Jillivray, Simon M'-
(Jiliivray and Edward Kllice, and the persons authorised to carry on ex-
clusive trade by them on (Jrant, shall trade with the Indians within such
limits during the jieriod of this our (Jrant.
(liven at our Coiut at Carlton-house,
the 6th day of December, 1821, in
the second year of our reign.
By His Majesty's connnand.
(L. S ) UATHUHST.
No. 3.
Crown Grant to the Ht'Oson's Bay Company of the exclisivr
Trade with the Indians in certain i'akts ok North America,
FOR A Fl'RTHER TERM OF TwENTV-ONE YeAKS, AND ll'ON THE SUR-
RENDER OF A FORMER (tRANT.
■ii
N'u'Toria R.
(l. s ) Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom
of (ireat Britain and Ireland, CJUEEN, Defeniler of
the Faith.
ill
To all to irhntti these Piesentx shnll come, oreetino :
Whereas, by an Act passed in the iSession of Parliament holdcn in the
first and second years of the reign of His late Majebty King (Jeorge the
1
i
!
i
9
XX
APPENDIX.
Kmirfli. oiititlcd " An Act for i>';riil!itiii|^' tlic Fur Tnide, mid cHtaMisliiiii:
a <'riiiiiiial ami Civil .liirimlictimi within lertaiu partH of North Anioriia.
it was anioiiyst other thin!,'s, I'liactod. that from ami after the |ia.ssiii«{ of
the said Aft, it hhoiilil he lawful for His sail .Majesty, his heirs or sue-
eessors, to umko (Iraiits, or <,'ive his or their Ko.val Lieensu, uinler the
hand and senl of one of his or their principal Secretaries of State, to ans
liody corporate or Company, or pi'rson or persons, of or for the exclusive
privile^'e of trading' with the Indians in all such parts of North America
as • hoidtl lie spi'citieil in any such ( i rants or Licenses respect ively, not
Ix'iiiL; pare of the lands and territorii's theretofore Ljranted to the Cnwr
iioi and Company of Adventurers of Kuyland tradini,' to iJudMin's IJay,
and not hein.' part nf any of our provinces in Nmth America, or of ,iii\
iiid
s or territories lielon^in;^' to the Cnited States of .\merica, and t
hal
all such (irantsaiid Licenses should lie i,'ood. valid and ellectual for tli
pui()oNe of securiii'^ to all such li idies c<irporate, oi- I'ompanies. or personv.
the sole and exchusivi' piivilei^e of trading with the Indians in all sucli
parts of North America (except ;is theieinafter I'xcepted) as should Im
sjiecilied in such (Jrantsor Licenses anythiiiji contained in any Act or Acts
of I'.ii liament, or any law to the contrarv notwithstanding; : and it wa>
ftutlier eimcted, that
no siu
■h (iraiit or Lici nse made oi' >'ivcn hv His sai I
Majesiv. his heirs or su'jcessors, of any such exclusive privileges of i^rad
mg with the ln<lians in such parts of North America aH aforesaid, sliouhl
lie made or i,fiven for any lonu'cr period than 'Jl years, and that no ri'iit
should lie leipiirecl or demanded for or in rcspett of
anv such (Jrant •■!
[jiceiise. or any such privileges i^iveii then'liy under the provisions of the
said \:t for tln^ tirsi jieriod of lit yi-ars : and it was fuither enacted,
that from and alter the | assin^; of the .saicl Act, the (Joveiinpr ;inil
Company of .\dvcnturers tradiiii,' to liudsons i>ay. ami every Imdy cor
iich <
It or Li
cense
porate. and comiiaii}', and peison to whom ;iny s
should lie made or L(i\ en as afori'said. should respectively ki'eji accui'iite ri.'-
gistersofall jiersonsin tlu'ir employ in any parts .if North .\merica, and
should (ince ill each vcar return to the I'riiicipal Secri'taries of State accui-
luplicates of such ri'gisters. and should also enter into, such security as
ate (
sho lid 111' ri'ijuired fortlu' due exi'cu! ion of all processes criminal and civil,
as well within the territoiies ini'liided within any such <«rant-«, as within
those L(ranted liy Charter to the (iovernor and Coiiijiany if Adventurers of
Knul
ml trading to Hudson's Hay, and for the producinsj; or deliveriiui in-
to safe custody, for the purpose of trial, all persons in their employ or act-
iiii; under their autho.ity. who should lu' charj^ed with any criminal otl'encc.
and also for the due .lud faithful
rvaiice of all siu-h rules, ret'ulatioiis
ai
lid stipulations as should lie contained in any such (irant or License
Uy.l
minishiiif.; and ultimately pri, ventiny the sale or distii
eithi/' for gradua
'Mition of spirituous I'lpiors to the Indians, or for proinotinj^ their moi';
AIM'KNDIX.
XXl
t'stiil>lisliiii>.'
Ii Aiiierica.
lit' piissiiiii "I
lii'irs ('!• 8UC-
ie. uinlrr tlir
St.itf. til aii\
lIlC CXclllsiv !■
irtli AiiR'ric.i
fclivi'ly, lint
u till' (JiiVlT-
lulson's I'lMN ,
.•a, or lit' aiiN
ica, ami thai
I'tual for tile
^, ui' |p('rsciii^.
IS ill all siicli
as sliotild 111
\ Act nr Acts
: and it wa-
ll li,\ Mis sa: 1
li'^ii's tit' trail
(■said, slmiild
tliHt nil rent
icli (iraiit "1
siiiiis iif till'
icr I'liacteH.
\ el iinr and
■\- lii'dy c'lir
or liii-oiisc
iL'ciir.'ti' rc-
ViiR'iica, and
State accttr
li soriiritv as
al and ci\il. ■
t". as within
vi'iitiiri'is <it
t'livi'iiiiii iii-
ii|il(iy «ir act-
liiial nti't'iici'.
. ri'i^ulatioiis
iir Lict'iist.',
.ill- nrdistri
I their iimial
and reiii^iiiiiH im|iriiveiiieiit, or for any other ohjecl which iiiiyht he deem-
ed necessary for the remedy or prevention of any other evils which had
hitherto been found to exifit ; and wliere as it was in the said Act reciteil
1
that, by a convention entered into hetwueii IiIh sfiid late Majesty and the
iiited States of America, it was sti|iiilated and ayn-ed, that every
contitry on tin' NoitiiNVest ('casts of America to the wtstward of the
&«tony Mountains should hv free and ojicn to tin; citi/.eiis and sulijects
of the two powers for the term of ten years from the date of the
signature of that convention ; and it was therefore enacted, that iiotli-
ini; in the said Act contained should he dci'ined or coiistriieil to aiitliorisi>
any
iiin
ho.l
lei tl
y corporate, com|aiiy or person to whom his said Majesty niiyht,
d Act, make or <^'rant or ^ivea license of ix-
le provisions of the san
f th
exclusive trade withthe Indians in such partsof North America as aforesaid
to claim or exercise any such exclusive trade within the limits specilied in
the said article, to the prejudice or ('xcliisioii of an_\ citizens of the said
I'nited States of America who miulit lie eiis,'ai,'ed in tlu'said traile ; with a
inciviso, that no IJritish siiiiject should tradi' with tin- Indians within such
units without such (iraiit or License as was
l.v th
d Act
reiiuire<
And whereas liy an instruineiit under the hand and seal of the {{inht
Hoiior.iitle Kirl Hathurst, then i ne of his said late .Majest\'s Sec-
retaries of State, and datt'd the *itli day of Dccemher, I.HiJl, after re-
citing therein, as or to the etl'ei't afori'said. and also ii'citiie^' that
the said (Jovernor and ("oinpaiiy <if adventurers of Kic^land tiadiie4
to Hudson's Hay. and certain Associations of jiersons trading under the
name of '"'rhe North-West Comiiaiiy of Montreal," had respectively ex-
tended the fur trade ovi'i' many |iarts of North America which had imt
bi'en l)efore explori'd. ami that the com|(etition in the said trade had been
found, for some years then past, tube productive of i^reat inconveii eiice
and loss, not only to tlu' said Company and Associations, but to the saiil
trade in <^eneral. and also of i^'ieal injury
other persons, his said M
to ti
le n.-itivi-
liid
tans
d of
ijesty s sulijeits
uid that the said '
rnor
and Compa.iy of Adventurers trading to Hudson's I5ay ; and W'il' i Me-
Ciillivray, i)f Montreal, in the I'mvinceof Lower Canada, ostpiii >imon
Mc(iillivray, of Sutf'o'k Line, in the city of London merchant id Kd-
vvard Kllice, of Sjiriiii,' (Jardeiis, in the county of Middlesex, esij .iie ; had
represented to liis said Majesty that they had entered into an .:reeiiient,
iipetition,
o , lie said
on the 'Jiitli day of March last, for putting; an end I
and carrying on the said trade for 21 years, commemuiiy u .i h the outfit
of 1821, and endiiii,' with the returns of tlu' outfit of 1841, to be carried
on in the name of the said (Jovi'rnor and Coinpany exclusively, and that
the said <tovernor and Company, and W'dliani Mcliillivray, Snnon Mc-
(tillivray, and Edvvanl KUii'e, had humbly be,s<iU<^ht his said late Majesty
to make a <^rant, and give his l{oyal License to them jointly of and for the
ii
n
is
\ 1)
In
> if'
f,fl
xxn
AI'I'KXDIX.
i-xciusivu privilege <if trailing with tlu; Iiuliiins in Nortli Aiiu'rioi, uiiiltr
the rustrictioiiH, and upon thu torniH and c-iinditionH Hpecifiud in the N;iid
recited Act ; his Haid latt; Majesty, hniiig (U'siiniis df fMt'tiiim>^in>{ the Hiiid
trade, and ruinodying tliu evils which liad ariMen fr(»in tlie conipctitinn
whicli liad theretofore existed therein, did give and grant liin Hoyal lii
cenHo. under the hand ami seal of one of his |iiincipai Secretaricn of Stat*',
to tlie said (i<»v(!rnor and Company, and William .MctlillivrHy, Simon Mi-
(lillivruy, and Kdward Kllice, for the exclusive privilege of trading with
the Indians in all such parts ai North Ameiica to the northward and to
the westward of the said lands and territories In-longing t<i the I'liitcil
States of America, as sliould not form part of any of his said M.ijesty s
Provinces in North Amciica, or of any lands or teriituries belonging to
the said United States of America, or to any Kuropt'un (iovernmeiit, state
or powt'r; an<l his said late Majt^sty did also givj-. and grant, and se<inf
to the said (Jovernor and Company, ;ind Wdliam .M(<iilli\iay, Simon Mc
(jillivray, and E<hvard Kllice, the sole and exclusive privilege, for the full
])eriod of 21 years from the date of that grant, of trading with the In-
dians in all such parts of North America as aforesaid (excejit as therein-
after excejited), and did the'ehy declare that no rent should lie re<iinredor
demanded for, or in resjiect of that grant and Fiicense, or any privileges
given tiicrehy for the said period of "Jl years, hut that the said (Joviirimr
and ('<>ni|»ftny of Adventurejs trading to Hudson's Pay, and the said Wil-
liam Mctrillivray, Simon Mo(iillivray, 'id Kdward Kllice, should during
the period of that grant and License, keep accurate registers of all pei
Sfins in their employ in any parts of North America, and should once in
ojich year return to his said Majesty's Secret.iry of State accurate dupli
cates of such registers, and enter into and give security to his said Ma-
jesty, his heirs and successors, in the penal sum of 6,(KX(/. for ensuring as
far as in theiu might lay, or as they could hy their authority over the ser-
vants and persons in their emiiloy, the due execution of all criminal i)ro-
cesses, and of every civil process in any suit where the matter in dispute
shall exceed 2(K)/, hy the ofKcers and persons legally empowered to exe-
cute such ]>rocesses within all the territories included in that grant, and
for the producing or delivering into custody foi' pur|tose8 of trial all jier
sons in their employ, or acting under their authority within the said terri-
tories, who should he charged with any criminal offence ; anti his sai*l
Majesty did thereby re([uire that the sai<l (Jovernor and Company, and
William M'Ciillivray, Snuon M'(Jillivray and Kdward Kllice, should as
soon as the same could be conveniently done, make and submit for his
said Majesty's consideration and approval, such rules and regulations for
the management and carrying on of the said Uw trade with the Indians,
and the conduct of the persons employed by them therein, as might ap-
pear to his said Majesty to be effectual for diminishing or preveiiting the
AIM'KN'DIX.
Will
snle or diH^rihutiun of spiritiiouM li(|iiiirH to tlic liiUiitiiH, antl for proinotiii^
their niornl and religious iniprovonicnt ; iin<l IiIh siiid Miiji'Hty did tluMflty
ilecliiro, tlwit notliim; in timt uriuit fontaiiind, sliovdd he deoiin-d or r>>n
strued to autliori/.c tlu- H.iid (Jovcrnor .md Conijiany, and Willifiiii M'lJilli-
vray, Simon .M'(iillivray and Kdward Elliiu-, or any persons in lluir rniploy
to claim or rxtrciHe any trade with the Indians on tlic Noitli-NVest coast
of Amt'i'ica to tlu- wfstwHrd of thi- Stony MoimtainK. to ilii> pn'jndice or
exclusion of any citizens of the I'nited States ot America who mif^ht !)«►
engaged in tiie said trade ; and jirovidinj^ also by the now reriting ^^ranf,
that no Hritisli sulijects, other than and except the said (!o\einor .md
(Jonipany, and the said William M'<Iillivray, Simon M'(idli\ ray and \''.<\
ward Ellice. and the persons aiitliori/.eil to carry on exclusive trade liy
them on grant, should trade with the Indians within such linnis during
the period of that grant: and whereas the said (iovernor and Company
have acquired to themselves ail the rij^htsand intercKtsof ih said William
RJ'Gillivray, Simon .M'<iJlli\ray ami Kdward KUice, under tiie said recited
grant, and the said JJovtirnor and Company havin<4 hiimhly hesought us
to accept a s'.niender of the said i^r.uit, and in coiisideiatioii tln-reof to
make a giant to them, and give to tliem our l\oyal License and authority
'it and for the like "xclusive privilege of trailing with the ''"'"aiis in North
America, for the like period and upon similar tiTins . ii*> .onditions to
those specitied and referred to in th» said recited grant : No > know ye,
that in consideration of the surrender maile to us of the said recited grant,
and being desirous of encouiaging the said trade, and of preventing as
much H8 pocaible a recurrence of the evils mentioned or referred to in tte
s lid recited grant : as also in consideration of the yearly rents hereinafter
reserved to us, M'e do hereiiy gnnt and give our License, under the hand
and seal of one of our jirincipal Secretaries of State, to the said (Jovernor
and Compan\, and their succesaors, for the exclusive privilege of trading
with the Indiana in all such parts of North America to the northward and
to the westward of the lands and territories belonging to the I'nited States
of America, as shall not form pan of any of cur provinces in North Ame-
rica, or of any lands or territories belonging to the sai 1 Cnited States of
America or to any European government, state or power, but subject never-
theless as hereinafter mentioned ; And we do by these presents give, grant
and secure to the said Governor aiul Company, and their successors, the
sole and exclusive pri\ilege, for the full period of 21 years from tlie
date of tins our grant, of trading with the Indians in all such parts of North
America ais aforesaid, (except as hereinafter mentioned): And we do here-
by declare, that no rent shall be rei(Uired or demanded for or in resjiect of
this our grant and License, or ^Miy jirivileges given thereby, for the first
four ye.irs of the said term of 21 years : and we do hereby reserve to
ourselves, our heirs and successors, for the remainder of the said term of
w
r- ,
' Hi
XXIV
.\I'I'i:ni>ix.
!H'
V I
21 years, tin- yoitrlv I'eiit ni' siiin nf ("is. to bo piiitl liy tlic saitl (invt'iiKir
and Coinpiiiiy, nr tlieir Hiurcsscus, mi tlio tirst day of Juno in ivery yt
iiitn our hiXcliei|iU'i', i>m thi' ••iccouii
thi
It nf
IIS, niir Moirs iiiiil Biu'ci'SHitrH
ur,
iiid
wc do luTil)y di'clfirc, tlmt tin- siiid (invoiiior .iiid ('oinpaiiy, and tlu-ir
siiocosHors, sliivll diiriii;,' th»' period of this our ^raiit and liicfiiHc keep
ai'curatf ri's'istcrs o
f all I
lorsons
tlicir oiiiploy in any parts of Ndrlli
Amorioa, and shall once in i-ach year return lo our Si'crctary of Staff
Htcurate lUiplifiitL's of siifh registers ; and shall also enter into and ^ivc
seeiirity to us, our Iumis and successors, in the penal sum of r»,C<MI/, for
eiisuriii!;. as far as in thi'Ui may lii-. or as they can l>y their authority
over the at'ivants and persons ill their employ, the due execution of all
criminal and eisil pmeesaes liy the otlicers and persons iei^aily empowered
to execute such processes within all the territories imhided in this our
grant, and for the |iioilucing or delivering into custody for tiie piirposi s
of trial all persi>ns in their eiM|>loy oiactiiiL' under their authority within
the said teriitoiies w
ho >.h
lie eliarged with any I'riiiiinal otl'ence ; i
and
te do also herehy reipiire. that the said (io\eriior and Company, and
tl
leir successors, s
hall.
tl
IS soon as tile same can lie coDveiiieii
itly doi
le.
make and sidimit for our consideration and approval such iiiles and regu-
lations for the manaueiiuut and carrying on the said tui tiadi' with the
Indians, and the conduct of the persons employed liy them thefeili, as
may appear to us to he eti'cctiial for diminishing or |ireventing the sale or
distriliutiou of sjiirituous lupiors to the
Indi
iins, ami
f.ir
prom
.ting tl
leir
moral anil relii,dous improv emeni : l>ut we do hereliy declare, that iioth
ing in this our grant coiitaineil shall lie deemed or construed to authori/.i'
till- said < iovernor ami ('ompaiiy. or tlu'ir successors, or an \- person!- in
tlh'i:- employ, to claim or exercise any trade with the Indians or file
N<ii\!i-\N'est coast of America to the westward of the Stony Mountains, to
the prejudice or I'xcliision of any of the suhjects of any foreign states,
who under or liy forci' of any convention for the timi- being between ii.s
and such foreign states resjiectively, may be entitled to and shall be ei -
ira"ed in the said trade : Provided lu'vertheless, and we do hereby
or
declare our pleasure to be, that nothing herein containcil shall extend
be construed to prevent the establishment l)y us, our heirs or siucessorf,
within the territories aforesaid, or any of them, of any colony or coloiiie.'-,
provinci' or provinces, or for mnexing any part of the aforesaid territories
to any existing co'oiiy or c<ilonies to us in right of our Imperial Cmwii,
behiiiging, or for constituting any sui-h form of civil government as to i
l.H
may
seem meet w
ithiii
1 any sucii colony or co.oiues, province or |tr( -
vmces
And
do heiebv reserve to us, our heirs and successors, full
power and authority to revoki' tlicsi' presents, or any part thereof, in so
far as the same may embrace or extend to any of the territories afiiresaid,
wdiich may hereafter be compriseil within any colony or colonies, province
er provinc
I's as aforesaid
ai'I'i:ni»ix.
\ X \'
I (ii(Viiiu>r
•very J»ai%
HHtii'H : ami
, iiinl tliiii
i'i\8i', ktup
s (if North
jy (if St lit f
hi lunl «ivc
r.,o<Mt/, f.if
ir fititlmrity
utiiui <if all
(•uijx'wori'ti
I ill this "ur
\\v imrpoBi-H
(ivity within
itli'iict' ; ami
miiHiiy. ami
lieiitly dniiL',
i:h ami ri'<-;ii
ulo with till-
1 tluiiiii, il8
1.4 tho Niilo <'i'
^llintiui,' tllfif
;, that m>th-
t(i auth<>ri/A!
i\ peVHonM m
liaiiH "!■ the
iiiutaiiis, t'l
iciiiii statoM,
lu'twiH'M us
^liall 1)1' I'l
(111 lu'ivli>
11 iXtl'llll "V
.SlllOl'SSHl'f ,
l)V Clil'iIllOl-'.
id tenit.iviis
Riial Cr<i\vi>.
lent as to iii'>
inco or im -
cct'ssors, fttll
lu'iTdf. in so
\t.'S afort'saiil,
lii's, iirovitioe
[t bi'iiij,' iicvfrtlu'less hoioliy tUuliUfd, tlial no Uritish suliji'tts otluT
than and i'.\(r|it tin- said (lovrrnor and ('oni|iaiiy, ami thtir Niiirrssiirs,
and tin- pi'isoiis authoii/.cd to cairy on fxilhsivo tiado hy tlieni, shall
tmdu with the IndianH dnriuK tliu period of this onr griint within tlif
limits afoifsaiil, or within lliat part theicof whit-h Hhall not la- coniprisi-d
within any hiicIi colony m pinvincu as aforesaid.
(liven at our Court at Itiickin^hani Palace.
aOtli iluy of May, IH:IS.
liy Her Majesty's Comiiiaml,
(I..S.) (Sij^ned) r.LKNKI.C.
N.t. 4.
CoMMtssidN Al'I'oiNTiNd Hon. VVm. McDimom.i, I/Ii;i ri;N.\Nr-(«o\ i;k-
NOK OK rilK No|{TH-\Vl;sl TKIIItlToliIKH, ('\N\|i\.
JonN Vol No.
Vk loKiA, hy the < iraci' of (ion of the I iiited Kin'.,'diim of
(ireat Britain and Irehiml l^i kkn, Defender of tho
Faith, Ac.
'I'd the Honorable 'n MeI)oii<,Mll, of the (Jily of Ottawa, in the
Province of Ontario, in Our Dominion of Canada, Memlier of Our
I'rivy Council for Canada, and Companion of Our Most Honor.ihlo
Order of the Bath. — Oi.kktim. ;
\Vhkr!';.\s hy an Ai't of the Barliaiiieiit of t,'an,iilii, iiiaile and jia^sed in
the St,--'«ion held in the thirty-second and thirty-third ye.irs of Our reigM,
and intmuled :
" An Xct for the Teiiiporarv rioverninent >>( f{iipert's Land an<l the
Nortb-\Ve>f Territory when united with Canada.' After recitiiii,' that it
is jnohable 'hat We, purHiiaiit to the JJritish North America Act, 1H(>7,
may Im:- pleaswl to adni t Ritpert'* Land and the North-West Territa-y
into till' Ciiioii ir Dominion of C.mada bi^fon- tiie then next session of
the Canadian l'a><'liament . and further recitin<; that it is expedient to pre-
\)wre for the transter of the said TerritorieH fnun tho Local Territories to
the fJoverniiu-wit of Canada at the time which m.iy be appointed by Cs for
such admi.ssion, and to make si.me teini>oraiy provision fur the civil ljov-
ernment of such Territories until more porma" ont arrangements can be
made by the (iovernnient and Legislature of (.'au«da. It is by the said
Act now in recital in etiect enacted that it shall be liwfiil for Our (Jover-
nor, by any order or orders to be by him from tune to time made with
HH
\ X \ I
AI'I'KNDIX.
I
till) atlviei' of tile I'rivy Council find Hiilijt'rt to «ucli comlitioiiH iumI ri'«trii'
tionH .'iH to liiin sIihII sut^ui incut, to iiiitlion/.c hikIi olliccr as lie iniiy from
tinif to tiino tippoint as liiouttMuuit-iiovonior of tlio N'oitli-VVt-Ht Terri-
tories, to iniikt! iii'ovision for tlic lulniinistriition of jnfltici' tlicrciii, and
guneiiilly to niiiki', ordain and eHtal)lisli all such lawH, inMtitutioiis and
ordiiiaiict'H as may \ r neit'smiry for the piiace. order and ]i^ood <4ovi!rnmeiit
of < >ur subjects and others therein, and it also further enacte<l, that the
Lieutenant (iovernor shiill administer the <j;ovei'nment under instruetions
j^'iven him from lime to time l>y Order in Council.
.1 /((/ ]l'linrns f<»r the purpose of prcpariuL? for the transfer of the North.
WeMt Territories afonsaid to the (io\crnment of Canada, at the time
which may lii^ ap|>ointed hy I's for such ailmission, and for making some
temporary piovision for the Ci\il (iov»rnment of such 'i'eriitorit s, \\ C
are desirous of appointing you, the said William McDou«,'iill, to l>e /w-i.-
hiiinil-('iii'i:niiii' i>( the Ninili-Wrsl Tvnilnrifn.
.\iiir A/Ki/c ijr that We, ritposing special trust and eontidenci' in the
prudence, eouraj,'e, loyalty and inteLjrity of you, the said \N illiam Mc-
Doti'^all. of our esjteciid grace, certain knowledge anil mere motion, have
tlioUi,'ht tit to constitute anil appoint you, on, from and after tlu' day to lie
named iiy Cs for the admission of {{upert's Ijand and the Norlh-\N fsleru
Territory into the Ciuon or Dominion of Canada, to he. during Cur jiha
8nre, Lieutenant-(io\ernor of tlic North-NN'eMt 'J'erritories iiforesaid, and
We do herehy authori/.e and empower, and n.'(|uire and command yon, nn,
from and after the day to lie so named liy I s for the admission of Kupert's
Land and the North-WeHtern Territory into the Cnion or Dominion of
Can.uhv as aforesaid, in due manner, to do and execute, in all things that
shall lielong to youi- said command, and the ti'ust We have n^posed in
you, accoidiug to the si-veral |>rovisions and instructions, granted or ap-
pointed you liy this Our Couuuission, aiul of the Act hereiid)efore recited,
according to such instructions as are heri'with given to you, or which may
from tinu- to time be given to you in respect i.f the North- West Terri-
tories aforesaid, and the gnveinment thereof, by order of Our (Jovernor-
(leneral in Council, under the sign manual of Our said (Joverni)r-(Jeneral,
or by Cs through one of Our Privy Council of Canada, and according to
such laws ;is are or shall l)e enforced within the North-West Territor-
ies.
In testimony whereof Wt! have caused these Our Letters to be made
I'atent, and the Creat Seal of Canada to be hereunto afhxed ; Witness,
Our trusty and well-beloved the Right Honorable Sir .John Young,
Baronet, one of Our Most Honorable Privy Council. Knight (Jrand Cross
of Our Most Honorable Order of the Hath, Knight Craiul Cros.s of Our
Most Distinguished Ch'der of Saint Michael and Saint (Jeorge, (Joveriior-
General of Canada.
AIM'KNhlX.
XXXVIl
'J. l)iNtrict <'iiurtn nlwill lie lu-lil tit micli tliin's iiii'l placi'n us fulluwH :
M;mit(jl)ii, Mimli, Se|itfiiilK'r. Dfccmlifr iiml .liiiii' . I'uitam' In I'r.iirif,
Int 'I'lu^siliiy fiicli iiiniitli ; U liitc HnrMc I'laiii. 'Jiiil 'I'lumiliiy citcli iiiuiith ;
Fort (iiiny, 4tli 'I'liL'sdiiy I'lifli iimiitli ; St. \iiili'ow«. .'liil Tui'stluy uiich
iniiiitli.
;{. Tlio cluiiiiiriii nf i\ DiHtricf Cuiirt shall he h .liisticoof the I'laiT — tlic
cliaii'iiiuii iiiul twn iiia^isti'iitcs li> fonii a <|ii(>riiiii.
4. The DiHtiict Cdiirf Hluill takr cnirni/.am'u of all iictinns fi«i- nut iiii>rt>
tliaii ten |ii>iiiiil.s, all otlViuiH with tiiicH nf not iiiorr than luo |ii>iiiiiIm, ami
all li<iiior rasi's.
5. An iippual nitiy he tukcii frmii tlu' DiHti'iit to thu Si)|irt>iiK> Court.
t'». District (Joint caHt's hIihII I>o tiiod in thr district in which defendant
resides.
7. Any Diatriet Maiiistrato shnll Ihsuc sinnniuiis for his cwn district.
I)nt not for any othei', nnless counti'i'sii{nt!d hy tliw Ma;;istrate where snni-
nions is to take ellect.
8. Distiict Conrt cases ninst not be l)ron;.;hl liefoi'e (iisneial Coni't.
!•. In any Conrt, either [tarty to a civil action may lu' madi- the olhei'H
wiinesH.
10. lU'j^nlated the fees to l)e churj.;ed for wi'its issued in the SM|irenu«
and District Conrts.
11. W'itnesst'.s and jumrH to he paid live shillinifs per day.
12. In Siiprenu) Conrt eases, a deposit of one ponml fiom plaintiH"
necessary.
I.'i. .MIowances for feedin;,' prisoners, and in cases of debt, the creditor
to be responsible for Hunie.
14. Fifteen days' notice in Snpi'enie Court cases, ami ei'^ht in the Dis-
trict Court.
15. Triiil i>y jnry in Siipreiiio Court, e.xcept where ii 'th parties desire
otherwise.
Ki. The I.e^iislativi' .Vssembly to issue lici'nse< to pi-actise law atid rej^u-
latini; fees.
1". l{eL;\il;itiny seizure and sale of 1400, Is and chattels on jud'/uu iit.
18. The right of e.'ipia.s.
I!>. In case of capias, the ci>niplaiiiant, if afterwards found to have no
ground for aclinn, to be lial)le for damages.
20. Regulating seizure of the property of an ab.seonding ilebtor.
21. Sunniionaos for the (ienoral Conit to l)e issued only liy .lust ices of
the Peace.
22. Magistrates and .Justices of the Peace to have snnunary power in
deciding cases not over tliree pounds, oi- damages of one pound.
23. No action for the recovery of debt to be brought before tlie .August
term of Sui)reme t'ourt.
•^- 4
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
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Hiotographic
Sciences
Corporation
1.25 1.4
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23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
O^
XXWlll
AI'l'EXDIX.
It f
24. No Judicial orticer hiiviiii; iiny interest in a case to be able to sit
npon it.
2."». pjini)(iwerin|4 the ("oroner or any Justice of tlie I'eace to execute
judgnient on tiie Sheiifl'.
2(i. Any debt or crime incurred or connnitted outside jurisdiction c.f
court, to l)e i)ro.secuted when ])erHon is found witliin liuiits of juriMdiction.
27. Justices of the Peace, Magistrates and Constables, mu.st lie British
subjects.
28. .Summons not to be served on Sundays or legal holidays.
2!l. The Su|>reme Court to l)e composed of a presiding Judge, and tiiree
i)r more Justices of llu- Peace.
30. The Supreme Court to take cognizance of all cases not assigned to
the District Court.
31. Any barrister, advocate, attcu'uey or solicitor i|ualitied to practise
law in the Fnited Kingdom or any British Colony to be entitled to i)rac-
tise in the courts of Red River.
32. Providing for Records of the Courts.
¥ I
I '
ClSTOMS Dl'TIKS.
1. The duty to be 4 per cent ad vMlnrem.
2. Free gnods to be — bar iron, steel, books, publications, stationary,
scientilic instruments, agricultural implements, baggage, X:c., for tlie
present use of the owner ; seeds, roots, i)lants, goods passing in bond
cases, boxes, barrels, bottles or covering containing goods or fluids, monu-
mental tablets or tombstones, grindstones, stoves, gocjds for missions,
animals for breeding stock, mill and factory machinery.
3. Tliree custom houses, one each at Pembina, Portage la Prairie and
Fort (Jarry.
4. A Collector of Customs to have power to administer oaths, and to
search for and seize contraband goods.
5. Collector to pay the duties collected into the Treasury twice every
month.
t), Collectnrs to be entitled to one fifth part of seizures.
7. Pr()\ iding for attested invoices or manifests.
8. Collectors to verify accuracy of invoices by oath, if necessary, or
examination of goods.
!). Collectors to provide clearance certificates.
10. Providing t'lr want of invoices.
11. Goods without clearance certiticate to be seized.
12. The owners or consigners of goods by way of Hudson's Bay to
report quantity and j)rime cost witliin three months, inider penalty of not
more than £'4,000 sterling.
13. All contraband goods seized to be sold by auction.
AIM'EN'DIX,
X\1X
fi'Diii, (Hid aftiT tlio (l;iy ti> lie iiiiiiR'd by us, for tliu JKliiiissinn of Rupert's
Liind find tliu Xortli-W'ostern Territory, aforesaid, into tlie I'nion or
Dominion of Canadii, to wit ; or from and after the first day of December,
in the year of our liord one thousand eij^ht hundred and sixty-nine, to lie,
during our pleasure, the Lieutenant-doveriior of tlie North West Terri-
tories ;
And we do hereby autliorize, and empower and re(|uire and command
him, in due manner, to Do and Kxecute, in all things that shall belong to
his saiil command, and the Trust we have reposed in him. according to the
several provisions and instructions granted, or ajjpointed him, by virtue
of our said Conmiission. and the Act of the Parliament of Canaibi herein
before recited, and accoi'ding to such instructions as have been, or may,
from time to time, be given to him, and to such laws as are or shall be
enforced within the North-West Territories. Of all which our Loving
Subjects of our Territories, and all others, whom these Presents may con-
cern, are hereby re({uire(l to take notice, and govern themselves accord-
In Testimony Whereof, we have caused these, Our Letters, to be made
Patent, and the Great Seal of oui' North-West Territf)ries to be
hereunto athxed : Witness Our Trusty and Well Beloved, The
Honorable William McDougall, .^iember of our Privy Council for
Canada, and Companion of Our Most Honorable Order of the
Bath. Lieutenant-Governor of our North-West Territories, etc.,
etc., etc. At the lied River, in our aforesaid North-West Terri-
tories, this first day of December, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, and in the thirty-third
year of Our Reign.
By connnand,
.1. A. N. PUOVKNCHKK,
Sirretiirij,
X<). (i.
jsary, or
CoMMissn)X Ai'PoiNriMi Cor,. Dkxms Conskuv.xtoi; ok thk Pkack.
Thk Nokth-Wk.st Territories.
By His Excellency the Hon. William McDougall, a Member of Her
Majesty's Privy Council for Canada, and Companion of the Mo.st
Honorable Order of the Bath, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-
West Territories.
To Jolni Stuii<i]it<iii Denitls, Esq., Lieiitiiiaiit-Culintcl, Militarii Staff. C(in-
ntld. GiiEEriNti :
Whereas, large bodies of armed men have been unlawfully assembled
on the high road, between Fort Garry and Pembina, in the Colony or
1!
XXX
Al'I'KNDIX.
'
District of Assinihoine, fiinl liave, with fnrci" aiitl arius. anostt'd, and
Iioid as prisoners, numerous private and otiicial pi'rsons, and jircvcntin^
them from pi'oceoding on tlieir Ia\vf\d journey and business, and lia\e
eommitted otlier acts of lawless violence, in contem]>t and defiance of the
mai^istrates and local authorities ;
And, whereas, William Mactavish, l']s(|., (Jovernor of Assinihoine, did.
on the sixteenth day of Novemher last, publish and make known to these
armed men, and all others whom it might concern, that the lawless acts
aforesaid, and which were particularly set f(jrtli in his Proclanuvtion, were
" contrary to the remonstrances and protests of the ])ul)lic authorities,"
nrul <lid therein ])rotest against each and all of the said unlawful acts and
intents, and charged and conuuanded the said armed jiersons to innnedi-
ately disperse themselves, and peaceably to de|)art to their habitations or
lawful l)usiness, under the j)ains and penalties of the law ;
And, whereas, since the issue of the said |>rotest or Proclamation, cer-
tain of the armed men aforesaid, have taken possession of the ])ublic re-
cords and papers at Fort 'Jarry, and have seized and held as j)risoners the
public f)tticers, or persons having chai'ge of the same, and, as T am credit-
ably informed, still keep unlawful jiossession of the said nicords and pub-
lic ])r<)i)erty, and with force and arms contiinie to olistruct public otlicers,
and others, in the performance of their lawful duty and business, to the
great terror, loss, and injury of Her Majesty's peaceful subjects, and in
contempt of Her R(jyal authority ;
And, whereas, Her Majesty, liy Letters Patent, under the Great .Seal
of the Dominion of Canada, bearing date the twenty-ninth day of Se])-
tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine, has been graciously pleased to appoint me to be, from and after the
first day of December instant, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West
Territories, and did authorize and command me to do and execute all
things in due nuinner that should belong to my said coimnand.
Know you, that reposing trust and confidence in your courage, loyalty,
fidelity, discretion and ability, and under, and in virtue of the authority
in me vested, T have nominated and appointed, and, by these juesents,
do nominate and ajijjoint you, the said John Stoughton Dennis, to be my
Lieutenant, and a Conservator of the Peace in and for the North-West
Territories, and do lierel)y authorize and empower you as such to raise,
organize, arm, ecjuip, and provision a sufficient force within the said Ter-
ritories, and, with the said force, to attack, arrest, disarm, or disperse
the said armed n)en, so unlawfully assembled aiul disturbing the public
peace ; and for that jjurpose, and with the force aforesaid, to assault, fire
u[)<m, pulldown, or break into any fort, house, stronghold, or other place
in which the said armed men may be found ; and, I here))y authorize you.
as SI ch Lieutenant and Conservator of the Peace, to hire, purchase, im
AI'I'KNKIX.
X X X 1
iti'd, .•111(1
imi'iitin^
JVlid have
ICO of thu
iiiiiL', (lid.
II to tllt'Sl'
,vlcss acts
rioii, were
horities,"
1 acts and
o iiiiiiitMli-
tatioiis or
ition, ccr-
imhlic rc-
soiiors the
am credit-
rt and ))ul)-
lic officers,
Bss, to the
;ts, and in
ireat Seal
y of Sep-
and sixty-
d after the
orth-West
xeeute all
jiress. and take all necessaiy clotliiiiL,', arms, aiiiiiiunition, and siijipiii's,
and all cattle, horse.s, waj^oiis. sleiyhs, or other vehicles, w hicli may lie
re(|iiired for the use of the force to he raised as aforesaid : ami I fiiitiier
authorize you to a|i]ioiiit as many officers and deputies under you, and to
i^ive them such orders and instructions, from time to time, as may he
found necessary for the due jierfoniiance of the services herein rei|uired
of you, reporting to me the .said appointments and orders, as you siiall
find opportunity, for confirmation or otherwise : and I lierehy ;>;ive ^oii
full jiower and authority to call upon all niaL,'istrates and peace otHcers to
aid and assist }'ou. and to order all or any of the inhabitants of the North-
NVest Territories, in the name of Her Majesty the <,>i'.een, to sii[)iiirrt and
assist yuu in protecting the lives and properties of Her Majesty's loyal
subjects, and in preserving the public peace, and, for tliat purpose, to
seize, disjierse, or overcome by force, the said armed men, and all others
who may be found aiiling or allotting them in their unlawful acts.
Aiitl the said persons so ciilled upon in Her Majt'sty's name, are heri'by
ordered and enjoined, at their pi'ril, to obey your orders and directions
in that behalf; and this shall lie sufficient warrant for what you or they
do in the premises, so long as this Commission remains in force.
Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Ked |{iver, in the said Ter-
ritories, this the hist day of December, in tlie year of our Lord one thou-
.sand eiglit hundred and sixt^-nine, in the thirty-third year of Her Jleign.
I5y Command,
WILLIAM M(D()U(JALL.
J. A. X. PROVENCHER.
Semi a I'll.
No. 7.
;e, loyalty,
authority
', presents,
I, to be my
orth-West
h to raise,
sai<l Ter-
r disjierse
the public
ssault, fire
jther place
lorize you,
chase, iai-
Proci..\mation ihsiEii BY Hox. Wm. McDoruAi.i. ON 2si> Decemukr,
18(;9.
Thk Nokth-Wkst Tkkkitoiuks.
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency the Honorable William McDougall, a member of Her
Maje.sty's Privy Council of Canada, and Companion of the Most
Honorable Order of the Bath, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-
West Territijries, etc., etc., etc.
To (I'l to v;h<»i) these presents .shall come. Greetin(; :
Whbkeas, Her Majesty the (.^)ueen, by Letters Patent under the Great
Seal of the Dominion of Canada, bearing date the twenty-ninth day of
n
XXXll
AI'I'KN'DIX.
'ill
[■' -rr!
1
. )
Septuinbur, in the year of mir Ldid one tlioumiinl eiglit luiiMlied and six-
ty-nine, in tlie tliii'ty-tliinl year of Her Ma jeHty's reign, Iihh been gracioUH-
ly i)leaseil to eonstitiite and ajipoint nii^ on frcjni and after the day to \n:
named Ity Her Majesty for the admission of Hii|i;'rt'H Land and tlie North-
West Territory into the I'nion or Dominion of Canada, to he Lieiitena'it-
(iovernor in and over the Noith-West Territoiies during Her Majesty's
pleasure, and did thereby autliori/e and impower and reipiire and com-
mand me, on, from and after tiie thiy uforosaid, to (hiand execute all tilings
in due manner that shall hehmg to my said command, and the trust repos-
ed in me, according to the several powers and instructions granted or ap-
jiointed mo hy that Her Majesty's Commission, and of the Act of Parlia-
ment passed in the thirty-secmd year of Her Majesty's reign, intituled
"An Act for the Temporary (lovernnient of Itupert's Land, and the
North-Western Territories, when vniited with Canada,'' and the instructions
given me with suth Counnission, or by such further instructions as may
hereafter be given me in respect of the North-West Territories, and the
(iovernment thereof, by Her Majesty's Governor-(ieneriil in Council under
his sign manual, or through one of Her Majesty's Privy Council of Canada,
anil according to such laws as are now and shall hereafter be in force in
the said North-West Territories ; anil whereas Her Majesty has declared
and named the first day of Decend)er instant as the (hiy for the admission
of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territoiy into the I'nion ami
Uominion of Canada ; And whereas by virtue and in piu'suance of •"The
British North America Act 18()7," The Rupert's Land Act IHOH, the said
* Act for the Temporary Government of Rupert's Land and the North-
western Teriitority when united with Canada." and the said Declaration
and Onler of Her Majesty, Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory
have been admitted into union with, and have become, and are now part
of the Dominion of Canada, and are henceforth to I )e styled and known as
" The North West Territories "
Now Know Ye that 1 have thought fit to issue this Proclamation to make
known Her Majesty's said appointment to all Otticers, Magistrates, Sub-
jects of Her Majesty's and others within the said "The North-West Ter-
ritories," and 1 do hereby reouire and ct)nniiand that all and singular, the
jtublic otticers and functionaries holding office in Rupert's Land, and t'.ic
North-Weatern Territory at the time of their admission into the Union a.s
aforesaid, excepting the |)ublic otticer or functionary at the head of the
.\dministration of affairs, do contiime in the execution of their several and
respective offices, duties, i)laceH, and employments, until otherwise order-
ed by me under the authority of the said last mentioned Act ; And I do
hereby further re(|uire and command that all Her Majesty's loving sub-
jects, and all others whom it may concern, do take notice and govern
themselves accordingly.
AI'I'KN'IHX.
X X X 1 1 1
(Jiven uiitler my lifiiitl and Si'ul-at-Ainis at Red liivor in tlio said 'IVr-
ritorius, this si-cnnd day of Di'eoinl)or, i;i tlif year of our Lord mw thou-
sand eight InnidriMl and sixty-nini', and in the Thirty-third year of Hit
Majesty's Heign.
By Connnand.
W.M. .M( |)(H(iAF.I,.
.1. A. N. I'l<(»\ KNCIIKK,
Xo. S.
Proclamation ok Sih .Iohn VoiNd, Gn\ ki;nok-(Jknkkai, ok Canaka,
ON 6th Dkckmhkk, l.Sfj!».
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir John Young, Baronet, a
Memher of Her Majesty's Most Honorable I'livy Council, Knight
(Jrand Cross of the Most Honoial)le Order of the Bath, Knight
(Jrand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and
St. (ieorge, (lovernor-deneral of Canada,
T(i ((II imd I'lrrit the LdiJ'iI Snhjccls of Her Majcstij the (fhiecii, mtd to all to
iclioiii tliesi- I'risi'iitu »i<m cvitin, (jtrkktixo :
The Queen has charged nie, as Her Representative, to inform you that
certain misguided persons in Her Settlement on the Red River, have
banded themselves together to o])pose by force the entry into Her North-
Western Territories of the otHcer selecti'd to administer, in Her name, the
Government, when the Territories are united to the Dominion of Canada,
luider the authority of the late Act of the Parliament of the I'nited King-
dom ; and that those parties have also fcircibly, and with violence, pre-
vented others of Her loyal subjects fi'om ingress into the country.
Her Majesty feels assured that she may rely ujton the loyalty of Her
subjects in the North-West, and believes those men, who have thus
illegally j.jined together, have done so from some misrepresentation,
The Queen is convinced that, in .sanctioning the Cnion of the North-
West Territories with Canada, she is promoting the best interests of the
residents, and at the same time strengthening and consolidating Her
North American possessions as part of the British Emi)ire. Vou may
judge then of the .sorrow and displeasure with which the Queen reviews
the unreasonable and lawless jiroceedings which have occurred.
Her Majesty connuands nie to state to you that she will always be
ready, through me as Her representative, to redress all well-founded
#'
ll'
i !
\ \ \ 1 \'
Ai'i'i:\i)i\.
li^ •
1.1
.(.(f
f^'iic\;iiiri'f». ami tlmt sliu lia.s iiiHtl'ilctod iiiu to hear and cciiisiilfi- any cnin
|)lniiit.H tlial, may l»i' niadf, or dt'sircs tliat may lio I'Xpri'XHL'd ti> mi' as
(«(ivfi'ii(ir-(ii'imi'Hl. At tlio same time slu; lias olmrj^ud me tn i^xurciso
all tlie pdwcrs jind aiitlmrity with wliicli slii' lias trnHtinl im- in tliu siip-
|Mnt (if ni'dcr, and tlic siipprcHsion of miiaw Fill disturliaiicos.
I'>y Her Majesty's aiitlmrity, I do tlioiefnii' as.siiro yi'ii, that on the
iiiiinii with Canada all ymir civil and itdiyioiis ri<,ditsand priviloyus will lie
rt'S|iecti!d, your propuition socurud to yon, and that your country will he
govornod. as in the past, iiiidcr liritish laws, and in the spirit of Biitisli
jllsticl^
! do, further, under Her anthoritv, entreat and command those of
you who aro still (vssi'inhled
aii<l
laniled toL^cthur in dctiaiu'u of law, jteace-
ably to disjiersu and return to ymir homes, under the iienalties of tin- law
ill case of disoliedience.
And I do lastly inform you, that in case of your immediate and peace-
able (thedience and dispersion 1 shall order that no lej^al proceedinj^s lie
taken against any parties imiilicated in these unfortunate lireaches of
the law.
(liven under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Ottawa, this Sixth day of
Decemlier, in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Kiyht Hundred and
Sixty-nine, and in the Thirty-third year of Her Majesty's Keiyn.
^Seal.)
Hy Command,
JOHN YOl'Nli
H. R. Lanokvin,
Si'rrctdV)! of State.
)'
No. {).
CoMMissjioN issiKi) TO DoNAi.i) A. Smith, Esq., ai'FOIntino him Spkcfai.
Commissioner.
CANADA.
Victoria, by the (irace of (Jod, etc.
To Donald A. Smith, of the City of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec,
and Dominion of Canada, Esquire, and to all others to whom the
same may in any wise concern, (iKEETixo :
Whereas, by an Act of the Parliament of Canaila, passed in the thirty-
sec(md and thirty-third years of Our Reign, intituled, "An Act for the
temi)orary (Jovernment of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory,
when united to Canada," it is recited tliat it is possible that we may be
i'l
AI'i'KNDIX.
X \ \ \'
IM Spkciai,
pleiisiMl t(i (idiiiit l\ii|)crt'.H Land aiul llic N..i tli-Wfst Ti'iritury iiifi tin-
I'liiim of tin- Dniiiinidii of ('aiuula, iK'forc the tlu'ii lu-xt session of tin-
Caiiiulian I'arlianient, and fliaf it is t-xiuilicnt to prepare for tlie transfef
of tile said 'IVriitoiies from tlie liOiul Aiitlioiities to tlie ( ioveinnient of
Cjiiiada. lit the time appointed hy ns for tlie Civil (iovernineiit of siuli
Territories, until nioro pernnment arrani,'eineiits can he nia(h' hy the
(Joveniniunt and Le^'islatiire of Canada, and it is hy tlie said Act in etl'eet
enacted that our doveiiKH' iiia\ authorize and empower such otlicer as lie
may appoint as Lieutenant (iovcriior of tlie Noith-W'est Territories, antl
who hIihII administer the ( oiveriiiiieiit as hy the said Act contemplated.
And, wlu'reas. in the pre|)aration for the transfer of the said Terri-
tories, Our (loveriior of Canada was pK-asutl to send the Hoiiorahle N^ in.
McDoiH^all, the gentleman selucti'd to he the liieutenant-(«o\ ernor as
aforesaid, on its union with Canada, in advance ami in anticipation of the
union, and his entry into the said Territories was obstructed and pre-
vented hy certain ariueil jiarties who have declared their discontent and
<lis.satisfaetion at the jiroposed union, and their intention to resist the
same by force.
And, whereas, it is expedient that eiupiiry should be had into tlie
causes and extent of such obstruction, opposition, and discontent, as
afcjresaid.
Now know ye, tliat having confidence in your honesty, fidelity, and in-
tegrity, we th>, by these jiresents, nominate, constitute and appoint you,
the .said Donald .\. Smith, to be our Sjjccial Coimnissioiier, to enquire
into the causen, nature, and extent of the t)bstruction offered at the Red
r{iver, in the Nortli-West Territories, to the peaceable ingress of the
Honorable Win. McDougaU, and other parties authorized by our (Jover-
nor-General of Canada to proceed into the same ; and also to empiire into
the causes and di.seontent and dis.satisfaction alleged to exist in respect to
tlie pro))OHed union of the said North-West Territoiii's with the Dominion
of Canada ; and further to exjilain to the inlial)itaiits of the .said country,
the principles on which the (Jovernment of Canada intends to administer
the Government of the Country, according to such instructions as may be
given to you l>y om- Governor in Council in this behalf ; and to take
step.s to remove any niisap|»rehensionH which may exist in respect to the
mode of Government of the same, and to report to our Governor-General
the result of .such eiKiuiries, and on the best mode of ipiieting and re-
moving such di.seontent and dissatisf.-iction ; and also to report on the
most proper and fitting mc^de for efi'ecting the speedy transfer of the
Country and Government from the authority of the Hudson's liay Com-
pany to the (Government of Canada, with the general assent of the in-
habitants.
And further, to con,si(ler and report on the most advisable mode of
Uealing with the Indian Tribes in the North-West Territories.
a
X\.\V1
AIM'KN'IHX.
i;
To liavi' ami In Imld tiic said utlH'c of ('uiniiiissioiicr, for tlic |hiiii<>sl's
iifmi's id niiti> \nu tlic said Duimld A. Smith, diuiriy iili'iisiiri'.
Ill test iiiiiiiiy whiTOiif, fto.
(( JuK.AT Ska I..)
Ndi'K Tlu) iiliiiVL' CoiiiiiiisHinii wfiK not sont to Mr. Donald A. Smifli
until till- 'jritli .Jfiniiary, IM70. altlioiiuli it was i^dvoii iiinU'r tliu (iroai
Stwil on till' ITtli Di'i'eiiilR'r. CoiniiiisHionfr Smitli, liowrxcr, aiti'd on tlif
U'tttT of tlif MItli FJeci-'nihi'i", whicli was in fact a comiiiission ;iiviiiu him
tlio fiilli'st authority to ai't according to tlm lit'St of his jud^^iiit'iit in
ilualinj.; with the troiildos at Kcil Kiver.
I
II V '
'♦ 1
No. 10.
liAWS OK ASSINIIIOIA, I'ASSKIi liV THK PKKSIDF.NT AM> LkoISLATI VK As-
SiSMIlI.Y OK ASSINIIIOIA ON IIIK "TU r)AV OK MaV, 1870.
(Srfiiiiil Scssldii iif the Lniisliil iii'i'. )
(Tlu'so laws coniu into operation on the 20tli day of May, 1870 ; until
wliich tinm tlm laws under which tin; country lia.s hitherto been governed
remain in full f(uce. On and after the 20th (biy of May, 1870, all the old
laws are repealed.)
NoTK.— The fiilloirliiij Is liivrcl ij n .iiltinpnii of Uir iiiKi'tllKiifs pn'^siil , lltr ilr-
t<iilii relatiiKj to ivliirh innilil (ircii()ii )tiiire siiiice tluiuiuai hi' ajidicil: —
(jIknkkal Provisions.
1. All tinea and forfeitures when not otherwise aiipropriated shall go to
the Public Fund.
2. Every enactment shall ho interpreted without regard to the distinc-
tion of gender or number.
;{. If any jterson encou'age in any way any violation of any h)eal enact-
ment, he .shall be held to be as guilty as the priiici[(al oti'ender.
4. That unless special regidation provide to the contrary, every wrong
has its remedy under the general law of the country.
5. That the law of England shall be the law of the land in relation to
crimes and misdemeanors and generally as to all civil rights except where-
in modi tied by the local law.
Administration of Justice.
1. That the Supreme Court of Assiniboia be held four times a year,
February, May, August and Novendier.
AI'I'KNhl.N.
X.W It
|iiir|iiisi'><
KM..)
A. Siiiitli
111. (lifiit
ud I'll tin-
iviim liiiii
l<^uioiit ill
At Our (invcrmiifiit llnusc, in Oiir City nf futiiwii. tlii.s Twenty iiintli
•lay nf Si'iitiinbiT, in tlu' yi;ir nf (dir I.nnl nnc tlion.siiml iii,'Iit Inimlriil
uiid sixty-iiiuL', ainl tlu' tliiity-tliiid yt-iir nf ( dii' Ki'ii(n.
\\\ I 'uirini.'ini),
IIk'Kik L. Lavuk.vin,
Stii-it((lil of li'ldli .
N
I •. •).
.ATlVK As-
I'ltcM I.AM M liiN l.s.sl Kli IIV Hi'S. \N M. .M( iJitl (lAI.I. CIS Isf Dki KMUKK,
lH(i!».
\'n loiti \, liy I lie < Jr.icc nf (ioii, of tlir I nitcil Kin;,'(li)in nM iiciil,
Hrit.'iin and Inland, ^>i i;i:\, DufemliT ><{ \\\v Kaitli, etc., rt ,
fir.
1870 ; until
n yoveriR'd
, all tlio nld
.,S(</, till' 'li'-
ijllilCll '. —
shall go to
Ithe distinc-
local enact-
|vei'y wrong
relation to
cept where-
Les a year.
\\ I i.i.i \M .McDiM i;ai,i..
Tij till irltiiiii II iiuiii fiiiifirii, (■KKKTiMi :
1M{()('L\MA'I'I()X.
Whkiika.-^, l)y " 'I'lic IWitisli North Anioiica Act, 18(57," it was (anmni^'st
other tliin;js) enacted, tliat it sliotild he lawful for FIcr Majesty, liy and
with thi' advice of Hi r Majesty's Most Monoiahle Privy Council, on Ad-
dress from the Houses of I'ailianieiit of Canaila, to adndt Jtujiert's Land
and the North-Western Territory, or either of them, into the I'ldoiior
Dominion of Canada, on such terms anil conditions as are in the .Vddiess
ex])ressed. and as Her Majesty tliiidis tit to a|i|)rii\e ;
And, whereas, for the iiurpose of earryinj^ into utt'ectthe said provisions
of "ThelJritish North America Act, 1.^07," " The lUipert'.s Land .\ct,
18(>8." enacted and declared that it should lie competent for " the (Jover-
nor and CompHny of Adventurers of Kngland, trading into Hud.son's
Bay." to Hiu'render to Her Majesty, and for Her Majesty, i)y any instru-
ment under Her sign manual and signet, to accept a .surrender of all or
any of tlie lands, territories, jiowers, and autiiorities, wliatsoever, granted,
or puriiorted to he granted, by certain Letters Patent of His late ALij»\sty
King Charles the Second, to the said (ioveriier and Company witiiin
Rupert's Land, u])on such terms and conditions as should he agreed upon,
l>y and between Her Majesty and the said (Governor and Company: And
whereas, by "The Rupert s Land Act, 18(58," it is further enacted, that
from the date of the admission of Rupert's Land into the Dominion of
Canada, as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Parliament of Canada to
X X \' 1 1 1
AI'I'KNDIX.
iiiiikt', lU'ilaiii, and cHtHlili.sli, williin the hhuI lainl uml territory mi mliiiit-
tofl, iiH af<in>Haiil, III! mdIi Ihwh, iiistittitiuiis ami niiliiiaiiccs, aixl ti> cnnsti
tuti! such coin ts, and olhcfiM iin may Ite iieci'MNary for the poacu, onU-r ami
j{ooil ^u\'crniiit>iit of llci- Majesty's siiliji'cts, and others theri'in :
And wliereaH, it is further provi(hMl liy tlie said Act, tliat until ot lier-
wino u:tacte i Ity the snid I'arliaiiient of Canada, all the pdWerH, author-
ities, and juriHilictioii of tlie suvt^ral I'ouits of justice now eMtahiished in
{{ujiert'H Land, and of the several ofhcers tliereof uml of all mii^jistrati-H
an<l juHticcs, now actiu'^ within the said limits, shall continue in full force
and etl'ect therein : And whereas, the said (io\ciiior and < 'ompany have
Hurreiidered to Her Majesty, and llir iVfajesty has accepted a surrender
of all the lands, tiiritoricH, privileges, lilierties, fraiu'hisi's, jiowers and
authorities u'lanled, or purported to hi' "granted, hy the said Ijctteis
I'atciit. u|iou certain terms and couditionH a<{rcrd upon iiy and lietueen
Her Majesty and tlio said ( iovernoi- ami < 'ouipany ;
And whereas, Iter Majesty, hy and with the ailvice of Her Majesty's
Most llonoralile Privy Council, and an Address from both the Houses of
the I'arliauient of Canada, in pursuance of the one hundred and fortj*
sixth section of " The I'.ritish North Auurica Act, |H(>7." hath dei'lared
that Rupert's i^aiid and the Nortli-W'i'slern Teiritory, shall, and from tiu'
first day of Decendicr, in the year <if our liord one thousand eit^ht liun
drud iind Hixty-nine, lie admitted into, and becomo jiart of the Dondnion
of Canada, upon the terms ami conditions I'Xpressed in the said Address,
of which lii'i' Maji'sty has ajiproved, and Uupert's Land, and the said
North-NN'estern Territory, ai'c admitted into thi' Cnion, and havd iiecomc
part of the Domiidon of Canada accordingly ;
And whereas, the I'arliauu'ut of Canada, hy an Act intitided "'An Act
for the temporary (lovernnu'iit of Rupert's Land and the Norlh-Westeru
Territory, when united with Canada, ' enacted that ic nhould he lawful for
the (iovernor, l»y any order oi' orders, to be by him, from time to tinu',
made with the advice of the Privy Council (and suijject to such condi-
tions and restrictions as to liiuv should seem meet), to authorize and em-
power such officer as he may, from time to time, apfioint, as Lieutenant-
(lovernor of the North-West Territories, toniake pro\ision for the admin-
istration of justice therein, and <,'enerally to make, ordain and establish
all such laws, and institutions, and ordinances as may be necessary for the
peace, order and yood <;foveinment of Her Majesty's subjects, and others
therein. Now know ye, that we have seen lit. by our Uoyal Letters
Patent, bearing date the twenty-ninth day of Septend)er, in the year of
our Ijord ime thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, to ajipoint the Jlon-
orable William Mcl)ouL!;all, of the City of Ottawa, in the Province of
Ontario, in our Dominion of CaiUvda, and member of Privy Council for
Canada, and Companion of Our Most Honorable Order of the Bath, on,
AI'I'KNIHX.
XXXIX
11. 'I'wii nIii'.iii'^s h ;;)illciii til lir till.' duty i>ii wiiu's miil lii|iini>. i
rii
port)
Co.NHTAIll.KM
To Ihi imt It'HH timii Hixtci'ii it) iiiiihlifr, Miiiiitnlia, 1: IVntikL'i' In I'miiii
2; Wliit.' HoiHc IMiiiiis. ;i ; St. AimIitwh. ."I ; Fnft (Juriv,
W
iiiii|i
2. l'ni\isiiiii WHS tliuii niiule fm- tin- .ViliiiiiiiHtratii'ii nf liitustiUi- KHtiitu.s.
I'OSTAI,.
<ioiu'1m1 I'u.st Oftico ti» 1)0 ill Wiiiiiipi'i^. MhIIm ti> lit- c.iiri>'il at puMie
c'.\|>i)ii!)c. Clifirycs for |M(stayt' : - IjottiT.s iiiuU'r halt' nimcc. mir |ii'iiiiy,
tllK
I H poiiiiy fur iMcli jiiMiticdial Imlf uiuifo. .Ma'^aziiiL'H i.r Ituvii'Wrt. \\
puiico.
No
WspHplM'iS,
lit |ii'iiiiy, tlici.sc friiiii iilliL'c iif piiii|i( at loll i
i'Xi'lr»iii,'i)s Ut Ik' fri'f. IJdiik.s, liaif pniiiiil anil muli r, fmir pciu'i'. I.ncal
liMti'i's, lino ponny oai'li. Ijncal nrw.spapiT.s tn .snii.ii ril)ui'.s t'lia-. lii'Ljnla-
tioim for (iilvurtisid Iitt'is. Uninuli utlicra tn ho at St. Aiidrt'w.s, Hiiid-
inujiy, I'mta'.,'!- l;i I'laiiii- and St. Nnrhfit.
Koiiidatiiiiis wiTo tiion madi' fur tho pruvi'iitimi nf prairir liirs. ,'iniiiiiils
riinniii'4 at liu'^^o. and for hay ciittiii'^ priv iium's.
lil^l III! l,\\\.
Any per«(in .solliiiL; m' supplyini,' liipmr tn iincivilizi'd Indians tn he
linod.
1. Two jxmnds fur fiiinisliinu' hnnviii'^ iilisnails.
2. Thiol' piiiiiid.s fur fiiriiiHhiii;^ malt.
3. Fivo piiiinds fur fiiniisliinjL; boor ur any fonnontril lii|iiiir.
4. Ono hiindiod puiind.s fur fiirnishiiiL? dintillod Hpiritw ur any intu.xioat-
inj.; drink uthor than foriiionti'd licpmrs.
[n additiuii tu aliuxo, the ulR'nili'i' to iiiako ro.stitntiun tu tin- Indian, and
tho intiixicated Indian to ho ini[)risuni!d until he
iilil discliiso fn
wliuin lio pruciirod tho liipiur, and no por.suii tu carry liipiur ainuiiL,' In-
dians, unlo.ss in tran.'^it ur fur his uwii ii.so.
5. Nil pursun tu .soil .spirits, wine or boor, uinlor five ;4allun.H, withmit ;i
liooiise.
Tho liquor not to ho suhl lietweon tho huur.s of 10 p.m., and (i
a. Ill
iiiir
on Sundays, (Hood B'riday or ('liri.stnias Day. It wa.s fuiliiddon tu soil tu
intoxioatod porsons, and all luanufucturing had to bo cuiitinod tu tho pro-
inisos oovorod by lioonso.
Twolvu of the nearest liousoliuldors, irrespective of Distiict, cuuld liy
potitiun, prevent tlie granting of a license.
Whulesale lii|Uur licenses oust ton pounds each, and wore issued by tho
President uf the Fort Garry District Court.
\i'I'i:m>i\.
|{
OAllS.
I. 'I'lial nil |M'l)lit' inail.^ to ii'iiwiiii tlii' widlli tlu>\ liiul lu-cii laiil nut.
■J. No |n'i'siiu Id flit ii liiili" into or thrniii^li tlu> ri\t'r u'c. imiIcns |iri'ini't
int; it \>y a t'l'iu'c fmir f»'t>t liii^li, on pi'imlty uf miK |ii>ni;(l,
A ("i>niiiiiH.siiiiii'r ot' I'lililii' \\ drks to lie iippoiiitt'd mihI licld icsihiumIiIi'
t'nr tilt' st.'iti- nl' the loails and lu'id^'i's.
Nni'K. 'I'lic laws trniiu'd ii\ tlii' I'lnv isintial ( inx oniiiit'iil , and \\li
i-ami' ill liini- on iMMli Mas, IS7(),
Assinilmia, nndiMllio Hudson's llay Coinpauy.
wt'ic M'lN iiiuili III Inu' wi
itii tl
ii'h
U' laws of
■f
i\o.
II.
THi: MANirolSA Acr
\\\o run i:siMo I'i'Kiio \ n i'»)iti i kkuis v.
If
»
^'^
r. \
An .\t'l f > rstalilisli and pro\ idf lor tli
M.uutoli.i.
>\t'i'nuu<nt oi' ilii' I'l'nxiiuo of
\N 111 lii: vs, it IS pidhahic tlial llfi- Majt'sly tlic (j)iu'iMi may, |iuisuanl lo
till' Urilisli Noilli .\iiiiU'ii-:v .\il, ISii7, ln" pKia.sKil to aliiiil Uu|U'i'l'.s Laud
and till' Nortii NN I'su'in 'riMiiiorv iuio ilic I idou or l>oiuiuion of Canada
cloll' ll\t> IU<\t .si'ssioll ot tlu'
fail
iaiin-ul of Canada. .\nd w lit'icas il is
r\|H'dii'nt to prepare for I he If.'iusfcr of tin' said 'rcrrilorii's to ||n> (iii\
tTiiniiiil of t'aiiada at I ho t iiui- appointiul l>y tlio (j>ui'i>ii f isiicli adiuission.
And wlu'i'cas it is itxpt'diiMit also to providol'or I lio lU'i^ani/at ion of part of
llii' said 'r«'n'itorv a.s H l'i'o\ini't>, and for tlic I'staliiiMliiuont ofatio\i>rn-
lui'iil lliiM'ffor, and to niaki" pro\ isiun for llii> Civil (!o\ (•rnuii'iit of tlir
ri'uiainiiii; part of tlii< s.iid 'riMiilorii's not included within iho limits of
the Pro\ iiu'i'.
'riu'i'i'foii'. Hit Majesty, l>y and with the ad\ iee ami eoiiseiit of the
Seiialti and llousi> of Commons of I'anada, onaets as follows :
1. On, from ami after tiio day upon wiiieli tho (j>uoen, hy and with
I he ad\ lee ami eonseiit of iJiT Maji'sty's Most lloiiorahh* I'rivy (.'ouncil,
undei the anthoi'ity of the l-l(ith seetioii of the Kritish North Ann>riea
Aet, I8H7, shall l>y order in Coiimil, in liial beiialf, admit Ilnpevt'.s Land
and the North \\'i«stern 'revritoiy into the I'nioii or |)ominion of Canada,
there shall he foruu'd out of tile siiiio a I'roxinee whieh shall he one of
the I'rov inees of thit l>oniinion of Cantnla, tiiul which NhaU ho ealhul llio
I'ro-. ii, -e ot Maiiitidia, and bo lioumlod as foUows, that in to .say, eoin
MU'nein<4 at tln< point wheio tim nioridiaii of ninety six dou;roe.s of west
longitude from (Jreiuiwieh intersects the paiallel of forty nino ile^reos
Ai'i-i:siii\
Ml
•1> laid iitll.
lllll'ss |iM'li'l'l
1(1 ri'spiMlNlMr
lit, and wliieli
ill I lie ll^\V^^ of
iiy, imisii:iiil I"
KlllU'irs l.:Uld
ion mI' ♦'aiiadii
\N lu'lfllH ll IH
S |l> till* ''>'\
m-luuliiusshiii.
li.iii nf pari "I
t 111' a * !ii\ i>ni-
iMinciil of the
1 tho limits of
I'oiisont of till'
, l)y and \\illi
I'rivy Council,
Soi'tli \nH>rii'a
Uiiiu'vl's Land
lion of CanailH,
hall Ik- oni> of
1)0 calloil the
to say, com
<mo»>H of \vc»t
V nine lU'ijiccR
iiortlt I ititndi' ; tlu'iico due west ali.iii^ ilu' said jiarallcl <'\ forty nini>
dfm'i<i's null ll lal ilndo ^wliifli foiins a |iiirlioii uf tlio lioiiiidary Inn- lu<
l\\ci<ll till' riillcd Stairs of \iiurua and lllc said North N\ est el li 'I'rni
tory^ In ihr iiirridiaii <■{ mini \ niiii- dowries of west Imis.;!! lulc ; tlun due
noitli idoni; tilt' said nifridiaii of iiinrty iiiiio di'urocs w I'sl loiiu'.il iidf to
tlio iiili Tsi'i'l ion cif till' sanir with I lie parallrl of lifly d(";ii't's ami llmly
liilluilrH null ll l.ililiidi' , lluiu',' dll I'asI alulii
ill.' said paialli-l <<\ lift
di>i;lri'.s ami lliill\ miiiiitcs liui I li lal il iidc to Us iiitcisial |uii willi IJu' In.
foil' iiumiI luiird liliTldl.iIl of liilu'ly sl\ di"4li'i's « I'sl lun^ilndc ; llii'iu'c dm
soiiili aluiio tlif said iiioiidian of iiiinl_\ si\ drj^roi's wi'st luii^ititdc to tin
ilat'c ul
'(".'.iniiilii;.
'2 On. f
rum and alli'i I In' said da\ uii w liicli
ill.' » MdiT ><( llir < >i
in I'oiiiuil shall laKo rllnl as afoii'sanl, lln> pruxiMuns uf the jiiitish
Norih Vincrica Act, lSt>7, shall. o\ia'|il tliuso pa'.'ls llicri-of « hiili arc in
It'inis lilidi', ur liy rcasuiialih' ml rlidiiu'lil liia\ ln' In'ld lu lir .s|irriall\
a|>|ilnMli|r t u, ur uiily lu illi'rl , uiic ur nii'ii', lull liul 1 1 if w liulo uf | jir I'lu
\ iin'cs iiuw i'oin|iosmn till' I >oiiiiiiion, ami »'\ri'|i| su tarasiln' saino iiiav he
vai'U'd liy this Ail, ho applu'ahlo to the I'luxinco of Mamluha, in tin-
saiin' \va\, am
1 lu ihc hU.' lAl.iil, as ihcN aliiil\ lu ll
11' si'\ rial I'l u\ imi's
if Maniluha had lita'ii uiic ul I lir I*
uf t'aiiada, and as if llir I'luviiui'i
\ lines u||,.inall\ iimird h\ llnsaul Aet.
3. 'Thr said I'l'uv iiuf shall In' n'|iri'srnl i«d in t Ini Seimi e uf C'anaila hy
l«o im-iiilii'is mild ll shdl lia\o, at'eurdiiii; tu dia'cimial I'riisiis, a |>u|iiila
tiuli >>{ lillN lliuiisaiid Nuuls ; and fluni I lirm cfuil li it shall he ri'iiri'seiil ed
llltTt'in lv\ lui'i' iiu'IiiIu'Is, illilil it shall have, ai'cordllli; to the decelimil
census, a |iu|Milalioii uf se\enl\ li\t' lliuiisand souls, and from t liencefoit h
it shall he re|ireseiilial I herein hy four meiiihers.
-I, The Slid I'ruNim-e shall he i epi I'selil ed ill the lii si iiisl;. ce, m
tln> Hulls.' i<( ('uiniiiuiis, h\ fuiir im-mheis, ami for that |iiir|>ose sli.ill he
tlivnled, h\ |iiuelaiiial lull i'\ t ln> ( Jo\ eiiioi't ieiieral, intu funr I'ih'etuial
I)ist riots, .'aeh <<i wlmh shall ln' i cin'esenl .'.i h\ I'lie nienih.'r : Provided
that, .III ill.' .'ulillilel inn <<\ the i.Mlsiis, in the v.'ar I S,S 1 , .ilnl i<\' .Meh tie-
i'ennial eeiisns afUTwaiils, i he r.'|ireseiilnt ion ni ihes.iid I'roxiiua' shall
lu» r>' ad|iisted a.i'or.lmi; tu ihe provisions .il the lifty-lirst sei-tiun of the
IWilish Nuilh Ameri.a A.I, IS|17.
& I mil the I'arliaimnl ..f ( 'aiia.la ul liei w ise pro\ ides, I lu' .pialllieal luii
of v.iters ill eleelions of liieliihi'i's ul the ll.'iis.' i>i ('uiiiinons shall lu.
tin- same as furllii> Lei^islat i\ .• Asseinlily heri'inall er inentiuin'il ; ami no
pels >n shall \<c .pi.ililied t.i heehu'ti'd, .iit.i sit ami \.ile as a ineiiiher,
fur any i'ileel.'ial Ihslriet, nnh'ss lii> is a duly ipi.ilitie.l xuhr williiii the
saiil I'liiv iiu'i'.
(3. h'or till' sai.l Pro\ inee there shall lu' an ullieer styled the i.ientoiiiinl
11
xlii
AI'I'KNhlX.
• I
CJiPViirnnr, iipiniiiitud by tlif <ii>\L'riini- (ifiieiHl in C'lHiiicil, 1)\' instniiiiuiit
iiiidur till' (iioat Sual of Cdiifidii.
7. The Kxociitivf Council nf the ''rovince sliall he composed of such
jieison.s, and nnder sueh de.siLcnatinns, us tlie Lientenant-CJoveinor shall
from time to time think tit, and in the first instance of not more than five
j)ei'sons.
8. I'ldessand until the Executive (Jovernment of the Province other-
wise diiec'ts the seat of (Jovernment of tlii^ ^anle shall be at Fort Garry,
or within one mile thereof.
9. There shall be a Legislature for the Provinec, consisting of the
Iiieuti>iiant-( Jovernor and of two Houses, styled resjiectively the Le^jisla-
tive Council of Manitoba, and the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
10. The Legislative Council shall in the first instance be composed (>f
seven mendiers, and aftei^the exi)iration of four years from the time of
till' first appointment of such seven mi'mbers, each nendier of the Leg-
islative Council shall W a))])ointi'd by the Lieutenant-(ioveinor in the
Queen's name by instrument under the Great Seal of Manitoi)a, and shall
hold otlice for the term of his life unless and until the liCgislatureof Mani-
toba otherwise provides under tlie l'>i'itish North America Act, IHCt't .
11. The Lieutenant-Governor may from time to time by instrument
under the (ireat Seal apjioint a member of the Legishitive Council to l)e
Speaker thereof, and may remove him and appoint another in his stead.
12. I'ntil the Legislature of the Province otherwise ])rovides, the |>re-
sence of a majority of the whole nund)er of the Legislative Council includ-
ing the Speaker, shall be necessary to constitute a meeting for the exer-
cise of its powers.
13. <^'uestions arising in the I egislative Couni.ii shall be decideil liy
a majority of voices, and the Speaker shall in all cases iiave a vote; and
when the voices are e(pial, the decision shall be deemed to be in the
negative.
14. The Legislative Assembly shall t)e composed of twenty-four mem-
bers to be elected to reijresent the electoral divisions into which the
.said Province may be divided by the Lieutenant-Governor as herei' after
mentioned.
15. The presence of a majority of the niend)ers of the Legislative
Assend)ly shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for the
exercise of its powers, and for that pui'|»oae the Si)eaker shall be reckoned
as a mendjer.
16. The Lieutenant (iovernor shall (within six months (.f the date of
the Order of Her Majesty in Council admitting Rupert's Land and the
North-West Territory into the Union) by Proclamation under the (ireat
Seal divide the said Province into twenty-four electoral divisions, due re-
card being had to existing local dis isions and [lopulation.
liy iii.strmiiuiit
posed of H\ic'li
Jovonior shall
riore tlifiu five
'idvince other-
it Foi't Garry,
sistiiig of tlie
y the Logisla-
Vlanitoha.
e foiii{)osecl of
III tlie time of
r of the Leg-
ivernor in the
oha, and shall
atureof Mani-
ct, 18(>7.
ly instniimuit
L'ouncil to he
in his stead,
ides, the jire-
oiuicil iiichid-
fol' the exel-
13 decided liy
a vote ; and
to be ill the
ty-four iiieiii-
bo whicli the
IS lierei' after
e Legislative
louse for the
1 be reckoned
(■f the date of
jand and the
ler the (ireat
iions, due re-
Al'I'KXhlX.
Xllll
17. Every iiiah- person shall be entitled to vote for a ineiiiber to
serve in the Legislative Assembly for any electoral division who is (piali-
tied as follows : That is to say if he is
J. Of the full age of twenty-oiie years, and not subject to any legal
incapacity.
2. A Subject of Her Majesty by l)irth or natuiali/.ation.
.'1 And a hona fide householder within the electoral division at the date
of the writ of election for the same, and has been a hmia fiilr householder
for one year next before the said date ; or
4. If being at the full age of twenty-one years, and not subjeet to any
legal inca[)aeity, and a subject of Her Majesty by birth oi' naturalization,
he was at any time within twelve months prior to the jiassing of this Act,
and (though in the interim temporarily absent) is at the time of such elec-
tion a hoiKi fill,' householder, and was resident within the electoral division
at the date of the writ of election for the same.
But this fourth sub-section shall ajiply only to tlie tirst election to be
held under this Act for members to serve in tlie Legislative A.ssembly
aforesaid.
18. For the first election of members to serve in the Legislative As-
sembly, and until the Legislature of the T*rovince otlierwise provides,
the Lieutenant-Governor shall cause writs to be issued by such [lerson in
such form, and addressed to such retuviiing-otlicer as lu; thinks tit ; and
for such first election, and until the Legislature of the Province otherwise
provides, the Lieutenant-( iovernor sliall by pi'oclamatioii prescribe and
declare the oaths to lie taken by voters, the powers and duties ef return-
ing and deputy returning-othcers, the proceedings to be observed at such
election, and the period during which such election may be continued,
and such other provisions in respect to such tirst election, as he may
think fit.
19. Every Legishitive Assembly shall c<mtinue for four years from
the date of the return of the writs for retiirtiing the .same (subject never-
theless to be so(mer dissolved by the Lieutenant-(ioveriioi') and no longer,
and the first session thereof shall be called at such time as the Lieutenant-
(Jovernor shall ap[)oint.
20. There sliall be a session of the Legislature once at least in every
year, so that twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting
of the Legislature in one session, and its first sitting in the next session.
21. The following provisions of the British North America Act, LStiT,
res|)ecting the House of « 'cmmons of Canada, shall extend and apply
to the Legislative .\ssembly, that is to say : Provisions relating to the
election of a Speaker originally and on vacancies ; the duties of the
Speaker, the absence of the Speaker, and the mode of voting, as if those
provisions were here re-enacted, and made apiilicable in terms to the
liCgislative Assembly.
■#,
xin
AI'I'KNDIX.
I i i ii
22. Ill and f(ir tlio Pinviiici-, tin? sai<l Lev;is1fitiiU' iiiiiy exclusively
iiiiiko laws in relation to ediu'atinn, .siiiijoct and actording to tlir fullovvii
lU
lirovisions :
1. Notliiny in any siu'h law sliall prejudicially atl'oL't any ri^lit or privi-
lege with respect to denominational school.s, wliicli any class of ]K'rsons
have l)y law or practice in the F'rovince at the I'liion.
2. An appeal shall lie to tlie ( Jovernor-iieneial-in-Council from any Act
or di'cision of the Lei^islaturi' of tlii> Pro\ incc;, or of any Trovincial author-
ity aliectiuL; any ri^ht or prisile^e of the I'mtestant or Roman Catholic
minority of the (i>ueen's siihjt^cts in iclation to e<liication
.'». In case any such I'roviru-ial Law, as from time to tiuu' seems to the
<iro\ernor-( Ii'nen;l-in-('oun.cil rt'(|uisite for the due execution of the pro-
^ isions of tliis section is not made : or in case any decisi
of tile (ioveiiior
( Jeiieral in-Council, or any ap|)i'al under this section is n<it duly executed
hy the propter Provincial autliority in that liehalf, then and in every such
case, and as far only as the circiiiiistaiices of each case icipiire, the Parlia-
ment o
f ('
iiii
ida
may
d<
reiiie<
lial
IS for tiie due execution o
f th
pro\ isioiis of tliis section, and of ai
ill Council under this section.
23. Kither the Kiii,dish or tlu
III of (lu ( io\eiiioi-(ieneral-
i< relic
h h
iiig'uaL(e may lie iisei
d 1
>y
any person
tile di'l.ati
if the Houses of the liCuislature, and lioth
tho-ie laii^;ua;j;es sliall lii; used in tlie iespe(ti\ t' Hecords and .louinals of
those Houses, and either of those lanyuaLtes may he used iiy ai.y jierson,
or in pleading; or process, i)r in issuing from any Court of Canada, estah-
lislied uiidi'r the P>ritisli North America .\ct, IStiT, or in oi- fr<iin all or
any of tiie Courts of the I'rovince. The Acts of t!ie Lenisiatuii' shall In-
]iriiited and pulilished in lioth tliosi' lanmiaLjes,
24. Inasnnu'h as that the l*ro\iiice is not in dehr, the said Pro\iiice
shall be entitled to he paid, and to receive from the ( lovernnu'nt of
Canada hy Iialf-yeurly payments in advance, inti'icst at the I'ate of five
per centum ])er annum, on the sum of four liiindreil and se\enty-tv.o
thousand and ninety dollars.
25 The sum of thirty thousand dollars shall he paid yearly Iiy Can-
ada to tiie Province for the su|iport of its (ioveiniiient an<l lA'gislature,
and an annual grant in aid of the said Province shall be made, eipial to
eighty cents per liead of the po])ulation estimated at seventeen thousand
souls ; and such grant of eighty cents jier head shall be augmented in
pro])ortion to the increase of jiopulation as may be shown by the census
that shall be taken thereof in the year one thousand eight luuidred and
eighty-one, and by each snbse(|uent decennial census, until its population
amounts to four hundred thousand souls, at which amount such grant
shall remain tliercaft. r, and such sum shall be in full settlement of all
future demands on Canaila, and shall be paid half-yearly in advance to the
.said Province.
AI'I'KNKIN.
xlv
26. Caiiiiil.'i will .'isHunu' ainl defi'iiv tlio cliuiuf for tlii' fnllnwiiiL;- mt-
V1C08
J. Sfilaiy of tho Lieiiteniviit-(i(>\iTiior.
'J. SalnrifH find .-illoWiiiRx's of tlu' .liuli,'t's of tlic Superior .iiiil Distrii't
or County Courts.
.'{. ChargL'H in ri!.s|iL'ct of tliu I)i'|iurtuieur of tlie Customs,
4. Postiil DL'|i!irtniont.
5. Protection of Fisliorios.
(J. Militia.
7. (iiMtloificul Survey.
8. Tlie PeniteutiMry.
il. And sucli furtlier eliariies as may l>e ineident to and eonueeted with
the service.s, which, hy tlie British Noi'tli Amei'iea Act, l.S(»7, a|(|u'rlaiii to
the General (iovcrnment, and as are or may hj allowed to other Pro-
vinces.
27. The Customs' duties, now l)y law ehar'^t'alile in Kiijiert's Land,
.shall l)e eontiinied, without ineri'ase, for the ]ieriod of three ye.irs from
and after tlie ipassiiiif of this At't. and tlie jiroei't'ils of sueli diitii's shall
form |iart of the Consolidated Re\enue Fund of Canada.
28. Such provisions of the Customs" Laws of Canada (otjiei' than siieji
as prescribe the i-ate of duties payahle). as may he, from time to time.
declared l)y tlie (iovernoi-( ieni'ral in Council to apjily to the Province of
Miinitoba, shall he applicahle tlien^to, and in force tlu'rein acroidini;ly.
29. Such provisions of the Laws of Canaila, respecting; the Inland
Kevenue, including; those tixiny the auK'tuit of duties, as may he, from
time to time, declared hy the ( Jovernoi-Ceneral in Council applieahle to
the said Province, shall apply thereto, and l)e in forci' therein atcord-
ingly.
30. All ungrauted or waste lands in the Province shall Ik?, from and
after the dale of the said transfer, vi'sted in the Crown, and admin-
istered hy the (loxerument of (.'anada for the ]iinpose of the Dominion,
snhject tr) and except and so far as the same may he atieeti'd hy the con-
ditions and stipulations contained in the agrei'ment for the surrender of
Itupert's Land by the Hud.sons liay Company to Her Majesty.
31. And whereas it is expedient, towards the extinguislunent of the
Indian Title to the lands in the Province, to appropriate a p<irtiou of
such ungrauted lands to the extent of one million four hundred thousand
acr. H tliereof for the beiu'tit of the families of the half breed residents, it
is hereby enacted that under regulations to be from time to time made by
the (iovernor-(ieneral in Council, the Lieuten.int-tiovernor shall select
such lots or tracts in such parts of the Pi'ovince as he may deem exju'di-
ent to the extent aforesaid, and divide thi' sanu' among the children of
the half-breed heads of families resitling in the province at the time of
xlvi
AI'l'ENDIX.
the sfiicl tmnsfor to Cimada, juid the same slmll be ymiitud to tliu said
children respectively in such mode and on such conditions as to settle-
ment and otherwise as the (jovernor-(ieneral in Coiuicil may from time
to time determine.
32. For the ((uieting of titles and assurin<,' to the settlers in the Pro-
vince the peacealile possession of the lands now held by them, it is en-
Jicted as follows :
1. All grants of land in the freehold made by the Hudson's Hay
Company up to the eighth day of March in the year 18»J1>, shall, if re-
• [uired by the owner, be confirmed by grant from the Crown.
2. All grants of estates less than freehold in land made by the Hud-
son's Bay Company up to the eighth day of .March aforesaid, shall, if
re((uired by the owner, be converted into an estate in freehold by grant
from the Crown.
.'». All titles by occu[)ancy with the sanction and under the license and
authority of the Hudson's l>ay (Jompaii}', u|) to the eighth day of March
aforesaid, of land i'l that jiart of the Province in which the Indian title
has been extinguished, shall, if re(piire(l hy the owner, be converted into
an estate in freehold by grant from the Crown.
4. All persons in peaceable possession of tracts of land at the time of
the said transfer to Canada, in those parts of the Province in which Indian
title has not been extinguished, shall have the right of jire-emption of the
same on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the (Jover-
nor-in-Council.
o. The Lieutenant-(io\eriior is liereby authorized, under regulations to
be made from time to time by the (jovernor-Ceneral-in Council, to i ake
all such provisions for ascertaining and adjusting on fair and e(puial)le
terms the rights of connnon and rights of cutting hay held and enjoyed by
the settlers in the Province, and for the conunutation of the same by
grants of land from the Crown.
33. The (Jovernor-Cteneral-in-Council shall from time to time settle
ami ajtpoint the mode and form of grants of land from the Crown, and any
< h'der-in-Coiuicil for that purjjose, when published in the ^^ Canada
irKu-tte," shall have the same force and ert'ect as if it were a portion of
this Act.
34 Nothing in this Act shall ui any way i)rejudice or atfiict the rights
or i)roperties of the Hudson's Bay Com|)any, as contained in the conditions
under which that Comi)any surrendered Rupert's Jjnud to Her Majesty.
35. And with respect to such portion of Rupert's Land and the North-
\\'est Territory as is not includetl in the Province of Manitoba, it is hereby
ei acted that the Lieutenant-CJovernor of the said Province shall be ap-
pointed by commission under the Great Seal of Canada io be Lieutenant-
(lovernor of the same under the name of the North- West Territories, and
subject to the provisions of the act in the next section mentioned.
tti tliu Sditl
B8 to settlo-
y from time
in the Pio-
m, it. is en-
idson's Bay
shall, if re-
)y the Hiid-
,i<l, shall, if
)I(l hy ymiit
liuL'iist^ and
iy of March
Indian title
I verted into
tho tiiiiu of
liich Indian
ption of the
thu (Jovor-
t;ulations to
cil, to 1 ake
(I e(iuuai)le
enjoyed by
le same by
time settle
vn, and any
" Canada
portion of
t the ri<{hts
5 conditions
Majesty.
the North-
it is hereby
hall be ap-
Liieutenant-
itories, and
led.
•M'l'KXDIX.
nI\ ii
36. Kxcept as lu.reinb..fo,e is enacte.l and provided, the Act of the Par-
liament of Canada passe.l in the now last s,.ssinM thereof intituled - \n
Act for the temporary government of Itnpcrf.s Lan-I and North-Western
lerntory when united with Canada." i. hereby re-en.cted. extendi-d an.l
contuu.ed in force until the 1st day of .January, 1871, an.l .n.til the end of
the session of Parliament then next sncceedin-.
NoTK.-A List of Books of Keferenc.., an.l a Chronological l^ible of
events connected with the Histo,y „f the N..rth-\Ve.st, will be foun.l in
\ olume III.