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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure era filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre f ilmte A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, ii est filmA A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de geuche h droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■5; vJ,-,'*.. -* :vr }/>■. f%^ ,oii CLAIMS .^ ot. <* v'^ ■5 , ^ ^ \ • J ^- ^ » "■^.''^ I'l* ^'V- *\ •-'i, 'v '• , ' » f ' . TAe Hudsms Bay Campmttp > '■' ^ "^ THE CONDUCt / OV11* ADVERSARIES, '(j? H»r J I r Bffi '" « THE ADVBBSA^IBS WBR* T»B CBI»r.- TM« BNBWM ^*WBiift;TB«» BATB •I.AINW>» BOT- WliBD/^^ B0» « anAU. MOT tHW COP PAW* A^AT Ol»TO THB BTIt V ooBRlf AND CHAbl. NOT tBB BWST »B B»TA8U«H«0 t« JX~ ■se» 'i« ^ PRI^TBO BY f IliiJAM O^AY. 1817. Vi I ■.,s,..^^W 'A 1 : t -: '>^'j|||^^ M "■^£^^^m ) 1 '<^m^ i ''^. 1 1 V*^»' i ' I ..« /:;-. » 1. "■^:- > , ;■.♦ ■\ *s- ■•6. NOTICES, &c. /•[ I .1 'l I T, HE disasters which during successive years have be- fallen the Colony established by the Earl of Selkirk at Red River, have naturally attracted some degree of the pub- blic attention. The sentiments of hostility against the set- tlement expressed from the period of its com.nencement by the members and connections of a numerous association of Indian Traders, known by the name of the North West Com* pany, could not fail to point suspicion towards them as the original cause of these disasters, whatever might be the im* mediate agency employed. Next to the ruin of the Colony, the object io which its destroyers and their associates feel the highest intei[est,sis to prevent its re-establishment. Nei- ,ther habitation nor settler has been left. But altho' this state pt things is sufficient for the present gratification of the foes of the colony^ it promises them no security for the fa* lure ; for, while the rights under which the settlement w^ IsoBded, should be consideied to subsist, the g^rm from irbich a new growth might spring, xnoold be' allowed to remain. ■ , At .■ - 1> snsi '§•- :^' «k ^1 i^" I ' . '■ I • l¥ ' I )W"'f^i'''^^ y I fc V I I *■ i k % t 4 1 fobave destroyed the colony would not answer the object «f its enemies, unless the hope of its revival should be alstf destroyed, and the same anti-colonial spirit, which, while the tettlement, was in being, prompted its opponents to seek its annihilation,, through scenes of devastation and slaughter, is new since its fajl, exerting an equally zealous, although nd longer a sanguinary hostilit}, in endeavours to overturn the 4 authority under which it derived its existence. For this purpose the Hudsun's Bay Company, under wbusc sanction the colony was founded, have been called into the contest ; the validity of their ancient Charter has been attacked ; and their rights as to trade and soil have been denied. { Although many of the evils which have occured are past remedy, it still imports the friends of established authority, that the SUCCESS' which has attended the attempts against the lives of the colonists, should not extend to the attempts against the nghts under which the colony was founded. The object of these pages is therefore, in the first place, to suggest some considerations respecting the validity oC the Hudson's Bay Charter, and the extent of the rights, particu* • larly as to territory, which it must be understood to convey; in the next, to shew the absence of aqy claim or title on the part of the North West Company, to hold possessions in the Hudson's Bay territories, or even in the North West or In* dian Territorie^s, without the limits of the Hudson's Bay Charter ; and lastly to give a succinct account of the esta- blishment, and destruction of the polony at Red River. Tlir cy than those by which many of the other Coloniei in Ameri* ca were establiscd ; probably from the high interest felt in the exalted characters in whose favour it was obtained. By this Grant which establishes a separate government, all the inferior regalities and subordinate powers of legislation were expressly vested in the graiUeer, together also with a right of levying war and making peace. The extent of th* rights conveyed, and of the territory granted is not to be drridsd by the narrow rules of local or« dinances, or those coniiued regulatit^ns of the municipal code, which apply to the tertuiuation of difierenres between indivi- dual and individual ; but must be determined ty more liberal and comprehensive principles, by doctrines of more general and extensive application. Between individual and indivi> dual, length of possfssion might constitute Right, but be- tween an individual and a Sovereign^ or between an indivi- dual and a Colcny or Government, a claim founded only Of prescription could not exist. The points which seem on the present occasion most de^ serving of consideration, are the exclusive trade and the li- Hiits of the Hudson's Bay Territory. On the subject of the Trade, eome have laid ii down as a principle, that the Crowa I'v- ■ cannot' t f 1 AAOOOt grant «n excluiive right of Trale, vithot.t tho con* currenee or confirmatioB of Parli maot. Differen ea of opinion rar»here a grant of soil is mude at the same time with a grant of exclusive trade, the right of tha prown to confer the latter priviledge becomes rather a ques- tion of curiosity than of utility ; because by the grant of the soil alone, the proprietor becomes legally entitled to exclude all others from any entrance upon, or any establishment* within it. If the King's authority should .lot be considered to entitle him to prohibit to any iudividuaU the exercise of any lawful occupation upon their O'Vri domains, because such prohibition might be thought a restraint upon their liberty, tncompatibla with the freedom of our laws, the royal pre- • TOgtttivfr . 1 % if . :"■ . I ■ ,1 I! -.'■. i I t • 1 rtfgitif • ufiqtieitionably extends to the fonnding of Colotti* ■nd PUntaiiont, and to the granting of Lundt and Territo* riot ; und upon every such exercise of the royal prerogativef, the right of entering into, or of remaining within the limita of the Granti it vetted legally andaolely in the Granteea, Ur the excloiion of the other tabjectt of his Majesty, for whom it would not be pottible to cttrry on a trade in a country iw to which they were, neither entitled to enter nor remain. That part of the Hudaons Bay Company's Charter which conveys the giaut of the trade and country, is in the words following : — ** We have given, granted, and confirmed, and " by these presents for us and our heirs and Bucceeson, do '* give, grant, and confirui, untu the said Governor and Com* '* pany, and their successors, the sole trade and commerce of " all those seas, straights, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks, and ** Eoonde, in whatever latitude they shall be, that lie within ** the entrance of the straights commonly called Hudson'i ** btraights, 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 alretdtf ** actuallif possessed bj/, or granted to any of our subjectSf on " pMiesaed by the subjects of any other Christian Prince 09 ** State ; with the fishing of all sorts of 6sh, whales, stur> *' geon, and other royal fishes, in the seas, bays, inlets, and " rivers, within the premises, and. the Ith therein taken tch * getber a r 9 ] ** fitW with %U liiyally of tbt tea vpoa lh« eowit, wltM« ** the limits aforeiaid, Md all tb« mioM, tvyal ■• wtH dJM^i " vtred as not diieoverad, of goH, tilvtr, gaoii, and pracioM ** ttonet, to ba found or dUrovarad within tha terrltoriaf, ** limitt, and plares aforaaaid ; and that tba taoM land bt " from henceforth reckoned and raputad ia ana of avr *< PLANTATIONS or COLONIES in Amariea, callad ** RUPERTS LAND ; and farther wa do by thaea preNnts ** for as our heira and raiceaion, make, eraata, and conitW <* tvta, tha said GoTemor and Company, f >r tha time being, ** and their eucceaaora, tha truaatd ahiolttta Lorda and Pro^ ** prietora of the eama territory, limite, and placaa, and of " all other the piamieee, easing always tha fiuth, allagianaa, ** and soTeieign dominion due to ne our haire and snceaeioraa <* for tha lame: to haTC, hold, poeaea, and a^}oy tha iiUd tai^ ^ ritory, limits, and placet, and all and aingnUr other tha " premises hereby granted aa aforesaid, irith their and every ** of their Righta, members, jnriedietions, prarogativaa, roy- ** altiea, and appurtenaneea whatsoever, to them the said ** Governor and Company and their SncceMora for aver." ' '!■ ' "i M '^ l\.i t r Here, then, we see a complete and perfect concession of all right of soil in the territories deirribed ; and if all that con- aems exclusive trade and commerce in the foregoing eitatioii had been expunged, the real effect of the chapter would bava remained unaltered, and it would virtually have operated tha exclusion of strangers from the trade, until Iha grantees, or thair sacccators; ihonld have transforiad l^othars a right hi B tliair if i'a<'iTir*i iJi.Mm«n travelled to England, wheie their representations proved more efftfctuai than they bad dtine tn their own country, and were tiie cause of an ij£xpe tion heiag fitted out for Hudson's Bay, under one Oillam, who erected ttie firttt Fort in that country, and gave occasion to the Gittiil uf tLe liudsvk's B^y Charier itself. Even if this / tliis relatipp ware perfectly founded in fart, it it teircdy at '. be tupp.'Md that any one should be lo desirous of ext(»ng Freaeh d^minatio^ as to insinuate, that beeausa two Freucb OeBtlemiin travelled throujb a ecuntry, it therefore becuue : tbe propcrt/ of Franct. ''■'''.'' fittt, ift truth, a diicustioa of the right of the king to grant • .a territory in the occupstion of the subjects of another Sover- , eign* would be perfeetly idle, since if such a right under any rirraaistanees could be supposed to exist, it was not onihis oceauon exerted. The Charter, as appears from the extract ^ already given, grants only such of the lands within the de- fined limits, as were not then, to wit, in 167O, " actualiifpot' >* teued by, or giuitted to English tuhjects^ or fonessed by the " tubjeett of any other Christian Prince or State.'* In three Modes therefore, tut in three modes only, it may be shewn, that the territory to the south of Hudson's lilay has not been conveyed by the Charter. One is, that it was in ]760*pO8» tctsed by or granted to English subjects ; a second is, that it was possessed by the subjects uf some other state ; and a third ii, that by fair and legal interpretation, it could not be aomprehended within tbe limits of the (irant. It has never been pretended, and it cannot he asserted with truth, that any part of the coantr>' in question was granted to or legally possessed' by any English subjects prior to the date of the Charter, The second cause of exception, to wit : the pos* aetsi'inof the subjects of SDme other state is next to be con- lidf red. lo this cas^ as in others of a similar nature, by the B ^ termi ilf if ft •y I' It, HI 1 : 1 ]■ Itnn '* poncMed/* tin tctual peraumeot and htmaJUk ecei^ pwwy must be undentood to b* meaBk* and Qot merely laflc^ titioiM or emblematic potsceuon, or a deUj •» trmuitUy ok • trading journey or a voyage of discovery. And th» best Ina- tories of the times, the sole anthorities to which on such • •nbject we can refer for information entitled to credit, cob" tun no mention of any actual or permanent establishmenla, or occupants of land in I670, or before that period within afe immense distance of any part of the territories ever claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company. On the contrary, their Earliest mention 4ven cf trading journies into those eountriet 4s of 4 date much subsequent to that of the Charter. . It is related by those who are inclined to contest the va' ^idity of the Charter, that a Beaver Company was formed in Caoiida in l6)30, who traded to the ** interior'* for peltriet. If the boundaries had been defined which circumscribe that unceBtain country alluded to, under the ambiguous denomina- tion of the '* interior/' the statement would have been more t;lparl> understood ; but if it be intended to import that the Reaver Company formed in 1690 (a) traded into the Hud- son's Bay territories, the assertion would only be entitled to ridicule. Quebec was takrn by the English under Kirk, comi^i^enly called Sir David Rirk, and the government of the Colony was in 1 630, in th hands of his brother Lewii Kirk, and so remained until 1632 wbeq it was restored to France (a) See the opinion of Messrs. Pigott^ Spankie, ami Broufhaat; triated at tbe end of tbii paUicaUoa. ^ tfa« crastf of St, GcriiMin* (b). At the tini* QMbtd jviVBctertd to Khk-.tlM nvminr of the eokimtti MUfcely tute, cttdtd tbote of Red River tft tiM period of tiMir Ititt expulv •ion and muMaere t>y the North West Conpftny ia l&i6, Tke eoloaitti at Qvebcr, when Kirk uppeared b«fure fb« place were engaged io hostilities «ith the Indians, af^ pears from the history of Father Charlevoix and Ilenoepinr whoss inclination would have certainly led them to give as much exteneicn to the progress of the scattered possessions of the French in North Amarica as the truth woold war- rant, that fox some years after tbie date of the Charter, the French ■4^ (*) See Mod. Uniy. Hist. rd. 39, p. 483, 4. I t i^ t V,. Drvneh had no MUUbhvd trading poits aten aa iiir aa Laln»> Superior, wluch ia, f udiataiDt from aoy bonndary aver as^gn-- ad to tbe Iludaon's Bay tern toriea. The very y«ar after the charter, and prolmbly in conseqaenceof tbe alaTOi whic)i that measure excited, officers were § nt f:oni Qutbec to take a iormitX or tictitous possession of the conntry aboui, Ltkke Sapenor, and to establish a corrt-spondeoce with thii^' natives. Until very tnttny years after this, the French pa*; ver had any estublisbed possession iu Hudson's Bay, or on any^f tbe waters wLich run into it unless tbat denomination be given to the emblematical possebsion osoally takeii by- ce^meit when nev/ di8cove;'ie8 arc made, by planting a poet' and' setting up the arius of the .Sovereign ; but as has been already ob&trvea^ tLe tern)8 pancy, and seem to have been inserted expressly taexclBda- this species of fictitious pussession^ yrom every source, therefore, f.om which credible author^ ity can be obtained on the subject, it is apparent, that " tha. ** possessions of tbe su!:jertB of any other Christian Prioca- " or State at tbe date of iha Charter," cannot be urged to re^ duce the extent of the grant to the Hudson's Bay Company. And no snbEequect occupancy by any European subjects, if such occupancy has existed, can be con»idered to have divest"^ ed tbe Hudson's Bay Company of ecy portion of their ori« - ginalxlaim ; l%caose no express permission or graiit of anf fffctnmeut has autherued its subjects to hold lands in tha territoriet i 1* > |lnT|]oii«t in quettion, while on lk% other hvid, all eetHblialtA nuenti therein, except under the sanction of the Company, have been expressly prohibited to Biitish and other subjectff hj various and repealed interdictions. The two first and frivoU os grounrg upon whieh it has lieen attempted to lessen the extent of the grant to the Hud- ' •bn*8 Bay' Coih|;any having bet-n suflicicntly^xemiDed aiiil •xposedy it remains for us to consider tbe actual limits of Ihe Charter.— With respect to these limits, we have attentively szamfa»» sd the opinions of Messrs, Pigott, Spankie, and Broughami inserted at the conclusion of tbi> publication. Their claims 4o rejputation, we doubt not, are founded upon greater specs* mens of ability, than any which are displayed upon the sub* ject ia question. .They say that, " within the streights must ** mean, such a proximity to the streights, as would give the ** land spoken of, a sort of affinity or ralatiou to the " streights.** Vft should really have been gratified, if these gentlemen had been pleased to give u« something more ex« plicit, as to what constituted, in their opinion, " a sort of afii" nity or relation" between lands and streigiits ; as these are " affinities and relations," which although referred to, m a legal Opinion, are not perfectly mtelligible even to kgal diaractsrs on this side the Atlautic, nor reducible, as far as oat <;•- it ti !:!■ .;•. "i. MMtkadMiBAiKa MBWWIrUB**! f «« J TtaAng exttndt to any statute mearara* Are itMil ** ■ffiohiee or Telntions* tbe Diei« creations of k luxtfifoM fancy f If so in wliatever estimation, and that iff not a lerU one, we foay hold in tbeir proper sphere, tbe flights of ini* fination, Ibey are unworthy of a place in a legal opinion : baft if these ** affioities" hav* a real existence, the limits to svhieb they extend, are capable of being defined. Ovaf srbat extent ^of ground then would they reach f Would, thf intervention of a mountain or a valley destroy them? are they dependent upon circnmstances, or are they fixed and unariakU I itt the uncertainty as to what answer mi^t bt fivin» «e are' nnfortufiately reduced to the necessi^ of in* lei'l^roting the Charter, not according to the new doetrimyi of idttri ** affinities and relations" . but according to tbe ancient oxorctse of rational construction, and established precedent; in similar cases. Messrs. Pigott, Spankie, and Bron^aray also declare, that by tbe charter, ** sarh a boundary must <* be implied, as is consistent with this view," to wit'* ofafl^ ** luties and relations," and " with tbe objects of a trading^ *< Company, not intending to found kingdoms and establialS ** atateoy but to carry on fisheries," and " to traffic for thf . *< acquisition of Fun and Peltriee, and othei art^s." Do tltese learned gentlemen then Ibrget, while in the i|Ct of ex* •miniRg the Charter, that it establishes a colony, and consti* tiilsa a goverament i And that previousijr there sever had been £ 17 1 JIMO a Dritifh colony ibunded m America, to which an ex- 0nt of territory was' not given lupcrior to that of many •tatat and kingdomi in Europe I "it.'',- ' ^ ' ■ Let us however quit these comments, unworthy the appel« lation of legal opinions, by which our attention has been for a moment arrested, and proceed to the rational and leg amination of the limits of the Charter. This Charter con- veys, ** all the lands and territories upon the cxiuntnes, coastSf ** and Conines, of the seas, bays, lakes, rivers, creeks and ** Bounds, that lie within the entrance of Hudson's Streights." It must, therefore appear indisputably evident, 1. That all the Rivera into which a vessel can sail from Hudson's Bay, fall undar the description of Rivers that lie within the eotrbbs, add the other persons who joined with him about the year 1748 in a fruitless application to Parliament to set aside the Charter. It is also shewn from Jeffrey's Mapb, publish* ed during the war of 1756, and by a passage in Carver's Travels, published soon after the Peace of I76S, in which he describes the country about the Lake Winipic, Red River, &c. Sic, as within the acknowledged limits of the Hudson's Bay Company, and speaks of the Trade cat ried on there from Canada as an encroachment, which under the peculiar circumstances of the case, the Company was under the ne- cessity of winking at, see p. 110, 2d Edit. The same inference is supported by the negociations for the treaty of Utrecht, m wuich the right of the Hudson's Bay Computiy to the pioperty of the country is evidently understood to be so extensive with the rights of England to tk.^ Sovereignty. But alibi/ it was stipulated by the treaty C2 of [ to ) of l^treohtt that the boundary line between the Ilodeonll Bay Territori^e und Canada, and likewise between the vtW French and English Colonies in America^ should be deter- mined by Commissioners to be appointed in virtue of the Treaty, and ultbo' the parallel of 49* teems to have been afterwards proposed as the boundary of the Company's ter- ritories, probably from the supposition that it would include fill the waters emptying into Hudson's Bay } yet that pa- rallel was never definitively agreed upon as the boundary, and the pretensions of the £nglish and French governments in that quarter, were never finally adjusted before the war of 1766. The conquest of Canada, ot course, established the, pretensions pieviously held by EnglSnd ; for a victorious Jiatioo, could rot be supposed to accept as a cession from an enemy, that which they had never previously ackiowledged to be theirs. The boundaries fixed by proclamation after the Peace of 1763, for the English colonies lying on the. south of Canada, toere tht aihne that England had contended for be/ore the uar ; and it is clear, that the same principle was considered as applicable to the Hudson's Bay Territory also. ' This is evident ttom the manner in which this territory is men- tioned in the proclamation of 1763, concerning the boundary of the province of Quebec, and other colcnieS) and particular- ly concetning the territory reserved f9r the Indians, It is certain that before the war of 1756, the British Govern- ment never acknowledged any part of the country Ij'ing on the waters running into Hudson's Bay to belong to Canada* ^iJd •Stil in Fol ioi C ti I 4nd if tbt French at ^ny time after the date of the Cbarttf hdd aeiumed the tMCupaiicy of any part of that couatry, of %»hicb I here is not the snialle*t kutisfactory evidence, they would hctve done no more there, than they are positively at* certain«d to have done in the British Colonies, now the Unit* ed Htites, 10 the S'juth of Canada, where they possessed & long line of f irts ; and as the actual passession of the French south of (y'ana'la di^l not induce the Engluh Governnient t6 ^lier the limiu it had assigned to its colonies in that quarter, •urely the merely imaginary possessions of the French. North of Canada, could not be any ground for altering or re* ^uciog the liiaits of the English Colonies or Charters M that side. On the waters running into Hudson's Bay, and within ibe limits of the Hudson's Bay Territories, according to the fore> going and only rational interpretation of the Charter the lata itttlemeat at Red Kiver was situated. But so hostile it the spirit felt by the destroyers of the colony, and their friends,. , against any £ngU>b settlement in that quarter, that they have of late advanced and supported the opinion, that Red River, altho' conaprehended within the description given by the Charter, has been by our treaties ceded to the United •States of America ; thua evincing a desire, that the district in question, should rather be considered as belonging to a Foreign Power than become the seat of a British Colony, >at forming part of the Hudson's Bay Territories. A disposi- ^ lion to sacrifice national interests or national dignity, for the attainment f : 1 1 ■1 h; : If! i ^:1 «tTC I Hi t M 1 ■ttnlnin^nt of individual udvantage, or the gratifidatinfi of pcrsooal rancour, i» htt|ipil> nut common among Kn^lu|i-. airn. But, aa tucb a <^ia|)08ition hai bet- o mitnifested by •oroe perioni on tbia subject, it may not be improper to con* ■ider whether the opinion that llt-d River lies within any of the boundaries of the United States, rests on any 6olid found- ation. Nothing can be more clear than that it was never for a moment, conten::pIuted either by the British or by t'.ie American governmenti that any of the Hudson's Bay terri* turies, or any of the waters running into Hudson's Bay, would be included in the lines aMigned as the boundaries between the poejes^ions of Great Kritam and those of the United States. The treaty concluded with America in i7D4, cudiriently ehrws, that such an idea never existed in either goveinment. By the third article of that treaty, vhich permits the most perfect freedom of communication and interccurae between the subjects of both nations thiough- «iut their respective dominions, an exception is made of the Ci>untty within the limits of the Hudson's Bay Company, to be ascertuiiiedi oi course, in conformity to their Charter from which the Americans are expressly excluded. The teruii of the treaty ronrluded in 1783 with the United States, agreeably to which b) t''* recent treaty of 1814 the icrrito- riiil division betw^ eb the two powers is to be made, shew the express intention of both nations to have been, that the r.otlhern boundary of the I'nited States, should not, in eny pull cxH'iid i'urthtr i.orth than the lliver Si- Lawrence, or th3 he 68, ito» lew the or ths t ts i the lakes and ttreairs which feed or Ml into it. It it, how; ever, unfortunately true, tliat • great part of the Mcond ar^ tide of the treaty of l7|)3t was drawn u^' in romplete ignor* ance of the geography of the country. It is so full of contra* dictions, that ihera is nn possibility of laying out a line that shall follow tlie article literally. In such a case, the only fait* mode of solving the difficulty, is by returning to the prin« ciple upon which the article waa framed. The object of the American negociati^rs was, as appears from their correspondence, to obtain a recognition of the right of the United States to the western territory, as far at the St. Lawrence on the narth, uni the Mississipi on tlM west. When this was agreed to by our government, it was considered as an important concession ; and the Ameticaa Plenipotentiaries proceeded up m that coucesdion as the prin- ciple on which their boundary towards Canada after it had struck the St. Lawrence, was to be made out. Having brought the line from Nova Scotia to the St. Lawrence, they followed up the main Stream of that river, to what they conceived to be its principal source, and what was supposed to approach the nearest to tl*e source of the Mississippi. la imiginary conformity to this intention, the second article ( f the treaty of 1783. after having carried the line to Lake Superior, stipulates that it ehuU be continued onwards thro* tbe tuiddlo of certain water communications to the njrtb west poltit of the L^ke of the Woods, and thence due west ti> the Misciisi;;)!; :Lc Let, however, is, that ths waters of the L*i';c >' ''L . i i ■ ! '■i^ ! i| I r «♦ J tdikft of the Woodtfeed 8tr«tim« « icb fall intoIIudsonV Bay, bat have no contmunication with any waters which fall into Lake Superior ; and it is also the fact, that a liAe drawn due weet from the Lake of the Woods, would never reach the Miesiuippii which lies far to the south of such a line. As far as Lake Superior, the description in the s^coni article of the treatji ix accurate, and consistent with theprin* cif le by which the boundary was to b« determined ; and it will be perfectly evident that the article was framed through* out with intention to proceed on the same principle, if w« consider what was, at that time, the state of geographical ith fi)rmation concerning the country west of Lake Superior. The country had never been surveyed by men of science * but from the vague and inaccurate descriptions of ignorant ** coureurs tki hmt" maps had been constructed, which laid down a large river running from the Lake of the Woods, and falling into Lake Superior. If there had been such a river, there can be no doubt, from the body of waters contained m the Lake of the Woods, that it would have been a murh larger stream than any of the feeders of Lake Superior. It was therefore most natural, that the negotiators should sup' pose the l dary lice westward fn m Lake Superior is thus /econeilei to the general principlut, enough has been said to show that the adoption of the line due west from the Lake of the Woods, could be justified by no rational or sound construction of the treaties between Great Britain and America, and, would be a culpable derelic- tion of the dignity and interests of the former. As it is only the northern boundary line of Louisiana which bus any relation to our present subject, it would be iiuperfiuous to enquire into its limits on the west, althou^jh nothing could be more absurd than the idea that Spain ever contemplated the cession of any territory on the I'uc'fic G- cean, under the name of Louisiana, 1 Vc M. \-a\i be |Lh(>u;!h la cvcT •fie O' 1 V [ »1 1 The treaty concluded between the English and Spanish Governments, after the dispute about Noutka Sound, wouM . exclude such an interpretation : and indeed, the pretentions of the Americans to any territory west of tht Rocky Moun* tains, if such should be advanced, have not the slightest |>]ausibility. The observations respecting boundaries are here brought to a comlusion, and we trust it has been ratisfactoiily shewn to all, except these who raay desire tl e suppression of, British establishments, that Red Uiver is within the li- mits of the Hudson's Bay Charter, and that Great Britain has not by any treaty divested itbelf of that portion of her dominions ; bu^ is in fact, entitled to a territory even ue* yond the Hudson's Bay limits on the south. The Hudson's Bay Charter, amongst other provisions, expressly forbids all English subjects from entering without licence or authority, upon the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company. The Governor and Company only, are empow- ered to grant such authority, and on them also is conferred the right of establishing castles, fortifications, forts, garri- sons, colonies, plantations, towns, and villages, in 9ny parts or places within the limits and bounds of their terri- tory ; together also with the right of sending ships of war, men, or ammunition, to their colonies, fortifications, i>r plantations, and of appointing governors, commuiideis, and ofHccrs over them. , \ * -•• i. •M ;. ;«; 'f U' ■ <\i ! i ■ ; J I «t i ^ th tiM second year of William and Maty, a private aet of parliament was passed, eontirming, in every particular, tiui findsen-s Bay Charter for seven years ; and because tfaip Parliamentary confirmation was limited to a eertnin number of years, some have ridiculously infened, thai at the expi« ration of that term, the charter ceased to be vaKd. A eon* elusion 80 absurd would scarcely seem to require refutation; nor could those who pretend to draw the inference, have been ignorant, that if some of the rights' conferred by the Charter required the sanction of Parliament, there were 6» tiler rights conveyed by it, whfch required no such eanctio>n, because they were within even the limited prerogative of Che English crown. If at the end of the term, for which (he act of William and Mary was passed, such of the pro* visions of the charter (if such' could be found) as derived .their efficacy only from Parliamentary support, should be considered inefficient, still all the rights similar to those of the charters for former governments and plantations in Ame- rica, within the competency of the Crown to bestow, would continue to subsist : and that they have continued to subsist is Bpparent, from their having been subsequently maintain- ed, and repeatedly sanctioned by vcirious treaties of peace, and acts of Parliament* Even the recent treaty of ITSi* between Great Britain anri the United States, after stipulat* ing that the subjects of each government should freely re* sort to the territories of each other, and freely navigate all the lakes, rivers, and wateis, of both countries, makes, as has been already mentioned, an exception of the country within I V, V t ed to that law, they wculd probably hav:) tiiought it pro' er to refer to some less Vrigue and uncertain rules of measure* £ • N ment^ } ■^ ■sar ai! W I'i mnt, than the doctriiMS of " affimtiei and feUlieoi bt» 4wecn lands and streigbtt," for tba purpose of ascertaipiog lbs axttot of tba Hudson's Bay tsrritoriN* Having noticed some of the rights conferred upon the Hnd« ion's Bay Company, and shewn the limits to which theit* ^eiritory extendi, which will be found to be supported by iOme of the obiervations occurring incidentally hereafter, we come now to consider the rights of that association of persons known by the name of the North West Company^ as well in the Indian as in the Hudson's Bay Territories. Altho' oixt knowledge of that Comp§ny is quite equal to iH rights, yet it is by no means co-extensive with its views and , proceedings. But the limited information which has been given under oath on the latter topics, would induce no des'tirit for any increafe of knowledge concerning them, if the inter* ests of the coimmi|^ty ^id not require the disclosure of crimes. But when the operations of the exterminating spirit of such company become transferred from fur bearing aoimale, to beings of our own race, and subjects of our own country, it becomes the cluty of every individual to avail himself of all opportunities to obtaia information, end bring ta* Justice these ** hunters whose prey is man !" Ko legal sanction has cvef been cchferred iipon the North West Ccmpuny, nor has il ever received even a tacit vecog- -.;... riuan f c »» j aitioii by uy proviiion of the L«giila(ar«. It b only u uiMtttboriMd combination of individMU, wbo wen indyeed by common interest, to unite about thirty yeart ago, in or- der to avoid the expencee incident to a eompelition in trade } and who after their aMociatira, determined at all haaardi, and in defiance of jueticCf to exclude all his M^Csty's other inbjectt from any participation in the branch of Commerce in which they were engaged ; altho' as far an it was legal to them, it was equally open to all. From the regular grada- tions of authority, the complete system of dependence and subordination, and from the perfect obedience and subrais- sion of the ioTeriors Ut the commands of their superiors, by which thi^ concern is distinguished, it appears to approach niore nearly to the character of a military government, than on cided Mperiority of foree over iadividwal tnidere in thoaa regionBt The remoteneis of their aitnation they knew irould detract nucb from the interest the commupity wonld otheiwiM fee', either to watch over their conduct, or to resut their op« preNiona. And from the same remoteness of situation, their piiWer and influence could he exerted with much eflect, to prevent the attendance of the witneasea who woiild be re- q i-ed in any caaes of rcmplaint or accusation against them. Thtis circumstanced, and with these advantages, they began t3 mvlt at and commit depredations upon the unaaaoriated traders from Canada, whom the prospect of gain had allured into tliO same regions. lanumeruble were the modes of intimidation and injury mirted tc—It will be sufficient to notice a few —In soma places mhtre dela,\ a might be expected to be most injurious, tbcie traders ireq^uaotly found the postages over which it waa aeceseanr w [ n y -'■Ui. pjory some' Irioniy It wai marv for tbem to tr«t«V blotktd Up bjr nanibert o^ tiMM, MM for the pvrpoM of oppoting «b obttaclc to tbtir pro* grtM. lo wmM imtancM the aov^atipn of the louillcr rivcri WM obitiact4«l in a mmiUur mMoer. At other placet, their cMKiept tlpe principal tehicle u well for the tranaportatioa o^ gooda, u for their ofo conveyucf, were diatroyed or gendered tonfit for aerviee. Sometioiea on riaing io tita mora* ing^ they.arottld find that tl^ caaka containing Li^ovrafor their trade, had been piereild dnring the night, and that tbt cuntenta had Mcaped ; at othat timea their pafkagaa of goodf irera cut to piecea and thrown about the groQpd« 'W?f ) r When the precaution and vigilance of theoe private trad* en waa ao great, aa to leave no opporuiaity hr tho commie* aion of theae acta onaeen, receurvo waa had to open violetfcei and they were asaailed with each auperibr force aa to render reaistance unavailing . Their gooda were deatroyed, and even their tents cut down, while tly^ir Uvea were alao threatened and in danger. If it be aud that thoae who austained tbeaa' injuriea ahonld have sought legal redreaa, it may be aniwerr ed, that the immediate agents employed on these occasiona, were generally auch aa poasessed nothing, and remained for years, and sometimes perpetually cut of the jurisdiction of luiy courts : that it could not be expected, that the insti* gatora ahould give written instructions to their agents, most ''1 ' I "t t ;i ■"M*^ V^" I of whom would be unable to rea^. And that, it would, tweet* Barily have been difficult to trace out the oi:ders given to tMi servants by their employers ; altho' it would have been folly ' to suppose, that those who could on their own accounts have DO motive or interest in injuring, would have acted without the ^instigation of those who had, and under whose control they were : that it would, be also 'difficult to procure witnesses from so great a distance,^ even if no other obstacle existed ; but tbat the difnculty was rendered almost insurmountable by the ioiloence and power of the Company, which enabled them to deter or prevent witnesses from appearing* On some occasions, indeed, where after being emboldened by a long exercise of successful tyranny, some of the principal Partners in the eonce>n, at places nearer the jurisdiction of courts, neglected the usual precaution of employing, subor- di&ate agents, and beeame.them8elves actors ^) in the per' eooal aggniseions and destruction of property, the sutferers icfilituted actions at Montreal, for the recovery of damages, ^ ftsd after gn at delays and cxpences, the most successful ob- taired judgment for the bare loss' sustained.^ But the anxie* ty endured, the prospects blasted, and the personal danger iocurred, remained without compensation or equivalent. The success owt with by the sufi'erers in tlieir appeal to law,' could (a) One oF llicfe wa.s a brother of William JIcGillivra}', tho j[)rincipul |o xkc fvcticm t'uu(;um4 [ 39 ] •Odkl not be cobeidereti of a nature toencourag? either theni« telveaor others to attempt any further trade to the ItMJiaa Country* The North Wert Coaifiany, and their agents,* having, therefore, by a system of violence and terror, sttc> ceeded in excluding the rest of his Majesty's Canadian suIh jects from any participation in the trade of extensive coaU- tries, negUcted no measures which they thought likely to secure ibe aontinnance of the dominion they had usurped* They planted their forts ani trading posts over a wider range of territory, add establised a moreilespotic rule, thaD could be found to exist even in any Asiatic government* \ ( . ■ . ' : - ■ The situations chosen for their posts wre generally such ai afforded tbo best prospect of preserving the dominion of tl. jfeCJ ii I •■ } I 'I :i|:*:S -^ I ^ 1 V \\\\ Jcrt of gainful aiid degrading specolation, t» which, no piii rallei can b« found. The eervante are easily induced to wA in debt ; their propensity for liquor is etrong, and to be with^ ^ out one or more favorites amongst the women, who are aU •wiAyt t^ be found about the establishmeott of die North West, would be represented as a want of spirit. Whatever is purchased, most be taken at such advance upon its origioii al value, as the cupidity of the mnster induces him tu de? OMod. (a) A transitory indulgence in liquor, and the por- chase of a few articles for the gratification of a mistrees* might absorb the wages of years, and what is always desired by his employers, might load the servant with a debt from which he would afterwards be unable to extricate himself. tf the debtor riiould be desirous of returning to his family and friends at the expiration of the term of bis engagemeoty it has not been unusual, where hie departure did not suit the convenience of the company, to cause him to be put in ironai) « or to be cast into some loathsome place of confinement, uptil hit sufTstings iuduced him to consent to a renewal of his en- f agenoeat. In such modes the servants of the Company, altho* they engaged in Canada at high nominal wages, are reduced, after the lapse of many years, to a state of greater wretchedness, and icore deplorable poverty than when they first (a) Sometimes at an advance of one thousand per cent, upon its JHon* treal price. , i I < £ 41 1 firat cntAred the service. And it is customery for the Coin* paay, to exact of those whom they allow to quit their ser- vice aid return to Canada, acknowleJgmenu for considera- ble sums of money, by which means the servants are detaio- ed in perpetual bondage, even after their servitude has no* ninally ceased ; and their former masters possess the power of punishing them, if their disclosures or tlieir conduct should give offence to the Company. From practices such M these, the profits of tht Noith West Company have been accumulated, and ttieir conduct for a series of years has es" caped the exposure, disgrace, and punishment it merited ; but it cannot be supposed that that Company would have possessed either the nieans or the audacity to carry on so file and degrading a traffic, or to have caused the commis- , sion of the many enormities that have taken place, if they had not been successful in expelling and v^cluding from the country they frequent, all competitors amongst their Can»* dian fellow subjects. By what has preceded, it appears, that the attention of the North West Company is not confined to the transport of goods to the place of sale or barter, «Md to their profitable disposal or exchange, when they have reached their destino* tion ; but what is a phenomenon in trade, an army of consu* mers must be transported along with the articles of traffic, F ««4 ■». ■ ■ til i:;i' i\h il [ 4^ 1 and these new militants must leceive a new education in the North Webt, and bs trained for some time to debaucbefy^ before they can be fit for the commerce in which they are engaged. A r.umerous body of young and vigorous men o(^ ten of religious principles, and cf sober and industrious bab^ its, are thus annually withdrawn from the beneficial pursuits cf agriculture to the baneful Irade of the North West. As they are not Used as servatits merely, but are wanted besidcf in the double capacity of military forces against their fellow subjects, and consumers cf the merchandize of their employ- ers, the numbers engaged exceed by many times what would be necessary, if the trade were conducted cii principles of ho- nesty and deceticy : And the loss of such numbers from a country so unimproved, and a population so deficient as that of Canada, cannot but be severely felt. But the diminution of the population of the covtatry is not the greatest evil ; because to in- duce the engages to become profitable customers their employ- ers must, as we have before remarked, be at great pains to cor- rupt their morals, and to introduce habits of vice and profligate expenditure amongst them. And thbse who are permitted to return to Canada, gienerally ireturh with broken constitutions, savage manners, and depraved and dangerous principles, evils which are not confined to themselves but which they soon in* troduce and extend amongst the lower classes. Should any eng '.Repossess sufficient firmness to resist the united influence of // [ 48 1 > and to pek severe in a course of sobri of precept and examp: ty and economy, he would have to encounter the severity of his masters, and would probably be sent to distant posts, where such difficulties and dangers would await him, as would speedily rid bis employers of an unprolitable servant, or if notwithstanding his contumacy, he were treated witb extreme indulgence, he would be dismissed the North West Company's service as a *' scoundrel, who would not spend bis wages." (a) If military subordination, esprit fie corps, and personal bravery ba not deficient, the more vicious and depraved ti^e servant is, the more useful he will be generally considered, because be is the fittest tool for the commission of any crin e that may promote the inteterts of the Conipany, The com> mission of one crime qiust produce furiber si:bi|:ti8sion on th^ part of the engage, because should obedience to orders be refused, his employers can cause bim to be brought to punisbpient (ox his former cflenre. Ai his wages, accorcl- iog to %h^ system adc pted, hav^ been swallowed up in the advance upon the goods, of which he is tricked into tlenY est Cua^uaiiy, ttud ci^auot tUereLiu be suspected ol exuggeration. ' i H f iH ;'4v:: i it ■V U [ 44 i i iii if I ■» 'I unlettered lervanty ii added, the dependence of the debtor, 4ind the subjection of the criminal ; and on the other side to the dominion of the maater is united the power of the cre- ditor, and the authority of the magistrate. This threefold dfpenden^e^ and tfiis thrice rivited authority, produce that perfect subordination and unlimited obedience, which have of- ten been directed.even to the commission of murders; towards which, exci.pt it be for the timely interposition of govern* meat, they are not unlikely to be again directed. Many of the servants who are employed by the N. West Company are frequently i jsirous oi passing their lives in some of the more fniitfuL countries frequented by them. And to a few of these the Company graciously vouchsafe persnission ^for no one is allowed to remain there without their consent) to continue in the country after their time of service has expired J on condition, that like obedient subjects, tbey hold themi elves in readiness to render aid ta the Company, if their exigencies shookl require it ; and that the> give no succour or assistance to any who resort to the Country unconnected with the North West Company. These favoured few are distingushed by the appellation of the ** free Caaadiam,*' a designation fo which iadeed they have no real claim, but which seems intended to contrast their situation with the fiaore distressed and slavish Eftaie of those of tbeir country* fcen^ whom the North West Gompany still retain in perfect servitude. [ 45 ] lervitade These free Canadians are ho ?evervelry few 1^ number, and the dread of the power of their folrmer mill- ters is a feeling which quits them but with life. * They are not permitted to become Agriculturists, becauw an agricultural settlement would not be consistent with tk» views of the North We»t Company, as it might terid to iM- sen their tyrannical authority, by affording t» their engagii a refuge to which they could retire from oppressiopi and 'Which could afford them repose and plenty in the decliM oC life. The' free Canadians form too insignificant and dependmt a proportion of the population to acquire any in^uenee. Ex- clusive of tbftse the permanent population of tl coontrict over which the North West Company have assumed the ni* preme control, may be divided mto two classes ; the native Indians, who compose the only liumerousand important part of it, and the *» Aeii 6ni/^«," or " metijs ;" appellations which are given to the spurious offspring of ths partners, clerks and servants of the cotnpany. These last are designations calculated fv>r disguiso, by which psrsans uaacquainted with the dem|-ch[istian origin ot the '* bois brules," might be io» dused to suppose that they were some powerful Indian nation. The fact is, however, that manv of these have received from the laudiible care of their parents the rudiments of , education^ M! '1^ ' y i'l .1 ■I ii ;*■ '.li [ 4(J 3 education, can read, write, and keep accounts, and are em* idoyed aa clerks by the North West Company. A large proportion of tlie others whose education has been lesa atten* ded to, are employed as servants of the same Com; any. (o) It has been advanced on behalf of the North West Com- pany, that the countries they have appropriated to them- selves were frequented by predecessors in the Indian Trade ; and of consequence that a kind of prescriptive right must be considered to vest in themselves. Nothing could certainly be more weak than an attempt to justify their occupation and •overeignty over immense territories i^y so ridiculous a pre* text. In the first ^lace it would become them to prove in what manner those whom they style their predecessors trans- ferred their rights to them. On this subject they have no- thing to show, and it would be found upon examination, that the occupation of the Noith WestCompauv, without asba* dow of peculiar privilege, is founded on the forcible and ille* gal exclusion cf their Canadian fellow subjects from any p»r. ticipation in the fur trade. This does not bear the appear- ance of deriving legal titles from the claims of their prede- cessors. There is not a single fort or trading post belong- ing («) We do not ^e'l understand how some of the North West partners^ who awribe tlie chief guilt of tlie late iiorrible transactions to tho « boU brutes" can reconcile such an im{ utation to the feeling* ol pa- rents. Would it not have been mnre consistent with paieiital tender* ness to liave exclaimed with the warmth of Roman affection, ** tap ! me ! adun» qui ft^ui, in n:e convcrtite ferrum* itig to the North West Company in the Hud'on^t Bay teiti. toriea, except those built by the North We»t Company them*' fl«lvcf) and not by any of their predcceieon. But how did the^r predeccuort acquire rights ; and if they had occupied the forU and trading poeU now in tha possession of the North West Company, on what authority could they rely to eupport their occupation i By the Hud> son's Bay charter, all British subjects are expressly char^ ed and commanded, ** that none of them do directly or indi. ** rectly, visit, haunt, frequent or trade, traffic or adven- *' ture into, or from any of the said territories, limits or <* -places thereby granted, or any or either of them, other ' ** than the said Govsrnor and Company of Hudson's Bay, ** their agents, factors, and assigns, unless it be by the li- " cence and agreement of the said Governor and Company, " an writing first had and obtained." \ ■i t 1 ■i ;f ^' Ml iH fl .;:i' 9y the treaty of Utrecht, whose provisions in this parti- cular are confirmed hy subsequent treaties, it is stipulated that all of the subjects of France who might be established in the Hudson's Bay territories should be v. ithdrawo. Upon the conquest of Canada, his Majesty, by his pro- clamation of 1763, before alluded to, after reserving under his sovereignty aa4 protection, for th« beneQt of the Indian , natives. !■ ^ :. • » ■ ir ( ^ 1 irl IN-* BAtivei, all fhe lands and territories not included within tb* limits of Quebec, Kast Florida, and West Florida, or %(ith- in tbe limits of tbe' Hudson's Uay Company, and after ex- pressly probibituig all his &ul>j«ctM from seating themselves even on Indian JiRjids, beyond the limits of these countries, without authority from government, " strictly enjoins and " requires alf persons whatsoever, who ttave wilfully and in- ** edvertcntly" (which imports without a legal title) ** seated ** themselves upon any lands withim th cwntriet above dt' ** Kiik^d, or upon any other lands, which not having been ce- ** ded to 01 purchased by his Majesty, are still reserved « to the said Indians as aforesaid, FORTHWITH TQ «« REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM bUCH SETTLE- * MENTS' '. It is plain therefore, that if any predecessors of th^ North W^est Company were ever to have been found In the Hudson's Bay territories, they must have been tree* passen, and could have transferred no legal right to others : t)at these pretended predecessors since the conquest have been none other than merely transisiit pers^ms or traders moving from place to place, withcut any permanent establish- Q^ent^. _ ' ^ The foundation cf prescriptive right between individual an4 individual 13 tbe presuniption, that the actual possessor hasi hid a title, ahho' it catinot from some casnalty be produced is support cf his possession. Out no such presumption ccirid • ' exUt tbintlif or «itb« ifter «x- maelvet mntrieS) oins and f and in- ** seated ibove dc' been ce- reserved ni TQ ETTLE- kceeiori en found leen tree- others : iieet have traders establish-. idoal an4 essor ha Si prodaced ion cc«!d exist [ 49 1 ^iristio the present case, or between an individual and • go- verniaenty because the original grants being public docu- ments, must be always supposed to be preserved : but the ex- isttnce of any such grants in favor cf the North West Com-i pany has nsvsr been even pretended. If then the North West Company could even show in sup' port of their claim to the forts and possessions they hold, • transfer of tiiMigMary righti from their alledged predecessors, whose shades they now vainly invoke to their assistance, still it could avail them nothing, because no claim, unless derived from the Sovereign of Frauce or of England, or from the Governor anC Company of the Hudson's Bay, could be under any circumstances, esteemed of any validity. But the supposition is idle, the North West Company have no transfer of rights, and no claims of territory* The robust title of occupancy, assumed in danng violation of justice, and in contempt of repeated prohibitions contained in Royal charters, proclamations, statutes, and treaties of peace, is the only pretension they can advance ; and it is a new doctrine oi that unlicensed and obtrusive race, that a violation of the laws can confer a title* . The occupation even of the Indian lands beyond the li- ' *..-^.., *,„ G mits " " 1 1 1 1 ; t < "'^ -1' ■ h :'l' jr , ■ i 1 i 'i' I r i :' I 50 1 /' , • nitf Af tbc Iludion*! Bay territories it, m we have teem pM^ hibited by proclnoattion, and yet the North Weet Comp*-; ay, as %• have before reiaarkrd, have not only seated then*, •vives upon those laodt, but also apon lairds in the Hudton't Bay Terr'tories, and have e^cted tracing posts and forta in each; It is the pecniiar province of governoaent to is- quire into the invafiion of any of iu rights ; bnt yet as indi* iridaals, it was impossible that we could bear the forts of ^ any nntirensed aMociation of daring adventurers sp«)iien of, without feelings of surprise, indig )atiun and alarm. ^ur» prise, tbac the conduct of its subjects shculd not have excit- ed inquiry on the part of governments intiignation at thM| presumptuous and lawless assumption of the piiviledges o( Royalty, and alarm at the extensive and dacgerovs oppres- •ion and tyranny which it might enable subjects, if traitor* ously disposed, tc e^tercisa. The right of building iortt and plHces of strength, belongs not to subjects, (a) The sola and entire prerogative as well of erecting as <*f manning an4 governing them, app<>rtaios to his Majesty, and to .thosa whom 1 6 shall invest with his Royal authority for that pi|f^ pbia* This authoiity as we have before seen, has been con* ferred (a) 8m 8iat IS Car. 2, 1,6, S inst. SO, A Black. Con. Sir Edward CokiiMiyi, that no rahjeeteao bniM a caalA, or bouw of strenflli em- battle)!, or place defraiible, without licence from the King, by reason of the danger wkiob night en^ie if every aun at to pleamire coaU do it. t »t 1 ilrrtfl bjr tb«ir charter npon the Otvnmnr tad Compviy t^ Cb« Hodsoo'i Bajr UrritnnM. But the North Watt Compt- taji hi tht plenitude of their power, heve thought At to eMr* cieA thitbriweh ts well Mothere of the Royul prerog«uv«, of their 6«rD laei-e notion, aod independently of nay eiinetioa frdm their sovereign. It therefore beeonef a matter of lome importitnce, as well as interest, to aseerttin with what views they have thus tiken military po-.session of a country in which they were prohibited all permanent establifhmenti, •ad to learn whether their forts in the Indisn, at well at Hudson's Bey territoriet, are maintaiced not merely as trad- it g placet, but at placet of rvfuge or pointt of union to thuta ferociout hunters, who occasionally tally out to dettroy dt* fencelett settlements, and to butcher or expel inoffensive in* habitants. The sequel will unhappily show, that they hava been frequently and fatally employed for the latter parpotes. It would, therefore, s^em, that the only step befitting tht dignity and security of government, would be to divest them •f the possessions they have illegally assumed, and of the forts and establishments by which they are enabled to det* pise the administration of the laws and the authority of the sovereign ; and to exclude them from any further intercourse with that country, until they shall have exculpated them* Klves from all imputations of agency, or encourigemtnt ill the crimes which have been committed. If a part of ihe OS Qiembtrs V*- ':] I "'1 i ( .-> ill Vii M •■ -I £ 5« 1 members of the Ncrth West Company sbonU BUcriNd ii proving themselves to bave been neither the Agents tiot Promoters of the destruction of British settlements, as bn- manity would induce us to hope, they ought not, even in that case to be allowed to renew their trade in the Indian Coun- try, except by the special liceuce of Government. By the proclamation of 1763 the trade with the Indians, in the In- dian territories (not in those cf the Hudson's Bay) is thrown open to bU British Subjectty upon the cxpresa condition of their obtaining previously a licence, for that purpose ; altho' they are at tbe same time prohibited Ufita erecting buildings^ or making any permanent establi'^hments in the countries in which they are permitted to trade, (a) If, therefore^ we Were («) The North West Company haVe never obtained any licences,' but even if they had done so, such a prrcaution would have been by no mean* the only one which it would liave be«n proper for oar government to Lave taken to prevetit abuse in their intercourse with ,the Indians. Tbe French government of Canada, and it ought to be mentioned to its honor, was far more attentive to prevent injury to the primitive inhabitants of the country, tban the Englisli have ever been. Not only was all trade with the Indians prohibited except by licences, butpriests were always sent as missionaries, wlio overloolced the practices of tbe licensed traders ; and if their conduct, by the undue introduction of liquors, cr in any other mode, became prejudicial to the health or morals of the natives, a repre- sentation was made by t!in missionary, in consequence of which, the of- fending trader was deprived of his licence. ' Even now by the laws of Canada, whoever shall sell -spirituous liquors to the Indians residing in this Province, will be liable to a f.ecuniary penalty. And jet, (strang* inconsistency) the North West Company are allowed to carry any quan* fity of those spirits, that go under the denomination of high wines, or any othet If: [ #3 J |Mre to admit lo great an absurdity as that, twry nMmber «f the North West Company was untainted with guilt, the preliminary measure of exclusion and the subsequent adop- tion of licences, could not be justly considered a hardship. For if any have been in the pracUce of exercising prohibited employments, or occupying forbidden ground, there can be no wrong or hardship in reducing them under the operation of the law. And in a case like the present, where undue in- fluence,,alway9 dangerous to authority, luay be, and has been exerted with such fatal effect ; where the facilities aud temp* tations to the commission of crimes, and the diflScuIties of legal detection are so great, it is becom°>ng the paternal care of gpvernment to watch over the wanderings of its subjects, , ^nd to preserve them all within the reach of its protecting or avenging arm* It is an old observf^tion, that the government which pro* ' tects unlicenced traders, is bound by every call of duty to see whether a continuance of their trade will be bedeficial or in- - jurioue : o',her deleterious distillatioa, to the Indians of tlie North without any ref trietion. These Indians are often Itept in the forts of the North West Company in a state of intoxication, until tliey ere deprived of all Utey possess, A:i atteinpt was made some years ego in London by the Hud> pon'< Bay Cornp:iny, t')n«ral welfare of Britain ; possibly in the expectation that their crimes might be overlooked in eonsi* deration of the great advantages they pretended to confer. But this favorable opinion has not extended to others ae* quainted with their system of proceedii%s, the most charit** bly disposed of whom are of opinion, that if the claims of thi Coniipany to reputation shiml '* be founded only nn the benbfitt they have conferred, it would not be within the compass of human means to save them from infamy. The North West Company seems, however, on some o^ MMons to have set forth its pretensions with far more arro* gance than has been just mentioned ; for a publicatka was once brought under our observation, from ^•'hich it might be inferred, however absurd the opin on may appear to the un- derstandings of all unconnected with the compmy, that tho power and prosperity of the British Empire were dependent upon the North Wett trade irom Canada. Fdr interested parties to proportion their estimation of any illy object to its i*al iiriportance, Mems a l«k of WMMNniioir diffieolty, if we Are allowed to pronounce any thine difficult' in which liw attempts have succeeded. The warmth of friendship 01 the teal of inteiest, may be so iajudicioos, a* to attempt to confer influence and distinction where no weight or honor is deserved, and to represent what greatly concema the few, as highly important to the many. B^t the heat of imagination bestows ideal consequence to no purpose.— Those who are nnioterested are not likely to be imp'Hiedl ttpon< |n the publioatioa ! > shaded to, the writer informed ua that one of the condit i"^ v;thout which the Canadas could not' be effectually defended, was, '* ^e friendship of thf l^estern Indians.* He afterwards assured us that a " direct tradt) from Canada by Untish traders" (which of course must inean only the North West Company, as they have exclude^ all others,) ** was essential to the preservation of Indi^Ti at- tachment and friendship f and, at the conclusion of his dit> sertation he says, ** tha| the question about the Canadas can^ " not safely be ituui(Uee(. That their lose, tkerefwe^ would ** bring about that of Nova Scotia and New'Brunswick r " that their loss would lead to that of Newfuoodland, and ** hII the British transatlantic Fisheries, and finally that the "* West India Islands muit follow ; as they could not be ** supported and defended after the British North American f Colonies^ m u '\ 11 if I 'i' .A n 1 I- ■ ». r 36 1 ** Colonies, Newfonndlatid, and th« Firhoriest were gnM^ ** Then farewell to oor mariUioe griaineie and power. The <* heart eickene at the contemplation of the poieible addi* .1 tiooai ruin consequent upon such a state of things." To ium up all in fewer words, and, leaving oct the intermediate gradations, to conie at once to the splendid result, the Norlh West trade from Canada is essential to the muritime grsat- ness and power of Britain, perhaps to its existence as an in* dependent nation. y ** WHAT GREAT BVEilTS ARISE rROM TRIVIAL THINGS}" I: If] I A discovery which none of our greatest politicians had been enabled to make, however profound their investigation, and, however minute their researthes, is here given to the public . The combination of causes, on which the power of the Queen of the Isles depends, is here diisclosed. The Utent sources of English greatness are here laid open to the asto* nished eye ; and we see the fountains, rising in weakness, form at fiist the humble stream, whose waters gathering strength and increase as they roll along, become at length the magnidcent and resistless flood, which pou^-s over half the globe the riches and influence of Britain. After recovering from the emotions of surprize into which the very extraordinary discoveries this writer had thrown OS, we were led, as soon as we could reduce our ideas to tlve level '6 jgpMiisy ir. Th« lie addK jt." Td rmediate te North lie gr3at> as an in* / t HINOS}" iiant bad stigation, en to the power of be Ulent the asto* reaknesBi ;atherihg at length over half ito which d thrown as to tlve J^Bvel of cwnmon eonsideratioM, toenquire wbtt wan the ax* tsat to which tbt mknufacturet of the Mother Countr}*, wcrt iininediately benefited by the trade of the North West Conif* fteny. Oar ideas of its importance saffered mateiial dimi.iuo tion vpon finding that the amount of its annual importation tff Britiib manafactures was only about £90fiOO ; an nmonnt inferior to the importations of many nnassociated iodividu* ak. It wonid be readily conceded, that it wonid be desirable to preserve the friendship and attachmnit of the Indians frum motives of hamanity, and with a view to ameliorate the con* dition of this portion of our fellow btiug«* But that the Canadas should be held by m insecure a tenure, as the dura- tion of the fickle friendship of this saviice race, would be a preposterous supposition. Still more ridiculous would be the opinion, that the preservation of the Canadas, however great the advantages which cuy be derived from tbem, are of 9t/a/ importance to the motf>er country. But of whatever oocsequence they may be, it roigbt be reasonably doubted whether exciting the savages to war in our defence would be justifiable. During the late war, the greaier part of the In* dian nations were fighting their own battles, and prosecut- ing hostilities of earlier date than those between Great Bri< tbin and tb« United States. They were not involved in war II by Ik l>^H ("* !! ■ -111 J <■ if ■'I-'' 'M 111- '111 ■f ! 1 i If! liy our |>olicy, but being alrcaJy engaged in it, night isi^^Hk bave been led to greater efforts and totoger pcneveranci||'^ frhen tbey found that the Englieh were forced into the coof^ teat. "T^e Englieh did not merit the imputation of MdbcHy •avage tribee ^ arm tbeoseWes for the commisaion of bar«>: baritiea against tbeir christian brethren. Such a conn^ would be ncitber copsistent with the dignity n^^ t^e pnnc^< (les ot humanity for which the nation is dietingnilhed* The friendship nf the Indians which an enlightened and a irlrtuous race ought rather to desire, with a view of conferr* ing ihau of receiving advantages, would be far moire benefi» ciul to us, and much more likely to be preserved and en- creased, were the intercourse which is permitted with thenar conducted on principles of hon^ety and iustice. From the*; manner in which the trade of the North West Company is carried on, tbe natives are subjected to continual, and griev* otts oppressions and cruelties, and their race is menaced witli speedy extinction, ■ ■ • » t Their attachment to us might be rendered inalienable, were the government to prevent the continuance of the inju- ries they have suffered, and to take into its own hands tha. possessions its nnauthoiised subjects have assumed. The North West Company, in consequence of being efaarg< ed ;«i? r 4f 1 •I #ith tbft higheit cnmet, which hunto depravity wtit' fprpctntted, have endeavored to recriminate upon thiBir.at* duera. That the guilty thoald make an open acknowledg- iqent of their erimee, is not to be expected. That those who «re nnable to offer any justification of their conduct should bave recourse to recrimination, with a view to diminish tho indignation felt .against themselves, by showing that others were involved, in an equality of crime, is not surpiising. But D) expert that in this instance, tecrimination could avail them ; #bere *he acts on the one side, have been comttiitted under the authority and in the support of Chartered rights, and'haVe at the utmost iinounted to little niore than civil tl'espasses, and where on the othei^ side, recouise has been bad to violence in the furtherance of illegal practices, and have Extended to the ( remeditated destruction of an English Colony* and the murder and massacie of fellow eiibjectk t Would be preposterous in the extremet ■ With a similar view of prepossessing the public with aii idea of equdity in their re&ptictive situations, the Partner! ef the North West Company have accust. med tbemselvei to the terms of '* rivals" and " rhal oontpanka" in tbeir dis* cussions respecting their owu laAl^ss association and tiit Hudson's Bay Company. It is not surprising that the arro* gance ol a set of meoj ifisiog Criminally to sudden infldfence, ' ' U 9 should I i ; ) ■ r 'I ,■ J ifi ■\ ; ' "; '■^j 1} iiMuiId b« gratified at the tuppotition of rivalry with a ajMm pa>.y which hat so long existed under the sanctiv^n of thf^ lawi, and' which ha* often been the subject of particular itipulationt io our reatiea with foreign powers.. But thai, t^ey should imagiue, they could impose upon the public ih* ^Ijef of their bting rivals> could no* fail to excite astooifli»> ipent* Equal or mutual rights or claims must be understood to he included ia the meaning of rivalry. But here the rightt arc all on one side, and unfortunately all the impaniilf$. prongs have been endured by those in whom the rights U0\ vested. Bufuiaparte might, with as m'uHi piopriety hav«, called himself tl^e rival of bis Maiesiy, in his right to Haor over, as the members of this recent and criminal assuciatiop can style themselves the rivals of the anciebt and chartered body, whom they endeavor to expel from their own territo*^ ries. The numerous and atrocious murders of the Nortli West Company, contrasted with the lung and patient form bearance of the Hudson's Bay Company, could not be mora dissimiiur, ihixn the long line «>f just and sanctioned preten* sif r>8 00 the on^ side, uud the tutal abtt«DC<$ of le§al cUimi on the other* We have dwelt here at sufiirient length to give a general view, the only one our limits will permit, of tbe chaiacter lihd policy of the North West Company ; which, whether it. be C «i J vbe eontidertd in relation to th« criminality of itt |»roeMd> ingi, or the wid« range of coontry over which it extendi, of ihe unauthoriied sovereignty which it bae aaiumed, has M« ver had a parallel in the. British domioions ; and blending ii>> tPinjiistences, conibines the ferocity and ambition of a roilitif* ty despotism, with the meanness and jialouay of the p«t^ trader. The intercourse of the North West Company witl^. the Indians is not indeed entitUd to the appellation of % trade ; but, under the semblance and disguise of commerce, is an organised system of rapine, and a conspiracy against all other British subjects, carried on by the daily repetition of robbery, and the occasional intervention of murder, whenever Ihe intercttt of the concern appear to require it. (*) m I '■' n V ^ ' i i .»*i " \H \^ ForniO'. minute itifo a o on t is subjea, see ike sketcU of tue ^admo Fur Trade by tbc Earl of Selkirk. '■f I I «• J * w. E hxf now trriv«d at the iMt lubjeet of which thH$ page* were intended to treat* It remaint for ut to give a itecinct eeeonnt of the eitabliehment, progreeti and deelrtte»« tion of the colony at Red River. Bat it may not be improper, previoaaly to notice an ob- jection which has b«>tn raised against the establishment of ; •.tvV,.-F - - the C rights of those aborigines having been ffotn the begining overiook* ed, it has now become too late tu prevent the populition of America frcai exceeding the limited numbers of the rare by vNuch it was oiiginally inhabited. It can be no longer poesi* i. tor Ue that routritt \n AoMrics, tmioeDtly adapted for ini provtnMot and tuiceptible of cultivatioo, ibould be p«rp«ta* ally kept desolate and wante, to gratify the unaorial ebarae> ter of tbe Mm of tbe defect. And were it even posaible if might be reasonably doubted whether it would be cont^steal wij^b the ^ neral interest of nHinkind, to which that of th» Uw natives oaght of e sistef^ce for a few thousands, shall hereafter supply millions with abundiince ; for these are changes which the present situ^^tion of America renders inevitable ; and these changes would not be so abruptly introduced, or so greatly accelerat- ed by the colonization of a portion of the Hudson's Bay ter- ritories, as to occasion distiess to the Indians. Many'yeais would elapse before the lands set pff for farms, could occa- 8ip9 any s^nsiblo diminution of the territory over which they have M M ii! m I It: ill 1 1 1 t . ■■ if I «« I ill< iMift kM* attMtdHMd to rwM. Aa it b, tbcy we Mibjtctii4 I* tb« coBUmn^ ii\iuriM aari tyranny of the l^orth WtH Cocnpoiiy , mmI tbt ostnUithoMnt of « Colony, to whoM Inwtf fhty corid rttort for protection, would rBlievo tiMir dtttrfM^ ANlMMrt tbom from opprewkra. They thomicWM woald li partially in^orporatod with tht raeo who came amongst fhoa, and would learn to valot and enjoy the advaotagea of a mofa impiofod situation. ^ Tbe character of those hy whom the cultivation of the lattde at.Red River has heed held up as a cruelty, shows, that tfie pretence of benevolence is used to conceal motives in'' whieh hananity has no place. If the Indians themeelves weie inimical Ip the settlement, it would at least afford a pretext for the complaints of th^ir pretended frieodein the Korlh ^Veet Company. 'But tuch is not the case, for the In* Hians have shewn every disposition to favor and encourage the settlers. The humanity of the North West Company, hfcs, however, indored them to express the highest dissatis* faction at the progress of improvbment amongst a people to ' whom improvement gives pLasure. Some of the members of the Council in Canada, are unhappily for the interests of justice, partners ia the North West Company. Their opi* nions from their station in society, and from their supposed jcnowledg?, must, necessarily, possess great influence ^ith (heiff C 65 ) i * i thtir inferior partnin. Their hmnMiity hM induced the fenaer to decUrt, that ibey should bo Juttifinblo to ibfic. (^MUitfy and their eooMiencot iondvisiog the Indiani to drito itfay their fellow tabjecte from tfae lands they were Cttltiv4»t* Mg, and to use force, if they could not otberwine bs rwn^vsd* The humanity of the inferior associates, improving upon As benevolence of their superiors, has prompted them to make repeated hot fruitless attempu, to prevail on th« In* dians ti» make war upon the settlement at Red River . But let us not anticipate occurrences to which in the course of ' the succeeding narrative we shall have occasion to advert* We have already seen, that by the Royal Charter, tha right of establishing colonies, of appointing their Oovernorfl and Officers, and of providing men and nseans for tbeir de» fence, was vested in the Hudson's Bay Company. The establishment of a colony in the interior of tbeir ter- ritories, had long been, an object which the welfare, if not the existence of the company required. This object seemed equally desirable from a regard to the interests of justice and humanity in that country, and from the prospect it afl^irr^.ttJli oC conferring advantages upon those who might be sslected for the immediate settlers. The advantage of the latter would be amply secured by providing with farms, from I ^ whence '* li 1' I I I 66 J whence an easy and comfortable eubsistence might be de- . nvcd, such persons, as in their native land, had no othkr prospect than that of sinking into hopeless poverty, ancf were not possessed of the means of migrating into anothei^ conntry. The interests of justice a^nd humanity would be - answered by the introduction of law, order, and religion, the constant concomitants of a regular and proper system of colonisation^ into a country where oppression, violence, and fraud, had been continually exercised, in the intercourse bs- tween the nativet and the traders. To this anticipated in* ' < . » ■ t- ■ troduetion of law, and order into the country, may be in part attributed the hostility, manifested by the North West Com- pany against this colony, from the time it was first project* ed. A^ agricultural settlement, such as was contemplated, would ^y8. V i !■ ■ 1 1 \ 1 1 I': 11 But to found a flourishing setllerarnt, in a country so far I removed from any civilised establishmcn.s, however great IS i4 1 61 1 its natural advantages, tbe company must have conside^df ivottld require a thorough knowledge of the subject of colo* nization, together with gieat exertions and sacrifices of time and fortmie. Tbe establishment of colonies has, ia every age of the world, been deemed a title to distinetion, and their founders have been deservedly ranked amongst the benefactors of mankind. Yet, to discover a person of ability* competent to conduct the plan, of influence and foi> tune adequate to its advancement, and of philanthropy suf* ficient tu make the exertions and sacrifices it required, might 'Still have remained a task of diflicully. An offer on tbe part of the Earl of Selkirk, a nobleman, whose writings had cot» rected many prevailing errors on the subject of emigration, fixed their views on himself. His pursuits had long evinced a benevolent and patriotic desire of extendmg British aws, and civili2ati^n, to countries where these blessings had 'btsn hitherto unknown. To his LordRhip, therefore, on condi- tions of speedy settlement, the company made a grant of a •tract of land in a country, whose climate, promised health and enjoyment, and who ^^ soil offered an abundant recem> pense to the industry of the husbandman ; a country where no marshes called for the hand of toil totirain, nor forests re- quired the exertion of labour to level or remove them ; a c ountry to whose cultivation and improvement, tio obstacle could be anticipated, except such as tbe Uwless band of vio- * * . lence iBidehidt of colo> ficet of has, in tinctioB, amongst person of and for> ropy auf- )d, might I the part had cor- ligratioB, evinced ish amtf Dad ^sen condi* rant of a d health ; recem* y where )re8t8 re- tbetn; a obstacle id of vio- lence t eg J lence might oppose ; an obstacle which his Lordship's ignor- ance of the charHCter of the North West Com^ny did not then lead him to apprehend. It has been ridiculously alledg* ad, that his Lordbhip had on ^his occasion an encrease of fortune in view. Supposing this to have been the case, there could surely have been no mode of acquiring wealth more noble, than that by which at the same tim? the bounds of the empire might be enlarged, and the influence of its laws, language, and civilisation, extended. But any man must be profoundly ignorant on the subject of new settlements, who eottld suppose, that the person incarring the expence of trans- porting colonists to an immense distance, and of e&tablish- ing among them a regular administration of government and laws, could expect to realise, during his own life, any ad- vantages from such an undertaking. The cdvantages, if any could be attainable, must be obtained, not for the person making the sacrifices, and incurring the expences, but for hit isuccessors in distant generations. The benefits which to the Community and to the subordinate characteis concerned in euch settlements, might be actual, certain, and immediate, to the founder of them, could be only distant, uncertain, and ptospective. With \iews, therefore, more diiecte^i to general and public utilitv, than to private and personal advantage, bis lordship ondertook u: funni a colony in thiit country. From I ! I i-l i lit i. , ♦ : {B V ! f ) C 70 J From tie time this intention became known, no puins.no^ misrepreientalions were spared by persons associated wi >i the North West Company, to prejudice the public mind a- gainst it. The papers teemed with falsehoods, representing the country as cold or barren, as a dreary waste, or inter* ininable forest, unfit for the habitation of man, and unsasccp> tible of improvement. The credence given to these false« hoods, which were very widely and industriously disseminat* ed^ it required some time and some labor to remove ; but all belief in them wes at length destroyed by the contraiy ^i^ concurring testimony of numbers, who had resided in the country. To these first falsehoods, were then substituted expressions of feigned' alarm respecting the unfriendly dis- positions of the native Indians ; and lamentations of affected- sympathy and humanity were published on account of the injuries and slaughters to which the North West Coirpany predicted the colonists would be exposed from the savages. r*:t these predictions of hostility on the part of the native Indiane, had been previously ascertained to be as unfounded, as the former representations legarding the climate an4 country. The native Indians always professed sincere af-- tacbment* They maintained to the last the nr-ost friendl; ^ intercom se with the settlers, and often expressed pleasure at the prospect of seeing that fruitful and delightful country^ ■ . ■♦ instead of wasting its luxuriance in the production of grass eng in] smd weedti the food only of bratei, abounding in rich and , varied hahcitt for the copsamption of man. (*) . Could it indeed ha-e been credited, that after having so long manifested attachment to tbe British Government, their mntimento should i^ave been so suddenly changed to hostility, iinless through the instigation of persons who considered it their interest to mislead them. These North West forebod- ings might, however, be looked upon s^ anticipations of crimes in contemplation : a^ notices o^ bloodshed and murder hot me- ditated by the Indians, but by others. Alt^o' in appearancie mere predictions, they were considered as in effect real mena- ces, and were not therefore allowed to pass without animad- version, ilemarlts were in consequence published at th^ time, importing, *' that the claim of these writers to the ** character of prophets, was as yet unknown. That sinc9 V the days of miracles and saints, il had beeni observed, that " prophets were but of two classes, one of which derived its " light and credit from fancied and ideal inspiration, and *' was often mistaken ; while the other class, obtained its ** more authentic infurmatiofi from its own determinations, " and (*) The Indians in two or three }-ears had begun to eteot dwellings in the neighborhood ; procured hoes and otiier insti uments of agriculture from (he settlement, and requested tliat a petition might be drawn to the Homan Catholic Bishop at Quebec, to send a priest to instruct tliena in; the truths of Christianity. Tiie petition was drawn, but the massacres "ijirlil^i'b ensued prevented its bei^ig se^t. • 1.1 [ 7t 1 m J; . fd tfj if^-: il ^ r V and was seldom wrong, because they predicted only what '* they posMSsed the power and the inclinKtion to bCCompUsh. ** That these writers, or their employers, for aaght tnal " could be known, i^ight belong to this latter class of pro> ** phetSf and possess, with others, the power to eaase tht ** infliction of the evil which they seemed to deprerat«. , ** But that if the colony should at last fall a sacrifice to tbe ** malice and treachery of its unprincipled enemies, the mo- *' ther country would possess evcy means of obtaining infor- " mation, and would not be duped by any hollow pretences *' of humanity, nor misled by any artifices of deceit And ** that whatever agents might be the instrumetits, whatever ** hands might execute, their prompters and instigators ** would not long remain concealed, or escape unpunished.'* One Qccurrence supposed in the p/eceding quotation has taken pjace ; tbe Colony has fallen a sacrifice to the malice of its enemies. Whether another supposed occurr* ^nce will also take pkce i that is, whether the mother country will use any endjeavours to dis^cover and punish the instigators and perpetrators of tbe destruction of the colonyi yet remains to be seen. In the year 1812, the settlement at Red River was com- menced, in compliance with the conditions of the grant froni the Iludson'a Bay Company t j the Earl of Selkirk. Miles McDonnell, I V ;f ily what gbt mat m of pro- sanse tht epreraM. ce to the , the mo- ing infor« pretences liV And whatever nstigaton tiniehed.'* quotation to the occurrr mother unish the colonyi was cnitt- ant from , Miles Donnell, 179 } ' . ■ * JUcDonQell, Csqr. formerly a Captain in the Queen's Ran|- frs» a gentleiOan of unqiitistioniible churacter, was selected to conduct the uadertai(ing, and was at ih^ stine ticne a|i- {Minted governor of the district, tinder the authority copfer- |ed by the charter of the company. Until the ground could be prepared, and a crop produced, it became necessary for the govern r to provide for the subsist* enpe of the colony from the stores with which the country, even in its Mncultivated state, abounded. The rivers swarmedl With fish, and the plams were covered with herds of Buflfi^* ^oe and other wild cattle. The colonists gratified at ths ap» pearance of the country, and appirehending uo danger of wan! before they should be able to obtain the necefsaries of life from the cultivation of the soil, wrote the most flattering jircounts of the country to their friends m Scotland, and ad- vised add invited them to follow, (a) All things were going K on *- ° (a) About the cloiie of the ye^r iSIS, the irovoroor of the dist'^M't foiH feived from the number of ^dditiopul settlers who were Kxpeeted in the ensuing year, that it wo\x\A be prudaut for 'lim to proiiibit the ex|iortatioo of pro isions out of the district fof some months ; and in this opiuioa •ome officers of ^h* Hudson's Bay Compttuy concurred, altlio' the mea> sure could not but \te proiiictive of inconvenii^u-e to themselves. The Go* vernor accordingly i$$ued his proclamation to that effect. This prohibi* tion was not partial, but general ; it operated equally against the traders of the Hudson's Bay Company as against others : and was considered by ^e governor to be within liis competency, and to be a measure winch the neceiisities ol the colony would require. In coosequeuce of this prohibit "• V • ' • •■ ■ •'■ ■* ■■ ■ » ■ . • • ■ • .'■ ■ •■ ■ ^^^ 5:i* •I! !ll '111 I 74 1 •n at prosperously and satisfactorily at the lettlemeut, H could reasonably have been anticipated, notwithstanding tht unexpected failure, of some of the seed grain, and othet seeds, which had been injured by the transportation, an4 new emigrants had arrived and were arriving, when the plan^ of the North West Company in ^hf autumii uf I8I4, weie called into opcr^tioii. The intentions of that company, who were in possessioii of a fort erected by themselves, without any right, or eve^i pretence of tille^ in the vicinity of tb^ colony, are sufficiently explained by a letter from Alexander M'panpeU, one of the partners of the North West Company, dated the Hth Augus^ 1814, addressed to abrother-in>Iaw of the Honorable William jMcGillivray, another of the partners, residing in Montreal,^ in which the former says, ** You see myself and our mutual " friend, Mr. Cameron» so far on o^r way to commence^ opea • " hostilities ■5-^ ,'■ « ' tiop or embari^, some hnndred bofti of Pemican (a preparation from Buf* faloejineat, and the principal subsistence of the inhabitants of the coun* try) which belonged to the North West Company and others, were stop- ped from proceeding, and were tal(f a into the custody of Mr. Spencer, tha sheriff of the district. But upon a representation of the extreme incon?4* nieace which tlie proprietom of the Pemican Would suffer, the principal part of it was ordered to be restored to them, and acknowledgements giv- en for theremaipder. It was this act of authority, hat the North Wtai Company pretended afterwards to construe into a felony, and over whicl^ Noith West Justices of the Peace presumed afterwards to exercise cognls* aoce, ia isiuioj; warrants for ttxe appreltenuoa of the Goverjor ae^ Meriff. ^ liottitltiei agtintt the tMiB) in Red Rivi>r. Much ii ek- f* expected from ue, if we believe lorae, perhape too macb. *< Ooe thing certain, that we will do our beet to defend what ^ we cuneider our rigbta io the intt^rior. Something eeri i|i !^ will undoubtedly talie place. Nothing but ihe com^lvta f* downfall of the Colony, will aati^fy some, by fair or foul ** means. A most desirable object, if it can be effect04» ** So here is at them with all my heart and energy.'* Could it be necessary for these (teople to comnnenre hoi* telities against the Colony, if ai had been repeatedly alledg* bd, ths country was incapable of yielding support to the set« tlerB,-ur if the hostile disposition of the native Indians bad i|leterinined th^m io destroy the settlement } What iruperi.« bus duty rendered it requisite for the North West Company to anticipate the progress of famine, or of enemius, in des* Iroymg the colonists, or induced that Company prematureljr Jko relieve the settlers from impending evils, by taking upon themselves the humane task of butchering and expelling them i iThe maimer in which Alex. McDonnell, the writer t>{ the above cited latter, expresses himself, can leave n^ doubt, that as early us the month i>f August. 1S14, a 8*.'ltled plan bad been furmed, ujon which he and his asaoc ates act* )ed during the ensuing Wintei* and spring ; and as the dale of ttiis Ititter is iina^edidteiy after tbe period of ti.e general Kl iaeetiog) f:l ^y.i '■V • % . !' t 76) AiMting, which the partners of the North Weit Comijanj^ annually hold at Furt Will h mi, near l^k« Superior, for th# ^urpme of concerting their arrangements amongst them* •elvesv and with thtir agents from Montreal, there can be nd ^ottb*. that Messrs. Cameron and McDonnell had thenrd* Reived their sauction for the measttrei thejr iutended t» a^ dopt» A further confirmaiion r f the sanction and approbatinfll given by the otber partners to the intended destroctioo of the settlement may be deiived frooa dbe circumstance, thai about the month of November, 18! 4 a geialeman received mforaiation at Montreal, from a brotlier of two of the paitni're of the house of McTayish, McOillivrays, & Co, wbich forrps a guiding and directing pait of the North West Company, that it was tbe intei.tioj of tlie c xiipany to seduct away as many of t-ie servitits ar.d colonists as they could in*^ dure ;o join theui, and to raise, if tbey could, the Indians of Lac Rouge, ajitl ot' er plai ts, t > d str^y the settlement ; and tbet it was also their ioK ntion to briwg th-. Governor, Milei McDonnell down to Montreal as a prisoner, by way of de- grading the authority under which the colony was established in the eyes of the natives. Th s gentleman was strnck with korror at the coLun.ttuicatioiiS made to mm, aud from motives ! rt 1 «f hmnanlty, givt m intimatioa of Umid to an agent of tb« HudaoD'a Bay Company than at Monlraal. In couaqutne^, « person wai irnt forward from Montreal to tba SaiUeinenlp fp appriie the aettlfn of their apprehended danger : bat from the advanced eeason of the year, and the nMeesity he was ^UMler of taking long and circuituue routes for the purpose of Avoiding vfae posts and servants of the North West Company^ he did not reae h Red River until the foUowing Spring. Ht had then the moitifieation to 6nd that a part of the project- id crimes ot that Company had already been committed, and that he had arrived too late for bis infurmation to prevent their measure bei..g filled, by tbe complete ** downfall" «f - the colony. Previously to the df parttare of Messrs. Cameron and Mao- Dofiuell, from Fort William for Red River they were provid- ed with British Military uniforms. A military coat with two epaulets, the ca»t-off uniform of a Major, which had pro* iriously decorated the persori of A.N. M'Leod, now added dignity to tbbt of Mr. Cameron } and oaths were administer- ed to the engages who wrre to go under bis orders. It is not usual for any association of Traders to require oaths of allo- giance to be taken by thfir servants. Where their object! are not criminttl, oaths would be superfluous, and where they •rci would be ^ddirg S4C(iledge to crime. On (Lis occ^iiut yK I irs 1 Hi mUm iNrt •dmiouUred io tht Mcm Room of fori WUHaa, io Um prtfinrt of Momiv. CaoMron and McDori* ■vll, Mr* MeLoed, aad other |Murtotrt» Tht «ogag^ wti lBfornfld» that thtir oaths imported, that they wan to ba Ihitbfal to tho kiof , aad to obey all the orders wbirh niigbl ho §i«ea then hy their Commander Mr. Ca My tha dm tima that hie Majaety and Mr. Catecroft hU aver hean tianeiated together when Oatha wire admihittarcd* Tha engagic warn then likewise informed^ that by taking Ika oaths they would ba exempted from ponisfament for ai.y •eta they shunld crmmit iri obedience to th«ir employers on whom alone the reBponsibility for offtrnceS would rest. Ond of the eikgag^s preient, who h>.d b' en appointed one of iha gnidee to convey the party to Red River, wtf d it rame to i>is turn to tuhe the oaths^ cou sg«ousiy told Mr. McLeod, " that ** he did not know by whut law* they were acting that bf * did not bi>lieve there were two sett of luwrs for hie Majta'' * t}'e subjects ; tLat he taw plvpnly they was^ltid bim to ga " to war, biit that if he mu^t figbi he wi uld go lo Mt ntre 4 ** to learn who were the enea ies vi the K:rg eti : li^hl am * gainst them, but not agninft his fellow 6uojecti»< 'IfaHt h# " would do b)S duty Ut the North West Company a« their - ^ servant, but would not bin^ b.s cui.scterce hy any nath ^ to obey then." The cououct of this tngajt^ was bigliljf laudable^ I. C f i 1 landabtct and what tntitle* bim to Avthtr pnim m thil ii» tation, h« wu of that rae* so ofun dvpod to bocouM tho iiN •tromentk of tb« criniM of tb« North Wttt Companjr, ' a boif bniM/ MeLood ondoavond to rcuoa tha boi» brull out ot kJi Mniplca, and to inflaeneo bim by ptomiiaa of advauca* ment in tha Noi th Wett Service, but the uobanding intAgritf »f this parson was not to b« wrought upuo : and McLaod f tiding him ioflexibU, drove him with blows and insult out bf tha Mess Room. He was not afterwards permitted ta go with the party as guide, bat was detained at Fort William ■s a punishment, altbo' he had a family beyond Red River. Ilessrs. Cameron and McDonnell mlh another person ^ho had been appointed guide in bia stead and their e»* gag&s, proceeded to the scene of action. W 1-il!t On arriving at the North West Fort, called Fort Gibral- tar, within about a mile of the Red- River Settlement, Dun> can Came'on assumed the style and title of Captain com* nfnd'ng at Reo River, pretending that government had con* l^rred that appointment upon him, and on varions occasiona issued what might be styled proclamations in that character. /He induced the poor and ignorant people in the country to giva ready credit to his assumed authority, not merely by his assur* ances that lie was invested with this new dignity, but by ap- f earing in the military costume be had rceeived from A. N. "^ McLeod| '■ :l I I 10 1 i! ! 'McLeod, with which he ocraMonally rode thmag^ the eouAtif accompanied by Alexander McDonnell, also in uniform, an4 'A DomeroOb ^uite of the Clerks and half breeds, aud other sef* •grants of the North West Company on horseback. The first fteps taken in fm iherante of their hostile intentions, were t9 oreate discontents amongst the worst disposed of the settler^, •to excite in them a coLtempt or the auti ^rity of their sapif rioTS, the officers of the colony, and to alarm them with ac* tonntt of danger to be apprehended '^'om the native Indiana* ^To these representations succeeded promises of reward to sf* verttl, if they would act agpinst the settlement ; and to all other inducements were added rorodntic descriptions of ad- iFSUtage to be obtained from settling in Canada^ to which province they wsre promiEed a conveyance in the N. \Y* Canoes, and a grant or gift of lands on tKeir arrival, together With cattle to stock their farms. Mr. bpencsr, the Sheriff, s most valuable officer to tlie settlement, was taken prisoner, under a warrant from a North West partner, pretexting aa • criminal offence, the deteo«jon of the Pemicaki before meiK tioD^ad, and waS; after being long detained, sent some tho|i« sand miles to Montreal. ' #'! li!! ' During the interval between the autumn of 1814 and, tbs spring of i815, several of the settlers were seduced, tutored^ and prepared fur the commission of crimes. A numl^er of t «H Ibc boil bruits, or ille^iUiDttta fhildren of tbe Ktfrtb Wdit pAitneri/and tervanU w«re during the same period kept, parttdedy and exercised in arass, under the immetfiate inspeo- tion of Pooean Cameion. After these preparatory measuret i\si been takeli, it was thought that deedii of greater daring might be executed with safety* N ■ - \ l%e disafiected settlers were, therefoie^ during a tempora* fy absence of the greater part of those who continued faithful to their duty, incited to rob and pilkge the fort belonging to the settlement, of the cannon seitt out fhr its defence, from the Board of Ordnance ; they placed armed centinels at dif* ferent doori to prevent opposition, while a part of the bois bral^t, acd servants of the North West Compan]; , under the Cooimand of Cameron, were stationed in arms within the dfs- tahee of a few hundred feet, for the purpose cf giving sup- port to the plunderers in case their force should be insufi:- cienti Nine piece* of artillery were thus taken from tne set* tlement, and delivered to the North West party in waiting, who received them with shouts and tnumph and conveyed them to their head- quarters, the North West fort in the neigh- bourhood. Cameron, the Captain commanding, gave a ball and entertainment the following evening in celebration of this achievement to the parties engaged. The muEkets fhich had been received from the Board of Ordni^nce, and L ha4 ?• : ■',' |M 'I f^ V: . ? i ;! I w 1 ;■ ■ ''I'll '-*.;■ r ll«(i been distribut'^d to the eolooists, as militia meUt veil! also taken from tbem as often as opportunity offered, or when in the possession of those who assisted the North West Company, were pnrchased from them at a less pricej tha^ if coQ^monly paid to th$ rt^ceiivers of stolen goodi. A caqip was afterwards established at a place called Frog Plain, at f^bout four miles distance below the settlement, by the servants and partizans of the North VVest Company, un- der the command of Alexander \|cponnell, another of the partners, for the purpose of co-operating with Cameron. I^ June, 1815, after the colony had been thus deprived of the means of defence, and was in some measure surrounded bv its enemies, the whole force of Mr. Cameron's fort, consisting of bois bruits, servants, and Clerks of the North West Com<« pany, sallied forth to maice a combined attack on the settle- ment. They kept up a continued fire of musketry for some time on th^ governor's house and^ adjacent buildings ; but fortunately iq this attack only four persons belonging to tbe settlement were wounded, oqe of whom died shortly after of his wounds. In a few days after this attack, the men en« camped at Frog Plain, received orders to march to tbe set" tlement, where they erected a battery against the building, called the government house, on uhich they planted a part of the cannon, which tbey had previously taken Trom the settlement; t is 1 IffetUtmeftt ; and balls were forged at the li^ortii West Fort, far the avowtd parposis t:f battering down ibe colonial build- ings. In eonclaSion, after a series of attacks and atrocities btt tbe . p^rt of the North West Company, the Governor Miles MbDonnell, surrendered himself as a prisoner, anci Was afterwards sent to Montreal, uiider a warrant from i partner of the North West Company, for having prohibited the exportation of provisions, and detained the Pemic?ii, dt has been befoire related. Accdraing to the code of laws enforced by the militarj^ ^vereigns of the North W«st Country, it would seem esta* blished, that a Governor of a territory might be deposed ana torn from the seat bf his aiithority by an inteiested party acting as justice of the Peace, and sent any distance to take his trial for any offence the interested Magistrate might find it convenient to impute to him. It has been indeed alledged that Miles McDonnell, bad, In fact, gone beyond his legal powers in declaring an Embargo, and causing any Pemican or provisions to be detained for the use of his colony. It has mho been alledged, that he bad omitted some of the jTormalities prescribed by law to be observed by persons ap- pointed to the station iri which he acted. But, if it were conceded, tinat there was any foundation on which these a(» legations could lest, his conduct even in that case could Dot L9 hi m i !iJ <. [ M } w i r\ 1 4!: ht *' insidered criminal or felonious. lie was actiog under ^ commission issued in virtue of authority, originally emamit^ ing from bis Majesty : he was de facto acting as Goverair vnder this commission. If he exceeded his powers in caus* iug provisions to be detained for the use of the colony, hit offence at the, utmost could have amounted only to a civil . trespass. No North West Magistrate had a right to caus^u . his arrest by construing tbis act into a crime. It has been alledged on the part of the North West Com- pany, that it was for the Hudson's Bay Company, and i.ot fbr themselves, to h&ve brought forward the question of the jurisdiction of the Hudson's Bay Company. But this would have been such a course as was never befoie heard of. It would have been an inversioii hitherto without example of the common order of proceeding ; and a itiomenis lefldctlon siroiild convince every person of ordinaiy information, that such d procedure would be as preposterous as it would be novel. It is for those who are vested with jurisdiction under royal author ty, to exercise it ; if ihey go beyond their legal pow- ers, it is for those aggrieved to bring forward the questidn of jnrisdiction. And those aggrieved have a plain course to obtain redress (with ;ut violent measures, or taking justice ia* to their own hands) by a petition to the privy council, the proper tribunal fur all qu^^stlans of interfering or contested jurisdiction, the (fiii. f 85 1 |uriadicUen» .^od«f eoorse, competent to grant redress for the act of any person Lold;ng or appearing to bold author!* tjr under government. , > ^ This course the North West Company did nrt choose t* take, and no reason can be assigned, except that they did not wish to bring the question to issue. On the other hand, the Hudson's Bay Company Hao no such opportunities of obtaining redress for the injuries dons to them ; because these injuries were effected by private in- dividuals having no claiih to authority ; whose conduct, hov« . , . ■ ... 1 ever lawless or violent, did not form a fit subject for tht cognizance of the pnvy councilor of any tribunal in £ng* land, or, in fact oif any tribunal, except those of the country itself. They bad, therefore, nr^ choice, but to enforce tiie jurisdiction conferred on them by Charter, or to subcut to the injury : —Even the IxtX of the 43d, Geo. III. if applica* ble to the Hudson's Bay ferritoaes, could not enable thein to bring to tna^ a question of civil damages. tjnder these iircurastanccs, the object of thb North \S^.^x Company in causing Miles McDonneH to be taken prisouti^ instead of seeking redress from authority competent to re- press any abuse of power of which he might have been guilty, wOt'Id hav» bsennRnurcr.t, even if the jnfcrjnaticn rtreived at - ri!'.;sitrcsl •I i)^ %k'M tist MoflUeal atioat the montb of Nbvenkbef, 1814, had not ^ ^iven. That infoi'mation at has been already stated, import* cd their determination to dibttrojf the colony, and to degrade the authority under which it wm eitsiblished in the eyes of the natives, By taking the Governor down to Montreal as a prisoner. With this vi^w alone, was the person of Miles McDonnell illegally seised, and not with any etpeclation of ' Diingin*;^ Itim to puaishnient for iei felony, of which his cap- iois «i;;)ew he had not been guilty* T ^^oir intentions weie carried into perfeci execution 8at>M« ^neatly to the capture of the Govemor ; Jot aft«r his depar* tore, the colonists who remained faithful to their doty, were again attacked, fired upon in their houses, and at length ek» • ■ • ) pelled by the servants of the North West Company,; their cattle brought from Europe, w^re slaughtered, the mill and other expensive works belonging to the settlement were des* troyed, and all its Hvliitations burnt to the groiind. In their tetreat, the coioritsts were assisted and protected Ly the na- tive Indians, who expressed sinceK sorrow for their depar- ture, and fur the cruelty with h hkh they had boa treated. Those of the settlers who had joined the North West Com* pany, were taken in the canoes of the latter to Fort WiUiami and thence to I'pper Canada. The most criminiU of the liolonisti wb3 had joined them, were treated, while at Fort; ' . William, j'] ' ! Y. ■':• ■J; ■ t' r n I WiUiam,witb bigh distinction, and i|ie om who badbMii t1i% lnd«r in capturing and delivering tbe cannon of the settle" paent to the North West Company, received, besides grati* ^de and praises, a mor^ substantia) reward o( a hundred pounds in money. Thus, what the North West P^^r bad stated in his let- ter of the 5th of Aug. 1814, to be a most desirable object, and to be effected by fair or foul means, vij. '* Che complete down- fall of the colony," was in the spring of the year 1815, perfect* ly ficcoroplished. At the next meeting of the partners at Fort William m the summer of 1815, the letter writer, and bis coad- jutor, viz. Messrs McDonnell & Cameron, were treated with unusual distinction, and received the praises of their associates for all they had done. They were sent back to command at the same posts as in the precediiig year* Whoever considers the regular system of subordination and dependence establish- ed in the North West Company ; whoever reflects that at the annual general meeting at Foit William, the conduct of •acn partner at bis post is canvassed, his merits weighed, and the due meed of censnre or applause, according to his sup* posed deserts is conferred upon him ; and that if his conduct be approved, he is reinstated in bis commands, or if disap* proved, others are substituted in his stead ; would see as clear!;^ if lili 1.1 1 ■;. '' v 1 f: . i ': \ / ) ■' \ '. 1 '> ' i 1 '' r i ' S il hi r .' : '1 ; t 1 i I'll % ; t «• 1 il1«arly iti the return of these individuals t* their former pMNf ^ the expressioo of the geosral approbation and coneui-rewijr^ of the other partner* in their eonduct, as if it had been gives in the nott exphcit termi. But it is not by inferencea alondi however just and convincing to every impartial undentahd* ing, that their participation in the gailt of their associate! may be shewn. It is rendered equally clear by facts. The infaroaation given at Montreal \n the fall of 1814, heforf stated, in consequence of which a messenger was sent to Red River to apprize the settlers of their danger (infornnatiQn nearly to the same purport aj^ that contained in the letter of Alexander .McDonnell before quoted) would alone he suffi- cient to establish it. Ana when to all other circumstancesi are added the rewards which were liberally distributed to the perpetrators of the crimes we have related, rewards of which, books of account that have been deposited in thct hands of the house of McTayish, McGillivrays, it Co. con- tain statements, — the light of conviction must flash upon th<^ minds of the most incredulous. mil It was about tbemiddle of September, that Messrs Ca^ nitron and McDonnell, after surfeiting u(on the thanks an4^ er^bmiuras of their associates, during their annual visit to F^Tt Wilham, for the services, which by th.ir seal and abi- lity in the destrurtiun ot the colonies, they had rendered • to iter Br I urrraett BO gives (I alone, enta^d* lociatei I. Tba , beforf t to Red rniation letter of be £uffi- nstancea uted Ui rards of in th^ o. con* pon th<^ sra Ca* aks and^ visit to nd abi- ^pdered to v« A '^. UmigBly «f iIm Kerib W«tl, nrtirai^ la iM» IbroMr poitt, wbere hew icahea awaited' tbaiD. ;a| For in tba auittmn oIT 1815, tbe colonitti who had let^ driven off, onexpectedly returned witb an aceeetion of nuni- pen, and reinmed the occupation of tbcir Aeldi ai Red Eiver. Tbey reached tbeir poaeeeaioni in time to lecnre 4 «erjr abiMant harveet, itbe produce of wbAt had been tofiA previooa to tibeir exjpultiin; The accession to their namberi was composed partly of ncil Emigrants from Scotland, and jpartly of inhabitants froni Canada, linder the ieonduetof Colin Robertson, a gentleman ih tbe service of the Hadson'i Say Company; Some time afterwards, Robert Semple]! Ilsqr. who bad been appointed Governor over the whole oJT the Hodsdo's Bay territories, arrived it Red RiVer, It wis noW felt by the partners of tbe North Welt Cooh pany, that a n&ore vigorous effort than the former, would alone enable them to destroy tbe ren >vated se tlemeht. To excite dissaffection and low disietiUons by intriguee and falsehoods, wad no longer practicable, for their ihten'tions and efaaracters were known, And tb& ill disposed amongst tbe co»' tonists who might have given assistaucei bad been withdrawn jfrom the country in the! caiioes of ihe North West Cuin^any i^r the first destruction of the Colony ; and at n time ivhen :i II ii ( 90 ] tlM re-ippMrance 6f the •tht r tttUen wit not probtbty coHN tompUtcd* -. .v atsa* a'>:jj/i »,•/'■. The eondoct and rharaeter of Oovarnor Sample, waa MKb .M to obtain conflJ^iive and to ccnctltate Mff«ction. (*) The exertion bf'superidr and physical strength was in ^o^* lequence, all that could be relied on, or that could give any |>romis« of Mecefts to the plana of the North West Company. An unusual force was, therefore, early in the spnng, 1816, eoUectrd at the North IVat Fmt on the river Qui Appelle, in (he Hudtam't Bay Territories^ under the comnaand of Alex* ander McDonnell, whom we have so tif*«n mautianed. To form this force, requiaitions had been made upon variooa i rts oi (be Nort*^ West Company to a very great distance, as far as Fori Cumberland or Cumberland I louse, and the up* per Saak ttchewan or Fort des Pr&ines, all of which bad coa> tributed their qiiotai. The C;.'mmander At Fort Cuniberlritid, was Jdhn Duncan Campbell, a partner in the North West Company. After the month of January, \%\6., he often exbibited to the boia brul6s and Canadian eogagis at his Fort, the letters wbicb^ I. - . W tt 'iS^P .>5i«4ii! ;. vjj ,i$!'>:4«»^ . . (*) The name of this ^fntlnnian accompuiiieil w illi \i\%i\ eucomiuins, may be f^m)d in ^^le pagw of the KdinbMr^tli Aevi/«w ; a work amongai whose imputed (lefects, ^i e do not retneuiiwr to Uave se«n nuoibeted " tbf praiie of ijie uiuieservia|(." li I 91 1 • ll»rt(Mhred ffom 4lexand«r McDonnell of Qui App«ll»,fr0ia All«nMcDMin«ll or Foit AlexM^der; from JobnMcDoiiB )1| of La Rivioro du Cygne, and other partners of tbt Coroptny, b ^bicb Um whtrrt informed bim Qf tbfir plant to noako wtrapon tho colony, anri deaired bit co^ptrntion in teuuing Isrward apart of bis force to assist tbem. CampbalU in ron- •equcnee, soma timt pravioua to the peiiod fixed for tba junction of tbair respective levies, directed a part of the men ■Oder his command, to go to the general rendeivous at Qui Appelle, for the purpose, as be expressed it, Mde faire la goerre aux Aoglois," of making war upon the English. (*) 1^4 • .-TtU pne of the bois bruits r^ flised to go, as the object of th^ expedition was to raise their bands against the lives of their fellow subjects. lie was then tuld by Canapbell, ** that tb^ ** North West Company always protected those who acted ;;iwa«li. ■,.;.. ■ *^''' , *• • . - .• ' .'. . ^ f' in its support. That it was well known, that many had *' been guilty of crimes to advance the interests of the Coi • '( ■• i . " ' • •. ." ■ ,.\ '. ,• '.. ** pany, but that not one df tbem bad ever been brought >.o ^' justice. That as the North West Company had before ^f > . .. .' ,..•'.... , !v t* protected, so it would continue to protect those who gave ii2 ■i: ^) " the fingnih'^ U the' afipcllation b^stow«d by^ the North West C|om|iail}[* fij^iLtbe Uf vapM pf tUeJ{ud>oa's Bay Compaay, and tbt^coit loaixtt at Red River a« a term of reproach. Do the North West Com'. jkHf korgetihat ttojrraM alMe^ a\i«t the laihe raOft^f.Or aratbejciath.' willing by any claim of descent or connectioo,lo disgrace the stock UCjf^ ^(leot^ they sprung ? 14 i Wfm <^. o.\^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) z % 1.0 I.I 11.25 I^ IM |2.5 M 112.2 ui Mm i -- 111^ 1.4 IIIIIM 1.6 V] V] '^?/ ^> Photographic Sciences Corporation •s? ^ \ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 <^ 6^ 1 ) /%" ^f 5 ^ , ' ^ % \^ ■ ^ . - ^-..■--- ■•■v..- . -- -■ ; , ■ ^ . -.- .V^ imh^ ii 'I'l ••: tiifM tdlllieriifleit m bit HhuL 4riiMU.pafty4 IM'inhN^ coMMtipg of Hvfii bm». bntlli^ «»M. tffoi7^si>BtfMn% it*mii»» (MMd tttiflNfl!^ f» tbeipkut of igy((Mty»w» aiOii^^ioijiiiif^ Wlkcn fcb^ftfftjr J?«t» t^iit to Ml fcnr«fd,^iai^U mmA^ tlMm^«;s(Maclkf :<>itlHqb •; Rtn«^ #ff^iM tjNM tthlMmi iMtt mt liNilp ft bt jCohM n«i»Ul ■- • ■' " gifgu^* £t ^iuumJ youl fiwff ^t rffiiuff det ^mqifiK; h;.jJ ;f»:i^cl: -ii^^ '.-TrT " ■" ; •,' »"■ •!'. ■ '■•V.-';' -" " dantSf yom yi^pdrei ffcUement up bovt du rf tte i f%r, il ** (m\ abtoloment qae noiu ayont \p Gonvemeiir at MpiCir. ai i.w -■; i ■■ix;';/jib '''■''''■'■''.:■,, ** Robisrtfqni ow lears t^tet. Si yom of pouvei pas'tronVer '■'4 ^i»- ^■i< *ii»i'F ** doe occaiion de yoas ba|jtrf , vcft ppwt^ ratenir Ici Aii» ^.:,'tn rj->>i ^'o-'} v ' w -.[ ■:/,:,.^-uj *■. . »f'^^-'' V" ' ' " gtoia da la Colonie, et les emp^char de sortir, jiuqura ce " qua vow fyas le leconni d? voi bpurgeeis da Monti ial, *^^d(i» l^ttraitt «a f tal umJiM U mm\tr^mh\i^^>mt!jf; I* ft M «( r isfMur 1«| fomqufui- isqttVc^ loniiiiil, ... ■•• .. '{-i ■ ■ ••■ ■ -it „ ** killed awl nope baft the foldicft were left, the tictoryvM ** aaimd. And wl^en voo b«v0 lettlcd the bwaeie for the «**eomittMdera yov wiH euily accoinpliih the ret| ;— formt (^ miMt aW>Iatffy have the Gavernor and Mr. RobertMm, :u':: .Ji-. :~f ' : ../ > ■-; ■ • -V; ■ ■ -. vr-v^Tc; f.;.' <;i ** orjocir heads. Bpt if yoa find up oppoftimltjr « Bt^tipg, «* f^i»n hieirthe MiU^6««i(^to|hi«^^ ** Viiot l(lifir goin| idiread jintii. yo^ have the •ftbtancf oC » vowipiaften frooi oioiilfeal, Athabaika, Uhe Ia P|iie, f' deetpof the cphniy.** After th^ liariuifne ii^ wfa^h tbi ^Qtiet they w^re to peifbrm aodthe propjer mode of perforn^ a»ee «tra expl«iied> the party proceedi|d to the rendesvottl IfcDonnitt'e Boet at Qui ApP«Me. The ll^df^o^ Bay Company were in posscftion of * po»% ot> the river Qui App^lle, in t^ie vipteily of the North V«t poit^t^f hich Alexander McDonnell eommanded. The R^* vsrQui Appelle, te ope of the tribotoiy etrew «f jlhe ^d Biver. The poe^ e^tabliihed on the Q^ Appelle by th« Uttdion'e Biy ^ompmy WM oneof thofe viually denominat- •d it , lii I 9ft 3 :""' ryl.^'li^ " Oft %fbi0IPiiMtttti$iii'4lM;piliiM^ 1^^^ iliSivertw«Mlie HudtaB^^Baf Oompaagr.; lo Apriji 1810, Qovenior Sempie having heard' no'm v4rt« «a$ sovrcM, that the North West Company were collccang I'll ..i - , ^■^. 4 :^;r .ij r; ,, • • . ■; '^^a ■ . ^T'-^rv --i': ''■ loryct at Qoi Appelle'; and heing apprebeiMive, lest they •hoiud prevent the provisions expected mm that qnirter pom arnviDg at the settlemeoty sent on a gentleman of the name of PanbruDy formerly a Iieatenant in the corps or Ca* nadian VoltigeurSf with a letter of instnlittiona and difec- tions pi proceed as far as the Iiodson s Bay post at Qoi A|h < '^ ■ >i.,'i : iVfjTiJs •.;! if!/ l.j'i jfi; ,!, },/ ^^- ',M-i *,, < V, r„j,. I-- pelle, if he shodd consider^ it advlseabie. But as certiain| partners, of the North West CooBpany, high in office In the province of Lower Canada, have thought' fit to represent thii letter as directing acts of lawless aggression upon the North West Company, we cannot, id 'Justice 'to the' reputation of the de$d,jefrain from laying before our readers an exact c»» twq u 1o iioi&j-';.* •!.'.,■:, .„:. 'j^n-i 'jf^.-^.- r.---'^ ,■/;■ ,/,., r, ■ ■ .-•v'' ^ py of it, by Which they itiay forixi a juster o^itiibu of the in* tentioqs and conduct of the writer : FoaT Douoi^ASt, iith April, ISKT^i, *' Having received intelligence from '-,'•'. .!• tl'j' ^ vttiioui quarters, that the Agents of the'Kortb West Com ; asciertaini flieeui^he )iWeot tiiii tii»Mti^ piittatibti of il exact c»> tl'^Of ft- jencd from Wert'dow'f c.-#l « llaif Wtiiid ittamptittg to ipteript odr bottite ik/^ •* pasMge from Qui- AppdlU hitlwi^ ^ irill ftolM'^ "toon as i^^bfe witli Ib^'men whom Mr. Robcrtioa wilt **^^lii4 tittdef ^ikif'^ (Mrdert to Brandon House. <*) IVheii " Uiei?. joa ^iU,coneert f ith.^r. Petei^Fidler. bow farjl ** may be advilfible to jprocee(^ ^ Qui, Apjpelle or remain i|^ ** ,Bnmdo9 ; in oltber etue, bpwoveri the Dow«r of det^idfiM; *^ wiUfe.te«tirelyi^jfoir«.lf... ,;. . . ^^^^,^^^ \ rifi My -j-'i asnif.T. VrM ** It it uy "wiiih that 'yoii carefiinyavo^ every iut of &<)»• <* tiUty.nntil fully jusU^d by the condiict of bar eiietbiea. << The half'breeda Mving beMi ordered to awemble ^t tbe « them mosl be considered as committed by immediate w^ « ft^horised Agents of the Nprth VVe#t Cprnpapyj, and ft* , <* pelled or retaliated accordingly.. I trust, Ijfowc^ver; that . "^ . • .-1 ' ■ ■' ■ '■ ■ i.i'>. ;iij.> ''■'( i. .■,,<-.,' ** yonr moderation end, tbe eooler reflection of your opncH . " nentSywill prevent any serious disturbance taking place^ " Should I, however, be unfortnuately mistaken, you will ^ remember that the quarrels in which yon liave before tdc* ji' 5 ■ ujij' i i.i ■*■ . ' " "■* ' . " i !,n' ' i i! !'' ! " ■ ' ■■ "' ' y ' ." ' ' 7 '' n ' j *^ '/•) Brai^oB k9a^e is about halt way '^^^if iSSPTtwJt 4ia (^ lautaoc Kid Kvl ev;it<»«{i» ak' W i: :!■' il tM 'k-9k ft^ wky hwi bral grMtljr mom MBfoHtnV (^ ' llr. Puibiiui af^r itiwBing Brtfdilbii lio&ie, mid t^i^ Wiog "com^nnii^iitAd with Mlfl fldhr, a$ l(i'baa ieMiH* ** aoBEur SIB JiiPiJC^ praec^ to tHe Httd^n^ Biiy polUi'q$1t|f^^ Mr. JuBci Sutherland commiuided. Mr. FM^hrita thert irlcfivad j^.^ooftraiatioa df thf M^i pin^f^f^li^m tlul if«rti jr««|,Cfl|inpKi)r veremak^ ia "M bigiiibii^i or M«j ImH^ jir. Pii^rbti, iH4alMMtt«cnty4wcigMtf an^^ boiia,Ml tkfnm QiH ApipoIIa io coBV«3r thi pmUiioBl ahdihrilliby hid collecti»cii to RmI River. Thelv were on hoair^ the hoili •beat eix homl'reid hag9 of Pemican, tweblty ttiri^'j^ki of "Fufi, and above leven bttndred Enffam Robes, betidiM other proper^. . i .i -i- The coane of the RjKrer Qi|i Appeile 19 exiremely cirenitik Ofui, ip that after tHe boats bad proceeded nearly sixty milei accofding to the coursis of the Hverj tliey Were still onl;^ iiboot is miles by land from tlif plare ^^MnbaFkatioa. Th* strean^ {*) Mr. PanibVnii^ wi^ an officer actively empioyed in tlie EncliiA SerTiee during the lat9 American War, and receirm the jpitttiiie ^lililiJbp N bis auperiori for bis conduct. \ '^ kt^ . As ■i ntn tberi * tbritbiqr tbetaili idte other [y cireaiW Kty milel •till only OB. TbA ''itreaov the Ent'ltsft I if i ftHMllwni «M rapid, md Uit mvigMi^ii rcndond (SifllMlt jilf ilKMit. Aboot tl^ Ittb of May, wbilt tb«y m*n tm* liartMid initttiilg tbn^ngh mis part of tht river, which #m jsaly aboat $fi fctft wifi, they were called ■poa to i«rfen(|«r| ' pal threattaed with iastaa; death if they de marred, by a body of woiad mea aho bad previously eooeealed tbemaelvet, |Mrtly in halee dag ii^tq the bank, and partly bebind a kind (^ breatt work, Thu body consisted of aboat fifty bqii bra- Ms and Caaadiane, aaderthe commaod of Cathbert Grant, IliontaB McKay, Roderith McKeoiiie, and Peter Paagman, Cleiks and Ibterpreters. in the service of the North West Company. Resistance agaimt so snperior a force wonld iwve been nnavuling, had itfie man in the boats been in • aitnation to have fought, but embarrassed as they were with the di(|e)|ities of the navigation, any rcsistanee was impraet*- Satbsrlaad, Pambran, and tbdr man, ware in eonsoqqenea mads prisoners, and with the property under their charge taken once more up the river to the North West Fort at Qni Appelle, in toe vicinity of the post from whence they Jiad first set out* There they saw Mr* Alexander McDon^ Hell, the con:mai.'der of the Fort, i^bo informed them that it frasby his order, that Grant and bis associates had pursued, ||keu them prisoners and seiKd on their property ; and de* V, elarad, ':. ;■>! 'fi ' Pf t , tvn dirtd, ** that it w^s-juatifiiible ia ietatUt|Oi^ fai Ei>lMf|^i( h»ving^ lately tal(ei) pos^eaaiOn o( t^e Nm^ Wcat Ffuri iiaHilNi6^ awe tyir <^^in aitlt^l thi 19^ Witoi fiMBJli^ fo tb«ir ebttsldering thentidvas tovt'* dMi«l ilii^ Itire^sd %^tt i vait ibxtktit of country, inia^ wMidh tlMif origin^ ^^trin^e «!■ im dffehe*. agkldtt t&^ ia^;^ yil^ of §bi(fh tl^ir adbseqaeiit poiMuida Itil' 6«iiil^ lliibtaiiid dily VVibltoiltiiMblobdftfted: Aeulatioa/ai^ ^liSiiig to f ll« NdiHh Wei^ ae<(e|»tatioti of the wbrd, doeft obt ficwaii, aa Wcbmftioli Ikbgkutgd, 4b c^aaHbfliction. Fo» if »(iA''ilsr8 lib ligttidiiatioti, ho«r cbnld the deitriietion of i ibotbny'aiM) tiie masiaere of ita inhabitadU bi» UHb retaliation frf an iinputed limpass ^ Wponnelt •■ i)ie purpose of ^bein^; sent from tb'ence to En);land, where he will, n'b doubt, receire ferf«t:t jiutioe at tbe hands of tn impartial tribunal, ^Hie Nbrtb WeM Comjfaay*» a^r rants after the arrest of CannBroo (|uitte4 tlie fort, but declined then removing certain packs of furs and othier arti* AliM,' of wbinh aa inreatory was tIterHfore mador, and tendered' tathem.' The Fort was afterwards talc^n to pieces, tl;at itmixht not aerveas (^ future asyfum to destroyers of colonics, and hunters of men. yet not ^ptl\ the conduct of the North West Company rsndcred it necessary as a lAeasare «C preccmtiou in self tUfKnce. ':' !■ f! i.;ii ■•Mi m i; i li I' HcDmnwU^ lMi««?«r» Hu Mi MtMtd with « w^-M^ iOuMkwi ^ kit dattriniMtiMi to flatimiaili tb ctkay* bill ftpntmA hb iDMBttoos raptattdly and vpfsly* llit «»^ «i)rM for tliat |MiU^i«g tlit pltn b« M ia v)«w, btfrn i|i •xccvtion, Md wKtor c\i«»«n>VuMt« whkk 4f(4 ntt tl^ifi ' •bwriitety raqvirt ito optn avowal, inoM waoi ta kata fcaMf V teiUaika bitfellctMrt t^ kii^n\^ to tt^plia iMmi '%Uh ^onfiilaiiM iii ita aacceia, ali4 to iftfnc|la tLai» tf i^ ^NAt. , J4r. ^atobruB^ ^ti 40toiatMf ^ acrlvcd.^ He Wm %\Ma dir/^ctfd to ambark oa bcaid caa of ibeibi^to jpr^vidvd for <|i^ eoof ey^W* ^,,)if art of the foari t9 t|e f|^lo;e(| in Ui# «rar of cxternn^qi^p^ |i||^ntii[|a,^ itemeift, while the recutoder of the force travetled onJtoiae^ bacic, and escorted the boats Along the Hyef. These bbato Alexander McDooaell ceased to le loaded With thi fari arid ' pMivAoM which he bad taken about the ISth May fronf Mr. PflOibrun and bis associates, ahd th^a hk hioitelf eoi> bftrk^ as Gomnraader id ^bfef of the exfieditioi* Daring Hie voyage, the Ctyttihatider informed his followeii, ** thai ' the bvtiness of tht lakt year at Rfd River wM a toere trifltf * ill fonpanioa with what woold take place there this vear | * that ^. tital iU North Wmi Omp^y ud Wb Mk mid hjmimii^umt Uwt tlM bait bniMviMithip |iii|b| •i%*»pf.* »V thij i butm rsii WN» iht txpt^ition hdi arrived ■! far te tlM fbrkl^ bMiniboyiM River^ tbey wen met by a Chief of the SaiitMi bation of Indian! witb bit band. To Ibese, Alcxaiid|B# Mc- tiMMll btadi a iH«^> impirtlflg ^hat ** Um AgA*,*^ 'tliaiiipn tba lattiaii at Rod Rivari and iba aarvwtt o^ tbd iladib#*k Bay tiomiMay, <* w^sti ii^to^lng the tapdi «rUrli ^ beiidHHd ia tbe ladiaaa aad hiAtUnMvmifk TAaitsha * lfiiflitl» twit drivlag away the Buffaioe, and wovid venAr r **'ll#iM&iiMt poor and wretched } bdt that tiie Ndrth Weal *!Co«ipaiy wiald aspal them, unco the fn^aao did aoi ** chooee to do it. That in ease of resietance, tiie groand ^ aboiU^he dmebed ^tb the bitted bf tb« ftettlen, and iMt *< one should be spared. That tba North West Company ^ did not iieed the assistance of the Indians to Accomplish ** their designa} but yet, he would, nevertiielese, be glad if ** some of their yovng meb woold join him." ^he ioli^itatione of th^ North West Company to obtaid Uie co-operation of the Indiaoi in their attaciss upon the Co^ ibny, had beeii always ilieffccttial. (*) Add the native! eerm ^ ,. •■ ' ' (*) In the mvnth of July 1816) in a council held before tlid Indian de- jpartnient at rruirmond's Island, near Laire Superior, in iiie presence of beut. Col. Manle^ presitlent, Lt. Col. AfelT-'^;, superintendant of Indiad ' . Airair!*> m ■V m n. r:, ( ■ .■'■ 1 ■Hi I '-I ' f M M w: liAil 0iin to H'm hkn •«««, that tf thty afloiNd ^hlbT Hlfis •10 bt oMd ai lb* iMtnuiMnt* t)f erioM, 4teir MBfioy^ tn woald not bava tba cacdar to atNina any portion tfffbf (iilt, but aroojd in Mieb a cMo cadMvoc li» tbrov tha iMtM - ^ ^ ' . ' ' , ' . ■ " *' iffalh, tohn AiiflB, and 6tlW«, i( aiMar&iton #lf hiiSe% ktAi^im iMftr.«p iiidi«t CkM ;«| jPof4 4« lm^ tBifOf^iimi ita Ufi kftamHtHi •iMd b^ fom* of the North West Coropaojr, to Irad his nation to make Waro^, eM (lMfr Cteoara^lMI lilvflp. fMtbeliaf' Vno offwf* aU tha coqd* lo tbnt of (hair storM at a wwanU J to wonUk luitltrtaka this service. That he had refused their offer, and daelinaa teUWM BMa afalo* lii*c«itoay^,aiilM he kn«WvirM»«Mi imftJImm*- ttifaetor; to the ludian department^ and his Great father on fhe other dittHiht'itvii l&k*. Tbi^ M ^ ^inh¥mah^k^9nhJr1imk a biito If to wanhl eause bearers of dispa^l|i» to tfajp aolonjr tp,^ i^lf^: cepted by any of his people, and robbed of their paperh, or mnrdrred. Thil to bod deeHned thb wtftee atol. B^ndjiiw tmt m t4 WW M iWieib* 'fld which eoninns tto sUtrnaenU of this Indian Cliief. Tl|^e latter s6r« v{c0»' ib^ robbery of the dispdtcbes, wuleb lie decfined, other* were pro* ewod to. perform to coitieiHeaet of tstcnM^ A mod* of proccdorr, which in Ibt ■ntophiuieattd Jndg- aoMU of Mvagts, would not teon ptif«ctl> c^otisUnt, wUI^ tfco Pfinciplft of Jttiticf • Ai goon M tbo oxpediUon aader McDoonsH had odvaiie- fd |o wilbin # few aiilia of tht Hudtoa'f Buy Co«p«n>*s poo( 01 Br«iidua Huu|o, Catbberi Grant wa« detached firooi tb* UMin body at tbo bead of about f 5 mio, witl; ordcn to |ako thp fiNt, and plunder it of all tbo property itcontatafd. A eorvi^ which Or^t effectually performed, by pillaging tb) poejt nut only of the goodp, proviiionf , and fura, belung'* log to tbo lJadMu*k Bay Compaqy } but alto of the article! of private property belongiag to the iodividualt there, d|* most all of which, with the exception of the fors, were distri- bated a* rewards amongst the sf nranta of the North West Company, Canadians, as well as bois brul6sy under the cctn* tnandofMi-DonnelU ^ After "" — ■ ■ — of the partners. They eonuined notbinjc but wb&t was bonorablB to flip cliacffcfer and humauUjr of ttif ,Earl of Sellfirk and o|hRri, of whose letters they ccosisted* Tbejr remainf^d at Fort William under the insper* lion of the HouortibU WilUam MeGiliivray, one of the partners, and a Member of His Majesty'* Council for tlie Province of Lower Canada, and would never again bave been sees oir bear^ of, had not William McGil* )ivri|y and. bi4 partners been arrested ; ^fter which, tl>4 plare where the dispatches were, secreted, in a closet iu the Council Room at Fort William, was pointed out to the Earl of Seliiik by Daniel ATKenzie, one of^the partii^rs. 17 if imi ^roceedtd oovatdi. MePoqMiUdividMl.feu fere* ml* mim^ , Ifr bodies, ovwr wiiicfi Gatl|lM^ Oimut, iMnf, Aioxoadtf IfrMer, ftnd Antoine Hoolo, wer* appointtd co&iauuidvft | and one Saraphia Lamar, acted a* lef oai^ iq comoMiid ofe# tht wbqla* Abottt the l6ih of June, tbe expeditioii feoehed a pkMN| ^railed Portagea def Prairiea, at the dietance of about nxtf miles from the Colony at Red Hiver, the intended scene (tf hditile operations. They halted at PorUg,e des Prairie^ liearly, two daysi dariiig which tinne the bags of Pemieaii ware broaght ashore, and io arranged as to form a rampart^ which was guarded by two t^rass swivels, part of the arma (akea from the settlement the year before. Aboa( the time they reached Portage de« Prairies, an In- dian arrived at the setUement, bringiiiig iotelUgence of tba expedition, and its proposed object. As soon as t^e Indiana arouiid the settlement heaixl of this, two of the Chiefs went |» hold a council with the governor, saying they were come to take their father's advice, and requssting to kL.ow froiq him in what manner they were to act. Th^y added that thay were eettain be would be attacked, and if their assist- ance should be wanted, they aad their yocng men would be f^adjf to defend hii|B* governor Sample only desired them no^ ■\ i ml -*»- ao^ ~ ' • * ibi ili^y of to harbarOut and wanton « iM8|a£r|> at ttjat in wjb^h he and hit people were tacrifi« fed. f^fhe neft n^ornipg the Indian Chiefs came again, and lold ti^e goirernor they ^ere-afraicl he would be driven away, and that ia consequence they thonld be made miserable» They then requested him, lest tuch an event ehould happen, ^ ^va thfip amn^icition tQ tupport their familiet during the summer. The governor replied, that he could not fear the people they repreiented at cominj^, but as nothing wat certain in thit life, he should order them a sufficleocy of am- punitiqn for their sommer'a tupport. How different waa his conduct in rejecting the aid of Indian auxiliaries, where they voluntarily otlered their asiistapce, and where it would have been lawful for him to have accepted it, from the trea< fonable conduct of the North West Company, m endeavour- ing to excite ths Chief Katawabetay and others, to lead ihotir nation! to make war upon the Colony ? . 9 9^ -11 11 1' 1 ' t : ■I \.i V < - 111'' ' ill' h I' ■ ' ; if' ■ it: .!■ i On tlM 1 8th of June, McOannfll the Commandcrin ^'Mtilf 4eUebcd a btidy of about TOlftorseroen, uader the orders df^ Grant; Laiorpe, Fraier, HooU, and Thomas llfKay, ivith ^ teetioos to attack the ^o^ony, and remaiped hionelf with tht rest of his force; and all the property nndiBr hii cart, at 1h«, Portage dee Prairies. Cathbeitprant noir aHiraied'tbt chief commtind of thn detachnaens which w9m aeeonpaaiid by two Carts of provisions, and proceeded on horseback throogl^ ^he plains and meadows of ^is deligbtfel region^ (heretofiure represented by ^ North West Compaa^ at flip capable of affording snbs^stiWe) iintii about 5 o'clock in tHi. afternoon of the Ipth of June, when they reached the colony, at Red RiTor, ^eocefigir^ deserving the nt^me of (he ftiv^r of Blood. « |^ lmme(*iate1y on arriving at the first habitations, the/ commenced their operations by making prisoners of the set^ tiers ; when a man, stationed as a watchman on an elevated* part of the fort or government bouse, called Fort Douglass, gave an intimation to the governor, of the approach of ^ bndy of men apparently in arms. Tbe gavernor and some othersttben endeavored to reconnoitre them, with a spy glass, and distinctly perceived some armed men on horseback. Not being aware of their numbers and hoping by his appearwce with a guard, as well ae by his authority, to prevent any in- « t jury ' *1 J '. •* I t|pf /coloiiittt, if tl^^trapgtr* v«rt .bostilply incliaed* tfl| (pk»v«mor called OQtia tM pnwnee of tome who an yet living^ tpajieittlie tratll of ^« ftettteUtod, <* wt mustji fM nuw^ iheiA pejipler let tweoty loeii follow me." There fire atibajl tinw Jw Mfe gfnreranMiit'lioaw i^boat tixtymtoy |H of ^hoUi wonl^ foadily hev^ ariNimpeiiied' lum if he had required ity f(^ ba^ was much beloved,;^and hi* people always ihoied avch pfi^t wiUid|qiee to execute his wishes, that I* tattjsirfflirty ^f ^avifry, altlio' all we4l niilt yct'io sighi, appeftred nior^ nnmittiw tluiii'iiiictfth/i l;nfe« ^ybilf.j tlk^. «r«if« Ihii. fAk¥i1ll^itv0^tiin f^as^^'h ^m^W^. ( - » ■ .■ lulM ievwrai, ai4 wflHiiidsd'lbf g^«a|et pitmbei: jf^aiew emi^, 4H«ly !«iet« reluriMdt Ify wlikj^ bm OM 4\f; >!()« aetuiilafiti ,)&«i. . l^iU04. Tho cavali^ g«Uf)|«pe^ to^ij^f/t^JBR»>vi«o|K, .«»|^ todkoff th«irbat«^ ■ndcwUfadferwtrey. Bttt,£|;4Sfaddr^iih, ibr mflicy* wis oDMute to cbe serv«iitf of tb« Noriit Weot Cfuqr pao^4 and at tbeir Inndt w^s ii^p^^^ly recf iyedi ^j^^ . aiay Wprt!iUi»«d« eart^fil, j^ver-fading lenowd* in fighting the battla of iheir coudtry, against fo> • feignenemiei, would be pleased to hear socb an appellatioii given to each a butchery of their fellow subjcef i. It will, tioweter, be remafked by the reflecting, that'iu Nttile^ it 14 -^•'V- ,- ' t W,i iSk ftiMii amoagll Um^ %1io nimaio on tiie ^U u eo&i>4* linti^ to be ^f, •■'■■ ..''■'■ . ■ , _ ■ toanding officer, bad rjMden up to him, and l^d. heard bim JMiy, that be did not tbink himself mortalljr wounded, and (bat if taken totbe fort, be UKragki be nigbt recover. Captai^ ]^ogenyR. E. having fallen, itNie.ap, and calling for mercy^ ivas abnt through the bead by one, and cut dpen by another* Tbt otbera wexe butchered witfi ci|ttal cmeltyi. "' Tbe iapse Wiuiam Bf cditlivray, ^ho is generally called ■■*'•■ ■■■■.• ■ ' . Ihe bead of tbe North West Company, in a letter fiom Fort IlirUliam, rontuning the etatement just al!u Jed to, expresseit lie tatiaAietion^ tbot none of his people (meaning the ser* irantaof the North West Company,) were within hundreds 4f miles at the time the; niastacre took {.lace. It is nnfor« tonato, that tbit HonoraUe gentleman had forgotten, that in we Bame letter be bad just before spoken of what had passed ' "•■■ ■ betweetf m i ;:! I. tl o ''■'. - ■■»^,^-«*^iHpi'Ji|>--...^ t m i , I ■ . / iUtwteo Cptllberi Orapt and Qoy^nor S^n|p|f ; (^.4^1^ hni «lio foifoCltn, thtt Ctttbben Qra»t «m mm of titt Cl«rM of IbffNorth Wctt Compaoy. tf (Wrtmor Stoipje hind been is nuh ud crui el fte w$i ' cMiudeirAte Mid hunume, he cMld ttever be fvppoied each A madman, as tocomfiakee an 4ltaek ttpote so superior a foitiii t^ is trot tbaa the Um woUld have justified, and, if 4ie had poissess^ ' r^'lj m4 (•) It 4t likaw^ttnfwtii^ui fpr tb« repatjMioa of Mr, W«. Me6i|^ limy Aod tta* eredk of tai* letter, tiMt soaa of ttas Cuadlan mriMSM of tfii ikfrth Wtnt CoflipAey, tfMir eonMMiilt (IMU tiurf wmv •afonfM tUsi party uiid«r Ciitiibert Omnt, tboald have bseo takea ia Fort William, (after hii Mr. llodiliifiay't ariMt, and tbat of mcMt of liii partnan Umw) and alNiiiliI Itavo Imm eomniMittefl to ^riwa pt MantraM> indar wamnt* from Lord Selkirlt. It U unfortunate, that the Mine Caoadian sOrvants dhbuid have eonifewel tlutll tlk^ iritk ditti or murderers, or a r«ceptaele for their plunder ; and that on tbeeoa% trary, Instead of reeeifing the ipoils, and allowing eheltor to tlw oiorder^ crt,1|e wai bound to. have Mcur«ttbe crJMtnafs, and to {Mfe diielosedt tlie erime$ ; unless indeed the disclosure should have impliealed bis own person—in which ease, silenee ooald not i« panistaablc, tinee by law, nA man i»^obli|pd to bear witaeu against himmlf. Amoapt otder spoils a Tast Bomber of packs of (dr% of which the Hadsoa's Ray posts had fieen plundered, were delivered by theservaots of Um North WestCtmM yaay at Fort William. Ab0ot forty of tbest bav« Imob sent down by the Earl of Selkirk to the Sheriff of the'liitrict ef MebtiMl, te It k«f t l|i^ iriai in life C9»t9iy. , v^ '\ ltl»l pamHMi MftcieBl ■naibtny bit &^ VMttd hiv« rtqt^ HmH ti d^ltr t4> proltet tilt eolMiy, bt iboald linvt tttaekai' tlM iovdten who wtra ouikwg tb« (UkunUm wttltn pri< •Mwrt. But altbo^ the law would hairo jostifttd hi$ •tUKlf« iikgthtm, yetsochajileaMirt/uihMcircvaftUnceg, wwld hove been lo ioconiiitent with pradenciB, so irrocdoeiliobto to .'V . ' • ■ '■'■'■'' „ , . '■ ■. *'• i'l the eligbteit regonl to hie own life, or the Uvee of hit peo- |I«, that tf ot^f except an Advocate of North Vfut princi^ |||«s ^ practice would pyt a ^i^oment'i i^nHti| toany |tato* l^ntof,^lekin<^ Amoog the slain on thb occaeton btBidea the Governor, "'-•'' ■■ ^ ■ ''.■■■., '■ and Capt. Rogers, R. £. were Mr. Alexander McLean, Mr. James White, Sargeoai Mr. J. P. Wilkinson, private Sec- retary to'the Governor ; Lieut. Holt, of the Swedish Navy^ Mr. Adam Sotheilatd, Robert Sutherland, Henry Sinclair, James Moore, James Gardner, John Green, George McKen- Kie, Puniel Doneyan, Duncan McNaughton, Duncan M'Don- . ■ • ■',■. ..■■■ - e|', and fi,ye otherf. The slain, many of whom were barbarously maogled, were Uft onburied fpr beasts and bird* to gaie and feed upon. A small number of the native Indians, who had lingered in the neighborhood, upon hearing of thlt dreadful catastrophe, visited the spot, ai.(^ v^p^ured tp eoq^mit • few of the bodie^-. t6 a gtave* But their appreheniions of the rfsentment of the vu^UMT'i prevented their removing more th«i % part of tlM|*^ i *. ■, ' ^ II j. -h M \ I I ! ' i ' i t"' t*Ml u n\ I i •l*"^^ |!l*$l» "Nil* ^iWf fcMW, W object *f tb»Mr l«ir|^ Mtt 4i4^ «|iiratioa. Tt>»3f W^i^ ip^cji :ii|t«chefl (q him } 91)^ ^ « lay^ •Bd i^wliar niiirk of their affeetuNi, they burM hidB «t # dit- tPB(« froin the fcit, fod in tbt giirdcn he had rnliivatcd. (^ '" Ati9rthPM»9Mn» Cuthhert Or««t. th« conuMAdf r o# . the North Weet fbitet, oo the orcMiov, iDfonned th« ptnoii whoee life had h«en epiurcd, that he iptended t)t attack tha hit tfiat hisbtf) ta4 in CiM he met with tha elighteei reai|ii> •|Ke, that « fen^ral OMMfvere thoold toeoe. ** Yoo m%, taid hei ** f^ fiftff 9)Mri#r ^w IwrciAoipN jroa, and naw if ^ijf t* farther rf fist^nce ip Ouidf, neither omb, wontan, nof child ** eball. be •|NU«d.'* The pf reon I91 who^ thi^ wni addr«f^ — iU .1. .. . I I I. .1" U .. ^ li ' ' ' I... ' ■ I ' .. • [ (*) The perapn mfto bant bM» w^i beck by GoTwrDor 8«m|>l« for tha eanoon, did ant retorn with it. Shortly after be left (he fort with it, be heard ibe firing, which was toqn succeed by perfect qoiet. Coneeiring therefore, that all mctt be over, he desired a pf mon who bad joined bin at ao anittent, to eoav^r it bacic to tli* fort. He then aiovfd eaatioidiT forw^rits, to ascertain the fatal result, which lii< fean had led him toap* pcehend, '^aklnn^ eare to k«ep:80 ntar the fort as to be able to save bin** wif by flif(ht. He observed (he hones feeding, their rMer» having dis« mbantnd ; and saw some of >|ie men amoigst t)ie biishes and grass at a 4^rf#l«Bfi tiyh|i|,eal)9i)!:Wltto hirn, « >^nf gorfwor wrant* yiio,»»^«« voqt ' <* you come and speak to your goT«rnor V When Gliding i hp not in* oifned to approaeh nearer, Mrieral guns were flred at him, and a ball paf> aei fliio' bif t)K^^^ Notwitbsta^ng k^if wqand, liR had utiii strwigtb t% aanjo the tisrt, which be reached and lay there until the next mooing, iaiiaa.it.was d»liwretdi|» ta«iM ^g|Mda«% whonceivad iteabelMitf If- , flie Morth West Company. rated fVi Milder oi beptraoii tack tin *m if 4I1X nof chiM ■ < ipUi for th« iritb it, ba ConceWtof Joined bioi eaatioulljr bim to »f > M?e bini* b«Tins dif« I grass at a »-:-« voat IqB not in* A ball pas* (trangtiitf t m^rniuf, ■ bihilf If III, AilM If ttieft «Wi ri)» MtMitdrtoViiig tfM |^ ihililMk M ehiMnki } and tumiag to Fras«r, anolhair df UMi^ o1k»ltt» Intrcatad bioi to ukt pity npoll tba poor ^omeii,, ilk tbd iumt of hik daceaicd father, «krboM comtry-womia tik&f wart. Aftei aomedaliberatioo, Grant said, that if th«y da* • tivacad all that ha called the pablie propatty, he would iUo# Iham to depart in peAca t and winld give them a eafii e«k tort, wtil they had pitted the i46rth Waet doalkpaay*a tract in Lake Winipag, at the aama time bhaerving that' each •n cKort #onId be neceseary to protect the tetUere frmol two other auxiliary partiee of balf-breedir that Were nioinen- tarily expected to conie up the river. One of these parties« ii Grant stated, was eoninianded by Mr. William Shaw^ ind the other by Smijon McOiiUvray, ion of the Hon. Wm* ' llcGiljivray. (♦) The prisoner, at Bis own earnest sblii^itations and npoa (lis solemn promises to delivrer himself again into the bands bf his keepers, and after bearing that he was to be put to leatb by the molt cruel tortures, if hi forfeited bis engafe* jnent^ was at length permitted to visit the fort, and to nsa P « hit (*) tt has be«n lugt^ested as posnible, tiiat Mr. Grant ntigbt b« mis* taken In the decree of relationsbip subiiittiag between tbese twtf person^ and that this Siitaoo instead of being the son, might be only the nepheW ti the person mentioned as htft father. If howrver, Mr. Rrant be in e# jror, we are not saSIciently tersad in « lt<)is brula" §ea«al«g|r to < Us mistake. In i i; tn«1 ■i! l^i mdtvwm to prtvaU vpon alltiM wttkn It MtrtBldr tbMMtlv^ tninMli«Ul||« M Ibtir Mly ne«M •( MMpiBg • giniral tUngbitr, Thi priioMr ttiMi wtnt to fort Dougjait wbvra nuny of tht colooUti hud taken rafof* » ud when a mom of diitrtit was presented to hit view, eneb ai he declared himeclf na* cqoai to describe. The witee, children, and relatives of the slain, were there collected, monruing for the dead, ^pair- iftg for the living, and in agonies of horror, ench as can bo expressed by no language, nor even imaged, bnt by the nunds ot those on whom the Almighty has permitted an equal vi- sitation. Kor was deMh itMlf the eevmst iofitction they fiad't)eed induced to dread. Alexander McDonnell had encouraged bis men to expect more than plunder, as the reward of con* quest ; and had promised them the gratification of their bra-* tal desires with tiie derives and daughters of the settlers, as a further incitement. The fort did not contain a much greater nUmb^r of meiy' than those who had been already killed or taken. Could it, therefore, be doubted that th«*y would accept of eecnrity on almost any ternie ? A few visits between the fort and the head quarters of Cnthbert Grant, ensbted the prisoner to ar* ^ range 1 . 1 ■ { «f 1 i«a|» tiM t»nM of MrrMkkr. Foit DM||tfii Ibt bahil#i tioMif Um MttUn, nd ibt proptrty wtrt |^fM op, m4 « kind of copitoUtion wnf Mgnod by tha comiiMador of tbif , dttaehuMot of the NorUi ^Mli foKot, ia tho followiDgiorU ; - # " Rociif «d on aeitoarit of Uio North Wott Cqnpony, hj^ ^ m»f Cathbert tirant, Clerk for Ihe North Weil Codipwuy,^ ^ octibg for tbo Korth West Company ." The protactioni given by the Mme enmouuidert were iii. the following furm ! ^ ■ Behaved hono >no> « line it to ceitify, tW — '* rably toWarda the North WesV Company." ; (Signed]! *« CUTHBERT GRANT, ** Clerk to thk North We»t Company." It would seem frbni these protectioos^ that Conduct meet^ ihg the approbation of the North West Company, constittt^ ted the only title (o security in those coQntries. Abd it can •farcely be supposed that aiiy course of action, however jdstifiable, could obtain tbeir approbation, unless it were in allegiance to their lovereignty and in ^conformity to thei^ itn treses; The precise mode in which the (le stniction of the colony iras to he effected, cosld not have been fotefteen by McDon< bell, INI <■ i.ii 'f,'i tiiij .1 .' r 'I: ?;;■ J ! I' ' IV' if • ' (, t Mi, ttof foold Im htixt tkpected that bit objeet Woold ImW iecn to speedily ■ccompliibed. The inttnietiont which be gave when he tent off the de* taehment unde^ Grant, from Portage des Prairies, were adap* iedforamore protracted warfare. According to a tela* tion given by ode of the persons concerned in tbe musgacre, r . • ' I #bo it now in prison in Montreal, McDonnell's plan was first to make as many of the colonists prisoners as possible, and no difficalty eould be apprehended in taking all, except thsise who might obtain r«foge in the fort ; to encoinpast the furf •Iter tbit ^iboald be dune, and to shoot every person who'^ •boald leave it, either to procure water from the river, or to obtain food, or tor any other purpose. As McDonnell had taken the whole stock of provisions that were going down from Qui Appelle to the settlement, it was not imagined that the furt coa!d rceist for any length df tiiAe. Tbe pri« ionert first taken, were to be sent to McDonnell, at Pi>rtag< des Prairies, where they were to remain in his custo *y ua> til the murder of all who shouIJ veiture out of the fort, and tbe want of means of tubsisteece should have thrown tbe torvivort at discretion into the bands of.the be^iegeri , afte^r which the ultimate destination of the prisoners watt to be de4^ termined on. But this plan of McDonnell, like other plan< ^or the regulation of military dperatiohs, wai not to super* cede tbe exercise of a judicioos ciisciction o^i tbe part of h# commanding n»«n off the df were adap* to a tela* I massacre^ an was iirsC ibie, and no xept those ast the f(irt lerson who river, or tai >onDell had ;oing down ' ; imagined The pri* at Vitiagi usto 'y ttn> e fort, and brown tbo gers , aftefr » to b sacre, to arquaint McDonnell with the success of hia detaclir meot. The intelligence was given to McDonnell, in the presence of Seraphin Lamar, and two or three others. Tba cxtravagacre uf their exnltation, upon bearing it, exceeded dcbcription ; they shouted ^with joy ; and McDonnell him* self rushed amongst his men with frantic delight, shaking t) em by the band, and exclaiming, ** Sacru nom du'un Dieu t Vingt deux des Anglais de ttt63." Perfect truth would have allowed bim to have stated one less than " vingt'deux," but yre are not surprised that he added one to the amount of the sacrifice. On the other hand, we are rather astonished* tfaftt the e;|cei9 of hie fatisfactipa ifodn/cfii up greater cxag- Il^ratioa 6 !■',:? si i I ■( i^W t I'll I i«o 1 ml m mi: r u II: ge r a t i o B of the nuubtr immolated. The men then enqdiN^ what Ion had been ettstained by Grant'a party ; and on b^ ing informed that one had been killed, a relation (tf the de- feased declared, that the colonists ought all to be pat to dieatb ; and McDeonell dispatthed a messenger to Grant, direeting him not to send any of them off, until he shoald ar* itVe and determine upon 'fiitore proceedings, f he p;ison6r, however, Whuse prayers had prevailed upon the murderers to &pare the survivors, still fearing from the menaces uttered, notwithstanding Grant's promised protection, that the men would be butchered, and the females violated, urged every entreaty to induce the captors to hast* en the departure of the colonists, whom they bad declared their determination to expel. But notwithstanding these en- ' treaties, the captives were not permitted to remove, until the Sheriff observed to Orant^ that it was evident McDon- nell intended to defraud him of the hcnor of the day ; and if McDonnell- arrived before the departure of the settltrs, be would claim all the glory of the conquest for himself. This lemark touched, as was intended, the pride of the murderer, amd he thereupon declared that he would keep his word, au(i that his pritoncrs should go at onc^. m^\' The wrctcl;ed colonists were in:medialsly embarked in * canoe^ and on b^ (tf thed*' be pot to to Grant, shonVd ar- railed upon aring front ) promised ihe females irs to bast* id declared g these en* love, until nt ]Vf cDon- ay ; and if lettltrs, be self. This murderer, word, au4 ' mbarked io •V canoe^ I, to tile number, including men, women and ebildren, ^ nearly two hnodred souls, with srarce pr jvistoaa tor M third part of their journey to Iludsoa's Bay. Bat to ttieui #oy escape from rutlile at the mo* ment, to whatever other evilf it ;.bould expose them. \yben, therefore, McD)nneU arrived froiQ PortagQ des. Prairies, with t^e plui^der which had been previously tikea, be had to suffer the disappoiiitineiit of Hadi-ig his pre/ de- parted ; ^ disappoint aeut wbicb^ it m>iy be presua^eiJ, was tomewhat lessened by the speedy appeirince of a fello4» Esquire, a partner of the hjuae of Nlq lavish, McGillivrays, & Co ^nd a Justice of the Peace for tbe Indian Territories, who reached Red River not far from the samd Uix^^t at tbc^ bead of about a hundred men, completely armad. This ^Iagistrate for the Indian territories, instead of ex* pressing regret for the slrtnghter of bis country men, and in* stead of taking measnires far securing and punisfiing tbe des- troyers of the colpny, as his duty required, aaaie a speech to them, expressive of his gratitude and thanks for their ser* vjces. This speech, which we give, not so much with « yiew of displaying the eloqueace of tbe North Western ora- Q. . tor. :|; 1 '' ]; '.'■Ui i • ;l;( 1 i ■, i s i h V.l •'it tital M ■ li-. t t •:.'. ^i , 1 i!' 1 11. ill ■■.; [■ ),: • '■■ HI ,. ^:;>' (nr, •! of showing the light U wbirh tbe'r atrocUies, immM diately after, thtoircomiuissicn, were viewed l>y a North \Vet| pt^rtner and Justice, was, accoiding to the confession of on* of the m'arderen, in the following words : ** Mes parens 1 ** mcfl pureils ! qui jmis ont 80ul»g6 dans le hcfsoin ! j'ui. ap« ** port6 de quoi vous jln^ler. Je croyois tronver one qua* " ranfaine de 'vous aatret ici «vec Moosr. McDonnell, maiA '* vous dies plus. J^'ai quarante habillements, mais ceox ** qui en ont le plus besom, prendront ceux 1^. Les autret,. ** k I'arriv^e des eunots cet autonwe, seront habillSs pareille* ** ment." — ** My relations ! my fellow beings ! who hava *' given us succour In our Leed I I have brought you clotb- " ing. I (bought I should have found about forty of you ** here with Mti McDonnell, but your number is greater. I ^'have forty suits, such as have most occasion for thent ** will take these. The others, when the canoes arrive in ** the fall, shall be clothed in like manner." These suits with, the portion they had received of the spoils taken before, and the Red River plunder, might have been supposed an ample compensation for their iniquities without a promise of further recompence. But the encou* ragers of crime often find it difHrult to satisfy the cupidityM of their agents. These suits were an extra dor atinn, and amongst the equally deserving, prudence leqoired that alt tbould be placed on an equal footing, Th< I, imtam srtb West ion of oM s parens 1 II ! j'tti, ap« one qua* nell, main OQMA ceox ,es autresa !8 pareille* who bavfl you rloth- rly of yott greater. I for thent arrive in ved of the night have iniquitiet the enrou* le cupidity atinn, and id that all TM 't\n eon^uet of tba Magistrate on thi« oedasion witi, h(h^ #ver, excite less surprise, when it is anlerstodd that the dec- (ruction or exp-jlsion uf ths Cobay has been stated as one of |be gr«at objscts of b\i journey, in the letters of soma who iccompanied biin, and who express fear^ of danger, in theif o^n words, fears, lest they ** should leave their bones in the (Country," in the attemjpt to execute tboSe plans of hostili* ty on which they had resolved'. It Was probtbly, with thesi fbtcntions, that some of the cannon, of which the sisttlem«nt fiad been plundsre J the year before, wer6 carried by McLflo4 lUnohg hil military eq iociates, for had thesu five not been prevented from proceed* iag, they might not have been afterwt^ds heard of; hot bjr their detention, evidence has been eecnred^ which otherwisa Vrpold have b*-en deficient ; or would have been withMd no* til after so long a time had eldj^sed, as woald have enabled^ the guilty to have secoiJed tbe silence of others whose infor- ination has been equally important. Under these clrconi* stances, it would require no unnsual strecgth of faith to Mh tieve, that toe Nottb West Justice artedon ihb occasion, «i* der tbe influence of that mental blindness and imbecility^ with which the guilty are often visited by Providence to fd- cilitate tbe discovery tif c rime. Those five whom M'Leod had kept prisoners, were after va^ i-iuus delays, and some uf tbem after being put in irons, convey* ed lit Fort William. On their «i ay they sometimes, heard th6^ recent events discussed, and ojoe night wben^none of the/^ were probably supposed to be attending, a North West partner remarked to another, that tbe slaughter of Governor Semple ■■*'4 and [ J^5 I bad beei 'ritcbftrd^ MkhMl «d. B^i f bit tl. proeM»d* bat bjr thtrwisft ^l^M wii; ^Dabl«4 >Be infor- I cireoni* ith to hi" ibecilitjf^ ice to fi- aifter v# I, convey* leard tb6. of tb«m it partnet * Semplo and 'ikd fait p»o^lo wu ti ifty bold proceeding, Bn^ ikmit '«ODdttct might have been easily rcpreiented in sacli a modi t» to esrape censure, if they bad not sacrificed so manji Uvea* True, answered the other, bat it moj/ be »(di tiiat bt caooa l«t to Utack vk, and met bis fata. This Partner bas not Been mistaken : the allegattoa Haa itoen oMde } and the snpjkoners of Cotbbert Grant and bii asiociatet, have ewn ^rdtended to give the allcgatioacredH) liowever absurd it may kern to those who have kndw» Sempla^ and who know the adversaries ; to those wko coBf>> lid«r that the uVowed object of McDunoeil s expeditbn» tat which he had long been collecting forces, wae the destrue* tion of ttie colony ; to those uho consider that the number of tteh with Semple dia not amduht to thirty, while ihe nam- ifdr of their adversaries wu ne irly seventy ; tu those ^h» rd^ fleet that the adversaries wvre on borbcbtick, andcottld eaai* iy have eluded pursuit, while Seojple's party were on foot, and possessed no mvans of escape. Not far fom the timf, when these five persons reacbitd Fort VVilliami McLeod^ himself, arrived theie ; and a part of the murderer^ also came, bri' jiog a por^tun of the plunder that had been reser* ved for the North VVtst Coaipany, which aitcr being inspec* tjBi by one of the Partners of the Company, was deposited in the Tort. It ImU becQ observed by one of the Partoerfl, npon !■:- X^'' i'fi I III' t««l 1 i ■ 1 I 1 1 WpiUlk iMing tbe apiiroMh of tbe canoes lo the Fort, that, iff - tlMy brought good mws, F£l«a would be givan in cons»> qnanea. It eotold not ba presamad that tfaa raeeipt of tb^ pluodar and tba actonLplbbment of (ha event wbiefa tfad partnara bad bean to long laboring to produce^ wduld be con* . •idered aa other than fortunate occurrences ; and'according* fy, the plaeb btteame a acene of ft^etivity and Ivjoicitfg. Soaga of triuoJlph were dlso composed^ in cotnoiemoratron of et been forwarded from Fon Wilfiam. Me; I.aod soon after left tbe fort anew, to prolecute in othe#. ^Murtera the btaNsta of tnfe confer 11. \ * .^We have thus briefly narrated tbe second contu' nation of t|ie eorni^eie dvm^fcdl of the colony, mentioned in ibe lettef of Alexander McDonnell, aa an object of desire^ wiiatcvejr. tneans might be requisite for its acconsphabnaent. The coctei ts of tbis letter, or at least the c^jects it pro* ^)ses, could not have ^ten kepi a tecret from other men^ber# df ihe same co pannership, in ; and after producirg, at the expense of llbod and treasurer/ the first expuUion of tbe colonist?, Wtis again renewed wUlf s tDJoith formidably fotccs cj on the re establishment of tbe co^' o-.-r/j:, kny^ t«yi ■H that, iff n cons»>> >t of th^ biebttti I be coil« , cording* fjoicidg. ration of Of theie^ im* Me^ in othe# oiatioD of th« lettef. tihatevei^ :ts it pro- meicberi by thein^ requisiW treaeurtir,' wed wUljf of the cot' Icny^ liny, and wai proiecntei wl(b nore winton otttragit, tii more barbarous cruelty. C(u> it be pnetended tbat aett M £reqaently repeated ; plans pursued &>r years witb such con* tiiiued and onreaiitted perseverance ; projects wbicb re^ur<* cd 10 mccb conabination, power, and uoanimity ; attempt!, S3 fall of labour, expeuce, and danger ; were &• unknawo, unautborisod^ and unaided operations of only two or tbree partners, and tbeir servants, out Qf a numerous and joint eoncern ? If the otbers bad disapproved, bow could these few have concealed th^ir conduct, or bo it coul4 tbey havtf es* caped the reprobation of their mDre virtuous associates I I|ow would they have dared to incur alone the enormous res* ponsibility ? And how, and why should tbey have supported the entii«expence, since they were not to receive the entire advantage, but could only obtain it for the common inter- est i The pretence uf such extreme ignoraace on the part of tbe other associates in the concern, would be too ooreaaona* ble to obtain belief ev3n from tbe msst proiound creduliiy of (be most unsuspecting benevoleiice. ** Tha things unseen dj> not always' deceive us." — The circumstances we have been disclojipg, *' have tooconjuntly met," to be consider- ed accidental, evsn if tbe eviJence c( participation which is established by a vast variety of circumstances, from the ^rst dsclaratioQS of hostility, down to.tbe last distribution Xt^ -f^wardS} had been wholly deQcie&t. Ero:a combinatioa only m m 'I 11 ' il'' ^il :ii!i i [Iff I uiy* could th* ostensible perpetrators of tbe criniN li^fl wiekltfd ihe nicesstiry furce : by geitcral ap^robntitNi uiilyi^^ isoiild they have be^ induced to incur sueli eBrrniicy of gHilt ; by conce. t only QouVi tbeir operatious h^ve b^so eo4«. tinned ibrougb toccesKiive years. m ^: In what estimation oright those supporters of tha North West Company to be held, who ha^e had th« hardy dAXy toad* irance» that the ^lood of tbeir fell.iw subjects in which the Con»« panjT.have steeped themselves, was shed, only in unexpee* ted collisions andunpremedit^ted ^encounters t Even if chap> rity could indnse tbesupposiiiun, that those who advance this opinion were ignorant ol the circunistances preceding the mar^ ders, the circumstances which followed, would hare b«ien alonf tafficiect, if tb^se persons had exercised reflection, to hava. convinced them, that such as opinion could t.ot be just. If there bad been no premeditation, would tbe exputbion of tha larviviog colonists have been the anifor:n result of the mnr* der of their friends f Would not the vengeance of the vie* tors, if it had arisen fran\ the impulse *f sudden irritaUoQ, have been satis^ed that their antagonists had paid by thf sacrifice of tbeir llvea £>r their temerity in offending them | Would not some y( t lingering reoiains of humanity havf induced them to show forbadrance to the innocent survivor^ >iith a view to soften^ in some degree, the. wrotcLedoess to, Vhi^^. amy of North lly toad*, the Cora* unexpee- BO if cbii- ranc^ thiii ^themar^ )^n ulon^ to hav* )uit. If on of the the mar*- the vie- rritalioOy id by tb^ ng them I lily have urvivom, itdpen tja, igl^ifMI* •Ung^ter of pwMta, buebaodi aod friends had |ti|- jlaeedthemr \ t>7li*Npportir« of lb* Noith Weet ComjHMiy have eomplain* •defthaeniiftty of giviog pvblicily to vnpatations of crii^i hifire goilt wae fiilly estcMisbed : add have alHedgcd. that tbo bigbeitininiaten of joatiee, and notthf pabliCviure.ibe proper UibonaUJ»efore which erimiiurli abould be acci|ied. To tbi» iV may be ^ Mewered, that if the ebarget were not firit made |MbwB to the pttblie, the power and influewife of the Company would prevent their ever being mttde known to Courts ; and it may also be added, that the friends and associates of murderers have already appealed to the public : and it would, therefore be strange, indeed, Were the frieoda o^ justice condemned to ^lenee. That Courts of Justice are the only proper tribunals before which criminals should be accused, is a position which if just as a general rqle, could by no means be consistent with- ^afe^y as an universal maxim. We know there are various circumstances in which crimes of a comparatively private na> tore, cannot be disclosed without danger of injuiy to the ac- cused, from public and unfavorable prepossessions* These are eases in which the truth may be readily discovered, where the witnesses are at band, and where Ihs ordinary , 90Mrs9 of judicial proceedings is sufficient for the ends of jus^ 1= "l H ! 1^ ll«i, Alid Um eooiinoD MfttTi witbott tfct aM o^ titeiiM , . ' ' ' ■ • ■■■' • • ».' •uiboruy. "^ bat othtr «{reiiiaMMie«f may aiila of. mora patta) aiA momtntuttf concern ; eriaiM nay b« comroitMd of moN tii* taniiva ioflutnee, and of dttiMr dyo, io whoM rapifttiosy and punUhflMot, tba pnblie Iwa o vito^ iataiast ; caan wamf occur in which. tb« itrcana of jaatica eanaofr flow wiUmniI contamination, anleut^ atiistaaca of a superiotaoding powi* or be interpowd to facilitata the aathority of cowrtt is tl|it prodoctiun of pronfe. Sncb oitaca iiit act of the British ParliaiiMiit* on the MibJMi'i, which was pas<«>l iu the year 1819 } and dhp^aspdwita' some reg;iiIuiionfiJn force, with respect to other colonies, in order to fa» cilitute tue euiiigratiou of colonists to the Hudhou's Bay Xenttonea* •«1 Illpa tfi^ nammi wka Mie^tM* aad twin loHM with lh% 1 • • • . ' ' ■ .. , .- . ■ .. , ■ » 1 < , lybilt tht North Weil CoipiMny pottm in th« iaterior |i)0 power which tbcy have lung •xereited, that power is iaflteient lo keep back thoto agent* and accomplices of crime^ whom the working! of remorie, the hope of pardon, or tba de^of repoiiittg wrongs, might induce to give their testi* niony. It is by the interference of higher anthority ntone, • . . •■ •■".'' . I ■ •»■-•. . that tbe aserciae -of this power pan be prevented, the I'.ght of tnrtb obtained, and the interests of the community preserved* ^ithottt this iiiterferencep tba bare formalities of a trial flight be gone throvgh, the semblance of an equal acimiais- tratioo of the laws might be kept' up ; but the reality would li#va vanished, and it woyld be a mockery of justice. K&niieroni, however, are the obaiacles which oppose the sois cetsfttl interposition even of hi|;her authority on ihis occasibn. To the unctintroled pdwer which the North West Companjf have for some time usurped in tiie interior, and which whild it is permitted to continue, must rendvf eve^y endeavour to obtain justice^ nearly, if not altogether inefficacious, is to ba 4dded the influence of the numerous connecttoos and depend dents of the Company in this country ; an influence which if , nxerted through d:frereni classes of sorii>ty with diltempered 4^tivity; To this is also uniied the weight ftnd authority ct R fi their Lil It "1 f i Kit ' ■ ^i' Cfietr eonbexums on fte bench/ and ^ their iisociatd in bll Majesty's Couccils in this Provnee, where it may with trvth he said, that during some admimstrationa they have rendered the Government inadvertently subservient to their policy. But altbo' these are obstacles that, may retard for a lime, they cannot under a British Sovereignty, uHimately prevent the pth nisbment of cr^me or the establishment of right t They shonld be considered as incitements to exertion, not as cauf es of dei- {^ondence ; and in the performance of a pious obligation, of ft duty sacred to the aches of the dead, the spirit of jostice and th^ seal of humanity should rise in vigor and in energy, an- til they become proportionate to the difficulties with which they have to contend. Few indeed are the instances in which the voice of complaint has been allowed to pass un- heeded in the mother country, altho* on objects of far infe- rior moment. And the establithed honor and humanity .-of the nation, are our security tiiat an appeal on the present oc- e to a stieDgtt Ijfyood their powar to dtstroj. The Blow wa» speedily struclc, "■ •■■■] />l :. rosTscai^, !'■; IP .li ' f'l 1 JHn:; 'H'- nil ■m m POSTSCRIPT. » I.- •MMMiltMM H. 'Ml UMCROUS falsehoods h«ye been invented, and in* djuiriously propagated against the Earl of Selkirk in relatioii t^ his proceedings at Fort Willts^m. The North West Coi^* |»^y di^eading with great reason the ei(;posnre and ponisb- ment which his discoveries and exertions might produce, fa^ve had recourse to the most unfoi^nded calamnies. \ complete and satisfaccory exposition of facts may be expect* «d from the able pen of Lord Selkirk, as soon as be is awart of the various and groundless aspersions that have been cast uJ)on him. But as this cannot be the case for some time, it is hoped that a cursory notice of the transactions which have occurred at Fort William, will not be deemed superfluous ; altho* it did not fall Within the scope of our original intend tion, end altho' it is in some measure anticipating the more perfect relation that may soon be expected to be lilid before the public. As ours will be confined only to a general view, |t cannot tend in any degree to lessen the novelty or interest B m ■m ■ ^iia^ I : of II ,< i' iii [ 136 J c# the more minute and detailed account |a be expected froa| t «w>Umi'''4bm< imiMutfMhc There are two prinr'pal offences laid to bis' Lordsbip't cbdrge, viz. 1 st. T^at bie conduct in taking poeseeeion of Fort William wias iU<>gal and unjuaiifiable. Ai^d 2d. That Ise endeavoured to defraud the Nortb West Company of pro» . perty to an immense amount, by compelling Dahitl McKen-, xie, one of the Partners, to sell it to him for the paltry 80a| \ ' - ' •f fifty guineas. Theee are usqaestionably serious ebarges^ mr «re they the only ones : but these are tbe most hnpor" , tant ; and the minor accusations are such as exist only iv d^ndence upon, or in connexion with the t^« we bavt nentinned. By showing, . therefore, that these two are des* tifate of foundation, the imputations of inferior weight art deprived of support, and shown to be unworthy ol credit. * Let us^ fir£t, consider tbe causes vihiqh produced the occtt* pation of Fort Wil}iam. The Earl left Montreal about tbe mid« die of June, 181^, and was proceeding to the settlement at Red River, uf which he was the founder, with about a hundred in- dividuali, wborn he intended to establibh as colonists there. TlJe greater numl:^r of these wexe persons who badi leenfor*'^ , inerlyinHi^ Maj^est^'sservice, in theDe Meuron Regiment ; and who upon being discbar^^cd at the clo^e of the wari^ i[yjLchie% e^Je^^ciP^lomeni, accipled^K^tlj readiness th^^ , , « /* ^ - ' ?Fporiui^itt. I larl jRpportttnity that was qflwrecl of becoming useful ee^Iere ia^ iBaanti;y where the liioda wer^ alreitdy cleAred by naturti^ This wai anadvanUge they cooM find nowhere else, an4' wuuld enable them to exert their industry imoMdiately is Che enltivation of the soil, ^a eiQploytneot they had already flxereiaed and for which they were better qualified, than fof -' the felling and burning of forests ; a species of labour U^ which they had never been accustomed, but tQ wbien thejfr,L^ would have been reduced, if they had i)ecome settlers in hif Majesty's other colanies. These men were selected with great care out of the most sober, orderly, and industrioot pei^ Bons in the corpS; by Captains D'Orseunons and Matthey* two gentlemen of unouestioaable character, formerly of the same Regiment, who rejected all applications of persons on whose good conduct they had not been taught to rely. froA former experience. < i I .1:J !■; When his Lordship arrived at St. Mary's falls, near Lak^ Superior, he received the first intelligence of the massacre and destruction of the Colony, and the information tliat some ci its inhabitants as prisonerr and a part of its property, had been conveyed to Fort Williaqai. '^his Fort is nut situated ' in the Indian Territories, but near the extreme limits of the| province of Upper Canada, on the North Side cf Lake Supe- rior at a little distance from the Lake, and far removed from §ny civilised establbbments. His Lordbbip, therefore, as pm« ^ denc« *r m ii u Mi ■ I- [ml dMce required, determined to deviate for a time froin h^ intended roote, and having previously but nnsnceeMfally en* deavound to prevail on some otber qiagittratea in Upper Canada to accompany him, directed his course to Fort Wil* liaoi. After his arrival in the vicinity of that place, affida- vit* were made before him as a Magistrate for the country* which disclosed such circumstances of conspiracy and parti* cipation on thtvpart of the partners, there in the tieasonabla crimes that had been committed at Red River, as rendered it his duty to issue warrants for their apprehension. War* rants were aicordingly issued, first for the arrest of William) McGillivray the principal in the concern, and next tor the arrest of the other partners. From the CTCumstance of Mr* McGillivray's being arrested singly, the other partners did not probably apprehend that warrants were issued against themselves also ; and consequently no regular plan of resis* tance was yet formed, when the persors appointed peace offi* cert returned with authority for taking the other partners into custody. But while the peace officers were proceeding anew to the execution of their duty, an attelcpt was made to drive them out of the Fort, and to close the gates upon them. A*8ignal was therefore made to a number of his Lordship's men, who had been directed to be at hand and to render as> eistance to the peace ofGoers in case opposition should be atteqipted. ThesA mf, .1 * vtnliiii ally f n* '- I Upiier art WiVi'p , affida* countoyf id parti* asooablft rendered I. W^» WilUant t lor the e of Mu tuers did 1 agaiost of reiiiA leare cffi> partners roceeding i made to on them, ^rdsbip'Q render as- should be Thes^ C lit I' These men instantly came forward in arms to support the vxecttuon of the warrants, and by their ioiiiiediate appear- ance and laudably resolute conduct, prevented the servants:,, of the Company from coatiouing the resistance which had been began. Several of the Partners arrested, after some examination had taken place, were very improvidently and incaatiously allowed by their own desire, to return to past the night at their rooms in the Fort, under the custody of a few men wbo bad been appointed their keepers. His Lord- ship and his intended colonists «ere encamped in the open ground at a little distance fiom the Fort. Daring the night, the partners who were permitted to Ijdge in the Fji t were busily employed in selecting and comoiit ing to the flames a ^reat variety of papers, their keepeis mt being piobably < aware of the importance of preventing such a step. A w«tnt •f judgment to be much lamented, if the importance of these papers in throwing light upon the conspiracy against ^be colonists, could be estiinited by tbe evidence contained in those which eKa(«d the hasty examination of the partiiers, '■ ' ' ' ' Early the following morning bis Lordehip was made ae« quaidted with this circumstance^ and at tbe same time re- ceived information of a danger to which, after tbe due esecih tioH of tbe warranti against the partners, he could scarcely have conceived himself expos^id. The information received S 2 was !i i I i i4# 1 W rh<< m W' '' 1 p! ■ 1^' ifnl ' iff- 'ill ! ' M W '■ K ;'■. '■ • M' ' x '4"i v-\ '• jt(v', < ;1 . ' ' K|: ill'i':. i I'., #ti^ tliat cfiraetiovt were given, and penont were empfoy* «d daring the night to foad aikd remove a great number of ilre arms and a farge qaantity of ammaaitton from th« ar« mory or pface of deposit approprialted for them in the Fort^ and to conceal them in varion» pfacee as well within at with- out the Fort, for the pnrp'nie of employing tnem in'^the mar- der oif hit Lordship and hie people and the rescue of those who bad bee A apprehended. One of the iufcnrmantSy Imir •stated under oath, that being- awakened in the'^ night, he was alarmed by the steps of perkons moving to and fro at ah unusual hou^j and fearing that tome evil design was in agitation, he had risen ar.d had gone cautir'UsIy for- ward without being diafovered, until he was near enough to bear their conversation, fVom which he gathered that they were employed iii prieparlngand concealing arms. The eoiiclud- ing'remark of on£i of them being,*' les bourgeois qui nous font ** cacher ees armes, ont encore on mauvais des'sein k ** fftire, et c'eetnous qui en patrons." On /the same morn- ing similar and more ample communicatibni wei'e madef by others. ' ' liis Lordship immediately issued warrants to search for the ^rmi that had been hidden. Eighty of the guns remov* ed doling the night, were discovered in a hay-loft, of whicbr fdrty were loaded, primed, and ready for action. A gireai employ* notwr «f t tht; *r>^' he ForV at with- ihe mar* of those (irmantiy in the' ig to and it design Dsly for- n of the Noith West. A Fortvrhoie poticMiooccoM iMve enabled tha Com|NUiy to have kepi back all evidence of their crinte, and which if bia Lordahip had cot continued to boM, would have again become a place of refuge and of onion lotbeir bandiiand the head-quarteri from whence ceworderi for HMlrder and devastation would have issued. Tbe oecii* ftation of Fort William will be found to have been, not mere* ]/ a justifiable aiet, but a public service { and uader tbe cir> cumstances in which his Lordship found the Fcr(, he might tavebeen considered as justly reprebensible, if he replaced i| in the hands of unauthorized Eubjects before tbe pleasure of I, gpvernment should be made known. He inust be considers ad as bound to deliver i: into the bands of ^ovtrnnient i ciy y and the government cahnot wiUunit a culpable tiPt^leci ( f du^ t]r, refrain from taking it into its own poseession, or destroy* ing it. Heretofore thoee who in tbe extcution oUbe lawstb* . taincd posseksior: of such 8trong*bolds as served for tbe retrea| of banditti or nxurcercrs, were considered tobave rendered a oalional service, and were rewarded with public gratitude and thanks. His Lordship must be esteemed to have contribut- ad to tbe public welfare by tbe assistance he has rendered id thd disclosuia of atrocieus crimes aud in the ex|;cscre of a dargcrcus :1. ; I 143 1 dangorous, extrativc, uid conplieaUd tytttm of tfnuaf ■ad oppretiioD, such as no otbor government ovtr wdkn4 to subsist. ' Ilaving thus shewn ^he conduct of hit Lordfhjp to be no| Dnly just'fiable but meritorione on the eub^ect of the first af* Cusation against him ; «c proceed $o the second, vis. This charge of having compelled Daniel McKensie, one of t\m l^artners, to sell his Lordship the property of the Companf ftt Fort Wilham ; a pioperty probably of the value of fifty thousand pounds, fnr the paltry sum of fifty guineas. Per* |)aps any attempt to expose so barefaced a falsehood may bo looked upon as' a work of supererogation. Supposing his Lordship to have been totally regaidless of what was due to the fair fame of his ancestorsi absolutely indifferent to the claims of his exalted rank and to his own high personal re* . * " . ' ■ • putation in srciety, and willing to leave to bis deecendanta only the hope cf Eucceeding to honors degraded, and a name sullied by his misconduct : Supposing all tliis, — the con* duct imputed to his Lordship would still be incredible, becaus* he could not be ignorant that -such a sale would have been ■ ■■ ■ I ' ,'..'«,■ an absolute nullity, Daniel MrK<^nzie, in his statement of the transaction to which he was a party, has beeb guilty of the most infamous deception, in the donble mode of falsehood, the " suppres-? «Bio t f M» vtrtt" acd the ^MifgMtio Wti," ht ijipprfffM w^ .4U»«nd •dvAMM wb«t did pst ukc |»W«. H» •p*»k» unly •f • m/« of property of w^kb hit (jordtbip Mvtr tUitAr d«* " ; 111! lired or contemplated to bcfoue tbf purrhttMr ; of ettpilA* •MM, which like ntny iiieertKHi» in legnl iwtramente, coo* fliituted only • matter of form in tbo nrrangviuent that tool^ flare, and be conecali and sinks altogether the so|e #ad i^al ■bbstance and essential part of hit agreement I)aniel McKerzie was one of those itho appeared least fm* llicated in the conepirecy for the destnictioa of the colony. tJi» conduct in discovering the packet of which bis Lord* ihipV Messenger to Goverpor Semp!e had been robbed, and m making other importunt disclosures, appeared to evioct' at far as wttt in bis power^ a desire that the injuriee wbicb bad been inflicted should be repaired. Hit Lordship ha^^ never concealed his willingness to submit the differences' tTi of his agents or colonjsts, ahbo* tbey oc- caned cut of kis control, without his knowledge, without Ut participation, while be f|as many (lious^nd milet distant* provided the North West Conapany would pn their paitagrer fo compensate similar losses occaaiuoed by their servant! fhi^f hm mdw the immtdiat* control ond diraetiM of mm af ^krir own partneh* Tbis dttpoMtioo oo Um pan of iko Eort of Solkirk wot mon than oqaiuble i it wai fintrout. It waA kpoora to baoitl McKcnfio aa well ae othoie, before bia' Lordsbip left Uootreal ; aod Duniel McKeaaia was not coal- ftUei lo roakf, bot in eottaideratkm of ibe faimeieof eaeh a» irraogemeat, voluntarily niadc a written offer to bia Lord* ebip, tbat tbe property remaining in Fort William iboeld bo piaeed in tbe baUda of coneignece to await tbe award of ar* bitratora, en hie Lordship'a placing at tba diepooi'l w io coaaider vrhethec |h4| famnfoKd in framing tfaiaaogagement, nMre precisely aurh at would hata bean adopted by practical conveyaneen. Th<» tudi ifttolitionf And imrpose of the tramtctioiu were highly juit aind aqaitaUej aich at froutd render the allegation of fraud or wbleoet ridiallont, were even the character of the Earl of SeHttrfc ahknown, and were no periona at hand to establieb the falsehood x)f the imputation. The atrocious calumniet .contained in the tiatement of Daniel McKensrie, his stodied aopprMsioo of the truth, and hit intentional representatic^ of, falsehood, with his servile encomiums on those very partnert^ whose cf imes he had been before disclosing and affecting to la- ibi^nt, are circumstances eo far transcending the ordinary names of baseness, so far above the limits of our humble powers to rer probate a& they deserve, that washall nof make the attempt,' but leave bim to that by which he will uoi sOon be left — the cor^ ro!|iott of hit own conscience. Alike unfounded with the former accutatioas, are the allegations of others who advance, that bflcrt have been mad6 by hit Lordthip to compound the felo« niet ffk$» and nmrdftn bf the Compuiy . It wmdd be th« M^tbroC iQipf!Bdeiwe for any North Watt Partnar or Cooneallor to 4at* tar himaalf that hta Lordship aver harborad sveh an intaniMNi •r imagined that he posaeaied «ueh a right. li^JDold not ba Ibe desire of any man of integrity* and Car less of bis Lordfhin, tlAitsaeh criminals,-'* should walk the world in credit to theii graves." That some of the snbordinate agents of crioM, aoeb af those who yere deluded by the opinions of mambers of Coa»* cil to belfeve that it was lawful to incite the Indiana to axpa|: their countrymen, (or in other words to take op arms in snp^ port of the North Weai Company) might be fit objects of mer* cy, no one can doubt. But to suppose that the hour of retribn* tion will not arrive for others, whatever temporary obstacles tlieir influence may enable them to throw in the way of in* ^uiry, would be to doubt the antieut and characteristic virtue •f the nation from whence we spring, which has never allow- ed the blood of its people, however distant and savage the clime in which it has been shed, to call for expiation and tq call in vain. w nies From what has preceded, we believe it will appear, that •n every ground of imputed ofTence the conduct of the Earl of Selkirk may be justified. If, however, in the trying si- tuations in which he has been placed, the warmth of justly in* iignaot feelings fhonld have produced any temporary harsh* ill •f tfiidiiet inceetittetit with tbc mil<) baWt aod^el^Mra^' tor of 'tilt whole lif«« it would wt U snrpriuDg. Bat this,- •ttho' i» have been expccttd, Mfnif not to have occurrtd, an4 it may ba eonfidently proncwficed, that no tima Scotchman; < Aftd fear in the eooductof the Earl oi Selkirk, any dimiDntioB oftha hopor of thfirnphilityt or any ilcpartore from oationat inlegrity. It haa been aeserted that warrants have been issned by Justices of the Peu^e to arrest the L'arl, and to replace For( William in the bands of the North West Company ; we be* lieve the assertion ia founded in fact. Applicaticns were made to snnie of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench iq Upper Canada to grant authority for his arrest, but the evi* dence of criminality not being sufficient in their opinion Ui justify such a pnicevdiiig, they refused to adopt it. Soma Justices of the Peace in Upper Canada were in conseqence applied to, who, (it may be presumed from superior legal knowledge, or the stronger agency of North Western infli)? CDce,) were induced to issue the wariants their superiors ha4 jefused to grant, and also as it is asserted, to give authority to re-establish the Company in possession of the Fort. j(*) It • V" . , i f i ^ I ." . (*) It 18 averted, that ibe . warrants cbarge his Lordship with baviof ftlontotutg tflm amdearrM.awag the property 9/tke Compamg I to wit, t\» loaded arms, ainh«.aiiitioa, ■>' fj -viere, (ind informed Mr. McLellan of the arrest of the Part* t ■■•> ners at Fort William, and of his having ordered Keveny's guard to return. McLellan became uneasy at their delaying to arrive, but having seen Mr. Alexander McDonell, he comforted himself with conjecturing that Mi . Keveny was killed by the Indian. In a day or two more, as the Cana- 4lans and Indian were still absent, McL«llan's impatience . U for |I5«J ■i 'i ,! Iw btflligenee rcip«eting tlMiD|» beeamt tKentlv* i «Dd h$ Mt off ill a ranoir tp ponoit of thtm, at compan^d by Catlh bart Oraot, JoMph Cadotte, Serjeant Reinhard, aiid other^. amoi^trt whom were some boia bml^. After four da^a tht* vailing, tbej came ttp with the Indian Joseph. Tbejr totk, |iim into their canoe, and upon receivipg information froni kinif they renewed their course with redoubled axpeditioik Soma houra afterwards, tht two Canadiana were perceircd ippon the beach ; and a plaid cloak waa thrown about the In* dian to prevent their immediately recogoiiiog him. Having reached the shor^, Mel4ell8n enquired what ^fd become oC J^r, Kevcny ? The Canadians replied* that they had left him, and stated ' the difficulty they had bad to keep the Indian from murdeiing him. Upon haariiig thi|, McLellan sprang from hts canoe, gave them curses, abuse, and blows, and Struck one of them so severely on his arm with a paddle^ M, to deprive him of the use of it for some weeks ; while Ca- d9t,te in a rage asked, what business they bad to prevent tjie Indian from doing as he was ordered. They were then' directed to embark in McLellan's canoe which proceeded in ^uest of Mr.ICeveny. On arriving at the Island on which ho bajd been left, he was sought for in vain, and the anxiety and agitation of Mcliellan was extreme, lest he fhoold have found means to escape lo Hudson's Bay, or Fort William. The intention of puttipg bioB to death was openly declared, and tht; ^« naMM migM(l/#a, lh« lojary to bfe ftpprahtiritd fttNt iflt diacloium, aod hit ealerpriie if be wtre f offered to livt. After nkaeb time bad been lost in fruitleu learcb and eil> ^uiry, tliey at leogtb discovered bim near a family of Indians. Having again secured tbeir victim, McLellan gave orders tbat be sbould be placed ander tbe ebarge of Rienhard, a bois brule of tbe name of Mainville, awl the Wian Josepb, and put on board another canoe, which ha parchased for that purpose of the Indians. He then said to Reinbard, " we must itot kill him here amongst the savages* ** fve will wait for you at some distance, and when you find a ^* convenient place, yOn koow what you have to do." — Me- LelUn after this, set off in the ranoe with his party. In a khort space after, R«inhard, Mainville, and Joseph departed With their prisoner. After havitig gone On sometime in the tanoe, Mr. Keveny reijuested leave to stop on shore for a few minutes, which was granted. While be was on shore, Reinhard said to Mainville, '* we ar<^ now far enough dis* *' tant from the Indians, you may fire when he returns to " embark." The Indian Joseph was standng on the land, holding th^e canoe, Reinkard was also staudiog on the shore, and Mainville having prepared his fudil, kept himself at bis station on the wattfh. Just as the prisoner h:td returned to the water's edge, Mainvilh fired; the contents of his fusil U9 • fl4^1 ^'1 l\ V i„ tbrODi^h Mr. Keveby'i neck, and h« fell with hit ftui opoQ tbt CAOM. At he mode great effuru to tpeak and aj^ pearcd to be coiivuUed witli agony, of which the durationl seemed nncertain, Reinhaid sayt, that '* he thruit hie sword " twice thro' bis hack opposite the heart, to lermioate his ** sttfTeriogs." — The body was then stripped and thrown into the woodt. The mtHderers proceeded to join their aseoci* atcs who had stopped for them, and bad beard the firings Grant and Cadotte went forward to meet Reinhard before he came up tu McLellan, ard enijaireQ if Keveny was killed^ Heinhard answered in the aflSrmative ; upon which they tola him that McLellan had sent them to desire him to tkj, that Keveny was not killed. Reinhard then replied, " he is kil« ** led, and V will not conceal it, for it was done by hit *' orders."— After this^ McLellan probably thiuking any affectation on his part wonld be ridiculous, as well as use- . less, when lleinhard came into bis presence, desired him to' relate the particulais of the murder ; which were in conse- (juence given in detail, and when this relation was finished, ■Reinhard put into McLellan's hands the remainder of Keve- n^'s baggage and effects. McLellbn kept only the papers, which he passed tl e night in examining, burning some, and preserving others. The examination was not completed the jnext morning when the party vrere in readiness to proceed, b^t was continued in the cano? ; such papers as it was not; ^ considered' toMickred ftdvisablt to prcMrrt, btiag IbMMlik 'mt^ liiliti tritb stones, instead of being btirut. AaMmfit tho puptts ptl^ Mrved, vera some itistruetMns fr»m tb« Hodaon** Bajr Cfti» piuijr. Tbe/est %>( Ktvnf* offocts w«rt dutribvicd waonp tbfl party witb McLclUot wbom McLellvn congrnlul^d if* QB bttving got rid of • p«raon whooe lif(/ woald npt Imvo hMn compatible witb tbeir Mfety, or witb tlie interaet «f the North West Compauy, but wtoM discloiwiei tnd iofomui* tioQ would have ruined (hem, had be bnn Allowed, lo readl Fori William or Hodaon's Bay. ^^ n(» hi. • ., .\n .^« Sametime after these transactions, a Proclamation of bit tlxcellency Sir John Sherbrouke, forbidding all acts of vio* lence in the Indian 'territories fell into the hands of Stio jeant Reinhard ; be was also informed that the North West Company possessed no legal jurisdiction or rights in tha Cocihtry, as he hnJ been previously led to believe ; and tliat the conduct of t:^e North West Partners and tbeir ^ervantig in expeihng the Colony at lied River and murdering lite Governor nnd Colonists, might be considered as Treason. He therefore, as he himself stales, became bofror-strucic ac the enorm (y of the crimes in which be had been induced t» participate ; ah 1, ta relieve bis mind in same measnre (rdrst (h? weight of gait which oppressed it, he came voluntarily forward, and wrote and signnd, with bis own hand, an unpls dtposition of fa:U« fiom which the jt'rincipal piirtof the tar^- tf i>\ I tt*H m gpiill nMkm U takMi.«^R«tobanl'f lUteroiMt contahik iMlij •llMi f«eti» at dMjp iBMrttt mbkh amy ftt • proper t^uua hi Imi^kuomm Wt hftvt^rtiMiy tiated that wt did not rjpcef M tk# part of tb* North- Wcit Cdrnpanv* any aekoowlAdg* awnt of giiilt, but iNi cartalnly did auppoae, that nont ofiht' ••ppoHth of that Uootf-thlnty aaweiatiott wotoM hava eonit Ibnrard,, to daliihd tba long, tha iilveterat* and told Miood*^ clMMo,' ih arbkb tbo w^tebtd K«veay wa« brnited to ht& §imn I mott partkularly «■ H faenwd not to implicate botli •a principala and aeltaMariea, more than Hirea of tba Pari* nera with tbrck of tba^Clcrhiy ind sona of tba tervanta. In |hia Aopposion we htiii^ however been mistaken ; the support tera of the North West Company, with miods capacious o| 4aoda of blood and horror,— Lave endeavoured to defend it* Bnt notwithstanding such endeavours, w* believe that thii cup also will pasa away unto the evil doers, — and the right be established* I tt is bniversaily known in tbis codntiy, that tbe NoirtV West Company have long laboured to bring tlie Hudson'f Bay Company into contempt with the Indians, by represen^r ing them as a *'.baude de mouions," oi." flock of sheep^ who * possessed neither tlie courage nor the caparity to defend themselves. It is tree, that tiie Hudson's Bay' Companjr tre authorized' by tlieir Charter to levy and arm troops foi^ theii* ^elr deftnct, Md to appouit oiilittrf el^fiif ovtr t|M«^ Thb right tbejr bM« hitbcrto with |rMt lbrhMnuie<^ rt,. IraiMd from •xeretiing. It U liktwiM trot, that tht North W«it Coniwiiy wtthott tmy atttkorily wkMtftr, havo anitd •nd •inplu>«d their Mrvanti M militarj fofctt* , TuMt .who have beco braodod with ths luina of thcMk inight no^ legtiiry take forceAil and energetic meatu; ia la ' .|Daintaii^ tl^flir ai-tuu^ >ty :— But tbe flock will fiad a uMfia powerful, tbo' ^ore tar Jy snpport, in f!t» protection of tha -British Licq, which cannot nnder {urfteat circuoMtancM bt .lfUhtie)d frwp ibem without infan^. I •iS)^ BXTRACr .>" 1. %1 160 1 EXTRACT, ttiOU THE OPINIONS OF A. PIGOTT, R.SPANKIE| ^*' ^- ^' AND H.-BROUGIUM, ESQUIRES. ,v>,|iBrBaRKO TO IN pages: — 12, 15, l6f 17, 93 & 34. «Wi £ think that the Hudson's Bay Company and theif 4f 6hintee 'Lord Selkirk, have extended their Territorial **-' claims much further than the Charter will warrant, sup- * posing it tven free Trum all the objections to which we ** apprehend 'it is in other respects liable ; the words of the ** grant pnrsaibg the recital of the Petition of the Grantees, ** with a very trifling Variation that cannot affect the eon* ** struction of the insu'ument, are, of the sole trade and ccni- ** merce of all those * Seas, Streights, Bays, Rivers, Lakes, ** * Creeks and Sounds, in whatever Latitude they shall be ^ * vsitMn the entrance of the Streightt commonly called. Hud- ** * son's Streights ; togetheT with all the Lands and Terri* ,** * tories vpon the (countries *) Coasts and Confittes of thf •* * Seas, Bays, Lakes., Rivers, Creeks and Sounds aforesaid ^* ** that is, witbin the Streights, and those limits are frequent- ^' ly referred to throughout the Charter as the limits afore- **■ said. :m " Jfithin the streights, must mean such a proximity to the " streights • The word CoiiiKries by accidental transposiition In tlie Charier, has bi%(^)r nbifs^se, and ou|ht to have been iusKrttid between thn worda.' '^ Lands •-'" acd." ' " '' '. '' ' PW . ■ j. '• : ! 41 •treighU aa would give tbe Lands spoken of a tortofaffi" . 1 t nity or relation to Hudson's Streights, and not to lands ** commeRcing at the distance of 9U0 miles, and extending ** 2000 naiies therefiom — that is td say, of the Coasts a^:^ ** Confines of the Seas, &c. within the Streights ; such a ** boundary must be implied as is consistent with that view, ** and with the professed objects of a trading Company, iu- ** tending not to found KioE*!*"'!" ^^ establish States, but to ** carry on fisheries in ^hose waters, and to traffic for tba ** acquiution of Furs and Peltries, and the other articles *' mentioned m the Charter. The enormous extension of ** Land and Territory now claimed, appears therefor^ to us ■■''■-, •■{■ -^ i' :.■■ ,1- '■•■-•:' ■ . ■■ \ '.t-- , .-■ ^ :.■,'.', (.,.-■ ** not to be warrapted by any sound construction of the «• Chairter. ** Indeed there is sufficient reason to i^uppose that the ** .Territories in question or phrt of them» had been thin vi* ** sited, traded in, and in a certain degree occupied by the ** French Traders irom Canada, and their Beaver Company ** erected in l630, whose trade in Peltries were considera- *' bly prior to the date of the Charter ot the Hudson's Bay '* Company. 1 hese Territories therefore would be excepted ** out of the Grant ; and the Right of British Subjects in '* general, to visit and trade in those Regions would follow ** the national rights acquired by the king, by the Conquest '* and Cession of Canada, as enjoyed by the French Cmo,- ^ dUuns, previous to that Conquest and Cessien." IV ' ft !( »it OM, for utjcfamttve rM-'e«hium»h«, 40 il — they engag^t — they are gmgmgid* ' ^«.— U lor Jltu*t» \, : ;-- , J^''*^. .. ■■! 46 last line tA ttw Kote, for arfuqi fuifiut, imii iinim ^/keL 66 last line but one,fo( d^amerUt thU priter, read dbcfR^^ > . 0ftkUwfit0t>..... ..........VTi.Vj 81 last lim of tlws Note, f9r CapmIIm, read ^i^^th, , %S .line JMfM; hoi tun, read M«f Aacf. n Unr « f^lN^m read ii