IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 50 "'"== ^ m 1.4 2.5 Z2 ZO 1.6 150mm •7 J^ / ^c? ^. ^m. ^ - - - 4^ / o 7 /APPLIED ^ IIVMGE . Inc .1= 1653 East Main street .^= 1; Rochester, NY 14609 USA _^=r-= Phone: 716/482-0300 .^ST'.^SS Fax: 716/288-5989 © 1993. Applied Image. Inc.. All Rights Reserved # ,-\ i\ \ O CD >-« ^^ S- 5. s rr, S 1-^ S Cfq w !-♦■ ^ 5 o H a; & r* S- s- (a fD g-^ o S &P^ V) o QB •c 3 n IN t |> '/) 5' 3 00 3 3 00 IN Docu W (Copy.) M\ tive Coi legrapli of the 1 His Gri Extract Cc Cc Tl: the con the COD effectec the apf rights ( expedii Boundi Tl with til inexpe questic Centra of the 1 Documents relating to the opening up of the North- West Territories to settlement and cultivation. (Copy.) Quebec, \9th February, 1864. My Lord Duke, — I have the lionor to enclos'^ a Report of the Execu- tive Council on the proposals of the iVtlantic and Paciiic Transit and Te- Icgrapli Company, transmitted to me with Your Grace's despatch, No. 49, of the Islof May, 1863. I have, &c., His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &e., &c., &c. (Signed,) MONCK. Extract from a Report of a Committee of the Honorable the Executive Council, approved by His Excellency the Governor General in Council, (in the I8th February, 1864. The Committee are of opinion that in view of the recent change in the constitution and objects of the Hudson's Bay Company, which, from the correspondence laid before the House of Lords, appears to have been effected, and the claims which the new organization have reiterated with the apparent sanction of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, to territorial rights over a vast region not included in their original charter, it is highly expedient that steps be taken to settle definitely the North-Western Boundary of Canada. The Committee therefore recommend that correspondence be opened with the Imperial Government with a view to the adoption of some speedy, inexpensive and mutually satisfactory plan to determine this important question, and that the claim of Canada be asserted to all that portion of Central British America which can be shewn to have been in the possession of the French at the period of the Cession in 1763. Certified. WM. H. LEE, C. E. C. (Copy.) Canada, No. 33. My Lohd, Downing street, Ist July, 1864. the '^iZ'F'Ca^^^^^^^ 18 of your late Executive^Councron the'^^ble't °of T'''''\^ *'" ">^""'« «^ between Her Majesty's Governrnent and^S H„^ t he jjending negotiation Cession of the Rights of tha" Comnrnv n ?. u'' ? ^7 ^"'"Pany for the the Crown. ^ Company in the Hudson's Bay Territory to " view onL'rem chang^^^^^ ^'^^J " - ^^oP-ion that, in " Bay Company, whiehTom the cZellnr '°^ *?^J?*^!.' "^ '^« Hudson's '« Lords appears 7o have Teen pS T "'^^"''f '^'^ ^^<^"^« ^^e House of « organizat'lSn have rehemte^ with tt „L'"^ l''' '^"'"'^ .^^^^'^ ^^e new " Duke of Newcastle, trter,?toS r^f J^"*'"^ '^""''«" °^ "^^ G'^ce the « in their original carter it ?shLj 51 ' ""T ^ ''V' '"S*"" "°* ^"^^"ded " settle definig.,y the^S^rsteif lXfo?Utda^^^^^^ '^ ^^'^^ ^° » wil'hTh: i%""arGot;t:r^^^ ^e opened . " speedy, inexpensive, TnT^uuaTlfsa.Jf "^ '°, *'^" "^°P*'«" ^^ ««"^« - important question, and thaT^ claim SrS^'r '° ^"'"''"^'^^ ^^is « portion of Central British Arnerica wmI f '^ u^ ^^^'^^^ '« '^'J that " the possession of tL KencH the ^-^To^' '^^^^^ '-*''^" '"^ ''^^^ ^'"^ ^" the proposed cession shall tSke nln. ;f m?u°^ *'''' ^^"''«" ^'^ »763." If for t'he future governmen of thefc R J be necessary to make provision such parts of the TeSyl^^n^afLn^^'ihS'l'?-'^ of settled occupation and industi^.^ "^ ^"^ ^'"'^ ''^«°"^« ♦''« ««ats of dereJtt^tre'o^rBlm^ht^^^^^^^^^ administration of the HudsSn'sBav Pn^ ^ "^""""'^ ^''"^'^ areunderthe following terms :-» Your CommX? n ^^T' ^1^'^''^^ themselves in the « the jus? and reasonaWe w^sh^rofcanadL To he'* '' jf, T^"*^^^ ^« '"^^t « territory such potion of The land in Hp. n '• u,. u "^^''^'^ '° ^»"«^ to her "able tocher for^t?e plr^ol': orj^^^^^^^^^^^ .be avail- " trsnrofTorrdriratf ""^^^^^^ "^-^^ ^^ " Districts on the Red Tver S the S^^^"^-^''"'"'" apprehend that the « to be desired for early occupat on ^^f f,^'^^^^" «/« among those likely " peace and good order^of SXaj,* ^^o^TelCaiTZll ''^ :: fci^it^r^pS.^^^^^^^^^^^ ^z!kk£^I-^"^^^^ "authority of theUon'sB^Xpan^y^-S^^^^^^^^^ 3 64. )atch No. 18 of tlie minute of ng negotiation )mpany for the iy Territory to jpinion that, in ■ the Hudson's the House of i^hich the new His Grace the t not included s be talten to ice be opened ation of some etermine this ed to all that have been in in 1763." If ike provision 'spectively of the seats of ' 1867, consi- are under the selves in the ial to meet innex to her y be avail- le is willing fill provide 3nd that the those likely ee that the secured . n effecting ' Hudson's -'anada on to her the ely cease." Belore taking any further steps in the negotiations with the Company, I am desirous of being informed whether your advisers are prepared to assist in these negotiations, with a view of accepting the Government of any portion of the territory and undertaking the duties contemplated by the Committee, in case sulficiently favorable terms can be obtained. Ff they are prepared to do so, it will be desirable that they should send over to this country some person duly authorized to communicate with me upon the subject, in order that the negotiations may be proceeded with during the Recess, and the necessary measures prepared for obtaining the sanction of the Imperial Parliament and of the Legislature of Canada. If they are not prepared to assist in the negotiations, I shall be glad to hear from you their views upon the subject of the North- Western Boundarj- of Canada. 1 have, &c., (Signed) EDWARD CARDWELL. Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honorable the Executive Coun- cil, approved by His Excellency the Governor-General in Council, on the lllh of November, 1864. The Committee of Council have had under their consideration the Despatch of the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, of 1st July, 1864, in reply to your Excellency's Despatch of 19th February, 1864, transmitting Minute of Council on the subject of the pending negotiations between her Majesty's Government and the Hudson's Bay Company for the cession to tlu^ Crown of the rights of . that Company in the North- Western Territories. In the Minute of Council transmitted by your Excellency, the Govern- ment of Canada recommended that " Correspondence be opened with the " Imperial Government with a view to the adoption of some rpeedy, inex- " pensive, and mutually satisfactory plan " to " settle definitely the North- " Western boundary of Canada," and that " the claim of Canada be asserted " to all that portion of Central British America which can be shewn to " have been in the possession of the French at the period of the cession in « 1763." Mr. Cardwell, in acknowledging this minute, remarks, that «' if the Jhoposed cession shall take place, it will be necessary to make provision or the future government of the Red River Settlement, and prospectively of such parts of the territory as may from time to time become the seats of settled occupation and industry." He quotes from the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons of 1857, in which it is said : " Your Committee consider that it is essential to meet the just and reason- " able wishes of Canada to be enabled to annex to her territory such portion " of the land in her neighbourhood as may be available to her for the pur- " pose of settlement, with which lands she is Willifag to opteft and ihai6tr*h " sJ'Jr.""^"'"'"'"'''*' "PP''«'»"'' "'at the districts on the Red River and the Saska cheu-an are among those likely to be desired for ear v occunaMnn nW I^ 1 Kler -d-ii r'^^ •'"' g"^'^^'"'"^'"^ "<■ «"y Portion of ih? ter- pared so fo doj uj d ,• dl "ir^.^^^,^^^^^^ nnd he suggests that if pre- communieuie he views of , ' /v' ' i'*' •;'"" J'"''-*°" ''^''^ "uthori/ej to England for ti,at pm-pose. "" '--vernment should be .ent to portance of opening up to sh Lin .., ''"";,?•"'^"•"P7'-<,^''I with the im- into the terrtory render it do.fhiv' '"''j-''" 'T"'"' °^ "^^"^ Americans under the BritS'crowr« outdl ^'sSS ""'';' ^'^^^'""^-^ z 'ir c £„':sf liS?Sf -?- ^^^^^ s tecting rule of GreaTfiri^ain ^'*"" ""^ government under the pro- lans of local River and t lie y occupation. Imsc districts liicre will bo sly's Govern- I'icts may be di.stricl.s thus ipany would x by asking lose nogotla- m of tJK! lor- littec in case that il' prc- utliorizcd to I Ijc i^ent to be inibimcd with the im- h lying bc- tcnt of these d beyond a and capable civilization ind lespoct- umbia adds the Pacific, lie Atlantic y^one direct Columbia. ers and the Americans government at an early ess, by the idland and )ne govern- position of ! proposed ! people of v^er may at of British er the pro- erate with Territory Jr';":^'L:-:.t;,^\:;;;i;:!^.r,;;.'-i-''' - " n'-ui^a- • The Commitlee of Conncil arc however r lei iK- of .1. • • I 10 fir-l Mc.|, „nv.„l. ,l„. ,.,,l..„„,„l f "•! r ,'"rv iM „ ;,i;i;.',i"'"„f"' M Tf r 'n^'i'" '^11 ."^•^""r'""^ ''^^•^' '^een !)rought to a clo..e do g vc^nmen up of communication into the Territo.y'.C;"ll;; s^tCnt IJ the" cK^ The Committee express the hope that until the Government of Canadi has been communicated with, no cession ,.f large sec-lions on'nil win i^ made by the [mperial Government for anv purpose or ZighoT lav gi-anted through the Territory. The history of the American ('ontinenii^ replete with examples of the great evils resnltin" fmm ho 1 ^;"."""'-"^ '« Object js the realization of larije profits. The e\i*tene.- of «nr.li ..« , i • these Xorth-Western regions woLld serious!; embarass th "elb^ ^f aiv Government for the early and satisfactory seUiement of th. Country ^ .h^ /n suggesting that the negotiations wiih the Hudson's Bay Coinoanv Se" nxroriLmr' C "? °V'f ^T/^"^^ Government, the^'comm'^ te^ are anxious that Mr. Cardwell should not interpret this as arising from any diminuiioii of intercHl on the purl of Canada in the just unci speudv settle- mrnt cf Ihisgrca; quostion ; on the contrury the imblic ioterest in the ques- lipn ami llie desire foi the early oeeiipation of tlie Country, have of lute much ineriused, and the best proof of this is furnislied in the desire unani- niouHly exprcHsed by the re(!ent Conferenee of the Atlantic ProvinccM, for a polilieal union with the great WeHtern Territories. The Government •wdl observe liu' progress of tlie negotiations with profound interest and will most gladly conununieate with Mr. Caldwell on any point whieh he may deem i)roper to .submit to it. The Hon. the President of the Execu- tive Couiuilol Canada [Mr. Hrown] sails for p:ngland on the 16lh instant; he has given much attention to the Hudson's Bay (piestion, and will be able toeommunicate more fully to Mr. Cardwell the viewh" of the Govern- ment on the subject, of which he is fully possessed. Certified, WM. H. LEK, C E. C. To His Excellency thk Governor General ok Can.\ua in Council. Mv Lord, Quebecj 26tli January, 1806. I have the honour to report that while recently in England, in com- pliance with your Excellency's instructions, I placed myself in communi- cation with Her Majesity's Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of opening uj) to settlement the North- Western Territories. In your Excellency's Despatch of 19th January, 1861, to the Colonial Secretary, the anxious desire of the Canadian Government was communi- cated " lor some speedy, inexpensive and mutually satisfactory plan," for " settling detinilely the North-VVestern boundary of Canada," and the " claim of Canada was asserted to " all that portion of Central British " America, which can be shown to have been in the possession of the " French at the period of the cession in 1763." In reply to this Despatch, Mr. Cardwell on 1st July, 1864, reipiested to bo informed whether the Government of Canada was prepared to assist in negotiations with the Hudson's Bay Company, with the view of accepting any portion of the Territory now claimed by that Company, and providing the means of local administration therein ; and he suggested that if so prepared it would be desirable that some per- on duly authorized to coiumunicnte the views of the Carjadian Governm«'nt should be sent to England for that purpose. On the 11th November 1864, a minute of Council was approved by Your Excellency, in reply to Mr. Cardwell's Despatch. It set forth that the Government of Canada was ready and anxious to co-operate with the Imperial Government, in securing the early settlement of the North-West \y settle- llif ([ues- uf latu r(r unnni- inccH, for kfernnu-'nl in-Ht and PiXfcu- i iiiNtant ; will be ! Govern- -EK, C E. C. COUNCII.. , 1865. I, in coin- ioinmuni- L's, on the ! Colonial 3ommuni- pliin," for ' and the il British on of the rocnicsted i to assist ! view of pany, and suggested iuthorized be sent to proved by forth that ; with the forth-West Territories, and the CHtabli^hmont of local Government ia it» Bcltled |K)rti<>nH ; but that in its opinion the firnt step towards that end was the extinetioa of all eluiiii by the Hudson's Bay Company to proprietary rights in the soil or exclusive rights of trade. It suggested that it was for the Imperial Government, and not for the (iovernment of Canada to assume tlu; duty of bringing to an end a monopoly originating in an Knglish Charier, and exenused so long under Imperial sanctiem ; but that when tlio negotiations were brought to a close, the Goveriuiient of Cana«lii would be ready to arrange with the Imperial Governdien! for the annexation to Canada of such portions of the Territory as might be available for settle- ment, as well as for the (mciiing up of communications into the Territory and providing means of local administration. Or should the Imperial Government prefer lo erect the Territory into a Crown Colony, the Canadian Government would gladly co-operate m the opening up of commimieation into the Territory, and the settlement of the Country . 'i'lie minute linally suggested that the undtsrsigned whih; in England would conirrumicate more fully to Mr. Cardwell the views of the Canadian (Jovcirnnieiit. While in London I had the honour of several interviews with Mr. Cardwell, at which the whole question was fully discussed ; and I gratefully acknowledge the courtesy and attention extended to me by that gentleman. I found that negotiations for the cession to the Crown of the territorial claims of the Hudson's May Company had been proceeding for a year past between the Colonial Minister and the Company ; and it may not be without advantage iliat I should state here brielly the point to which these negotiations had been brought. I. In .July, 1863, the whole interests of the Hudson's Bay Company were transferred to Mr. Edward W. Watkin and certain gentlemen acting with him ; ai^d Sir Edmund Head was elected Governor of the Company. The capital stock of the old company was £500,000 sterling, but at the time of the sale and lor some time previous each £100 share was worth £200 on the London Stock Exchange. The market value of the Company's interests was therefore £1,000,000 sterling. The new Company agreed to to pay £1,500,000, and did pay tha* sum for the transference to them of all the interests of the old company. II. On the 28th of August, 1863, Sir Edmund Head, as Governor of the new Hudson's Bay Company, communicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, a resolution expressive of the conviction that the time had arrived for introducing into the North- West Territories the direct authority of the Crown. HI. On the 9th of October, l^eS, Sir Frederick Rogers, by instraetion of the Duke of Newcastle, informed the company that his Grace was ready to consider any proposals submitted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company with reference to the introduction of the direct authority of Her Majesty's Government in Rupert's Land. 8 «..- T" f c- J^ November, 1863, Sir Edmund Head acknowledged the receipt of Mr Frederic Rogers' communication, and proceeded tofxplain the views of the company in the following terms :— ^ would be Rel'rWver' fo^ForfA'Jrv^ 'IT P'°P"'"-'^ ""'""^ "^ ''^''^' '^^ ««^» "^ government h fn !^,nin 1 "'^f fo"^ *<"-t Uirry), the committee presume that His Grace would wish of thp S ° ''"''"'^ '?""*•>■ ^'°V^^ frontier of tfie United States to the n^r^h branch of the Saskafhewan, and to extend eastward towards Lake Superior as far as t e fronUer of Canada, wherever the precise line of that frontier may be found Sps the most convenient limit for the northern boundary would L ei he the sXtcLwan rXu- • ^""?l>fjand, and, from the latter, following the Saskatchewan down to Sud^r;,7:i,en;?He'ofT" -' >''"'' \^¥"^ 'r'^'"' '° the nonhw'd rby wWo w"'»n ^^^•^"V,'le of L,uke Winnipeg, but from the mouth of the W inninea River where It enters the Lr'!' '■«lf?f'h= lan^., all l„,. JK«C».>' "urveyeil a» weil a. five Ihousand nore. rcuiid each of Iheit fortt « ( nowledged the ded to explain at of government Jrace would wish the north branch far as the frontier Perhaps the most 3 Saskatchewan X)Ugh Edmonton chewan down to lorthward, nor by ' V\innipeg River d until it cut the ole Territorial n or by instal- solution, — Sir oinj)any's con- should retain le Colony and rown." And, subject to the rect and should I connect British hy the Secretary urse, engage to d and moderate e Telegraph. — Id pledge their ti in the enclo- s to be granted le soil on which le of its course half of the land I the half belon- ) entitled to use gold and silver any one third of whether raised for expenses of irt Garry or Red lands, all lots of their forts or 9 nf«5tL? i r^ .^'■''^ 'J^^'.M"-- Chichester Fortescue, Under Secretary i.T, ! l^f ,?°^^""'' ^y ^"'"^^'■''" °f ^he Duke of Newcastle, rejected he proposal of the Company. In the course of his communication the fol- lowing passages occur : — monf" '"i"*" '^""^'''^'^ Colony, there is no effectual mode of taxation for purposes of govern- ?r d mliSTontTLu?' 'rr'^''^ '^T"" '''H S°'°"y Jep^nd^Sre'nberaTand that Ln.l ?Z nl • <■ ^n^'® ^considerations afford decisive reasons against leavin- concIus^einanrr^r'^^/^^rP"^'""^^"''^ «^««^^« '^^' thele objectionsr cone usive in any case, are greatly enhanced in the case of the Hudson's Pav Comnanv wnose betialt joii speak that the Company wonid ' lose fully as much as thev would "ain by he mcease of settlement in the Chartered Tenitory'Ift is therefore (to sav the hP Pn^ ''"•'f °" '^^v,'"""' '.^^ ^°'"I'«">' ^^°"'-> "«f te unier a d rect inducen^ent lo use their^propnetory rights to thwart the colonizing efforts of the Government • * * eiirantic Shane tip inTnw'''J''*/°".''' '^e scheme is that it would reproduce in a ^^Canacia ' ft i evidZns J!',? "''^f"''' °" '"• ^'^ ^"J'*"^^ •^''^'«' '^'"^ ^"""'l intolerable t p;n?orna;;,' fr J^^'^'';?'" "f >-««,.,„ with the Government, in he cm^tSon It iTa s'o'TLf ,hat'"cTniT'"'?' T 'f 4"^S™ '''' •-'I policy rthat of th^aS ri £ leshiSelv he nnlif t ^ ' °^ ""' .^"eflo-Saxon race, look upon the land Revenue as Sw iSnniS" ^^ community-and that the diversion of half or more than half caisf a comh . ° , f ^"'"'''"^ '^ mcreasing the divi.lends of a private Corporation wouW «™!. Tf-ui ^^'^r'';"," '^''-'=°"'^"*' which could not be allayed by any abstract Co^mSy to sS'r'^ P r" ''""' "^^^'^'^ '^« Government wouKe Jxp'ecid by S conTeSces^nd h'p i? t£T '" kT' T'^""^ *° "^^^^ '^'"^^'^ responsible for these SriS nartSi n/tV n , ^^•.°^'''^''' u- l'^^^ as inadmissible any proposal for the ofTeC?own^» territories which may be placed under the Government Mr. Fortescue then proceeds to state » the only terms which after very Great'RrliTi.f nn"^o^^'if-°°"^,"'°"^ ^ Government he established in the ceded Territories- third" ''C wicK. Z\'"T\' """, "■" P"'?'"" "»l'«"Pl«led in ,h= second and Appended to Mr. Forteseue's letter was the following postscript :— GenernT' 5 clnadl'^a tZllTl """' ''k'"^!? *?' "''^ ^''"'^ ^'^' ''^''^'^^J ^'""^ '^^ Governor 10 pany will plaos Her Majesty's Government Territory ceded by them." m posiession of an indisputable title to the VI. On the 14th March, 1864, Sir Edmund Head replied to Mr. For- tescue s letter of the 1 1th March,-taking strong exception to the postscript ol that leUer. Anxong other passages was the following:— to d«fomnMi'fnt*® ii"-^ of the Hudson's Bay Company to be good, and we are prepared nate Inv enauir7o? thp '^Z^""^ ." ""^ ^-^ impugned : but we are'not prepared to Ui- nate any enquiry of the kmd ; or to undertake to give any guarantee or to present to tlia Secretary of State, any title other than that whicE I have alf eady said" is as well known we ha?« nn n'thil t' ^""'•^^'r' ^"".^ *« '' '«' '^ "^"^^ ^^ '^^en^for better for worse, for we have no other to offer, and we believe that to be sufficient. If, therefore, any such guarantee or undertaknig is a condition precedent to the completion of an a ranLment mpt fnr 'T «"gg«« «^'n your letter of the 11th instant, it will, we fear, be wS how farS « U° T-' T ^' ''.°»«i'^«'''^"°» «<■ the principle of that offer or any discussion Snnnf nf ' "J^"'"'^'^ ?/i ""^ "^ '''^ "°* acceptable to the Company, or how far the somP fpw rrP^"'*"°" Y""'*^ be sufficient. If indeed the question were one on y of trfo™ i,?wri'r?h^ °\ '■^''•' °^ ^"""''.^^y- '^? ^^^^ ^^°"l'l ^^ ^^^^^ 'Jiff^rent. But in ine torm m which the claim is presented to us n vour postscriot it annpars in ihp Pnm mittee to make all further action impracticable.'' ^ P"^^^'^"?'' " ^PPears to the Corn- Sir Edmund Head goes on to say : now be^mJ°.l,!.vK\V"'"^''y 'li'"'""^ ^T"^ '■^'"" '•'« postscript to your letter, it would suTstaSSon nf y°"V"fn"on to the fact that that letter*^makes no allusion to a substantive portion of our offer to which we attach great importance, that namely of hZeclZTZV'T' ^'i Electric Telegraph across the HuLr^s BV^rritory. Ve ftave ceded to no one the right to do this, and we are perfectly ready on fair conditions ihp .„!,Pf"°^ ^^^ arrangement, to undertake to do it ourselvL. Zr b any hfng sa H bearweTtKin' '"^J.^ by you as to the portions of land which the SS miglU rr^nnTM ^."-^''^ ^^- ^P"^' *^^'*' ^ir Frederic Rogers addressed Sir Ed- inund Head m rejomder to his letter of the 14tii March. In reference to the Company', objection to the postscript of Mr. Fortescuc's letter, he said : hendl/'the^lnlpnflnn^i^.'l^^f-^u^^''*''''?.*^'^' the committee has somewhat misappre- presen ournofp S^ TM that , Postscript was written. It is assumed for the present purpose, that the grant to the Hudson's Bay Company is a valid "°*^ ^"'^'y f'*"" ail payments to the fwifCt ,nv L^!^nr''T' "^'"^^ payments would thenceforth be exclusively leviable, crthe"K"iir ofti;^^^^ '"^ '^"''""^^ ^•^^"'-^ ^^y »^« ^--" '° »»>« iLf 'i? i^*?f^' '" '*"-' ^^''^ond part of Sir Edmund Head's letter of 14th March, Sir Fredcnic Rogers explained that the Duke of Newcastle was quite willing to recognize the liansference to the Hudson's Bay Company, cA the rights and reHpoiisibilities of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph and Iransit Company—" if it is recognized by the Colonies concerned.'' And he goes on to say that His Grace " is further willing that on the completion ot the Road nn.l Telegraph from tlie Frontier of Canada to that of British ^^ Columbia, Unuh adjacent to the line shall be granted to the Company at the rate ol one square mile for every lineal mile of Road and Telegraph constructed on Crown Lands between the line of demarcation above described and I lie frontier of British Columbia." yiH. On tlie I3tli of April, the Company accepted the offer of Govern- ment m principle, but considered that the amount of the payments within 50 years out of the land and Gold Revenues should not be limited, or if limited, should be limited to £ 1 ,000,000 instead of £250,000. Thev asked m addition to Iw. allowed — (1) To retain 'as private property " their posts and stations " (on which Ijuildings had been erected) " outside the Red River " seftlement with an area of 6,000 acres round each such " post." (2) To retain " all lots set out and occupied by them." (3) To Hiceive for every 50,000 acre^ of land sold by the Crown, « a ' grant of 5,000 acres of wild land " of their own choice. They also re(|uire excmplion from exceptional taxation and relief from every expense oi government. As the basis of an arrangement, for " through communication," thev expressed their ira.lincss to adopt Mr. VVatkin's plan (modified, as it necessardy woukl ho by the amalgamation of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Transit :uignized, and the I only share in hat the Imperial f the Company's pared to assume (untry and estab- jesty's Ministers rge these views ving intervened, t at the opening able to press the 11 that I would ission had been jrs of the Cana- ation might be •mination. Mr. It, ;0. BROWN. Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honorable the Executive Council '^i'^?T!i"^^ix^ '^^^^ ^^^ ""^'^'1' consideration the Report rhereunto appended) of the Hon. the President of the Executive ComicU, on the suL^ Se rl nnir"""r"f ''"'^^ ^i^'' '^'' ^'^'^^ "°"- ^''« Secretary' o?S ate for N^rSwrtV^rrS"' " "'"^"^^' ^" ''' ^^^"^"^ "^ ^« ^^^'-"-^ ^^e The Committee respectfully recommend that the negotiations be taken up by the Deputation of members of Council now about to proce^ to dem nT;..' r ' ^T '^^^''^ 'H '^'-'^ been so ably brought by the Pre« dent of the Council, and carried, if possible, to a successful terminatioi! Certified, WM. H. LEE, C. E. C. ^""^XatlTcl-lhfZT^ f"; ^^^) -/'om the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor General, dat'^d IVh June 1865 " On the fourth point, the subject of the North- Western Territory the Canadian Ministers desired that that Territory should be made ov^r to Canada, and undertook to negotiate with the Hudson's Bay Company fo? It 1 n'"''''''"/u '^^i' ''^^''^ «" ''°"d^t'°'^ t'l^t tiie indemnity/Tanv should be paid by a Loan to be raised by Canada under the Imperial Guarantee ; wi h the sanction of the Cabinet, we assented to thisTropo sal,-undertaking that ,f the negotiation should be successful, we on the part of the Crown, being satisfied that the amount of the indemnity was reasonable and the security sufficient, would apply to the ?mpeHal Parliament to sanction the agreement and to guarantee the amount '' (( (( (i (( u (( <{ (I l( i( (( (( u i( i( <( Extract from the Report of the Delegates to England dated \2th July, 1865. 1 The important question of opening up to ...lement an^I cultivation the vas British Territories on the north-west borders ex Canada nexl obtained tne attention of the Conference. Your Excellency is aware "ha the desire of the Government of Canada for a satisfactory and find SiuS ment of this matter has been often formally expressed.^ In you Exce lency's Despatch of 19th January, 1864, to the^ Colonial SeJ^taif, "he" anxious desire of the Canadian Government was communicated « fo7sorae Z.^P'T^^T'^^u''^ mutually satisfactory plan," for settling definltdy the North- Western boundary of Canada," and the claim of Canada S asserted to " all that portion of Central British Ameri^arwhichl^rb^ 16 " shown to have been in the possession of the French at the period of " the cession in 1763. " In reply to this Despatch, Mr. Cardwell, on 1st Jnly, 1864, requested '< to be informed whetlicr the Government of Canada was prepared to assist « in negotiations with the Hudson's Bay Company, with the view of accept- " ing any portion of the Territory now claimed by that Company, and pro- " viding the means of local administration therein ; and he suggested that " if so prepared it would be desirable that some person duly authorized to " communicate the views of the Canadian Government should be sent to " England for that purpose. "On the 11th November 1864, a minute of Council was approved by " Yonv Excellency, in reply to Mr. Cardwell's Despatch. It set forth that " the Government of Canada was ready and anxious to co-oporatc with the " Imperial Government, in securing the early settlement of the North-West " Territories, and the (establishment of local Government in its settled por- " tions ; but that in its opinion the fir^t step t nvards that end was the ex- " tinction of all claims by the Hudson's Bay Company to proprietary rights <« in the soil and exclusive rights of trade. It suggested that it was for the " Imperial Government, and not for the Government of (Janoda, to assume the " duty of bringing to an end a monopoly originating in an English Charter, " and exercised so long under Imperial sanction ; but that when the nego- " tiations were brought to a close, the Government of Canada would be " ready to arrange with the Imperial Government for the annexation to Ca- » nada of such portionsofthe Territory as might be available for settlement, '< as well as for the opening up of communications into the Territory and " providing means of local administration. Or should the Imperial Govern- « ment prefer to erect the Territory into a Crown Colony, the Canadian " Government would gladly co-operate in the opening up of communication « into the Territory, and the settlement of the Country. The minute finally " suggested that the Hon. President of the Council while in i:ngland " would communicate more fully to Mr. Cardwell the views of the Cana- " dian Government. " The negotiations that followed on this despatch, satisfied us of the impossibility of enforcing the end sought by (Canada without long-pro- tracted, vexatious and costly litigation. The Hudson's Bay Company were in possession, and if time were their object, could protract the pro- ceedings indefinitely ; and Her Majesty's Government appeared unwilling to ignore pretensions that had frequently received quasi recognition from the Imperial authorities. Calling to mind, therefore the vital importance to Canada of having that great and fertile country opened up to Canadian enterprize, and the tide of emigration into it directed through Canadian channels — remembering alsothe dangerof large grantsof land pissing into the hands of mere moneyed corporations and embarrassing the rapid settle- ment of the country — and the risk that the recent discoveries of gold on the Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains might throw into the country large masses of settlers unaccustomed to British Institutions — we arrived at the conclusion that the quickest solution of the question would be the u (( (( (( (( t( (( (( (( (( (( u u « lie period of 17 $64, requested pared to assist iew of accept- )any, andpro- uggested that authorized to •uld be sent to 9 approved by t set forth that leratc with the he North-West its settled por- id was the ex- ipvictary rights it was for the , to assume the nglisli Charter, ^licn the nego- ada would be lexation to Ca- fur settlement, I Territory and iperlal Govern- the Canadian ;ommunication : minute finally le in England rg of the Cana- best for Canada We accordingly proposed to the Imperial Ministers that the whole British Territory east o/the Rocky Mountains and north of the American or Canadian lines should be made over to Canada, subject to « such rights as the Hudson's Bay Company might be able to establish • and liiat the compensation to that Company (if any were found to be due) «' should be met by a loan gnnran1.-ed by Great Britain. The Imperial «' Goyernmtnt consented to this, and a careful investigation oftfie case «' satisfies us that the compensation to the Hudson's Bay Company cannot " under any cncumstanees, be onerous. If is but two years since the pre- « sent Hudson's Bay (Jompany purchased the entire property of the old " Company ; tlioy paid i.l,5()0,000, for the entire properly and assets,— in " which were included a large sum of cash on hand, large landed properties «' in British Columbia and elsewhere not included in our arrangement a « very large claim against the United Stales Government under the Oregon u Treaty—and ship-, goods, pelts, and business premises in England and " Canala valued at .11,023,569. The value of the territorial rights of the " C()m|)any tlierefore, in the estimation of the Company itself, will be easily " arrived at." •' isfied us of the thout long-pro- Bay Company rotract the pro- sared unwilling jcognition from ital importance up to Canadian 3Ugh Canadian ind pissing into the rapid settle- eries of gold on nto the country ns — we arrived m would be the Di I)c Re] Rc] Re( Ext Exti LIST OF PAPERS. PAOI Dosi.atcli of Gov(,rnor Gc-noral onclo.ing Rcjporl of Executive Council on the expediency of having the; Nortii Western Boundary of Canada definitely settled I Despatch from Colonial Sec.etary, 1st July, 1864, enquiring whetiier Canada will be prepared to open communications with, and accept the government of such of the North West Territories as may be ceded to her o Report of Executive Council, 11th November, 1864, in answer to that Despatch _ Report by Hon. George Brown of hh conferences with Imperial authorities on the above subject g Report of Executive Council, 27tli March, 1865, recommending the resumption by the Delegates to England, of the Hudson Bay question, at the point to which it had been brought by the Pre- sident of (he Council .g Extract from Despatch respecting loan to be raised under Imperial guarantee, to purchase the rights of the Company 15 Extract from Report of Delegates to England 15