*^:^. 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 ^"^ ./IV!^^ 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 | 4i 
 ■ 30 
 
 m lit 
 
 
 I 
 
 40 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 L25 1.4 1 1.6 
 
 
 < 
 
 o" 
 
 - ► 
 
 v] 
 
 Va 
 
 f 
 
 
 /: 
 
 '^ > 
 
 
 Hiotographic 
 .Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 87a-4903 
 

 J 
 
 l/j 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notaa tachniquaa at bibliographiquat 
 
 T 
 t< 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographinally unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked bslow. 
 
 n Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagie 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur^ et/ou peliiculie 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes giographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre da wouleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 rri Bound with other material/ 
 \1Lj Relit avoc d'autrea documants 
 
 Tight binding may causa shadows or distortir<i 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La re liure serrte peut causer de I'ombre ou da la 
 distorsion I* long d« la marga inttriaura 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 11 se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissant dans la taxta. 
 mais. lorsqua cela itait possible, cas pages n'ont 
 pas ixi filmtes. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a it* possible de se procurer. Les details 
 da cat exemplaire qui sont peut-itre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dana la mithode normaie de filmage 
 sont indiqu4s ci-dessous. 
 
 r~^ Coloured pages/ 
 Lll Pi 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 Q 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 Pages da couleur 
 
 Pagas damaged/ 
 Pages endommagias 
 
 Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restauries et/ou pelliculies 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages dicolories, tacheties ou piquies 
 
 Pagas detached/ 
 Pagas ditachies 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Trunsparance 
 
 Quality of print varies/ 
 Qualiti iniyale do I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprand du matiriel supplimentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by erreta 
 s!ips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partieilement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure, 
 etc.. ont M filmies A nouveau de fap on A 
 obtanir la meiileure image possible. 
 
 T 
 
 P 
 o 
 fi 
 
 O 
 b 
 th 
 si 
 01 
 fii 
 si 
 01 
 
 Tl 
 s» 
 
 T! 
 w 
 
 M 
 di 
 er 
 be 
 
 rij 
 re 
 m 
 
 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentaires: 
 
 Docket title page is bound in at last page in book but filmed as first page on fiche. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est fiimi au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 / 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 n 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity off: 
 
 IMational Library of Canada 
 
 L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grdce A la 
 g6n6rosit4 de: 
 
 Bibliothdque na lonale du Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 OriginjI copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover whun appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printer* or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The East recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol •-^•(meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are 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 images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de !a condition et 
 do la nettet^ de l'exemplaire film6, et en 
 conformitd avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimis sont filmds en commen^ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont ffilmds en commengant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 ^'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la 
 derniftre image de cheque microffiche. selon le 
 cas: le symbole -^ signiffie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signiffie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuven dtre 
 ffiimds d de<j taux de reduction diffffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul clichd, il est ffiimd d partir 
 de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mithode. 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
1. 
 
 Select Committee on the Hudson's Day Compami. 
 
 18 5 7. 
 
 PAPERS. 
 
 EXTRACT from the Repokt from the Committee ai)- 
 pointed to Inquu-e into the State and Condition of the 
 Countries adjoining to Hudion^s Bay, and of the Trade 
 carried on there. 1749. 
 
 23 February 1857. 
 
 [Great inconvenience having arisen front the Publication of 
 Minutes of Evidence taken before Cummiltees, and »f 
 Papers, ifC. laid before them, it is particularly rei/uestcd 
 that Members receiving; such Minutes and Papers uiil be 
 careful thai they are confined to the object for viliiih they 
 are printed, the special use of the Members of iuch 
 Committees.'] 
 
 %■ 
 
 0.25— (l). 
 
Mr^. 
 
 mpami. 
 
 ttee a\)- 
 i of the 
 e Trade 
 
 
 :atton of 
 and of 
 
 etjuestcd 
 uiil be 
 
 uh they 
 
 of iticb 
 
f 
 
 I 
 
1. 
 
 Select Committee on the Hudson s Bay Company, 
 
 18 5 7. 
 
 P A P E R S. 
 
 EXTRACT fi»>tn the Report' from the Gommitice appointed to Inquire into the State and 
 Condition of the Countrica adjoining to Hudson's Bay, and of the Trade carried on 
 there. 1749. 
 
 To the Bight Honourable the Lords of a Committee of H'" Majesty's most Honourable Appendix, No. 
 
 Privy Council. 
 
 May it please Your 'Lordships, 
 In humble obedience to your Lordships' Order in' Council of thu 4th of February last, 
 representing that, by an Order in Council, bearing dote tiie 2Gth day of January last, there 
 was referred to your Lordships the humble petition of Arthur Dobba, esq., and the rest of 
 the Commi 'ee appointed by the subscribers for finding out a passage to the Western and 
 Southern Ocean of America, for themsc'vcs and the other adyentiufrs ; and thnt your 
 Lordsliips, having taken the snid petition uito consideration, were pleased to refer the same 
 to us, to consider thereof, and report our opinion tlicreupon to your Lordships. 
 
 Vhich petition sets forth, that the petitioners, in the year 1746, did, at tlicir own costs 
 and charges, fit out two ships upon an expedition in search of the north-west passage to 
 the Western and Southern Ocean of America, in order to extend the trade, and increase 
 the wealth and power of Great Britain, by finding out now countries and nations to trade 
 with, as well in the great north-western continent of America, beyond Hudson's Bay, as in 
 countries still farther distant, and hitherto unknown to the Europeans ; and also to many 
 large and populous iskmds in that great Western Ocean. 
 
 That the .petitioners, by means of the said expedition, have made severd discoveries of 
 bays, inlets, and coasts, before unknown, and have a reasonable prospect of finding a passage 
 to the Southern Ocean, by sea, although the discovery may not be perfected without 
 repeated trials, upon account of the diffteulties and danger of searcl/mg different unknown 
 inlets and straits, and failing througli new seas, and of prjouring men of resolution, 
 capacity, and integrity, to pursue it et&ctually. 
 
 That the petitioners find that the reward of 20,000 /., given by Parliament, is not adequate 
 to the expense the adventurers must be at to perfect the discovery, they having already 
 expended dbove half that sum in'their late expedition. 
 
 That the :petltioners find that, upon a former attempt, his Majesty's predecessor King 
 Charles the Second, as a suitable encouragement, granted a Roysil Charter to the Governor 
 and Company df Adventurers in England trading to Hudson's Bay, making them a body 
 corporate for ever, upon their petition, setting forth that they had, at their own proper 
 costs and charges, made an expedition to discover a new passage into the South Sea, and for 
 finding some trade of furs, mines, and other commodities ; and gave them the sole projicrty 
 of all the lands they should discover, together with an exclusive trade to all the countries 
 within Hudson's Straits, not in possession of any of his subjects or of any other Christian 
 power, with the royalties of mines, minerals, gems, and royal fish, to enable them to find out 
 the passage, extend the trade, and to plant the countries they should discover, paying two 
 elks und two black beavers, wlienever and as often as his Majesty and his successors siiould 
 enter tlieir territories ; grantiqg to thom the gre»itest privileges as lords proprietors, saving 
 only their faith and allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain. 
 
 The petitioners beg leave to observe, that the said Company lutve not since effectually, or 
 in earnest, searched for the said passage, but have rather endoavoured to conceal the same, 
 and to obstruct the discovery thereof by others; nor have tliey made any new discovery 
 either upon the coast, or in the inland countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay, since the grant 
 Of tiieir dliartcr ; nor have the^ taken possession of or occupied any of tlie lands granted to 
 them, or extended their trade mto the inland parts of the adjoining continent ; nor made any 
 jdantations or ucttlemente, except four factories, and one small trading-house, in all which 
 they hnvcmairitJii'i^d, in time df 'peace, about 120 persons, servants to the Company ; nor 
 liave thev allowed any other of llis Majesty's subjects to plant, settle, or trade in any of 
 
 0.25— '(i). " ' A ' tiic 
 
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE 
 
 Appendix, No. the countriea adjoin'ng to the Bay granted to them bv their charter; yet have ooDnived 
 -"^ tit or allowed the Frcr.ch to cncroaGn, settle, and trade, within their liinita, on the south 
 
 hIJo of the Bay, to the great detriment and loss of Great Britain. 
 
 That the petitioners, being desirous to pursue the discovery of the passage to the 
 Southern Ocean of America by land or by water, will engage not only to prosecute the 
 name until it bo thoroughly discovered as far as practicable, but also to settle and improve 
 the land in all the countries on that northern continent, by making alliances with, and 
 civilising the natives, and incorporating with them, and by that means lay a foundation 
 for their becoming Christians, and industrious subjects of his Maicsty ; and also extend 
 the British trade into the heart of that northern continent around the Bay, and into such 
 countries as they may discover beyond it in the Western Ocean, and to use their utmost 
 endeavours to prevent the French encroachments upon the British rights and trade in that 
 continent. 
 
 In order therefore to enable the petitioners to prosecute and bring to perfection so valu- 
 able a discovery, and to civilise the natives and settle the lands witncvt, loss of time ; 
 and that the trade and settlement of such extensive countries may not be longer delayed, 
 or perhaps for ever lost to his Majesty uud his successors, by the oncrop.otiroents of the 
 French, — 
 
 The petitloncre most humbly pray, that His Majesty would be graciously pleased to in- 
 corporate the petitioners and the other subscribers ibt finding out the said passage, or such 
 of them and such other persons as they shall engage in the said undertaking, and their suc- 
 cessors for ever, and grant to tliem the property of all the lands they shall discover, settle, 
 find plant, in a limited time, in tho northern continent of America adjoining to Hudson's 
 Bay and Straits, not already occupied and settled by the present Company of Adventurers 
 trading to Hudson's Bay, with the like privileges and royalties as were granted to the siud 
 Company : and that His Majesty would oe pleased to grant unto the petitioners (during tho 
 infancy of their settlements) an exclusive trade, for such a term of years as may be granted 
 to discoverers of new <Mrt8 and trade, to all such countries into which they shall extend their 
 trade by land or by water, not already granted by Act of Parliament to other companies, reserv- 
 ing to the present Company of Adventurera trading to Hudson's Bay all the forts, factories, 
 and settlements they at present occupy and poaseits, with a reasonable district round each of 
 their possessions and factories ; or that his Majesty would be pleased to grant the peti- 
 tioners such other relief and encouragement as to his Majesty in his great wisdom should 
 becni meet. 
 
 We have taken the same into consideration, and have been attended by Counsel botli in 
 behalf of the petitioners, and the Hudson's Bay Company, who oppose the petition as it 
 interferes with their charter. 
 
 The petitioners insisted on two general things : that the Company's charter was cither 
 void in its ori^nal creation, or became forfeited by the Company's conduct imdcr it. 
 
 That the petitioners have, by their late attempts to discover the north-west passage and 
 navigation in those parts, merited the favour petitioned for. 
 
 As to the first, the petitioners endeavoured to shoW, that the grant of the country and 
 territories included in the Company's charter was void for the uncertainty of its extent, 
 being bounded by no limits of mountains, rivers, seas, latitude or longitude, and that the 
 grant of the exclusive trade within such limits as there were, was a monopoly, and void on 
 that account. 
 
 With respect to both these, considering how long the Company have enjoyed and acted 
 under this charter, without interruption or encroadiment, we cannot think it advisable for 
 His Majesty to make any express or implied declaration against the validity of it, till there 
 has been some jud^ent of a court of justice to warrant it; and the rather, because, if the 
 charter is void in either respect, there is nothing to hinder the petitioners from exercising 
 the same trade which the Company now carries on ; and the petitioners own grant, if obtained, 
 will itself be liable, in a great degree, to the same objection. 
 
 As to the supposed forfeiture of the Company's charter by nonuser or abuser, the charge 
 upon that head is of several sorts, viz. : That they have not discovered, nor sufficiently at- 
 tempted to discover, the north-west passage into the South Seas or Western Ocean : 
 That they have not extended their settlements through the limits of their charter : 
 That they have designedly confined their trade to a very narrow compass ; and have for 
 that purpose abused the Indians, neglected their own forts, ill-treated their own servants, 
 and encouraged the French. 
 
 But on consideration of all the evidence laid before us, by many ai&davits on both sides 
 (herewith enclosed), we think these charges are either not sufficiently supported in point of 
 fact, or in a great measure accounted for from the nature or circumstances of the case. 
 
 As to the petitioners' merit, it consists in the kte attempts made to discover the same pas- 
 sage ; which, however as yet unsuccessful in the main point, may probably be of use here- 
 after in that discovery, if it should ever be made, or in opening some trade or other, if any 
 should hereafter be foimd practicable ; and have certainly lost the petitioners considerable 
 sums of monfiv. 
 
 An.1 
 
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. 3 
 
 ^L^rf "\ .*'*? grant proposed ia not nccefwary in order to proeecutc any future attempt of Appendix, No. 
 
 the like kind, and tbo charter of the Hudson's Bay Company docs not prohibit the petitionent 
 
 Irom the use of any of the porta, rivers, or soas included in their charter, or deprive them of 
 the protection of the present settlements there ; we humbly submit to your Lord«<hipH con- 
 
 Bideration, whether it will bo proper at present to grant a charter to the petitioners, which 
 I upon that of tlie Hudson s Bay Company, and may occasion great 
 
 confusion b^ the interfering interest of two companies netting up the same trade agninst 
 each other in the same parts, and under like exclusive charters : All which is humbly sub- 
 mitted to your Lordships' consideration. 
 
 D- Ryder. 
 10 August 1748. ^r.Murra,. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 fF. Hharpt.