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We are much indebted to the Prince Society of Boston for collecting the memorials of the versatile French explorer, Pierre Keprit Radisson, who with his brother-in-law, Medard Chouart des Groseilliei-s, led the way in the formation of the Hudson's Hay Company, which after a history of two centuries and a quarter still preserves its vifjour and influence. The Prince Society lias printed an ' interesting volume containing the journals of Radisson, which ai-o preserved in the British Museum in London and in the I^odleian library in Oxford. Dr. N. E. Dionne, the accomplished librarian of the Legislative Library, Quebec, has contributed to tht proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada very appreciative articles entitled* " Chouart and Radisson." In these he has relied for the detail of facts of discovery almost entirely on the publication of the Prince Society, lie Juis, however, added much genealogical and local Canadian material, which tends to make the historj' of these early explorei-s more interesting to us as Canadians than they would otherwise be. A i-csident of Manitoba who has shown an interest in the legends and «arly history of Canada, Mr. L. A. Prudhomme, St. lioiiiface, judge of the county, has written -i small volume of sixty pages on the Life of Radisson. Like the articles of Dr. Dionne, this volume depends entirely for its information on the publication of the Prince Society. Readere of recent fiction are no doubt familiar with the appearance of Radisson in Gilbert Parker's novel '^ " The Trail of the Sword." It is xinnecessary to state that there seems no historic warrant for the stata- ment, " once he attempted Count Frontenac's life. He sold a band of our traders to the Iroquois." The character, thoi-oughly repulsive in this work of fiction, does not look to be the real Radisson ; and certainly as we survey the bloody scene which must have been intended for a period subsequent to Frontenac's return to Canada in lt)89, where Radisson fell done to death by the dagger and pistol of the mutineer Bucklaw, and was buried in the hungry sea, we see what was purely imaginary. Of course, we do not for a moment criticise the art of the historic novelist, ' " Radinson's Voyages." Boston. Printed for the Prince Society, 1885. ' "Chouart and Radisson." Par le docteur N. E. Dionne ; 2 articles. First, pp. 1151%, 18UH. Second, pp. 20-48, 18U4. ProceediiiKs of the Royal Society of Canada. 3" The Trail of the Sword." A novel. By Gilbert Parker. D. Appleton & Co. New York. 1804. 64 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA but simply state that the picturo is not that of the real Kadisson and that we shall find Kadisson alive u dozen and more years after the tragic end given him by the artist. These three works, as well as the novel, agree in seeing in Kadisson a man of remarkable character and great skill and adroitness. We may quote the translation of the Prologue to Judge Prudhomme's little work.' The Proloqde. " What a strange existence was that of this man I liy turns discov- " erer, officer of marine, organizer and founder of the most powerful " commercial company which has existed in North America, his life " presents an astonishing variety of human experiences. " lie may be seen passing alternately from the wigwams of the mis- " erable savages to the court of tho great Colbert ; from managing the '' chiefs of tho tribe.s, to addi-essing the most illustrious nobles of Great " Britain. " His courage was of a high order. lie looked death in the face " more than a hundred times, without trepidation. He braved tho tor- *' tures and the stake among the Iroquois, the treacherous stratagems of " the savages of the West, the rigorous winters of the Hudson Bay and " the tropical heat of the Antilles. " Of an adventurous nature, drawn irresistibly to regions unknown, " carried on by the enthusiasm of his voyages, always ready to push out " into new dangere, he could have been made by Fenimore Cooper, one of " the heroes of his most exciting romances. " Tho picture of his life, consequently, presents nuiny contrasts. The " life of a brigand whicli he led with a party of Iroquois cannot be " exi)lained away. " He was blameable in a like manner for having deserted the flag of " France, his native country. The first time, we might, perhaps, pardon " him, for he was the object of grave injustice, on the part of the govern- " ment of tho colony. " No excuse oould justify his second desertion. Ho had none to ofter^ " not one. He avowed very candidly that he sought the service of Eng- " land because he preferred it to that of France. "In marrying the daughter of Mr. John Kertk, he seems to have " espoused also the !'.!>tionality of her family. As for him, he would have '♦ needed to chungo tho proverb, and in ])lace of ' one who marries a bus- " band, takes his country,' to say, 'one who marries a wife, takes her " country.' "Tho celebrated discoverer of the Northwest, the illustrious Le " Verendrye, has as much as Kadisson, and even more than ho, of just 1 "Noteti HiHtoriques sur In vie de P. E. du KadiHson," parL. A. Prudhomme, St. Boniface, Man. Imprimerie dc I'Agriculture. [drych] fURTllER HISTORY OF PIERRE ESPRIT RAI)If«SON 55 " rouson to compluiii of tho iiigrutitiule of Franco ; but howclitroroiit wan " his conduct. "Just as his persecutions have placed ui)on the liead of the first, a " new halo of jjlory, so they have cast upon the brow of the second, an " inetlaceable stain. "Souls truly noble do not seek in treason, the recompense for tho " rights denied them." Fi;rthkr History. It is not, however, to ^o over tho ground so well travei-scd in these productions, that we present this paper. The Prince Society volume states p. 21, " Wo again hear of Radisson in Hudson Hay in 1(J85 ; and this is his last appearance in j)ui)lic records or documents as i'ar as is known. " The only other reference is that made by both Dionne and I'rudhommc that Charlevoix states "that Radisson died in En. (settled at Three Rivers). II. Western Voyayes. First voyage to the Iroquois country 1(J52 (captured by Iroquois). Escaped and fled to Holland 165;i ■-J 86 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA Kctiirncd to Canada 1054 Second voyage to Unondii^A^ l**"? Third voyage, visits Sioux and AHHiniboineH through tlie MisnisHippi country. lOoH-UO Returns to Montreal with not) IndiaiiH UW) Fourth voyage, to region north of Luke Superior IMll Held great council with the Indians 1(M(2 Lenves the country of the Crees and returns to Montreal ... 16(W li. Latek Voyaoes, 1<;»;3~1G85. I. In EiKjUsh Service. Quarrels with French fiovernor. Goes to Boston from Quebec UMW Crosses to England lWi5 Vessel engaged to go to Hudson Bay delayed WSR Disturbed condition of England causes further delay 1687 " Eaglet," on which Rjidisson enit)arked, did not reach liu Hudson's Bay Company chartered through assistance of Gro.seilliers and Radisson 1(170 Hiidisson first visits Hudson Bay 1070 Kadis.son returns and winters in London 1071 BadisHon with Ca))tain Gillam goes to Hudson B ly 1072 Returns to London and winters there 1073 II. Enters French Service. Radisson and Gro-seilliers desert England for France, October 1074 Radisson goes on expeditions to the Antilles Crosses under French auspices to Canada 1081 Goes to Hudson Bay in French ship 1082 Winters in Hudson Bay, captures Gillam's ship and returns to Canada 108;{ Crosses to France and undertakes new expedition to Hudson Bay 1084 III. Deserts France and Returns to Englanii Radisson joins English and goes immediately to Hudson Bay, 12th May 1084 Seizes 20,000 furs from French and comes to London 1084 Sails again to Hudson liay 108:-0 C. FuRTIir.R HlSTOHY. Now first published. Two Important Notes. Before proceeding with the further history, two important jioints in Endisson's life may claim some notice. These are the time and place of hirth of Radisson and the question whether Radisson and Groseiiliers, in their fourth voyage, reached Hudson or James bay. 1. Mr. Gideon D. Scull, the author of the introduction to the Prince Society publication, states that Radisson was born at St. Malo, came to [brycb] further history OF PIKRRE ESPRIT RADISSON 07 Oannda in 1(J51, and in 1656, ut Tlireo Kivoi's, married Klizaboth, daujjfhter of Sladelainc ilainault. Dr. Dionnu is more cautiotiH, and Htatcs that I{adi»Mon'H father had lived in St. Malo, Britanny, but 8ay« nothing of the jilace of birtii of Pierre. He tiaya Radi.sson's futlier was Sebastien Ilayet-JJadis.son, who married Mailoleine Herault. Judge Prudhomme seems to liave a more satisiaetory account than cither of the preoedin*;. He states that Kadisson was born at Paris; that his mother's maiden name was Madeleine Iferault ; but that having Injcome a widow, she was married a second time in 1680, to " Sebastion Ilayet, St. Malo." It was, therefore, his half sister, Marguerite llayet, who was married to Medanl Chouart. As to time of birth Scull .says nothing ; Dr. Dionne is also silent. Judge Prudhomme gives no date, but states that Radisson, before coming to Canada, had visited Turkey arid Italy. This would seem to require a greater age than some have supposed. It would favour the date of 1620, which has been given by some as the 3'car of his birth, and would make him thirty-one years of age on his arrival in Caiuida. In a memorial addressed, in 1692, to the Hudson's Bay C(»mpany by a friend of Radis- son's, sjKjaking in his behalf, it is .said of him, '• educated from a child in Canada, spent youth in hunting and commercing with the Indians." While this might be reconciled with his going to Italy and Turkey as a boy on shipboard, it cannot be made to agree with his being born in 1620. It will be seen that Radisson's time of birth, birthplace and lineage are all somewhat in dispute. 2. But a greater matter in doubt is whether Badi8.son or his brother- in-law, Groseilliers, visited Hudson Bay by land. The conflicting claim to the territory about Hudson Bay by France and England gives interest to this question. Two French wi-iters assert that the two explorers had visited the Hudson Bay by land. These are, the one, M. Bacqueville do la Potherie, Paris, 1722; and the other, M. Jeremie, governor of the French ports about 1700 in Hudson Bay. Though both maintain that Hudson Bay was visited by the two Frenchmen, K'adisson and Groseil- liers, yet tho}'^ difter entii-ely in the details, Jeremie stating that they captured some Englishmen there, a plain impossibility. Oldmixon, an English writer, in 1708, makes the following state- ment: " Monsieur Radisson and Monsieur Gooselier, meeting with some savages in the Lake of the Assinipouals in Canada, they learnt of them that they might go bv land to the bottom of the bay, where the English had not yet been. Upon which they desired them, to conduct them thither, and the savages accordingly did it." Oldmixon is, however, inaccurate in some other particulai-s and probably had little authority for this statement. 68 ROYAL SOCIKTY OF CANADA The Chitical l'.\ssAH in KadissuiiH JoiirnulH, which urc (mhli.she«i in the volume of the I'rinec Soiiet}*. For so ;r real ii e passage strikes us as l>eini; very sliort and inade<|uate and no other reference ot tiie kind is made in tlie vovai^es. it is as follows. in'iniiilt'.'' This lias ^ivcii colour to tliu itloa tlial Hudson Hay isnioaiit. An examination (»f IJadisson's writintf hIiowm um, howovor, tliat lie uses tlie terms lake and sea interclian^ealtly. Kor exam|)le in jiai^e 15') he speaks of the '• Christinos from thi' hay of the North Sea,' whieh could only rcter to the Lake of the Wooils or Lake Winnipei^. A^ain on jiuf^e l.M J{adisson speaks ol the ■' Lake tsf ilurrons, whicii was upon the bonier of the sea.' evidently meanin<^ Lake Superior. On the same patfo in the lieadint; of the third voyage lu' speaks of the " tiltliy Lake of the Ilurrons, I'pper Sea of the Kast, and Hay of the Mortii," aixl yet no one has claimed that in this voyaife he visited Hudson Bay. Aifain elsewhere IJadisson uses the expression -'salted lake" for the Atlantic which must be cros.sed to reach Fran«e. 4. Thus in the passai^i', -'the ruined house on the seaside" would seen) have been at one of the lakes mentioned. The Christinos tell then f Kuropeans, whom they have met a few yeai^s before, ])erhaps an earlier French party on Lake Superior or at the Sault. The lake or sea abounded in i.slands. This would agree with Lake of the Woods whei-e the Christinos lived, and not Hudson iiay. Whatever place it was had a great stoiv of cows or buH'alo. Lake of the WochIs is the istern limit of the butfalo. They are not found on the shores of JIudson liay. 5. It will bo noticed also tiiat he speaks of a river flowing from the lake, when he had gone I'urther in the hay, evidently the extension of the lake, and this river empties it.self into the Saguenay. This is plainly pure nonsense. It would lie equally non.sensical t») speak of it in connection with the JIudson Bay as no river empties fi-om it i"*o the Saguenay. Probably looking at the great river Winnipeg as it flows from the Lake of the Woods, or Bay of Islands as it was early called, he sees it flowing eastward, and with the mistaken views so common anxmg the early voyageui's, conjectures it to run toward the great Saguenay and to empty into it, thence into the St. Lawrence. (). The passage shows that the point reached, which some interpret as Hudson Bay or James Bay could not have been so, for it speaL's of a far- ther point toward the north toward the sea. 7. Closely interpreted it is plain that K'adisson had not only not vis- ited Hudson or James Bay but that he had a wrong conception of it altogether. He is simply giving a vague story of the Christinos. TnK Further History of Hadisson. We may now take up the story a little before the end of our chron- ology at the time of the return of Itadjsson the second time to the scn'ice of England in lfi84. The voyages of IJadisson and his brother-in-law had been very profit- able, and the French court were now thoroughly encouraged and agreed eo ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA to send out two vessels to the Hudson Bay. Now occurred one of the most extraordinary passaj^es in the life of Radisson. He opened coiomu- nications with the Hudson's Bay Company as to entering their service. He, however, continued to deceive the French government. The French expedition was ready to start. The day, the 24th of April, was tixed. He succeeded in delaying the expedition, until he should arrange his pri- vate business in England. On the 10th of May he arrived in I'^ngland, and completely ignoring his relation to liis native country entered into correspondence with the Hudson':? Bay Company. Deserts France. The entry in the company's minutes bearing on this ati'air is as fol- lows : 12th May, 1684. '"Sir James Hayes and Mr. Young report that Peter Esprit Badisson has arrived from France, that he has ottered to enter their service, that they had taken him to Windsor and presented him to His Royal High- ness, that they had agreed to give him £50 per annum, £200 worth of stock, and £20 to set him up to pi-oceed to Port Nelson ; and his brother (in-law) Groselliei-s to have 20/ ihjf week, if became from France over to Britain and be true. Radisson took the oath of tidelity to the company." A few days later Radisson to<.»k the ship " Hapj)y Return " to Hudson Bay. Sailing immediately to Hayes River, Radisson found that his nephew, J. Baptiste Groseilliers, had removed his post to an island in the river. On his being reached Riidusson explained to him the change that had taken place, and that he proposed to transfer everything, establish- ment and peltry, to the Hudson's Bay Company. Young Groseilliers being loyal to France objected to this, but liadisson stated that he had no option and would be compelled to submit. The whole quantity of furs trans- ferred to l{adis.son by his nephew was 20,000, an enormous capture for the Hudson's Bay Company. In the autumn Radisson returned in the Hudson's Bay Company's ship, bringing them gre?it store of booty. A Generous Reward. At a meeting of the committee of the company (October 27th) ^ "A packet was read from Pierre Radisson showing how he had brought his countrymen to submit to the English. He was thanked and a gratuity of 100 guineas given him.'' It is also stated that " a promise having been made of 20/ per week to Groseillier.-*, and he not having come, the same is transferred to his son in the bay.'' The minute likewise tells us that " Sir ' H. B. Co. minutes. •' Ibid. I a [bryce] further history OF PIERRK ESPRIT RADISSON 61 William Young was given a ])re.*ent of seven musquash skins for being instrumental in inviting IJadisson over from Franco." From tl)is we infer that Sir William, who, as we shall aftcrwaitls see. was a great friend and promoter of Hauisson, had been the active agent in inducing J{adisson to leave the service of France and enter that of the English company. The com])any further showed its appreciation of liadis.soirs. service by voting him £100 to be given to four Frenchmen left behind in Hudson Buy. Jean Baptiste Groseilliers, nephew ol' liadis,loyed. On the 24th of June of 1688 Badisson again sailed in the ship fi>r Hudson Hay, and during that year ho svas jiaid £100, as 50% dividend on his £200 worth of stock ; and in the following year .£50 as 25% divi- dend on his slock. As the following year (1690) was the time of the 62 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA '• iitroiit divideinl," Eadisson was again ivjoiced by iho amount of £150 as liis share of the profits. DlSl'lTE WITH JiADISSON. The prosperity of the company seems to have led to an era of extra- vairanee. and to certain dissensions wit i in the company itself. Tlie amounts paid to Eadig^c.:' seem to have been smaller in accordance with the straits in whicli the company found itself arising from French rivalry on the bay. In l(J!t2 Sir William Young is seen strongly urging fuller consideration for Eadisson, wlio was being paid at the reduced rateof £.iO a year. In the Hudson's Hay Company's letter-book of this period we find a most interesting memorial of Sir William Young's in behalf of liadisson, with answei"s by the company, on the whole confirming our narrative, but stating a few divergent ])oints. We irive the memorial in full. I Letter Dated 20th December, 1092, being plcaof AVilliam Young in behalf of Pierre Esprit Radisson. '• IJadisson, born a Fi-cnchman, educated from a child in Canada, !bV)ont youth hunting and commercing with Indians adjiicent to Jiudson Bay, master of the language, customs and trade. " Radiss(jn being at New England about 27 or 28 years past, met there with Col. Nichols, Governor of New York, and was by him persuailed to go to England and protler his services to King Charles the Second, in order to make a settlen ent of an English factor}* in that bay. •' At his arrival how the said king, ,, .'ing credit to Eadisson for that undertaking, granted to Prince Rupert, the Duke of Albermarle and others, the same charter we do still claim by, thereby constituting them the proprietors of tiie said bay, under which authority, he the said Ead- isson went immediately and made an English settlement there according to his |)romises. " On his return to England the king presented him with a modal and gold chain. When i-ejected by the company ho was compelled to return to Canada, his only place of abode. Joined the French and led an expedi- tion to Hudson Bay. With aid of Indians destroyed company's factory and planted a New England factory in Port Nelson river. " During that winter J{adisson did no violence to the English but suj)- plied them with victuals, powder and shot when their ship was castaway. Refused a pivsent from the Indians to destroy the Knglish and gave them a ship to convey them away. Afterwards settled the Fivnch factor}- higher the same river, where his alliance with the Indians was too stronjr for up chik 150 as oxtra- , The :e with rivalry ■f fiiUer !uf£.)0 e find a udisson, live, but [bryce] further history OF PIERRE ESPRIT J' OISSON 63 )ohail" of da, !iV)ent ^on '3ay, net there uadod to icond, in i'or that tvrle and ing them ^aid Kad- L-cording lodal I'.nd () return n exj)edi- s factory but 8up- iist away. ;e them a ry higher itrong for Xew England or Old Enghuxl, and immediately after he ^vcnt to France. Mr. Young, member of the Hudson's Hay Company, with leave from Sir .lames Hayes, deputy governor, tried to hire him back to Hudson's Hay Company service with large promises. During negotiations Kadisson unexpectedly arrived in London. Company's ships wei-e ready to sail. Had just time to kiss the king's hand at Windsor and that of the. Duke of York, then governor. They commended him to the care and kindness of Sir James llaj'esaiid the Hudson's Bay Com|)at'V, and commanded that he should be made an English citizen, which was done in his absence. ••Before sending him the company gave him two original actions in Hudson's Bay Coinjjany stock, and ilSO sulwistence money, with large promises of future rewards for expected service. "Arriving .;t Port Nelson he i>ut company in entire possession of that river, brought away the French to England, and took all the beavei^sand other furs they had traded and gave them to the company without asking share of the protits although they sold for 7000 pounds. " He was kindly welcomed in l^'ngland and again commanded by the king. Committee presented him with 100 guineas and entered in the books that he should have f50 added to the Ibrmer £50, until the king hhould tind him a place, when the last £50 should cease. Jlad no place iriven him. Sir Edward Dering, deputy governor, influenced committee to withdraw £50, so he had onl}- £50 to maintain self, wife and four or tivo children and servants, £24 of this going for house rent. When chief factor at Nelson was tempted by servaiits to continue to cheat the com- pany, was beaten because he refused.' The DKMAxn Madk. Praj's for payment of tlOO and arreai's because 1, All but Sir Kilward Dering think it just and reasonable. 'J. No place was given in lieu of £50. 3. Of tidelity to the company in many temptations. 4. lie never asked more than the company- chose to give. 5. Imprisoned in bay in time of trade for not continuing to cheat the company. (i. The company received from Port Nelson, after he gave it them £100,(100 worth of fui"s, which it is now believed would have been lost, with their wl ole interest in the bay, if he had not joined them when invited. 7. The original actions and the £100 revert to the company at his death. 8. Income inadequate to maintain wife and children in London. 9. Debts great froni necessity. Would be compelled to leave wife und children and shift for himself 64 KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 10. He cannot sell original actions, since they cease with his life. 11. Of King Charles' many i*econimendations to kindness of company. 12. French have a price on his head as a traitor, so that ho cannot safely go home. 13. Mr. Young turther pleads that as Mr. Eadisson was the author of the company's pmsperity, so he (Mr. Young) was the first to persuade him to join their service. That he (Mr. Young) had been offered a reward for his service in ixn-suading him, which he had utterly refused. But now that this reward be given in the form of maintenance for Radisson in his great necessity, kc. Answer to Mr. Youx(i's Appeal. The committee passes over the sketch of liadisson's life which Ihey do not gainsay. In second paragraph, they observe that Mr. Young states their neglect to maintain Mr. IJadisson without mentioning their reasons for so doing, which might have shown whether it was their unkiudness or Radisson s desert. The}' go on to take notice of the fact that about 1()81 or '82 Radisson and Groseilliei-s entered into another contract with the company and received £20. Soon afYer they absconded, went to France, and thence to Canada. Ne.xt year they joined their countrj'men in an expedition to Port Nelson, animated by the report of Mr. Abram to the ct)mpany that it was the best place for a factory They took their two barks up as far as they dui-st for fear of the English. Then the J'rench in the fall built a small hut, which Mr. Young says was too strong for either New England or Old England without guns or works — a place merely to sleep in, manned only with seven French. This expedition, Mr. Y'oung saith, was at firet prejudicial to the com- pany, but afterward of great advantage, which we cannot apprehend. In another place Mr. Y'oung is pleased to state that the New England settlement was so streng that the Old could not destro}' it. Old England settlement was only a house unfortified, which Bridgar built to keep goods dry because Gillam's boat arrived late. ! I The Answer to Reasons. 1. Mr. Y''oung says all are in favour of Radisson but Sir Edward Doring ; we have not met with any who are in favour but Mr. Y''oung. Those who give gratuity should know why. 2. That he had no place nor honour given him is no reason forgiving gratuity, there being no contract in the case. 3. Never found him accused of cheating and purloining, but bi'cach of contract with company after receiving their money we do find him guilty of. I hous [brycbI FURTHEU history OF PIERRE ESl'RIT RADISSON 68 ife. orapuny. le cannol \uthor of \n\do him ;\vard i'or now that his great ;,'h Ihey do eir neglect r so doing, Badissons 2 Eadisson npany and 1 thence to ion to Port that it -was far as they uilt a small and or Old anned only to the com- rehend. jw England d England keep goods ( Sir Edward ] Mr. Young. n for giving but breach do tind him 4. Says he never did capituhito with the company. Kind ho diil (>oo minutes, Gth May, 1685;. 5. (/annot believe JJadisson was beaten by the company's ^evv;lntH. Greater increase of furs after he left, etc., tS:c., A:c. Rotable Lawsuit. This memorial and its answer show tlie rather unreasonaldo posilidu taken by the companj-. In the time of its admiration -lor liadi.SMju, and of fat dividends it had provided liberal things, but when money becamo scarce then it was disposed to make matters ]»lcasing to it.self despite tho claims of Kadisson. In tho year following tho presenting of the memorial it is stated in the minutes that " Eadisson was ropresenteil to the com- mittee as in a low and mean condition." At this time it- was ordered that .t50 be paid Radisson and to be re))aid out of tho next dividend. The unreasonable position assumed by the company, in withholding a ]iart ttf the salary which they had promised in good faith tilled Radisson with a sense of injustice. No doubt guided by his friend, Sir William Young, who. on account of his persistence on behali' of tho adventurer, seems now to have been dropped from the oommitteii of the company, Radisson tiled a bill in chancery against the company, and in July, lii.)4, notice of t.us was served upon the committee. Much consternation seems to have tilled their minds and tho deputy governor, Sir Samuel Clark, reported shortly after, having used £200 fur secret service, the matter being seemingly connected with this case. Radisson Wi.ns. Notwithstanding the great influence of the com|)any the justice of Radissoii's claim prevailed, and the court of chancery ordered tho pay- ment of arrears in full. The committee afterward mot Sir William Young and Richard Cradock, who upheld Etulisson's claim. It is reported that they had agreed to settle the matter by paj'ing Radissoi» £150, he giving a release; and that he should be paid, under seal, £100 per annunx for life, excei^t m those years when the company should make a dividend, and then but £50 according to the original agreement. Jiadisson then receives, as tho minutes show, his salary regularly from this time. Latkr Ykars. In l(i!t8 Radisson petitioned parliament for consideration, presumably in connection with losses sullerod from tho French in Hudson May. In the year 1700 he seems still to bo struggling in his straitened ciicum stances, for in that year he ap|)lied to the company to bo appointed ware house keeper for the London promises, but this ai)plication was refused. Sec. II., 1808. 3. 66 ROYAL SOCTETY OF CANADA ir tlio dnlo of IiadisHon's liiifh, <;iveii l>v somo. of l(i20 bo !i(C('i)tt'(l ho li:iil now rojieliod llio four «ci>iv yours m) soldom atlninod by man. This is, bowovor, vory doiil>tfui. His tliildroii. of whoiu iio is said to have liail iiino, ap]K'ar to liavo passod over to (panada, and to have boconio a part of till' Caiiailian ))oo))lo. Ilisbrothor-inlaw, (Irosoilliors. also, rotunied to bis ado|)tod Canachi. Roiiiihiri}' duriui;- tiio succeodiiiiji; yoars tbo (piartorly amount is volod lo IJudisson by tbi' ooinpaiiy, until Janiiarv (Itli, ITl'i. when tbo last quota of i!12 Ics. sooins to bavo boon i;ivon. AI)out this linio at a vii»o a«>;o passed away I'iovvo Ks])nt Jxadisson. ono of tlio most daviiiy and ingoiiious luon of bis limo. Wo know n;»t!ung' of liis doatb, oxcopt from tbo fad that bis ponsion ooasod to bo jiaiil. ':i7^f.;*l-