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As is now well known the Aborigines' Protection Society, in- fluenced by a senile of jiislice and humanity, have espoused the cause of the oppressed and degraded Indian tribes dwelling in that immense portion of our North-American possessions, which, under the Charter of 1670, has been for nearly two centuries under the rule of the Hudson's-Bay Company. The extensive publication of the Society's Memorial to Mr. Labouchere has been the means of attracting a large amount of public attention, both in this country and in Canada, to the condition of the Indians; and like- wise to the question of the validity of the Hudson's-Bay Compa- ny's Charter, and the justice of the claim set up bv Canada to extend her sway over a great portion, if not the whole, of British North America. On the 26th of September last a deputation from the Society had the pleasure of an interview with Sir Allan M'Nab, formerly Prime Minister of Canada, and now, as then, a statesman who exercises commanding influence in the colony. Sir Allan sug- gested that the Society should memorialize both branches of the Canadian Parliament, with a view to the appointment of a Com- mittee to consider, and report upon, the statements which the Society might make. In accordance with this advice, two Memo- rials have been forwarded to Sir Allan M'Nab ; and he has pro- mised to present, and to support, the one addressed to the Com- mons, and to secure the presentation of the other, addressed to the Legislative Council, by a gentleman well qualified to sustain its prayer. There can, therefore, be no doubt that during the ensuing session the question will be brought before the Canadian Parlia- ment in a manner calculated to lead to practical and beneficial results. On the 26th of November a deputation from the Society pre- sented an address of welcome to the Bishop of Rupert's Land on his arrival in this country, and sought to obtain his powerful co- operation on behalf of the Society's measures for the amelioration of the condition of the Aborigines. His Lordship manifested much interest in the subject, and remarked that the feeling at the Red- River Settlement was in favour of a connection with Canada, rather .^If I .»• A i • • • • ; • • • • •*»* * «» • :f^. .r^ b^ -i«0f^'" IS51 L54) ^■' than with tho T^nitcd States. As will he soon from tho foMowiiig hriof cxtnictrt from tho printed report of the interview, tho liishop furnished some inU;rostiug and encouruw to express its concurrence, not only in tho special objects on bolialf of tho Indians which the Aborigines Protection Society are anxious to realise, but also in favour of tho extension westward of the enlightened and constitutional Government of Canada. Tho following extracts from leading articles which have appeared in the columns of Whig, Conserva- tive, liadical, Ciiurch, and Dissenting journals, prove that tho question is one upon which all parlies may patriotically unite. The Morning Ptfst, in September last, closed an able article on the desirability of extending Canada westward with the following fe'iffnificant remarks : — " A few days ago we mentioned that the Canadian Government intended to bring the condition of the Hudson's-Bay territory under the consideration of the Home Government. On this point Mr. Vankougnet states that he had taken great pains to collect accurate information regarding the va^t country called the Hudson's-Bay territory, and he was convinced that a very great extent .. fit was not interior to the settled parts of Canada, either in soil or climate. Nay, more, he was convinced that if ever the Atlantic and Pacific were connected by railway, it must be through this territory and the Ottawa Valley, having the Gulf of St. Lawrence for its eastern outlet. * Si-me people might think him too sanguine; but he thought it quite possible that some then listening to him might live to see the products of China and the Kast Journey- '^ • ••• ••• •• .» , • .• • • • • • • . • • • • : • • ; • • • • • • • » • • • . « • • • * • • •' ^* • • • . • ' • * > -!'' H ing down the Ottawa Vallty and tlio Gulf of St. Lawrcnru on tlit'ir way to Kurope. The north- west territory, too, lie looked upon as a part of ('anad.i; or, if it was not, it should be, and he for one would never r»'9t coK*ented till it Wiis recognised as such.' 'Iliis amounts to an open declaraticn of Wii"- ( n the part ot Canada. What will be the result? 'I'lie clergy reserves, we know, wt're surrendered to the demands of the province, and the Hudson's Hay ('ompany nuist be content, in their ease, to witness a repetition of the same process. A monopoly which consigns a territory, extending to the dimensions of an empire, to continued barliarism and barrenness, will no douht have its advocates in this country as in Canada ; but it cannot long stand in opposition to tlie wishes and just claims of the people of Canada, impeding their progress, and delaying the extension of civilization across the continent of Norih Ame- rica, one of the glories still reserved for the Anglo-Saxon race " The following extract, having rc-ftTonce to the treatment of tlu; Indians by the Conipnny, is coj)ie(l from the 3Iurtii/i(j Star oi' Novemhor 1st: — " 'J'here is another and equally important part of the question which Chris- tian and humane Englishmen must not fail to investigate. We refer to the treatment of the Indian population by the Hudson's-Uay C'ompany. liound alike by the solemn obligations of Christian duty, and by the imperative in- structions of the Colonial Office, to promote the civilization of the Indian, and even to subordinate the pursuit of gain to this high ohject, the Hudson's- Iky C'ompany has accomplished nothing, has attempted nothing, in this direction. The history of the civilization of the Indian tribes under the Company's rule is a blank page in the book of time. But the history that siiouUl and must be written is a history of desolation and death. Not by the immutable law of Providence, but rather by the wickedness of selfish men, have the Indians perished by tens of thousands, until once powerful nations are n'duced to a few scattered and miserable remnants. The servants of the Hudson's Bay (Com- pany have introduced amon^ these unhappy children of the prairie and the forest those poisonous beverages which, while they excite the appetite and sti- mulate the passions, destroy the body and deteriorate the moral and intellectual T^iture. They have al«o visited the Indians with diseases far more to be dreaded than any pestilence — diseases which are known to be the most hideous scourge of civilized life. No countenance whateve r has the Company, or its otticers, ever given to Missionary eflTorts or civilizing agencies of any kind. In- deed, the Company's otie great object is, to obtain furs at the lowest possible expense ; and as attempts to civilize and ameliorate the condition of the Indians have tended to reduce the dividends of the shareholders, they have invariably been discouraged, as the Wosleyan Misniinary Society can testify from the treatment which its own agents received from the Company's servants. The remedy for this anomalous state of things is simple, and may be easily applied. It is to be found in the abolition of the Company's monopoly; in the extension in the north-west of the healthful and constitutional government of Canada; in the opening up of the country to emigration ; and in the settlement of the In- dians on lands of their own, and the introduction among them of the advan- tages of civilized life. In the efforts which are now being put forth to carry out these great and praiseworthy objects we naturally feel a lively interest. And, indeed, every one must wish them success who desires to witness the uni- veisal spread of free-trade principles, and to promote the work of Christian enlightenment in distant lands." The Evening Star, on the 13lli November, urg(!tl the rep'^al of h 1 the Hiulson's-Bay Chart r as a iiKasure nrnderr*! necessary by the wants and intciestsi (»f' Canada, no less than hy the claims of the Indian race. This journal states — " Had it not been for the monopoly of the Hiidson'h-Bay Company, Canada might have extended aa far west an the territories of the Union do now ; nay, more, since the valley of the Lakes and the St. Lnwrence is the natural outlet of the trade of the West, and that trade must, through it- natuntl channel, centre in Montreal, there would be nothing to prevent that city having now the same commercial pre-eminence which she enjoyed in the days when even the wealth and pertinacity of John Jacob Astor succumbed before the power of the north-western traders. It is time for Canada to speak out, and say that she must no Ioniser be fettered by obsolete charters {md unconstitutional grants; but aj;aio be permitted that freedom and power of exti-nsion westward which she originally enjoyed. She may be sure tiie lime is gone by when it conld be thotight necessary to carry such objects up the back stairs of the Colonial Office. So far from the people of Kngland having any jealousy of the progress of Can:idij, they know that her developement is their ga'n, and they will gladly further it ; but she must be prepared herself to take the initiative-" A Tvrlter in the Record, whom we believe to be hijihiy qualified to state the facts of the ease, presents a deplorable j)icture of the condition of Hupert's Land, in thatjournal of the 17th September. We extract a jiortion of his statement of the grievances to which the Ked-Hiver colonists are subjected under the Company's rule — "I leave the reader to draw his conclusions; but if, after all, the Company would still assert that they do all they can to improve the land, we would not only advert to the foregoing, hut would also ask the following questions: — 1st. Why is this colony still in its infancy, and will not bear a comparison with the progress of colonies elsewhere ? And why is it that there are no good roads in it, or leading from it, in any direction ? 'idly. Why is it that at this moment it is denied the advantag< s of a market and ao export trade? 3dly. Why is it that the Judge of the colony does not administer the civil and criminal laws upon the principles of equity and justice? 4thly. Why is it that the settlers cannot rely upon getting tiieir supplies from the Company's ports for ready cash, unless he should be a wild man, hunting wild animals, and bringing skins and furs in exchange? 5lhly. Why is it, that if perchance, at times, .supplies are obtained, they are sold at such high prices ; for example, sugar, one shilling per pound; rice, one shilling per pound; and salt, one shilling per quart? Gthly. Why is it that the settlers are restricted to a certain cla^s of articles in their orders for goods to England, and that they are charged for freight at the rate of seventy per cent. ? 7thly. And why are their arrangements such this mo- ment in this colony as to drive the settlers to the extremity of arming them- selves, and marching together in a body across the Indian plains to St. Paul and back, a journey of liOO miles, exposing themselves to great peril and loss, for the purpose of getting supplies for the colony at a reasonable price ? And why thus throw the resources of the country into the American market, instead of arranging more wisely to have expended in the British market moneys to the amount of seve "al thousand pounds? And, lastly, why did a gentleman recently endeavour, and succeed to some extent, in draining off this settlement, by inducing some of the settlers to follow him to the Oregon Territory, under the countenance of the Company, who actually guaranteed to afford supplies for himself and party on the route, and afterwards promoted this gentleman to ^•--N 'I un important post in their acrviiv Tur IiIm hardy cndt-nvoiirB. QiicstionR utich as tlu- forri^oing crowd upon V.'.v mind in reference to ttiia Buhject, hut we for- bear pulling more, and will simply, in conclusion, advert to the evils which must arise in keeping this country in a slate of bondage any longer. To be brief, the principle of injustice pervading the administration of tlie laws of the colony, ' a judge sitting in his own cause,' op«rat»d for a period of fourteen years; and the last stage at «^hich it brought Mr. 'I'hom was, (hat, from the diflidince felt and expressed in the incorrectness of his decisions, he was obliged, at the instance of public opinion, to vacate office — not to mention the C!ourt being surrounded, more than once, with several hundred armed men, to prevent his administering law. The Company, however, have followed upon the same principle; and they have appointed, if possible, even a more able man as his successor. So that this principle is in operation at the present moment, under far more dangerous circumstances to the well-being of the colony, because, during the latter part of the career of the former, there was a Governor in the colony, who had received his appointment by commission from the Colonial-office, owing to representations from Red River of the evils of the Hudson's-Bay Com- pany's government ; and while he was there he at leant served as some check to the agents of the ('ompany. But as he is now recalled, and aa the Colonial-office has appointed no successor, the Judge, who has newly entered upon office, may proceed without any such check ; and it will seem passing strange if, after Her Majesty's Government shall have received information upon the sxibject, that things are allowed to go on as they at present stand, because S'ither a protec- tive force, or a thorough change in the administration of law, is imperiously de- manded,' are the words of Mr. Ross. Are 700U settlers at Red River to be thus left entirely in the hands of the Company, who, in the language of one of its Deputy-Governors, would rather have a half-dozen wild Indians hunting furs than the whole of this civilized community? To proceed no further, the question resolves itself into this, Which of the two is of greatest value, man or beast? In the policy and scales of the Company, this moment, skins and furs weigh the heaviest, and Ihe debused Indian and his starving family the lightest. And it falls to ourselves, as a nation, to decide whether this is to continue or not — whether the majesty of the British laws is to be thus promulgated — whether our feelings as a nation, on the side of civilization and the well-being of man, are thus to continue to be manifested in this dark land." Tho V';cor«>, tiiat we gladly lend tlii> lielp of our rolunins to the investigation of tlie question The matter is t«u grave to l)e allowed to rest. Public opinion nmxt denuind Hearching incpiiry whether iliese evils exist or not. The vested intereHlR of the Hud.son'H-Hay Company cannot, for a moment, he allowed to stand in the way of this inveHtigation, for the right of the Imperial Legislature to inquire in such a case, and, after in- quiry, authoritatively to remedy proved abuses, has already been asserted, beyond controversy, in regard to the Kast-India Company. 'J'lie interests of two hundred thousand of our fellow men, both politically and religiously, ab- solutely outweigh all other and narrower coi.sidcrations." Tlu! J£c(moni}st, in its iin|uossiMH of tlio lltli of Ocfohor litsf, |Mil)lisli( (la review of the Aborif^iiie?.' Protcclion Society's Memorial lo Mr. Liihoticlicre, and, in reference to the five points iirfj^ed upon the consideration of the Government in iliat docmnent, oiir con- temporary olllrs the folIowin<; opinion : — '* None of these demands are wholly Utopian. Some of the North-American Indians who have been fairly dealt with have shewn themselves apt for civili- zation. And we all know what a powerful, manly, wcll-orgaui/ed race has sprung up in the ' half-breeds.' ISI'Lcan, in his ' Notes of a Twenty-five Years' Service in the Hudson's Bay 'i'< rritory,' speaks with enthusiasm of the convt-rted Indian^, now living on their farms, grouped round their Protestant Pastor. Rut, unhappily, such scenes are too rare. Instead of seeking to civi- lize the Indian, the white man has sought to demoralize him. ' Firewater ' and other vices have been introduced into the wigwam, that the trader may thereby gain a better bargain, and found his fortune on the ruin i)f a race possessed of many great qualities. While hopeless Missions are organized for the Tt- rra del Fuego, for the African Negro, and the idiotic Bushman,* the grandly-organized American Indian is left to spoliation and degradation — we are not too severe in saying — because some Christian men find their advantage therein. If this be not the case, when the question of the trade licence granted to the Hudson 's- Bay Company comes to be discussed, the facts set fortii by the Aborigines' Protection Society will be discussed as well, and perhaps some of the Indians' righteous claims be conceded. The converted farming Indian shews what capacity for civilization lies in the pure native : the magnificent ' half-breed ' proves what power of assimilation exists between tiie Aborigines and the emi- grants; (such at least is the view of this writer;) and betwee.i these two great successes it will be hard if we cannot amalgamate and elevate, instead of destroying the Aborigines. It will be a grand thing to prove that the law of historical progress need not of necessity include ethnic annihilation, and that civilization may be generally beneficial, and yet not individually destructive.'' The Nonconformist of the 24th Dec, in the course of some very appropriate remarks on the vi(;\vs expressed on this suhject by the Assistant Secretary of the Abori«rii)Ps Protection Society, fmnislies the following testimony regarding the treatment of the Indians : — " The Huison's Bay Comp ny, which comprises only some *23'2 persons, has. *' We must not be understood as endorsing this view; and are t'orry that good an article should be marred by so unjust a prejudice. so 4 some mbject ociety, of the during tlio two centurieii of its exiHtonri', invariably pursued n rruol and nelf- isli policy towardx the al)t>rl>;inal uccupanU of llii' soil, and •n-duiousiy aiiiu'd to ixrludt! civili/.alion from tin; wildtrnosH tiiey would ever rt'srrvi* for Ihtt wild animal. If llic I'vidoncf ^ivcn ia to bi* reliid on — and wo .ire bound to Hay that Mr. C'lu">Hon'8 alletialionn are in harmony with all we li id previouRly n-ad on tie Hubj«et — llie Hudson's- Hay Company ntand« convii'led of liavini' failed in ill oblif^alions, legally c«ntriict('d, to tiie natives of the territory. It liaH made nu eflorls to secure for them the biexfiin^s of civili/.ation ami reli- gion, b\it has, on the contrary, kept them in a state of the lowest dej^Tadiiliiiii, demoralized them by intoiicating drink, enticed them from their euslomary purxuits, and reduced them to a state of depi ndence bordering on slavery. 'I'iie exclusive li'.'ence to trade with the native inhabitants of the Indian terri- tories in that region is an aoonialy ko entirely out of harmony with the mid- dle of the nineteenth century, that we ( annot snppos*' it will be lonj; per- mitted to exist. Let the C'limpuny be called to account for the ♦ xercise of its stewardship by that Parliament from which it deiives its title; and if it should appear that it has Kro> articles. Its fiist article referred to the lahonrs of the Ahoiiuines' Protection Society. " uhieh (it ^^lit'S") has loinr been enjiapnl in the work of direcitiiiy- attention lo the unjust and illejifal pretensions of the Hudson's-Bay Company, and of ameli- orating the condition particularly of the Iiulian tribes, who have become, in fact, the slaves of the Comj)any.'' In an article on the unconstiiutiunality of the Comj)an\'s Charter, and especially on the injustice of their claim to tlu; country lyinof between Canada and the Rocky Mountains, tiie Ciluhe (I'ith Nov.) thus deals with the question of " com j)ensation " set up by the Company's orj^an in Canada — "The Montreal Herald appears to be the organ of the Hudson's-Bay Com- pany, who are evidently alarmed at the movement in Kngland, and the public discuHsion which has arisen in Canada, as to the legality of their assumed rights ; a discussion which has resulted in the establishment of the fact, that the Charter of Charles the Second, professing to confer upon Ww Hudiion's-Iiay Company exclusive rights and privileges, j.v invalid and nf no effect. The Hud- son's-Bay Company read the handwriting on the wall, and, cunningly affecting to do battle for ('anadian interests, they are but struggling to preserve to the 200 monopolists of London some portion of their illegal usurpation : for while ostensibly using arguments against the establishment of a penal colony in Hud- son's Bay, as prejudicial to Canada, our contemporary indites an essay du behalf of the Hudson's-Bay Company, and intimates that the Company will con- descend to give up the territory ' upon receiving a compensation.' 'J'he cool effrontery of this suggestion is somewhat amusing, and reminds us of the story where the thief proposed to rtstore to its owner the valuable animal I 9 Mliit'li hf liiid filiilfri, upon tl (> very rca^nnnblf rnndit Oih tl'ut he nliniild be pnid fdr Ii'im (rt'iitilf and rink in rlTrcliti^' lli«> tlici't, for hi* (>X()«'n't, nut ItiiHt, that hi- .xlinuld not li«- proHi'iiiH d for llir frlorioUM lakinn- 'I'l <• prnpimiiinn Ih (juili- cliarticl* ri'«tic nf tlial (ninpany, which, iitidiT thr prt t« ncr of a riiartcr, invalid in law, havr for m hm^ n ptridd fXcrciHtd illt-Kal ciainH, in d« flaiict' cf hiw and jiifttic*-, and uf all thi Hf |>rin('i|>ii>H npiin whirh tin* liix-rty of mankind Ih hascd. 'I li«-y liuve illi'K'tily (iiartt'd and cxtrciM-d iinjnnl and arbitrary lawn, anta^Miniktic to ah thdso rijihln and privii* ««'s which I'very (tvi> |uopii' claim ns th«ir birthright. Hndt r lh«'ir hiws tluy liavc cHtabiihhtd a I.ynrh law aut' ority, and connstatid the property of Canadian pi oph- and Kritish KubjectH: tlu'y have siibjcdfd Ruch men to inifiriHonnicnt and they have put mucIi men to death, and dared to call the murder a judicial act! They have wriinu money from Canadian settler* upon tile Hed Hiver i)y false pretences, t, iking it in paynunt \ut landt* to which they liad no (oloiir of d.iim. They have extorted money from those peoplf under the pretence of Custom dues, which no letjixlative power, i-ither Hritish or Canadian, had authorised them to exact. Wden such a Company talks of compensation, h t them relUct upon what tin y owe to tlie laws vihicli they t ave outraged, ar d the rights of humanity which they have trampled be- neath tlu ir feet. Hy the 1st und '2d Geo IV., ch. fifi, they are bound to send ever) felon for trial to Canadian Courts of .histice, and the penally for each offet CI' is l(t(l()/. 'i'hey have set that law at d» fiance, and libelled nritish law and Canadian ju>lice tiy the mockt ry of a trial— Hudson's-JJay men, jtiriges, prosecutors, and witnesses, and their creatures, their jury." We oxtracl tlie followiiifj from a foceut miiiibor of the Quebec *' Our Government, in stating its views upon the matter, ought to endeavour to form a combination with the Imperial Government, for the purpose of di- recting the stream of Norwegian emigration to these and other lJriti«h terri- tories in North America. They are aharrty, indu-ttnoux, and eiiergetic race, acquainted with many comforts and devices for alleviating the severity of the climate, and would lloufish more in the keen atmosphere of our northern re- )(ions, tliiin amonu; the pestilential swamps of the Western Slates. It is doubtless too prospective to dwell upon facts, tliuthe I'aeific Hailroad must pas* through the gap in the IJocky Mountains near the a airce of the Saskatchewjn in British territory; or, that so vast is the net-work of lakes and rivers in these lands, that a canoe may voyage from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Seas. In shewing the disadvantages of this monopoly, we have not men- tioned one point, which we are surprised has so long escaped public denuncia- t'on. We allude to the open prolligucy of the officers of the Compuny. It is indeed a fri>;htful thing to think that the Indians who inhabit ihesc viist dintricls have been given up to the lui>t of a few privileged and unprincipled adventurers, and that men, calling themselves gentlemen and Christians, have not hesitated to prostitute to tli» ir pi.ssions, and live in open prolligacy with, tlieir ignorant and deluded victims." Tilt' Montreal ii(i:clie, in it>* iini)rossi()ii of tli(! 10, li of l)o- cembci", atti'r referring to the jiroiiiiiiciice which, for u loii^' tiiiu; j)ast, it has ^ivcii to the coiiditioii of the Hudsoirs-Jiay Territories, and the claim of Canu'la to the jiossessioii thereof, makes the fol- lowing' nniar ks:— The agitatii n of the question thus begun here was echoed from ihe other ^ T'^ 10 ^ sideoftne Atlantic. Tlie Aborigines' Protection Society of London started up to new life and renewed effort; and the leading pri-ss of Britain liaa not been Rilent upon the subject. We believe that at least one member of the Imperial Government is prepared to act on behalf of C'anada in tliis matter. The popular mind has been pretty effectually aroused in Britain and Canada. The presen- tation of the Aid rcss of the Aborigines' Si oil ty to Mr. Labouchere, and the conference subsequently held with Sir Allan MacNub, were indications of what was likely to be done in Britain : the Toronto meeting, of the proceedings at which we published a report a few days ago, is a first step in popular agitation on the subject in Canada. These are signs of the times, betokening the break- ing down of Ihe huge monopoly which now controls half this continent. It is a warning to the Company to set its house in order. The magnitude of tliis sub- ject, the immense 'effect it is likely to have upon the fortune of Canada, can hardly be over-estimated. Our contemporary, the A^ew-Vork Albion, is right in declaring that ' this is, or ought to be, the Canadian topic of the day.' Among tlie present party struggles, the petty intrigues of place-hunters and place- holders, this rises up as a matter for great minds to grapple with, and to rouse great hearts to action. There seems little difference of opinion among the presf, or political parties of Canada, u,;on tliis point. Clear Grit and Ministe- rialist, Mr. Vankoughnet and Mr. George Brown, all seem to feel alike that a great future destiny for the people of Canada is bound up in the disposal of this territory, and that it is the duty of the present generation to secure the prize for those who are to come after them. We know too little, and have cared too little, for that great West which should be our own. The enter- prising men in the United States founded settlements in Oregon, and then juggled the British Government diplomatically out of what should have been our land. We know not how soon a nearly similar process may rob us of another slico of that turritDry. The Americans are pushing forward their set- tlements around the western end of Lake Superior; they occupy Pembina, on the Ked River, jnst where the boundary line crosses it; tliey are pushing their outposts northward in Oregon ; they are filling up all that territory ; and their population will soon stray over the geograpliical boundary which divides their land from ours. And what are we doing to appropriate a territory which we should occupy .'' - Notiiing. The lead'-n weight of a great ccmmercial monopoly keeps all slothful and torpd north of the forty-ninth parallel; and we have hitherto submitted quietly while other men iiave spoiled our pai.-i- mony. The British Government give the settlers on British lands a Company to govern tliem, which prevents them from the exercise of all the franciiiscs which, as free men, they should enjoy; which cripples their industry and fetters their commerce; which taxes and spoils them of their gains. It sets up an authority as if for the express purpose of alienating the affections of those who seek to make the land productive from British rule, so admirably is its machinery adapted to that end. So we find many of the settlers at Red River discontented, and determined either to throw off the yoke of the Company, or seek freedom and more remunerative employment of their indu-try south of the forty ninth parallel of latitude, under the stars and stripes. What more natural result to How from such a cause? We may be told much about the paternal kindness and care of the Hudson's- Bay Company ; and much they tell us about it may be true, just as it is true of the Government of Russia. But much of it is untrue also. That institution is very bad — almost, if not quite, infra-human — of which a friendly pen or pencil cannot sketch a bright side. But the pictures of the Hudson's- Bay Company's rule, painted coulenr de rose by their friends and salaried servants, have their dark, black side, too, which it were not well for humanity to have too broadly painted. It may be a paternal "-V:-*., 11 Hort of government, but it is a paternal cUspotisp- nevertheless, and tliatis u system abhorrent to men who, in this a^e, are given to read and think. The affairs of the metlfs, or half- breeds, at Red Kiver, may be better managed by the Com- pany ; but when they can read and write, and think of what they read — when they have learned to know what the inalienable rights of British subjects are — it is but natural they should desire to use tlio^e rights, and act for themselves."* The Mcetinp; of the Toronto Bojird of Trade, aUuded to in the ahove extract, was held on the Dd of December, and significantly indicates the state of pnbhc feelinjji; in infltiential commercial circles in Canada. Our limited s])ace prevents the re-piiblication, in these pages, of the proccedin«];s of this important Meeting ; and there is the less need for us to do so, seeing that they have been published Aviihoiit curtailment in the columns of several English journals. Mr. Alderman M'Donell,andCaptain Kennedy (anative ofthe Hudson's. Buy Territories, iind the commander of Lady Franklin's exploring expedition to the Arctic regions), made some important statements to prove the adaptability of the dis|)uted soil for purposes of coloni- zation, and to controvert the popular notion that it is a vast sterile and uninhabitable wilderness. The following extracts from Cap- tain Kennedy's speech will afford some idea ofthe value ofthe country as an abode for civilized as well as uncivilized man : — " On the coa«t of the portion of the territory where he had lived for eight years, whales, or rather porpoises were so abundant, that tliey could be caught by thousands. Smaller whales were also to be captured, and sealskins and other furs could be got in abundance. Coal and plumbago abounded in Ho- garth's Inlet, 80 mucli so that they conid be picked up on the sea shore. So numerous was the reindeer, that he had himself, with a party of twelve men, killed 216 reindeer in two hours. He had seen as many as ten or twelve thousand of them at one view. But the fur trade was a secondary conside- ration. The entire country, extending 400 miles from the boundary line to the north, was capable of cultivation of the same kind as was carried on in Canada. Particularly flax, tallow, and hides, which it was now necessary'to pro- cure from Russia, could just as easily be raised on those prairies. The coun- try was as fertile as it could possibly be. The Red-River settlers were now * Among other Canadian journals which are expressing strong views against the continuance of the Hudson's-Bay monopoly may be mentioned the Toronto Colonist and the Montreal Eveninii Pilot. We miy here remark, that the Aborigines' Protection Society's Memorial to Mr. Labouchere has been re- publis'ied, without abridgement, in all the leading papers in the province. A valued correspondent at Toronto, writing to the Asustant Secretary under date ofthe 20th .(ecember, says — " In Canada tlie question of depriving the Hud- son's-Bay Company of its monopoly is the question ofthe day. The agitation is proceeding throughout the province like wildflre. Hardly a paper appears in our cities or in our country parts without a column or so devoted to the ' Hudson's-Biy Territory ' in large characters. The Government here are already prepared to take up the matter against the Company ; and now if they wished to recede from such a movement they could not, without loss of office, the whole country being so unanimous in support of the proposal to drive the Company from this continent." 12 >' ^ % ! opening up a commnnicatlon with St Faul't, and Ov-casionally resorted to that city in a caravan of as many as 600 carta, taking their produce there, and get* titag American produce in exchange, as they fuund that more 'advantaguou* than trading with the Hudson's-Bay Company, who had done every tiling in their power, resorting to a variety of expedients, to obstruct the progress of the settlement. The whole territory was larger than Europe, and as fertile, and it ponessed as many facilities for commerce, both in tlie west and the east. Grold in great quantities was found oa Vancouver's Is'and. He had in his possession a specimen of gold quarts from Governor Douglas' own garden ; he had a specimen also from Qtteen Charlotte's Island ; and it was reported that the Company had bribed a man to silence who had found the samd metal on the Red Kiver, knowing that so soon as the tide of emigration should set into that region their trade and power was gone. In the Ked-lliver settle- ment the season commenced to be severe about tlie 1st uf November. Farm- ing operations t)egan about the Ist of May. He believed meteorological tables would shew that the climate at Red River was not severer than at Toronto, taking the mean temperature of the wiiole year. Snow only lay in the wooded valleys. In the prairies, it was so thin th»t the buffaloes did not mi- grate south, but grazed on them the whole winter. The country was favourable for the construction of railroads. Ttie distance between Lake Su- perior and Lake Winnipeg, in a direct line, was 200 miles, and the country, generally speaking, was level. The navigation was not so difficult: many of the rapids could be easily improved by blasting a few of the rocks. Tiiere was an abundance of coal along the banks of the Mackenzie and other rivers : it, indeed, fairly cropped the banks ; and mineral tar was to be obtained there in such quantities, that the Company never made use of any other tliaa this for their boats. Copper was also abundant, and in such a pure state that it might be chiselled out rather than mined from the beds. The entire sea- coast abounds with marine animals, and probably, ere long, the discovery would be made by the people of San Francisco, who would send out expeditions 1 1 gather them. The new Siberian country abounds with fossil, as well as natural ivory. He (Captain Kennedy) had a brotiier residing on Red R.ver, and he had requested him to convene a meeting of the inhabitants of the settlement to express their views and opinions as to the country under whose Jurisdiction they would like to be. If he had not misuaderstood him, the people were- very desirous of being under some other jurisdiction tlian that of the Hudson's- Bay Company, and seemed to prefer that ut Canada It was very likely that the views of the people would be embodied in a petition, which would be sent down to tlie Legislature of this country in the next session. We siiould then have an opportunity of knowing whether the Provincial GroverrlmeUt would be more attentive to the wants of their fellow subjects th^n the Imperial Grovernment. The extracts we have given occupy all our available space, although they form but a small portion of those we had marked for quotation. We think, however, that we have published enough of them to justify the belief, which we conftdenily express, that the Hud-on's Bay Question is assuming so much iinpjrtance, that the Imperial Parliament wilt bj compelled to consider it upon its merits, and to adopt measures in cjaformity with the rights of Canada, and the wants and the interests of the native population. x « kl orted to that ere, and get' idvantaguoiu jry tiling in progreu of nd as feriilti, west and the He had in own garden ; ras reported I aanitf metal in should set River Mttle- "ter. Farm- ilogical tables 1 at Toronto, f lay in the I did not mi- country was en Lake 8>t- the country, lit : many of icks. Tiiere other rivers : btained there - tliaa this lor state tliat it t; entire sea- covery would xpeditioas ti ell as natural l.ver, and lie settlement to a jurisdiction people were- le Hudson's- ry likely that rould be seot B atiould then imeat would lie Imperial ble space, marked for enough of that the tatice, that it upon its 3 rights of pulation. IS