The Remarkable History of the Hudson's Bay Company Including that of the French Traders of North-Western Canada and of the North-West, XY, and Astor Fur Companies

In 1871, soon after Rupert's Land and the Indian territories were transferred to Canada, it was the fortune of the writer to take up his abode in Winnipeg, as the village in the...

Lonely trading posts--Skilful letter writers--Queer old Peter Fidler--Famous library--A remarkable will--A stubborn Highlander--Life at Red River--Badly-treated Pangman--Foundin...

A picturesque life--The prairie hunters and traders--Gaily caparisoned dog trains--The great winter packets--Joy in the lonely forts--The summer trade--The York boat brigade--Ex...

Grand Portage on American soil--Anxiety about the boundary--David Thompson, astronomer and surveyor--His instructions--By swift canoe--The land of beaver--A dash to the Mandans-...

The Earl in Montreal--Alarming news--Engages a body of Swiss--The De Meurons--Embark for the North-West--Kawtawabetay's story--Hears of Seven Oaks--Lake Superior--Lord Selkirk--...

Nor'-Westers oppose the colony--Reason why--A considerable literature--Contentions of both parties--Both in fault--Miles Macdonell's mistake--Nor'-Wester arrogance--Duncan Camer...

The "Western Sea"--Ardent Duluth--"Kaministiquia"--Indian boasting--Père Charlevoix--Father Gonor--The man of the hour: Verendrye--Indian map maker--The North Shore--A line of f...

Peter Radisson and "Mr. Gooseberry" again--Radisson _v._ Gillam--Back to France--A wife's influence--Paltry vessels--Radisson's diplomacy--Deserts to England--Shameful duplicity...

Both Companies in danger--Edward Ellice, a mediator--George Simpson, the man of destiny--Old feuds buried--Gatherings at Norway House--Governor Simpson's skill--His marvellous e...

Transfer Act passed--A moribund government--The Canadian surveying party--Causes of the rebellion--Turbulent Metis--American interference--Disloyal ecclesiastics--Governor McDou...

Peter Pond reaches Athabasca River--Fort Chipewyan established--Starting-point of Alexander McKenzie--The Athabasca library--The Hudson Bay Company roused--Conflict at Fort Wedd...

Alexander Mackenzie's book--Lord Selkirk interested--Emigration a boon--Writes to Imperial Government--In 1802 looks to Lake Winnipeg--Benevolent project of trade--Compelled to...

Chiefly Scottish and French settlers--Many hardships--Grasshoppers--Yellow Head--"Gouverneur Sauterelle"--Swiss settlers--Remarkable parchment--Captain Bulger, a military govern...

Fort Vancouver on American soil--Chief Factor Douglas chooses a new site--Young McLoughlin killed--Liquor selling prohibited--Dealing with the Songhies--A Jesuit father--Fort Vi...

Harmon and his book--An honest man--"Straight as an arrow"--New views--An uncouth giant--"Gaelic, English, French, and Indian oaths"--McDonnell, "Le Prêtre"--St. Andrew's Day--"...

New route to Kaministiquia--Vivid sketch of Fort William--"Cantine Salope"--Lively Christmas week--The feasting partners--Ex-Governor Masson's good work--Four great Mackenzies--...

Dashing French trader--"The country of fashion"--An air of great superiority--The road is that of heaven--Enough to intimidate a Cæsar--"The Bear" and the "Little Branch"--Yet m...

Famous Companies--"The old lady of Fenchurch Street"--The first voyage--Radisson and Groseilliers--Spurious claim of the French of having reached the Bay--"Journal published by...

Fascination of an unknown land--Adventure, science, or gain--Lieutenant Lefroy's magnetic survey--Hudson's Bay Company assists--Winters at Fort Chipewyan--First scientific visit...

A disputed boundary--Sources of the Mississippi--The fur traders push southward--Expedition up the Missouri--Lewis and Clarke meet Nor'-Westers--Claim of United States made--Sad...

Renewal of licence--Labouchere's letter--Canada claims to Pacific Ocean--Commissioner Chief-Justice Draper--Rests on Quebec Act, 1774--Quebec overlaps Indian territories--Compan...

A vast region--First spiritual adviser--A _locum tenens_--Two French Canadian priests--St. Boniface founded--Missionary zeal in Mackenzie River district--Red River parishes--The...

Lachine, the fur traders' Mecca--The departure--The flowing bowl--The canoe brigade--The voyageur's song--"En roulant ma boule"--Village of St. Anne's--Legend of the Church--The...

Old John Jacob Astor--American Fur Company--The Missouri Company--A line of posts--Approaches the Russians--Negotiates with Nor'-Westers--Fails--Four North-West officials join A...

Discontent on Red River--Queries to the Governor--A courageous Recorder--Free trade in furs held illegal--Imprisonment--New land deed--Enormous freights--Petty revenge--Turbulen...

The North-West Passage again--Lieut. John Franklin's land expedition--Two lonely winters--Hearne's mistake corrected--Franklin's second journey--Arctic sea coast explored--Frank...

The bleak shores unprogressive--Now as at the beginning--York Factory--Description of Ballantyne--The weather--Summer comes with a rush--Picking up subsistence--The Indian trade...

The crisis reached--Consequences of Seven Oaks--The noble Earl--His generous spirit--His mistakes--Determined courage--Deserves the laurel crown--The first Governor--Macdonell's...

Extension of trade in New Caledonia--The Western Department--Fort Vancouver built--Governor's residence and Bachelor's Hall--Fort Colville--James Douglas, a man of note--A digni...

Leader of the Bois Brûlés--A candid letter--Account of a prisoner--"Yellow Head"--Speech to the Indians--The chief knows nothing--On fleet Indian ponies--An eye-witness in Fort...

Samuel Hearne--"The Mungo Park of Canada"--Perouse complains--The North-West Passage--Indian guides--Two failures--Third journey successful--Smokes the calumet--Discovers Arctic...

A young Highlander--To rival Hearne--Fort Chipewyan built--French Canadian voyageurs--Trader Leroux--Perils of the route--Post erected on Arctic Coast--Return journey--Pond's mi...

The golden lilies in danger--"To arrest Radisson"--The land called "Unknown"--A chain of claim--Imaginary pretensions--Chevalier de Troyes--The brave Lemoynes--Hudson Bay forts...

The capture of Canada by General Wolfe in 1759 completely changed the course of affairs in the Western fur country. Michilimackinac and Sault Ste. Marie had become considerable...

Stock rises--Jealousy aroused--Arthur Dobbs, Esq.--An ingenious attack--Appeal to the "Old Worthies"--Captain Christopher Middleton--Was the Company in earnest?--The sloop _Furn...

Royal charters--Good Queen Bess--"So miserable a wilderness"--Courtly stockholders--Correct spelling--"The nonsense of the Charters"--Mighty rivers--Lords of the territory--To e...

"Le roi est mort"--Royalty unfavourable--Earl of Halifax--"Company asleep"--Petition to Parliament--Neglected discovery--Timidity or caution--Strong "Prince of Wales"--Increase...

Hudson's Bay Company aggressive--The great McTavish--The Frobishers--Pond and Pangman dissatisfied--Gregory and McLeod--Strength of the North-West Company--Vessels to be built--...

British law disgraced--Governor Sherbrooke's distress--A Commission decided on--Few unbiassed Canadians--Colonel Coltman chosen--Over ice and snow--Alarming rumours--The Prince...

The Company's Indian policy--Character of officers--A race of hunters--Plan of advances--Charges against the Company--Liquor restriction--Capital punishment--Starving Indians--D...

The new policy of the Company that for a hundred years had carried on its operations in Hudson Bay was now to be adopted. As soon as the plan could be developed, a long line of...

"Le Marquis" Simon McTavish unpopular--Alexander Mackenzie his rival--Enormous activity of the "Potties"--Why called X Y--Five rival posts at Souris--Sir Alexander, the silent p...

Rich Mr. Portman--Good ship _Prince Rupert_--The early adventurers--"Book of Common Prayer"--Five forts--Voting a funeral--Worth of a beaver--To Hudson Bay and back--Selling the...

The success of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the influence exerted by it during so long a period, has often been attributed to the union of persons of station and high political...

Louis XIV. of France, by his ambition and greed in 1690, united against himself the four nations immediately surrounding him--Germany, Spain, Holland, and England, in what they...

Relieved of the burden of government, the Hudson's Bay Company threw itself heartily into the work of developing its resources. Mr. Donald A. Smith, who had done so much to unde...

North-West and X Y Companies unite--Recalls the Homeric period--Feuds forgotten--Men perform prodigies--The new fort re-christened--Vessel from Michilimackinac--The old canal--W...

Fascination of an unknown land--Adventure, science, or gain--Lieutenant Lefroy's magnetic survey--Hudson's Bay Company assists--Winters at Fort Chipewyan--First scientific visit...

Harmon and his book--An honest man--"Straight as an arrow"--New views--An uncouth giant--"Gaelic, English, French, and Indian oaths"--McDonnell, "Le Prêtre"--St. Andrew's Day--"...

Dashing French trader--"The country of fashion"--An air of great superiority--The road is that of heaven--Enough to intimidate a Cæsar--"The Bear" and the "Little Branch"--Yet m...

Peter Pond reaches Athabasca River--Fort Chipewyan established--Starting point of Alexander Mackenzie--The Athabasca Library--The Hudson's Bay Company roused--Conflict at Fort W...

Nor'-Westers oppose the colony--Reason why--A considerable literature--Contentions of both parties--Both in fault--Miles Macdonell's mistake--Nor'-Wester arrogance--Duncan Camer...

Lonely trading posts--Skilful letter writers--Queer old Peter Fidler--Famous library--A remarkable will--A stubborn Highlander--Life at Red River--Badly-treated Pangman--Foundin...

A disputed boundary--Sources of the Mississippi--The fur traders push southward--Expedition up the Missouri--Lewis and Clark meet Nor'-Westers--Claim of United States made--Sad...

Lachine, the fur traders' Mecca--The departure--The flowing bowl--The canoe brigade--The voyageurs' song--"En roulant ma boule"--Village of St. Anne's--Legend of the church--The...

The North-West Passage again--Lieutenant John Franklin's land expedition--Two lonely winters--Hearne's mistake corrected--Franklin's second journey--Arctic sea coast explored--F...

Discontent on Red River--Queries to the Governor--A courageous Recorder--Free Trade in furs held illegal--Imprisonment--New land deed--Enormous freights--Petty revenge--Turbulen...

Extension of trade in New Caledonia--The Western Department--Fort Vancouver built--Governor's residence and Bachelors' Hall--Fort Colville--James Douglas, a man of note--A digni...

Alexander Mackenzie's book--Lord Selkirk interested--Emigration a boon--Writes to Imperial Government--In 1802 looks to Lake Winnipeg--Benevolent project of trade--Compelled to...

Renewal of licence--Labouchere's letter--Canada claims to Pacific Ocean--Commissioner Chief-Justice Draper--Rests on Quebec Act, 1774--Quebec overlaps Indian territories--Compan...

The bleak shores unprogressive--Now as at the beginning--York Factory--Description of Ballantyne--The weather--Summer comes with a rush--Picking up subsistence--The Indian trade...

Famous Companies--"The old lady of Fenchurch Street"--The first voyage--Radisson and Groseilliers--Spurious claim of the French of having reached the Bay--"Journal published by...

Fort Vancouver on American soil--Chief Factor Douglas chooses a new site--Young McLoughlin killed--Liquor selling prohibited--Dealing with the Songhies--A Jesuit father--Fort Vi...

Transfer Act passed--A moribund Government--The Canadian surveying party--Causes of the rebellion--Turbulent Metis--American interference--Disloyal ecclesiastics--"Governor" McD...

Both Companies in danger--Edward Ellice, a mediator--George Simpson, the man of destiny--Old feuds buried--Gatherings at Norway House--Governor Simpson's skill--His marvellous e...

New route to Kaministiquia--Vivid sketch of Fort William--"Cantine Salope"--Lively Christmas week--The feasting partners--Ex-Governor Masson's good work--Four great Mackenzies--...

Old John Jacob Astor--American Fur Company--The Missouri Company--A line of posts--Approaches the Russians--Negotiates with Nor'-Westers--Fails--Four North-West officials join A...

The crisis reached--Consequences of Seven Oaks--The noble Earl--His generous spirit--His mistakes--Determined courage--Deserves the laurel crown--The first Governor--Macdonell's...

A vast region--First spiritual adviser--A _locum tenens_--Two French Canadian priests--St. Boniface founded--Missionary zeal in Mackenzie River district--Red River parishes--The...

Leader of the Bois Brûlés--A candid letter--Account of a prisoner--"Yellow Head"--Speech to the Indians--The chief knows nothing--On fleet Indian ponies--An eye-witness in Fort...

Grand Portage on American soil--Anxiety about the boundary--David Thompson, astronomer and surveyor--His instructions--By swift canoe--The land of beaver--A dash to the Mandans-...

"Le Marquis" Simon McTavish unpopular--Alexander Mackenzie, his rival--Enormous activity of the "Potties"--Why called X Y--Five rival posts at Souris--Sir Alexander, the silent...

The Earl in Montreal--Alarming news--Engages a body of Swiss--The De Meurons--Embark for the North-West--Kawtawabetay's story--Hears of Seven Oaks--Lake Superior--Lord Selkirk--...

British law disgraced--Governor Sherbrooke's distress--A commission decided on--Few unbiassed Canadians--Colonel Coltman chosen--Over ice and snow--Alarming rumours--The Prince...

Chiefly Scottish and French settlers--Many hardships--Grasshoppers--Yellow Head--"Gouverneur Sauterelle"--Swiss settlers--Remarkable parchment--Captain Bulger, a military govern...

A picturesque life--The prairie hunters and traders--Gaily-caparisoned dog trains--The great winter packets--Joy in the lonely forts--The summer trade--The York boat brigade--Ex...

Company's Indian policy--Character of officers--A race of hunters--Plan of advances--Charges against the Company--Liquor restriction--Capital punishment--Starving Indians--Disea...

A young Highlander--To rival Hearne--Fort Chipewyan built--French Canadian voyageurs--Trader Leroux--Perils of the route--Post erected on Arctic Coast--Return journey--Pond's mi...

Peter Radisson and "Mr. Gooseberry" again--Radisson _v._ Gillam--Back to France--A wife's influence--Paltry vessels--Radisson's diplomacy--Deserts to England--Shameful duplicity...

Hudson's Bay Company aggressive--The great McTavish--The Frobishers--Pond and Pangman dissatisfied--Gregory and McLeod--Strength of the North-West Company--Vessels to be built--...

North-West and X Y Companies unite--Recalls the Homeric period--Feuds forgotten--Men perform prodigies--The new fort re-christened--Vessel from Michilimackinac--The old canal--W...

Stock rises--Jealousy aroused--Arthur Dobbs, Esq.--An ingenious attack--Appeal to the "Old Worthies"--Captain Christopher Middleton--Was the Company in earnest? The sloop _Furna...

"Le roi est mort"--Royalty unfavourable--Earl of Halifax--"Company asleep"--Petition to Parliament--Neglected discovery--Timidity or caution--Strong "Prince of Wales"--Increase...

Royal charters--Good Queen Bess--"So miserable a wilderness"--Courtly stockholders--Correct spelling--"The nonsense of the Charters"--Mighty rivers--Lords of the territory--To e...

The "Western Sea"--Ardent Duluth--"Kaministiquia"--Indian boasting--Père Charlevoix--Father Gonor--The man of the hour:--Verendrye--Indian map-maker--The North Shore--A line of...

Samuel Hearne--"The Mungo Park of Canada"--Perouse complains--The North-West Passage--Indian guides--Two failures--Third journey successful--Smokes the calumet--Discovers Arctic...

Rich Mr. Portman--Good ship _Prince Rupert_--The early adventurers--"Book of Common Prayer"--Five forts--Voting a funeral--Worth of a beaver--To Hudson Bay and back--Selling the...

The golden lilies in danger--"To arrest Radisson"--The land called "Unknown"--A chain of claim--Imaginary pretensions--Chevalier de Troyes--The brave Lemoynes--Hudson Bay forts...