Notes on Chapter X.—With the exception of the two petitions filed by Radisson and Groseillers in France, and of young Groseillers’ letters—all the contents of this chapter are drawn from the official records of the Hudson’s Bay House. Young Groseillers, by the way, is usually called Jean Baptiste, but as he signs himself Chouart I have referred to him by that name.
The real reason why Radisson came back to England is so new to history that I have given the instructions of the French Government in full. Radisson refers to these instructions in his affidavit of 1697, a document—which for State reasons—has never been given to the public till now. The State reasons will become plainer as the record goes on. Both governments were lying to sustain fictitious claims for damages. Herewith in part, is Radisson’s affidavit, taken before Sir Robert Jeffery, Aug. 23, 1697, left with the English commissioners of claims against France the 5th of June, 1699:
“Peter Esprit Radisson of the Parish of St. James in the County of Middlesex Esqr. aged sixty-one years or thereabouts maketh oath that he came into England in the year 1665 And in the year 1672 married one of the Daughters of Sir John Kirke. And in the year 1667 this deponent with his Brother in law Medard Chouart De Groseilier were designed for a voyage in the service of the English to Hudson Bay, which they undertook, this deponent going on board the ship Eagle then commanded by one Captain Wm. Stanard was hindered being disabled at sea by bad weather, soe could not compleate the sd. intended Voyage, But the sd. Grosilier proceeded in another English ship called the Nonsuch and arrived in the Bottom of Hudson’s Bay on a certaine River then which Capt. Zachary Gillam commander of the sd. ship ... then named Rupert River in Honor of His Highness Prince Rupert who was chiefly interested in that expedition.... And this deponent alsoe saith that in the year 1668 He went from England ... to another voyage to Port Nelson on an English ship called the Wavero but was also obstructed ... and at his returne found the sd. Grossilier safely arrived ... and in the year 1669 this deponent went on the sd. ship the Wavero commanded by Captain Newland & arrived at Port Nelson ... and in the year 1670 the sd. Grosilier was sent in an English Barke to Port Nelson ... and in the year 1673 there arising some difference between the Hudson’s Bay Company of England & this deponent, this deponent went unto France ... and in the year 1682 there were two Barkes fitted out at Canada ... sailed to Hudson’s Bay and arrived on Hayes River ... and took Port Nelson and an English vessel which came from New England commanded by one Benj. Gillam ... and gave the name of Bourbon to the said Port Nelson ... and in the year 1683 he came from Canada to Paris by order of Monsr. Colbert, who soone after dyed. And this deponent being at Paris was there informed that the Lord Preston, Ambassador of the King of England had given in a Memoriall ... against this Deponent And after this deponent had been several times with the Marquis de Seignlay & Monsr. Calliere (one of the Plenipotentiaries at the Treaty of Peace) this Deponent found that the French had quitted all pretences to Hudson Bay, And thereupon in the year 1684 in the month of Aprill, this deponent by the special direction of the sd. Monsr. Calliere did write the papers hereunto annexed ... ” (there follow the instructions to return to England as given in the text) ... “which the sd. Monsr. Calliere dictated ... and the sd. Monsr. Calliere acted in the sd. affaire by the directions of the Superintendent of Marine affairs in France.... And the deponent was commanded by the sd. Monsr. Calliere ... to goe to Port Nelson to withdraw the French from thence, And to restore the same to the English who—he sd.—should be satisfied for the wrong & damages done them by this deponent ... and this deponent went in one of the Hudson’s Bay Company ships to Port Nelson and withdrew the French that were there from that Place, and the sd. Place was then put into possession of the English ... and the French that withdrew were brought unto England....
(Signed) Pierre Esprit Radisson London.”
August 1697.
Those who wish a more detailed account of Radisson will find it in Pathfinders of the West. Chouart’s letter will be found in the appendix of the same volume. Documents Relatifs a la Nouvelle France, Tome I (1492-1712), contains the petitions filed by Radisson and Groseillers in France.
It has been almost a stock criticism of the shallow nowadays to say that an author has rejected original authorities, if the author refers to printed records, or to charge that the author has ignored secondary authorities, if the writer refers only to original documents. I may say that I have not depended on secondary authorities in the case of Radisson, because to refer to them would be to point out inaccuracies in every second line—an ungrateful tack. But I have consulted and possess in my own library every book that has ever been printed on the early history of the Northwest. As for original documents, I spent six months in London on records whose dust had not been disturbed since they were written in the sixteen-hundreds. The herculean nature of this laborious task can best be understood when it is realized that these records are not open to the public and it is impossible to have an assistant do the copying. The transcripts had to be done by myself, and revised by an assistant at night.
CHAPTER XI
1685-1686