[2] “The nations of Europe had adopted the principle that discovery gave title to the government by whose subjects or by whose authority it was made, against all other European governments, which title might be consummated by possession.” (Chief Justice Marshall.)
[3] This was the same Henry Kelsey who showed conspicuous bravery at the capture of Fort Nelson by the French under d’Iberville in 1690, and who subsequently became a Deputy Governor in the Hudson’s Bay service.—(E. J. C.).
[4] “The Last Great Monopoly.”
[5] Joseph Robson, who had been employed as a stone mason and engineer in the construction of Fort Prince of Wales at Churchill between 1733 and 1748, and had been up Nelson river for a distance of forty or fifty miles, was one of the chief witnesses. Being asked as to the number of British subjects in the Company’s settlements, he said that the first year he was at York Fort there were 36 persons there, and at Churchill 44 or 45; that he never saw any British subjects there, except the Company’s servants, nor any other people desirous to “fix” there, or that the Company had ever offered encouragement to British subjects to “settle” there. He expressed the opinion that some of the country about Hudson bay might be settled and inhabited, if people would go up the rivers till they found a better climate, and there erect settlements. He declared that he did not doubt that he himself could find three or four hundred British subjects, who would willingly go there to live winter and summer, and, he added, he would go for one. He added that speaking from his own experience, the cold of the Hudson bay winter might be endured without any inconvenience, their clothing being adapted to the climate. He had suffered more from cold in England, than ever he did at Hudson bay. It was true that flesh will freeze, but he never knew any person to lose his fingers from frostbite at Churchill or York.
[6] In 1773 Hearne established Cumberland House as a southern outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was Hearne, the hero of this daring trip of exploration, who, as governor of Prince of Wales fort (Churchill), in 1782, ignominiously surrendered that stronghold to the French squadron under La Pérouse, without firing a shot.
[7] Governor Morton’s instructions to Hearne set forth the object of the expedition in detail. They included the following:— “The Indians who are now appointed your guides, are to conduct you to the border of the Athapapuscow (Great Slave lake) and Indians’ country, where Captain Matonabbee (an Indian chief) is to meet you in the spring of one thousand seven hundred and seventy, in order to conduct you to a river represented by the Indians to abound with copper ore, animals of the fur kind, etc., and which is said to be so far to the northward that in the middle of the summer the sun does not set, and is supposed by the Indians to empty itself into some ocean. This river, which is called by the Northern Indians Neetha-San-San-Dazey, or Far Off Metal river, you are, if possible, to trace to the mouth, and there determine the latitude and longitude as near as you can; but more particularly so if you find it navigable; and that a settlement can be made there with any degree of safety, or benefit to the Company.” “Be careful to observe what mines are near the river; what water there is at the river’s mouth; how far the woods are from the sea-side; the course of the river; the nature of the soil and the productions of it; and make any other remarks that you may think will be either necessary or satisfactory. And if the said river be likely to be of any utility, take possession of it on behalf of the Hudson’s Bay Company, by cutting your name on some of the rocks, as also the date of the year, month, etc.”
[8] A synopsis of the account of Hearne’s journey was published in pamphlet form in 1773 and re-published in 1778-80, the complete account being published in book form in 1790. (Beckles Wilson.)
[9] The history of the Peace and Athabaska country commences in 1778, when Peter Pond, subsequently a partner in the Northwest Company, pushing northwestward in search of new fur districts, reached the Athabaska by way of Methye portage and Clearwater river, and descending it, founded a fort known as “The Old Establishment,” about thirty miles above its mouth. In 1788 this post was abandoned, and a new one built on the south side of Lake Athabaska, on what is now known as “Old Fort Point.” Still later, this site was also deserted and a better one selected on the north shore, near the outlet of the lake. A general map of the Northwest was published by Peter Pond in 1785. Peter Pond’s venture proved extremely remunerative, and he was followed by other traders who gradually spread themselves over the then unknown country to the north and west. (J. M. McConnell’s report.)
[10] In 1827 Franklin returned from the northwest via Lake Winnipeg, the great lakes and Ottawa river. In passing Ottawa, in August, he laid the cornerstone of the lowest tier of locks on Rideau canal.
[11] The English Government, in 1821, after the union of the Northwest Company with the Hudson’s Bay Company, granted the reorganized company a license of exclusive trade over the country to the west of the watershed of Hudson bay, or Rupert’s Land. The license was renewed in 1838.