The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-05 00:00:00

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

This morning wu issued the report of the Select
Cos:mattes of the House of Commons, appointed to consider
the state of the British possessions Nos J 1 Atomics under
the administration of the Hudson's Bay Compeny. This

document, which was adopted by 6 vote* to 5, is aa follows
"I. The out approach of the period when the Fame of
exclusive trade, granted in 1838 fur 21 years, to the Hudson's
Bay Company over that north-western portion of British
A Mirk. which goes by the name of the Indian Ten tray,
mum expire, would alone make it nemesia, that the condition
of the whole of the vim regions which are under the ea-
! ministration et the tramway should be carefally considered;
but there are other circumstances which, in the opnion of
yon- committee, would have rendered such s coarse the duty
of the parliament and government of this country.
2. Among these, your committee would specially ems.
msrate—the growing desire of our Canadian fellow-subjects
that the means of extension and regular settlement should be
afforded to them over a portion of this territory; the neces-
sity of providing suitably for the administration of the stain
of Vanoouver's Island, and the present condition of the
seal went which has been formed on the Red River.
. .

W'
3. Your committee have received much valuable eel-
dente on thoio end other subjocts connected with the
inquiry which has been entrusted to them, end especially
have had the advantage of hearing the statements of Chief-
J natio. Draper, who was cominieaioned by the government
of Canada to watch this inquiry. In addition to tb's, your
committee have received the es idence taken before a rent-
mittee of the Legislative Aevetubly, appointed to investigate
this subject, containing much valuable information ie refer-
ent* to the interests and feelings of that impirtant colony,
which are entitled to the greatest weight on this occasion.
" 4. Your committee have also had the opinion of the
law officers of the crown communicated to them on various
points connected with the charter of the Hudson's Bay
, 7 Com-
-IPall.
'6. The territory over which the company now mercies
rights is of three description.:
" let. The land held by charter, or Rupert 's Lend.
"2nd. The land held by license, or the Indian Uniitory.
" 3rd. Vancouver's Island.

.6. For the nature of the tenure by which these count' :es
are severally connected with the company, your committee
would refer to the evidence they have received end the docu-
ments appended to their upon.
" 7. Among the various objects of imperial policy which It
ialroportent to attain, your committee consider that it is 'seen.
tiul to meet the just and reasonable wnhes of Canada to be
enabled to seinen to her tttt itoty such portion of the land
in her neighbourhood se may be available to her for the
pi—piece ut settlement, with which lands she is nill.ng to
open end maintain communications and for which she will
provide the meson of local adruitiimtention. Your committee
epprebend that the districts on the Red River and the
Saskatchewen are among those likely to be desired for early
ouFrom, It is of groat importance that the peace and
order of those districts should be effectually secured.
r committee trust that there sal be no eifficelty in
effecting arrangements as between boa Majesty's government
end the Hudson's Bey Company by which these districts
may be ceded to Canada on equitable principles, and within
the districts thus annexed to her the authority of the Hud-
son's Bay Company. would of course entirely mime.
"8. Yore committee think It beet to content themselves
with indicating the outline, of such a scheme, leaving it to
her Majesty's government to consider its details more ma-
turely before the act of parliament is prepared, which will
probably be necssary carry it into effect.
"9. In came, however,' Canada should not be willing at a
very early period to undertake the government of the lied
River district, it may be proper to consider whether some
tern provision for its adminiatraUon may not be

" 10. Your committee am of opinion that it will be proprz
to terminate the connexion of the Hudson's Bay Company
with Yawata's Island as soon so it an conveniently be
dime, as the best means of favouring the development of the
great natural advantages of that important colony. Means
should sho be provided for the ultimate extension
of the colony over any portion of the adjoining continent, to
the west of the Rocky Mountains, on which permanent set-
tlement may be found practicable.
" 11. As to those extensive regions, whether in Ropes Ca
Land or in the Indian territory, in which, for the present at
least, there can be no prospect of permanent settlement, to
any extent, by the European ram for the purposes of
aloniation, the opinion at which your committee havo ar-
rived is mainly founded on the following considerations;
let. The great Importance to the more peopled portions of
British North America that law and order should, as far
as possible, be maintained is these territoria ; 2nd. The
fatal effects which they believe would infallibly result to the
Indian population from a system of open competition in the
for trade and the consequent introduction of spirits in a
far greater degree than is the me. at present; and 3rd.
The probability of the indiscriminate destruction of the
more valuable forbearing animals in the course of a few
"12. For these reasons, your committee are of opinion
that whatever may be the validity or otherwise of the rights
claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company, under the charter,
it is desirable that they should continuo to enjoy the pri-
vilege of exclusive trade, which they now Naas, except
so far so those privileges are limited by the foregoing recom-
mendations.
.

" 13. Your committee have now specified the principal
objects which they think it would be desirable to attain.
Row far the chartered rights claimed by the Hudson s ]fay
Company may prove an obstacle to their attainment, they
are not able, with any certainty, to lay. If this difficulty is
to he solved by amicable adjustment, such a course vrill be best
promoted by the gevernment, after communication with the
company as well so with the government of Canada, tether
than by detailed sugettions emanating from this committee.
" 14. Your committee cannot doubt but that, when such
grave interest. ace at stake, all the parties concerned wall
approach the subject in a spirit of conciliation and justioe,
and they thereto rq
_indulge a confidant hope that the govern-
meat will be enabled, in the neat session of parliament, to
I present a bill which shall ley the foundation of an equitable
and satisfactory arrangement, in the event, which we con-
sider probable, of legislation being found nectosary for that
purPo*o.
"July 31, 1837."

MiIMLESEX REGISTRATION.—On Friday last Mr
Shothrell, the revistog barrister for the metropolitan county,
held his list mart at Hampstead, which wu ettesded u
until by Mr. John Humphreys on behalf of the Middlesex
Itet am Registration Associat on, and by Mr. Tootle for the
(sateen-mires The result of the revision is as follows .-lAbe-
ral elsitos sent in, 310; sustained, 310. Objections by liberals,
made, 610; sustained, te.A. Overseers sustained 515 objec-
tions. N. of j.vtions were mole by tEe comxrvstit,a, and
oot wore then 20 :loisas were made by the Conservative As-
sociative.