The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-06-25 00:00:00

tea late for the attack, and the writer, in a feller of July ?,
returns God thank% eltat the battle was er before he got I
There fano 2—The Hon. Rai'ollet w ovent into a further
detail of lie commits of the "eaten, all tending to Ace, the
peimemlieoeil all arks of the North-West Company on the
ertilerneet of the Red Rives. Lord Selkirk was at Montreal
when be received information of those attacks un his settle. I
'stilt at the Red Riser, and he immediately eel out fur Ilk:et
place; his berdship applied fur legal nsteistaucei and the :
rE„,. which he this night read were seised under the moth°.
,;ey of a Magistrate. it ever there was a ease (said the
Hoe. Baronet) that called for solemn,, inquiry, it wee chi.—
if ever there wits a case where the Merle course uf juice ;
should he permed, it was this. He bored that Almisters
wee !errand toren.* why the most atrocious of the assail.
were rot brought over to be tried in England, or why 1
Coinisiissism was nut sent over to America to try ahem, le-
&nada trit-ting to the slow forms of the Courts uf America, I
whose proceedings were certainly not likely to prevent the I
„.,,
vcc,,nee of these crimes. Plot one-North of those who
were indicted had been tried, and utter Lord Selkirk hael
lerooeht witnesse% more than two Owosso(' miles distance,
suit efter they were detained at his expeeme fur upwards of I
three year', no procerdine% were hail. liettead of haring !
she proceeding% at Montreal. where impartial and
udelli-
greet Juries might be found, York, a small town under the
Maurine, of Government, was *elected ; and here, on the
Steals that were the Counsel for Lord Selkirk were not
allowed to put one single question to the witnesses. His
Lordship applied to the Governor for permission that his
Counsel urea be &those., iis examine those wiUresses, but •
vain The consequence was, that some were acquitted—
Mat where, even !fume who were the leaders in the murder,
erre mellowed to v not i• 11 'nil, and sailed eriumple ily
hone in the Wee Meals of the North-We at Company,
a ragmen:mace which went to establish the doctrine already I
la, eructed, that the influence of the North.erest einnywy
is ralbeieut to screen their servants from any attacks. Rut
occasion In compinin of the partiality *hewn to
jorooos, he hail mill greater cause so complam of Ilse
cetruireliertry manner in whirls the unfortunate Petilioure
(Mierliard; was treated. Ile was Wit We leis trial, on two i
&firmed c-cesium., for the alleged murder uf one of the
lull-hoe! men who was killed in the •tiack oti the set.
:lenient at the Red River. On this occasion the Attor-
nil-G..lmm% claimed as his privilege to lie closeted with
the Grind Jury, and he absolutely remained in the
room of that Jury who were to decide on the. case of
the mss Iliraiillt whom he conduieled a prosecution. The
law of C.musela was the same as the law of Logland, and if
II:e Aiteirriey.Geweral there had legally this power, the At-
ney.Generot in this country must have the same. He
now adcerl, had the Attorney-General its this country
%reek pewee; did he ever attempt to exercise it! The
11 mouiable Baronet submitted to the Homer, that this
ea. 3 time breach of duty on the part of the Attoruey-
Criieral. He alluded to oilier casts of precisely a similar
mime:, *here eio sorb power was ever even sought to
he mistimed by that Law Officer. The Honourable Ba-
rone', after some other observations, in which he took
memoitie again to allude to what he described the enur-
Inoue eineities committed at the Red River, concluded
by moving for copies of all official commune:mime% be.
twerp the Smeretary of Stale for the Gil Depart-
ment% mid the Governors of Upper mod Lower Canada, re-
epreiong 11w disturbances in the settlements on the Red
Bever and the promedings in the Comes of Law thereon.
He said that one great cause uf those disturbances was, the
Mimed jos-Wiest 0000 of the Iludsoser Ray Company. lie
%sunk! her un this point to read one of many leteere
published by the agent of the Reel River Company,
a letter which be greatly lamented the Colonial Goeertement
did mot nteend to, because that early attention would have
prevented all the viitlener, all the effieeimt of Blood which
they all deploord—that letter asked to have the benudaries
of the Hil•lsisli'S Ray Company ascertained—mud in prophetic
autietpated the melancholy occuriences which tuuk

place.
Mr. Emig said, that no one more than himself could ht.
oleo' the luokuce which took place in the I 'an countries;
it was painful, he said, So follow the Right Hon. Baronet is
hie aatement. He gave coedit to the Noble Lord for his
rows le firming the original settlement, but at the time he
(Mr. drelared that he would resist his ch•ins °flora.
dation, because lie considered that the Hudson's Bay Com-
rmy had no power to make the giant—he did not rest on
ji
his owls opinion; hr took, on this questimo, the first legal
erpinuuts iii the country, nod high as the names that the
Hun. Baronet mectioneol, float opinions,einougst which lie I
tricot ono ol the late AtttrneyoGeneral, all concurred in &cid.. •
tog, that time Company of Hudson's Bey hold aro power to •
soaks that grans The dispute commenced with a proelatna.
soot silt forth by Mr. Miles M'l)onnell, the Secretary to
Lord Srlki,k, commanding the individuals, at elle Or the set.
too meats of the North-West Curnpauy to oh part from thence,
a• Loorol Selkirk claimed this territory, wider a grant front
the II otok.oo Ilay. Company. This proclamation was
hotted over the whole country; atitl thus individuals, who had 1
bolos peaerably relaying the immunities which they derived i
her the Canadian Governinetit, were directed to abandon
their rizht. The next extraordiosary step taken by Mr.
1114 Donnell was, as he had tint, from particular circum-
stances, the means of supporting the persons at the Roil
Rorer settlement, to order that the provisions laid up
in the avitkrisent of the North-West Company, should he
enartiolered, oto the ground that they were the prodnee
of
the soil le longing to Lord Selkirk. Many arts of hostility
emoted, mod iu omit of these, Governor Semple, and emu ;
of his party, lost their lives. An attempt was next made by
the Hoolsoil Bay Company (for lie could never olisconneet '
them from !lase trausaetiuns) to put down the NorasWest
Compels), altogether. With this view, a gunoboat was fitted
out her a Lieutenant Holt, who fell in one of the skit,
Plilkhtd that took place fur the purpose of intercepting rota-
•iotsis. The armed adherents of the Company took two fork,
whirl, woe hunted sod raw ii to the eroutsol, with the ex.
eeptiols of some limbo r, which was word, and made use of
by the attacking parties to construct Fort Dingle!, where ,
Governor Semple after% sok look post. An attack was also I
made out another fort, but the commander successfully re-
i.i.trol the efforts made acacia it. The. Gentlemen by whom
it was do Gilded, finding a riallieolty 111 supplying the persons
CUIIIIC4II,II with the North -We.' Company with provisions, !
sent a windier of half-bred bulimia, with horses And carts,
to o ffeet this object, directiog them to keep as far 1111111 Ilse
nee iyorott•triteted fort as possible. G Semple, how. I
ever, discovered and pursued dom. The cousequence was,
that the melauchuly rmalict took place in which Governor i
Semple was killed, and which was described with so strong aim
effect by the lion. Baronet. When the North-West COll3.
pasty found their provisionoposts attacked, they were put on
the alo rt—atiol, of comm., they used every miens in their
power to preserve their properly at the different '
The valor of that prom-sty was tar from inconsiderable—fur,
in Fort Williams. which had been surprised, commodities to
the amount of 80,000/• were 'wised. It was said that Lind
S- colony was to be knocked on the bead by the North-
tfoo•I Compmy—bull, whet, Foot William was taken, Lord I
Selkirk Set-sine posee.sed of all the private documents of the
Cutup my, mud if 'hue were any design of destroying the
lies cutout, it was strange that he amild not, anions& those
Joo.tinieuts. Cud matter to support the allegatioss The t
eutivau, he admi I lea, was 'tie of the most cauolitl witnesses
examined tin the trials that hail taken place in Canada. He
party to the conflitt in which Governor Semple fell—
sod stated, that be knew not by whom the Ara shut was bred.
• ilia he was sorry that the Petitioner slated 'himself to be an
• iztturast settler—true who had recently proceeded to the
vep. r Country, and knew nothing of its situation : the fart
~!,e well knew the state in which the country was at that ,
III" uluegeol. With respect tor Lord Selkirk, he meld say, I
that hr yard hieroggressiuna beyond any thing ever before
h vre
"""" t" IC lef rills country. When he was at Fort
Mary,
""t's ho"" Id have acted but wisely, and bonealy for the
wlertm° °risk. 're if he had sent to Governor Gower, in
Csot"iso endeavoured, through him to obtain re.
&roll if injury h'lr been committed. lie did not do Otis.
Fort Mary was Wp acted, the property of the North-West
Curae""Y .64" i" d a ;maul it appropriated to 1111111.111 use.
Flit individuals fun'fun' ad as that
nest of murderers," as the
Lord 4-knoe Molded it, line seat, is the must igtoi-
no: Moos manner, t u Montreel. Ausougst these was air.
M-Goilieray, a maim who, bit Lordihip must have know'', •
bu'l nothing lu 00 • tub the tramiserine of which he runt.
Pilinsd—and 211
Ina rd
who was, he believed, as crepe-
14ble as 111. ti4/14.". rd himself. Agedist his he never rue

~.,

M
•

atiluted any proceeding trlntreer. With respect to the ge-
neral circumstances of ti'e case, it Was nuttily of rentetiti
that those who had the power, had placed, in the situstnru
of Jude's, erfIAUVII, nod other ind cial officers,ipert-ons whir
were ra•nt deeply ie 'ft...siert in the "veal of this dispute.
'J'he 'Chief Judge WIA. 310 Oilier resole. than Mr. Miler
M,Etimilell, whine. !NW lainalitm directing the North.%Vest

Company to ab:tiolon't h.- territory which they irld,
mitely to tl.• traii%action on the Real River. '!'.,rely it wag

rot iii; sly that the earls of justice wool,' be eittaisied by no-
minating to jinbctal mrtners, individuals who wvre evidently
torerested iu the event of theme proceedings. The Hee
stourable Baronet said, the Noble Lund ens most tttt •
to bare this business >a tiled by a judicial detisitio. Ile be.
hewed it would be most diffiridt, if slot impossible, lo have
it so settled. He augges fed, as the only means by whit 6 the
Tights of the willies crud.' he defined, a prneredinc either by
Ware Aries', or quo war route—int, he believed, their rev
a delicacy, 1111 the port oS the Law Ofticers of the Crown, In
submit to the derision of a Court of Law, rights, which

were nearly eutistected with the inters sin seed privileges of
the Crown itself. He (nr. E) had, when the disputes first
eonimeneed—when Mm. Stsllonnell seised on the provisiusis
oT the North. West Company—advised an action to Ire
!nought against him—but his advice wits not fol.
lowed. the this subject, he had corresponded at great
length with the Colonial Department. In one of thswe
communications, he adverted to the probability of her--
Witte% being produced by the ',imputes between the
parties—but, he hoped it would nut be supposed that
he, in the must distant degree, contemplated the unit*.
innate event that had taken place. A civil action bad
been instituted in the Cum t of King's bench against Lord
Selkirk, since Iris arrival in dna (-wintry, which was now
pending—and the decision of which would be of very con-
siderable importance to the settlement of the disputes. A
Commission, he believed, bed been sent nut by the Coloolial
Department to tovestieale the rights of the hostile parties—
tied alien the Report of that Commission was made, he
hoped oneli proceedings would be adopted as would tend to
restore amity between them. It was most desirable that the
controversy ebonld be settled, since it had already placed
the country in a state almost bantering ou civil war.
ble etARLIETT said, the conduct of his Noble Friend
(Lord Selkirk) hash, he conceived, been rather unfairly repre-
sented. He was not privy to the comfort of Mr. WHoti-
etell—and expressed very great regret that lie hail PI acted.
It was most extraordinay that Mr. MiDunnell should have
been prosecuted as a felon—when, at must, his conduct
could only he considered as arising from an erroneous esti-
mate of the powers he legally possessed. The colony on the
Red River was to have a eertaiojuriseliction—and, if the pro-
per boundary had been overstepped, i t wasevidently through
mistake. The grant to Lord Selkirk gave him jurisdiction
over certain territories, which were einimerated, and con-
cluded with the words, "el cetera;" which were very int.
;mama in this ease. All that had been done by the Noble
Lord arose from a feeling, that, if he had surietidereal, his
life would have been satriAned, and not from any desire to
avoid paying due obedience to legal and properly constituted
a tut horitles.‘,
Mr. WM V. SITR said, I.ord Selkirk had, he firmly believed,
entered on this project with no other stew but that of esta-
blishing a colony, wit out intending to interfere with any
set of men. 'He apprised hie Majesty's Government—he
apprised the Colonial Department—of his intent' . die
heard ne kind of objection from them—but, from that hour
to the peesent, be was not informed by diem of their opininu,
as to the legality and validity of hie proceeding, eu which
the prosperity of the speculation and the success of the
enterprise altogether depended. This was not a, question
between Lord Selkirk mid any set of individuals. The ques-
tion was this, whether Canada, a country much larger than
Eng;aml, and the soil of part of which was equally fertile
with that of England, should remain an uncultivated waste,
or he advantageously employed by industrious men ? The
question was, whether oppußitiou should be manifested
against these who wished to dispossess the animals of the
chase, and to introduce a spirit of civilisation where savage
lute tit relent prevailed? Sir A.Mickensie, who had resided
its Canada, who might be considered the second founder of
the North-West Company, in hie wink on the fur-trade, had
described the situation of those who ap selves en-
tirely to such a traffic. He observed tI a difficult
to bring rat o back from civilisation to 'age life,
than to introduce the blessingsof civilised° get savages.
This fact he proved by a recoriencito the situation of the
half-bred Indians, who followed the fur-trade. The moment
their traffic was at au end, they spent the produce of it, and
lieu returned to the Isarbarons employments of the chase. The
seine author gave a succinct account of the establishment
of the North-West Company—in the course of which, it
appeared, considerable violence was trade Use d. H had
been asserted that no complaints ha" been made respect-
ing the administration of justice is Camilla, but to his
uwu knowledge he could assert, that not tinge years had
passed fur the last 20 years in which suture complaint of that
nature had not been tussle. The violent character and con-
duct of the North-West Company were exemplified by a cir-
cumstance narrated by Lient. Hall, in his amusing travels
in Canada, respecting an attack made by their agents upon a
party of honest fishermen, who its no respect had merited this
mite:tee, and who in no degrie interfered with those "
us-
chartered monopolists." He argued, from various docu-
ments, stoat the grata made to die Carl of Selkirk could in
in degree interfere with the claims of the Company, and
that even this impression was originally entertained by the
ag.111.1 of she Company themselves. Lord Selkirk was ac-
cused of having constituted himself Judge in his own cause;
but let the couthiet of a man, named Norman M'Cleod, be
exandned, who acted in every respect as a Magistrate, com-
mitting persons in prison, and perfus ening other acts of
power, and then signed himself " Agent to the North-West
Company." Was such conduct to be permitted in him, and
ehutild Lord Selkirk, in much shove him in rank, and
far shove him, as far as the sitspicton of performing an ille-
gal act was considered, be charged with an improper ex•
tsetse of anthoi ity, if he aulwermently seised upon persons
who had been guilty of the moss atrocious prat-mimes ? It
appeated to him that the neglect of the Colonial Depart-
ment to all the representatious winch had been made on be-
half of either party, was the cause of all the misfortunes
(het had occurred.
Mr. E,.t.ts explained.
Mr lisise LT? said that the present Petitioner was a highly
respectable mass, and one who would nut put his signature
to any statement which he did not know, or conscientiously
believe to be hue. The question before the 110USI. was not
bruited in interest to the quarrels of commercial companies
which might be anxious to destroy each other's trade, but
was, in fact, whether his Majesty's Government had adminis.
tered the affairs of the colony as they eight to have done.
The lion. Gentleman opposite would Nye to make oat a
strong case that ow lathes meld be attributed to the Colonial
Department. He referred to the stature of the evidence that
had been brought forward on the opposite side, and said, it
came from a source so suspicions that he could attach no
credit to it. He detailed some eiteumstances of she law
proceedings contiected with this rase, YAW', sbewed that ins-
itarttal jnetice had not been administered; and concluded
by raying a high compliment to the character of General
Sir .'eregrise Maitland, the Governor of the pruviuce of
Upeer Canada.
Mr. Gotildiulte lamented the lateness of the hour at
which it was necessary fur lam to offer himself to the atter*
lion of the House ; but he was at the same time pleased
that an opportunity bad been given to the friends of either
side to expires their sentiments its Ibis transaction. It was
not his intention to cousider *hitt of those parties was the
original aggressor, nor whether the fords ade was valuab!e
or not ; the charge against Ilse Government was the
most important part of the question, and to this he
should astifitie himself. When Lend Selkirk first inti-
mated to the Colonial Department his intention of pro-
ceeding to North America, no idea was entertained that
the appearance of the Noble Lord in that quarter of
the world would be •tlentted with ally circumstances
iiijonietes to the tranquillity of the coludy. It was merely
supposed list the Noble Lord would eidablish in Upper
C.ossct a colony simtlar to that which he had already found-
ed in the month of the Gulf cif Si. Lawrence. He doubled
not that if a military force lied tutu II stationed there at the
first founding of this vilest', 1111.1111, of those melauelsoly
twills *OlO4 have folluarrel ahitl, would he long deigored.
Orders 5.1 shot effort had been sent out to the
lovee-
of Canada, but nitfoilenidt ly Lis means Were so