The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-28 00:00:00

PARLIA EIV TA itY DI VISION.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FEB. 26.
WAR WITH CHINA.
The following Peers voted against the Earl of Derby'
resolutions :

PRESENT.
H.R.H. Duke of Fingall. Broughton.
Cambridge. Granville. Camoys.
Lord Chancellor. ligrrowby. Carew.
Archbishop of Can- Kingston. Carington.
terbury. Munster. Cremorne.
DUKES. Scarborough. Do Tabley.
Argyll. Spencer. Dacro.
Norfolk. Shelburn. Dufferin.
Wellington. St. Germains. Foley.
MARQUISES. Shaftesbury, Glenelg.
Ailesbury. Yarborough. Hatherton.
Abercorn. VISCOUNTS. Leigh.
Breadalbano. Enfibld. Lilford.
Camden. Falkland. Methuen.
Clanricarde. Sydney. Mostyn.
Townshend. Torrington. Overstone.

EARLS.
Abingdon.
Airlie.
Albemarle.
Bessborough.
Burlington.
Camperdown.
Chichester.•
Clarendon.
Cork.
Ducie.

Bisnors. Panmuro.
Bath and Wells. Rivers.
Carlisle. Saye and Sole.
Gloucester. Staffirrd.
London. Stanley of Alderley,
Manchester. Truro.
BARONS. Talbot de Malahide.
Aveland. Vivian.
Arundel. Wrottesley.
Belper. Wensleydale.
Biron.

PROXIES.
Kintora. Crewe.
Lindsey. Churchill.
Leicester. Dunfermline.
Meath. Dorchester.
Morley. Denman.
Ripon. ' Erskine.
Rosebery. Gardner.
Stair. Howard de Walden,
Waldegrave. Harris.
Zetland. Ho wden.
Viscomir. Keane.
Masserene. Kinnaird.
Blsuors. Lovat.
Down. Lyons.
Durham. Londesborough.
Hereford. Monson.
Lichfield. Manners.
Peterborough. Portman.
St. Asaph. Petra.
Winchester. Rossmore.
Worcester. Sudeley.
Balms. Seaton.

DUKES.
Devonshire.
• Leeds.
Leinster.
Marlborough.
Roxburgh.

MARQUISES.
lleadfort.
Londonderry.
Northampton.
Sligo.
Westminster.
EARLS.
Amherst.
C.I rlisle.
Co ttenham.
Denbigh.
Devon.
Errol.
Effingham.
Essex.
Fit zhardingo.
Fortescue.
Glasgow.
Gosford.
Granard.
Kenmaro.

Alvauley.
Ashburton.
Belhaven.
Brougham.
Cowley.

Stuart de Denies.
Vernon.
Ward.
Wharncliffe.
Wodehouse.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.
This committee met again on Thursday ; Mr. Labou-
chore in the chair.
Sir George Simpson was the first and only witness called,
his examination lasting through the whole sitting. He said
ho held the post of governor of the territory for the
Hudson's Bay Company fur the period of 37 years. There
was no fixed seat of government, but there was a seat of
council. His authority extended over the whole of the
company's territory. The nature of the authority of the
council was merely as advisers, and to vote upon such
questions as were brought before them. The council could
outvote the governor, but it had never been so. He had tra-
velled through the greater part of the country forming the
territory of the company. His impressions of the capa-
bilities of the soil or climate as regarded Rupert's Land
were that it was not adapted for settlement or cultivation.
He applied the same remark to the country of the Red
River ; they were occasionally obliged to import wheat
from Canada. He also applied the same remark to the
land wet of t'ie Rocky Mountains.
By Mr. Gladstone—He spoke of Rupert's Land as dating
in regard to boundaries as laid down in the charter.
Speaking of the whole of Rupert's Land, he would draw a
distinction as to climate ; the north being much more
vigorous than the south. There was no part of the terri-
tory having a mild climate. Barley very seldom ripened,
and was very small in yield. He did not think settle-
ment had an influence upon climate, even when the coun-
try was densely populated. Vancouver's Island he con-
sidered more favourably situated for settlement than the
company's territory.
By. Mr. Gordon—He considered that a description given
of the country in a book which be had published was too
favourable ; he had overrated the capabilities of the
country.
By Mr. Grogan—The occasions on which they had to
import wheat from Canada were exceptional ; that neces-
sity arose from the country being entirely flooded and the
crops destroyed ; but in ordinary years the quantity of grain
grown in the company's territory was not sufficient for the
consumption of the natives. There were but 8,003 acres of
land under cultivation in the neighbourhood of the Red
River settlement.
By Mr. Adderley—The present population of the Red
River territory was about 8,000. The settlement had been
established over 40 years. There was much difference of
climate between Minosota and the Red River settlement.
By Mr. Ellice—At the Red River settlement the company
kept two years' supply of grain on hand for fear of the
crops being destroyed by floods. There were hundreds and
hundreds of miles of water across the country when the
floods came. The company did establish a model farm at
Red River settlement, and they did all they could to pro-
mote agriculture ; they had also imported the very best
breeds of cattle to be had. He did not think the Ameri-
cans were rapidly making settlements towards the Red
River as had been stated by a previous witness.
By the Chairman—The company employed 60 chief fac-
tors, 9 chief raters, 5 surgeons, 87 clerks, 67 postmasters,
1,200 permanent servants. In the trading season the com-
pany gave employment to about 3,000 persons altogether ;
that included labouring Indians. He calculated the total
number of Indians in Ruport's Land to be 42,84's That
calculation was made this fast season. The country to
the east of the Rocky Mountains contained, he considered,
12,700 inhabitants, and that to the west about 8,000. The
whole amount of Indian population wir,hin the territory of
the Hudson' Bay Company, including Vancouver's Island,
he considered to b 3 about 139,000. He thought the popu-
lation (Indian) generally had decreased of late years, owing
to wars among themselves and the small-pox. The mode
of administering justice was as nearly as possible-similar to
,that of England.
In reply to questions by different members, the witness
proceeded to state that the Indian settlement of the lied
River was approved of and encouraged by the company,
In the company's territory, there were 19 missionary sta-
tions of the Established Church, 12 of Roman Catholics,
4of Wesleyans, and lof Presbyterians. There was also a
Roman Catholic mission on the St. Lawrence, another at
Albany, and another at Fort William. The company paid
the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rupert's Land a salary of
3001. a-year ; they also gave him 1001. a-year in aid of
schools, besides stipends to chaplains at different stations.
With regard to the executive power of the company's ter-
ritory it comprised ono governor and a council of 16 chief
factors. In the Red River settlement the recorder was
governor of the district; ho had executive power as well as
judicial. The rest of the territory was governed by the
witness himself. The tenure of land was by lease for 999
year'. The directors in London had no legislative power as
regarded their territory, but they had the supervision of
acts. If a person wished to go out and settle in the terri-
tory he could get land at ss. an acre, payable to the com-
pany, and would have to pay no other charge. The corn-
pany's servants going out from England were engaged for
only five years; but six out of eight of them remain for 20
or 30 years, and many of them become settlers and remain
for life. The pay of a labourer going out from England
used to be 171., but it was now 201. a-year • from being
common labourers many of them become boatmen' and
fishermen, and get from 301. to 40/. a-year. The 16 chief
factors were partners in the trade of the company. The
laws under which the settlement cf the Red River was go-
verned were printed ; the new laws were posted upon the
church doors ; they had no newspaper in the country. He
believed the settlers would be perfectly well satisfied with
the existing state of things in the settlement but for agi-
tators,, who had an eye to the trade ; but agitators come
from without, not from within the settlement. The ave-
rage time between goods bought by the company in Lon-
don and delivered in some parts of the settlement was as
long
as seven years ; the minimum would be between three
and four years—that is, he meant the period elapsing
_be;
tween the goods being sent from England and the time
here in
when the directors in London receivedtheLmeonndeeyn fer
such
goods. The governor and conipatiY appoint
the governor of the territory, and37 he w
Ha ( witness), though governor for years, resided
servant,
Ha
the
officetohretehe had been only 19 oases
America, During the
greaterpio period
opf ahrits o
tenure
t oi mfe in N
that, e
crime of the
according to his
on of tu
notaadmi
adjournedfini s e d
knowledge,oof
murder inw
atsh the
fsaeitrtlreemp
representation
tdi
settlement.
when the committee rose Sir
at Geof.olSwimj,)
ow: ono kh,
until 'Rhonda.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.—priday,
Feb. 27.—Admissions on payment, 649 ; ditto, by sta-
sun tickets', 269 total, 918.
INCENDIARY FIRE NEAR PONTEFRACT.---Seven grain
and straw stacks, standing in a field on the Darrington•
road, Pontefract, the property of Messrs. Moxon, were
on Sunday morning last destroyed by fire, The stacks
wore all burning timultaneously. 2