Star.
London, England, 1818-11-24 00:00:00

THE FUR TRADE.

" THU ST. LOUIS INQUIRER:'
The importance of this trade has not been suffi-
ciently estimated by the American Government: the
English have always seen its value : they have aided
'their subjects in carrying it on, and have made it a
means of individual wealth and of national power.
The North-west and Hudson's Slay Companies, pro-
trotted by the English Government, have carried dow*
the St.'Lawrence the furs of the Missouri and Missis-
sippi. Montreal has flourished upon a commerce
which belongs to St. Louis, and the British traders
lave acquired for their Government the command of
all the Savalies orthe North American Continent.—
The Hudson s Bay and North-west Companies, for a
long time enemies and rivals to each other, are now
reported to be united, under the direction of the Earl
of Selkirk. The policy and the enterprize of this
Chieftain will give a new energy to the united ope-
rations of these Companies. The seat of their power
is at the junction of the Assiniboin and Red Riser,
in lat. 50. and long. 21. from Washington City.
Here the Earl of Selkirk has planted a Scots colony,
built a fort, and established a garrison ; and from this
point the. British traders extend their operations into
the territories of the United States, spreading them-
selves over the hcad-waters of the Mississippi, the ri-
ver St. Peter's, and all that part of the Missouri which
lies above the Mandan villages. From these village -
to the British settlements on the Assiniboin is but live
days' travel; and a constant communication is key:
up between them, as well by the Moose river as by
the trading path which goes over-land. The Moose
river, a water of Lake Assiniboin, here takes its rise,
within one mile of the Missouri river. Rising in the
rocky mountains, in lat. 44. in the parallel of the falls
of St. Anthony, the Missouri runs to the Northeast
for 1200 miles, as if going to Hudson's Bay, when
having reached the interior of the North-American
Continent, and gained a latitude further North that.
the head of thelqississippi, she suddenly turns to the
South, and discharges herself into the Au' If of Mexico.
It is at the point of this Northern Bend that the Bri-
tish traders enter the-region of the Missonri, and cut
off the American traders from the commerce of the
Indians above. Since 1807, they have maintained
this advantage. At that time the American trade's
had gone abo've--had-enteretl, and even crossed, the
rocky mountains; bit the Black-feet Indians were set
upon them by the British xraders—twenty-seven of
their number were killed, and the remainder driven
home. It is also in-this bend that the Missouri re-
ceives the Yellow Stone, at the mouth of which the
American Government is now establishing a fort and
a factory. The choice of this position is excellent,
and the Government have been equally fortunate in
the choice of the Officeis who are to maintain it..—.
The military force will he_ under the command• of
Colonel Chambers—,the Indian depaitment will be
mtder the immediate direction of Captain O'Fallon.
beikies the services which will be rendered by these
.oilicer,s within the circle of their duties in counter-
acting British prolicy, and attacking the Indians to
tl Atherican standard, much is expected from theit
Mitt-arches into the geography and natural history o&
slte.ceuntry which they will visit. The tirst step te;
wards- protecting the American traders in prosecu-
of the fur trade, it is hoped, will be followed'ep
lay another- on the part- of the Congress—the incor-
tairatioa of a Company to carry.it on upon ;ill the
waters of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia
rivers. The citizens of this country. forwarded a pe-
aittbit to tertgress.th ttit effbct about three rears ago.
Have the Congress-hail titre to read it yet?