Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-10-27
From the 81. Louis Enquirer.

PJOm INC OL. LoNlS enquirer.
The Far Trdde.--The importance d
this trade has not been sufficiently est
mated by the American government. The
English have always seen its value. They
have aided their subjects in carrying il !
on, and have made it source OF individ
uaI wealth, and of national power. The
North West and Hudson Bay companies,
projected by the English government, have !
carried down the St. Lawrence the fus {
of the Missouri and Mississippi: Montreal
has Hourished upon commerce which
belongs to ST. Louis; and the British
traders have acquired for their govern
ment the command OF all the savages Of
the North American continent.
The Hudson Bay and North West
companies, for 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 enter.
prize Of this chieitain will give a new
energy TO the united operations of these
companies. The seat Of their power is
at the junction Of the 4ssiniboin and Red
Tivers, in latitude SO aud longitude q, !
from Washington city. Here the Earl d
Seikirk has planted Scotch colony, built
a fort, and established garrison and
from this point the British traders extend
their operations into the territories of the !
United States, spreading themselves over
the head waters OF the Mississippi, The +
river st. Peters, and all that part Of The {
Missouri which lies above the MGadas :
villages. From these villages to the
British establishments on the Assiniboa
is but FIVE days travel; aud constad
communication is kept up between then
as well by the Moose river as by the trad !
ing path which goes over land.
The Moose river, water Of lake
ASSini60in, here takes its rise within one
mile Of the Missouri river. Rising ID
the rocky mountains, in latitude "A, in the
parallel of the falls Of ST. Anthony, the 4
Missouri runs to the northeast for one
thousand two hundred miles, as if going
to Hudson's Bay, when, having reached
the interior of the North American con-
rinent, and gained a latitude further north
THAI the head OF the Mississippi, sbe !.
suddenly turns to the south, and discharges
herself into the gulf OF Mexico.
1t is at the poiot OF this northern bend
that the British traders enter the region q &
the Missouri, and cut off the America
traders from the commerce OF the indians
above. Since 1907 they have maintained
this advantage.-At that period the Amer
lean traders had gone above, had entered
aud even crossed the rocky mountains
but the Back Feet indians were set upon
them by the British traders; twenty j
Of their number we're killed, and the re
mainder driven home.
1t is also in this bend that the Missouri
receives the Yellow Stone, at the mouth
OF which the American government is nov
establishing fort and factory.
The choice OF this position is excellent
and the government have been equally
fortunate in the choice of the officers who
are to maintain it.
The military force win be under the
command of Col. Chambers the IudiaH
department will be under the immediate
direction OF Capt. O'tallon.
Besides the services which will be REQ
dered by these officers within the circle
of their duties in counteracting British
policy, and attaching the Indians to lhe
American Standard, much is expected
from their researches into the geography
and natural history Of the country which
they will visit.
The first step towards protecting the
American traders in the prosecution Of the
fur trade, ii is hoped will be followed Up
by another on the part of the congress, tn
incorporation Of a company to carry Il on
upon all The matters of the Mississippi
Missouri, and Columbia rivers, The clf
zens Of this country forwarded petition
to congress to this effect: Haze the con-
gross had time to read 1t get ?
DETROIT, Sept. %.
Michigan Land Sales.-The sale a