The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-24

gent sea-captain, Just returned from the
Pacific. ocean. 1t gives Information of
the progress of the British appropriation
of the trade, and all the accessible regions
of the Northern Pacific, which should be
impressed upon the American public.
BosroN, May /, 1912.
Sir :-Thmking it may be interesting
or important to you to know some of the
late operations and present plans of the
British lludsons Bay Company in the
North Pacific ocean, beg leave to pre-
sent TO your notice some facts in relation
to the same, and which have come to my
knowledge from personal observation, or
from sources entitled to the fullest credit.
All that extensive line OF coast compre-
hendng the Russian possessions on the
northwest coast Of America, from Mount
St. Elias south to the latitude OF 81 deg.
40 sec. north, (he last being the boundary
line between the Russian and American
territories together with the sole and eX-
elusive right or privilege Of irequenting
all ports, bays, sounds, rivers, &C., with
in said territory, and establishing forts and
trading with the Indians, has been leased
or granted by the Russian American Fur
Company to the British Hudson's Bay
Company, for the term Of ten years from
January, 1912; and for which the latter
are to pay, anauaiLy, four thousand fur
seal skins, or the value thereof in money,
at the rate of thirty-two shillings each
say six thousand four hundred pounds
sterling, or &30,120
In the above named lease the Russians
have, however, reserved to themselves the
island OF Slka, or New Archangel; in
which place, you probably are aware, the
Russians have large scttement--the de-
pot and headquarters Of their fur trade
with the Fox Islands, Aleutin Islands, and
the continental shore westward of Mount
st. Elias. All the trading establishments
of the Russians lately existing at Tum-
gass Stickcnc, and other places within
sad territory, leased 10 the iiudson's Bay
Company, have of consequence been bro
ken up. Thus the lludson's Bay Com
pany, not content with monopolizing the
heretofore profitable trade of the Ameri-
cans, Of supplying the Russian settle
mcnls on the northwest coast, have now
completely cut them of from all trade
with the most valuable fur region in the
world.
Whether the arrangements made be-
tween the Russians and English, above
alluded to, are conlormablc to the treaties
existing between the United States on the
one part, and those nations respectively
on the other, leave to your better knowl.
edge to determine.
With the doings of the lludson's Bay
Company at Puget's Sound and the Col
f umbla river, you are doubilessly fully in
formed; those, however, lately commence
ed by them in California will admit of my
saying few words.
At San Francisco they have purchased
a large house, as A trading establishment,
aud depot for merchandise and they III.
tend this year to have place Of the same
kind at each OF the principal ports in Up.
per California. Two vessels arc build
ing in London, intended for the same trade
f that is, for the coasting trade; and Of
ter completing theircargocs, TO carry then
to England. These things, with others
give every indication that it is the purpose
of the fludson's Bay Company to monop
oIze the whole hide aud talow trade o
the coast Of California trade whcl
now employs more than half million o
e American capital.
At the Sandwich Islands the company
@ have large trading establishment, an,
$ have commenced engaging in the com
, merce of the country, with evident de
signs to monopoize ii if possible, and tC
i drive of the Americans, who have here
y tofore been its chief creators and con
b. Guctors.
b. have been Informed by one OF the a
h gents of the lIudson's Bay Company
that the agricultural and commercial ope
= ratous of the English at Pugets sound
=. Columbia river, California and Sandwich
Il Islands, are carried on, not actually b,
u the lludson's Bay Company, butby wha
. may be termed ! brmch of lt---by gentle
- men who are the chief members and stock
l.. holders Of said company, and who hay
associated themselves under the firm Q
Peny, Simpson, & Co., in London, an
J. with capital of more than $4,000, 900
e Seeing these companies, then, marcel
IS mg with iron footsteps 10 tho posscssio