The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-05-30
0MMUNICATED.
For the Minnesota Pioneer.
"rrince Rnpert's Land.'

Z "oFc yOi VIII JuNS NOAthy VI P"D''S"
tion.
Prince Rupert was third son OF Fred
eric, elector, palatine OF the Rhine. ana
Elizabeth, daughter Of James lst, and
nephew to King Charles LIST. lie was
an active member of the council OF trade.
TWAS owing to his solicitations, after
being at great expense, not only ia the
enquiry into the value, but in sending
ships thither, that the Hudson's Bay
Company was erected, Of which he was
the first Governor appointed by the
Charter.
In memory Of him, the IIudson's Bay
Territory, was called . Prince Ruperfs
Laad," and it is thus laid down on the
old maps.
/ The territories granted 10 the Hudson 5
Bay Company by charter from King
Charles ID, IN l769-70, are Of great ex-
tent, reaching from the western boundary
Of Canada to the Pacific ocean, and from
the frontier OF the United States i'll about
north latitude 30 deg, to as far north as
/ has hitherto been explored, with the eX-
ceptIon Of a portion to the Northwest,
which belongs to the empire of Russia.
! This immense tract OF country il va
! ricd by a succession of plains, lakes, and
| rivers, and it is intcrsected between w.
! longitude ll5 and 1870 deg, by a chain
Of mountains running from northwest to
southeast
This territory is held Of the crown,
/ by the Hudson's Bay Company, by the
tenure, that 1.-The Sovereign in case OF
visiting it, may demand an elk and two
I black beavers.
The Uudson's Bay Company, is an
English company, whose seat is London,
and was organized under the manage
ment of u Governor, deputy governor,
and committee of seven members. o,r
George Simpson was the Governor oi The
Hudson's Bay Company Territory In
1915, and is so at the present time.
The principal posts which are estab-
lshed at very unequal intervals over the
! Territory, are in charge Of chief factors
! the next grade is that Of chief trader,
some inferior posts are committed to the
hands of clerks The particular spot
for their location Is selected on account
of some local advantages, and wars III
which the Company was engaged with
rivals, rendered il necessary to surround
some Of them with high stockade. \
very few suboFdinates, who are generally
Roman Catholics, and a larger number
of dependents, who are hait-breeds and
Indians, augmented at some certain sea
sons by transient inhabitants of the same
class, make up with the gentleman in
charge, and his family, the list of person.
at most OF the forts.
One or more of the posts Of the liud
sons Bay Company Is established III {
portion of territory belonging to Russia
and held under lease, from the govern
ment of that country by the company.
At the Red River, and on Lake ou
perior, there may be seen in the service
of the Company small decked sailing
= vessels, which ply between the posts
but canoes are principally used to com
municate with the interior posts. th'
number of which, kept for one purpose
or other at Red River is 40, and brig,
odes Of 40 canoes, loaded with peltrics
and propelled by "royageurs, have
been seen on their way 10 Montreal, b,
the way Of the Grand Portage of th'
kamanlstoqua river and Lake Superior
The Company, by their charter, cal
make any laws not rcpugnant to th'
laws of England, issue their own money
appoint their own public tunctiouaries
for the administration OF the territory
and raise, if they see necessary, a mill
tary force. Their right TO trade Will
the Indian is not exclusive, any British
SUBJ ject having an equal right with them
The company exercise their privilege 0
issuing money, and transact all their pc
cuniary concerns in British sterling.
Their issue of paper is in three de
nominations, the highest of which is on
pound, and the three are dlstiDg uishe
from each other, for the convenience c
the natives, by the different colors Of tn
iEk--red, blue, and black.
During the winter of 1854 the mer
chants Of Canada, engaged in the lu
trade, formed junction of interests
under the name of the Northwest Com
pany.
For several years the mutual riyalr
and jealouses Of the Northwest an
Hudson's Bay Companies led TO the sac
ri6ce of life and interests. BY the juno
ton of the two companies, at a subse
quent period, these difficulties ceaseo
Both are now combined, and known a
the Hudson's Bay Company.
Communication is maintained betwee
England and "Prince Rupert's Land,
either through Canada and the lakes, b
the means of canoes, or through Hue
sons Bay by the Company's ships, whic
sail from England about the end Of May
or beginning Of June, and usually al
rive at York Fort, on Hudson's Ba
shore, some time in the month of Angus
1t is only during the months of june
July, August, and September that Hue
i sons Bay is navigable on account I
o the ice.
: The supplies for the Company s post
situated on Hudson's Bay and Its tribl
taries, are shipped direct from Londo