, 1854-10-07

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HrpsoN's BAY CoNPASY The Montreal Herald
characterzes the charges against the llgdSon- Bay
Complny which appeared IN the New York CONNER
cial Advertiser as absurd" It says; I'VE need not
say that aHy snch reports are utterly devoid of
truth being directly opposed to the whole policy Of
the Hud,Ons Bay Company IN. Y. Tribune.
To what charges does the Montreal
HeyiH alludc, as preferred against the
Hudson's Bay Company? If that paper
desires to be understood as casting n dis
reputable reflection upon the many WHO
have had good, sound, and emnently JUS
tifable prcteXts for the hurling Of anathe-
mas at the superior functionaries of that
Company, resident on Vancouycr's Island.
that paper is about as conyersant of what
it treats as hired minions generally desire
to be informed Of the objects OF their mas
ters, when pay, plunder and ruin is contem-
plated by them Does the paper above al
luded to, know the policy established by
the Hudson's Bay Company on Vancouver's
Island2 and what are the allegations pre-
ferred, that are pronounced by that jour-
nal as being "absurdl' If it means to say
that the company is not a chartered ana,
exclusive monopoly Of trade, labor and bu-
man bondage, then TINS far some charges
may need but slight information. Does no,
every one know, who arc at all eohversant
with the m2dus operdnH Of that compahy,
that men are regularly enlisted inits service
from FIVE to 6tecn years; that their pay is
merely nominal, and although subjected to
severe scrvitude, in the erection Of fortifca.
tions, out-posts, &c, in an Indian country,
those servants rarely receive any thing ike a
commensurate qusd pro qNO for their SER
vice--being generally paid off in the shape
Of sharmgs and tchcistones at the compa-
ny's stores, from necessity Of wearing ap-
pArel-a few Of the luXures Of life, &C.,
and when day Of final settlement arrives
the hired men, not keeping an account
Of their liabilities, or the miaRti0 Of their
exact term of service, are set aaoat in ma
ny instances, (should they determine to
leave the company asPennyless as the day
they entered the service. ~. -''''
What difference can be found between
the enlisted Of the Hudson's Bay com.
pany, and enlisted soldiers in the regular
English or American arhyH Both are re-
quired to pay equal obedience 10 superior
oficers-both are expected to obey orders
all are expected TO honor the authority
under which they are placed.
We must say that as far as We are ac-
quainted with the retired servants Of the
Company, and many in their employ ut
present, We entertain for them the highest
regard. Many were deluded into the SER
vice as we have assurances, under false
promises of reward and wilful misreprescn-
tations by the "drummers-in" Of the Com
pany.. ,s. s. .,.....l. ..a ... .s...
This day, was Vancouver's Island from
under the ban Of the purse proud and DOM
ineerng Hudson's Bey Company, n free
colony of Great BritNin-or even under
the rule Of ciri governor with compe-
tent Judiciary before whom private gricy-
ahces might be redrcssed without an ap-
peal to the chief factor, or men dependent
on his bounty or iavor-that Island would
speedily be settled by the enterprising, in
dustrious and loyal subjects Of the crown
Of England, Farms would at once be
opened, trade would spring up, and revert
to another channel than Is at present sought
through the "old fogy" building Of the
ANTICIPATED fort, and life and activity as
sums the place of moral, physical, and drca
ry death and decay.