New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-24


of the British House Of Commons 70 take this sub
ject into consideration. The jurisdiction Of the
Hudson's Bay Company, as respects different por'
tions Of their territory, rests upon very different
titles That Company had it's origin in the grant to
CERTAIN English merchants BY Charles II in 1870
few years after the grant by the same King of the
charters Of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Nsw-York
ard Caiolina-of an exclusive privilege Of est.b-
fishing trading factories in Hndsons Bay and ts
tributary rivers. The fur trade was one object,
but the discovery Of a nor Invest passage to India
"A, hast so the charter says-was another; aud,
following tie precedent of other similar charters,
the Contamination Of the Indians was mentioned
90 third.
At the date Of the grant Of this charter, Hudson's
Bay and its tributary waters were claimed Ike the
Mississippi Valley, as part Of New Frances claim
sgainst which the Company had to struggle down
to the British conquest Of Canada. But though that
conquest put an end to French competition, it led
TO Canadian competition of still more Ormida-
bic character. In 1888 a powerful rival was or
gained in private partnership under the title OF
the North American Fur Company of Cansda. "
This company, commonly known as the North
West Company was principally composed of native
Canadian fur traders-men whose energy, influence
with the Indians, and experimental knowledge of
the fur trade, gave them great advantages. Be-.
tween these two companies o violent competition
spIuDg up. 1t was to strengthen themselves
sgaiDst the North American Fur Company that the
lludsOn's Bay Company entered into an arrange
nent with Lord Selkirk for establishing colony of
Scotch Highlanders On the Red RIVER. Settlers
were fist sent out in 1913, and Others in sub,e
quent years. But thi, settlement excited the ieal-
ousy Of the Canadian company; they caused the
murder Of the Governor aud several of the colo
nists, the expulsion of many more, and The almost
the only scene Of hostilities. The compan es mu-
tually sacked and burned each others posts, aud
many bloody fights occurred between their respect
i've employees. These disorders attracted the at
tentiOn of Parliament. The Northwest Company
obtained legal opinions against the validity of tn,
charter of the Hudsons Bay Company; bat 6ua'ly
in 1921, the quarrel was arranged by the union
of the Hudson's Bay Company.
The affairs Of the new Company were successfully
maj aged They extended their operations into Ore
CON, and undersold and drove out the American fu
traders. They obtaneda roy license for exclusive
trade for twenty one years frcm the 30'h Of MAY,
1928 in all the North western British territory no,
included IN their charter. Uoder this grant they
claimed Oregon as far south as the Columbia River,
and though the Oregon treaty restricted their limits
to Pugets Sound and the 49th parallel Ofnorth lati-
tude they retain under that treaty possession OF
their cultivsted lands and trading posts in Oregon
and other privileges, to obtain ree.se of which it
has been proposed to pay them as much as "a million
of dollars. Shortly after the date Of the license
above mentioned, the Russian American Far Com
papy, in consideration Of an annual rent of 1000
otter Sims, granted TO the IIuisou's Bay Company
a lease for twenty years, renewable at the peas
ure Of the latter Company, OF that part Of Rls-
ion America south of 5So Of north latitude, ex-
cept the IsIapd Of Stks. The Hudson's Bay Com
psny also hold the important Island of Vancouver
unter lease from the British Government for
eleven years, terminable on giving years notice
and without notice IN 1859, simultaneously with
the termination Of their license for the exclusive
trade of Northwest British America.
The stockholders OF this sovereign Trading Com
paDy are British capitalists resident 10 Great Britain
-239 in plumber. according to the printed list of
November, lS47-representing a capital of two
millions sterling. The dividends upon this c.pi-
tai range from ten per cent upward, and the shares
command premium of hundred per cent The
stockholders elect from their own number Board
of Managers, who hold their meetings and transact
their business at the d" Hud-ons Bay House, in
London. This Bosrd buys goods and ships them 70
th ir territory, sells the fu's fIr which the goods
ale exchanged, and super intends all the other bu.-
ness of the Company. The actual collection of the
WIS is intrus'ed Il class OF men who are called
partners and who, in fact, receive certain portions
of the annusl let profits of the Company business
as cou pensation for their services. These part
rers are of various rs1bs. Tue highest rank lie that
of Governor. Genersl of all the Compinys posts 10
America. He resides a. York Factory, on the ives.
,bore Ct Hudson's Bay. Tie second class are chief
factors the third ch e traders the fourth, traders
Below these is smother class, called clerks, from
v bch the vacancies in the higher classes are filed
These clerks, who are usually younger members Of
r. spectacle Scotch families, are no: rec.y inter
ste 1 in he Comparys profits, but receive an al
husl salary Of FIVE hundred dollars, beside food,
clothing and servant Alter an apprenticeship OF
seven years, they are eligible to the trader.hips
fact. r,hips, and the Ike that may be vacated BY
desth or retirement. These partners and clerks
number in all come twelve hundred persons, seat
tered over a vast extern. of country. The servants