Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-29
Tn, Great British NOrth-west.

Furland's possessions in North America
cover a larger area of territory than the whole
limited States. The States of the Union, and
the territories east and west Of the Rocky
Mountains, yet to be carved into fiOurishing
Commonwealths, comprise an area OF 5,SOO,-
572 square miles. The area Of the British pos
sessions. stretching away from Labrador and
Newfoundland to Yancouver's Island, and in
eIuding Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
and the immense but scarcely explored terrific
ries acknowledging the authority of the Hud-
sons Bay Company, extends over 1900, 900
square miles Those districts of Northwest
British America which by soil aud climate are
regarded suitable for settlement, have an area
that would constitute twelve States of the
size Of Ohio, and are designated under the fol-
lowing geographical divisions
Square miles.
Vancouyer's Island. d..-.........-... l6,O0O
Frazer and Thompson rivers. s.......... $4,000
Sources OF the Upper Columbia. 10000
AthaDaska District ict...-....-.-..---- 5O,OOO
Saskatchewan, Red River, Assineboin,
&c... ......-..-.....-.-3 -36O,OOO
The god fields of Frazar's River have given
fresh interest to the Hudson Bay Company S
claims, and will probably hasten the overthrow
of the power of that overgrOwn monopoly on
this continent. A late Toronto Globe publishes
the volumirous correspondence, and speeches
delivered n the House of Commons, in relation
to the new colony on the Pacific and the extinc-
ton Of the Hudson's Bay COmPany's power in
British North America, and declares that all
things at present point to the idea of great
British North American Confederation, Of which
the districts watered by the Red River and the
Saskatchewan may first form territories and
then States. The Globe says:
Interference to the gold discoveries, remark
able fact is admitted by Mr. Labouehere-that
he was aware of their having been made nearly
two years ago-but did not make them public.
We can find no other reason Tor this act of con-
cealment than desire to prevent interference
with the settlement of the Conpany's claims for
a renewal of the license. But for an accidental
discovery, which brought the attention of the
world upon the country, the license might have
been renewed, and the Company have acquired
claims which It might have Deen difficult to re-
move These discoveries have placed the Com
pany in an altogether new position, however;
and we see that even Mr.. Elhce expresses him
selfready to afford every facility for the settle
ment of the Red River or any other part Of the
country which may be desired, only making
reservation on behalf of compensation for the
Company. Mr. Roebuck, in presenting the case
against the charter of the Company to Lord
Derby, put the points very distinctly He said,
if the charter was valid, compensate the stock
holders; if it was invalid, do not compensate
them; but, in some way or other, get nd Of
them, so as to enable British subjects to occupy
the territory and keep out the Americans. Lord
Derby admitted the correctness of this view, but
expressed some doubts as t. the proper way Of
submitting the question TO the Privy Council
Mr. Wyld's suggestion that tue expenses Of
both parties should be paid by the Government
would appear to remove the difficulty presented,
and it seems probable that the long deferred
Judicial decision viii be given.