, 1858-05-07

throughout that country, all others are by
law prohibited"
While l admit that this is the general
impression, contend that it is an impress
sion designedly created and artfuly main.
tained by the Hudson's Bay Company, in
order that they may more securely profit
by the monstrous imposture.
There was a time when company oi
Canadian merchants successfully disputed
the assumed claims of the Hudson's Bay
Company.
That which was then accomplished may
now be done again.
The Northwest Company Of Montreal
pushed their enterprises to an extent which
this chartered one of Charles the Second
had never then attempted. And the
Northwest Company carried these enter
prises into effect at time when the means
of transport were in their very infancy
The bark canoe was the only conl eyance
by which merchandise was conveyed from
Montreal, or by which the rich productions
Of even in those times the mighty West
were brought in return to that city.
If we draw comparison between the
manner in which that trade was carried on,
and the mode in which it conld now be
conducted-while we cannot but admire
the energy and the enterprise Of the mer-
chants OF that day-we must admit that
those Of the present time are enabled to
enjoy advantages which the Northwest
Company could rot have dreamed Of
Where the light canoe OF former times
could scarcely float, or where these were
obliged to discharge their cargoes and en-
bark them at the extremity Of some port
age, ships Of one thousand tons burden
now float, and a ship navigation is now
opened from Montreal 10 half way across
the continent; instead of the canoe timidly
hugging the shores of the great lakes, the
steamer and propeller are now seen mid
lake pursuing their courses, undeterred by
wind or wave.
The course Of trade, as conducted in
those days, required two years time to COM
ete an order'for goods sent by the trader
in the West. The usual time for dispatch
ing such orders was in the autumn when
the canoes were about to return for Mon
treal. Sometimes these orders did not ar
rive in time to be forwarded by the fall
ships to England, in which case they had
to lay over for the spring ships, Or rather
summer. When the goods arrived in the
spring at Montreal, they were then EN-.
barked in canoes, and reached Lake Nip.
pising via the Ottawa river, from Lake
Nippising they reached Lake Huron by the
French river, thence along Lake Huron to
the Ste. Marie river to Luke Superior, and
coasting Lake Superior, they reached the
Koministequoi, up the Komiuistequoi to
Lac la Pluie, down the Lac la Pluie and
the La Pluie river to the Lake of the
Woods, along the Lake Of the Woods to
the Winnipeg, thence to Lake Winnipeg,
around Lake Winnipeg to the Saskatche-
wan river, to Great Slave Lake, thence to
the plains of Athabasca, and across the
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ocean,
making tho distance thus Travelled over four
thousand miles, and having to unload and
reload their canoes at tinaumerable portages
between Montreal and the place of their
destination. In conducting this traffic, up.
wards Of two thousand roydgears were en-
ployed, and in addition to these, were the
numerous hunters and traders engaged in
the service Of this company, in all, perhaps,
to the number Of three thousand, or more.
And these men were oil inhabitants Of Can
ada, who were thus early engaged in de-
veloping the rich productions of their
country, and Canada at large was benefited
by the trade, for the wealth it brought was
freely nung back to circulate through those
various industrial pursuits Of life which a
trade like this had called into action.
Had the Northwest Company continued
in existence, there is no doubt but the
country along the great Lake Huron and
Superior would not now be the terra ia-
cognita" that it is. The portals leading tc
the west, such as the KoministeQuoi and
Pigeon rivers, would not have been closed
as it were, under lock and key; but the
royageurS making these the thoroughfare ol
their traffic, would have speedily opened
out the country TO population aud prodnc-
tion; other traders or merchants would have
followed in their wake, and settlements
would have sprung up along the channel
down which this vast and important trade
was conducted, by Canadian enterprise
alone. The waters and the woods that
were then enlivened by the stir and hustle
of these active and enterprising merchants
and cheered by the lively songs of the hap
py rOyageSr, are now silent and deserted
for the whole of the trade of that western
country is now directed to the shores o
Hudson's Bay, there to be slowed in thu
Hudson Bay Company's ships for the city
Of London.
Some idea may be formed Of the magui
tude of the trade Of the Northwest Com
pany by these facts. In four years from
the time of the formation of that company
: The net return of the profits of that yeal
was ESQ, 900, a sum of money which cx
ceeded the original capital invested. Ii
three years afterwards, the annual net prof
its had amounted to Rl50,O00; and eacl
, ensuing year these profits were annually in
creasing, until the contests of the Two com
panies led 10 open warfare, and this result
al in a uniOn of interests