BOOKS.

HUDSON'S BAY.*

THE history of the Hudson's Bay Company is the familiar history of enterprise growing into dominion. First the traders explored the unknown land, and, with a diplomacy at once simple and effective, captured the aid of the Indians ; then, came the Company, eager for its own profit, and deter- mined to extend the commerce of its own country; then, at last, the Company passed beneath the yoke, and became a part of Canada's great dominion. Thus it was that India grew into our Empire; thus it is that after the war we shall control the fortunes of South Africa. Nor should we forget what our national prosperity owes to the courage and skill of our intrepid traders. Doubtless they went to strange countries for their own profit; but they stayed there for ours. and it was their loyalty alone which established our supremacy upon an impregnable rock.

It has often been pointed out that throughout • the eighteenth century France and England were fighting for the mastery of the world. The battle was fought in every continent, and nowhere with more persistence than in the vast territory which lies to the north of Canada. Here, too. the French were pioneers; here, too, our rivals displayed a sympathetic understanding of the native character which claims our admiration; and here, too, their enterprise, reck- lessly underrated by the Most Christian King, was turned in the end to our advantage. By far the most accomplished of the early fur traders were two Frenchmen,—Radisson and Groseilliers. Both soldiers of fortune, they became the finest bushrangers of their time ; they penetrated the distant forests, where white man's foot had never trod ; they won the friendship of the Indians, and they collected vast stores of costly furs. But with prosperity their ambition increased; they needed both capital and protection, and in 1665 Groseilliers set sail for France in Zachary Gillam's famous ship, the Nonsuch,' resolved to seek the aid and patronage of Colbert. Colbert, however, looked upon the adventurer with a cold eye; and Colonel Carr, having written from Boston to the British Ambassador in Paris that "the finest present he could make to his Majesty was to despatch these men to him,' Groseilliers and his friends left Paris with a letter from Lord Arlington recommending them to the English Court.

In London the French traders met with an instant welcome. Prince Rupert readily gave them his support, and may.thus be applauded as a founder of our Colonial Empire. A •

The Great Company (1667.1571): being a History of the Honourabk Company of Merchant-Adventurers Trading into Hudsons Bay. By Deckles Milton. London: Smith. Elder, and Co. [1/31.]

syndicate, as we should call it now, was speedily formed, with no bigger capital than E10,500, and a charter was given to the small band of adventurers who subscribed the capital.

Prince Rupert, in addition to his " sundry charges," received one share of £300, and the Prince "having graciously signified his acceptance thereof," the expedition was ready to set out. On June 3rd, 1668, then, the 'Nonsuch ' sailed from Wapping after Prince Rupert, Lord Craven, and Mr.

Hayes had drunk success to the enterprise in a bottle of Madeira, and little more than three months later Captain Gillam anchored his ship at the mouth of Rupert's River. Groseilliers instantly set to work with amazing energy. He constructed a fort, he conciliated the Indians, who promised him all the furs in their possession, he made treaties with the tribes, and sang the praise of King Charles and Prince Rupert in such terms as he had previously reserved for Colbert and King Louis. But his eloquence was sufficient to explain to the Indians this change of dynasty. "Tell all your friends to come hither," said he, "and King Charles will give you double what King Louis gives." At first the French protested, fearing, quite rightly, that the French dominion was in danger; and Louis XIV. determined to pursue a more spirited policy. But the opposition came to nothing, and after many arguments England preserved the superiority she had won in the neighbourhood of Hudson's Bay.

So the fur trade prospered exceedingly, and became in London a pursuit of fashion. Mr. Beckles Willson in his interesting book quotes an advertisement placarded in Garraway's Coffee-House as early as 1671 :—" On the 5th of December ensuing," thus runs the bill, " There Will Be Sold, in the Greate Hall of this Place, 3,000 weight of Beaver Skins, comprised in thirty lotts, belonging to the Honourable, the Governor and Company of Merchant-Adventurers Trading into Hudson's Bay." It is small wonder that the wits and sparks of the time talked of nothing but this Arctic region,

and that the best of them were ready to risk their lives and their money in the fashionable enterprise :—

" Friend, once 'twas fame that led thee forth To brave the Tropick Heat, the Frozen North, Late it was Gold, then Beauty was the Spur, But now our Gallants venture but for Fur."

So wrote the poet quoted by Mr. Willson, and despite their satire, the lines are a fine tribute to the spirit of adven- ture which has always driven the energy of Britain across the seas. Meanwhile, though all London was dreaming of icebergs and beavers, a foolish Governor had alienated the two pioneers, Groseilliers and Radisson, to whose bravery and address the Company's triumph was due. Groseilliers replied to a set of unworthy suspicions by knocking the Governor down, and both men left the service of the Company.

Radisson, moreover, at last secured some encouragement from France, and began to play a double game. His knowledge and experience gave him a superiority over all parties. He browbeat the English, and seized their factories; lie overawed the Indians in as fine a passage of rhodomon- tade as we know. When a brave threatened him, "I myself will travel into thy country," he exclaimed, "and eat segamite in thy grandmother's skull." Thereafter he distributed three fathoms of tobacco, contemptuously telling the hostile minority to " go and smoke women's tobacco in the country of the lynxes." But at nightfall when the Indians departed not a skin was left amongst them.

However, the Englishmen still desired to bring Radisson back to their side, and in 1683, when Radisson was in Paris, a certain Godey was sent to treat with him, and truly his aspect was

remarkable. "Radisson himself was apparelled more like a savage than a Christian. His black hair, just touched with grey, hung in a wild profusion about his bare neck and shoulders. He showed a swart complexion, seamed and pitted by frost in a rigorous climate. A huge scar, wrought by the tomahawk of a drunken Indian, disfigured his left cheek. His whole costume was surmounted by a wide collar of marten's skin; his feet were adorned by buckskin mocassins." But he cared only for adventure, and was as

easily content to serve one country as another. Presently, therefore, he returned to his ancient allegiance, and was received by Charles with respectful ceremony. He visited the Duke's playhouse in the Royal box, and, says John Selwyn,

never was such a combination of French, English, and. Indian savage as Sir John Kirke's son-in-law. He was not wont to dress so when he was last here, but he has got him a new coat with much lace upon it, which he wears with his leather breeches and shoes. His hair is a perfect tangle. It is said he has made an excellent fortune for himself." So he fought and traded and laughed and lectured, always in a brave spirit of adventure, and it is with a certain regret that we learn of his ultimate discredit and of his years of quiet life frittered in Islington. But in the whole history of Hudson's Bay it is Radisson who cuts the most fantastic figure, and it is not Mr. Willson's fault that when Radisson retires his book decreases in interest.

However, from beginning to end Mr. Beckles Willson's book is worth reading. It is well written, clearly arranged, and fortified with many documents. To romance there succeeds a record of practical endeavour and efficient organi- sation, and although the conditions have changed, the work of the Company, as Lord Strathcona points out in his intro- duction, is still continued. "The fur trade," says he, "is as large as ever it was, and the relations of the Company are as cordial with the Indians and other inhabitants." This is the best news of all, and its truth is proved by the fact that in the half-breed disturbances the Indians could not be per- suaded to take up arms. For the rest, we refer our readers to Mr. Willson's book with perfect confidence.