260 DISCOVERIES OF 1668. 



severity or long continuance of the cold, which, 

 on the contrary, is said to have ceased in the month 

 of April. At this place Captain Gillam laid the 

 foundation of the first English settlement, by 

 building a small stone fort, to which he gave the 

 name oi' Fort Charles. 



Prince Rupert did not content himself with merely 

 patronizing the voyage of Gillam. He obtained 

 from King Charles a charter, dated in I669, granted 

 to himself and several other adventurers therein 

 named, for having, at their own cost and charges, 

 undertaken an expedition to Hudson's Bay, for 

 the discovery of a new passage into the South Sea, 

 and for the finding of some trade for furs, minerals, 

 and other considerable commodities ; it stated that 

 they had already made such discoveries as en- 

 couraged them to proceed farther in pursuance of 

 their said design ; and that by means thereof great 

 advantage might probably arise to the King and 

 his dominions ; and therefore his Majesty, for the 

 better promoting of their endeavours for the good 

 of his people, was pleased to confer on them, ex- 

 clusively, all the land and territories in Hudson's 

 Bay, together with all the trade thereof, and all 

 others which they should acquire, &c. This ex- 

 traordinary charter, with its sweeping privileges, 

 has continued to be vested to this day in the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company. 



The body of gentlemen and merchants, thus 

 incorporated, soon proved itself to be a body with- 

 out a spirit, as far as discovery formed a part of 



