11S92-93.J EARLY TRADERS AND TKADE ROUTES. 299 



EARLY TRADERS AND TRADE ROUTES, 1760-1782. 



(second paper.) 



Bv Capt. Ernest Cruikshank. 



(Read 2jth February, i8gj.) 



A most serious interruption to the fur trade during the revolutionary 

 period, though fortunately of brief duration, was occasioned by the 

 invasion of the Province of Quebec by the Americans in 1775-76. 

 The merchants of Montreal attempted to guard against this by entering 

 into a treaty with the invaders when they found that further resistance 

 was useless. The third clause of the terms of capitulation, prepared on 

 the 1 2th of September, 1775, by a committee of citizens, of which mer- 

 chants of such eminence as James McGill and James Finlay were active 

 members, reads thus : — 



" That the trade in general, as well within the province as in the upper 

 countries and parts beyond the sea, shall be carried on as freely as here- 

 tofore and passports shall be grantedilTor that purpose." 



To this, General Montgomery replied : " As far as it may consist with 

 the safety of the troops and the public good, I shall be happy to promote 

 commerce, and for that purpose to grant passports as heretofore." 



General Wooster, who succeeded to the command of the army of 

 occupation upon Montgomery's death, almost immediately withdrew the 

 pledge so readily given by his predecessor. 



" In January last," he informed a committee of Congress in a letter of 

 the 5th of July, 1776, "I called the Indian traders of Montreal together 

 and enquired of them whether they expected passports in the spring to 

 carry their goods, etc., into the Indian country as usual ; they told me 

 they expected that indulgence, but at any rate they should be permitted 

 to carry provisions to their people in the upper country. As I appre- 

 .hended the granting of passports for the upper country might be 

 attended with unhappy consequences to the interest of the united 

 colonies, as goods they make use of for that trade were much wanted for 

 our army, and there was the greatest reason to expect that by this way 

 our enemies would be supplied with everything they wanted, 1 did not 

 incline to grant passports without the direction of Congress. I therefore 

 advised them to choose a committee to wait upon Congress for their 



