502 Our Nortli Land. 



history, wrote to the King of France: 'Sire, I have grown tired of being 

 obliged to conquer the Hudson's Bay every year ' — Je suis las de 

 conquer ir la Baie de Hudson tous les ans. A bloody strife was 

 then raging for the possession of this mare clausum or mare 

 ignotum, as it is even at this time pretended in some quarters that 

 it is. That Hudson's Bay, that inland sea, that sea of the north, 

 attracted more attention in those days, or one hundred and forty 

 years ago, than it has attracted until some five, ten, or twenty years 

 ago. 



" I remember that, being a member of the Provincial Government 

 of Manitoba, and deputed here to see the paternal Government of 

 Canada in order to get some assistance in one way or the other, I 

 was once laying before the Right Hon. Sir John Macdonald our 

 views of what our frontier should be in the north, and I made 

 mention that Manitoba might be some day a maritime Province. I 

 see still the smile of incredulity which appeared on the face of the 

 right hon. gentleman at that time. Of course it might have passed 

 like a dream to have thought of such a thing, but the agitation 

 which has been going on for three or four months has led people to 

 study the question, and to look up documents, has led many to 

 make searches which have not so far proved conclusive ; but, with 

 the striking of this committee and the authority that will be given 

 to its decision, will, I hope, Mr. Speaker, set this matter at rest. 



" Sir, apart from the historical interest that may be attached to 

 that portion of Canada, the cause of the agitation that has been 

 going on in the North-West with reference to this question is the 

 fact that we are wheat producers ; that we occupy the centre of 

 North America; are therefore very far removed from the sea-board; 

 and that we are obliged to seek the best outlet that will enable us 

 to reach the market the most quickly and the most cheaply ; and, 

 if the navigation of the Hudson's Bay, that is to say, if the period 

 during which the waters of the Hudson's Bay are open, is established 

 to be three or four or perhaps five months, then the farmers of the 

 North-West will benefit on the rates of freight on the whole distance 

 so economized, as between the port of Churchill and Liverpool and 

 between Liverpool arid Montreal. Let me give you some figures, 



