THE NOllTinVESTKHN IJOUNDAKY -LINE. 21 r> 



all Other royal fislics in the seas, bays, inlets, and rivers within 

 tlic ])rcniises and the fish therein taken, together Avith tlic roy- 

 alty of the sea upon tlie coasts within the limits atbrosaid, and 

 all mines royal, as well discovered as not discovered, of gold, 

 silver, gems, and precious stones, to he found or discovered 

 within the territories, limits, and places aforesaid, and that the 

 said land be from henceforth reckoned and reputed as one of our 

 Plantations or Colonics in America, called 'Kupcrt's Land.'" 



Tliii^ concession was induced, as the preamble of 

 the r^arter sets tbrtb, by the reason that the parties 



" Have, at their own great cost and charges, undertaken an 

 expedition for Hudson's Uay, in the nortlnccsl part of America, 

 for the discovery of a new passage to the South Sea, and for 

 the finding some trade for furs, minerals, and other considerable 

 commodilics, and by such their undertaking have already made 

 such discoveries as do encourage them to proceed farther in 

 pursuance of their said designs, by means wliereof there may 

 probably arise ve»y great advantage to' us and our Kingdom." 



The Company's Cliartcr, in common with otliers of 

 tliat period, conveyed to them the right to hold tlie 

 territory granted with all rights and jurisdictions ap- 

 pertaining thereto, as of the manor of East Green- 

 wich in Kent ; the Company became lords and pro- 

 prietors of Kiipert's Land on condition of a yearly 

 payment to the Crown of " two elks and two black 

 beavers;" and nolegal impediment existed to the es- 

 tablishment on Hudson's Bay of a local political gov- 

 ernment such as existed in IMassachusetts or Virgin- 

 ia : but, in rellectinf; on the slow growth of the P^rit- 

 ish Colonies in the more temperate latitudes ot ^oith 

 America, it will be readily seen that no colonization 

 could be effected on the frozen and desolate shoi-es 

 of Hudson's Bay. In effect, the Company very soon 



