26 

 here publicly tender my thanks to the members of the Mani- 

 toba Historical and Scientific Society, for thus honorino- the 

 old Selkirk settlers, by electing one of their number, humble 

 and incapable though he may be, to preside on this occasion. 

 On the 19th of June, 1816, just 75 years ago, an unfortunate 

 conflict took place between the rival trading companies, the 

 Hudson's Bay and North-west, in which Governor Semple 

 and twenty men fell. Without entering into the causes which 

 led to this lamentable aHair, the Manitoba Historical and 

 Scientific Society" are simply erecting this monument to mark, 

 as I said before, a historic spot. I wish here publicly to ex- 

 press the thanks of this Society to her Ladyship the Countess 

 of Selkirk, who, many of you will remember, visited this 

 country and this spot a short time ago, for generously fur- 

 nishing us with the necessary funds for erecting this monu- 

 ment. I also wish to tender, on behalf of the Society, our 

 grateful thanks to Miss Inkster, who kindlj'^ donated to us 

 the land on M-hich this monument stands. I wish also, on 

 behalf of the Society, to thank His Honor the Lieutenant- 

 Governor for his kindness in consenting to unveil this monu- 

 ment ; and for myself, as president, to thaidv him for his kind 

 attention and assistance on this occasion. I cannot conclude 

 these few remarks without expressing the thanks of the 

 Society to the Messi's. Hooper, who made and erected this 

 monument, for their promptness in the execution of their 

 contract. Before proceeding to the unveiling ceremonies, Mr. 

 G. N. Bell, our energetic and capable corresponding secretary, 

 and ex-president, will read a brief sketch of the events 

 commemorated by the monument. 



A HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



Mr. C. N. Bell was next called upon. He read the follow- 

 ing account of the event commemorated by the monument: — 



THE BATTLE OF THE " SEVEN OAKS." 



Ladies and gentlemen, — I haA'e been requested by the 

 Manitoba Historical and Scientific Society to read a short 

 sketch of the incidents that have made the spot we now stand 



