30 



Government were now compelled to interfere, and sent to the 

 Red River settlement as commissiimer, Col. W. B. Goltman, a 

 prominent citizen of Lower Canada, who journeyed through 

 to the Red River Settlement in 1817, and issued proclama- 

 tions in the King's name, commanding a cessation of hostili- 

 ties. Col. Coltman held conferences in the Red River settle- 

 ment and arranged with Lord Selkirk and the representatives 

 of the North-west company that the peace should not again be 

 disturbed, after which he again returned to Montreal and 

 sent in his report (which appears as an Imperial Blue Book 

 1819), while Lord Selkirk departed via the United States. 

 From this date to 1820-1821 ^the settlers were not disturbed 

 by any act of violence, and during the years named such 

 pressure was brought to bear on the two rival companies that 

 they amalgamated under the name of th'e Hudson's Bay com- 

 pany, and have since enjoyed the privileges granted under 

 their charter of 1670. 



Thus while the unfortunate affray which here took place 

 caused much suffering and affliction at the time, it was the 

 last of the troubles which had for some years harrassed and 

 disturbed the settlement, and this monument is erected by 

 the Manitoba Histoiical Society, by means of the generous 

 aid granted by the present Lady Selkirk, to mark the spot on 

 which was enacted a tragedy, which forms one of the most 

 salient points in the history of the Red River Settlement, for 

 the unfortunate occurrence led to the peaceful solution of all 

 the artificial ills that distressed the first agriculturists, who 

 first proved to the world the fertility of the lands of the Red 

 River Valley of the North. 



The Historical Society have long desired, and had in view, 

 the marking of several historical sites, such as the Seven 

 Oaks, Fort Douglas and Fort Gibralter, and have been enabled 

 through the kindness of Lady Selkirk to make this beginning. 

 The work of the Society, in this direction however, will not 

 be completed until a suitable tribute is paid to the intelligence, 

 energy and patriotism of La Verandrye, and the self-sacrificing 

 French-Canadian discoverer and explorer of this province, by 



