HUDSON' BAY A NATIONAL ASSET 



Paris, in 166Y, the British Ambassador, Lord Preston, hear- 

 ing of the proposals of the French-Canadians, sent them 

 with a letter to Prince Rupert in England, who received 

 them well and endorsed their project. Others became inter- 

 ested with him, and the result was that a vessel of fifty 

 tons — the Nonsuch — was outfitted, placed under the com- 

 mand of Captain Zachius Gillam, and, accompanied by 

 Groseilliers, was dispatched on the 3rd of June, 1668, as the 

 first trading-ship to the shores of Hudson Bay. 



The Nonsuch reached the strait on August 4th, and passed 

 through into the bay on the 19th of the same nionth. Sail- 

 ing southward down the eastern main coast, the mouth of 

 the Eupert Eiver was reached on the 29th of September, 

 and here a stockaded log fort was built, and named Fort 

 Charles, after the King. This was the first trading-post 

 established in the bay. Here the members of the expedi- 

 tion spent the winter with fruitful results, and upon the 

 return of Gillam to England, the following summer. Prince 

 Eupert and his associates applied to Charles II. for an 

 exclusive charter to trade in Hudson Bay and the territory 

 beyond. This was granted on the 2nd of May, 16Y0, where- 

 upon one Charles Bayly was immediately sent out, as the 

 first governor of the Company, to establish Fort Eupert, at 

 the mouth of the Eupert Eiver. 



Gradually from year to year other forts were established 

 at Albany, Moose, Eastmain, Severn, York and Churchill, 

 but not without serious opposition from the French, who 

 opposed every move and made conditions most uncomfort- 

 able for the English company, until the year 1713, when 

 the struggle was terminated, and by the Treaty of Utrecht 

 the French relinquished all claims to the territory about 

 Hudson Bay. 



In 1719 two vessels, under the command of Captain 

 James Knight, sailed from England with the object of 

 exploring the northern portion of Hudson Bay and the 



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