F = R S. 
of furred aia ages 
£ ae at an eal "period “Tittle as been re- 
corded, disagh it certainly muit have formed a confiderable 
branch of commerce. ‘There exifted feveral reafons why 
little has been detailed on this fubject, as to the nature, ex- 
tent, or mode in which the merchandize in furs and peltry 
igre field it ssi for the pea in furs 
to t iret communication with tha 
Ruffian company, formed under the aufpices of the cele- 
d Sebaftian Cabot, and the lrg A of the port of 
Archangel by captain Richard ndler, the fur trade in the 
north-eait had been carried on seers the ports of Livonia, 
lately poffeffed by the Teutonic knights of St. Mary of Jera- 
falem, a republic, of which the ee ees towns not along ago 
R » anterior to that 
y on the fhores 
artment of a pai th 1eir W ay te to a market by the 
interior of the north of Europe. “In confequence of this 
circuitous conveyance, the defpotic oe of the Rufilan 
monarchs, and the narrow policy a by that govern- 
ment, it was fcarcely known for a long period from what 
i or by t P; intercourfe the furs 
‘Re 
a 
ct 
ct O 
Zo 
ay, 
om 
< 
Poa 
a 
areaily injured. the trade, the ezar was induced to accede to 
the requeit of the oo merchants for permiffion te trade 
direCtly to the Ruffian c 
The difcovery and peloniestion of America, particularly 
northern parts of it, — on the gulf of St. 
avrence and eae s bay Y2 Gave new turn to mercantile 
nd peltr 
rried that 
e ee pier aie a nage ance bs ee 
or the of opening anew fource 
paflage, to proceed in that direCtion on mining inveftigations, 
and te open with the natives of the Terra Incogn 
trade in ane t prank dated sail 2, 1670, they 
ftraits, creeks, lakes, rivers, ea &c. that ie  withic 
the entrance of the. ftraits, commonly. called “ Hudfon’s 
ftraits.’? This chartér was avery ample one, and for.a time 
had a moft difaftroufly -exclufive effet upon the tradeé.nt- 
furs. But fuch charters, happily for commeree, were greatly 
abridged of their extenfive privileges, by oneof thofe eminent 
bulwarksof En glith libert » which have a fe as 
6 other not fan a ned by an 
Tet were  difsroutl a. and oe they “tall 
pretend if ‘Caife efs prohibitory powers, every Britith fubje 
w hasan equal right to participate in the trade. to ni quarter. 
Their fir factory, fort, or eftablifhment on Nelfon river, 
was formed in the year 1682, anda Mr. John Bridgar was 
Soon after they fet ae piesa in different 
re jealous of the 
te of their Cana 
dian fettlements, feized upon the rsa and difpo Acted th the 
fettlers. On application.to the French court refpedting this 
e outrage, it was deemed a piratical a€t, and the king of France, 
nd fac 
_ company the French fort a 
- Although the French i in 1 Canada 
s about 
e countr 
with the Indians, our trade and intereft 
fa eee which they were enabled effe& ally to a theig 
con 3 the nearett. parts of Canada not being diftant 
actory at fort 
WES 
fon. 
From this period, till the’ year 17 714s the company” s 
people were frequently annoy ed and ea ee by their I:ti- 
3 till, by the ii of 
ation were drawn between the two 
an and defin itive articles agreed upon relative ’ to the 
trade. After this they extended their concerns, and apes 
new anne In 1730 they pofielled five, viz 1. 
any river, Hayes's iff ca Rupert's river, Port Nelfon, and: 
New Severn. The ntry about Hudfon’s bay is very 
iahofpitable a unfriendly to vegetable 
even in the fouthern part, in the oe ve) rst degree it is 
exceflively cold nine ee int “fn fo wretched a 
area — there c een nd ee ‘properly fo 
called, n ‘towns aii "villa ages. The refident traders 
er sel muft be fu plied with bread, beef, pork, flour, 
peas, and other neceflaries from Eng ,» or fome parts of 
America. With the poor favages o - conntry, commerce 
can be conducted a no other means than darter; and the 
beaver is made the medium, or agio, of exchan “Thu Us, 
for inftance, the com 
0 
plain red coat; for -f a doe Or aa’s Goat; “and fo { pro 
portionably for ke nes combjy &e, Arthur 
Dobbes; efq:. - who nubliflied, in 3, at accdunt of Hud 
on’s b pr eae this ratio = Ae between the. 
company’ ’s reat and the Sntians.” “A beaver ttt, he faye; 
as the. medium ‘of circulation, is the eftaplifhed eae - al 
3Q2 
