FURS. 
total 3115355. 
own of Montreal, 
fox, and cat dé. 10,2803 -red fox on 
pear Sauna in 1763, the whole province, and i 
ceded to Great Britain. From this nes 
he country obtain a vaft ad- 
dition of territory ; but, what is of very great importance, 
became poffeffed of the entire fur and peltry trade o ee 
Auncrican continent. And though a portion of it v 
again alienated by the act, which caer the tiepandence 
of the United States, yet while we retain the country on 
eome a Britith province, the lords of plantation addreffed 
the king, that.the trade might i put under the fame regu- 
lations with that of the oth: x colonies, except fuch cafes as 
‘de 
the co 0 whi on 
fider a a ae co antrys aoe a 2 produce : f Re amie qrantity 
“i the fupply af its own wa Bat e demands 
e pa el were one vt fo or ee ee oe the con- 
queft this trade appeared hee fufpended ; owing to an 
ignorance of the counixy in the conquerors, = want of 
commercial confidence in the conquered, and the numeraus 
difcouragements arifing from the hoitile aiecitene of the 
years, M herfon ‘gives the sania: of fkin 
exported from the province of Canada, cece, o the 
returns from the offices at Quehec; where the on of 
urs are not diftin rata but fimply entered under 0 
head of, < peltries, 
“1764, I 
trunk, whereof the contents are not afocetned: 
274 
Some of the a ivenes now proceeded’ bepund Grande 
Portage, fituated on a bay in latitude 48’ north, and 
welt dongitude, which -has iain _ period become the 
Scbiequnt 
pra over every part of t ly 
ench eee had previoufly been efta- 
blifhed. "The ade was now purfued with fuch avidity-and 
irregularity, that in a few years it became: the reverfe of 
what it ought to have been, for the benefit of the perfons 
concerned. An anjmated: competition prevailed, and the 
d the line of 
y to the-eaft bank of Sturgeon bake, in latitude 
52° 15° welt. 
’ ealoufy - rane their 
ve Loject ‘and’ perhaps with greater: reafon than. they 
t 
ead i; ine befides 58 aks 207 bales, and 
increafed to forty-fix. 
-the old firm, and the. *reft 
a ever dorie Sat thofe of aoe This sad ae ne 
» for fome confider: 
ute y grew w 
bout this = that diel daly, the finall-pox, 
raged with uncomm rulen 
and as Mr. Mac Kenzie. Aoi %% e the fatal 
» under the name of the North-weft Company ; 
who divided their firm, for capital they had none, into fix- 
teen fhares ; each partner fu snjthing a proportionate quota 
of fuch articles as were nece dary for carrying on the Indian 
intercourfe. The traders inthe country, forgetting their 
former animofities, and with the nee of having their 
ah nak ars y rewarded, entered into a co-partnershi 
rith the merchants of ontreal, secu with the anak 
ii va ae to further the gen ‘ie intereft. The 
thus confolidat ed, was direéte able men, who, 
e powers with which they were eatrufted, were- 
enabled to carry it on to the utmof capable extent. In 
the year 1787, this company was joined by a rival companys 
which had ftarted ca after the firft was formed, 
which Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, the author of « ore 
from, Montreal, &c. 4 bore a sige lagure art. This com- 
msi eftablifhment v was) by u of - ability and local 
edge, founded more folid bafis than Witherto had 
— known in the country ; and it not only continued in. 
full force, vigour, and profperity, in defiance of ‘al it 
ference from Canada, but maintained at leait an equal pia 
of ecvautage with “the Hudfon’s bay company, notwith- 
ed of 
yi 
6. 
Bu 
his new, or combine 
gu 
uct the intercourfe hat alee 
uch wife commercial arran 
tribes. | B 
Reece: Such a profperous ftate 
of affairs induced others to: embark in fimilen undertakings. 
In 1798 the concern underwent a ¢ the: fhares were 
This ‘produced: the: termination ‘of. 
the company, which was: not. renewe the parties’ 
previoufly concerned, the m majority’ continuing” to a& under 
fetting uP, eae er; v 1 . 
the eftablifiment: afi 
oe 2 
rs Ohio; 
This trade had: bean ae on, 
indivaduelly by the e perkens: forming this company, who, by- 
interfering in:each.other’s concerns, did. themée] ves: atdeal of. 
injury which: is now. avoided: by. their uniog. - But it yet- 
> 
mains: 
