246 NEW BRITAIN. 



his name. In 1585, John Davis sailed from Portsmouth, and viewed 

 that and the more northerly coast, but he seems never to have entered 

 the bay. Hudson made three voyages on the same adventure ; the 

 first 1607, the second in 1608, and the third and last in 1610. This 

 bold and judicious navigator entered the straits that led into this new 

 Mediterranean, the bay known by his name, coasted a great part of 

 it, and penetrated to eighty degrees and a half into the heart of the 

 frozen zone. His ardour for the discovery not being abated by the 

 difficulties he struggled with in this empire of winter, and world of 

 frost and snow, he staid here until the ensuing spring, and prepared, 

 in the beginning of 1611, to pursue his discoveries j but his crew, 

 who suffered equal hardships without the same spirit to support them, 

 mutinied, seized upon him, and seven of those who were most faith- 

 ful to him, and committed them to the fury of the icy seas in an open 

 boat. Hudson and his companions were either swallowed up by the 

 waves, or, gaining the inhospitable coast, were destroyed by the sa- 

 vages ; but the ship and the rest of the men returned home. 



Other attempts towards a discovery were made in 1642 and 1667; 

 but though the adventurers failed in the original purpose for which 

 they navigated this bay, their project even in its failure, has been of 

 great advantage to this country. The vast countries which surround 

 Hudson's Bay, as we have already observed, abound with animals 

 whose fur and skins are excellent. In 1670, a charter was granted 

 to a company, which does not consist of above nine or te« persons, 

 for the exclusive trade to this bay ; and they have acted under it ever 

 since, with great benefit to the individuals who compose the compa- 

 ny, though comparatively with little advantage to Great Britain. The 

 fur and peltry trade might be carried on to a much greater extent, 

 were it not entirely in the hands of this exclusive company, whose in- 

 terested spirit has been the subject of long and just complaint. The 

 company employ but four ships and 1 30 seamen. They have several 

 forts, viz. Prince of Wales, Churchill, Nelson, New Severn, and Al- 

 bany, which stands on the west side of the bay, and are garrisoned 

 by 186 men. They export commodities to the value 16,000/. and 

 bring home returns to the value of 29,340/. which yields to the reve- 

 nue 3734/. This includes the fishery in Hudson's Bay. The only 

 attempt to trade in that part which is called Labrador has been direct- 

 ed towards the fishery, the annual produce of which amounts to up- 

 wards of 49,000/. 



