1844.] Hudson's bay company's treatment of Indians. 397 



ertions more productive elsewhere ; and also probably because their 

 government, from its nature, could not afford them assurances and 

 facilities for organization, similar to those which have imparted so 

 much vigor and efficiency to the operations of the British. 



The Hudson's Bay Company thus assisted and protected in every 

 way by its government, became a powerful body. The field for its 

 labors was at once vastly increased by the license to trade, in exclu- 

 sion -of all other British subjects, in the countries west of the Rocky 

 Mountains, where the fur-bearing animals were more abundant than 

 in any other part of the world ; while the extension of the jurisdic- 

 tion of the Canada courts over the whole division of the continent, 

 to which its charters apply, and the appointment of its own agents 

 as magistrates, in those regions, gave all that could have been de- 

 sired for the enforcement of its regulations. The arrangement made 

 with the Russian American Company, through the intervention of 

 the two governments, secured the most advantageous limits in the 

 north-west ; and the position assumed by Great Britain, in the dis- 

 cussions with the United States, respecting Oregon, were calculated 

 to increase the confidence of the Company, in the strength of its 

 tenure of that country, and to encourage greater efforts. 



In addition to the aid thus derived from government, the consti- 

 tution of the Hudson's Bay Company is such as to secure know- 

 ledge and prudence in council, and readiness and exactness in exe- 

 cution. The proceedings of its directors, by whom all general 

 orders and regulations are issued, and all accounts are comptrolled, 

 are enveloped as much as possible, in secrecy ; all communications 

 which are likely to be published, being expressed in terms of studied 

 caution, and affording only the details absolutely required. The 

 number of persons in its employ is small, considering the amount of 

 duties performed by them ; the manner of their admission into the 

 service, the training to which they are subjected, and the expectations 

 held out to them, being calculated to render their efficiency and 

 devotion to the general interests, as great as possible. The strictest 

 discipline, regularity and economy are enforced throughout the 

 Company's territories ; and the magistrates appointed under the act 

 of parliament, for the preservation of tranquillity, are seldom called 

 to exercise their powers, except in the settlement of trifling dis- 

 putes. 



In the treatment of the aborigines of these countries, the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company appears to have admirably combined and recon- 

 ciled policy with humanity. The prohibition to supply them with 



