To the Viscount Bolingbroke.

MY LORD,-In obedience to their Excellencies the Lords Justices' commands, signified to us by your Lordship's letter of the 12th inst., requiring to know what has been done since the peace relating to Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia, and St. Christopher's, we take leave to represent:

That upon your Lordship's letter of the 22nd July, requiring us to prepare proper in. structions for the British commissaries who are appointed to treat with those of France upon the 10th, 11th, and 15th Articles of the Treaty of Peace, we wrote letters to several persons concerned in the Leeward Islands, and several parts of the continent, for what they might have to offer to such parts of the said Articles as did relate to them respectively, and have received answers from some of them. We pray your Lordship will please lay the enclosed copies thereof before their Excellencies, the Lords Justices, as follows:

Copy of a memorial from the Hudson's Bay Company, describing the limits which they desire may be fixed between them and the French in those parts, as also an abstract of the damages they have sustained by the French in times of peace.

In relation to St. Christopher's we further take leave to represent that upon several references from Her late Majesty in Council, from the Lord High Treasurer, and from the Secretary of State, we prepared a representation rclating to the settlement of the French part of that Island, as also a letter to the late Lord Treasurer upon the same subject, copies whereof are here enclosed, which your Lordship will please also lay before their Excellencies

the Lords Justices.

Since which time we have received some other petitions from French refugees, also referred to us, of the same nature as those mentioned in our above said representations, which we have not yet been able to consider so as to be able to make a report thereon.

We shall take care by the first opportunity to send directions to the governors and other officers in the Plantations, in relation to the illegal trade between the said Plantations and the said French settlements.

EXTRACTS FROM M. BELLIN'S REMARKS ON THE MAP OF NORTH AMERICA, 1755.*

Albany River, when the French settled upon it, was called Quitchide Chouen by the Indians; but we gave the name of Ste. Anne to the fort and river. That name long existed, and it is to be found in old maps. The river flows out of a lake of the same name, on the

1772.

*

Jacques Nicolas Bellin, a French Geographer and Engineer, was born in Paris in 1703, and died in He executed the maps for the Abbé Prévost's "Histoire Générale des Voyages," and published a collection of charts, entitled "French Hydrography," in 1756. These extracts are translated from his "Remarques sur la Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale, comprise entre le 28e et le 72e dégré de latitude," pp. 12, 70-2, 122-4.

shores of which we had a post called St. Germain. The English built a factory there, and called it Henley, but it amounted to very little.

Moose River, situate at the head of Hudson's Bay, is not the only stream flowing into the bay at the entrance to which Fort Moose is built. On the western shore of that bay, River Perré is found, flowing from the west, and connecting with Lake Alimipegon about one hundred leagues from Fort Moose. The river derives its name from its discoverer-a Canadian-who reached IIudson's Bay by that route.

A large number of rivers, some of considerable size, flow into Lake Superior. About half-way up the north shore are situated St. Ignace Islands, opposite the entrance of a river through which Lake Alimipegon, 25 to 30 leagues from Lake Superior, is reached. Although these parts have long been occupied by our traders and missionaries, my knowledge of the subject lacks the requisite precision. I am ignorant of the size or configuration of Lake Alimipegon or its tributary rivers, or even of the greater part of the rivers flowing into Lake Superior.

On the west coast of Lake Alimipegon, there is a river through which the head of Hudson's Bay may be reached. A Frenchman, from Canada, named Perray, was the first discov erer of that route, and gave his name to the river. On leaving the lake, the river is ascended for about 40 leagues, several small lakes crossed, and a few portages made; then comes a more considerable lake whence the water flows east, into the head of the bay, at the entrance of which the English Fort Moose is built.

We have long been aware of the existence of an extensive chain of lakes, and river connections, to the west and north-west of Lake Superior, forming a convenient highway to the far West; it was even supposed the ocean might be reached in that direction; hence the later discoveries of the French in those parts have only confirmed our previous conjectures, and almost converted them into certainty.

In a MS. map deposited in the Map Department of the Marine Bureau, and drawn in 1687, by Sieur Franquelin, geographical engineer employed in New France, are found to the west of Lake Superior, certain rivers communicating with two large and contiguous lakes, respectively named Assiniboile and Christinaux; from the latter a river (Bourbon) runs to Fort Nelson, on Hudson's Bay. These two lakes are now called Lakes Ouinipique and Bourbon, and we have factories on both.

Another map, fully as interesting as the former, is that drawn up from information received from the Indian Ochagat, the original copy being deposited in the office, which indicates several lakes and river connections tending far towards the west. Although the distances are derived from approximations liable to error, a certain vein of truth is observed and confirmed by more recent investigations in those parts, such as furnished by the memoirs of MM. de la Veranderie, father and son, sent to establish various forts for the protection of the newly discovered territory; and the journal of M. le Gardeur de St. Pierre, an officer of the troops in Canada, who visited the forts in 1750, with instructions to extend his discoveries to the utmost practicable extent, make treaties, and establish trading relations with the most distant Indian nations.

Although I have said the sources of the Missoury were unknown, the French ascended that river to a great distance, and formed several establishments; one, especially, named Fort of Orleans, over 80 leagues from the sea, in the midst of the Missouri, Osage, Kansés and other Indian tribes.

The Illinois River is only a few leagues distant from the Missoury, but on the other side. We have already seen the forts built in 1679 on that river by M. de la Salle; and in addition, we have since built a fort at Peoria, 20 leagues from its mouth.

On the east side of the Mississippi is found the River Ouisconsing, at the mouth of which Sieur Perrot, a Canadian, built Fort St. Nicolas. Lead mines are found on both sides of the main stream below that point. From River Ouisconsing to Lake Pepin, the distance is about 30 leagues; that lake is merely an expansion of the river, about a league in width, by 5 or 6 in length. A small fort was built at its entrance by Sieur Perrot, and another a little higher, on account of the adjacent lead mines; he named them respectively de Bonsecours and de Lac des Pleurs. A few leagues further are several islands, on the largest of which Fort Le Sueur was built in 1695. The River St. Croix flows from the east, a little above that place; its sources not being far distant from Lake Superior. A fort, also named St. Croix, has been built on that river, about 40 leagues from its mouth, and not more than 25

leagues from Lake Superior, which was easily reached from thence. There remains but a small portage of some leagues, a little beyond which is found the River de Neouatsicoton, or Neouissacouat, which discharges itself near the foot of the lake. The distance from the River Ste. Croix to the River St. Pierre is estimated at 5 to 6 leagues. The stream is studded in this interval with a number of beautiful islands of varying size. The River St. Pierre, thus named by the French, but by the savages called Qualebamenisouté [Minnesota], flows from the west. It rises in Lake des Tintous, flows over 50 leagues to the east, then turns and runs at least 30 leagues north-east to the Mississippi. At the elbow it receives the Rivers Verte and St. Rémi. At this point old Fort L'Huillier or Fort Vert-thus called on account of a deposit of green earth in the neighbourhood-was built by us. The latitude of Fort Vert is 44° 20′; the mouth of River St Pierre, 44° 55. The latitudes are from observations taken in 1700, by Sieur Le Sueur.

NOTES ON MAPS,*

EXAMINED WITH A VIEW TO ILLUSTRATE THE BOUNDARIES OF CANADA WHILE UNDER THE FRENCH DOMINION, AND OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES INTO WHICH THE COUNTRY WAS AFTERWARDS DIVIDED; AND TO SHOW THE PROGRESS OF FRENCH EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT. MANY HUNDREDS OF OTHER MAPS HAVE BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE, BUT ARE HERE OMITTED AS CONTAINING NOTHING OF VALUE ON THE SUBJECT IN HAND.

[THE DESCRIPTION FOLLOWING THE TITLE OF EACH MAP, INFRA, IS OF WHAT APPEARS BY SUCH MAP, UNLESS THE CONTRARY IS INDICATED.]

Of the following Maps:-Nos. 3, 5a, 12-14, 16-20, 22, 25, 50, 52, 55, 57-63, 74, 92, 108, 113-14, 121-2, 128, 136-7, 142, 151, 183, 185, were consulted at, or may be found in the Parliamentary Library, Ottawa; Nos. 2, 7-11, 15, 21, 26, 28-32, 34, 40-2, 46, 48, 56, 64-7, 75, 81-2, 90-1, 93-8, 100-3, 105-7, 109-10, 115-20, 125-7, 131-4, 140, 147-50, 152-62, 166, 168-9, 172-4, 181-2, (in the New York State Library, at Albany); Nos. 23-4, 77-9, 85-9, 163-4, 175-7, 180, 184, (in the Library of the Legislative Assembly, Toronto); Nos. 1, 55, 47, (at both Albany and Ottawa); Nos. 4, 27, 53-4, 112, (in Paris); No, 5, (St. Mary's College, Montreal); No. 33, (Albany, Ottawa, and Paris; copy on hand); Nos. 43-5, 83, 167, 170-1, 179, (in London); Nos. 68-73, (in Department of Education, Toronto); No. 84, (in Department of the Marine, Paris; Lindsey's Report); No. 99, (copy on hand; Albany); No. 104, (Ottawa, Albany, and London; copy on hand); No. 111, (Education Department, Toronto; Albany); Nos. 123, 135, 178 (Mr. Mills' first Report); No. 138, (Ottawa; Mr. Mills' first Report); Nos. 144, 165, (Mr. Lindsey's Report); No. 145, (in State Department, Washington; Mr. Mills' first Report); No. 146, (mentioned in the evidence on De Reinhardt's trial); and Nos. 36-7, 49, 51, 76, 80, 124, 129-30, 141, 186, (on hand; as are also Nos. 33, 99 and 104).

(1) 1632.-"Carte de la Nouvelle France" in Champlain's Works, ed. 1632. [Facsimiles in the works of O'Callaghan and Laverdière.]

In this map Labrador and Hudson's Bay and Straits, and, westward, the country to the limit of discovery, are included in Nouvelle France: that name commences north of Grand Lac [Superior], and north-west of Mer Douce [Lake Huron], and, skirting the foot of James' Bay, terminates at the Saguenay. The route between the St. Lawrence and Hudson's Bay, by the Rivers Saguenay and Rupert and Lake Mistassin, clearly appears. This, which was at all times the chief overland route followed by the French, and by the great Fur Companies, was evidently well known even at this early date.t

+ As soon as Canada had been restored to France under the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, in 1632, "La Compagnie de la Nouvelle France dite Canada," which had been chartered (by that name) in 1627, under the auspices of Richelieu, commenced operations; and thenceforward it (and afterwards its successors) carried on an extensive commerce with the Indian nations of Canada. The Indians of

These maps were examined and the Notes compiled after the body of the work had been completed: they might therefore properly appear in the supplementary section (XVII); but it has been thought best to place them here for greater convenience of reference. All foot notes to this article other than the present are to be found immediately after the remarks on the map to which they relate.

the west and north-even from the shores of Hudson's Bay-were in the habit of bringing their furs to the ports of the St. Lawrence; but these companies, not satisfied with this, sought the Indians in their own countries, and established trading posts and forts within easy reach of them-on the north, at the sources of the Saguenay and other rivers of the southern watershed, at the height of land and on the lakes and rivers of the northern slope. The natives had thus the option of trading at their own doors, or of taking their furs to Tadoussac, Quebec, Three Rivers or Montreal, where in consideration of their acting as their own carriers-the same company took their furs at a larger, in exchange for goods at a smaller, price. The company had thus complete command of the commerce of the Bay and of the surrounding territories. The government of Canada had unquestioned dominion over and possession of these northern waters and countries; there was no pretence of an adverse claim. France had always claimed for Canada an indefinite extension northward; according to its Charter, the limit within which this Company was to exercise its privileges was, on the north, the northern boundary of Canada, described in this instrument as being the Arctic Circle; by the fall of Quebec the English became masters of the whole country; and by the treaty aforesaid they restored all of it to France without limitation. And 80, whilst France had thus an unquestioned title to the territories, the Company had an unquestioned monopoly of the trade; no intruders disturbed them; they erected no forts on the shores of the Bay -the necessity for them did not exist; their southern posts gave them as full a possession, as complete a command of the country and its trade as if those posts were on the margin of the Bay. And so it continued till the time of the first English encroachments, 1667-8. The French then were roused to action, carried on (with varying success for a time) an almost continuous warfare against the intruders, whom they finally drove out of the country and the Bay, establishing themselves in the strongholds which the strangers had erected, and thereafter (for over 20 years, and, as to some posts, for over 30 years) so maintaining themselves, as before, sole masters of the country, until their adverse fortune in the wars of another continent compelled them to relinquish at Utrecht a portion-but only a portion-of the territories they had held so long.

This Company had been preceded by William de Caën in the privilege of the fur-trade. The Company's term was 25 years, expiring in 1643, but its charter was not surrendered to the Crown till 1663, when a reconstruction of the Government, and a change in the administration of the affairs of Canada took place. Besides its chartered title, this Company was also known as La Compagnie – “de la Nouvelle France," "de Canada and "des Cents Associes." To it succeeded, in 1664, "La Compagnie des Indes Occidentalis," whose privileges were resumed by the Crown in 1674. Then we have, "La Compagnie du Nord de Canada ;" in 1700 "La Compagnie du Canada" was founded; in 1706 a concession of the "traite du Castor de Canada" was given to the "Sieurs Aubert, Neret et Gayot:" this expired in 1717. Crozats' patent of 1712, limited however to Louisiana, was surrendered in 1717; in the last mentioned year was chartered "La Compagnie d'Occident," to which, besides Louisiana, there was also accorded the sole right of trading for furs with the inhabitants of Canada. 'La Compagnie des Indes, ci-devant la Compagnie d'Occident" is so (officially) referred to in 1719 and also in 1738, as then still existing; it surrendered its patent of Louisiana in 1731, but still retained, it is presumed, its privileges in Canada. (See Edits et Ords.)

(2) 1635.-Maps "of the World" and "of America," in Mercator's Atlas, English ed., 1635, and second ed., 1637.

In these maps the name "Nouvelle France" extends northward to Davis' Straits: the name commences, on the last mentioned map, on the south side of these Straits.

(3) 1643.-"La Nouvelle France, dressée sur dernières relations modernes, 1643," (MS. in Library of Parliament, Ottawa.*)

The name Nouvelle France commences north of Grand Lac des Nadouessioux [Superior]; and the name Canada commences east of James' Bay, and north of Lake Mistassin. That country has no limits indicated towards the north; and none to the west, other than the bounds of discovery.

* There is a valuable collection of maps in the Library at Ottawa. In the case of such of them as are in MS., the originals have, in most cases, been, since these notes were put in type, consulted at Paris and elsewhere.

(4) 1650.-"L'Amerique Septentrionale, par N. Sanson...1650." This is the origin

edition.

The name Canada extends across Hudson's Bay, no northern limit being shewn. "Estotilande, Terre de Labrador ou Nouvelle Bretagne," are named east of Hudson's Bay, and north of lat. 54°.

(5) 1660.-" Tabula Nova Franciæ, anno 1660," in "Historia Canadensis seu Novæ Franciæ auctore P. Francisco Creuxio. Paris, 1664." [Fac simile.]

Hudson's Bay and Straits, and, towards the west, the country to the limit of the map, (the meridian of the centre of Lake Superior), are included in this map as part of New France.

(5a) [Before 1662].-" L'Amerique Septentrionale, par le Sr. Sanson d'Abbeville [Geographe Ordinaire du Roy]. Paris, A. Perouynin, Sculp."

In this map "Canada ou Nouvelle France" has no limits on the north ; it extends south-westerly to the eastern boundary of Mexico; on the west appears a coloured line, which may represent the then limits of discovery, running, from such lastmentioned boundary, north-easterly to the western shore of Hudson's Bay, in the latitude of Port Nelson. The name runs across Hudson's Bay, Labrador, and the great Lakes. The name "Canadienne" also, extends from the west shore of Lake Superior (produced), north-easterly and across Hudson's Bay.

(6) [Before 1662]." Le Canada ou Nouvelle France, par N. Sanson."

"Canada ou Nouvelle France" extends westward to the limit of the map, (the meridian of the centre of Lake Superior); and southward to the parallel of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi. This map has a line (engraved and coloured commencing at the western limit of the map, between Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior, and running thence easterly, in about the position of what is now known as the height of land, to a point near Lake Mistassin, and thence, almost due east, to the ocean. North of this line-east of the Bay-are the names "Estotilande ou Terre de Laborador et Nouvelle Bretagne." The map would seem to be, in part, a reproduction of an English one: this idea is confirmed by finding on it the inscription, "James, his Bay."

(7) 1662." Amerique, par P. du Val, Geogr. du Roy." From "Cartes du Monde, Paris 1660-1," and "Le Monde Chrestien, par P. du Val. Paris, 1662."

On this map Canada has no bounds on the north other than the limit of the map, which limit is on the parallel of Hudson's Straits. There is on the map a line (engraved and coloured) which commences on the northern limit, to the west of Hudson's Bay, and runs thence southerly and south-easterly to about the position of the point of confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The easterly boundary is the ocean. The first part of the name, "Canada ou N. France," commences west of Hudson's Bay; the second part commences at a point north-west of Lake Superior, near the westerly line above mentioned.

(8) 1662.—“ Canada," (another map in the same work).

By this map Canada includes the country westward to the limit of the map, (a part only of Lac Superieur and of Lac des Puants [Michigan] being shown), and also Hudson's Bay and Labrador. The names "Canada" and "Nlle. France" respectively, are on the face of the map in similar type, the first (Canada) commencing near the mouth of the Rupert, and the other (Nlle. France) further south, east of the Ottawa.

(9) 1662.—“ La Virginie par P. du Val, Geographe du Roy, a Paris." (In same work). The name "Canada" is applied to the country back of the English Atlantic Colonies, to the northern limit of the map in 414°; "Lac Erie ou du Chat," being included.

(10) 1662.-"La Floride par P. du Val, Geographe Ordinaire du Roy." (In same work).

Canada is bounded on the south-west by a line commencing on the westerly limit of the map, in about latitude 40°; thence south-easterly, along the north-eastern boundary of New Mexico, to the north-western angle of Florida, in about latitude 39°; and thence easterly, along the northern boundary of Florida, to the boundary of Virginia.

(11) 1662.-"Nouveau Mexique." (No other title; but it is in the same work, and clearly attributable to Du Val).

The line referred to as being on the preceding map, is here taken up at the parallel of 40°, and is continued thence north-westward to the limit of the map, in lat. 48°. The territory lying to the north-east of this line is named "Canada ou Nouvelle France."