5. The History of Oregon and California, by Mr. Robert Greenhow.

6. A Journey beyond the Rocky Mountains, in 1835, 6, 7, by the Rev. S. Parker, A.M.

7. A Statement of the Earl of Selkirk's Settlement in North America.

8. Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America, 1836-9, by Messrs. Dease and T. Simpson.

9. Hearne's Journeys to the Northern Ocean, 1769-72.

10. Dr. Rae's Exploration of the Coasts of the Arctic Regions.

11. Sir George Simpson's Overland Journey round the World in 1841-2.

Now we may assume that everything which can be stated in favour of the Hudson's Bay Company, has been brought together, from every source from which any such favourable testimony was to be derived. How much has been suppressed which afforded testimony of another description, we shall presently see. Of the above writings, however, we may remark in the first instance, that Commodore Wilkes, Mr. Greenhow, and Mr. Parker, were Americans, and all the rest were servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, with the exception of the

Bishop of Montreal. From the Bishop's Journal, as well as from the Aborigines Committee, and from the Reports of the Church and Wesleyan Missionary Societies, we shall have to derive information of a very different character from that suggested by the quotations in Mr. Martin's book. It is unnecessary, of course, to say that in a case where the character of themselves and of their masters is concerned, evidence from the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company cannot be taken without suspicion, if not of an intention to deceive, at any rate of so strong bias in their own favour as entirely to destroy its value. We shall, however, be able to gather quite enough from the writings of these gentlemen to alter the view which has been laid before the public.

It is most important to bear in mind the relative value which must attach to evidence from different quarters, on a question of this nature. The power of the Hudson's Bay Company over hundreds of thousands of miles of the North American continent is unlimited. Into those remote regions few ever penetrate but the servants of the Company. There is hardly a possibility of obtaining any evidence whatsoever, which does not come in some way through their hands, and which is not

more or less tainted by the transmission. The iron rule which the Company holds over its servants and agents, and the subtle policy which has ever characterised its government, have kept those regions almost beyond the knowledge of the civilised world, or of any but the few who guide the affairs and transact the business of the Company. While, then, nothing would be, apparently, more easy than to array a host of witnesses in favour of the operations of the Company, it would not be a matter of surprise if little or no evidence could be obtained to dispute such testimony; and additional weight must be attached to those incidental notices which can be gathered here and there, and which throw a glimmering and suspicious light on the whole of the Company's

transactions.

Of the American writers to whose testimony so much weight has been attached, it is as well to know that they had good reasons for forming a favourable opinion of the operations of the Company.

Whatever may be the justice of the claim which the Company assert, to the gratitude of the Indian races, and of the settlers in their territories, the United States have, at any rate, a debt, which they seem inclined to acknowledge, as long as the payment can be made in nothing more valuable than

words. We shall presently see of how much use the Company was to this country, in the settlement of the boundary to the westward of Lake Superior; and that, had that Corporation asserted the privileges of their Charter against American claims, as vigorously as they have ever opposed them to British liberties, the boundary between the United States and British North America would never have been settled along the 49th parallel.

It has often been asserted, and is to a great extent believed, because there is very little general information on this subject, that the claim which Great Britain made to the Oregon territory was dependent upon, or, at any rate, strengthened by, the settlements of the Hudson's Bay Company on the Columbia River.

Those who hold such an opinion will be surprised to learn that there are many-and they well acquainted with the country itself who assert that the conduct and policy of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Oregon territory formed the chief part of the title which the United States had to the country which was gratuitously given to her by the settlement of the boundary. What the United States owe to the Company for its policy on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, is a question to

which the English public will some day demand a satisfactory answer. But it is right that the public should know what the Company are charged with having done in those parts.

Dr. M'Laughlin was formerly an Agent in the North West Fur Company of Montreal; he was one of the most enterprising and active in conducting the war between that Association and the Hudson's Bay Company. In the year 1821, when the rival companies united, Dr. M'Laughlin became a factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. But his allegiance does not appear to have been disposed of along with his interests; and his sympathy with anything other than British, seems to have done justice to his birth and education, which were those of a French Canadian.

This gentleman was appointed Governor of all the country west of the Rocky Mountains; and is accused, by those who have been in that country, of having uniformly encouraged the emigration of settlers from the United States, and of having discouraged that of British subjects.

While the Company in this country were asserting that their settlements on the Columbia River were giving validity to the claim of Great Britain to the Oregon territory, it appears, that their chief