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Page 4
The Montreal department comprehends all the districts and posts along
the Gulf and River St. Lawrence; also the different posts along the
banks of the Ottawa and the interior country. The dep�t of the
department is at Lachine, where all the returns are collected, and the
outfits prepared.
The southern department has its dep�t at Moose Factory, in James's
Bay; it includes the districts of Albany, Rupert's House,
Temiscamingue, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior, together with several
isolated posts along the shores of the Bay.
The northern department is very extensive, having for its southern
boundary the line which divides the British from the American
territories, sweeping east and west from Lac La Pluie, in 95� W. long,
and 49� N. lat. to the Rocky Mountains in 115� W. long.; then, with
the Rocky Mountains for its western boundary, it extends northward to
the Arctic Sea. The whole of this vast country is divided into the
following districts: Norway House, Rainy Lake, Red River,
Saskatchewan, English River, Athabasca, and McKenzie's River. The
dep�t of this department is York Factory, in Hudson's Bay, and is
considered the grand emporium; here the grand Council is held, which
is formed of the Governor and such chief factors and chief traders as
may be present. The duty of the latter is to sit and listen to
whatever measures the Governor may have determined on, and give their
assent thereto, no debating or vetoing being ever thought of; the
Governor being absolute, his measures therefore more require obedience
than assent. Chief traders are also permitted to sit in council as
auditors, but have not the privilege of being considered members.
The Columbia department is bounded on the east by the Rocky Mountains,
and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. An ideal line divides it on the
south from the province of California, in lat. 41� 30'; and it joins
the Russian boundary in lat. 55�. This, although a very extensive
department, does not consist of many districts; New Caledonia is the
principal, situated among the Rocky Mountains, and having several of
its posts established along the banks of the Fraser River, which
disembogues itself into the Gulf of Georgia in nearly 49� lat. and
122� W. long. The next is Colville, on the Columbia River, along with
some isolated posts near the confluence of the same river. The
_forts_, or trading posts, along the north-west coast, have each their
respective commander. The shipping business is conducted by a person
appointed for that purpose, who is styled, _par excellence_, the head
of the "Naval department." The Company have a steamboat and several
sailing vessels, for the purpose chiefly of trading with the natives
along the coast. The primary object, however, is not so much the
trade, as to keep brother Jonathan in check, (whose propensity for
encroaching has of late been "pretty much" exhibited,) and to deter
him from forming any establishments on the coasts; there being a just
apprehension that if once a footing were obtained on the coast, an
equal eagerness might be manifested for extending their locations into
the interior. Strong parties of hunters are also constantly employed
along the southern frontier for the purpose of destroying the
fur-bearing animals in that quarter; the end in view being to secure
the interior from the encroachments of foreign interlopers. The dep�t
of this department is at Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River.
The Hudson's Bay Company, as it at present exists, was incorporated in
the winter of 1820-21, a coalition having been then formed with the
North-West Company. Upon this taking place, an Act of Parliament was
obtained which gave them not only the possession of the territory they
had originally held by virtue of their royal charter, but also
investing them with the same rights and privileges conferred by that
charter in and over all the territories that had been settled by the
North-West Company for a term of twenty-one years.
The Governor, Deputy-Governor, and managing Committee, are, properly
speaking, the only capitalists. The stock is divided into one hundred
shares; sixty of which their Honours retain for themselves; and the
remaining forty are divided among the chief traders and chief factors,
who manage the affairs in the Indian country. A chief factor holds two
of these shares, and a chief trader one; of which they retain the full
interest for one year after they retire, and half interest for the six
following years. These cannot be said to be stock-holders, for they
are not admitted to any share in the executive management; but
according to the present system they are termed Commissioned Officers,
and receive merely the proceeds of the share allotted to them. They
enjoy, however, one very superior advantage,--they are not subjected
to bear their share in any losses which the Company may sustain. It is
generally reckoned that the value of one share is on an average about
350l_. _ sterling a-year. By the resignation of two chief traders, one
share is at the Company's disposal the year after, which is then
bestowed on a clerk. When two chief factors retire, a chief trader is
promoted in like manner. Promotion also take place when the shares of
the retired partners fall in.
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