Part 20 (1/2)
The view which Matthew Prior, the English plenipotentiary, took of the Company's rights was not one, however, inspired by that body. He wanted the trade of the country, rather than the sovereignty.
”I take leave to add to your lords.h.i.+p,” he observes at the end of a communication addressed to the Secretary of State, ”that these limitations are not otherwise advantageous or prejudicial to Great Britain than as we are both better or worse with the native Indians; and that the whole is a matter rather of industry than of dominion.”
These negotiations finally resulted in a treaty signed on the 31st of March (O.S.), 1713, by which the whole of Hudson's Bay was ceded to Great Britain without any distinct definition of boundaries, for the determining of which commissioners were to be appointed.
[Sidenote: Effect of the Treaty on the Company.]
On the news of the conclusion of the Treaty, the Adventurers were filled with joy. The Committee was in session when a messenger came hot haste from Whitehall to bear the glad tidings. A General Court was convoked for several days later. Plans were concerted for securing the very most that the circ.u.mstances would allow. It was necessary to secure the Act of Cession which it was supposed would be issued by Lewis, ceding to Great Britain the places on Hudson's Bay, the Company being regarded merely in the light of sub-ordinary subjects. Many of the members wished to press at once for pecuniary compensation, but the wiser heads agreed that this would best be a matter for subsequent negotiation. Many thought indeed that perhaps there need be no haste in the matter, as the interest on the original estimate of damages, already nearly double the princ.i.p.al, was growing daily at an enormous rate.
”As to the Company's losses,” says a memorandum of this year, ”it will appear by a true and exact estimate that the French took from the Company in full peace between 1682 and 1688 seven s.h.i.+ps, with their cargoes, and six forts and caches in which were carried away great stores of goods laid up for trading with the Indians. The whole amounts to 38,332 15s., and 62,210 18s. 9d. interest, computed to 1713.”
[Sidenote: Company's claim for compensation.]
Under date of 30th July, 1714, occurs the following: ”The Committee having received a letter from the Lords Commissioners of Trade, and they desiring their attendance on Tuesday next, and to bring in writing the demands of the Co. for damages rec'd from the French in times of peace pursuant to the 10th & 11th Articles of the Treaty of Utrecht. Upon which the Secretary is ordered to Copy out the Abstract of the whole damage sustained, amounting to with Interest the sum of 100,543-13-9; as likewise the particulars in these small volumes in order to present the same to the Commission of Trade on Wednesday next.”
It does not seem to have been doubted but that the Queen, if pet.i.tioned, would grant the Company's request in time to send an expedition to the Bay that very year.[48]
But while vessels were being acquired, fitted out and loaded with cargoes, the Company was wise enough not to run the risk of falling into a trap. Nothing was to be done without the fullest royal authority.
It is worthy of remark as ill.u.s.trating how much the Company trusted the Canadian authorities, Bolingbroke (May 29, 1713) reminded the Duke of Shrewsbury (then at Paris) that in Pontchartrain's letter to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada, the latter was directed to yield the forts and settlements belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company: ”But this order the Merchants thought would hardly fulfil their requirements. They were despatching two s.h.i.+ps to the Bay. It would therefore be better if his grace obtained direct order to M. Jeremie in duplicate.”
[Sidenote: No Act of Cession.]
But the Act of Cession eagerly awaited by the Company was not forthcoming. The Queen's advisers were wiser than anybody else. Lord Dartmouth's letter[49] of the 27th May, 1713, enclosing the pet.i.tion of the Hudson's Bay Company, shows what was the design in not accepting an Act of Cession from the French King. Her Majesty insisted only upon an order from the French Court for delivering possession; ”by which means the t.i.tle of the Company was acknowledged, and they will come into the immediate enjoyment of their property without further trouble.”
The summer of 1713 came on apace, and it was soon too late to think of occupying Port Nelson that year. But all was made ready for the next.
On the 5th of June, 1714, many of the Adventurers hied themselves to Gravesend, to wish Governor Knight and his deputy, Henry Kelsey, G.o.dspeed. ”The Committee,” we read in the minutes, ”delivered to Captain Knight, Her Majesty's Royal Commission, to take possession (for the Company) of York Fort, and all other places within the Bay and Straits of Hudson. Also another Commission from Her Majesty const.i.tuting him Governor under the Company, and Mr. H. Kelsey, Deputy Governor of the Bay and Straits of Hudson, aforesaid.”
Knight took with him, likewise, ”the French King's order under his hand and seal, to Mons. Jeremie, Commander at York Fort, to deliver the same to whom Her Majesty should appoint, pursuant to the Treaty of Utrick.”
Knight's eyes, now dimmed with age, were gladdened by the sight of Port Nelson, on the 25th of July. Jeremie was already advised by the French s.h.i.+p, and no time was lost in evacuation. A bargain was made for such buildings and effects as the French had no further use for, which had been beforehand arranged. ”From his particular regard for the Queen of Great Britain, the King will leave to her the artillery and ammunition in the forts and places in Hudson's Bay and Straits, notwithstanding the urgent reasons His Majesty has to withdraw them, and to appropriate them elsewhere.” The cannon were accordingly left.
[Sidenote: Regulation of boundary.]
By Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht it was proposed, in order to avoid all further conflict and misunderstanding, that commissioners should be appointed to regulate the boundaries of Hudson's Bay and the extent of the trade thereof, which should be enjoyed by each.[50] But no great haste was apparent on the part of France to secure this end.
For several years nothing was done in the matter, save and except the persistent exchange of letters between the two amba.s.sadors. There is a letter of Bolingbroke's which evinces the feeling current in diplomatic circles at the time.
”There is nothing more persistent in the world,” he says, ”than these claims of the Hudson's Bay Company. We are desirous greatly to see all these smug ancient gentlemen satisfied; but notwithstanding we are unable to budge an inch. The truth of the business seems to me to be that the French are always hoping that their ultimate concessions will be less and the English that these concessions will be vastly more. As for ourselves we have no desire to play with frost; and I for one shall be relieved to see this question thawed out without further delay.”
Lewis had consented, at the time of the Peace, to afterwards name two commissioners who should give possession to such of the English, as proved that they were actual proprietors, or the heirs of proprietors of those who had in a former time possessed property in the Bay. This seemed to provide for the Company's rights in a manner most satisfactory.
[Sidenote: Appointment of a Commission.]
Nevertheless matters dragged on, and it was not until 1719 that a practical movement was made. On the 3rd of September of that year, Daniel Pulteney and Martin Bladen, Lords of Trade, were appointed Commissioners in response to the appointment by Lewis of the Mareschal Comte d'Estrees and the Abbe Dubois, Minister and Secretary of State.
Pulteney was an Indian merchant, and Bladen had been an officer in the army.
The Lords of Trade having made the suggestion, the Company now wished their Governor, Sir Bibye Lake, to go over to Paris the ”more earnestly to solicit and prosecute the claims of the Honourable Adventurers.”
”It is by this Committee desired most humbly of the Governor to accept and undertake this journey and to manage the Company's affairs there, as he shall judge most conducive to their interest and advantage.
Which, being signified to the Governor, he did, to the great satisfaction of the Committee readily undertake and accept the same.