Part 20 (2/2)
It was ordered that the Governor have liberty to take with him such person or persons to France as he shall think fit.”
Lake accordingly joined Bladen and Pulteney, and was permitted to take a silent part in the conference.
It was intended that this Commission, meeting in Paris, should have power to settle generally the boundaries between the English and French possessions in America. But this was soon seen to be impracticable. The settlement of these matters was too vast and complicated for the Commission to deal with; and the Lords of Trade instructed Bladen, on his setting out, to deal only with the Hudson's Bay territories. It is significant that private instructions of a similar nature were at the same time conveyed to the French Commissioners by the Court.
The Commissioners finally met. Perhaps it would be a pity if Bladen's own quaint account of what followed were allowed to perish:--
On Sat.u.r.day last, my Lord Stair and I met Marechal d'Estrees and Abbe Dubois. Our time was spent in preparatory discourses concerning the intent of the 10th article of the Treaty of Utrecht, relating to the boundaries of Hudson's Bay; and at our next meeting, which will be to-morrow at my Lord Stair's House, we design to give in the claim of the Hudson's Bay Company, in writing, with some few additions pretty material for their service, in case the Abbe Dubois his health will allow him to be there, which I fear it will not, for he is confined at present to his bed.
[Sidenote: Martin Bladen's description of the Commission.]
But I confess, I cannot help thinking it will be to a very little purpose to puzzle ourselves about setting boundaries, by treaty, in the North of America, if the French have so concise a way of fixing theirs in the south, without asking our concurrence; it is to be hoped they will have the modesty to recede from this new acquisition, but in the meantime I cannot help saying this gives me no very good relish either of their friends.h.i.+p or discretion.
I cannot leave this subject without observing how much it imports us to be upon our guard in our American Colonies. It were to be wished that the several Governments of His Majesty's plantations would pay the respect they owe to their instructions, and if those of Barbados for some time past had observed theirs, relating to Santa Lucia, the settlement of a hundred French families there could never have been put upon us at this day as a proof of their right to that island.
There is, further, much talk of a ”multiplicity of books and papers necessary to be read,” and of ”arduous labours” in going over maps, charts and memoirs, which, however numerous, ”are not to be depended on.”[51]
While this initial work was going on, one of the adventurers was entreating his fellows at a Company meeting in London, to take note of a scheme which the French had been insidiously attempting for the previous four years to utterly destroy not only the Company's trade, but all the English colonies as well. He proceeded to read a private letter from a relation in the colony of Pennsylvania in which it was shewn that the Mississippi Company required close watching.
”Its leaders are egged on by the Jesuits, and will stop at no b.l.o.o.d.y measures to draw down trade from the Indians. Their projects must inevitably succeed if we are not watchful.”
This was put forward as one potent reason why the French were complaisant about yielding us the Bay itself. It was but the sh.e.l.l they would surrender, whilst preserving to themselves the kernel.
This letter from the Pennsylvanian had its effect upon the easily-alarmed adventurers, for they lost no time in communicating their apprehensions to the Lords of Trade.
The matter was sent forward to Bladen and Pulteney. ”It were heartily to be wished,” the Company observed, ”that in imitation of our industrious neighbours the French, some means can be determined upon to extend the trade in furs southwards.”
In response, Bladen imparted a brilliant idea. He suggested that St.
Augustine might be ”reduced at a small cost,” and advantage taken thereby of the war then in progress with Spain.
Matters went on in Paris as badly as could be. The English commissioners lost all patience. Nothing was in the air but John Law and his Mississippi scheme. The three distinguished Englishmen, Bladen, Pulteney and Lake, were dined and feted: but were at length disgusted with the whole business.[52] The ”smug ancient gentlemen,”
as Bolingbroke had irreverently dubbed the Honourable Adventurers, were not to be satisfied in regard to the delimitation of boundaries and at this time. But perhaps even they had less interest in Hudson's Bay at heart than new interests which had dramatically arisen much nearer home.
Governor Lake was sent for suddenly from London, and Bladen and Pulteney were not long in following him.
FOOTNOTES:
[47] THE LORDS OF TRADE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.
_To the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth._
MY LORD,--In obedience to Her Majesty's commands, signified to us, we have considered the enclosed pet.i.tion from the Hudson's Bay Company to Her Majesty, and are humbly of opinion that the said Company have a good right and just t.i.tle to the whole Bay and Streights of Hudson.
Since the receipt of which pet.i.tion, the said Company have delivered us a memorial, relating to the settlement of boundaries between them and the French of Canada, a copy whereof is enclosed, and upon which we take leave to offer, that as it will be for the advantage of the said Company that their boundaries be settled, it will also be necessary that the boundaries between Her Majesty's colonies on the continent of America and the said French of Canada be likewise agreed and settled; wherefore we humbly offer these matters may be recommended to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiaries at Utrecht.
We are, My Lord, Your Lords.h.i.+p's most obedient, and most humble servants, WINCHELSEA, PH. MEADOWS, CHAS. TURNER, GEO. BAILLIE, ARTH. MOORE, FRA. GWYN.
Whitehall, February 19th, 1711-12.
<script>