Part 30 (1/2)

It was alleged that the Company did nothing to make itself popular; its rules were strict and its wages to seamen were low, albeit it had never suffered very much from this prejudice until the return of the Middleton expedition. Many absurd stories became current as to the Company's policy and the life led by the servants at the factories.

These travellers' tales had been thoroughly threshed out by the enquiry of 1749. The opponents of the Company had told their ”shocking narratives.” It was only natural, perhaps, that these should be pa.s.sed about from mouth to mouth, and so become exaggerated beyond bounds.

Upon the discharge and death of Captain Coats a demonstration against the Company had been talked of at Wapping and Gravesend, but nothing came of it but a few hootings and bawlings as the s.h.i.+ps sailed away on their annual voyages to the Bay.

By 1768, however, the dissatisfaction had spread to the Company's own seamen, and now took an active form. The time was well chosen by the malcontents, because the public were ready at that time to sympathize with the movement for the amelioration of the conditions which characterized the merchant service generally.

[Sidenote: The Company's seamen strike.]

A numerous body of seamen forcibly entered the Company's s.h.i.+ps in the River Thames, demanding that wages should be raised to 40s. per month.

They struck the topgallant masts and yards, and lowered the lower yards close down, and got them in fore and aft. The consequence was that the crews of the Company's s.h.i.+ps and brigantine were compelled to quit their vessels.

The moment the tidings of this reached the Governor and Company it was deemed advisable for the Deputy Governor, Thomas Berens and James Fitzgerald, Esquires, to ”attend his Majesty's princ.i.p.al Secretaries of State, and such other gentlemen in the Administration as they shall find necessary, and represent the urgent situation of the Company's affairs in general.”

This was done forthwith, and the facts of the situation placed before Viscount Weymouth and Sir Edward Hawke First Lord of the Admiralty.

Secretary of State Weymouth appeared well disposed to do all the service in his power to redress the present grievances; that a memorial should be presented on the Company's behalf.

While the memorial was being drawn up, the three captains acquainted the Commissioners that under the present disturbances on the River Thames, they should not be able to secure the seamen they had already got, without allowing their sailors 40s. per month. It was then the 18th of May, and the Company considered that the lives of its servants abroad, and the event of the intended voyage, would not admit of delay. They therefore told their three captains, and the master of the _Charlotte_, brigantine, that they would allow the sailors 35s. per month from their respective entries to this day, inclusive, and 40s.

per month from this day for their voyage out and home.

Hardly had this been done than a letter was received expressing Lord Weymouth's great concern on being informed that the Company's s.h.i.+ps had been prevented from sailing until a promise was made to raise the seamen's wages, and that some acts of violence had been committed to effect their purpose. From the strong a.s.surance his Lords.h.i.+p had received that there was no danger of any obstacle to delay the voyages, he was almost ready to doubt the rumour.

Berens called on Weymouth and informed him that the Company's critical situation had already obliged the Company to acquiesce in the demand of 40s. per month for the seamen's wages. No acts of violence were committed on board the Company's s.h.i.+p, other than that the crews were daily forced against their inclination to join the rioters.

The s.h.i.+ps were at length got down to Greenwich and proceeded on their voyage with despatch.

But the Company was not yet out of the wood. Clandestine trade was to be again its bogey. The disaffection had been temporarily arrested amongst the sailors: but they were hardly prepared to learn that it extended to the captains themselves, who had, however, the best of reasons for concealing their feelings. When the s.h.i.+ps came home in the following year the Company received information that a seizure of furs and other valuable goods brought from Hudson's Bay had been made since the arrival of the Company's s.h.i.+ps that season. Communication was entered into with the Commissioners of Customs requesting a particular account of such seizures either from the Company's s.h.i.+ps or other places, ”in order that the Commissioners may pursue an enquiry for detecting the frauds that have been committed to the prejudice of His Majesty's Revenue and the interest of the Company.”

[Sidenote: Clandestine trade by the Company's captains.]

Suspicion for the loss of numerous packages of furs now began to fasten itself upon one of the Company's captains, Horner of the _Seahorse_. Horner acknowledged that he was not altogether ignorant that the furs had been abstracted from the hold of his s.h.i.+p. The Company deliberated on his case, and it was ”unanimously resolved that the said John Horner be discharged from the Company's service.” The other captains were now called in and acquainted with the reasons for Captain Horner's discharge. The Adventurers declared their determination to make the like public example of all persons who should be found to be concerned in clandestine trade.

In the following year the Company came to a wise decision. Taking into consideration the state of its trade and the many frauds that ”have been practised and detected,” it was concluded that such frauds were connived at by the Company's chief factors and captains, who were not only privy thereto, but in consideration for some joint interest, permitted this illicit trade to be carried on.

[Sidenote: Salaries increased.]

The Company seems to have thought that the chief factors and captains might have been tempted to these nefarious practices by the smallness of their respective salaries, and therefore in the hope of securing their fidelity and encouraging diligence and industry, and the extending of the Company's trade to the utmost to the benefit of the Company and the revenue, it was decided that a salary of 130 per annum be allowed the chief factors at York, Albany, and Prince of Wales' Fort; also the factors about to be appointed at Moose Fort and Severn House, ”in lieu of former salaries, and all trapping gratuities, and perquisites whatever, except a servant, which is to be allowed to them as before.”

A gratuity was to be given to all chief factors of three s.h.i.+llings upon every score of made beaver which they consigned and ”which shall actually be brought home to the Company's account.”

To the captains a gratuity was decreed of one s.h.i.+lling and sixpence per score of made beaver which they should bring to the Company's warehouse in good saleable condition.

To prevent any loss from rioters or dissatisfied sailors the Company decided, in 1770, to insure their s.h.i.+ps and goods for the first time in its history. The secretary made enquiries at the London a.s.surance Office, and reported that the premium would be five per cent. per annum on each s.h.i.+p during their being in dock, or on the River Thames above Gravesend; and the same on the s.h.i.+ps' stores while they continued in the Company's warehouse at Ratcliff. Whereupon the Company insured each of its three s.h.i.+ps for 2,000, and the s.h.i.+ps'

stores in the above warehouse for 3,000.

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