"Radisson and Des Grozelliers maintain that those allegations are not true; but that having found a spot on the River Nelson adapted to their trade, they took possession of it in the King's name, in the month of August, 1682, and had commenced building a fort and some houses there.

"That on the 14th September following, having heard cannon, they went out to examine, and on the 26th found some beginning of houses on an island, and a vessel aground near the

coast.

"That these houses had been begun since they entered the river and had set about working at their fort and building, and, therefore, that they were the first occupants.

"That, since then, each having wished to maintain his establishment, the French were become the masters.

"That the ice and weather having caused the destruction of an English ship, some men belonging to it had died; but that they had, on their part, treated them with great moderation and kindness, and rendered every assistance to the English, who appeared satisfied."

MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGLISH IN THE NORTH.

M. de la Barre, Quebec, Nov. 12, 1682.

"As to what relates to Hudson's Bay, the company in old England advanced some small houses along a river which leads from Lake Superior. As possession was taken of this country several years ago, he will put an end to this disorder, and report next year the success of his design."

LOUIS XIV. TO M. DE LA BARRE.

Fontainebleau, 5th Aug., 1683.

"I recommend you to prevent the English, as much as possible, from establishing themselves in Hudson's Bay, possession whereof was taken in my name several years ago; and as Col. d'Unguent (Dongan), appointed governor of New York by the King of Eng

land, has had precise orders on the part of the said King to maintain good correspondence with us, and carefully avoid whatever may interrupt it, I doubt not the difficulties you have experienced on the side of the English will cease for the future."

M. DE LA BARRE TO M. SEIGNELAY.

Quebec, Nov., 1683.

"The English of Hudson's Bay have this year attracted many of our northern Indians, who for this reason have not come to trade to Montreal. When they learned by expresses sent to them by Du l'Hut, on his arrival at Missililmakinak, that he was coming, they sent him word to come quickly and they would unite with him to prevent all the others going thither any more. If I stop that pass, as I hope and as it is necessary to do, as the English of that Bay excite against us the savages, whom Sieur du l'Hut alone can quiet, I shall enter into arrangements with those of New York for the surrender® to me of any guilty fugitives. They appeared well satisfied with me, but were desirous to obtain an order to that effect from the Duke of York. I judge from the state of European affairs that it is important to manage that nation, and I shall assiduously apply myself thereto."

M. DE LA BARRE TO M. DE SEIGNELAY.

Quebec, Nov. 4, 1683.

"A small vessel has just arrived from Hudson's Gulf, two hundred leagues further north than the Bay. She brings back those who were sent there last year by order of Count de Frontenac. You will receive herewith an exact map of the place. But divers little rencontres have occurred between our Frenchmen and the English, of which I send you a particular narration, in order, should any complaint be made to the King of England, and he speak of it to M. Barillon, the latter may be able to inform him. of the truth. It is proper that you let me know early whether

the King desires to retain that post, so that it may be done on the withdrawal of the French, for which purpose I shall dispose matters in order to aid them overland beyond Lake Superior, through Sieur du l'Hut, and to send them by sea to bring back the merchandize and peltries."

LE SIEUR DE LA BARRE TO THE KING.

Quebec, Nov. 13, 1684.

"It remains for me to request your Majesty's orders in regard to the English, as well those of New York as those settled on Hudson's Bay. I fear they have attacked the French posts last year in Nelson's Gulf, and that Ratisson (Radisson), who I learn is at their head, has opposed force and violence to the justice of their cause, of which your Majesty shall be informed. Whether I must oppose force to force, and venture by land against those who might have committed some outrages against your subjects at sea, is a matter on which your Majesty will please furnish me with some precise and decisive orders, whereunto I shall conform my conduct and actions."

MY LORD TO M. DE LA BARRE.

April 10, 1684.

"It is impossible to imagine what you pretended when, of your own authority, without calling on the Intendant and submitting the matter to the Sovereign Council, you ordered a vessel to be returned to one Guillam which had been captured by Radisson and De Groszeliers, and in truth you ought to prevent these sorts of proceedings, which are entirely unwarranted, coming under His Majesty's eyes. You have herein done what the English will be able to make a handle of, since in virtue of your ordinance you caused a vessel to be surrendered which ought strictly to be considered a pirate, as it had no commission; and the English will not fail to say that you so fully recognized the regularity of this ship's papers that you surrendered it to the proprietors, and they will thence pretend to conclude that they had taken legitimate

possession of the River Nelson before Messrs. Radisson and De Groszeliers had been there, which will be very prejudicial to the colony."

M. DENONVILLE TO M. DE SEIGNELAY.

Ville Marie, August 25, 1687.

"Du l'Hut's brother, who has recently arrived from the rivers above the lake of the Allenemipigons, (now Lake Ste. Anne, north of Lake Superior) assures me that he saw more than 1,500 persons come to trade with him. They were very sorry that he had not sufficient goods to satisfy them. They are of the tribes accustomed to resort to the English at Port Nelson or River Bourbon, where they say they did not go this year, through Sieur du l'Hut's influence. It remains to be seen whether they speak the truth.

"The overland route to them is frightful, on account of its length and of the difficulty of finding food. He says there is a multitude of people beyond these, and that no trade is to be expected with them except by sea, for by the rivers the expense is too great.

'I have just received news from our forts at the head of Hudson's Bay, (du nord) where d'Yberville is in command. He has had advices this fall that an English ship was in the nip near Charleton Island. He sent four men thither across the ice to reconnoitre. One gave up through sickness; the others were surprised and taken and bound. One of the latter escaped, though fired at several times-he communicated the news-and the other two were put, bound, into the bottom of the hold, where they passed the winter. The commander of the vessel, hunting on the Island in the spring, was drowned. The time being arrived for setting sail, the pilot and the others, to the number of six, caused the weaker of the Canadians to work, and obliged him to assist them. One day whilst most of the English were aloft, the Canadian, seeing only two on deck, grasped an axe with which he split both their skulls, then ran to release his comrade; they seized the arms and went on deck, where from being slaves they

became masters. They next steered the ship towards our fort, and met Sieur d'Yberville on the way, who had fitted out a vessel to go and release his men at the moment the ice would permit him. The English ship was laden with merchandize and provisions, which have been of great service to our forts."

MEMOIR OF M. DENONVILLE ON THE STATE OF CANADA.

Nov. 12, 1685.

"In regard to Hudson's Bay (du nord), should the King not think proper to enforce the reasons His Majesty has for opposing the usurpation of the English on his lands, by the just titles proving His Majesty's possession of it long before the English had any knowledge of said country, nothing is to be done but to find the means to support the company of said Bay, formed in Canada by the privilege His Majesty has been pleased this year to grant his subjects of New France, and to furnish them, for some years, a few vessels of one hundred and twenty tons only, well armed and equipped. I hope, with this aid, our Canadians will support this affair, which will otherwise perish of itself, whilst the English merchants, more powerful than our Canadians, will with good ships continue their trade, whereby they will enrich themselves at the expense of the colony and of the King's revenue."

CAPITULATION OF ALBANY FORT.

Articles agreed upon between the Chevalier de Troyes, Commander in Chief of the detachment of the North-West, for the French Company of Canada, and Henry Sergeant, Esq., Governor, for the English Company of Hudson's Bay, July 16,

1686.

It is agreed upon to deliver up the Fort, together with all the goods belonging to the said Company, which are to be scheduled for the mutual clearing of us, the forenamed, and satisfaction of all parties.