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THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY'S GRANT TO THE EARL OF SELKIRK.

Whereas the Governor and Company of Hudson's Bay have ceded to the Right Honourable Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, his heirs and successors, for ever, all that tract of land or territory bounded by a line running as follows, viz.: Beginning on the western shore of Lake Winnipic, at a point in fifty-two degrees and thirty minutes north latitude; and thence running due west to Lake Winipigashish, otherwise called Little Winnipic; then in a southerly direction through the said lake, so as to strike its western shore in latitude fifty-two degrees; then due west to the place where the parallel of fifty-two degrees north latitude intersects the western branch of Red River, otherwise called Assiniboine ; then due south from that point of intersection to the height of land which separates the waters running into Hudson's Bay from those of the Mississouri and Mississippi Rivers; then in an easterly direction along the height of land to the source of the River Winnipic, (meaning by such last named river the principal branch of the waters which unite in the Lake Saginagas,) thence along the main stream of those waters and the middle of the several lakes through which they pass, to the mouth of the Winnipic river; and thence in a northerly direction through the middle of the Lake Winnipic, to the place of beginning: which territory is called Ossiniboia, and of which I, the undersigned, have been duly appointed Governor: .

And whereas, the welfare of the families at present forming settlements on the Red River, within the said territory, with those on the way to it, passing the winter at York and Churchill Forts in Hudson's Bay, as also those who are expected to arrive next autumn, renders it a necessary and indispensable part of my duty to provide for their support in the yet uncultivated state of the country; the ordinary resources derived from the buffalo and other wild animals hunted within the territory are not deemed more than adequate for the requisite supply: Wherefore, it is hereby ordered, that no persons trading in furs or provisions within the territory, for the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company or the

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North-west Company, or any individual or unconnected traders or persons whatever, shall take out any provisions, either of flesh, fish, grain, or vegetables procured or raised within the said territory, by water or land carriage, for one twelvemonth from the date hereof, save and except what may be judged necessary for the trading parties at this present time within the territory to carry them to their respective destinations, and who may on due application to me obtain a license for the same. The provisions procured and raised as above shall be taken for the use of the colony; and that no loss may accrue to the parties concerned, they will be paid for by British bills at the customary rates. And be it hereby further made known, that whosoever shall be detected in attempting to convey out, or shall aid and assist in carrying out, or attempting to carry out, any provisions prohibited as above, either by water or land, shall be taken into custody, and prosecuted as the laws in such cases direct; and the provisions so taken, as well as any goods and chattels, of what nature soever, which may be taken along with them, and also the craft, carriages and cattle instrumental in conveying away the same to any part but to the settlement on Red River, shall be forfeited.

Given under my hand at Fort Daer (Pembina), the 8th day of January, 1814.

(Signed)

By order of the Governor,
(Signed)

MILES M'DONELL, Governor.

JOHN SPENCER, Secretary.

PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF PLACES.

ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED BY FRANCE.

Mr. Vernon, Secretary of State, to Lord Lexington, communicating the alternatives proposed by the Ambassador of France, regarding the boundaries between France and England in America, April 29, 1700, to the Board of Trade and Plan

tations.

MY LORD,-Having received the alternative from the French Ambassador, I send your lordship a copy of it, that it may be considered at your board by Wednesday next.

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"Par la première alternative, je propose que la France garde le Fort Bourbon et l'Angleterre celui de Chichitouan, ayant de part et d'autre pour limites entre les deux nations de ce côté, le — qui est justement à moitié chemin entre les deux forts susdits, et en ce cas là les limites de la France, du côté de l'Acadie, seroient restraintes à la Rivière Saint George.

"Par la deuxième alternative je propose que le fort de Chichitouan reste à la France, et le Fort de Bourbon à l'Angleterre, ayant pour limites ce même endroit, dont je viens de parler cidessus; mais en cas l'on demande que les limites de la France, du côté de l'Acadie, s'étendent jusqu'à la Rivière Kenibeki.

"Quant à la pêche, comme toute commerce est défendu entre les deux nations dans les colonies, et que sous le prétexte de venir pêcher ou ne manqueroit pas de venir trafiquer en contrabande, l'on croit que, suivant l'usage déjà établi en ces pays là, il faut que la pêche soit défendue hors de la portée de la vue; mais comme il survient toujours des incidens quant il n'y a point une distance déterminée, on demande qu'elle soit fixée a huit lieues, et que par le même raison et crainte des mêmes inconvéniens qu'on vient d'exposer,l es isles qui se trouveront compris dans cet espace là

appartiennent à celle des deux nations sur le côté dans laquelle elles se trouveront.*

OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS ON THE ABOVE.

What the interest of the Hudson Bay Company may be in keeping Fort Chichitouan, alias Fort Albany, or exchanging it for Fort Bourbon, alias York, they themselves can best determine.

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The proposal for settling limits between the English and French in Hudson's Bay is groundless; for by the late Treaty of Peace, Art. 8, the only right reserved to the French in Hudson's Bay is in relation to those places which were taken from the English by the French during the peace which preceded the late war, and retaken from them by the English during the said war, which cannot imply any extent of territory more than the places so taken and possessed; and the Hudson's Bay Company challenging an undoubted right to the whole Bay, antecedent to any pretence of the French, it is necessary they be consulted before any concession of territories be made to the French in those parts.

I do hereby certify that these papers are true copies, compared with the originals in the books of this office.

Plantation Office, Whitehall,

July 12, 1750.

(Signed)

THOMAS HILL.

* By the first alternative, I propose that France keep Fort Bourbon, and England that of Chichitouan, having for limits between the two nations in that quarter the which is exactly half-way between the two Forts; and in that case, the limits of France, on the side of Acadie, shall be restricted to the River St. George. By the second alternative, I propose that Fort Chichitouan shall remain with France, and that of Bourbon with England, having for limits the same place of which I spoke above; but in that case I demand that the limits of France in Acadie should extend to the Kenebec.

As to the fishery, as all commerce between the colonies of the two nations is forbidden, and as under the pretext of fishing a contraband trade would be sure to be carried on, it is thought, according to the usage established in that country, the fishery should be prevented as far as the eye can reach; but as difficulties always arise when a determined distance is not agreed upon, it is proposed to fix it at eight leagues, and that for the same reason, and for fear of the same inconvenience, the islands which are found comprised within this space should belong to whichever of the two nations on the shores of which they are situated.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PEACE OF UTRECHT.

PRELIMINARY DEMANDS FOR GREAT BRITAIN.

April, 1711.

Newfoundland and the Bay of Hudson shall be entirely restored to the English. Great Britain and France shall respectively keep and possess all the countries, dominions, and territories in North America which each of these nations shall possess at the time that the ratification of this treaty shall be published in those parts of the world.

REPLY OF THE FRENCH KING.

La discussion de cet article sera rémise aux conférences générales de la paix; bien entendu que la faculté de pêcher et de secher la nolu (sic) sur l'Isle de Terreneuve, sera réservée aux François.*

- GENERAL PLAN OF PEACE FOR GREAT BRITAIN.

(4.) The King [of the French] will give up the Province of Acadia, with the Town of Port Royal and its dependencies, to Great Britain, as also Hudson's Straits and Bay.

(5.) In the countries of North America ceded to Great Britain, the French shall be at liberty to withdraw their effects, as also His Majesty to withdraw the cannon and warlike stores.

D. England demands that the town of Placentia remain in its present state.

That the cannon and warlike stores in Hudson's Bay remain for England.

R. His Majesty offers to let the fortifications of Placentia remain as they are, upon giving up that place to England; to consent to the demand made of the cannon in Hudson's Bay, and, besides, to cede the Island of St. Bartholomew; to give up even

* The discussion of this article shall be referred to the general conferences of the peace, provided the liberty of fishing and drying cod fish upon the Isle of Newfoundand be reserved to the French.

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