only with the bounds of discovery. Naturally, these territories are divided into three sections: one drained by the rivers flowing into the great lakes and Hudson's Bay; another, by those flowing into the Pacific Ocean; and the third, by those which, rising in the high lands which bound the great central valley, by a northerly course empty themselves into the Arctic Ocean. The first, comprehends the "Hudson's Bay Territory Proper:" a region of lakes and marshes, and rivers, where a few mountains rise above the savage and icy plain; the second, and more northern, has been little explored, nor is it probable that it will contribute much to the purposes of commerce, being ice-bound and uninviting, and inhabited by a halfstarved race, whose only means of subsistence is fishing and hunting; the third, which lies west of the Rocky Mountains, though more promising, is nevertheless an inhospitable region, except a small slip along the Pacific, and in the more southerly portions of the country. These regions are occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company, and used for the purpose of trapping and hunting. For the convenience of transactions, the country has been divided into the following districts: 1. Labrador. 2. Rupert River. 3. Abbitibbee. 4. Moose. 5. Albany. 6. Severn. 7. York. 8. Nelson. 9. Churchill. 15. Cumberland. 16. English River. 18. Saskatchawan. 19. Lesser Slave Lake. 22. New Georgia, &c. The great features of this country have been described in the general article on North America. It is a region of ice and eternal snow, where the beams of the sun scarcely ever penetrate, and where nature seems to hold strife with chaos. The winters are severe in the extreme; ice on the rivers is eight feet thick; brandy freezes; and in consequence of the cold, rocks split with a tremendous noise, fully equal to that of heavy artillery, and the scattered fragments fly to an astonishing distance. The temperature, however, is subject to the most capricious variations. Rain suddenly falls while the beholder is admiring the cloudless sky; while, on the other hand, the sun will as suddenly burst forth in the midst of the heaviest showers. The aurora borealis, sometimes mild and serene, sometimes dazzling and agitated, equals the light of the full moon, and is frequently resplendent and corruscating. These imposing scenes, however, serve only to augment the solemn melancholy of the desert. Nothing can be more frightful than the environs of Hudson's Bay. To whichever side we direct our view, we perceive nothing but land incapable of cultivation, and precipitous rocks, that rise to the clouds, and yawn into deep ravines and barren valleys, into which the sun never penetrates, and which are rendered inaccessible by masses of ice and snow, which never melt. This sea-like bay is open only from July to September, and even then is much obstructed by icebergs. Hudson's Bay affords only a small quantity of fish but the lakes, even those farthest north, abound in excellent pike, sturgeon, and trout; and their banks are inhabited by aquatic birds, among which are observed several species of swans, geese, and ducks. The Coppermine and other northern rivers, swarm with vast shoals of fish in great varieties. The principal quadrupeds are the buffalo, musk-ox, moose, deer, beaver. wolf, foxes of different colors, the lynx or wild cat, white, black and brown bears, the wolverine, otter, jackash, wejack, pine-marten, ermine, skunk, muskrat, porcupine, hare, rabbit, wood-squirrel, climbing-squirrel, and different species of mice. The world of vegetation almost terminates in these northern solitudes, and except near the lake and rivers has scarcely an existence. The banks of the Churchill produce some berry-bearing shrubs, the gooseberry bush, three species of vaccinium, the black currant, strawberry, and a small species of wild rose, the burdock, woodsorrel, dandelion, a species of cistus, a species of box, different kinds of moss, several grasses and peas. The trees which compose the forests of this savage country, present very few species: the pine, dwarf larch, poplar, willow and dwarf birch, complete the catalogue. These trees, however, are much influenced in their growth by locality and soil, and are, in some of the southern parts and near the great lakes, of great size, but in the north gradually dwindle down and finally disappear. The banks of the rivers, in the districts bordering on the United States, seem to be susceptible of several kinds of cultivation barley and rye have ripened there, and hemp becomes very fine; but it will not be long before the progressive advancement of the Canadian population will require these lands for agricultural purposes. : On Winnepeg Lake there is a hardy set of colonists, who were conducted there by Lord Selkirk, and which consists almost entirely of Scotch Highlanders. In this rigorous climate, they exert their energies to live, and seem in some manner to succeed in their laudable design: but away from all civilization, they will, no doubt, return to the savage state and herd with the natives of the forests, or sink under the blight of expatriation. The following historical sketch is from Mr. Farnham's late work on the Oregon Territory, and will be read with interest : "A charter was granted by Charles II., in 1670, to certain British subjects, associated under the name of The Hudson's Bay Company,' in virtue of which they were allowed the exclusive privilege of establishing trading factories on the Hudson's Bay and its tributary rivers. Soon after the grant, the company took possession of the territory, and enjoyed its trade without opposition till 1787; when was organized a powerful rival under the title of the North American Fur Company of Canada." This company was chiefly composed of Canadian-born subjects-men whose native energy and thorough acquaintance with the Indian character, peculiarly qualified them for the dangers and hardships of a fur trader's life in the frozen regions of British America. Accordingly, we soon find the Northwest outreaching in enterprize and commercial importance their less active neighbors of Hudson's Bay; and the jealousies naturally arising between parties so situated, leading to the most barbarous battles, and the sacking and burning each other's posts. This state of things, in 1819, arrested the attention of parliament, and an act was passed in 1821, consolidating the two companies into one, under the title of The Hudson's Bay Company.' "This association is now, under the operation of their charter, in sole possession of all that tract of country bounded north by the northern Arctic Ocean; east by the Davis' Straits and the Atlantic Ocean; south and south-westwardly by the northern boundary of the Canadas and a line drawn through the centre of Lake Superior; thence north-westwardly to the Lake of the Woods; thence west on the 49th parallel of north latitude to the Pacific Ocean; and on the west by a line commencing at the last mentioned point, and running northwardly parallel to the Pacific coast to 54° 40' north latitude, and thence along the maritime range of hills till it intersects the 141st parallel of longitude west from Greenwich, Eng., and thence due north to the Arctic Sea. In this territory, Vancouver's Island, &c., is included. They have also leased for twenty years, commencing in March, 1840, all of Russian America, except the post of Sitka; the lease renewable at the pleasure of the H. B. C. Its stockholders are British capitalists, resident in Great Britain. From these are elected a board of managers, who hold their meetings and transact their business at The Hudson's Bay House,' in London. This board buys goods and ships them to their territory, sells the furs for which they are exchanged, and does all other business connected with the company's transactions, except the execution of their own orders, the actual business of collecting furs, in their territory. This duty is entrusted to a class of men who are called partners, but who, in fact, receive certain portions of the annual net profits of the company's business, as a compensation for their services. "These gentlemen are divided by their employers into different grades. The first of these is the Governor-general of all the company's posts in North America. He resides at York Factory, on the west shore of Hudson's Bay. The second class are chief factors; the third, chief traders; the fourth, traders. Below these is another class, called clerks. These are usually younger members of respectable Scottish families. They are not directly interested in the company's profits, but receive an annual salary of £100, food, suitable clothing, and a body servant, during an apprenticeship of seven years. At the expiration of this term they are eligible to the traderships, factorships, &c., that may be vacated by death or retirement from the service. While waiting for advancement they are allowed from £80 to £120 per annum. The servants employed about their posts and in their journeyings are half-breed Iroquois and Canadian Frenchmen. These they enlist for five years, at wages varying from $68 to $80 per annum. "An annual Council, composed of the Governor-general, chief factors and chief traders, is held at York Factory. Before this body are brought the reports of the trade of each district; propositions for new enterprises, and modifications of old ones; and all these and other matters deemed important, being acted upon, the proceedings had thereon and the reports from the several districts are forwarded to the Board of Directors in London, and subjected to its final order. "This shrewd company never allow their territory to be overtrapped. If the annual return from any well trapped district be less in any year than formerly, they order a less number still to be taken, until the beaver and other fur bearing animals have time to increase. The income of the company is thus rendered uniform, and their business perpetual. Some idea may be formed of the net profit of their business, from the facts that the shares of the company's stock, which originally cost £100, are 100 per cent. premium, and that the dividends range from ten per cent. upward, and this too, while they are creating out of the net proceeds an immense reserve fund, to be expended in keeping other persons out of the trade. "They also have two migratory trading and trapping establishments of fifty or sixty men each. The one traps and trades in Upper California; the other in the country lying west, south, and east of Fort Hall. They also have a steam vessel heavily armed, which runs along the coast, and among its bays and inlets, for the twofold purpose of trading with the natives in places where they have no post, and of outbidding and outselling any American vessel that attempts to trade in those They likewise have five sailing vessels, measuring from 100 to 500 tons burthen, and armed with cannon, muskets, cutlasses, &c. These are employed a part of the year in various kinds of trade about the coast and the islands of the North Pacific, and the remainder of the time in bringing goods from London, and bearing back the furs for which they are exchanged. seas. "One of these ships arrives at Fort Vancouver in the spring of each year, laden with coarse woollens, cloths, baizes and blankets; hardware and cutlery; cotton cloth, calicoes and cotton handkerchiefs; tea, sugar, coffee and cocoa; rice, tobacco, soap, beads, guns, powder, lead, rum, wine, brandy, gin and playing cards; boots, shoes and ready-made clothing, &c.; also, every description of sea stores, canvas, cordage, paints, oils, chains and chain cables, anchors, &c. Having discharged supplies,' it takes a cargo of lumber to the Sandwich Islands, or of flour and goods to the Russians at Sitka or Kamskatka; returns in August; receives the furs collected at Fort Vancouver, and sails again for England. "The value of peltries annually collected in Oregon, by the Hudson's Bay Com pany, is about $140,000 in the London or New-York market. The prime cost of the goods exchanged for them is about $20,000. To this must be added the per centage of the officers as governors, factors, &c., the wages and food of about 400 men, the expense of shipping to bring supplies of goods and take back the returns of furs, and two years' interest on the investments. The company made arrangements, in 1839, with the Russians at Sitka, and at other ports, about the sea of Kamtskatka, to supply them with flour and goods at fixed prices. And as they are opening large farms on the Cowlitz, the Umpqua, and in other parts of the Territory, for the production of wheat for that market; and as they can afford to sell goods purchased in England under a contract of 50 years' standing, 20 or 30 per cent. cheaper than American merchants can, there seems a certainty that the Hudson's Bay Company will engross the entire trade of the North Pacific, as it has that of Oregon. 66 Soon after the union of the North-west and Hudson's Bay Companies, the British Parliament passed an act extending the jurisdiction of the Canadian courts over the territories occupied by these fur traders, whether it were owned' or claimed by Great Britain.' Under this act, certain gentlemen of the fur company were appointed justices of the peace, and empowered to entertain prosecutions for minor offences, arrest and send to Canada criminals of a higher order, and try, render judgment, and grant cxecution in civil suits where the amount in issue should not exceed £200; and in case of non-payment, to imprison the debtor at their own forts, or in the jails of Canada." The northern shore of Lake Superior, eastward of Pigeon river, is a region rich in minerals of the most useful descriptions. The highlands, forming the coast, abound in the finest of copper-ore, and are much similar in geological construction to the northern peninsula of Michigan. The islands, also, which line the shore, are metaliferous, and contain mines of copper, iron, and a variety of basaltic and porphyritic formations. As yet, however, the interests of commerce and manufactures have not demanded very extensively the wealth of this distant region: but capital is flowing in gradually, and every day developes, more and more, its resources. There are no permanent settlements in this portion of the British territory, if we except a few factories belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, nor is it probable, that, for a long time to come, any considerable immigration will be directed to this desolate wilderness. The subject of annexing Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay Company's territories, is now being discussed by the imperial parliament, and if the votes given indicate the destiny of that fine country, there can be no doubt but that it will eventually come into its possession. Whether it will be opened for settlement, or not, is questionable: but the probability is, that it will share the fate of New-Britain, generally, and be sealed to the enterprize of both British subjects and citizens of the United States. Thus one of the most beautiful and fertile islands in the world will be doomed to remain a wilderness for centuries yet to come, if not wrested from the hand of monopoly by the strong arm of popular resentment. The Moravian brethren have established several settlements in the eastern sections of this country, and besides preaching the gospel, have taught the Esquimaux many of the useful arts of life, and thereby partially civilized all within their influence. The area of this country has been estimated to contain somewhat less than 2,000,000 square miles; but it is difficult, in the present state of our geographical knowledge, to approach to exactness on this point. The population is reckoned, including the Indians, at from 50 to 60,000. THE UNITED CANADAS. This country is situated between 420 and 51° north latitude, and 61° and 81° west longitude; being about 1,400 miles in length from east to west, and varying in breadth from 200 to 400; its area is 349,821 square miles. In 1791 it was divided into the two provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, but was again united, for legislative purposes, in 1841. Canada forms a long, narrow tract of country, extending south-westward from the Atlantic, along both sides of the River St. Lawrence, as far as the 45° of north latitude, and from the point where that parallel crosses the river, it stretches westward along the northern bank of the Kataraqui and the northern shores of the Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Superior, including the peninsula formed by Lake Huron on the west, and Erie and Ontario on the south and south-east. The River Ottawa forms the common boundary between the two provinces through the greater part of its course. Canada is intersected by a number of chains or ridges of mountains, extending from the coast far into the interior, and between these lie extensive and fertile vallies, equal in soil and productiveness to any lands in the New World. North of the St. Lawrence, and near the eastern extremity of Lower Canada, rises a ridge of heights, and which stretches close to the river for upwards of a hundred miles, and forms its rugged banks as far as Cape Tourment, about thirty miles below Quebec. Here the ridge, taking a direction west-south-west, terminates on the River Ottawa, about thirtyeight leagues above its confluence with the St. Lawrence, after extending from Cape Tourment along the course of the river about 300 miles. The country between it and the St. Lawrence, from 15 to 30 miles in breadth, is beautifully picturesque, well-watered and level; towards the west especially, this tract may be considered as the choicest part of the province. North of this ridge, and between the Ottawa River and the 81st meridian and the 52d parallel, the country is intersected by another and higher range of mountains, which runs into the interior in a north-west direction, at about the distance of 200 miles from the former ridge, and which forms the watershed between the St. Lawrence and Hudson's Bay. This is an immense wilderness, and, as far as known, is covered with dense forests, whose solitudes are only disturbed by the native hunters. South of the St. Lawrence a ridge commences about 100 miles below Quebec, which takes a south-west course, and opposite this city is about ten leagues distant from the river. The intervening country is fertile and well-wooded, and capable of a high state of cultivation. Continuing in the same direction, this chain crosses the boundary line between the Canadas and the United States, and proceeds on the same course until it meets with the Hudson River. The level tract from the St. Lawrence northward, rich in soil and with a climate favorable to health and plenty, forms the site of the most flourishing and populous settlements in the country. The "Land's Height," which divides the tributaries of the St. Lawrence from those of the Atlantic Ocean, commences near Cape Rosier, and stretching into the interior in a direction nearly parallel with that river, and with the former chain, from which it is nearly fifty miles distant, terminates on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, about 400 miles from its beginning. The valley between these two ridges varies much in quality of soil and fertility. From the 45th parallel to the Chaudiere and St. Lawrence there is a tract of excellent and highly-productive land, occu |