"The dua traitor was discovered, deeply engaged in drinking healths and in retailing his adventures to the applause of an appreciative circle." The gallant emissary reported the tenor of this conversation forthwith to his master, and both were agreed as to the sort of man they had to deal with. Godey expressed himself convinced that there would be little difficulty in inducing Radisson to return to the Company's service. On this advice Preston at once wrote off to Mr. Young telling him not to further press the Company's memorial to the king, nor to seek to have the French court take cognizance of and award recompense for the wrong s done the English in terests. "Radisson has done this thing out of his own head, and he is the one man competent to undo it. He is, I learn, welldisposed to the English, and there is no reason if proper overtures be made him, why he PRINCE RUPERT. presen ta tions about should not do more for From the Painting of Sir Peter Lely in Hudson's Bay House, London. the English interests in that region than he has yet done." At the same time La Barre, the French governor, was urged to make the most strenuous efforts to retain the advantages gained for the French by the two adventurers. A royal despatch of August 5th, 1683, and signed by Louis himself, runs as follows: Port Nelson he would have given great offence to his brother the Duke of York. Indeed, there is little doubt that had the Company not boasted members of such distinction or the patronage of royalty, the French would have at this juncture forced their demands and overwhelmed the This is M. de la Barre's quaint fashion of spelling Dongan. English possession. Radisson appears to have got wind of the situation and this was, perhaps, to him a greater argument for returning to the service of the power likely to be most permanent in Hudson's Bay. He, however, hung about idle in Paris for some weeks in a state of indecision. Had M. de Seignely exerted his full powers of persuasion, he might have induced our bushranger to remain in the service of Louis. But no such inducement was offered. There is some reason to believe that M. de Seignely undervalued Radisson; but in any case the apathy of the court influenced his actions. The bushranger was, on the other hand, ex horted to return to his first engagement with the English, Lord Preston assuring him that if he could in reality execute what he FROM AN OLD PRINT. pro posed he arrived at this decision helis found writing to the French Minister demanding a certain grant in the northwest of Canada as an alternative to a former proposal that "in consideration of his former discoveries, voyages and services he should be given every fourth beaver, trapped or otherwise caught in those territories." M. de Seignely had no suspicion of the depth of Radisson's duplicity. The minister thought him "a vain man, much given to boasting, who could do much harm, and had therefore best have his vanity tickled at home." Up to the very eve of his departure, April 24, 1684, he is seen to be a daily attendant on the minister or his subor dinates of the Depart ment of Marine and Com merce. He is not always favoured with an audience; but when listened to speaks vaguely of fitting out and equipping vessels for trade on voyages similar to those he had already undertaken. His naiveté, to use no harsher term, is remarkable. In order," says he, "that they should not suspect anything by my sudden absence, I told them I was obliged to take a short trip into the country on friendly family matters. myself made good use of this time to go to London." A DOG CARIOLE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE HUDSON'S BAY he would "I yielded," says he, "to these solicitations and determined to go to England forever, and so strongly bind myself to his Majesty's service, and to that of those interested in the nation, that no other cause could ever detach me from it." But in order that he might have an excuse for his conduct, the very day that 66 I He arrived in the English capital on the 10th of May, and immediately paid his respects to Mr. Young. The project for regaining possession of York Factory was canvassed. Radisson estimated that there would be between fifteen and twenty thousand beaver skins in He was not wont to dress so when he was last here, but he has got him a new coat with much lace upon it, which he wears with his leather breeches and shoes. His hair is a perfect tangle. It is said he has made an excellent fortune for himself." the hands of his nephew, awaiting law. For a few weeks the Hudson's Bay bushranger found himself a lion. He was presented to the king in the course of a levee. Charles listened with the very greatest assumption of interest to After a number of conferences with the partners, Radisson finally departed from Gravesend on May 17. Three ships set sail, that in which Radisson was embarked being named "The Happy Return." The elements being favourable, the little fleet reached the Straits more speedily than usual. The Reproduced from West's "Journal during a residence at the Red River Colony 1820-3." the adventurer's account of himself, and to his asseverations of loyalty and good will. Radisson in the evening was taken to the play-house in the suite of his Royal Highness, and there by his bizarre attire attracted almost as much attention amongst the audience as the play itself. "To the Duke's Play-house," writes John Selwyn to his wife, "where Radisson, the American fur-hunter, was in the Royal box. Never was such a combination of French, English and Indian savage as Sir John Kirke's son-in chief figure of this expedition, who had never borne a part in any joint enterprise without being animated by jealousy and distrust, found here ample scope for the exercise of his characteristic vices. During nearly the entire period of the voyage he evinced a perpetual and painful apprehension that one of the other ships carrying officials and servants of the company would, with malicious intentions, arrive before him. His first concern on awaking in the morning was to be assured that the MAP OF YORK FACTORY. Reproduced from an old engraving in Robson's "Six Years Residence in Hudson's Bay." reached contrary winds, of currents and masses floating ice brought about a separation, and Radisson began to be assailed more than ever by the fear that the English servants would arrive on the ground, overwhelm his nephew and the other French without his assistance, and thus frustrate all his plans for claiming sole credit. And in truth this fear was very nearly justified. Twenty leagues from Port Nelson the ship got blocked amidst the masses of ice, and progress, except at a raft's pace, became out of the question. In this dilemma, Radisson demanded of the captain a small boat and seven men. His request being granted, it was launched, and after undergoing forty-eight hours' fatigue, without rest or sleep, the entrance to Nelson River was reached. Imagine Radisson's surprise, as well as that of his companions, on beholding two ships at anchor, upon one of which a complete stranger to them, floated the Royal Standard of England. It was the English frigate which had entered at Port Nelson. The other ship was the "Al. ert," commanded by Captain Outlaw, having brought out the company's new governor, William Phipps, the previous season. Radisson boldly headed his boat for this vessel, and when he drew near, perceived Bridgar's successor, with all his people in arms the quarterdeck. The Governor, in a loud voice, THE WINTERING CREEK IN HAY'S RIVER. From an old print in Ellis "Voyage to Hudson's Bay in 1746. on |