A comical story is current in London about the charter. After the monopoly was relinquished by the Company in 1870 and its territory taken over by Canada, the old charter was, of course, of no importance. For thirty years it disappeared. It was finally found jammed behind old papers tumbled down the back of an old safe—and this was the charter that deeded away three-quarters of America. Before a Parliamentary Commission on March 10, 1749, the Company made the following statement concerning its stock: 1676 October 16 It appears by the Company’s Books, that their stock then was £10,500 1690 September The same being trebled is 21,000 ______ Which made the Stock to be 31,500 1720 August 29 This Stock being again trebled is 63,000 ______ Which made the Stock to be 94,500 And a subscription then taken in of 10% amounting to Additional Stock 9,450 ______ Which makes the present Amount of the Stock to be 103,950 The minutes of the Company and Radisson’s journal alike prove that he passed to France from England, in October, 1674. Whether Groseillers came to England on the ship is not stated, therefore the question is left open, but it is stated that Groseillers passed to France at the same time, so that pretty story of Groseillers knocking Bayly’s head is all fiction. I was not able to find that “Booke Aparte” in which entries were made of Mr. Andrew Vallentine’s matrimonial mart. It may yet turn up in the cellarful of old papers in the Company’s warehouse. Perhaps it is as well that it should not, for some of the most honored names in Canadian history came into the service of the Company at this time. Lyddell’s salary as governor of the west coast of the bay was to be £100 per annum. Sailors were paid, in 1671, from £20 to £30 a year, the surgeons £20 a year. CHAPTER IX 1674-1685 IF RADISSON CAN DO WITHOUT THE ADVENTURERS, THE ADVENTURERS CANNOT DO WITHOUT RADISSON—THE ERUPTION OF THE FRENCH ON THE BAY—THE BEGINNING OF THE RAIDERS