The Great Company : $b being a history of the honourable company of merchants-adventurers trading into Hudson's BayWillson, Beckles
History
The Great Company : $b being a history of the honourable company of merchants-adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay
Willson, Beckles
Fur trade -- Canada; Hudson's Bay Company; Northwest, Canadian -- History
One consequence of the war with France was a revival of the hopes of
the Jacobites. In 1744 Charles Edward, the grandson of James II., was
placed by Lewis in command of "a formidable armament," and in the
following year the young Pretender placed his foot on a little island
of the Hebrides, where for three weeks he stood almost alone. But the
Highland blood was fired; the clans rallied to the standard of "Prince
Charlie," and when he began his march on Edinburgh, several thousand
Scottish zealots had rallied to his standard. "James the Eighth" was
proclaimed at the Town Cross of the capital, and when his troops and
the English regiments met at Preston Pans, in September, the latter
were defeated with heavy loss. But although this victory swelled his
numbers it did not bring the Lowlanders and English to fight for him.
"Hardly a man," we are told, "had risen in his support as he passed
through the districts where Jacobitism boasted of its strength. The
people flocked to see his march as if it had been a show. Catholics
and Tories abounded in Lancashire, but only a single squire took up
arms." The knell of Jacobitism was rung, and after a brief success the
English forces fell upon Prince Charles Edward at Culloden Moor, and
cut his little army to pieces. Fifty of his followers and adherents in
England ascended the scaffold; Lords Lovat, Balmerino and Kilmarnock
were beheaded, and over forty noblemen and gentlemen were attainted by
Act of Parliament. Scarcely a month had elapsed from Charles Edward's
escape to France after his romantic adventures, when a motion was
submitted to the Governor and Company of Adventurers in England
trading into Hudson's Bay, ordering the confiscation of the stock held
by the heir of the second Governor of the Company, King James II. The
exiled monarch had never relinquished his share, and under the name of
"John Stanion" the dividends had always reached him. But the Jacobite
rising affected his fellow-adventurers' complaisance, and by 1746
"John Stanion" had ceased to figure as an active partner of the
Company.[60]
Under date of 3rd of May, 1745, the Company wrote to Governor Isbister
and Council, at Albany Fort, to say that they had "augmented the
complement of men (as you desired) at your Factory and Moose Fort,
that in case of need you may assist each other, and thereby we hope
you will be enabled to baffle the designs of the enemy.
"We do direct," it pursued, "that not only a continual correspondence
be kept between you and Moose Fort, but that you correspond with the
Factory at Slude River, York Fort, and Prince of Wales' Fort as often
as you can, and if under any apprehensions of an attack, to give
immediate notice to Moose Fort. We still recommend your diligence in
getting intelligence and information of the designs of the French."
[Sidenote: Further instructions to Company's officials.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account