MR. CHRISTIEwished to put the questions of which he had given notice to the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War, namely, whether he can furnish any information as to the number of pensioners who may be proceeding to Hudson's Bay this season, and also of those who are at present stationed in the Hudson's Bay territory? And whether the Hudson's Bay Company have been empowered to employ these pensioners for the enforcement or protection of their monopoly of trade against the native or other inhabitants of the country; and if not, what duties it is intended they shall perform on their arrival in that territory?
§ MR. FOX MAULEsaid, that in reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman, he might state that previous to the year 1846 the Hudson's Bay Company were without protection from any British force of any description; but in 1846 disturbances arose between the Hudson's Bay Company and certain parties which he did not know how to designate—whether they belonged to the united States, or were marauders acknowledging no government at all—and it was found necessary to detach from Canada a considerable body of the 6th Regiment of Foot. Those troops were kept there for nearly two years, and it was found to be so isolated a position for troops in Her Majesty's service, without communication with other regiments or from home, that it was thought necessary to provide for the protection of those territories in another way, and it was resolved to send out, under the command of an officer, a body of pensioners who would be there in the enjoyment of their pensions, and receive from' the Hudson's Bay Company 1080 certain advantages in lodgings, land, and money. It was arranged that they should be required to go out twelve days in the year for drill, and be prepared to turn out for the protection of the public peace when called upon by the authorities of the place. The number of pensioners originally sent there was fifty-six, and they were now about to add twenty to that number in the present year, and they would sail in the course of a few days to Hudson's Bay. He was not aware that those parties had received orders to interfere with the local concerns of the Hudson's Bay Company. They were under the command of their officer, to be called out at his discretion, and not at the discretion of the Hudson's Bay officers, to preserve the public peace. That was the object of those troops being sent there.
§ MR. HUMEsaid, that if the military officer at the head of the pensioners was not under the control of the company, he wished to know under what particular orders he was to act, and whether he was to obey the orders the Hudson's Bay Company should give him in case of an affray? He thought it ought to be known under what specific orders and authorities this officer was to act.
§ MR. FOX MAULEsaid, that the officer's orders were to preserve the public peace, and to prevent any persons from interfering with the trade of that company.
MR. CHRISTIEbegged to ask if the pensioners were paid by this country? If they were there solely for the benefit of the Hudson's Bay Company, they were the persons to pay them.
§ MR. FOX MAULEThe pensioners draw their pensions which are given them for past services, and they get lodgings, land, and money from the company.
§ Subject dropped.