foreign Powers on my accession. I am glad to find an opportunity of openly expressing my acknowledgments for them.

The relations of the United Kingdoms with one of the maritime States of Northern Africa bave hitherto been dependent upon an annual payment, oppressive to our commerce and derogatory to our dignity. It is my firm determination no longer to pay it, since all the other European Powers, with only one exception, are free from it. In cordial co-operation with that Power, negotiations for this purpose have already been opened, and I have every reason to hope for a peaceful issue to our representations.

The patriotic sentiments by which you are animated, my good Lords and Swedish men, will guide your deliberations and lighten your labours. I invoke the blessing of the Most High upon them, and remain to all and each of you with all kingly grace and favour, well disposed.

ROYAL CHARTER for incorporating the Hudson's Bay Company, granted by His Majesty King Charles II, in the 22nd year of his reign, A.D. 1670.

CHARLES II, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: whereas our dear and entirely beloved Cousin, Prince Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria and Cumberland, &c.; Christopher Duke of Albemarle, William Earl of Craven, Henry Lord Arlington, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, and Sir Robert Vyner, Knights and Baronets; Sir Peter Colleton, Baronet; Sir Edward Hungerford, Knight of the Bath, Sir Paul Neele, Knight; Sir John Griffi.h and Sir Philip Carteret, Knights; James Hayes, John Kirke, Francis Millington, William Prettyman, John Fenn, Esquires; and John Portman, Citizen and Goldsmith of London: have, at their own great cost and charges, undertaken an expedition for Hudson's Bay, in the north-west part of America, for the discovery of a new passage into the South Sea, and for the finding some trade for furs, minerals, and other considerable commodities, and by such their undertaking have already made such discoveries as to encourage them to proceed further in pursuance of their said design, by means whereof there may probably arise very great advantage to us and our kingdom; and whereas the said Undertakers, for their further encouragement in the said design, have humbly besought us to incorporate them, and grant unto them

and their successors the sole trade and commerce of all those seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks, and sounds, in whatsoever latitude they shall be, that lie within the entrance of the straits, commonly called Hudson's Straits, together with all the lands, countries, and territories upon the coasts and confines of the seas, straits, bays, lakes, rivers, creeks, and sounds aforesaid, which are not now actually possessed by any of our subjects, or by the subjects of any other Christian Prince or State: Now know ye, that we, being desirous to promote all endeavours tending to the public good of our people, and to encourage the said undertaking, have, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, given, granted, ratified, and confirmed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant, ratify, and confirm, unto our said Cousin, Prince Rupert, Christopher Duke of Albemarle, William Earl of Craven, Henry Lord Arlington, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, Sir Robert Vyner, Sir Peter Colleton, Sir Edward Hungerford, Sir Paul Neele, Sir John Griffith and Sir Philip Carteret, James Hayes, John Kirke, Francis Millington, William Prettyman, John Fenn and John Portman, that they, and such others as shall be admitted into the said society as is hereafter expressed, shall be one body corporate and politic, in deed and in name, by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay," and them by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay," one body corporate and politic, in deed and in name, really and fully for ever, for us, our heirs and successors, we do make, ordain, constitute, establish, confirm, and declare by these presents, and that by the same name of Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, they shall have perpetual succession, and that they and their successors, by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay," be, and at all times hereafter shall be, personable and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy and retain lands, rents, privileges, liberties, jurisdictions, franchises, and hereditaments, of what kind, nature, or quality soever they be, to them and their successors; and also to give, grant, demise, alien. assign and dispose lands, tenements and hereditaments, and to do and execute all and singular other things by the same name that to them shall or may appertain to do; and that they and their successors, by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay," may plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and be defended, in whatsoever courts and places, before whatsoever judges and justices, and other persons and officers, in all and singular actions, pleas, suits, quarrels, causes and demands whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature, or sort, in such manner and form as any other our liege people of this our realm of

England, being persons able and capable in law, may or can have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy, retain, give, grant, demise, alien, assign, dispose, plead, defend and be defended, do, permit and execute; and that the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading to Hudson's Bay, and their successors, may have a common scal to serve for all the causes and businesses of them and their successors, and that it shall and may be lawful to the said Governor and Company, and their successors, the same seal, from time to time, at their will and pleasure, to break, change, and to make anew or alter, as to them shall seem expedient: and further we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do ordain, that there shall be from henceforth one of the same Company to be elected and appointed in such form as hereafter in these presents is expressed, which shall be called the Governor of the said Company; and that the said Governor and Company shall or may select 7 of their number, in such form as hereafter in these presents is expressed, which shall be called the Committee of the said Company, which Committee of 7, or any 3 of them, together with the Governor or Deputy-Governor of the said Company for the time being, shall have the direction of the voyages of and for the said Company, and the provision of the shipping and merchandizes thereunto belonging, and also the sale of all merchandizes, goods, and other things returned, in all or any the voyages or ships of or for the said Company, and the managing and handling of all other business, affairs, and things belonging to the said Company. And we will ordain and grant by these presents, for us our heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company and their successors, that they the said Governor and Company and their successors shall from henceforth for ever be ruled, ordered, and governed according to such manner and form as is hereafter in these presents expressed, and not otherwise; and that they shall have, hold, retain and enjoy the grants, liberties, privileges, jurisdictions, and immunities only hereafter in these presents granted and expressed, and no other; and for the better execution of our will and grant in this behalf, we have assigned, nominated, constituted, and made, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do assign, nominate, constitute, and make our said cousin, Prince Rupert, to be the first and present Governor of the said Company, and to continue in the said office from the date of these presents until the 10th November then next following, if he, the said Prince Rupert, shall so long live, and so until a new Governor be chosen by the said Company in form hereafter expressed. And also we have assigned, nominated and appointed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do assign, nominate, and constitute the said Sir John Robinson, Sir Robert Vyner, Sir Peter Colleton, James Hayes, John Kirke, Francis Millington, and John Portman to be the

seven first and present Committees of the said Company, from the date of these presents until the said 10th day of November then also next following, and so until new Committecs shall be chosen in form hereafter expressed. And further, we will and grant by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company, and their successors, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor and Company for the time being, or the greater part of them present at any public assembly, commonly called the Court General, to be holden for the said Company, the Governor of the said Company being always one, from time to time to elect, nominate, and appoint one of the said Company to be deputy to the said Governor, which deputy shall take a corporal oath before the Governor and 3 or more of the Committee of the said Company for the time being, well, truly, and faithfully to execute his said office of deputy to the Governor of the said Company, and after his oath so taken shall and may from time to time, in the absence of the said Governor, exercise and execute the office of Governor of the said Company, in such sort as the said Governor ought to do: and further we will and grant by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, and their successors, that they or the greater part of them, whereof the Governor for the time being or his deputy to be one, from time to time and at all times hereafter shall and may have authority and power, yearly and every year, between the first and last day of November, to assemble and meet together in some convenient place, to be appointed from time to time by the Governor, or in his absence by the deputy of the said Governor for the time being, and that they being so assembled, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor or deputy of the said Governor, and the said Company for the time being, or the greater part of them which then shall happen to be present, whereof the Governor of the said Company or his deputy for the time being to be one, to elect and nominate one of the said Company, which shall be Governor of the said Company for one whole year then next following, which person being so elected and nominated to be Governor of the said Company as is aforesaid, before he be admitted to the execution of the said office, shall take a corporal oath before the last Governor, being his predecessor or his deputy, and any 3 or more of the Committee of the said Company for the time being, that he shall from time to time well and truly execute the office of Governor of the said Company in all things concerning the same; and that immediately after the same oath so taken he shall and may execute and use the said office of Governor of the said Company for one whole year from thence next following: and in like sort we will and grant, that as well every one of the above-named to be of the said Company or Fellowship, as all others hereafter to

be admitted or free of the said Company, shall take a corporal oath before the Governor of the said Company or his deputy for the time being to such effect as by the said Governor and Company, or the greater part of them, in any public court to be held for the said Company shall be in reasonable and legal manner set down and devised, before they shall be allowed or admitted to trade or traffic as a freeman of the said Company. And further we will and grant by these presents, for us. our heirs and successors, unto the said Governor and Company, and their successors, that the said Governor or Deputy Governor and the rest of the said Company, and their successors for the time being, or the greater part of them, whereof the Governor or Deputy Governor from time to time to be one, shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter, have power and authority, yearly and every year, between the first and last day of November to assemble and meet together in some convenient place, from time to time to be appointed by the said Governor of the said Company, or in his absence by his deputy; and that they being so assembled, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor or his deputy, and the Company for the time being, or the greater part of them, which then shall happen to be present, whereof the Governor of the said Company or his deputy for the time being to be one, to elect and nominate 7 of the said Company, which shall be a Committee of the said Company, for one whole year from then next ensuing, which persons being so elected and nominated to be a Committee of the said Company as aforesaid, before they be admitted to the execution of their office, shall take a corporal oath before the Governor or his deputy, and any 3 or more of the said Committee of the said Company, being their last predecessors, that they and every of them shall well and faithfully perform their said office of Committees in all things concerning the same, and that immediately after the said oath so taken, they shall and may execute and use their said office of Committees of the said Company for one whole year from thence next following. And moreover, our will and pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do grant unto the said Governor and Company, and their successors, that when, and as often as it shall happen, the Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time being at any time within one year after that he shall be nominated, elected, and sworn to the office of the Governor of the said Company as is aforesaid, to die or to be removed from the said office, which Governor or Deputy Governor not demeaning himself well in his said office, we will to be removable at the pleasure of the rest of the said Company, or the greater part of them which shall be present at their public assemblies, commonly called the General Courts, holden for the said Company, that then and so often it shall and may be lawful to and for the residue of the said Company for the time being, or the