But Finding That All Our Advise Was Slighted And Rejected,
And The Councill Of Other Persons Imbrac'd And Made Use
Of, which
manifestly tended to the ruin of the setlement of the Beaver Trade, & that
on all occasions wee were
Look'd upon as useless persons, that deserved
neither reward nor incouragement, this unkinde usage made us at last take a
resolution, though with very great reluctancy, to return back into France;
for in the maine it is well knowne that I have a greater inclination for
the Interest of England than for that of ffrance, being marry'd at London
unto an Honorable familly, [Footnote: He married, between 1666 and 1673,
for his second wife, the daughter of Sir John Kirke. He was one of the
original founders of the Hudson's Bay Company, having subscribed L. 300 to
the common stock in 1670. He was one of the seven members on the Committee
of management for the Company, and was no doubt instrumental in securing to
Radisson a permanent pension of 1,200 livres a year, after he left the
service of France. In all probability, Radisson emigrated to Canada with
his family in 1694, for in that year his son's name thus appears as holding
a land patent: "1695. Another patent of confirmation to 'Sieur Etienne
Volant Radisson' of the concession made to him the 19th of October, 1694,
of the isles, islets, and 'baitures' not granted, that are to be found
across Lake St Peter, above the islands granted to the 'Sieur Sorel,' from
the edge of the north channel, as far as the great middle channel, called
the channel of Platte Island," etc., etc. As Peter Radisson's will can
nowhere be found at Somerset House, London, he probably died in Canada.]
whos alliance had also the deeper ingadged me in the Intrest of the Nation.
Morover, all my friends know the tender love I had for my wife, and that I
declared unto them how much I was troubled in being reduced to the
necessity of leaving her. I hope thes considerations will vindicate my
proceedings touching the severall Interests which I espous'd, and what I
shall relate in this ensuing Narrative touching my proceedings in regard of
the English in this voyadge in the River, and also in Nelson's harbour in
the year 1683, and will justify me against what has ben reported to my
prejudice to render me Odious unto the nation. For it will appeare that
having had the good fortune to defend my setlment against those which at
that time I look'd upon as my Ennemy's, & defeated them by frustrating
their designes, I improv'd the advantage I had over them the best I could;
yet would they do me right, they must own that they had more just cause to
give me thanks than to complaine of me, having ever used them kindly as
long as they pleas'd to live with me. I freely confess I used all the skill
I could to compass my designes, & knowing very well what these Gentlemen
intended against me, I thought it better to surprise them than that they
should me; knowing that if they had ben afore hand with me, I should have
passed my time wors with them than they did with me. I come now to discours
of my voyadge, not thinking it materiall heere to mention the campaign I
made in the french fleet, since I left England, in the Expeditions for
Guinea, Tobaga, [Footnote: This expedition was commanded by Jean, Count
d'Estrees. He reduced the Island of Tobaga. He was made a Marshal of
France, and sent out, 1 August, 1687, as Viceroy over America.] and other
occasions wherein I was concern'd before I ingadged in this voyadge.
At the time my Brother-in-Law and I were dissattisfy'd with the Hudson's
Bay Company, wee were severall times invited by the late Monsieur Colbert
to return back for france, with large promises that wee should bee very
kindly entertain'd. Wee refused a great while all the offers that were made
us; but seeing our businesse went wors and wors with the company, without
any likelyhood of finding any better usage, at last wee accepted the offer
that was made unto us, of paying us 400 Lewi-Dors redy money, of
discharging all our Debts, and to give us good Employments. These
conditions being agreed upon, wee passed over into france in Xber, 1674.
As soon as wee got to Paris wee waited upon monsieur Colbert. Hee
reproached us for preferring the English Interest before that of ffrance;
but having heard our defence, and observ'd by what wee said unto him of our
discoverys in the Northern parts of America, and of the acquaintance wee
had with the Natives, how fit wee might bee for his purpos, hee soon
assur'd us of his favor & protection, & also of the King's pardon for what
was past, with an intire restoration unto the same state wee were in before
wee left france, upon condition that wee should employ our care & industry
for the advancement & increas of the comers of the Beaver Trade in the
french Collonies in Canada. Hee also confirmed the promis had ben made us
at London, of the gratuity of 400 french Pistolls, that all our Debts
should bee discharg'd, & that wee should bee put into Employments. Our
Letters Pattents of pardon & restoration were forthwith dispatch't, &
monsieur Colbert would have it expressly mention'd in them, for what caus
the King granted them, viz., to employ the greatest of our skill & industry
with the Natives, for the utillity & advancement of the Beaver Trade in the
french Collonies. The 400 peeces of Gould was pay'd us, & all things else
promised was perform'd, excepting only the Employment, for the which wee
were made to attend a great while, and all to no purpos.
But at last I perceaved the cause of this delay, & that my marrying in
England made me bee suspected, because my wife remained there.
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