Hudson, Henry

was born in the latter part of the sixteenth century. He made two voyages under the direction of the Muscovy Company in search of a northwest pa age. In the first expedition, made in 1607, he explored the coast of Green land, and was the first to suggest the existence of an open polar sea. His second voyage in 1608 was unsucce ful, In 1609 he commanded an expedition for the Dutch East India Company. After coasting along Labrador he sailed southward, touching at Newfoundland, Penobscot Bay, Cape Cod and the Chesapeake. He sailed up the Hudson as far as the present site of Albany. On his last voyage of 1610 he entered the strait and bay which bear his name. His erew became mutinous because of severe hardships and set Hudson adrift in a small boat. Nothing was ever heard from him or his seven companions. He wrote ‘‘ Divers Voyages and Northern Discoveries” and “A Second Voyage.”’ Hudson Bay Company, chartered by Charles Il. May 16, 1670, gor the ‘discovery of a new pa age to the South Sea, and for the finding of some trade for furs, minerals and other considerable commodities.”” Adopting the suggestion of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, it combined with the Northwest Company in 1821, and obtained a more extensive charter. It was ever the most formidable rival of the United States as a claimant of the northwest regions. Despite the treaty of 1783, which granted that territory to the United States, the company persisted in making settlements, and, being on the disputed ground, it had the advantage of our government. Every po ible means was employed, and for a long time succe fully, to prevent emigration from the States. The Selkirk settlement in Oregon was made in 1811-12, and later it was decided to seize and hold Oregon by force, turning over the Indians to the Jesuits and furnishing troops to protect the priests and repel intruders. The boundary settlement of 1846 finally excluded the company.