From the company's supply-house in the mountain-pass the Scotch traders pushed forward to the Athabasca, down whose waters the gay flotilla proceeded at a rapid pace. From the Athabasca they portaged across to Beaver River, descending which they entered Moore River and traversed Moore Lake. From this point the route lay across the plains to Fort Vermilion on the Saskatchewan, thence to Cumberland House and to English Lake. Crossing this they proceeded to Lakes Bourbon and Winnipeg, thence by the Winnipeg River to the Lake of the Woods, and over the portage to Fort William, where they arrived about the middle of July.
At Fort William the Nor'westers were greatly exercised over the discussion in the English Parliament of the affairs of the rival trading companies. Both companies had considerable influence in English politics. Each was eager to have its own version of the Selkirk affair laid before the House and the country. Neither hesitated to resort to sharp dealing to accomplish its purpose. Associated as was Lord Selkirk with the Hudson Bay Company, it does not seem that the latter very warmly espoused his interests. Its concern was more about its charter and its rights in the territory. He was no trader, but a lover of his kind. Stock in the Hudson Bays he purchased only to give influence to his name in the territory, to secure facilities in the transport of his people to Red River, and, as he hoped, protection when they got there. The whole matter of his colony's troubles was brought up in the House of Commons, and a blue-book was the result of the call for papers and correspondence. Little else, however, was done. From London the broken-spirited nobleman retired for rest to the Continent; but the most untroubled rest he could find was in the grave. This true patriot and baffled philanthropist died at Pau, France, on April 8, 1820.
With the death of Lord Selkirk the occasion for further dissension between the rival fur companies in some measure ceased. The English Government, though it did not see its way to effect anything by legislative enactments, endeavored to do something by mediation. With its aid, and the interposition of the Hon. Edward Ellice, one of the most influential of the resident English partners of the Northwest Company, a basis of agreement between the companies was arrived at. This agreement developed into a joint-stock partnership, which was entered into on March 26, 1821.
With the union of the companies, fur-stock again rose to a premium. Dividends that for years had fallen to 4 per cent., and even to nothing, now mounted to 10 and even to 20 per cent., with a handsome rest and an occasional large bonus. Posts that had fallen into decay were reestablished, and trade was extended in all directions. Nor was amalgamation without its benefit on both human and brute life in the territories. The demoralization of the Indians, occasioned by the introduction of intoxicating liquors during the period of strife, ceased; while hunting "out of season," which was now strictly forbidden, had its effect upon the peltries and tended to conserve trade. But the country, in the years of even the poorest yield, was drained to an enormous extent of game. The fur yield of the Northwest Company for 1800 was as follows: 106,000 beaver, 2100 bear, 5500 fox, 4600 otter, 17,000 musquash, 320 marten, 1800 mink, 600 lynx, 600 wolverine, 1650 fisher, 100 raccoon, 3800 wolf, 700 elk, 1950 deer, and 500 buffalo! The gross returns of this one company for the year 1790 amounted to forty thousand pounds sterling ($200,000). Fifteen years later, when the Nor'westers had absorbed the X.Y. Company, a rival Canadian institution, the gross value of its trade was one hundred twenty thousand pounds.
“Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and the earth under our feet.”
–Matthew Henry, Commentary, Genesis 1