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To elucidate the causes which led to the melancholy fate of M^r Benjamin Frobisher, it is necessary to allude to some of the circumstances attending the disputes that have for several years existed between the Hudson's Bay Company with the late Earl of Lord Selkirk at their head, and the North West Company of Montreal, of which latter association M^r Frobisher was a partner.

The measures that had been aimed at the

These disputes have in various shapes been laid before the public, and have also been brought before the Imperial Parliament. Without entering therefore into the merits or demerits of either party, or the legality or illegality of their respective claims and actions, of which the public and Parliament will be the judges; it is nevertheless desirable to state a few prominent instances of violent conduct to which the violence of one party had recourse in order to destroy the trade, and crush the prosperity of the other.

The first blow aimed at the North West Company by their adversar opp was the seizure of their depot of provisions at in the Red River country in 1814; to this succeeded the destruction of their forts or posts of Gibralter and Pambina; then came Lord Selkirk's seizure and occupation of their head quarters, Fort William;

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