An Account Of Six Years Residence In Hudsonís Bay, From 1733 to 1736, and 1744 to 1747...Containing a Variety of Facts, Observations, and Discoveries, tending to shew, I. The vast Importance of the Countries about Hudsonís-Bay to Great-Britain...II. The interested Views of laying open the Trade, and making it the Object of National Encouragement

London: Printed for J.Payne and J.Bouquet..., 1752. First Edition. One of the earliest and most informative works on the Hudsonís Bay Territory, Robsonís book was also one of the most powerful denunciations of the secretive and selfish methods of the Hudsonís Bay Company. Robson possessed an intimate knowledge of the subject, having been employed for some years as surveyor and supervisor to the Company. Condemning their failure to promote fishing and mining enterprise and the exploration and settlement of the interior, Robson urges the importance to Great Britain of breaking the monopoly which was throwing the fur trade into the hands of the French: ìThe company have for eighty years slept at the edge of a frozen sea; they have shown no curiosity to penetrate farther themselves, and have exerted all their art and power to crush that spirit in others.î Robson supported the petition made in 1749 to revoke the Companyís charter and gave testimony before the parliamentary committee appointed to investigate the matter. The appendix includes a brief account of the discovery of Hudsonís Bay and the English activities there after the granting of the Hudsonís Bay Charter, based largely on the unpublished journal of Groseillerís expedition of 1668-69 by his ship captain Zachariah Gillam. Bell R336. Hill p. 257. JCB I 986. Lande 1418. Peel 12. Sabin 72259. TPL 217. Winsor VIII p. 70. 8vo. pp. 2 p.l.(incl. advert. leaf), vi, 84, 95. 2 folding engraved maps (incl. frontis. by Thomas Jefferys) & 1 folding engraved plate (containing 3 plans). modern half morocco by Bayntun, top edge gilt (small library rubberstamp on title, folding plate & folding maps, occasional light spotting, title & last 3 leaves washed - the last with small repair in upper margin)