ENCLOSURE NO
(Copy.) London, May 21st, 1819
To the Agents, Proprietors or Persons acting for the North-West Co.
thoughout the North-West Country.
Gentlemen,
Lieutenant Franklin, of the Royal Navy, being on the poït of proceeding under the direction of His Majesty’s Governma
upon an expedition from the shores of the Hudson’s Bay to t+lk mouth of the Coppermine River, with a view, as far as possilk Bi
to explore the Northern and North-Eastern boundary of Continent of North America, I have to inform you, that, up application from His Majesty’s Government, I have, on behalit
be No » wel r visi so th:
pwer ngage( Lieu rientifi dates Oo udson gcause nd the Byance dterior.
hipew Dpper Now, hich I jould fi tther my re Jest Co at you Dmpan) untry
Biablish
possil
Mouisite
His par Avy, on
may p Custom
. McKenzie an le North-West Company, promised that he and his party shall our worthy cu well received by any of you, gentlemen, whom he may meet ul consideratin r visit in his progress through the interior of the Country, and 50 that you will afford every facility and assistance in your wer for the prosecution of the undertaking in which he is
kful servant ngaged.
Lieutenant Franklin’s object is one of a purely public and FERD. Wen. sentific nature and has no connection whatever with any dis-
tes or territorial claims in discussion between us and the udson's Bay Company. He goes out in one of their ships scause it is the shortest and most direct route for that purpose, nd they have engaged to furnish supplies and means of consyance for himself aud his party throughout the whole of the iterior. His plan will probably be to endeavour to reach Fort hipewyan this Fal!, and to proceed from thence towards the pppermine River early in Spring.
Now, if in the course of the intended route, or any other hich Lieutenant Franklin may find occasion to pursue, he hould find that the servants of the Hudson’s Bay Company have jt the means of furnishing him with the requisite supplies, it my request and the promise which, on behalf of the Northest Company, I have made to His Majesty’s Government, not at you should furnish clerks or servants of the Hudson Bay ountry. pmpany with the means of proceeding to any part of the MDuotry where they may not have previously succeeded in à ablishing themselves, but that you will, so far as your means being on the poi possibly permit, furnish canoes, men, provisions and all the esty’s GovernmaWquisite supplies for Lieutenant Frauklin’s voyage. dson’s Bay to ie His party is intended to consist of two young Officers of the as far as possilk ER vy, one medical gentleman and two seamen, besides whom boundary of t may probably engage a couple of Orkney men who have been m you, that, uEtustomed to live amongst the Esquimaux. My idea was that have, on behalil
| May 21st, 1819
for the conveyance of themselves, their instruments and pré visions, they would require two north canoes, but Sir Alexanjs MacKenzie has suggested that one north canoe with Caniy
voyageurs, and six small Indian canoes, would be a filter oyt
for the route from Fort Chipewyan to the Coppermine Rir
In deciding any question of this kind and in any other quesix
| S which may arise, I trust you will afford Lieutenant Frank
Mr. Ki you |
every assistance and information in your power, and I trust ty can be at no loss to provide such conveyances and supplie y
may be deemed the fittest for his purpose. In the event of vyvernn
having to furnish canoes and men for Lieutenant Franklii e gene! e Part
e, Ip
expedition, it will of course be proper that you send withthen an experienced clerk, accustomed to voyaging and to the hlÿ
ur assi
of the Indians on the proposed route. The men must be env
Lo attend Lieutenant Franklin for such time and to such cow rsuils. he ob ach th citsn ect thes
tries as he may find occasion to require their services; and fr
any extra remuneration which it may be necessary to give ther
as well as for their engagements, and for the outfits and supyls which you may furnish to Lieutenant Franklin, and which
to be paid for by Government, you wili please to take hin p Indiar
h men
ceipts and transmit the same with accounts of the particulari
the Agents at Fort William. s from
Dr'ocure
I remain always Gentlemen, 6 Ton
rth fror
Your faithful obedient servant,
ù has ©
(Signed) Simon MacGizuivrr priver
n thenc
A true copy from one by e River George Keith, Esq. 1 be abli
rience,
bility oi
ruments and jm but Sir Alexanis ENCLOSURE NO. 2.
oe with Canaiy d be a filter out | Loppermine Rire Fort Chipewyan, March 3rd, 1820. any other quesiin
eutenant Franik Mr. Keith has informed me of his intention to communicate
vou the arrival of the expedition equipped by His Majesty’s jvernment under my command, and to forward the copy of e general circular from Mr. Simon MacGillivray, addressed to e Partners of the North-West Company. I need not, theree, Ï presume, offer any apology or hesitate in solliciting
rer, and Ltrust y es and supplie n the event of yon utenant EFranklii ou send withthen g and to the al en must be eng ur assistance in promoting our advance and forwarding our
» and to such cou rsuits.
he objects the expedition has in view are two fold: first Lo
ich the northern coast of America, and then endeuvour to
r services ; and fl essary to give the outfits and suppl lin, and which a ease to take hr of the particulani
ce its north-cast termination. ‘The manner of proceeding to ct these must depend on the information to be derived from à Indians who are most conversant with that line of country. h men, I am informed, principally resort to Slave Lake, and s from thence only that guides, hunters and interpreters can procured to accompany and conduct the Partv.
en, e route which I should prefer taking would be nearly rth from Great Slave Lake, and, from the information Beau-
nt servant, h has given, [ am inclined to hope à passage may be made on MacGizuvnt ariver which falls into the Slave Lake near Mountain Island ; thence, by crossing lakes and portages, into the Copper-
e River which communicates directly with the sea; but you
L be able to obtain from other men of equal, if not greater
érience, positive assurance as to the possibility and prac-
bility of proceeding this way with moderately loaded canoes.
The principal reasons for my writing at present, are to requa you will have the goodness to communicate to the Iniy
generally the arrival and nature of the expedition; to sliil
your aid in collecting all tho information possible from
different persons who frequent your Fort, and your endearml
to procure guides, hunters and interpreters to accompany (y expedition.
Your local knowledge and experience will enable vuy judge better than myself what number of these may be requi for the guidance and support of the party. The number fm we shall take has not yet been determined upon. Iüw imagine, the party, including officers, will amount to more ll two and twenty persons, a force amply sufficient, I apprehul to ensure safety and protection. Nor can it be determined wi the Gentlemen arrive here in Spring what number of canoess may have, but these are arrangements quite independant of Indians, who will proceed, I am informed, in their own canx
Sir Alex. McKenzie strongly recommends that the [nd should be accompanied by their wives as a measure of securit
and that the selection should be made of men who had smi
families. Women too would be extremely useful in prepari skins, making shoes, clothes, &c., during the rext winter wil we shall certainly have to pass in some convenient and favori situation near the coast. I should wish therefore thats might be engaged to accompany their husbands for those pu poses and receive a proportionate compensation.
As soon as the water opens and the necessary arrangemti have been completed here respecting men, provisions, &t, shall proceed to Great Slave Lake with my present compani Mr. Back (and there await the arrival of the rest of mypf from Cumberland House) with a view of having communill with you and seeing the Indians, whom L hope to meet lie
jthen jf these opose lating jture p Qunicat
ddresse:
“On 0 Edw
& Par
ent, are to requx ite to the Indy dition; to soliil possible from 1 your endeavou Lo accompany |h
y the mean time I shall be happy should the opportunity offer fthese men returning to receive your opinion as to the route | oposed to be taken, or any other information or suggestions lating to the country, or the manner best adapted for our ture proceedings which you may do me the favor to comjunicate.
ill enable you I have the honor to be, Sir,
se may be requin he number ofm d upon. I à iount to more Il ient, I apprehel e determined uni imber of canoesm independant ofi \ their own cank ls that the [nds easure of securi en who had sm seful in preparil rext winter wi bnient and favori therefore that si nds for those pl on.
sary arrangemti , provisions, kt, present compans he rest of my pi ing communitall pe to meel the
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed), Fno. FRANKLIN,
Lieut. Royal! Navy and
Commander of the Expedition.
ddressed,
“On His Majesty’s service.
o Edward Smith, Esquire, , Partner North-West Company, ‘ Great Slave Lake.”
(A true copy by W. F. Wentzel.)
Franklin’s expedition.
LETTER No. 11.
Latitude 640 28 30”. N. Longitude 113 of Winter Lake, Fort Enterprise, near Copper Mine River,
March, 26th, 1721.
Dear Sir,
When I had the pleasure of closing my letter to you spring, I expected to have had also the satisfaction, in a futur communication, to continue the information on the progres! the expedition which had arrived in the country on a misin of discovery, little suspecting at the time that I was destina to become a party concerned in its pursuits and subjected tou order of secrecy, or rather silence, in my correspondence tom friends on some matters connected with the general objet which the expedition had in view. It seems, by the Commander discourse, to be his determined plan not to allow any intelligent to transpire that embraces particular points, until it has pm viously been approved and ordered for publication by the Righ Honorable Earl Bathurst, secretary of State for the War al Colonial Department. Nevertheless, I am at liberty to menti that the party will endeavour to reach Churchill, and, in or to facilitate an understanding with the Esquimaux, supposeih inhabit the sea coast in that direction, two men of that nat have been sent from Churchill and are now with us to servea interpreters. Our Company consists at present of four officer nineteen Canadians, one sarlor, the two Esquimaux mention above and myself. To support this establishment and prori provisions, as well as the management of the Canadians,
ntrus dians À 1bsis here pproa ho c Our march broken prived ne Mos pin-dee This pen ve escendi bat it d Dpper Ly-six :
jon to de bord de equif sides p ent, sp; ichards ven in jep non ander r
bo feel
ghly m By lette à sorry e fate ol à had be
ntrusted to me. Six hunters of the Red Knife or Copper Indians have been found sufficieut to supply us with the means of ibsistance. Indeed it was scarcely possible for people to want here the Rein-deers are in thousands and not difficult to pproach ; 80 little skill in hunting does it require that any man ho can level a fire arm would live with little trouble or care. Our house stands on the borders of the last woods, our future per Mine River march will conseqnently be directed through a barren country, broken by stony hills, intersected by numerous lakes and derived of all vegetation, excepting a few crowberry plants and be mosses which afford nourishment to the immense herds of letter to you li …in-deer that crowd the mountains. action, in a futun This season is considered by residents in the country to have Intense on the progress il sen very mild, yet in the month of December the thermometer ve intry On à missiol escended to fifty-seven and a half degrees below zero, since at I was destind bat it did not sink below forty-nine. The Officers have visited and subjected tou oppermine River and report it to be a large stream distant respondence tom ty-six miles from hence, and our dwelling is found by observhe general objet tion to be one hundred and thirty-three geographical miles from y the Commande be borders of Great Slave Lake. The instruments which form bw any intelligent be equipment of the party are sextants, two azimuthal compasses, , until it has pr ides pocket compasses, dipping needles and a transit instruation by the Rigl ent, spy glasses, paints, &c. Each Officer, as well as Doctor » for the War al ichardson, keeps a journal, all of which must be punctually liberty to menti ven in to the Secretary or Admiralty office. As to myself, I hill, and, in orde ep none, since I cannot be allowed to retain it. Our Commaux, supposed ander reads Divine service regularly every Sunday, and all en of that nateWbo feel inclined attend. This is a novelty in these parts, and ith us to serveë phly merits to be copied by those who reside in the country. nt of four of WBBy letters which I received last Fall from Fort Chipweyan, I 1imaux mention à sorry to say that serious apprehensions are entertained for ment and provWe late of Mr. John Stuart and the Canadians forming his party. e Canadians, wi had been despatched from Fort William with three canoes
gitude 113 of,
Gth, 1721.
Mr. G.
Simpson.
bound to the Columbia and took his way through Beaver Riw where he was attacked by some Wood and Meadow Crees y killed two of his men, and two more were missing ; four des ed to lle à la Crosse and brought the melancholy intelligens One of the Athabasca canoes waited thirteen days for furt informations, but none was obtained, so that all are still insu pense as to what has occurred to the party. (1) A kind of den official report is in circulation that the Company have come the conclusive resolve of evacuating the Columbia Departmer altogether.
In Athabasca, affairs seem to revive; the Natives are be ning to be surfeited by the rivalship in trade that has bn carried on so long, and are heartily desirous of seeing themselra once more in peaceable times, which makes the proverb try that says “too much of a good thing is good for nothi' Besides, the Hudson’s Bay Company have apparently relaxei the extravagance of their measures; last Autumn they camei
the Department with fifteen canoes only, containing each ab fifteen pieces. Mr. Simpson, a gentleman from England, x Spring, superintends their business. His being a stranger ai reputed a gentlemanly man, will not create much alarm,w * do I presume him formidable as an Indian trader. Indeed, ll
() Mr. Stuart most probably entered the North-West Company as a clerk, af the coalition of 1804. He was immediately sent to New Calodonia—British Col
bia—where he spent the greater part of his first years as ‘a winterer.”’ He ac
panied Mr. Simon Fraser on his voyage of discovery down the Fraser River, and, fl his pluck aud determination, contributed considerably to its success. Mr. D.f Harmon, in his book ‘“ À journal of voyages and travels in the interior of Nu America,” speaks of Mr. Stuart in the highest terms, as ‘a warm and disintereti friend.”
He was a gentleman well read, and soon attained the object of his ambition, a
at the Board in the Council Hall, at Fort William. He remained in the North-W after the coalition of 1821 ond was Chief Trader of the Hudson Bay Comyany at la Slave Lake in 1828, He, however, a few years afterwards, left for England, wher} died in 1841.
Lake Stuart and River Stuart, in British Columbia, were named after him.
Leith in At that good has ai their Wa Willis Hudsq n the dope t such o Perr Dest w and sis with w
P.S.eight «
licers (
ok its
Briods
igonon om thr
ugh Beaver Re MLeith, who manages the concerns of the North-West Company feadow Crees wl in Athabaska has been so liberally supplied with men and goods ssing ; four des, that it will be almost wonderful if the opposition can make choly intelligens good a subsistance during the winter. Fort Chipewyan alone
à days for furtha has an equipment of no less than seventy men, enough to crush all are still ins their rivals.
|) A kind of den Warrants are flying about the country against Governor any have come Williams, Mr. John Clarke and a number of clerks of the
umbia Departmn Hudson’s Bay Company for their daring assumption of power a the transaction of Grand Rapid two years ago. 1 sincerely
Natives are bei hope they will meet with that punishment which is due for
rade that has ben such outrage.
)f seeing themselr Permit me to offer my humble respects to Mrs. McKenzie and
es the proverb tr best wishes to my littie friend Master Alexander and his brother
good for nothin and sisters, nor am I forgetful of the grateful esteem and regard
pparently relax iwith which 1 shall ever be,
tumn they camei
taining each ali from England, lt Your faithful and most obedient servant whilst
Dear Sir,
ing a stranger äl te much alarm, nt rader. Indeed, Mo the Hon. Colonel Roderick McKenzie,
WILLARD FERDINAND WENTZEL.
Seigneur of Terrebonne.
ompany as a clerk, af alodonia—Britih Cole P.S.—Perhaps it will be interesting to you to hear that the
a winterer.”” He aux Fe | , the Fraser River, an pur of the aurora borealis was measured by two of the its success. Mr. D."Eiicers of the expedition while at Cumberland House. They in the interior of wi ki . | | .
ET its altitude at the distance of fifty miles asunder at stated be with wooden plumet quadrants, and, by the rules of gonometry, found it to be between six and seven miles high,
om three different observations.
ect of his ambition, a* hained in the North-Té on Bay Comyany at left for England, we
named after him.
BuCCES
aid
meat LETTER No. 12. pnce aches eft u eceivé Dear Sir, Late
Fort Chipewean, June 3rd, 182
omm
0 Gov ndeav ommu
nc ; th tra;
Franklin Ï continued travelling with the expedition from the l5thy
pete Tune to the 19th of J uly, when we reached the hyperboreanw The Commander immediately proceeded to take observation and found a considerable error in the geographical calculatin of Mr. Hearne, who had placed the mouth of the Coppermiy river in latitude 69.30, whereas, by the more correct obser tions of Capt. John Franklin it was ascertained to be in latitu 670 40 degrees north and 115.00 west longitude.
On our way down Coppermine river, we fell in with th parties of Esquimaux Indians, who, on seing us, made all x sible haste to fly from us and thus avoid an interview, alh they could not possibly have escaped us, if the measures pn posed to obtain intelligence with them had been adopted bytk Commander ; however, as good fortune would have it, one ol man and his wife, from their infirm state, could not make gi
their retreat, therefore an opportunity offered and was accu Life ingly not lost, of confering with them, but no solid informatin boly ta could be derived from them respecting the sea coast orlk They | distance we had to travel before reaching Churchill; tm Lier rot were ignorant of such an establishment being in existence. | bon of
The sea was open two months of the year; they livai rt En!
snow houses during winter, warmed their dwellings vil
pot, ai sached Donou th of yintere
Dunt oO aptain D say t aptain bn, wit
gust, ough thaw !
lamps, cooked their victuals in stone pots, made fire with m killed no other kind of whales but the black whale, wa
| successful in their destruction of seals and fish, and generally aid up à considerable store of reindeer flesh and musk oxen meat for their winter support, and, as a proof of their independnce in the way of living, tendered us the meat of several aches which, unfortunately for us, was so putrid that it was eft untouched. This formed the sum total of the information eceived from this accidental rencontre.
Late in the afternoon of July the 19th, in consequence of the ommander’s request, I was intrusted with despatches addressed
June 3rd, 18
from the 154 » Government and ordered back to Athabasca with them and e hyperborean wa ndeavour to have them dispached to Canada by the winter
take observaïin ommunication. Four Canadians were appointed to accompany phical calculaine, : the exploring party still consisted of twenty men and officers.
of the Goppermix travelled the most part of the way, going and coming, on 4 disnster. re correct ben. and after suffering no small hardships and privations, 1
ed to be in latiik sached Slave Lake with my party on the 29th of September and de. Bontinued on agreably to the tenor of my instructions, until the
e fell in within Cf October, when 1 arrived at Fort Chipewean. Here I
us, made al ..e4 and in the month of January had the melancholy acan interview, dE. of the death of eleven of the party who had accompanied the measures ME, join Franklin ; all starved ! Amongst the number, I lament een adopted DES av that my friend, Lieutenant Robert Hood, was included.
Id have it, one 0l aptain Franklin, Lieutenant George Back and Doctor Kichardbuld not make gui bn, with five men and an Esquimaux interpreter from Churchill, d and was actu e the only survivors that have escaped to relate this melano solid informatit holy tale.
e sea coast OT. had surveyed a line of coast exceeding 540 miles, and ÿ Churchill; ER returning 250 miles on their track, took the desperate resol-
g in existence. ER n of crossing the barren lands and steer their course towards ear; they live. Enterprise. This march was commenced on the 31st of ir dwellings VER. and it was during this journey, when obliged to wade ade fire with MS eh snow, knee deep, and unable to find fuel sufficient
black whale, ES ha their frozen shoes, and without provisions to satisfy the
cravings of hunger on a march of upwards of forty days, ty the fatal and truly lamentable misfortune befel the Commaniy of losing eleven men as above stated, who fell victims to 1, hardships and privations they had to undergo. This, Sir, is4 I am allowed to impart at present. As the Officers themseln are now on their return to England, and go by the way of Hu son'’s Bay, you, no doubt, will have a more circumstantial x authentic account of all their proceedings, in the publications their jonrnals, which, I understand, will be printed soon afy their arrival in England. Indeed, to confess an honesttruh nothing but the fear of your displeasure could have induced m to address you at this moment, when suffering under a ver severe indisposition from cold and nervous complaints.
On that account I humbly beg you will excuse also from ent ing on the domestic concerns of this country, which will, Ia persuaded, be communicated to you by abler pens than Icanpe tend to.
In conclusion permit me to express my sincere gratitude fx your continued kindness to me and a hope that I may noth considered undeserving your future notice...
Your ever grateful and most thankful servant,
Wii. FERD. WENTÆL
Lab depres pess
tellis vou, & Arctic ( n this ent, h
Mork FE Misclose AD ever
pirit a hese d nents 0
actory
wo Get
ecessa]
Mappen
rosecu lave L:
arty is
Btronor
ifferent I hope lties :
f forty days, ty 2] the Commani ell victims to . This, Sir, isal )fficers themseln y the way of Hi ircumstantial an the publication ( printed soon afx s an honest:trut d have induced m ring under à ven omplaints.
use also from ent.
, which will, Ian pens than I can pr
LETTER No. 13.
MacKenzie’s River, April 10th, 1823.
Dear Sir,
Labouring under a severe fit of sickness which has much Projected re < ‘ Artic voydepressed my spirits, obliges me to beg you will have the good- ages, ess to forgive me should I fail in not communicating the telligence which, am convinced, would be most acceptable to vou, and that I had most at heart to relate, touching the Land Arctic expedition and the new turn whicu affairs have of late taken n this country. The solitary corner from whence I date the pre- Bent, has become an object of the most serious consideration of the Lork Factory Council, and important advantages expected to be isclosed by a number of enterprises set afloat for the discovery f every unknown parts of the mountains. Indeed, such is the irit and avidity exhibited by the Council, that it is believed hese discoveries will be extended as far as the Russian settleankful servant, hents on the Pacific Ocean. A party is likewise to leave Churchill actory this Spring, consisting of fourteen persons including wo Gentlemen, and proceed along th? sea coast in boats, and, if ecessary, to winter with the Esquimaux with whom they may Mappen to fall in, and then the ensuing season, to resume the rosecution of their survey and endeavour to come out in Great lave Lake. One of the gentlemen selected to accompany the arty is acknowledged to possess a sufficient knowledge of Stronomy to ascertain the longitudes and latitudes of the ifferent countries through which they shall have to travel. I hope and wish they may not be exposed to the same diffi- Das
lies and hardships which proved so fatal to the Land Artic ie Expeition.
ncere gratitude fr that I may noth
. FErD. WENTÆL
expedition, whose return was clouded by the loss of eleven li whilst the surviving officers have left in the country impr sions not altogether very creditable to themselves amongst by} the trading class of people and the native inhabitants, By it is doubtful whether, from the distant scene of their tra actions, an authentic account of their operations will ew meet the public eye in England. It is to be presumed, as il themselves will be the publishers of the journals which vil appear, that they will be cautious in uot exposing their om errors and want of conduct. In fact one of the officers vx candid enough to confess to me that there were circumstanx which must not be known : however it is said that “stom sometimes speak.”
During my travels, whilst employed in that enterprise, [à keep a sort of journal which, for want of paper, I have not w
put in order fit to appear or to be shown ; besides it conti
matter that it is not proper should appear at present, unk| had a desire to injure some which it is my interest to conceli least for a time. One of the officers, aware of this, request me in a particular manner to remain a year or two more inthi country, Î presume with a view to let the storm in some mea subside, or, what is as likely, to take advantage of my notbeix in the way for examination, for in the first stages of our traréi they were very strenuous in theirinvitation and actually pres me to consent to accompany them to England, which, on th return, they appeared as anxious to dissuade me from. Necesiif rather than persuasion, however, influenced me to remain; 1 means for future support are too slender for me to give up employment, but the late revolution in the affairs of the co try (1) now obliges me to leave it the ensuing year as the ain
(1) The coalition of the Hudson Bay Company with [the North-West Company:
ages bility px Cet necess pat the
take
may S o the nada t descen Decom In t} my jou as I sh:
ul wis amily, sentime peneros
oss of eleven liva le country impre lves amongst bol inhabitants. By ne of their tran rations Will evx presumed, as {he arnals which vil xposing their om f the officers 4 vere circumstan said that (ston
ages and prospects are too discouraging to hold forth a probability of clearing one penny for future support. Salaries do not exceed £100 sterling, out of which clerks must purchase every necessary, even tobacco, and the prices of goods at the Bay are at the rate of 150 to 300 per cent. on prime cost, therefore shall take this opportunity of humbly requesting your advice how I may settle my little earnings, which do not much exceed £500, ) the best advantage. I have no friend or acquaintance in Canada to whom I can apply with the same confidence; your condescension, Sir, in this subject will be acknowledged with every becoming consideration of respectful gratitude. In the course of the next winter I shall endeavour to bring up my journal ready, s0 as to hand it in for your inspection as soon at enterprise, [ÜRS,. ï shall reach Montreal. In the mean time, with most respectper, I have not vi: iches for the health and preservation of Mrs. McKenzie and besides it con, ;1,, I beg leave to conclude impressed with the most lively it present, unles! entiments of gratitude for her kind remembrance and your
terest to con osity towards me; obligations never to be forgotten by, + Of this, requesii
or two more in Ii HAL ÉOUDS Your thankful and most respectful servant, age of my notbex tages of our travéi and actually pres d, which, on the e from. Necesil me to remain; !l r me to give up=l affairs of the cou g year as the ali
Dear Sir,
WiLL. FERD. WENTZEL,
North-West Comparyi
Franklin’s Expedition.
LETTER No. 14.
(Private.) MacKenzie’s River, March 1st, 184, Dear Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge with respectful thanks tk receipt of your friendly favor dated in April 1823 and beg yy will have the goodness to accept my grateful acknowledgeme for Mrs. MacKenzie’s remembrance and the humble sense If for the favor bestowed on me by the family in general.
Last year I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on tk subject of the expedition and I do not remember of writingt any but Mr. James McKenzie so much respecting that expeditin as I took the liberty of stating to yourself, therefore was great surprised to understand from your kind epistle, that extra from some of my letters had found their way in the puiki prints of Montreal. I am sure never to have authorized ax thing of the kind ; so far from it that it had been my particuk wish to have preserved silence on that head until I could hr obtained an opportnnity of laying before you my journal andt craving your opinion and advice thereon. I have not seen ar of the Canada public papers; few, I believe, find their wayn in the North-West, otherwise should have had occasion h examine the paragraphs touching that subject and have kno if they bad formed part of my correspondence to Canada.
This much however may be safely said of the officers, ti they acted on some occasions imprudently, injudiciously a
Jowec pnduc aving hlated ener'al Atha belief pndon ben sh ards k end, :
st to £ isint
Bi, C
a los bctor I menta etott had wi Was C ère hac ththe ave tak fel the rt Ent ast fa bdon, 0 ster d that
hing to
p's new e facts
lite eve
LE'1 l'ERS 149
owed in one particular instance an unpardonable want of nduct. As to the report of some of the Canadian voyageurs aving fallen a sacrifice to support others, it is currently cirilated amongst the Copper Indians, and, I am sorry to say, is merally credited in this country. Some of the survivors now Athabasca give full credit and show a desire to confirm such
belief. Besides, Doctor Richardson has published in the pndon papers, that Mr. Robert Hood (one of the officers) had en shot by the Iroquois, and that he, Dr. Richardson, afterards killed the Iroquois by way of revenge for the death of his Miend, and that he had concealed the deed, in order to be the
pectful thanks ik st to give the sad tidings to the unfortunate Mr. Hood's friends. 11823 and beg ju his intelligence has been communicated to me by Mr. James acknowledgeni RS, }| Chief Factor to the Hon. Hudson’s Bay Company. I am umble sense Te : | nevertheless, how to reconcile this declaration of in general. bctor Richardson with what he has written to me on the same ing to you on {k mentable subject, for he tells me that ‘‘ Poor Hood fell a sacriember of writingl e to the hardships he was exposed to”; and in a conversation
March 1st, 184,
ting that expeditin had with Lieut. Back in the Spring at Fort Chipewean, when erefore was greill was on his return to England, he very candidly told me that
pistle, that extra br: had been dissensions amongst themselves and concluded way in the pull th these remarkable words, ‘‘ to tell the truth, Wentzel, things have authorized ae taken place which must not be known, ” alluding to what been my particuli fel the expedition on their way from Coppermine River to until I could ht rt Enterprise.
my journal ani ast fall, I received a letter from Captain Franklin, dated have not seen äll ndon, March the 7th, in which he states that he ordered find their waynn 00 sterling to be paid me for my services to the expedition, e had occasion d that he intended sending me out his journal by the ship t and have Ko EEnins 10 York Factory. I have not, however, heard yet of the e to Canada. p's news. I am anxious to have the perusal in order to comof the officers, li e facts, and to know whether it would be proper for me to injudiciously aie every thing I know, in my journal, or to curtail some
Altered condition in the North West.
occurrences which I could wish to do, because Ï find no del in exposing circumstances which might be considered criniy conduct in one of the officers w'0 has survived and been reyy ed. I once had a sincere esteem for him and feel it do, disagreable now to accuse him of conduct for which he ri merited to be punished. Besiaes, his Commander is no y acquainted with the circumstance whose duty it was to ln noticed it as such.
But I fear I am t00 tedious, therefore beg you will pardm liberty [ have taken in the foregoing, for which I have no excuse to make than the condescension with which you in had the generosity to indulge me on former occasions, a kinir Thope, I shall never abuse.
Respecting the concerns of the North-West, little occurs H can be interesting to Canada. Furs have lost a great dal their former value in Europe, and many of the Chief Far and Traders would willingly compound for their shares vi the Company for £1,500, in order to retire from a country wi has become disgustful and irksome to all classes. Still 4 returns are not altogether unprofitable, but debts, disappois ments and age seem to oppress every one alike. Engagés prix are now reduced to twenty-five pounds annually to a bout af twenty pounds to middlemen, without equipments or any ok perquisites whatever. In fact, no class enjoys the gratuity0li equipment. Besides, the Committee at home insist upon dufs being paid for families residing in Posts and belonging lo ners, clerks or men at the rate of two shillings for every won and child over fourteen years of age and one shilling forer child under that age. This is complained of as a great griei by all parties and must eventually become very hard ons who have large families to support. In short, the North-Wa now beginning to be ruled with an iron rod.
L Many plans are suggested for exploring the unknown parts of use Ï find no del acKenzie’s river, and none have been yet digested, excepting considered criniy bat Mr. Samuel Black is to start this Spring from the upper ed and been rer rts of Peace River with a clerk and eight men and proceed up and feel it du inlay's branch and, from thence, to cross the Rocky Mountains,
for which he ri nd seek for a large river said to follow this range of heights nmander is not y vards the westward, from whence he is to try and make his duty it was lo ln ay to MacKenzie’s river. This plan appears to me to be wild
hd injudicious, because Mr. Black is unable to ascertain by bservation in what latitude or longitude he may find himself , and when it would be proper for him to desist from proseting his travels beyond the necessary limits, so as to have a ccasions, à kinlu ficient time to get to MacKenzie's River. In my humble jinion, I think he should have taken his route down Macenzie’s River aud cross the Rocky Mountains, from thence to à river in question and then stem the current of it. This of the Chief Fa puld have afforded him more time as the further he went to
y you will pardon hich I have nou th which you hr
est, little occurs lost a great del
ES
or their shares VE uthwward, the later the Fall would be. But unfortunately it rom a Country Wl is quarter is less known than it ought to be, and as IL'intend l \ ll classes. Still & ving it this year for ever; I feel little interest in trying to ; ut debts, disappii suade my employers of their erroneous information, con- | | like. Engagés DE. 04 as I am of the little attention that would be paid to any ually to a ue it Gns from my little knowledge of the country an L pments or any ol ÿ oys the gratuityol Praying your acceptance of my respectful wishes for your FE
he insist upon tel} and prosperity.
d belonging top I remain, dear Sir, ngs for every Wok ne shilling foret Your most grateful servant,
as a great gt Wizo. FERD. WENTZEL, à very hard onstf
rt, the North-Wi
Lac La Pluie, August 4th, 1818
My dear John,
My departure for Montreal was so unexpected, in consequens of only twenty-four hours’ notice from Mr. Thaiïne, that I coul not obtain leave to go and pay my respects to Mr, and Mn MacKenzie, and now I am again so occupied that I cannot ga an hour to write as I could wish to my friends in Montreal, fr I'have no less ‘han all the Athabaska and Lesser Slave Lak departments’ complement of men to equip and give advances ti Therefore you will, [am persuaded, pardon me for only writing a few lines as an acknowledgement of civilities from you whi
T shall always remember with secret pleasure and satisfaction
Priestsar- You will be surprised to hear that we have now no less th
rive in tl ; :
North. five priests in the country, tiree of whom are gone to preat
West, the Gospel amongst the sett..3 of Red River and convertth
Natives preparatory to their entering the regions of the Blessei and I am sure you will join me in wishing them all the succes due to their laudable and enterprising spirit. (1)
The colon- I have been to that land of promise and saw a great num
it me of philosophers, proselytes to the Diogenes doctrine of stoicism
Hioue fo the most part of the colonists have their habitations undt the ground. Perhaps you will say this looks more like: Esquimaux mode of living ; well, let it be so, I am willing, lu I must say it is the most miserable condition a man cank
(1) In 1814, the North-West Company applied for four priests : two for Fort Wi: liam and two for the interior posts, but their application could not then be grantel. In 1818, Lord Selkirk renewed the application and was successful.
reduce existenc
No!1 momen make 1 acutely my jokes that I v which 1
Howe recollect ne’s con esteem ai
Addresse To Lieu
P.S.—F s to reme larly to
gust 4th, {818
1, in consequence ine, that I coull s to Mr. and Mn hat I cannot gt in Montreal, fx esser Slave Lak:
give advances li : for only writin; ; from you whit and satisfaction.
now no less that b gone to preat br and convert the bns of the Blessei em all the succès D)
a great num trine of stoicis, habitations undt oks more like the I am willing, bi jon a man cank
ests : two for Fort Wi
not then be granted.
essful.
reduced to in this life, for I am not one of those who think that existence is sweet in any shape.
No! no! Ihave not forgot Miss La F——e, nor the pleasant moments we have passed together, the thoughts of which now make me feel the miserable state to which I am subjected more acutely than I ever did before, although by seeing me cracking my jokes and cutting my capers a person might be led to believe that [ was certainly the most thoughtless mortal in existence— which 1 consider a misfortune that I am not.
However let my situation be what it will, I shall always recollect your father’s kindness with gratitude and Mrs. McKennes condescension with reverence, while I am with unfeigned ssteem and regard,
