[I'm skipping the "Index"]


" To Mr J. Bird
Swan River 3rd October 1816
Sir
I have protracted the sending off these people in hopes, that the North west Company's Canoes would arrive, so as I might be able to give you a little more news, and be able to form an idea what their intentions were, and consequently be more able to judge what our wants and prospects would be, they have not yet arrived. the season is far advanced, and John Spence arrived Yesterday with news of such importance, that I loose no time in communicating it to you, verbatim as he related it. Viz.
He accompanied Mr Fidler to Manitoba from there proceeded to the forks of Red River. previous to his arrival there Alexander McDonell had arrived from Fort William with two Canoes one of which were loaded and McDonell had distributed the whole Cargo among the half-breeds, they were all drunk on Spence's arrival and continued so for two days, at first they treated Spence well as they thought he had joined them but when they found that his intention was to proceed here they altered their conduct, and tried to force him to disclose every thing he knew, and kept him prisoner a day for that purpose at times threatening and at other times making him great offers to join their side when they found that neither would avail they gave him his liberty, but kept his partner, John Favel.
On the second day after Spence arrived at the Forks, a Canoe came from the bottom of Winnipeg River with a Packet, which caused great bustle and confusion among the Half-breeds, and consternation visible in every countenance, immediately the Saskatchewan half-breeds start to return to their homes but McDonald followed them and got them to return. Next day two Canoes and one large Boat was got ready and McDonell, Grant a number of half-breeds, Canadians and eighteen Bungee Indians (in all about sixty Men) embarked and went down the River, with a Flag flying in each craft and singing French and Indian songs. they carried with them thirty or forty extra Guns and said it was arms for Indians that was to join them at the bottom of the River. Previous to McDonell's and Grants embarking they told Spence that Lord Selkirk had again begun a War that would not be soon ended, that he had taken their principal Fort meaning Fort William and had made prisoners of seven of their Proprietors and stopt all their Canoes intended for Red River and Swan River they further added that they were determined to have their Fort again and if they did not succeed they would destroy every post belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company and neither spare age or sex. from the information that Spence received from several others of the halfbreeds seems to corroborate the above that Fort William was taken, they gave him a circumstantial account and told him that Lord Selkirk had taken their Fort by the following Stratagem.

Having landed his Men a little below their Fort, he proceeded to it, had admittance and was kindly treated, After dinner he requested to view the place and the different Stores, which was granted, and he was admitted into every Store about the place he then returned to his Camp. The next day he again went up to the Fort with a number of Men, and a band of Music and requested they should be admitted into the inside of the Fort to play which was agreed to, as soon as he got in, he changed his note and demanded the surrender of the place, which seemingly was complied with without bloodshed no one attempted to lift Arms except blind McDonell from this place all the Officers found there were made prisoners of and sent to Montreal. Captain McDonell was left in charge of Fort William with sixty Soldiers to defend it and Lord Selkirk was proceeding to the interior with Sixty more besides Labourers to work them along, this is the party that McDonell and Grants band intended to intercept they are to lay wait for them on a certain Portage in Winnipeg River untill a certain date and if his Lordship does not arrive at that time they are to proceed to Fort William, but in the mean time said they would be back again in a Month from the date of their embarkation from the forks. Whither the taking of Fort William is true or false I know not, but that the party embarked from the forks is certain as Spence was an eye witnefs of their departure so that certain it is that something has been done below, or that Lord Selkirk is coming with a great force which they are determined to stop, it is that all this news came by some Canadians who made their escape from Fort William after it was taken there is something very mysterious throughout the whole. I learn from a free man who remained at the big Fall untill about the middle of last Month, that all the North west Canoes for the Northward of that place had pafsed. he happened to remain there a few days after all their loaded Canoes pafsed and was told by them that no more of their Canoes would pafs there that season, but he says the day before he left that place that Mr John Stewart pafsed in a light Canoe with Twelve Men not an Article in her but their bedding and a little Provisions. Stewart would give no infornmation concerning anything but said he had letters for McLeod. he would not allow any of his men to hold any conversation with the free men and seemed to be in a terrible hurry. This same Stewart intended to have gone to Canada this Year, I suspect this is the very Canoe that brought the news to Pointe au Foutre, that was sent to Red River in a small Canoe. Spence says that as soon as he arrived at the Forks of Red River and told that our people was at Manitoba a Party of eighteen Men was ordered off to pillage them of the Goods, they went within a few miles of Mr Fidlers House when they met with a party of Indians, who stopped them and sent them back but the Half-breeds say they will not forget to go again and in such force as not to be repulsed. Spence heard of no direct threats against us but say that when they gave him his liberty they wished to know where he intended to go he told them he intended to proceed untill he found some settlements where our people were, they said (whither inadvertantly or not) that if they found him at the Elbow House they would shew him no mercy. he seems to be very much alarmed at this threat and I do not think I shall be able to prevent him to proceed to the Saskatchewan. Indeed all our Men seem to be alarmed and I do not think one will lift an arm should we be attacked. I understand McKay has acted a villianious part this summer, he had embezzled all the property I left at Qu'appelle and disposed of ten or twelve of the Companys Horses and although he wrote me a few lines from the Forks he has given no account of either, he is now engaged with the North West Company and in charge for them at Qu'appelle through his influence Francis Moosame and John Favel has been obliged to engage also and is along with him he has used his utmost influence with all the rest of the Men to get them to Engage with the North West Company - John Easter, John Lyons, Thomas Favel, and Humphrey Favel are gone free men in Red River. all the rest of our Men have arrived at Fort Hibernia and old Magnus Spence among the number. I do not know what to do with him, I suppose I shall be obliged to engage him for the Winter altho' I have no use for him, indeed we have a great many more men than is necefsary for the District and I am afraid more than we will be able to maintain and I am convinced that should we be permitted to carry on the trade that the whole returns of the place will not pay their Wages, we are altogether now thirty-eight Men and attached to these about fifty more Women and Children, it is entirely impracticable in the present state of affairs to settle a Post beyond Fort Hibernia. I am of opinion there will more Indians resort to the latter place than are we be able to supply, numbers of the Saskatchewan Indians are arriving there daily. all the Crees from Qu'appelle to the Saskatchewan has been at War this summer in a body they have killed a great number of Blood and Muddy River Indians, this will drive a great number of the Saskatchewan Indians to this quarter, a great number will also resort here from Qu'appelle. The prospect of Provisions is not flattering all the plains are burnt about Red River. to a very great distance and fire was in the ground in many places near the Elbow.

Mr Garrock has been at the Elbow ever since I arrived, the Indians are coming to the House in great numbers but bring nothing they barely get enough of Meat to feed themselves, and here the Men has been on half allowance of Meat ever since I arrived, this is one of the most miserable spots I ever was at, hardly a House to put ourselves in not a single Stockade about the place, nor is it pofsible at this season to supply these defficiences, no pofsibility of hauling Wood if we had Horses, to do it, and it is equally impofsible to raft wood the water in the River is not six inches deep. I have had about hundred Logs felled and squared to make a Watch House but all my contrivance cannot get them home it is really a great folly to send people to this place early in the summer they can do nothing but create expence. The Swan River Men might have made another trip in the low Country and still been in time enough here. I am really at a lofs how to dispose of myself, the Indians at this place detest Mr Garrock and at the Upper House the Men will do nothing for him, I hope you will not prevent Mr Findlayson from coming here I intend to proceed to the Upper House myself as soon as pofsible, I am really at a lofs what to say concerning the quantity of Goods to be sent here if we are permitted to carry on the trade peacably we would require every article I indented for but if we are to be overpowered by a superior force and plundered there is too much here already. I therefore must leave it to you to order what you please. I have never wrote a letter under such pain as the present, ever since I arrived here I have been in a weakly state of health and for some time back a contagious disorder has been amongst us, a kind of breaking out of the skin or more properly a kind of pimples on every part of the body, I have several on my right arm and one on the tip of my Elbow which pains me very much and cannot think of copying this, I hope you will excuse the manner it is wrote.
Your son James requested me for permifsion to go to meet you he will be able to give any information I have omitted. I therefore Shall add no more but conclude with wishing you a pleasant pafsage and Remain
Sir Your Most
Obed' Humble Servant
(signed) James Sutherland
PS. If Men and Goods were plenty I am of opinion that if a Post was Settled up the Branch this fall it would have a good chance of procuring Provisions. I wish I had gone there in the summer with the Men I came here with I would have done more good for my employers and not been in the same danger I am in at present for then we would have only to fear the Indians, and there would be no fear but the Men would defend the property to the last as they would expect no quarters from them - Our Men seems to have no hopes to Conquer these half breeds we are now in dread of and think that resistance will only irritate them to act the same scene as they did at the Forks.
J.S."


"To Mr James Sutherland
Big Fall 15th October 1816
Dear Sir
I met my Son and George Sinclair in Lake Winnipeg where they delivered me your Letter of the 3rd inst.

It is impofsible for us to know what part to credit of the information John Spence received from the Half-breeds, Yet I am of opinion that Lord Selkirk has actually carried into effect some measure of importance below Lake Winnipeg but I imagine that it is more probably the North west Companys House at Rainy Lake that his Lordship has taken pofsefsion of than Fort William, and I am led to form the opinion from a consideration that the former is situated in the Hudsons Bay Company's territories, and that the other is not, I am at a lofs therefore to think how his Lordship could be justified in seizing Fort William and we may be sure that he would do nothing that is not strictly legal, It is superfluous however to troble you with conjectures as in all probability you will soon hear news that will remove all doubt.

The band of horrid barbarians which Alexander McDonell has again collected, and the threats he made use of prove that the shocking events, the results of the steps he took last Spring, have made no lasting imprefsion on his cruel Heart. I hope however that providence and the perfect knowledge Lord Selkirk must now pofsefs, of the measures which the North West Company do not hesitate to resort to in support of their interests, will enable his Lordship to frustrate the design of his detestable Enemies, and bring them to the punishment they so richly merit. still however, I am sorry to say there is reason to fear that his Lordship has not been able to effect a pafsage to Lake Winnipeg, since there was no news from him at Jack River so late as the thirteenth of October. I am sorry to see you write in such desponding terms; can you not raise the spirits of your Men, put your House in a state of defence and determine on defending yourselves in your Houses at any rate? [his question mark] The Men should be reminded that their contracts oblige them to defend the Company's property. If you were to hire Jack Lyons and gather all the half-breeds in your quarter under him, and by a little liberality engage Thummy and his band, the same Indians who saved Mr McKay last winter, surely you might make yourself respected. Let me beg of you to exert yourself in this way and not allow the North west McDonell, or a few Half-breeds, to dictate to you without your making an attempt at resistance. If such measures as I have mentioned are necefsary, the expence that might attend them ought not to prevent you having recourse to them, for surely it is bad policy to loose all we have rather than sacrifice a part. If you could collect a small body of volunteers under Mr Halcro, Gaddy, and Lyons, keep them constantly ready and exercise them at firing at marks &c, they might be of infinite use, not only in protecting your own House but as a rallying point to many others. If any thing has happened below that will seriously weaken the North west Company in Red River do not fail to employ all the influence such an event may give you to benefit by it. If circumstance would admit, I would particularly recommend your taking Mr McKay and all our Men that are under engagement to us, who have joined the North West Company prisoners; but McKay in particular. that villian ought not to escape with impunity. To enable us to defend ourselves we must of course concentrate our forces in some measure though the trade should suffer by it and above all things it will be requisite for you to send information with all pofsible expedition to other Houses of any event that may happen by which they are likely to be ultimately affected. What advantages had the North West Company over us in this respect last Spring? [His again] Mr Hughes was informed of Camerons House being taken and might have retaliated on us at Edmonton without our being in the least prepared to expect such an attack. I particularly desire you to send information of any events of consequence that may happen in your quarter as soon as pofsible to Mr Pruden at Carlton House. I wish to winter at this latter place if the season will permit, but I fear it is too late to reach so far by water and that I shall be unable to walk from Cumberland to that place. I hope however that we shall have opportunities in course of the winter of concerting such measures as may appear to us to be most proper for the support of the interests with which we are entrusted. If any thing should happen towards Red River which should make you despair of being able to maintain your ground in Swan River it will be proper for you to take measures in time for sending part of your force to the Saskatchewan to enable us to make a stand there at least, if it is pofsible. with my best wishes for your happinefs
I Remain Sir
Your Humble Servant
(signed) James Bird"


"Cumberland House 8th November 1816
Dear Sir,
I arrived here the 25th October, in the evening and on the 26th this Lake set fast and the weather continued so cold as to prevent any further progrefs by water.
You will already have heard the Account of Lord Selkirks taking the Grand Portage and of Alexander McDonells having collected a party of Half-breeds and Indians, and of his having left Red River to go and cut off Lord Selkirk, whom he understood to be on his way to Red River; as well as of the same Alexander McDonnell's threats, if he miscarried in that enterprise to destroy all the Hudsons Bay Company's Settlements &c; and I regret I cannot at present add anything on this subject, tho' I am not without hopes that you will hear something more to be depended on, direct from Swan River. The preparations for defence it will be necefsary for you to make in consequence of that news will occur to yourself and you will not of course fail to carry them into execution.- You will also have heard of Archibald Norman McLeod's intentions to take our Mr John McLeod prisoner in virtue of a warrant that he intends to ifsue. Now it has occurred to me that I, as Governor in Chief of the Northern Department for the Hudson's Bay Company may on the rights of this Charter legally rescue any person arrested within their Territories by my Authority not originating in, or proceeding from them, and that on the same principal I may, if circumstances will permit, arrest McLeod also for exercising such Authority and for his abuse of power in taking Mr Fidler prisoner without a Warrant or without being able to afsign any just cause for such an action. This is a matter in which I wish to be guided by your opinion, if it agrees with mine, and you are disposed to afsist in such an undertaking I wish you, to collect as many volunteers as pofsible, out of the Settlers and Servants at Jack River and those who are below you: to make them feel a warm interest in the cause, exercise them in the use of your great Guns, and small Arms, join to them a few good Indians and come with the Gun Boat to meet us at the Big Fall as soon as the ice will pofsibly permit. By taking Hooks, Nets and Twine with You, you can maintain any Men there at that season on fish. The Stornaway Men you will perhaps easily inspire with an ardent desire to rescue McLeod. In case you should approve of this plan I have desired Mr Kirknefs to send to YF for the Governors Seal which may be necefsary for to render any Warrant I may ifsue Authentic, as also for Pistols which I neglected to take with me last fall. As there will be some risk of your Letters to me falling into the hands of the North West Company I send you a cypher in which you can write such parts of your Letter as maybe of particular consequence.

You will of course consider what I have said regarding Archibald Norman McLeod in all its bearings: the consequences such a measure may have with respect to the steps it may induce the North West Company to take &c. I am in hopes that you will receive Letters from Lord Selkirk in course of the Winter which will tell us decidedly how to act & which of course we will in that case be guided by. I left a letter with some Indians at the big Fall for you which I hope you have received.
I am Sir
With sentiments of regard
Yours truly
(Signed) James Bird
To
Mr Alexander McDonnell Esq."


" Cumberland 8 November 1816
Dear Sir
The very late arrival of the ship prevented my reaching this place till the 25th inst. when the Lake froze over and the Weather became so cold as to preclude any hope of my being able to reach your House, or even the Nippoe, by Water. But I have received such important news from Swan River that I dispatch my Son James, Wm Tate, John Cameron, and George Sutherland as early as the State of the Ice will permit, to make you acquainted with it, in order that you may take Measures to enable you to defend yourself, amd the property intrusted to your care, from any attempts that the Half-breeds from Swan River may make on You.
The News above alluded to will be fully explained to you by my Son James as I do not think it safe to detail it in this Letter. But what you have to apprehend is that the HalfBreeds may after having Plundered our Settlement at Swan River make an attempt to commit the same Outrages on You. I am therefore desirous that you put your House in the best pofsible State of defence and Keep strictly on your guard till you hear Accounts from Swan River that convince You such a measure will be no longer necefsary. This Account Mr Sutherland is instructed to send you as soon as pofsible, yet it is probable that he may be unable to send to you at all, and that the Half-breeds themselves may be the first you will see from that Quarter. - I have desired my Son George to leave Nippoe, and accompany the bearers because I am sure, he will cheerfully afsist you, if it is necefsary for you to defend yourselves, and if he should not be required for that purpose I am of opinion that you may think it necefsary to send him to make preparations for opposing, as soon as we can get Tobacco up, the Canadians at the South Branch, where undoubtedly some provisions may be procured. And you know how necefsary it is for us to procure all that we pofsibly can. At all events you ought to have a spy towards the South Branch who may be able to give you timely information of the arrivals of any Half-breeds in that Quarter.
The Bearers take one Roll of Tobacco with them but I am sorry to say that it is of so bad a quality as to be hardly worth carriage though in these times it may be better than none at all. You will however secure more and of a better quality as soon as pofsible though I much fear that it will be a very considerable time at first. In the mean time it will be requisite for you to make every preparation both at Carlton and Nippoe for the conveyance of Tobacco from this place to your House and from thence to Edmonton. It will also proper for you to make Mr Carswell acquainted with the circumstances you will learn from my Son James and desire the former to send down Men, Dogs, and Sleighs to convey Tobacco to Edmonton.
You know what will be requisite and let me beg of you to provide accordingly. The Boats with the Tobacco cannot have got on this side of the big Fall.
If circumstances will admit I am desirous that you send down two Men as soon as pofsible with Dogs &c to afsist me up to Carlton.
Hoping to hear agreeable News from you
I remain
Sir
Yours
(signed) James Bird
To Mr Pruden"


" Cumberland 8th Novermber 1816
Mr Kirknefs
Sir
I reached this place on the 25th of October the next day the Lake set fast and the Weather continued so cold that I could make no further progrefs by Water.
I can add nothing to the News you received by Germain on the Subject of Lord Selkirk and the threat of Alexander McDonnel of the North West Company and you will therefore till you hear satisfactory accounts persist in carrying into execution the measures I pointed out to you in a former Letter.
I know not where our Boats are set fast but am fearful it is very low down in which case you will not fail to exert yourself in every way you can to get the Tobacco forwarded the consequence of receiving which you are well acquainted with.
I wish you to forward the inclosed Letters for Mr Swain with all convenient expedition that I may receive a few Articles I have written to Mr Swain for before the opening of the Lakes.
Send me by return of Bearers Burn's Justice, it is in the heaviest of the late Governor Semple's Boxes, and consists I believe of four Volumes.
I wish you to have a guide within reach in the Month of June to conduct Canoes down River in case he should be required.
You will attend to what I said to you on the subject of procuring dry Sturgeon or any kind of provisions that can be useful in Summer. perhaps if you were to get Salt from the Factory you could procure a good number of Geese in the Spring: if so do not fail to get some if pofsible.
I am Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird
PS. If you can spare Scarth send him tho' you must not really distrefs yourself. If Mr McDonnel (on a subject which he will explain to you if necefsary) requires any afsistance give him all that is in your power.
JB."



" Cumberland 8th November 1816
Mr James Sutherland
Sir
Nothing occurs to me at present worth mentioning in addition to what I wrote you in my two Letters from the Grand Rapid, except that I am of opinion, from information I have lately acquired, that if you were to take Oaths of Office before me you might then with perfect propriety act as a Justice of the Peace, and therefore if you are of opinion that your being qualified to act in that Capacity may be of any service I would advise your taking the first opportunity of coming to where I may be sworn accordingly and to receive your Commision from Canada which without your taking the oaths appears to be of little value. - The Knowledge of your being qualified to act as a Magistrate would not fail to have considerable effect on the Minds of the Canadians and though the Half breeds might, as they would, despise your Authority. Yet it is pofsible that the powers such a Qualification would bestow on you might be productive of much benefit to our cause.

I at present purpose leaving this place about the first of December; Yet there are many pofsible occurrences which may prevent my carrying this intention into effect, the most probable of which is, of course, the nature of the accounts I may receive from Inland. I however certainly wish to be at the Crofsing Place about Christmas.
We are of course anxious to hear from you and shall always rely on having speedy information of any event of importance that may take place in your Quarter. - Wishing You every pofsible succefs and Happinefs
I Remain Sir
Your hum. Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Cumberland 8th November 1816
Dear Sir
I was fortunate enough to reach this place on the 25th October - on the followong day the Lake froze over and the Weather continued so Cold as to prevent any attempt at proceeding further by Water. Our Boats with the Tobacco we cannot expect have been able to reach further than the grand Rapid.
You will probably have heard of Lord Selkirk having taken pofsefsion of the North west Company's principal Settlement called Fort William and of his Lordships having there made seven North west proprietors and three of their Clerks prisoners; also of Alexander McDonnel (of the North West Company) having collected a Banditte and of his having left Red River to go and retake their Settlements or capture or destroy Lord Selkirk and his party; and of McDonnel's threats if he did not succeed in that enterprize to return and destroy all the Settlements of the Hudson's Bay Company. I am sorry to be still unable to give you any new information on this serious subject but am not without hopes that you will receive more decisive and agreeable information direct from Swan River.
With the formidable band of Ruffians McDonnel has at his command he may be able to do us much harm and experience teaches us that in the execution of his wishes to injure us he will be restrained by no bounds but the extent of his power. Prudence therefore suggests the necefsity of our taking every means in our power to enable us to resist any attempt he may make. And with this view I conceive it will be necefsary for you to put the Factory in a respectable State of defence by building good Block Houses which will admit of the convenient use of Cannon in them; by exercising some of your most active Men in the use of great Guns, and when the Rivers open, by keeping a few good Indians in the Factory to afsist in its defence. - If we should hereafter acquire information that may render these measures unnecefsary we will not fail to give you as timely a notice of it as pofsible.
Considering it to be probable that in the present situation of affairs the seal of Office of the late Governor Semple may be extremely useful to me. I have directed Mr Kirknefs to send Men to York, and I am desirous that you forward it to me with as many Horse Pistols as can conveniently be sent.
All accounts from Inland lead us to conclude that there is not the slightest probability of our procuring even nearly a sufficiency of Provisions for the Summer, and it therefore behoves you to be as sparing as pofsible of the Provisions which are in the Factory. and to this end it will be advisable for you to procure as much Country Provisions as you can and in the season when venison is plenty, to put a stop to all expenditure of Grain. It will be likewise proper for you at all other times to use a portion of Barley Meal, from the Colony Store in lieu of an adequate Quantity of Oatmeal and Flour which may thereby be preserved for the Summer.
I cannot at present form any correct Idea of the line of conduct that the North West Company will observe generally towards us, but in Red River appearances were, by the last Account, decidedly Hostile. The Half-Breeds now accustomed to Blood and Plunder bid fair (even without receiving any new impulse from the North West Company) to continue in that, to the, easy and agreable way of acquiring necefsaries, till their power of committing Outrages on us is effectually controlled; and Archibald Norman McLeod going to the Athabasca warrants our apprehending that serious disasters will take place in that Quarter. For he is a Man (I know him well) who to no small degree of Artifice, and the most profound Hypocrisy, adds a violent disposition, and a Mind unrestrained by any scruples of Religion, or any feelings of Justice or humanity, and his commifsion of the Peace will enable him to commit many enormities that, as a Man, he would not dare to attempt against those who are opposed to him.
Wishing you an agreeable Winter
I remain Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
To Mr Swain."



" Nippoe 17th December 1816

John George McTavish Esquire
My Son acquainted me with your very polite invitation (to call at your House on my way up to Carlton) which, I beg leave to afsure you, nothing but the equivocal posture of affairs, between our two Companies and the calamitous occurences of last Summer could prevent my accepting with considerable pleasure.
You will feel that it must be extremely unpleasant to me, to be entertained as a visitor, at the same house, and pofsibly in the same room, where some of the Murderers of the late Mr Semple and his unfortunate companions, are not only inmates but are treated with regard, and that consideration will I trust sufficiently excuse any apparent neglect of attention on my part, which most afsuredly is not owing to any want of personal respect for you.
I believe that you Sir lament equally with myself the disgraceful and shocking event I have alluded to, and under this opinion I cannot forbear mentioning the unjustifiable conduct of your Clerk Mr McLean in September last, who accompanied by Armed Men, and himself Armed forcibly took from John Hourie two Dogs the property of the Hudson's Bay Company. Mr Hughes appears also to have acted towards the same Man in a similar Circumstance with little lefs impropriety than Mr McLean: - But I forbear to dwell on these disagreeable subjects, as it cannot escape the observations of any discerning Man that the time is fast approaching when all acts of injustice committed here will be brought into public notice, and very probably meet with the punishment they deserve.
I conceive it to be unnecefsary for me to add that I earnestly wish for a speedy reestablishment of that concord and friendly intercourse which formerly subsisted between us, and that I shall always be ready so far as depends in me to promote so desirable an event.
I am sir
Your very humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



"Carlton 5th January 1817
Mr Hugh Carswell
Sir,
Whilst I have leisure I will throw together the principal circumstances that it will be necefsary for you to attend to at Edmonton.
You are well aware of the importance of your procuring a large Stock of Provisions and it is therefore unnecefsary for me to add any thing further on this head than to desire that you get all your barley shelled and well dried for summer use below, that you salt as many Tongues and wigs, and as much good Meat as your stock of salt will allow and that you take down all the extra fat you may have. - It will be proper for you to avoid using dry Provisions on your pafsage down to this place, therefore, if pofsible, lay in a Stock of Meat by the Way to serve to Cumberland as there is no probability of Mr Pruden's being able to make an Ice House as usual.
You are to send fifty Bags of Pemican, with three of a superior quality, three? bundles of dry Meat, and four dozen dry Tongues to Isle a la Crofse, and to concert measures with Mr McLeod for its conveyance down Beaver River. - If however you should learn that Mr Decoigne can furnish any quantity of Pemican worth notice for Isle a la Crofs, and the quantity you procure should be unusually small, send lefs proportionately: Yet take care that forty or fifty bags of Pemican at the least are deposited at that place in May or June next: But if you are fortunate enough to procure a good deal of Pemican let eighty bags be sent as last Year.
Bring down the usual number of Buffalo Robes for Cumberland and pack all the good ones, you may have remaining, in packs of seven each to be sent to England. - Pack your furs in the usual way but with greater care if pofsible and be sure that no Skins are in an improper state when packed. The Committee complain of the bad way in which the furs of York are Packed and mention the impropriety of putting good Skins on the outside of bundles.
Get Six hundred Awls, Sixty long rat spears two hundred fire Steels six Hoes two Picks and Nails for a large Batteau made for this place and Cumberland.
I have already desired you to get as many Boats made as pofsible. - I shall expect four new ones as Boats are very scarce in the low Country. -
There is a great probability of a call being soon made on us for Horses I wish you therefore to purchase all you can get for such Articles of Goods as can be spared. But be particularly careful that the Horses you may purchase are kept in a place of safety notwithstanding such a Measure be attended with some expence: If they remain the Summer at Edmonton (which you will know in time) they must be sent acrofs the Summer Berry River. - One Stout Stallion, a Stout Mare and a stout cut Horse all tried haulers Youwill take down in the Spring for Jack River.
Bring down a few spare Tents and what Buffalo Leather you May have to spare.
York Factory is now for the present, a Store House merely, and the expence of it is to be defrayed by a charge to the inland Posts on all the Goods they receive from it and you are to charge yourself 8 prCent on the amount of Goods Edmonton has received. - There is now a general Shop at YF so that there are no fall Mens Debts. no fifth to be deducted.
Be sure to make a report on the State of Edmonton (the Committee are particular in desiring this) and have a statement of your years trade and its result? ready to produce at Jack River. You can price the furs at last known price, in pencil figures if done in the book.
Extend the cultivated ground at Edmonton as much as the other necefsary duties of the place will pofsibly admit, and let a large portion of it be sown with barley rye or Oats. This must not be neglected, the times are prefsing.
Let strong and trusty blocks be put in your boats that are lately built for placing Musketoons in and take down as many of the latter as can be spared at Edmonton.

You will of course use every effort to be able to leave Edmonton early and it will be necefsary for you to use all pofsible exertion when you put your provisions &c on board the Boats as well as on your pafsage afterwards. Do not act from any foolish confidence that there is no dangers but in a way to repel any that may occur. - I know that you are too? apt to think that the North West will not attempt any enterprize of difficuty and danger but such opinions too freely indulged may expose you too much and even invite aggrefsion on their part. Do not fear them but be always ready to oppose effectually any violence that they can offer.
I wish also to caution you against involving yourself in unnecefsary quarrels with the Northwest and Still more against making your Men a party in them.
The Affairs of Cumberland House might be of no consequence had you been concerned in it as a private person only, but in the situation you there? held your conduct was not such as could have been desired.
The Committee this year (in consequence of the affray in which Mr Johnston lost his life) particularly cautions their Officers against involving themselves or their Men in quarrels which are merely personal or which are the effects of momentary irritation; and they particularly desire that, in all differences with the North West Company, their Officers act with perfect coolnefs and descretion and never proceed to extremeties till their adversaries are decidedly in the wrong. The affray at Isle a la Crofs was of such a nature that it is not easy to determine who were the aggrefsors and therefore no punishment is likely to be inflicted (by the laws) on any concerned in it.
Had any fatal consequences attended the affair at Cumberland the result would have been the same and no good consequences could have ensued from it, even here. - I have no wish to discourage you from acting in all occasions with becoming spirit - I wish only to induce you not to expose your own or your peoples lives, but when such exposure is just and necefsary and when it may produce beneficial effects.
Mr Hughes has not failed I dare say to boast a good deal, of their conquest in Red River, as I find he has done all the way he went along, but perhaps it will not be long till he will think differently of that Affair, and find himself accused of being an accefsory in Robbery and Murder. The Indians that he particularly hired and sent to Red River do not fail to boast of their part in the bloody scene? exhibited there, and Awapa? claims (justly it appears) the honor of killing poor Mr Wilkinson.
By what I can learn Mr Hughes is liable to be prosecuted for felony for his conduct regarding a horse taken from Hourie. I hope you have not taken any Horse from Hughes in lieu of that above mentioned, for I will listen to no other compromise on that businefs than that Mr Hughes shall bring two Horses to the Nippoe, each as good as the one he took, and there return them to us, and this you may inform him. I hear he is a Magistrate and if so his conduct is doubly criminal and will probably meet with particular attention and proportionate punishment.
Your Men arrived to day and delivered me your Packet of Letters of [blank]

I send you the extract of a Letter we have just received from Mr Sutherland and which I wish you to send, after you have perused it, to Lefser Slave Lake. It leads us to believe that the North West are about, or rather have begun to receive the punishment they so richly deserve - There is little reason to fear that Mr Hughes will attempt any retaliating Measures on you, yet prudence requires that you be on your guard (as he is informed of the Capture of Fort William &c as well as yourself) and that you watch every opportunity to observe what imprefsion the events in question make on his Mind, as well as to catch some knowledge of the nature of the conduct he and his colleagues intend to pursue. Tho' Mr Hughes has the power of difsembling his feelings in no small degree, yet he frequently unknowingly betrays his intentions and I have no doubt but you will be able to discover something of the nature of the Measures they mean to adopt. - In the mean time it will be proper for you (as you will have plenty of opportunities) to try but with apparent modesty to imprefs on the minds of the Canadians the danger of opposing Lord Selkirk armed as he is with the Authority naturally derived from his Rank, his Right to Red River, the Soldiers who accompany him and his Commifsion of the Peace; and you may further tell them that Lord Selkirk is acting in his own right as proprietor of red River, and not at all on Account of the Hudsons Bay Company so that the North West Company cannot have any right whatever to revenge on us injuries that they may believe themselves to have received from his Lordship.
Provisions are of the utmost consequence to us and I repeat it. You must spare no means to procure what you can, as well as to husband well what you may procure. - Wolves you need not encourage particularly if such encouragemnet should, as it may not make the Indians more indifferent in bringing Provisions.
You should have sent Mr Decoigne a Roll of Tobacco, two or at the most three will be enough to send him at present. I have told him to send to you for Tobacco for the Summer either by the Summer berry River, when it opens, or by the Moose portage.
John Moar must be employed boat building all the Summer and you can provide accordingly. He ought to finish a Boat every Six weeks. I send up a Blacksmith for you to try the abilities of and to pafs the Summer inland. It will of course be necefsary for you to send down again directly and to send the Articles Mr Pruden writes for.
William Taylor's Wages will be the same as last Year. John Harriott 30 £ pr Annum. - The Men you have sent are so poorly equipped with Dogs that I know not when they will get home and we are so miserably off here that we cannot get meat enough to eat.
I send you all the Accounts Mr Robertson has sent here if you find any paper deficient you can let us know. - We have still made one mistake in not bringing the last fall price of Goods from YF, so that your remains must again be priced at last Years prices. The Articles of Tobacco and Rum you cannot settle yet. - We have received two Rolls of Tobacco from Swan River and must send for three Kegs of Spirits from Cumberland.
It will be proper for you to supply Mr McLeod with one roll of Tobacco as well as the other things he requests and let him send to this place for more which it will be necefsary for him to do on Mr Clarke's Account. - I suppose we must allow Patrick Cunnigham 28 £ pr Annum Mr McLeod speaks highly of his services in steering his boat.
Wishing you a pleasant and succefsful Winter
I remain sir
Your truly
(Signed) James Bird
PS. I had not time to write you from YF and I had little hopes at? Cumberland of Mr Pruden's sending up from this place till I arrived myself."



Carlton House 7th January 1817
Mr John McLeod
Sir
Your Letter dated the 25th November did not reach me till yesterday when some Men, whom Mr Carswell has sent from Edmonton for Tobacco, arrived at this place.
The Company's Ship did not arrive at York till the 23rd of September last, on the 27th I left that place, as did a Boat loaded with Tobacco, but I reached no further than Cumberland by Water, and the Boat was stopped by the Ice at the big Fall. - These Circumstances prevented your hearing from me so early as you expected, and they will no doubt create much inconvenience, and even some lofs in most of the Districts north of this River. The quantity of Tobacco you require is so trifling that you can be easily supplied, but I am informed that Mr Clarke proposed sending to Isle a la Crof for some in course of the Winter, and if this is really the case it will be proper for you to send direct to this place for a few Rolls as soon as pofsible.
The Ideas you have formed of the inclination, and the State of the Chippewyans, are no doubt just, but on that very Account it has always been thought impolitic to disperse Men in small Numbers to attempt to procure a part of their trade. These Indians, it appears, are too completely under the Yoke of the North West, to dare to trade with us, till they are convinced that effectual and permanent protection can be afforded them to secure them from the vengeance of the North West Company. Nay experience seems to prove that few will join us till they are compelled by force, like other object Slaves, to taste the Sweets of liberty.
Such is the opinion which has been formed of those people, it is the result of experience, and appears to be founded in truth: but You are on the Spot and can judge for yourself and I would always advise you to follow your opinion in the management of the District intrusted to your care, at least till they have been acted on and had a fair trial.
Lake La Ronge is a place of considerable consequence, there are a good number of Indians there, many of whom are Crees, and consequently easier disposed to change their traders than the indians of Isle a la Crofse. The North West Company procure at least forty packs annually at Lake La Ronge.
I cannot agree with you in thinking that Cold Lake is a centrical Situation for the Indians of Isle a la Crofse. - A few Chippewyans often wander in course of the Winter, as far to the Westward as Cold Lake, but it seems to be more like the limits of their excursions than the center of their Country, and should you settle there the North West will quickly prevent any Indians visiting you.
Where the Indians at liberty to trade with whom they pleased Isle a la Crofse would continue, as it has been, a good situation for trade but as matters stand the North West will so continue to disperse them that no Situation can be particularly advantageous for more than a Season.
Such are my opinions regarding Isle a la Crofse and the Indians who trade there which, however, I desire you will be no more influenced by than, their justnefs in your opinion deserves, I repeat it, follow your own plans afsured that they cannot be lefs succefsful than those of all your predecefsors, of late, have been.
I am glad to hear that you have procured a good Stock of Birchrind - The dislike of the Canadians to boats is too serious and fixed for you to think at present, of making use of them for Isle a la Crofse. We cannot afford Men merely to take out your Boat, besides it would too much retard you on your voyage as a variety of circumstances concur to render your early arrival at Lake Winnipeg an object of considerable importance.
The Copy of a Letter from Mr Sutherland which I inclose, will inform you of the steps Lord Selkirk has taken to punish our detestable opponents whose long deserved punishment we may at last venture to conclude is approaching, or rather has already commenced. You will quickly perceive of what consequence provisions will be to us - we cannot get enough and though you have not the means of adding in reality to our Stock I am not without hopes that by your influence and example, You may render it far more efficient than it would otherwise be. You are well acquainted with the waste that the Canadians always make of provisions, by curbing this? a little, and by inducing Mr Clarke to do the same, both at Isle a la Crofse, and Cumberland, you will render an important service to our affairs in general.
I apprehend much injury to our affairs in the Northward from McLeod's presence there accompanied, as he is by such a preponderating forced, and armed with the powers of a civil Magistrate which, experience has taught us he will not fail to exercise on all occasions to promote his interest without paying any regard to conscience or to justice. I am told that he is firmly bent on arresting you, and it may therefore be proper for you to be always on your guard, indeed, if such a step can be taken without injuring the businefs of your post, it would perhaps be but prudent for you to come out with part of your Canoes by this River. - A Step that can be taken without difficulty, and which will secure you at the same time, that it will afsist and strengthen us.
I have no intentions of taking William Bruce from your District unlefs his service should be thought necefsary to our general defence in the Spring.
It is impofsible to forsee what measures the North west will persue next Summer - Will they submit to the judgement of their Country or will they yet regardlefs of the laws and the feelings of humanity again advert to plunder and bloodshed?[his question mark]
Wishing you safety and succefs
I remain
Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird
PS. It will be proper for you to send to this place for two or three Rolls Tobacco in case Mr Clarke requires it towards Spring."



" Carlton House 7th January 1817
Mr Decoigne,
Dear Sir
Your Letter dated October 10th 1816 I did not receive till Yesterday on the arrival of some Men from Edmonton.
I am sorry to perceive that you will have suffered considerable inconvenience from the want of Tobacco, before any can now be pofsibly conveyed to You. a Circumstance occasioned by the extremely late Arrival of the Company's Ship which did not make her appearance at YF till the 22nd of September last. On the 27th of the same month I left that place as did also a Boat loaded with Tobacco, but I reached no further than Cumberland by Water, and the Boat was stopped by the Ice at the big fall. A considerable time necefsarily elapsed before much Tobacco could be conveyed to this place; indeed it is only a few days that we have had here a quantity worth sending upwards. - Tomorrow Men will start with seven Rolls, a part of which Mr Carswell will forward to You as expeditiously as pofsible, but it will be requisite for you to send a Small Canoe up Summer berry River in the Spring, or to the Moose Portage (as you may find most convenient) for Tobacco for the summer use at Lefser Slave Lake. A sufficient quantity cannot I imagine be sent you by land in course of the Winter. - My late arrival here prevented a pofsibility of my sending my Son to You in time for him to render you any service, otherwise he should have gone to You as I intended.
No Canoes arrived from Montreal and it is therefore out of my power to forward you the Ribbons &c You so much desire. A good Stock of most of these articles was brought to YF, by the Ship, but I could not remain there till they were landed and opened.
Lord Selkirk arrived at Fort William in September last with a body of Soldiers and a great number of Canadians. His Lordship soon after took pofsefsion of Fort William, and all the North West Furs at it, and all adjacent posts, making prisoners of all the North West partners and Clerks he found there amongst whom is Mr McGillivray himself. But it is unnecefsary for me to enter into details on this subject as I have desired Mr Carswell to forward to You the copy of a Letter, I have received from Mr Sutherland, in which the past transactions and future views of his Lordship are mentioned, and which cannot fail to give you the warmest satisfaction and induce you to hope that the day of retribution for the North West Company is, at last, at hand.
The State of our Affairs, You will perceive, render a large Stock of Provisions absolutely necefsary to us. Much more than we can pofsibly procure in this quarter will be required and it will be therefore necefsary for you to turn your utmost attention, to the procuring as much as pofsible, and, which may be nearly as effectual, to the observing the utmost econemy in the expenditure of what you may procure. I know it is not easy to make your Canadians frugal in their management of Provisions, but extraordinary occasions require extraordinary remedies and it will be absolutely necefsary for you to accomplish, on this score, all you can.
It will be highly proper for you to be at the Depot as early as pofsible, much delay took place last year which, as you have now a guide of your own, will not I hope, again occur. Your early arrival will not only facilitate the execution of the businefs of your own concern but pofsibly render important services to the businefs in general as Lord Selkirk will in all probability be at Lake Winnipeg early in Summer. At all events do not let the North West reach Cumberland before you, and have an opportunity of uniting their forces before we can do the same.
I shall be glad to know your opinion concerning the Steps which the North West Partners will pursue in the present situation of their Affairs.
Hoping to hear agreeable Accounts from You
I remain Sir
Your truly
(Signed) James Bird
PS. Mr Carswell will forward the price of furs to you, by which you will see that Swans are of no value. The North West have boasted here that they left upwards of three hundred for you, inland. I inclose a Letter for Mr Clarke in case he should send to you from Peace River in which case you will also forward to him the News we have received from Lord Selkirk."



" Carlton House 7th January 1817
John Clarke Esquire
Sir
The very late arrival of the Company's Ship last fall rendered it impofsible for me to get Tobacco conveyed to Isle a la Crofse early enough for you to derive any benefit from it this Season, particularly as the State of our Affairs render it necefsary for us to provide the means of procuring Provisions in preference to any other considerations whatever. I have however directed Mr McLeod to send to this place for a few Rolls of Tobacco if he has the least reason to think that he can get them to Isle a la Crofse in time for them to be of service to you.
We have lately received the most pleasing intelligence of Lord Selkirk. I forward to Lefser Slave Lake and Isle a la Crofse copies of a Letter in which this agreeable News was conveyed to us, it requires no comment and I am in daily hopes of receiving still more decisive proofs that the humiliation and deserved punishment of our unprincipaled adversaries will soon be complete.

A perusal of the document above mentioned will convince you that your early arrival at the Depot may be of the utmost consequence and that circumstance require on your part the adoption of strong measures with a view of enforcing a strict attention to econemy in the expenditure of Provisions at Isle a la Crofse and Cumberland as well as on the whole of your Voyage. It is impofsible for us to provide enough for all purposes and unlefs econemy supplies the deficiency Lord Selkirk may be unable to execute many beneficial measures that he will have projected.
McLeod's presence in the Northward accompanied as he is by such a numerous train of Satelites, gives us just cause to fear that you will this year have extraordinary difficulties to contend with. I hope that you will Surmount them all and that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you at the Depot in good health and of finding that you have been succefsful.
With my respects to all the Young Gentlemen under your Command I conclude
and remain Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
P.S. in all probability it will now be impofsible for me to furnish You with four Canoe loads of Goods at Cumberland but you may depend on receiving them at Jack River which will I imagine answer your purpose equally well.
Your Letters from Cumberland I did not receive till on my return to Jack River. The above Letter was returned to Mr Bird by Mr Decoigne"



" Carlton House 7th January 1817
James Sutherland Esq.
Sir
Your Letter to Mr Pruden dated 3rd December 1816 we had the satisfaction to receive a few days since on the arrival of Costello from Fort Hibernia.
The information it contains is truly gratifying as it leads us to believe that the public Authoritys in Canada are, at least, sensible of the outrageous conduct of most of the members of the North West Company and that there is consequently every probability of their soon feeling the punishment their Crimes have so long merited.
It is however a considerable draw back on our satisfaction that we have received no official information either from Lord Selkirk, or Captain McDonnel, and that we must remain so long ignorant what line of conduct his Lordship would wish us to pursue. The danger there was of Letters falling into the hands of the North West Company is, of course, the reason that we have not received any information from Captain McDonnel, yet it would have been easy for this Gentlemam to have written in such a way that, if his Letter had reached us, would have been not only gratifying to us but extremely beneficial to our cause, and that, if it had fallen into the hands of the North West Company, could have done us no injury. This consideration makes me quite at a lofs to know what degree of confidence we ought to place in the Canadians who have arrived at Swan River, particularly us You say that they brought many Letters for the North West Company, a circumstance I cannot well comprehend without supposing those Letters to be written by Lord Selkirk or by some of the public Authorities in Canada. Will you be so good as to explain this to me.
That Lord Selkirk has taken pofsefsion of Fort William, and that Captain McDonnel is at Rainly Lake is, however, sufficiently evident, and it therefore occurs to me that it might be pofsible for you through some of the Bungees to open a communication with the latter, or with Mr Pembrent, by the way of Dead River, and Luck Lake, and I would advise You to make an attempt of this kind if there is even the slightest probability of its being attended with succefs. An early knowledge of Alexander McDonnels project of retiring by the Way of Mifsifsippi might enable Captain McDonnell to take Measures to prevent his executing that design. At any rate I am of opinion that you ought if pofsible to have two or three spies in Red River from whom you might, by way of Mannetowappew, acquire occasional information of what pafses in that Quarter. Some of the Bungees, if I have a right opinion of them, are capable of executing a commifsion of that kind, if prompted, to do so, by the prospect of receiving an adequate reward.
If Alexander McDonnell and his party have really come to a resolution of retiring to the Mandals and from thence to the United States, it is extremely probable that they will make attempts to supply themselves with Goods from some of our Settlements before their departure from Qu'appelle. But I am of opinion that they cannot succeed in Capturing Fort Hibernia if you are prepared and if proper measures for defending it are taken one of which I think should, be always to keep a certain number of Men at home. You ought not for the sake of procuring a few more furs to weaken yourselves too much, by disposing your Men in quest of them, at the Indian Tents. Costello tells me that at times there are not more than four Men at Home at Fort Hibernia.
Previous to the receipt of your Letter we had received Letters from Mr Fidler (by way of Jack River) informing us of the arrival of the Canadians, before alluded to, at his House, and the accounts they had given him of Lord Selkirk and Captain McDonnel, which do not differ materially from their information to you.
I must call your attention to the very improper behaviour of Michael Kilkenny who behaved at Swampy Lake, and at other times, in a most offensive manner, and who has made (by refusing to let Mr Kennedy's Men take the Tobacco they were sent for) several men have a trip from Moose Lake to the big fall to no purpose.
In this River as well as at Lefser Slave Lake and Isle a la Crofse all is quiet, and the Trade at all these? places bids fair to be much the same as last year. except in the Article of Provisions of which I think we will not be able to procure quite so much, at any rate we cannot get sufficient, and it will be therefore necefsary for us to try all means of adding to our Stock.
If you furnish Salt I think Mr Kennedy will be able to salt a good many Geese at Cumberland and Moose Lake and Mr Thomas says he is confident that a good many may be salted at Mannitewappow.
You know the importance of Provisions to us and therefore will not hesitate to avail yourself of all pofsible means of procuring any kind that can be useful.
Perhaps Mr Thomas would superintend the procuring of Geese but he would require a supply of empty Kegs or a Man to make them.
Mr Heron accompanies this and will mention to you some thoughts which have occurred to me and which cannot be so safely conveyed on paper.
It will be necefsary for you to take depositions of Turner and others respecting the stealing of the Horses from Swan River - the manner in which they were taken, and by whom.
I send your Commifsion of the Peace by Mr Heron.
I hope you will be able to give us timely notice should we have reason to apprehend an attack from your quarter. - So far as I can learn the Half breeds of this place seem to repent the Steps they have taken and promise to engage no more in businefs of such a nature; but unrestrained as they are by any moral principal, they may be again seduced, by temptations that the Northwest Company know so well how to adopt, to their Situation and Character, to repeat their former outrages should they see a favorable opportunity.
Wishing you every happinefs I remain
Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
To
Mr Sutherland"



" Carlton 10th January 1817
Miles McDonnell Esquire
Sir
Having been informed that you are at Rainy Lake I have urged Mr Sutherland to endeavour to convey to you intelligence which I consider to be of considerable importance in the present situation of your Affairs.
It is unsafe of course to mention any thing of importance in a Letter. I shall therefore content myself with informing you that the Company's Ship arrived at YF on the 23rd September last. that I left that place on the 27th and barely reached Cumberland by water from whence I came to this place on the Ice.
All is quiet in this quarter at present but it is not easy to foresee what Steps the North West Company will take, in consequence of the Measures taken in your quarter. The Account of which is already carried to the Northward.
Mr McDonnel with the settlers was well at Jack River in December last. Perhas it would have a great effect if a few, tho ever so few, Soldiers were sent to that place, as it is not impofsible that the North West may attempt something on York Factory next Summer - We expect the worst, and, therefore, will not be quite unprepared.
Mr Sutherland will give you the News of his Department
I am Sir
Your humble Servant
Signed James Bird"



" Carlton House 15th January 1817
Dear Sir
Your Letters of December last as well as those from Jack River &c I received safe on the 31st December last when the five Rolls Tobacco you sent were brought here likewise.
A few days ago I had the pleasure of hearing from Mefs Sutherland and Carswell who were all very well - Mr Sutherlands Letter contains the same account of Lord Selkirk &c as we had previously heard by Mr Fidler; but I am sorry to say that there are reasons to fear the Desperadoes of Red River may yet make attempts to plunder our Settlements at Swan River.
We are, of course, extremely desirous to hear official accounts from Captain McDonnell & I cannot refrain from indulging daily expectations of receiving this gratification. In the meantime I have urged Mr Sutherland to attempt to communicate to Captain McDonnell, at Rainy Lake, the present state of Affairs in Red and Swan Rivers. There is I believe now no room to doubt of poor Mr McKevenys death - he was run through the breast by one Reynard (a Swifs Sergeant in the service of the North West Company) and afterwards shot through the head by a Half breed. This account I received from one Costello, who is one of the Men that left Mr Keveny at Winnipeg River. By this Mans Account McKeveny behaved to his Men, as well as before as after his arrest, with the most imprudent violence. Mr Sutherland sent Costello here for the purpose of giving me an account of his last Summers adventures &c &c.
At Edmonton, Lefser Slave Lake, and Isle a la Crofse our people are living on the usual footing with the Canadians, and Mefs Decoigne and McLeod were both well; but the latter has not hitherto been able to attach any Indians to us at Isle a la Crofse. Mr Decoigne seems to have great Expectations. Mr Carswell expects to make as much Provisions as last Year and as many Furs. Here I know not what opinion to form, our Situation seems quite advantageous. The Indians also seem to think that we treat them better than our Opponents do, and there is no want of Buffalo about their Tents; Yet they have not hitherto done so much as they ought, or even as they used to do. Mr Pruden has however great hopes.
There can be no doubt however of the propriety of your endeavouring to perservere in your determination to procure a quantity of dry Sturgeon and salt Geese, and I hope Mr Sutherland will, as I have requested him to do, Supply you with Salt - There is not the smallest probability of us being able to procure any dry Provisions at the Nippoe as there are no Buffalo at all near that place.
Mr Sutherlands Men returned to Swan River a few days ago and Mr Heron accompanied them.
The Men who arrived from Edmonton, accompanied by the Blacksmith, left this on the 6th inst. with seven Rolls of tobacco and if they got home safe there will be no want of that Article this Season at Edmonton as, before that now sent can be used, more will be conveyed there.
Mr Pruden is extremely short of Rum and I have desired Mr Robertson to send to you three Kegs. How much more can you spare and will it be necefsary for Mr Carswell to bring down from Edmonton in the Spring any quantity in lieu of what you do spare to this place? [his question mark]
I have not written to YF at present because I could wish to hear from Lord Selkirk or Captain McDonnell first; but if any opportunity unexpectedly offers inform Mr Swain that I wish him to send by the first Boats six spades, two pickaxes and six Hoes with directions to Mr Sinclair to bring them forward to Jack River and desire Mr Kirknefs to see that the same are built in Echewemahmus if at all requisite.
We have just been informed by an Indian (who has arrived from McTarvish's) that Mr McTarvish was on the eve of starting with several Half breeds to take furs from Mr Robertson and my son or else their House and Goods, on account (as McTarvish told the Indian) of George having gone to Indians contrary to an agreement he made with Battosh.
In the present situation of Affairs this piece of News gives us (as you will easily suppose) considerable uneasinefs. Mr Robertson will if he can let you know what truth there is in it.
Let all your Half Breeds be up here in March.
(Signed) James Bird

Mr Kennedy"



" Carlton 22nd January 1817
Mr Hugh Carswell
Sir,
Mr Pruden on a hunting excursion yesterday saw Mr McTarvish accompanied by twelve Men, half at least of whom are Half breeds, pafsing near this place on their way to Edmonton House. - As McTarvish having so many Half breeds with him (some of whom are lately arrived from Red River) has rather a suspicious appearance I dispatch the bearers who promise to reach you as soon as McTarvish in order that you may be prepared to resist any attempts that may be made on the property which is under your care. I conjecture that McTarvish's Journey to Edmonton has for its object a consultation with Mr Hughes, regarding the line of Conduct it will be proper for them to pursue the ensuing Spring, and to bring down Goods for Swan River; Yet, as he goes accompanied by so many of the most desperate of the Afsafsins of last Summer I could not be satisfied without making an attempt to warn you of his Approach. Mr McTarvish will of course remain at Edmonton till the North West Companys northern exprefs arrives there, and I wish you to detain the Bearers a day after he leaves you, in order that you may acquaint me with such news regarding the Northward as you may procure, and that you may be able to inform me whether McTarvish brings any Goods with him from Edmonton: If he comes down with his Sledges all loaded I shall be of opinion that both him and his colleagues have determined on pacific Measures towards us, till the spring at least. - If you can find favorable opportunities you may learn a good deal from Mr Shaw, but it will of course be necefsary for you to be cautious in your attempts on him.
You must be as sparing of your Tobacco as pofsible. I inclose a list of Articles that I wish you to send by the Bearers.
I wrote you so fully a few day's since that I have little further to add at present, though I cannot omit again to call your attention to the procuring of dry Provisions; I Know not what succefs we may have in that Article at this place but at present we have much lefs than at this time last Year.
Hoping to hear favorable Accounts from You
I remain
Sir
Yours
Signed James Bird."


" Fort Wedderburn 20th December 1816
Dear Sir
From the prefsure of anxiety and the unpromising state of the Company's Affairs in this Quarter, compell's me to venture a second time in forwarding an exprefs to you, the first being intercepted by the North West Company on the 10th December but fortunately no letters had fallen into their hands, from their vigilance and Superior Numbers, as likewise their Malicious intentions towards the concern has left our case very disagreeable, being disappointed in every symptom? we have tried in extending and promoting our interests, and the Artifices used to cause our overthrow has been of the most imposing nature. Mr Archibald Norman McLeod accompanied by a Mr McMurray overtook me and the party of the 7th Sept. on Portage LaLoche where McLeod first began his Threats, and which he still continues to bestow upon us in the most liberal Manner he from there proceeded in all expedition and having had ten Men in his Canoe got to Pierre aux? Calamit before me where he took by violence one of the Hudson's Bay Company's Servants and an Indian belonging to that post?, Mr Thomas when informed of this outrage endeavoured to get the former Man, but the answer was that he Mr McLeod had six more in view which was determined to take up as being engaged to the North West Company. he arrived again at this place and taking advantage of our Peoples weaknefs lost no time in pouring his vengence on them with precipitation first by taking Mefs Campbell, McAuley and Yeal with seven Indians and their families who had some days previous arrived from a hunting excurtion all of whom were Kept in close confinement and the Gentlemen would not be liberated untill such time as credible security would be given for their Keeping the peace for twelve calender Months Mr McLeod having advertised himself to them as a Justice of the Peace, the Plan he now adopted on seeing the great attachment of their Indians towards us and finding he could by no fair means Debauch them, he ifsued orders to the rest of his Partisans to seize upon the first Indian or Indians they would see going out from the Fort, which Orders were strictly attended to, and only two hours antecedent to our arrival that he accomplished his rascally design by instigating a quarrel betwixt Mr McAuley and Mr Roderick McLeod Clerks which gave him an opportunity of executing his premeditated plans and in the following Manner sent one of his Clerks to our Gentlemen intimating his eager wish of an interview with them respecting coming to some arrangement, so as to prevent any future Quarrels which they inadvertantly consented to Mr McLeod finding the ready compliance of our Gentlemen immediately put himself with a party of twelve armed Men in such a situation as to lay in Amubush, till about such time as our Gentlemen appeared on the outside an unprepared rushed forward and carried them off with all the Indians as I have already observed, this pecular occurance was inevitably the principal cause of happened shot after seeing his Exploits crowned with succefs made him more forward his great influence among the Canadians Made such erroneous imprefsions on their minds that what he suggests was Law and Knowing the serious consequence attending his succefs and future proceedings, and could only be checked by equal force I found myself much at a lofs, thinking to know his sentiments upon this I wrote him a note in which I taxed him with injustice but his answer was verbally that he was Justifiable in all his actions and would let me know he was not come here for trifles. - Our Brigade had now arrived and one of the North West shortly after when I found it necefsary to forward Mefs McAuley and Robert McVicar to Great Slave Lake, Shortly after another North West Brigade arrived when the North West at this place mustered 150 Men and 13 Gentlemen two of whom came over the morning of the fourth October accompanied by Mr Simon McGillivray to their Watch House on this side and in the most insulting manner a Mr McNeal came and walked round our buildings while the others stood upon the tops of their House to see what would be the result. I immediately on perceiving the Gentlemen's performance brought him up short in his ? and of course words insued, Mr McVicar being present it at last came to a combat betwixt the two Sword in hand. Mr McVicar in time of action got disarmed which put a stop to this Affair, Mr McVicar got a slight wound Mr McNeal severely but has recovered. this Businefs now occasioned fresh custom to the Justice for the sale of his Warrants. Same day I and all parties present were summoned to attend at the Court Hall Fort Chippewyan, this I objected to by making answer that I would defer it to a higher tribunal - the means taken now to force my appearance in his Fort, was the dispatch of Mefs Keith? McMurray, McLeod, and Wicks with a party of thirty Armed Men on the night of the 6th to go and take the one half of our Men who were fishing and Building about 20 Miles from the fort. this they executed and kept them a day and a night and was only liberated after having been forced to make Oath that none of them would appear in Arms against British subjects for the term of two years, they sent word to me, still keeping the Men in custody, that such a number of Hudson's Bay Company's Servants was taken up and detained untill such time as I would make my appearance before the Justice, which I without lofs of time did to free my people, but I was no sooner in their Fort than I was treated as a prisoner to my great Mortification, and now so finding Mefs McFarlane and McVicar taken up at the same time, for the same crime, here I was kept five days and also Mr McFarlane as Mr McLeod would accept of no bail offered by any of the other Gentlemen - and was just on the eve of Embarking us for some other Post when I requested of Mr Henry a North West Proprietor to become my security which he after a deal of persuation consented to with much reluctance on Conditions that a quantity of Property belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company would be lodged in his hands to Garantee the sum he became bail for, so fearing that matters would be worse if I deserted the party it was resolved on by us to give up thirty pieces which was the demand, Mr McVicar remained a prisoner for ten days after us, and was at last bailed out on my private security Mr Mcleod used every endeavour for to get Mr McVicar over and remain there but to no purpose. this unfortunate? Affair happened to us when the Natives were about so that from the abject state of fear the North West kept them in helped to make them now more servile than ever, as our inadequate force completely debarred us from having any intercourse with them, and our inferior numbers would not admit of our Establishing the Peace River. three Settlements is all that could pofsible be settled this Season Viz. Pierre aux Calimit, Great Slave Lake and here our only look out now was to provide for the Winter being deprived of all the Indians with the exception of one band. - We make good fishery but well opposed although it has done us no material Injury all their Efforts being in vain. The Peace River businefs was now to be settled and the North West produced the Account which amounted to £ 1616.10 and as our Property in Peace River was valued by them at £ 972.1.5 Several of their charges I objected to so that the Account was brought down to £ 1291.6 and a Keg of high Wines and £ 30.1.8 for Mens Debts Total £ 1321.7.8 finding all their demands enormous I would not consent to pay up the balance they then said the whole of the Goods on Peace River was forfeited by us and it? was their look out to have their charges paid with some other deductions they agreed to take £ 250 at their standard prices and leave £ 99,6.3 in suspence untill the Businefs would be settled by disinterested persons all this I would not consent to pay so was detained a prisoner untill the £ 250 was paid up seeing this I was obliged now to send Mr McFarlane to give up the sum mentioned.
No News has Yet arrived from Slave Lake and Mr McLeod will give me no particular satisfaction with regard to the Slave Lake Goods but we may with all safety say they will not be given up - Yesterday six of our Men have been taken up on pretence of their being engaged Servants to the North West Company. Dechamp they confined in Irons five days and finding they could make nothing out of him they liberated him on my giving them a private bill for his debts £ 50. Some of these Men he may have small claims on but they will give Oath they are not Engaged. All this is done from a Motive of the destruction of the Expedition which they determine on being at least 4 to 1 in Number and their principal is to carry all by force, it will be very hard for us to resist but which they can only accomplish by taking our fisherys, Our Men appear all confidential to the concern but poor fellows think long for to hear from their friends Those who go with this are Volunteers. Nothing can be more distrefsing than our Situation it is unfortunate if our people has arrived from Montreal and in time to have reached here that a few Canoes had not been forwarded but when I reflect it would have been running a hazard if Provisions were not abundant among them, My earnest wishes is they may be imployed as to check the carrier of our adversaries. Report says that some of our party are Established at Fort William and Lake La Pluie and from the general line of McLeods Conduct I am ready to imagine that it is the intention of the North West Comp'y to carry on part of the trade of this Department by the Columbia - Mr McLeod has already threatened to send such of our Men who have come under his Tyrannic? disposition there in the spring and kept in Irons for the Winter unlefs they give the Oath of Allegiance to them. Their whole Expedition when arrived last Fall amounted to 32 Canoes Six of the number light and Manned with ten men in each Total amount of North West in this Quarter is as follows Seven Proprietors twelve Clerks and from 280 to 300 Men. What I suggested to you respecting Cumberland House I hope will be attended to as likewise the Pemican intended to be forwarded by Mr McLeod to [blank]
it will be absolutely necefsary to forward an Exprefs immediately on receipt of this with such safety as no danger might be apprehended of its being intercepted as by the actions of the North West Company it is their intentions to intercept all Pacquets - If convenient I will thank you to send a few Tongues and a little piece Meat to Isle a la Crofse - It will be necefsary that a Canoe well manned will be forwarded to this place from Isle a la Crofse by the first Navigation with 15 or twenty bags of Pemican for the summer support of this Establishment - it is my opinion as also all the Gentlemen here that with an equal or something like equal force we would procure a part of the trade of this Place.
I remain Dear Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
(Signed) John Clarke
P.S. We have in store 14,000 fish but a long way from us which enables the North West in a great measure to act as they do - At this moment We are all summoned to Appear before the Justice of Peace, for having Stolen Property in our pofsefsion, what he means by this I cannot say, unlefs he alludes to the North West Canoe which we had with us, But in my opinion to detain us for we have been informed by one of our Men whom he told it to that this Building would not be seen in eight days. Should we not be at Cumberland by the usual time you need not rely on any information you may receive from the North West but immediately suppose we are all Prisoners and a Number of our Men on board their Athabasca Canoes against their inclinations.
(?) J.C."



" Carlton House 28th January 1817
John Clarke Esquire
Sir
Your Letter dated December 20th 1816 came safe to hand on the 27 inst. Its contents though of no extraordinary a nature gave us little surprise as the well known Character of McLeod, and the overwhelming force he took with him to Athabasca, led us to conclude that he would make use of every kind of violence and injustice, That his tyrannical and cruel mind might think necefsary, to gratify its thirst for revenge, or to promote the interest of his unprincipled concern.
He seems so far to have exceeded every shadow even, of Justice that I cannot help considering his actions to be, the least frantic efforts of a Man who feels that he is already on the brink of ruin. By what Authority he presumes to hold a court of Justice I cannot conceive; The Act of Parliment in which his Commifsion of the Peace is founded runs thus, "That it shall be lawful for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or person administering the Government of Lower Canada to Authorise and empower any person or persons to act as civil Magistrate and Justice of the Peace in any part of the Indian Territories &c &c for the purpose only of having crimes and offences and committing any person or persons guilty of any crime or offence to safe custody in order to his or their being conveyed to the said province of Lower Canada to be dealt with according to law." And McLeods commifsion accordingly? runs in these words "I do authorise and empower you the said Archibald Norman McLeod to act as civil Magistrate and Justice of the Peace for any of the Indian Territories &c for the purpose only of hearing crimes and offences &c &c."
This quotation will convince you that he has no right to hold a Court of Justice, amd consequently that there can be no other reason for your obeying any summons he may send you, in a case of that nature, than your want of power to resist the means he has of enforcing your obedience. - Actions for debt also are not within his province. What then must be thought of his Acting in such cases in his own cause, and being at once, both accuser, and Judge?[his question mark] I think you have done wrong in giving way to him so far as to settle any terms with him what ever. By compromising the businefs with him, you have perhaps enabled him to avoid great part of the punishment that by his tyrannical and unjust conduct he has exposed himself to. How or by whom are the goods you left in Peace River valued, that they amount to no greater sum than £ 990? [his] If those goods were valued as they ought to be according to the expence of their conveyance &c to Peace River, they would amount to double that sum.
I would particularly advise you to come to as few Settlements on any subject, in which you are a party with, McLeod as pofsible because after you have come to a private Settlement, an action cannot, for the same Affair be commenced against him in any of the public courts in England or Canada.
It will be necefsary for you and your Mefsmates to take distinct? memorandums? in writing of any action of McLeods that can be worth observing whether it appears to you to be founded in injustice or to belong to the duties of his Office, in which you should be particular in observing dates and the Christian Names of the individuals concerned. By so doing exclusive of other benifits that may be derived from it You may be enabled to prosecute McLeod for false imprisonment; and by the laws a Magistrate who acts wrong maliciously or from party views is liable when found guilty to be severely punished and to be fined in double costs.
I would wish you to be very particular on this head, as in all probability Lord Selkirk will be at Lake Winnipeg next spring with an Authority and a force that cannot be resisted, to give you such redrefs as the outrages you have suffered demand.
In the mean time I enclose you the copy of a Letter which will not fail to give you, and all your Men the warmest satisfaction and enable you to bear, with comparative resignation, the evils you are exposed to as you will feel afsured that our unprincipaled adversaries are, at length, about to receive the punishment that their violence and injustice have so long deserved. You will perceive by this Letter that poor McKeveny, who was apprehended, in consequence of a party Warrant ifsued by McLeod, after having been Carried backwards and forwards by a party of Half breeds was Shot between Rainy Lake and Winnipeg River.
I cannot think at present of Sending Pemican for Summer use at Fort Wedderburn. But a small quantity shall be sent to the other place you mention if pofsible.
What you allude to will not be at Cumberland but you will find it at Jack River if things go on in their usual course.
Perhaps it might produce some effects if you were to take every opportunity of warning the North West Canadians of the danger of suffering themselves to be induced by the solicitations of their unprincipaled employers to commit unlawful acts, by representing to them the fate of George Campbell who lost his life for having committed crimes at the instigation of the North West Company - Crimes for which he himself could not hope derive any other benefit than the rewards he received immediately from those for whom he acted. The Canadians have long it is true committed every kind of enormity in this Country with impunity but the time is now approaching when they will find a tribunal on the spot to take cognizance of every act of violence and injustice.
I wrote you a Letter a few days since which will I conclude be forwarded to you with this - There are however of course several little circumstances which I feel a wish to mention to you but that I cannot under the present circumstances venture to touch on in a Letter.
If it is in your power I trust that you will send, if you cannot come yourself, a light Canoe to Cumberland House as early as pofsible in the Spring.
I shall of course make an attempt to forward a copy of your Letter to Lord Selkirk.
I observe that Mr Campbell suspects that McLeod will apprehend all our principal Officers in Athabasca and leave them in seperate situations in land. This last is however a measure that McLeod will not I think, shamelefs as he appears to be, venture to adopt. It may however be proper for you to instruct every officer and Man you have that if they are apprehended by McLeod it will be right and even necefsary for them to insist on his sending them as soon as can reasonably be expected to take their trial before a regular Court of Justice. One of the most valuable Rights of a British Subject is that he cannot be detained any unreasonable length of time in Prison without being brought to trial.
I have already told you that McLeod has no Authority whatever to hold a court for the trial of any real or pretended offender.
Wishing you every pofsible happinefs
I remain Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Carlton 29th January 1817
Mr John McLeod
Sir
Yours of the 13th inst with the Letters from Mr Clarke &c, was delivered me safe on the 27th Inst.
The News from Athapascow must fill every one of us with rage and indignation. Yet it gave us here but little surprise because we had anticipated such consequences from the great power and the violent Character of McLeod. It is however some consolation to us that we have reason to hope that the violent and unjust measures of our adversaries will soon have an end and that they will meet with the punishment their conduct has long deserved.
Our Affairs in Athapascow admit of no remedy at present but our attention ought to be particularly turned to the preservation of ourselves and the Settlements on this side of the Mathey Portage, and I feel particularly anxious on your account as I am convinced that whenever McLeod is acquainted with the place of your Residence he will loose no time in sending a Warrant for your Apprehension (By the Bye report says that your neighbour Thompson is a Justice of the Peace) but at present it is at least a matter of doubt whether the Government in Canada have the power of ifsuing Commifsions of the Peace to be acted on, in the Territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, and, therefore, a Warrant ifsued under such a Commifsion may be safely disregarded by you (if you have the power to prevent your being taken by force) I therefore desire you to take such Measures for your safety as are compatible with your duty, or as circumstances will allow. If you can depend on your Men, and if it will be in your power to leave Isle a la Crofse before your adversaries can collect there in too great force, it may perhaps be proper for you to return to Cumberland by the usual route: but under other circumstances I would advise you to go up the Beaver River when it opens and join Mr Carswell or come acrofs to this place. You would of course previously make such arrangements for the Summer as you may think necefsary. I by no means approve of your weakning Yourself, to no purpose, by making Out? ?, at present, but, as you must have a good stock of Goods in hand, I think it would be very proper for you to send two strong Parties (after the North West Canoes have pafsed Isle a la Crofse) with Goods to search after Indians, and to remain in such places during the summer as they might find to be advantageous, one of which should be Lake La Ronge or its neighbourhood. We have seen a few Indians of that place this Winter who told us their Relations &c, are engaged by a North West Trader whom they call Oo sow is te quon, to attack and kill you on your way out. (Who is this Trader he was Master last fall at Lake La Ronge). Unlefs you form connections with the Indians of Isle a la Crofse in the Summer Season I am fearful that it will be long before we gain a footing there. I shall expect to hear your sentiments on these sublects before Spring. If you think Mr Ducharme incapable of conducting the Little businefs at Isle a la Crofse till the Embarkation, or till Mr Clarkes arrival there, I can perhaps send Mr Heron for that purpose.
Would it be convenient for you to get a Canoe or two made in the Perch River, about two days walk from this, and get Pemican from hence by that route?[his] If this plan is practicable it will be requisite for you to send three or four Men with Dogs and Sledges to take the Pemican from hence as, between getting up Tobacco, sending Exprefses, and fetching our Meat a long distance, our Men are constantly employed. - I think you have several people engaged to very little purpose. Could you not send immediately Michelle and Family and Pasquin &c to the plains and employ them in making Provisions they might certainly make a dozen bags of Pemican. It will be impofsible for us to send as much Pemican as last year. -
It will be necefsary for you to send ten or fifteen bags of Pemican as early as pofsible by water to the Mathy Portage for Mr Clarke's use, unlefs you hear certain accounts that he and all his party are in the Custody of the North West Company.
I have written a long letter to you in answer to yours of the fall, by the Way of Edmonton which I imagine will reach you about the time you will receive this. - If the North West are guilty of any unlawful Acts in your Quarter do not fail to take down in writing every particular, observing carefully the dates and the Christain names of all the persons concerned in it.
I have written Mr Clarke altho' I have little hopes of his receiving my Letter safe, but its contents are such that the North West Company can derive no advantage from a perusal of it. I have also enclosed to him a Copy of the Letter we received from Mr Sutherland.
May it not have some effect if you endeavour to imprefs on the Minds of the North West Canadians the punishment they expose themselves to by permitting the North West Company to hurry them into the execution of crimes, and, as a proof of the truth of your observations, to represent to them the fate of George Campbell who lost his life by the Commifsion of Crimes into which he was led by the North West Company, and for their purposes only.
I send you one Roll of Tobacco and we may perhaps be able to spare you another hereafter; But the latenefs of the Ships arrival prevented out taking a large quantity from the Factory last fall and it will therefore be necefsary for you to enforce a regard to economy in the expenditure of that article and not allow the post of Interpreters &c to use it at discretion a practice which ought to be put a stop to, as well as that of allowing the Officers to make money bargains with the Canadian Men.
A stop must likewise be put to the hiring of Officers and Men at high Wages when there appears to be actually no occasion for their Services whatever. In your District, Marshaw, Boorie, Pasquin, and Michelle appear to be perfectly supernumeraries, and even a burthen instead of a benefit to the Service. The Committee will not sanction, nor even see without displeasure such waste of their property and I must beg of you to put a stop to such measures in future.
At Green Lake your people do not appear to be gaining an Inch of ground, they are barely trading with a few of our Indians whom extraordinary payment for their furs has drawn to Green Lake.
You will of course try as far in your power to get the enclosed Letters forwarded to Mr Clarke and give the Men who convey them such instructions as you may think necefsary.
Let me know as soon as convenient whether you think it will be practicable for you to fetch Pemican from this place. We have just heard that a large band of Stone Indians are gone to steal all our horses at Edmonton. If they succeed Mr Carswell will have difficulty in getting Pemican to Beaver River. If we do not hear more favorable accounts from Mr Clarke I am of opinion that it will be imprudent for us to lodge the Pemican above mentioned in Your House at Isle a la Crofse.
How many Canoes do you propose making?[his] if you make five or Six and take the remainder of your Bark down it may perhaps be better than to make more Canoes.
With my best wishes for your health and safety
I remain Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird
To
Mr John McLeod"



" Carlton House 1st Feb. 1817
Dear Sir
I write these few lines without knowing when there will be an opportunity of their being conveyed to you from Cumberland.
We are here in a quiet tho', of course, a doubtful state with regard to the North West Company; but at the Athabasca (according to Letters I have lately received from Mr Clarke) our affairs are in the most ruinous state. Mr Archibald Norman McLeod is there acting in the most tyrannical manner; half the Company's Servants, who are there, have been his prisoners - some of them are still so, and others have been released on Bail, or an Oath that they will not take up arms against british subjects for two years &c &c: Mr Clarke himself has been apprehended twice, and his liberation procured by his paying Goods to Mr McLeod to the value of two hundred and fifty pounds and depositing thirty peices of Goods in the hands of McLeod and his Colleagues. -
Mr Clarke I believe has scarcely any Goods left, and it is more than probable that McLeod will not leave one Man in Athabasca at liberty to come out free, and in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. Nothing but the presence of Lord Selkirk next spring with a powerful force can retrieve that part of the Company's Affairs.
I hope you will use all your influence to get, Stockadoes round the buildings at Norwegian Point, and good block Houses made, as Well as to get our Boat in readinefs (if it were pofsible to get two Boats ready by the 20th June they ought to be made): If the North West Company can by any means prevent Lord Selkirk and his party reaching Lake Winnipeg I think it is more than probable that they will attempt to take York itself.
Yours of December I received safe. It will still be proper for you to write me in cypher, tho' this Letter runs no risk at present of falling into the hands of the North West Company.
With my best wishes for your health and happinefs
I remain
Yours truly
(Signed) James Bird
To
Alexander McDonell Esquire"



" Carlton House 31st January 1817
James Sutherland Esquire.
Sir
I have lately received Letters from Mr Clarke of so important a nature that I think it necefsary for us to attempt to forward them to Captain McDonell and finally Lord Selkirk that his Lordship may if pofsible have it early in his power to take such measures as he may think necefsary. -

I am not quite certain what route this will be forwarded to you by: I cannot get a guide here without loosing too much time to go in search of him, and this may probably be the case at the Nippoe likewise; If it should I have directed Mr Robertson to send the Letters with all pofsible dispatch to Cumberland from whence they will be forwarded by Mr Kennedy to the partridge crofs, or to Swan River as he may find practicable. -

The News from Mr Clarke is of the most mortifying nature. Mr Archibald Norman McLeod is, as we anticipated he would be, playing the tyrant most effectually; half the Company's Servants at Athabasca have already been his prisoners, some of whom have been liberated on bail and others on their taking oath not to carry Arms against British Subjects for two years &c. Mr Clarke has been apprehended twice, and as often liberated by despositing in the hands of McLeod a quantity of the Companys Goods as security for his good behaviour or for his appearance when summoned before a Court of Justice!! - The last time Mr Clarke was liberated he was bailed by Mr Henry (a North West proprietor, McLeod would not take any of our Officers as securities) on condition of his depositing in the hands of Henry thirty pieces of the Company's Goods!

Mr Clarke has settled the Account of last Year (with the North West Company) with McLeod who has made it appear that all the Goods left in Peace River, by the former, was insufficient to pay for the succours? he and party received from the North West Company, and Mr Clarke was detained a prisoner untill he paid the balance which was about two hundred and fifty pounds. By all accounts between paying balances, bails &c &c Mr Clarke has scarcely any Goods left and it is even more than probable that not a single Man will be left at liberty in the Spring to come from Athabasca in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Mr McTarvish accompanied by Fraser, Shaw, La Tour, Bourafsa three or four more half breeds and half a dozen Canadians, is off for Edmonton House. If his visit has nothing hostile in it towards us, I conclude that he is gone for Goods for Swan River, and to settle with his Colleagues a plan for their Summer Compaigne - Mr Carswell will be prepared for his arrival at Edmonton.

Our prospects of getting Provisions are not promising we have plenty of Indians, they are attached to us, and the Buffalo are numerous enough at their Tents, but whither the Indians are idle or unsuccefsful they get few Buffalo into their pounds.

Hoping that you will soon receive official News from Captain McDonell
I conclude and remain Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Carlton house 18th February 1817
Mr Hugh Carswell
Sir
Your Men arrived on the 18th inst and delivered yours with the goods for this place safe.

I return three of your Men with all the Tobacco we have been able to get here (rolls 4) and detain George Ward with a view of sending him up, with two men from this place, as soon as we receive more Tobacco from Cumberland, which will not be, I fear, before the 10th March.

We have heard by way of Isle a la Crofse from Athabasca where our affairs are in a most ruinous state. Mr Archibald Norman McLeod is as active there with his Warrants as, McDonell was with his half breeds in Red River, and has acquired such an ascendency that there is not the least probability of our having any share in the trade, nay there is reason to think that not one of Mr Clarkes Men will be left at liberty to come out in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Spring. - Mr Clarke has been twice arrested on one pretence or another, and liberated, by depositing, in the hands of Archibald Norman McLeod, the value of forty? pieces of Goods by way of bail, nearly one half of Mr Clarks Men have also been apprehended and seven were still in confinement.

Hearing that a large band of Stone Indians were off to steal your Horses and foreseeing the difficulty you would have, if you lost your Horses, in sending Pemican to Beaver River, I proposed to Mr McLeod that he should send to this place for part of the Pemican intended for Mr Clarke. In my next I hope to be able to inform you whether Mr McLeod can do so or not. If however you do not hear from me, that Pemican is sent from here. You must endeavour to send acrofs the quantity I last mentioned to You Viz. 40 or 50 bags.

Get 1 1/2 Cwt? of candles made (there is no cotton wicks here) also flour bags, Shot Bags, and shoes for the whole river, as we have no Leather.

Pay to the Spences the value of fifteen pounds by order of McLean of last Year. Take down three Kegs of Rum with you in the Spring if so much can pofsibly be spared - If the season is fine I shall expect you on the 22nd May. -

Make ten Canoes and let John put up Sixty fathoms of bark proper for mending Canoes, and Birchrind must of course be procured again Summer. Desire Charly to collect all the Pitch he can and some Roots. I wish him and a few Men to pafs the Summer at Cold Lake. Leave the same number of people at Edmonton as were left for that place last year and the very same Men as near as may be in your power; but there can be no advance of Wages unlefs it be two pounds to Whitway and this must be only from necefsity. Mr Ritchie is engaged for five years at twenty pounds pr Annum. Wages are so low at home that the Committee expect to get as many Men as they please next year at lefs than twenty pounds. - I observe that there were no Letters brought by the Ship for any of the Men from Scotland owing I suppose, to some mistake or other. But I understand that there were boxes for you and that Mr Alexander Robertson thought your Letters were in the Boxes which were not brought ashore when we left York Factory.

You do not mention in your last your Stocks or prospects of Provisions forgetting how anxious I am on that score. Let no considerations induce you to use dry Provisions while there is a probability either by sending part of your Men away to this place, when the River opens, by introducing a scanty allowance in time, or any other way of preventing it.

I send you a copy of Instructions for Annual Report which the Committee desire may be attended to.

I will require six quires of Paper, a couple of sticks of Wax, and some Wafers from you in the Spring.

Mr Alexander McDonell (of the North West Company) has been from Qua'pelle to the Mandans under pretence of making peace between them & the Stone Indians, and Crees; and Primo has lately carried Tobacco to the latter for the same purpose so that it would appear that McDonell wishes to collect all these Indians at Brandon House (the proposed endeavour) in hopes of being able to induce them to act against Lord Selkirk: see what Hughes will say to this.
Wishing you every succefs and Happinefs
I remain
Yours truly
(Signed) James Bird."



" Carlton House 4th March 1817
Dear Sir
In my other Letter which I have written on Purpose for you to shew it to Thompson, should he ask you my opinion of your agreement. I have explained my opinion of that Instrument with regard to the obligations in? creates in you. - As you were situated You could not do other wise than you did without sacrificing Interest to a point of honour or rather pride. Yet it is mortifying to think that you can send no where without the permifsion of Mr Thompson; and, to remove the disgrace of being in such a state of subjection, I would have sent a person, as you hint, to supersede you. had I one qualified for the office. but Mr Heron is at Swan river, and in the present state of Affairs Mr Lewes would be soon arrested for his share in the apprehension of Ogden formerly. - I have much to say to you that I cannot now commit to paper, and that I fear Mr McDougald will not thoroughly remember, or be able to explain. I would recommend your coming out entirely by the Moose Portage and your bringing up part of your summer Men, and Mr Clarkes Men, to take down the Pemican for Mr Clarke; such a measure will strengthen us and secure your own Men. You would of course settle affairs for the Summer first: But come over if pofsible directly. With regard to Pat you must first consider what occasion you have for his Services before we can settle his Wages. I told Mr Carswell we would allow him 28 £ for this Year does that not satisfy him?[his] Bring him over with you. I expect to hear expeditiously whether you will take any Pemican from this place.

Mr Clarke had certainly no authority to engage any person for your District; indeed the engaging of Michelle seems to be entirely a scheme of Mr McFarlane to suit his own family purposes. I do not think the Committee will pay such Wages. The Letters, carrived? by our people for the North West, were only such as Lord Selkirk thought it good policy to allow to be carried. I am unwilling to say any thing on the score of reengaging your Canadians till I know whether Men will be scarce or abundant at Jack River perhaps we may have more than we can advantageously employ.
With best wishes for your safety and Happinefs
I remain
Yours Truly
(Signed) James Bird
To
Mr John McLeod"



" Carlton 3rd March 1817
Dear Sir
The conduct of your opponents, unjustifiable as it is, will not bear a comparison with the Outrages committed on us at Lefser Slave Lake where Alexander Stewart with all his Men broke into Mr Decoignes House on the 2nd December last, seized him, Mr Lewes and the little Pegion, dragged them prisoners, to the North West Companys House, and took pofsefsion of all the property of the Hudson's Bay Company which was under Mr Decoignes care!!

Mr Thompson has certainly committed a breach of that peace he is commifsioned to protect, in the seizure of Francois Deschamp and Party, and perhaps it would have been as well if you had allowed him to keep pofsefsion of the Packet, and the Men he had so unlawfully deprived of their liberty. The Detention of my Letter to Mr Clarke is of no other consequence than the depriving that Gentleman and his Men, of the Pleasure they would have received in Learning the News of this Quarter.

Thompson affects to talk about Conspiracies &c but no person can be so shallow as not to know that, his motive for stopping our packet was a desire to prevent the carrying of intelligence to the Northward which would have proved beneficial to our Affairs, and injured those of the North West Company. That such was the motives that influenced him Thompson himself confefsed, as McDougald tells me; but how he reconciles such conduct with the oath he has, or ought to have taken, "to do justice to the poor and rich and not be council of any quarrel hanging before him" can be explained only; I hope by a Member, or Members of the North West Company.

As to your agreement it appears to me to be a heap of rediculous Stuff. - You had no intentions of breaking the Peace, and therefore it is no restraint on you, because it binds you, only not to do what neither your inclination, interest or duty can require of you. As to your binding yourself not to forward Letters &c without John Thompsons permifsion, it is doing what you could not have authority to fulfil because, it is evident that if I order you to forward Letters to the Athabasca You must still do it or resign the situation You hold. Besides John Thompson can have no right whatever to extort any such conditions from You, and any unlawful terms whch a person in distrefs may be forced into are, all the world knows, altogether invalid. - What has John Thompson authority to exact a promise from you that you will not do what your duty requires because by so doing his interest may be injuriously tho lawfully affected, and to render the breach of such an unlawful promise of no lefs consequence to you than the lofs on your part of two hundred and fifty pounds?[his] -

Let these North West Partners proceed till crimes heaped upon crimes make their punishments sure and equal to their deserts. - I have at this instant an opportunity of retaliating on Thompson by intercepting an exprefs which I know to contain a fabrication of Stories, mixed with some truth, calculated as intended to rouse the drooping Spirits of the North West Companys Men: but I scorn to have recourse to unlawful measures in support of a cause which is built, and must flourish, on the basis of Justice only. -

You should not have permitted it to be mentioned in the second Article of your Agreement that "Lord Selkirk acted on the part of the Hudson's Bay Company", because it is certain that you do not know that his Lordship is acting in the Name of the Hudson's Bay Company, nor in fact is he, his Lordship is acting intirely in his own name and on his own Account as Proprietor of a certain portion of Territory which includes Red River, to take pofsefsion of that Territory and to punish the Authors of the injuries he has suffered in the lofs of his Property, and the ruin of his Settlements.

It is curious to observe the Struggles in Thompson between a wish to promote his own view at any rate, and, a desire to observe the ceremonials of Justice. You have been admitted to bail and yet Thompson afsumes the power of controlling your personal liberty. What then is the use of giving bail if you cannot go whithersoever you desire so long as by so doing you do not act contrary to the conditions on which your liberty was obtained?[his] - But it will sufficiently appear to all the world that Thompsons actions, with regard to you, originated in private motives. - I have a strong desire to see you if the season will permit and if you can leave your District without injury to the Company's Affairs.

I had almost forgotten to tell you that Captain McDonell is arrived in Red River with about one hundred Men. We have no official accounts from him but it is certain that he is arrived there.

If Thompson or Black should inquire whether I have sanctioned your Agreement send them this Letter.
With my best wishes for your health and safety
I Remain Sir
Yours Truly
(Signed) James Bird"



" Carlton House 5th March 1817
Mr Hugh Carswell
Sir
I now forward you two rolls of Tobacco which is all we have at present to spare. To avoid being plundered by the Stone Indians the Bearers George Ward and William Leask go by way of Green Lake, a circuitous route but as the roads by that place are good I imagine that it will not occasion their being a very extraordinary length of time on their Journey.

The seizure of Mr Decoigne &c and the capture of the property which was under his care, will, I presume, already have come to your knowledge. Mr McLeod at Isle a la Crofse has suffered several Outrages from his Opponents who would not allow our Men to proceed to Mr Clarke with Letters I had written him. Such repeated acts of violence leave little room to doubt that those lawlefs scoundrels (the North West partners) have no lefs in view than the capture of every Settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company that is within their reach, and I am therefore quite uneasy on your Account as corresponding reports seem to render it probable that the desperate McLeod is by this time at Edmonton. - If you expect, as you ought to do, an attack, and are consequently prepared for resistance. I have great confidence in your being able to defend yourselves, but I am not without my fears that the peaceable profefsions of McTarvish, which I hear he poured forth so profusely at Moose Lake, may have put you in some measure off your guard. Mr Lewes neglecting to inform you from Moose Lake of the fate of our Settlement at Lefser Slave Lake is almost inexcusable, as an early knowledge of that event would not have failed to induce you to keep a watchful eye on the Canadians and be always prepared to defend yourselves. That I am extremely anxious to hear from you I need scarcely add: If Edmonton is captured our affairs are for this Summer completely ruined, but if our returns in this River are preserved the reestablishment of them will be comparitively easy.-

Part of Mr Decoignes Men are with the Little pegion in the neighbourhood of the forks of Summer berry River. others it is supposed are at Red Deers Lake by this time and it may therefore be in your power to collect several of them at Moose Lake and Edmonton.

Make every enquiry you can with a view of ascertaining whither Stewart will go acrofs the rocky Mountain or come out by the Red Deer's Lake as usual.

You must endeavour to send forty bags of Pemican to Cold Lake.

I am much in want of a black lead pencil also a pound of Glauber Salts.

Two North West Men have lately arrived from Red River they bring an account of Captain McDonnells being at Pambina with forty Men, and a story evidently fabricated to raise the spirits of their Men, according to which all the partners who were apprehended by Lord Selkirk returned last fall to the Sault St. Maries with a force to retake Fort William and with a Warrant to apprehend his Lordship as a Felon. I hear from Mr Sutherland that the arrival of Captain McDonnell is certain but he believes that near a hundred Men are with him besides many more who were following him.

Even though no attack should be made on you by the North West it will be right for you to conceal all the surplus Goods before you leave Edmonton as it is not improbable that the cruel tyrant McLeod may form a Corps of Half-breeds, whose head Quarters may be in the rocky Mountain, to plunder that place in summer - Bourafsa is exactly the leader that such a party would require.

I think of sending to you again before you leave Edmonton. in the mean time I remain Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird"



" Carlton House 4 April 1817
Mr Decoigne
Dear Sir
Mr Lewes arrived hear on the 27th February last and informed me of the astonishing outrage committed on You by Stewart and his adherents, for which they cannot fail, sooner or later to meet with the punishment they, and most of their Colleagies deserve, (for, as you will have heard similar acts of violence have been committed on several other Settlements and Servants of the Company).

Under the present circumstances it would be as improper as uselefs for me to attempt to suggest to you any scheme for the reestablishment of our Affairs. and I shall therefore add nothing more than a request that You will collect as many of your Men as pofsible, pafs by the Moose Portage, and bring them down to Jack River, where I hope you will see Lord Selkirk. To enable you to carry this Measure into effect Mr Carswell if in his power leave Provision and a Canoe at a proper place which he will point out to you.

Several Letters from Canada are here for you which you will find at Cumberland as I do not think it safe to send them by the present conveyance.

If however circumstances should unexpectedly render such a step perfectly secure I am desirous that you take the proper measures of getting a supply of Goods from Edmonton, and send Smith with an adequate number to pafs the summer at Lefser Slave Lake.

Hoping to have the pleasure of seeing you at Jack River
I remain Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird
P.S. Lord Selkirk pafsed the winter at Fort William and Captain McDonnell is now in pofsefsion of our Fort at the forks of Red River."



" Carlton House 4th April 1817
Mr Hugh Carswell
Sir
Several days having now pafsed since I fully expected Mr McLeod here, or at least to have heard from him I almost conclude that he and his people are prisoners to the North West Company and this circumstance gives me no small uneasinefs on your Account.

I now send up Mr Lewes and four Men to your Afsistance, if circumstances Yet admit of their being useful to you. And to convey to me as expeditiously as pofsible the news of your quarter, for which purpose I am desirous that you send a Boat down as soon as the state of the River will pofsibly admit.

Mr Lewes I have particularly sent to concert with you such measures as may be practicable, and useful, relative to Mr Decoigne and the Men of Lefser Slave Lake. The enclosed Letter for Mr Decoigne must be sent to Red Deers Lake (at which place Mr Lewes must wait his arrival) and as I have instructed him to endeavour to collect his Men and come acrofs by the Moose Portage ? it will be necefsary for you to deposit Pemican in a proper place for his and their use to Cumberland: perhaps it may also be necefsary for you to leave a Canoe for his use.

In the present state of uncertainty in which I am with regard to Isle a la Crofse. I feel incapable of giving you any precise instructions respecting the sending of Pemican.

I have sent to day two Men to Green Lake to endeavour to ascertain the real situation of our people there, and I have desired Mr Ducharme, if it is in his power, to send a Man up to you immediately on the receipt of my Letter. But as it is pofsible some accident might prevent that Man, if sent, from reaching you in time I will send up from hence as soon as I can learn that all is well at Green Lake: If therefore you do not hear, either from them, or me, you may be certain that Mr McLeod and his Men are in the Custody of the North West; Yet, however it will be right for you to send a Man or two to Beaver River to wait there, till there is no longer reason to expect Canoes from Green Lake, unlefs by any channel you have received intelligence which must convince you that this measure will be unnecefsary. -
On the fifth of March I sent off George Ward and William Leask for Edmonton with two rolls of Tobacco; But as my apprehensions from the Stone Indians, induced me to send them by the Way of Green Lake, I fear that they also may have been detained by Ogden and his afsociates. -
If you are yet safe I desire that no considerations induce you to neglect keeping a strict and regular guard, that when you put the Furs and Provisions &c you have procured on board your Boats, You place Armed Men in your Watch Houses, reinforced by Indians if at all necefsary, that you embark with Arms in your hands and that you keep in a body and keep a regular Watch till you arrive at this place.

If there is any, even the slightest, probability of the North West Company attempting any thing against Edmonton after you leave it, it would be proper for you to see your neighbour and the principal part of his force off before you, but if it be likely that this cannot be done without your remaining too long, seperate the two Forts leaving a space between yours and that of your Opponents; place a Watch house in a proper situation to command it, and take away with you all the Goods that will not be required for the summer trade and conceal them in a secure manner on some Island fit for the purpose.

If circumstances should unexpectedly render such a step proper I have desired Mr Decoigne to Apply to you to Goods or rather the person you leave in charge of Edmonton District, and to send them, with an adequate number of Men, to Lefser Slave Lake in order to procure provisions &c there during Summer.

I have in a former Letter desired you to send Charles to pafs the summer at Cold Lake; but such a measure must now depend on the state of things in the Spring and you will therefore act in that respect according to your own judgement always considering that the safety of Edmonton must not be risked by leaving it too weak, for any paltry considerations whatever.

I send you the opinions of several of the most eminent Lawyers on the rights of the Company and the copy of a Letter written by desire of Mr Daniel McKenzie? to several Winter partners of the North West Company, the former you cannot make too generally known and you may shew them both to Mr Hughes, whose real not publicly, exprefsed, opinion of them I should like to know.

You seem confident that Mr Hughes will not make an attack on you and you may perhaps be right, but it is reported here that McLeod will be at Edmonton by the first of May at furthest, and, should he arrive, you ought to expect the Worst that it is in his power to effect against you: let no profefsion of his influence you for a moment.

The Stone and Southward Indians are all going to pafs the Summer at Jack Lake, and that neighbourhood. Horse stealers will therefore be making frequent visits to Edmonton, and you cannot send your horses too great a distance from the House. I have desired the Southward Indians to make pounded Meat to sell to you on your way down the River and you will therefore take the proper articles. for purchasing it, with you.

I enclose a list of Articles which I wish you to send or bring with you.

Captain McDonnell has arrived in Red River with a strong force and taken pofsefsion of Fort Douglas, Lord Selkirk pafsed the Winter at Fort William - I have received Letters from both.
I remain Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird"



Carlton House 13th April 1817
James Sutherland Esq.
Sir
Mr Rocque arrived here the first instant and delivered me all the Letters, he was charged with, safe.

The Old Canadian, who accompanied Mr Rocque, has been so seriously afflicted with a disease in his Eyes that he is only just now in a state to return to Swan River, and, besides, I was unwilling to write you till, I could receive conclusive accounts respecting the Situation of our people at Green Lake, and Isle a la Crofse, whom I had reason some time ago to apprehend, to be in the custody of the partners of the North West Company. Yesterday Indians arrived to confirm my apprehensions by informing me that they found our House at Green Lake Empty, and were informed by Ogden &c? that all Mr John McLeods Men were some time since, sent prisoners to Isle a la Crofse. The fate of Mr Mcleod himself there Indians did not learn, but there can be little doubt of its being similar to that of his Men posted at Green Lake, and that it is the determination of Archibald Norman McLeod and his Afsociates to seize all the property and all the Servants of the Hudsons Bay Company that are within their reach. Edmonton will in all probability be attacked, and, tho' Mr Carswell is pretty strong in Men, and charged to be on his guard against such an attempt, it may pofsibly fall - an event which would place all the other settlements of the Company not excepting York, at the Mercy of McLeod unlefs his Lordship timely interposes with a powerful force.

Such then being the situation of Affairs in this Quarter I am fully of opinion that it will be absolutely necefsary for you to adopt every measure, that circumstances will allow to reinforce Captain McDonnell, in order that a powerful force may be early sent from Red River, to meet the Canadians, at the big Fall, and there rescue the servants and property of the Company, or at least to provide for the security of the Factory.

No sacrifices will be perhaps too great if they enable you to preserve your effective Men and property, and to conduct both in safety to Norwegian Point or, to Captain McDonnell whose instructions it will be proper for you to be guided by.

But after having told you that there is a probability of all the Settlements North and West of you falling into the hands of the North West Company, and that Archibald Norman McLeod after securing all behind him is according to accounts to proceed with a band of half Savages to Red River. I am convinced that you will see more correctly than me the measures most proper to be adopted in your present Situation - For my own part If, I were at this time afsured that Edmonton would be taken, I would immediately abandon this place and try with all my effective Men to join Captain McDonnell in Red River. but while that is doubtful I cannot help indulging a slight hope of being able to preserve the Pemican we have procured, which is so efsential to our Affairs, I had almost said to our existance, that nothing but the most dreadful necefsity can induce me to abandon or what is worse give it up to our Enemies. - I have got the few half-breeds who were at Cumberland here, and we feel confident of being able to defend the house; but it is reported that the North West Company are to take the most vigorous Measures to prevent our pafsing the Branch, in case they should find it too dangerous to attack us here; McLean Boasts publickly, among his Men, and the Indians, that the English are getting all the Pemican at present but that they (the North West Company) will have it by and bye - How all this will end a short time will now determine. in the mean time I remain with best wishes for your safety and Happinefs
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
PS. If affairs here afsume a more favorable aspect I will not fail to send you with all pofsible expedition the agreeable News - in their present state it seems superfluous to think of Summer establishments in Swan River, but you will of course act according to circumstances and your own judgement.
The same Indians who informed us of the lofs of our Settlement &c at Green Lake, afsure us that the indians who traded lately with our people there, are determined on plundering the North West Settlements at that place and that they were preparing to set off for that enterprise when he left his Tent two nights ago. It is almost too much to hope that they will actually carry such a plan into execution."



" Carlton House 15th April 1817
My Lord
Under an idea that Your Lordship would pafs the late Winter in Canada I took the liberty in August last to addrefs a few lines to you, which I sent to Osnaburgh, at the same time requesting Mr Vincent to forward them to Canada. But as there is reason to conclude that the Letter has not reached you, I beg leave to acquaint you that the late Governor Semple, when in June last he determined to remain in Red River to conduct in person the Affairs of the Colony, appointed me Governor of the Northern Department till he should arrive at Jack River. His unfortunate Death (of which your Lordship is fully informed) has rendered it necefsary for me still to discharge, as far as in my power, the duties of that important station and I therefore conceive it to be my duty to attempt to give you an idea of the present posture of the Company's Affairs in this quarter, reserving those of an anterior date for a more safe and easy channel of communication, in order that your Lordship may have an opportunity of timely adopting such measures as you may conceive to be necefsary. -

On or about the second of December last at Lefser Slave Lake, Mr Alexander Stewart (a partner of the North West Company) accompanied by twenty one Men, Canadians and Half-breeds took an opportunity, at a time when the principal part of his Men were absent, to seize Mr Decoigne, the few people who were at home with him, and all the Company's property which he was in charge off. In the Athabasca Mr Archibald Norman McLeod had, about the same period, under the cloak of Justice, so harrafsed the Company servants in that Quarter, and obtained pofsefsion of a large portion of their property, that Mr Clarke had then abandoned all hopes of being able to have any participation in the trade, or even to preserve his own liberty, and later accounts, received from the North West Company's Servants, say, that he and all his Men were made Prisoners about Christmas last, and their Houses burnt to the ground. On the eleventh of January Mr Peter Ogden with six Armed Canadians suddenly afsaulted three of the Company's Servants, who were conveying Letters between Green Lake, and Isle a la Crofse, made them Prisoners, and conveyed them, their sleds &c, to the House of John Thompson at Isle a la Crofse, where they were detained several days; and a few days afterward the same Ogden accompanied by Mr Black and about thirty Canadians And Half-breeds. Stopped three other servants of the Company, who were likewise on their way to Isle a la Crofse with Letters, and eventually succeeded in obliging Mr John McLeod to go to the House of Mr Thompson where he was confined two days, and then liberated but not till he had been forced to sign an agreement by which he bound himself not to send any Men or Letters to Athabasca and found surety for his keeping the peace for the space of one year.

Papers detailing the particulars of all those events I have sent at different times to Mr Sutherland at Swan River and I have desired him to forward them to Governor McDonnell in order that they may be laid before your Lordship as soon as pofsible.

Sixteen days have now elapsed since (agreeably to instructions I sent him) I fully expected to see Mr John McLeod here, or at least, to receive Letters from him, on businefs of such importance as leaves no room for me to think that he has voluntarily failed to come, or to send to this place. I am therefore led to conclude that Mr McLeod and his people are prisoners to the North West Company or, that they are at least prevented from having any communication with me, by the partners and adherents of that Company and this is, indeed, now placed beyond all doubt, as some Indians who arrived to day afsure us that they found, a few days ago, the Company's Settlement at Green Lake quite deserted, and that they were informed by Mr Ogden, and other Servants of the North West Company at that place, that all the English who occupied it, were lately sent by them Prisoners to Isle a la Crofse. The fate of Mr John McLeod these Indians did not learn, but there is every reason to conclude that he is in the same situation as his people of Green Lake, and that Mr Archibald Norman McLeod and his Afsociates have determined on seizing every Fort of the Hudson's Bay Company that is within their reach. Edmonton will therefore probably be attacked, and, though Carswell is desired to be constantly on his guard, Should McLeod arrive there (as report says will be the case) with a large force from the Northward it may also pofsibly be taken. an event which would effectually deprive us of the power of making any effectual opposition to the future attempts of the North West Company, and even place York Factory in danger; unlefs a force is timely sent by your Lordship, or Governor McDonnell, to occupy an andvantageous situation at the Fort of the Grand Rapid or below Lake Winipeg - But it is sufficient for me to point out the disordered state of the Company's Affairs in this quarter, as the Measures necefsary to be adopted in consequence, will most readily occur to Your Lordship.

At this place I have collected a few young Men, and am of opinion that we shall be able to defend ourselves, and property, while at the Houses, but if all the other servants of the Company in this neighbourhood are prevented from joining us, it seems to be almost too much to hope that we will be able to effect a pafsage to Jack River in opposition to so great a force as the North West Company will then be able to bring against us. It is however our intentions to defend ourselves to the last, and if fortune proves favorable to us we may pofsibly preserve our liberty and, what I consider to be nearly of as much value to the Company, the dry Provisions we have procured.

Such my Lord are the outrages which the adherents of the North West Comp'y have committed in this quarter, and such, I mention it with pain, is the mortifying state of the Company's Affairs! If I have hereafter the pleasure to find that my apprehensions have been carried too far, If, in short, Mr Carswell and his Men arrive in safety with the trade procured at Edmonton, I will not fail to take the earliest opportunity of sending intelligence of such a satisfactory event to Red River.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships
Most obedient humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird."



" Carlton House 13th April 1817
Sir
Your two favors of January and February came safe to hand, though Rocque did not arrive here with the latter till the 1st inst.

I congratulate You on the succefs which has hitherto attended Your Measures, and cannot help adding a hearty wish that all your future plans may be equally succefsful, that his Lordship may eventually succeed in establishing his own rights, as well as the rights of the Company, on an immovable basis, and that our guilty adversaries may speedily feel the punishment their astonishing crimes deserve. -

There is however too much reason to fear that the North West Company will oppose all his Lordships efforts for establishing such a desirable state of things, with all the energy? of their character, and with all the means that their superior numbers, and a total disregard for every consideration of Justice and humanity can afford. Already have they seized the Servants and property of the Company at Athabasca, Lefser Slave Lake, and Isle a la Crofse, and Edmonton and this place are threatened, by Archibald Norman McLeod who it is publicly said (and experience has taught us that reports of such a nature ought not to be disregarded) is to come (about the latter end of this Month) from the Northward to take pofsefsion of all the Company's property in this River, and then proceed to Red River, reestablish the affairs of the North West Company there and take measures to prevent Lord Selkirk from effecting a pafsage to Lake Winnipeg. Unlefs therefore his Lordship arrives early, with an irrisistable force, not only Red River but York Factory may be exposed to the attempts of these desperate and lawlefs Ruffians. In short it appears to be more than probable that his Lordship will have not only the Red River to contend for, but all the other settlements of the Company, Northward and Westward of the big Fall, and all their Servants who have occupied those Settlements during the late Winter.

Such is the state of the Company's Affairs and such has been and is still likely to be the conduct of the partisans of the North West Company, in this quarter. Here I have collected a few Young Men and we have hopes that we shall be able to defend ourselves and property, but if Edmonton is taken, it will be hardly pofsible for us to force a pafsage to Jack River. On the other hand if we are joined here by Mr Carswell and the Men of Edmonton there is no doubt but we will make ourselves respected below this place, and should such a desirable event take place I will not fail to apprise you of it s soon as pofsible.

On the whole you will perceive that it will be prudent for you to have an eye on the water communication betwen Jack River and Lake Winnipeg till you receive more decisive information from me.

As it is probable that our Athabasca Men will be brought out in the North West Canoes. I am of opinion that it will be necefsary for us to have a trusty Officer accompanied by a respectable force at the Grand Rapid to Meet their Canoes and take the Men that arrive there. and I submit it to his Lordships and your Consideration whither it will be proper that we (admitting that is in our power) supply that force, or that it can be more advantageously furnished in your Quarter. This is a point on which I am desirous of receiving his Lordships intructions or your opinion as early as pofsible. To employ the Men of this River in that way would be almost totally to interupt all businefs in the lower country and consequently to embarrafs our Affairs most seriously. -

The North West Athabasca Canoes usually pafs the Grand Rapid between the twentieth of June and the first of July.

I have sent papers to Mr Sutherland (which he is desired to forward to you) that will give you a perfect idea of the nature of the conduct of the North West Comp'y towards our people at Athabasca, Lefser Slave Lake and Isle a la Crofse.

You will perceive by Mr Clarkes Letter that he is of opinion that McLeod will either leave the Company's Athabasca Servants inland during the ensuing summer or Send the greater part of them acrofs the rocky Mountain.

Since the receipt of Mr Clarkes Letter it is generally reported, by the North West, that Mr Clarke and all his Men are Prisoners and their Houses destroyed.
With my best wishes for your Succefs and Happinefs
I remain Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
PS
Moose Skins we shall be able to furnish but you cannot receive any Provisions from this Quarter if an expedition is again fitted out for Athabasca without seriously injuring the Affairs of the Company."



" Carlton House 3rd June 1817
John Clarke Esquire
Sir
Hoping that the notification (a copy of which I enclose) of the commifsioners appointed by the Governor of the Canadas will put a stop to the outrageous conduct of McLeod and his Afsociates and that you will consequently be allowed to pursue your voyage to the Depot without further molestation or restraint. I send Mr Kennedy to meet you with a few bags of Pemican which will, I imagine, be necefsary to enable you to proceed on with the requisite expedition.

You will have been informed of the proceedings of certain partners &c of the North West Company, towards Mr Decoigne and McLeod, and of the manner in which Francois Dechamp was prevented from returning to the Athabasca. I therefore think it unnecefsary to enter into details on those disagreeable subjects particularly as I feel more desirous of awakening your mind to the consideration of the Satisfaction You are soon likely to receive for all the injuries you have suffered from your unprincipled opponents, then of renewing those painful reflections which your own disagreeable situation must have unceasingly occasioned. -

The information you will receive from Mr Kennedy will convince you that our Stock of Provisions is by no means adequate to the demands which will be made on us and therefore induce you I hope to inforce the observance of the strictest economy by all under your Command in the expediture of that most valuable article.

I believe it will be impofsible for me to furnish you with the four Canoe loads of Goods at this place but you may rely on finding them at Jack River which will I imagine fully answer every necefsary purpose.
Hoping soon to have the pleasure of seeing you at Jack River or at the Depot.
I remain
Your very humble Servant
(Signed) James bird"



" Norwegean Point 24th June 1817
Mr James Swain
Sir
Your two Letters I received a few hours after I had left Cumberland on the 4th of June, their contents afforded me cause for serious regret particularly on the instance of the detention of the Ships and the accefsion of Men which you have in consequence had to feed. The latter is a consideration which, situated as we now are is become of no small importance I however sometimes indulge a hope that favourable Goose, and Deer Hunts, have enabled you to feed your Men on a more moderate quantity of English Provisions than must otherwise have been expended. My hopes however are not unmxed with fears, as fortune seems by no means to have befriended us of late.

I cannot attempt to give you an account of all the important events which have occured, and are still likely to occur, to the Westward and Southward of this place, but must refer you to Mr Carswell who is well acquainted as myself with all of them. I however enclose a copy of a notification, sent by Commifsioners appointed by the Governor in chief of Canada to enquire into the disturbances existing in this Country, and the Copy of a letter on the same subject from his Excellency to Lord Selkirk. These Commifsioners, as well as his Lordship, are expected at Red River about the 1st July, where I think they will find businefs enough to occupy, the former at least, for a twelve month. What may be the result of their determinations it may? not be easy to foresee yet I think there is sufficient reason to hope that it will be favorable to our cause and that it must settle the future peace of this Country. - With regard to the prospects of Settling &c I must refer you to Mr Thomas who has diliberated on that businefs more than I can get my mind in a state to do a present.

You will of course do all in your power to facilitate the general businefs of inland, and not quite overlook the posts near to York Factory, the concerns of which I would not wish to be quite sacrificed to the convenience of others - If any spare Men are sent to you early, I could wish that as many of them as pofsible may be employed on conveying such Goods as may not be required for the consumption of this Year, to the Rock, in readinefs for next season; for I think that it will be right for you to remove the necefsity of relying in the Spring alone, for conveying of Goods to that place. This Measure however ought to be in some measure regulated by your Stocks of Provisions, as it is pofsible that it may be more proper for us to feed our Extra Men at the Lakes in, fish, though, unemployed, than by occasioning too great a consumption of Provisions. This is a subject however on which I shall early expect your opinion, as well as information, regarding the number and quality of hands that may be requisite at YF for the conveyance of Goods to Churchill, and Severn, for which purpose no more new hands should be detained by you than, are necefsary to Winter at those places, the ensuing Season. Mr Alexander Robertson will I imagine be the most proper person you will have to employ in the general Shop. I hope you will afford Mr Sinclair any afsistance that may be necefsary to prevent a second failure in the establishment of Merry's House as, I think it particularly disgraceful to us that the Canadians should be allowed to occupy posts so near the Factory without opposition. Let an estimation of the expense of the Factory for the last year, be made as soon as pofsible, and the Amount of Goods Supplied to inland be accurately ascertained that, we may be enabled to fix a rate prCent on your disbursments which will arise to a sum as nearly equal to the one required as pofsible - I will thank you for information regarding the returns of the Posts towards the coast and the Manner in which they have been conducted.

Trusting to the effects which the notification I have mentioned will have on the minds of the North West partners we venture to conclude that they will suspend all operations against us for the present, Yet our Knowledge of the violent character of Archibald Norman McLeod ought to induce us not to think ourselves certainly secure. But for the Appointment of Commifsioners an attempt would certainly have been made on York.

I have some thoughts of going to Red River with a view of receiving from Lord Selkirk such instructions as, I think, that the peculiar situation of our affairs require or rather are absolutely necefsary if they are in future to be conducted by me; but, as I have received no intimation to that effect from his Lordship, I hesitate on taking a step which it is pofsible, may be rather supposed to be the effect of presumption that to have arisen from a solicitude in me to render myself useful.
I am Sir
Yours
(Signed) James Bird"



" Norwegean Bay 24th June 1817
John Clarke Esquire
Sir
As there is little probability of my having the pleasure of seeing you at York, I have to request that you take such Measures, regarding the Affairs of your Department, as you may deem necefsary, always remembering however, that the utmost attention to economy, in every part of your businefs, is as much expected of you by the Committee, as it is rendered necefsary by the enormous expences incurred in other quarters. The extracts, which I transmitted to you last fall, will have convinced you that, the Committee are unwilling to allow any great advance of Wages to the Men, except in cases of urgent necefsity, and, that it will consequently be proper for you to employ as large a portion of young hands as pofsible.

You will be informed by Mefs Swain and Carswell of the important events which have occurred, and which are still likely to take place in this Quarter. The final result of them cannot be at present foreseen Yet I think we have reason, at least, to hope that it will be favorable to our cause, and insure peace to this, of late, disturbed Country.
With best wishes for your Happinefs
I am Sir
Your humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird
PS. I wish to be favored as early as pofsible with a short statement of the Amount of Furs procured at each of your Posts and the profits they afford to the Company.-"



" Fort Douglafs 26th July 1817
Mr Roderick McKenzie
Sir
Mr Lewes takes with him an order of the special commifsioner (the Hon. William Batchelor Coltman Esq.) signed by Mefs Simon McGillivray and Rochblave, ordering the person in charge of the North West Company's Fort Chippewyan to restore to you all the property of the Hudson's Bay Company that Mr Archibald Norman McLeod may have obliged Mr John Clarke to deliver into his hands, in the course of last Winter, and to liberate all the Servants of the Hudsons Bay Company who may be detained by the North West Company, in Athabasca.

Mefs Clark and Campbell are ordered to Jack River, and you are appointed to take charge of the Company's Affairs in Athabasca, during the ensuing winter. You are to detain with you as many Men as you will have the means of providing for, at Fort Chippewyan, and the remainder you will send as speedily as pofsible to the Saskatchewan, and Lefser Slave Lake, that they may there be provided for in the ensuing Winter. If the Goods are returned to you by the North West Company, you will of course dispose of them (excepting such as will be required by Yourself and Men) in trade with the Indians, and it is our intention (if the Canoes that are expected from Montreal arrive in time) to send you four Canoe loads of Goods, part of which will be such as we know must be required for the use of the Company's Servants. If your Situation will not admit of your taking the Measures I have pointed out to you, you must act according to your own judgement.

You will perceive by perusing the Commifsioner's Order, that the North West Company are to convey our Men whom they have detained, to the nearest post of the Hudson's Bay Company where they can obtain the means of subsistance. You will therefore direct our Men of great Slave Lake, to be conveyed to Fort Wedderburn, or Cumberland House, according to the means you pofsefs of providing for them.

If you should be on your way to Cumberland when you receive this Letter, You will return to Athabasca and Act according to the plan above mentioned, unlefs it should be evident to you, and the rest of the principal Officers (whom in this case you must consult) that it will be more conducive to the interests of the Company for you to proceed on to Jack River, you will, of course, be aware that I shall leave Jack River on the 15th August at latest.

You will understand that Mr Campbell is ordered to Jack River, on the supposition that he is now at Fort Wedderburn - If he is at Slave Lake, and our Goods and Men are, by the North West, restored to the Company Settlements at that Lake, it may be proper for Mr Campbell to Winter there and endeavour to obtain part of the trade - Mr McFarlane is appointed Second in command under you and Mr Robert McVicar is appointed third in command. Should the absence of either of the above Gentlemen render it necefsary Mr Thomas be appointed by you third in Command.

It will be proper for you to reengage as many of your Men as pofsible and for as long a term as they will consent to. - The general rate for engaging them should be, 8 to 900 Livres for Middlemen, and 1200 Livres pr Annum for Bowsmen and Steersmen; You may however deviate from this a little in cases of Particular Merit, on the individuals, or where the services are absolutely required. - With regard to the Officers it may it may be necefsary for you to leave inland next Spring, You must make the best Settlements with them you can but it will be right to inform them that any attempts on their part to exact their own Terms in the present disturbed State of Affairs will not fail to injure their future interest in the Service.
I am Sir
Your Obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Fort Douglafs 26th July 1817
John Clarke Esquire
Sir,
You will receive a Letter from the Earl of Selkirk pointing out the necefsity of your proceeding to Montreal this season if pofsible, and I have to inform you that, Mr Roderick McKenzie is appointed to take charge of the Company's Affairs in Athabasca in your Absence, on a plan that is distantly? Stated to him, and which he will shew you, with a view of your giving him such Instructions as ? consistent with that plan you may deem useful, either in regard to the Companys Interest or? the future comfort, of Mr McKenzie, and the other Servants of the Company who may be under his Command.

I beg to refer you to Mr Lewes for the News of this part of the Country.
I am Sir
Your Obedient humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Fort Douglafs 26th July 1817
Mr Duncan Campbell
Sir
Mr Lewes carries an Order from the Special Commifsioner who is here signed by Mefs McGillivray and Rochblave for the liberation of our Servants and the Restitution of the Company's Property detained by the North West Company in Athabasca.

Under the present circumstances it is thought that you cannot be advantageously employed in Athabasca, and you will therefore come out as speedily as pofsible to Jack River if there is a probability of your arriving there before the 20th Sept; if however there is no probability of your being able to accomplish this, it will be desirable that you should proceed with such of our Men as cannot be maintained in Athabasca (a point that will be determined by Mr McKenzie) to the Saskatchewan or any post where you think they can be maintained, or where their Services will be most useful.
I am Sir
Your Obedient humble Servant
(Signed) James Bird"



" Fort Douglafs 26 July 1817
Mr T? Heron (at Cumberland)
Dear Sir
Mr Lewes will pafs you on his way to Athabasca, and he is accompanied by a party which is to return immediately to this place. The former will take fifteen bags of Pemican, the latter 30 Bags exclusive of what they may require to eat on their way back to Red River. - As several people will in all probability pafs Cumberland, it will be absolutely necefsary for you to take the earlist opportunity of getting a fresh supply of Pemican from the Nippoe or from Mr Pruden at Carlton House, and the Execution of this Measure must not be neglected even though it should cause some injury to the Trade, if there is a probability that Provisions can be had.

I shall of course write you more fully from Jack River but I must refer you to Mr Lewes for all the News of this place.
In the mean time I remain
Yours truly
(Signed) James Bird"



" Fort Douglafs July 20th 1817
Sir
Mr LaCroix having put into my hands your Record of proceedings respecting a parcel of Furs found in one of the Stores at Bas de la Rivierre, & which remain there under your Seal. I have to request that you will give orders for their being delivered up. -

Mr LaCroix was under a mistake in Stating these furs to be the property of the Earl of Selkirk, as they belong to the Hudsons Bay Company, They were procured from the Indians by their traders. & were brought to Bas de la Riviere by the Servants of the Company a short time before that post was given up to the North West Company in pursuance of the Prince Regents proclamation. I do not understand that the North West Company have ever advanced, or can pretend to make any claim to the property of these furs, But if any such claim Should be advanced, there are several witnefses now at this place, who can give sufficient evidence as to the property. - As it may be necefsary for these witnefses to proceed very soon to their Several destinations, it would be desirable that the matter Should be decided without delay. -
I am, Sir
most respectfully,
Your obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird.
The Honorable
William Bachelor Coltman"


" Order of the Hon. W.B. Coltman for the delivery of some Furs, the property of the Hudsons Bay Company which were detained by the North West Company at Point au Foutre. -

Provinces of Lower and Upper Canada and Indian Territories.

Order made on a complaint of James Bird Esquire Governor of the Northern Department of the Hudsons Bay Company Teritories brought at Red River on the 27th Day of July instant, before one William Batchelor Coltman one of the Special Commifsioners for enquiring into recent Troubles in the Indian Territories And also one of his majesties Justices of the peace for the Indian Territories and Western District of Upper Canada. Stating that a parcel of Furs Consisting of forty Packs or thereabouts belonging to the Hudsons Bay Company were forcibly and unlawfully detained by the Agents of the North West Company at their post at Bas de la Riviere Winipeg & the restitution thereof refused by Pierre de Rochblave Esquire one of the said Agents now present at this place.

The said parties being heard, and Witnefses produced by them examined upon oath and it appearing by the testimony of the said James Bird that from the prefsure of the Season some immediate decision is necefsary; it is considered and ordered by the said Special Commifsioner; that whereas it appears inconsistant with the fair construction of the order of Restitution contained in the proclamation of the Prince Regent and to the principles of natural equity to extend the Order to restore the various Trading Stations with the property which they contain to such property as the proprietors of Such Stations were not pofsesed of privious to the recent disputes and whereas it does not appear by the Testimony that any such large proportion of the Furs in question were required in barter for property taken from the North West Company as to give the said Company any equitable right to the Said Furs in general beyond what the words of the proclamation exprefsly convey but rather reverse it is therefore ordered that the Agents & Servants of the Said North West Company do without further delay restore the Said Furs excepting a quantity of Skins equal to those Specifically Stated in the Inventory of the Effects at Lac a la Pluie made out on Pofsefsion of the Said Station being taken in October last, which quantity shall be taken from those which first came to hand of Similar kinds and denominations on opening the Store where the whole Furs abovementioned now are; And provided the exact quantity of Skins so taken at Lac al la Pluie cannot be ascertained by any document at this place or at Bas de la Riviere, it is farther considered and ordered that in as much as it appears clearly by the testimony that said last mentioned Skins were equal in Quantity to Six or Eight packs & consisted principally of MuskRats & some Bears Skins and that the same either make specifically as appears most probable from the Testimony.
Apart of the Furs in question under the distinguishing Mark L L or that are? part thereof which are not included therein have been appropriated to the uses of the Said Hudsons Bay Company, the Said Agents & Servants of the North West Company may in such case take and retain a quantity of Skins equal to Seven Packs to be taken in manner as before mentioned; And the exact quantity of Skins to be ascertained as follows to wit. from the list produced in evidence, it Shall be determined by lot whether the first or Second mentioned number of the Packs Marked L L Shall be taken after which the next number but one Shall be taken, And to the alternate number left & taken as They Stand in the way of the said list or Account till the whole Seven are completed, When if it shall be found that one half of the Skins, in the Bales so selected are muskRats, The exact quantity of skins shall be considered as ascertained and shall be taken in conformity from the whole quantity in the manner herein before provided; but if on the contrary the Quantity of MuskRats shall be found lefs than one half, a proportion of the other Skins first mentioned in order on the list of the said Seven Bales shall be omitted and an equal quantity of MuskRats substituted so as to make one half of the whole Skins in the said bales, which quantity of Skins when so corrected shall be taken in manner before provided. And it is further specially considered that the present order providing solely for the immediate pofsefsion shall in no ways affect the rights of either of the said Companies in a final Settlement of their mutual claims and accounts as to the respective quantity & value of the Furs received & delivered by either or otherwise whatsoever.

In witnefs where of I have hereunto Set my hand and put? this twenty eight day of July 1817. in the fifty seventh year of his Majesties Riegn.
(Signed) W.B. Coltman Special Commifsioner"



" Fort Douglafs July 27th 1817
Sir
I beg to leave to inform you of my intention to send, immediately, Mr Lewis to Athapuscow to Carry the notices, which have been signed under Your Authority to procure the liberation of the Officers And Men belonging to the Hudsons Bay Company. Tho' I have considerable doubt how far our adversaries may be disposed to carry, bona fide, into effect the injunction for the restoration of Goods, The only further Measure which I am prepared at this moment to propose is, that you should addrefs an official letter to the partners and Clarks, in charge of the North West Company's Affairs in that Quarter refering to the notices, And warning them that any attempt to evade the restitution which has been ordered will be attended with the most serious Consequences.
In consequence of the peculiarly atrocious conduct of Mr Peter Skein Ogden, on many occasions, as Stated on various affidavits now before you. I have to request that Mr Lewis be intrusted with a warrant for his arrest and also that of Joseph Chartier, An a warrant for the Apprehension of Mitchell Clyne two of the most notorious of the Subordinate Agents employed in the Violent proceedings which have been so long Systematically carried on at Isle a la Crofse, And which took place last winter at Lefser Slave Lake.
I am Sir
with respect
Your obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird
The Honorable Wm Bachelor Coltman
The application for warrants was ineffective."



" Forks of the Red River 27th July 1817
Gentlemen
I have been requested to addrefs you in further confirmation of certain notices mutually signed by the Right Honorable Earl of Selkirk & Governor's Bird & McDonell on behalf of the Hudsons Bay Company & by Simon McGillivray & Pierre de Rochblave Esquires Agents of the North West Company under Date of the 15th Instant Strictly enjoining and requiring you to pay implicit immediate & bona fide obedience to the proclamation of his Royal Highnefs the Prince Regent of the 3rd May last and Specifying certain further details as conformable to the intention and Spirit of the said proclamation but which could not be provided for at such a distance.

I trust little argument is necefsary to convince you of your duty as Subjects & men to obey without delay or Subterfuge an order so Solemnly given by your Sovereign and readily acquited? & confirmed in by your immediate Superiors: whilst the consideration of how deeply the most important Interests of your respective Companies, as well as those of yourselves are concerned in a prompt & full obedience to the Spirit of the Proclamation ought alone to be sufficient to ensure your ready Acquiecence.

Amongst the most important of the Grounds on which the great Question of Law at ifsue between the Companies must rest will be this; how far the alleged nonuser? by one Company of its Rights under the Royal Charter, And the previous pofsefsion acquired by the other to the Benefit of itself and the extention of the Commerce of the Empire will or will not form adequate Grounds to cancel the Rights of one Company and to establish those Claimed by the other. A Question which must necefsarily be decided in a great degree by a consideration of the respective conduct of the two Companies, And cannot but be most materially affected by that observed by their Agents in respect to the present proclamation. -

As respects the Interests of yourselves & Colleagues more particularly nothing can be more important than a ready obedience to the Proclamation nor more satisfactory than the the Terms in which it speaks of the late Violences committed in these Territories by the one Party under an idea of their being authorized by the original Charter of the Company to which they belonged and retaliated by the Other on the principle of self defence in a country distant from the Customary Protection of the Laws. the latter is clearly a plea inadmifsable by any Government whilst the former has been determined to be such as will not warrant the Parties in the forcible exercise of the Rights Claimed unlefs confirmed by the decision of the Supreme courts of Law. - The Proclamation however ordered as it is understood to be with the advice of the most Eminent Lawyers in England under all the circumstances of the case appears to treat of these Violences rather as acts of Private Hostility or War, than as Robberies Felonies & Murders in the usual acceptation of those words and it is fairly to be presumed that Judges & Juries will hereafter be inclined to look upon them in a similar view? -
In general therefore it appears to be that those of your Colleagues who may have been respectively led into a Participation in these Violences may look for a considerable share of lenity in the Judgement to be exercised on the past offences of all who have not participated in deliberate Murder or been the primary Causes or Instigators of the Offences at large. provided they & their Collegues yield a cheerful & unreserved Obedience to the orders of their Sovereign for the future. - On the other hand those who shall be backward in so doing will expose themselves to the severest censures?. - And the retention of property especially which shall be known to either party to belong to the other, now that the illegality of the original Seizure is publicly declared will expose any one so knowingly offending to the odious & disgraceful Charges of Robbery & Felony which by the Terms of the Proclamation do not appear originally to have been thought applicable to them & may further, in my conception, by skewing the original felonious intention Still render the parties liable to correction & legal Punishment for those offences. -
I have the Honor to remain
Gentlemen
Your most Obedient Humble Servant
(Signed) W.B. Coltman
To the respective proprietors Governors, Agents Factors Servants or Adherents of the Hudsons Bay & NorthWest Companies."



" Copy of a Letter to the honorable William Batchelor Coltman occasioned by an opinion he has exprefsed in the foregoing.
Sir
In your Letter of the 27th Instant addrefsed to the respective Proprietors, Governors, Factors &c of the Hudsons Bay and NorthWest Companies we have observed with much concern that we and our Colleagues, acting on behalf of the Hudsons Bay Company, are represented as having been the aggrefsor in the disputes which have led to the Commifsion of the late Crimes, and Offences in these Territories. while you seem to admit that the Excefsive Violence of which the Agents, Partners, and others acting for the NorthWest Company have been guilty, have arisen from their Acting on the principal of self defence. We therefore beg leave most respectfully to submit that among all the complaints of Violent Aggrefsion which may be brought before you no Instance will be found in which the Factors, And Traders of the Hudsons Bay Company have taken a part on behalf of themselves or the Company but that, on the contrary, they have for a Series of Years (often with emminent danger to their lives) been pafsive Sufferers of the most unlawful & Violent outrages on the part of their rival Traders; that feeling confident such pacific conduct would ultimately intitle them to Redrefs from the arm of the Law, they have always forborne the use of the means they often might have employed for repelling the violence And Insults so repeatedly offered, as a recent proof of such forbearance we beg leave to State as a fact, which we pofsefs the means of substantiating in Evidence, that after the terrible affair of the 19th June the Half Breeds attached to the Service of the Hudsons Bay Company, indignant at the Conduct of persons of that discription employed by the North West Company. Came forward with a Voluntary offer to ? themselves in a Body and proceed to Avenge the Injuries & Insults of Which the Company's Officers had so often been the Object, but that agreeable to what we presume to call the usual peacable Tenor of our Conduct, we declined the Offer, though, with the Corresponding Spirit Shown by the general Body of the European Servants of the Company on the same occasion, there was no reason to doubt that, if disposed? to redrefs our own grievances, we might have Commanded the means of attempting it with every prospect of Succefs. - We beg leave further to Remark that at the very time that we acted with so much moderation, the Agents & Adhererents of the NorthWest Company were making every Effort to encrease their forces in Red River in order to secure the exclusive pofsefsion of that District, which they had seized at the Expence of so much Blood. Without presuming to decide on the propriety of the measures which the Officers of the Colony may have found themselves under the necefsity of adopting for the Safety of themselves & of those under their Charge, we are warranted in saying that, where the Interests of the Hudsons Bay Comp'y and those acting exclusively on their behalf were alone concerned, no appearance whatever of Violence will be found although many instances of the most unprovoked aggrefsion on the part of their adversaries can be proved.
We have the honor to be
With the greatest respect
Sir
Your obedient Humble Servants
(Signed) James Bird
(Signed) Thomas Thomas
(Signed) Peter Fidler
Fort Douglafs 29th July 1817."



" Fort Douglafs July27th 1817
My Lord
In answer to the wish exprefsed by your Lordship that I would give you my Ideas of a plan for furnishing the Settlers with such Articles as they may require in this River,. I beg leave to propose that a general Shop be established, in the vicinity of this Settlement, furnished with such Goods as may be thought requisite and placed in charge of an Officer appointed by the Governor of the Northern Department under whose direction and control he would dispose of the Goods at such prices as may be found to be sufficient to defray the expence of their conveyance from York Factory, and the disposal of them at Red River.

But, as it may be proper that a Person nearly interested in the prosperity of the Settlers Should have an opportunity of knowing at all times that no unfair advantages are taken of them, I would suggest that the Businefs of the Shop Should be considered as a joint-concern, between Your Lordship, and the Company in such proportions as may be determined on by you, And the Honorable Committee; In the meantime however the Accounts of the Shop should be kept in the same way as those of a Trading District, but without their having any connection whatever with the Indian Trade. -

Twenty five PrCent on the Prices of Goods at York, may perhaps be considered as a fair advance to defray the Expence of Conveyance &c ? I therefore propose that the Goods shall be retailed in Red River at that price; but measures should be taken as soon as pofsible to ascertain the Real Amount of there expences, & when that is ascertained, the Joint adventure should be charged with the Actual Cost of Transport &c, though this need not occasion any alteration in the retail price which may remain as above fixed. - If it should be hereafter thought necefsary the Goods intended for the Shop in Question might be made a seperate consignment from England under a Distinct Invoice. - If the Businefs of the Shop Should become extensive it should be conducted on the plan I have suggested for the Management of York Store. -
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships
very Obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird."



" Fort Douglafs July 29th 1817
Sir
I have to acknowledge the favor of your letter of 26th Suggesting an arrangement for the Supply of the Settlers here, by the Establishment of a Store. in which the Hudsons Bay Company & Myself may be mutually interested; but to be under the management of an officer appointed by the Governor of the Companys Northern Department Being convinced of the Superior regularity & economy with which the Businefs will be conducted under this arrangement, it meets my entire approbation; & I request you to take such steps as appear to you to be proper for carrying it into Effect, so far as that can be done previously to obtaining the sanction of the Committee. - I beg you particularly to select a proper person to take the management of the Store & to give him such instructions as you may judge necefsary & fix a Tariff for his retail prices. - The Goods already on on account of R.R.S. may I think be put under his charge & considered as the first outfit of the Joint Concern. -

I will be responsible for such articles as may be supplied to Capt. Matthey or Mr Laidlow? on my account for carrying on the Businefs of their respective Departments.
I am Sir
Your very Obed. Servt.
(Signed) Selkirk
PS. Any Supplies given to Settlers, with Mr McDonnells Sanction, I will also hold Myself Responsible for ascertaining.
James Bird Esquire
&c &c &c."



" York Factory Aug. 14th 1817
Sir
I received your Letters during the Winter and am sorry to find I should be the cause of any complaint from the Committee in the different cases mentioned therein. I rec'd a Letter at the same time from Mr Lean Concerning the Quality of White Foxes sent from Churchill 1815. which I flatter myself they will never have occasion to repeat, but as Skins of this quality had given a reasonable price the preceding season induced me to send them home again - In regard to the Servants engaged at Churchill above the fixed Salary of 20 £ there are six which I am Sorry to find has given displeasure to the Honble Committee, but my peculiar situation at that time induced me to comply with the Terms of these people which now appear exorbitant. at that time they were the only people present, the Businefs would not admit of delay & I had no other resourse, but agree to their requests, but this I did not do altogether of my own Authority, for during the winter prior to their times being expired, I had consulted Mr Thomas on the Subject; suspecting the difficulty there would be in engaging as many of these men as might be required, as their Salaries were then 20 £, from Mr Thomas I received no written Instructions on this head but was desired to engage them as cheap as pofsible, which I certainly did enormous as the Salary may now appear. The great changes and Alterations which have taken place in the civilized World by the universal peace we were at that time ignorant of, nor were the Tidings of this desirable event brought that year. all Europe being in a state of ferment And as great demands for men as ever.

I by no means wish to disregard the Commands of my honble Employers by incurring an expence that is unnecefsary, and that no inconvenience may? occur will Chearfully Pay the Salaries of these men above the 20 £ for the Two years, that it is thought unnecefsary to Comply with, unlefs my peculiar Situation at that time is thought sufficient reason for advancing the Men for three years. - At the same time I should observe, that three of these men in particular have made themselves Very useful to us after the unfortunate lofs of Churchill, & tho' only Rated as labourers, were infinitly of more Services to us than most of that Clafs who can perform nothing but what is Simple & easy to Comprehend.

Mr Leslie who will repair for Red River as early as a pilot can be procured, I would wish could be at this place waiting for us next Spring in order to his repairing to Deers Lke as he is of much more Service to me than any Stranger, I might get in his place having been with the Northern Indians only, Since he came to the country but this will not prevent his occupying a post this ensuing Winter if the Businefs requires his Services & You think proper to employ him. Mr James Sutherland having mentioned to me that Officers were Scarce, for the Different Posts up this River, perhaps would find a Situation for this Season for Mr Leslie, if it should meet with your approbation.
I wish you every happinefs And Remain Sir
Your humble & obdt. Servt.
(Signed) J Charles

Mr. J. Bird"



" Montreal 8th May 1817
Sir
Altho' it is probable that you may have had late communications from the Earl of Selkirk Yet from recent occurrences here as well as advices from England, We deem it of importance to inform you that in conformity with his Lordship's instructions there will be forwarded from here in a few days about Eighty Canadian Servants under engagement for Three Years Accompanied by four Clark's hired for the Same term, the whole are provisioned and under the direction, as far as Lake Winipic, of a Mr Lamoine; They will be handed over to you by that Gentleman who himself thereafter will be Subject to your directions.

We have further to inform You that fifty four Men have been engaged as Settlers for the Red River who are to proceed with this Brigade, and whom in Conjuction with those forwarded last year will form a Total of about Two Hundred Men: As those people Collectively will be provisioned only for the Journey to Red River, we submit to your prudence the consideration of providing for their further supplies, which we have great satisfaction in afsuring you may now be done with perfect Safety, as commifsioners are apponited by the Governor in Chief by Order of the Prince Regent to proceed to the Red River, to keep the peace of the country And restore to each of the Contending parties the Posts and property they may have respectively been deprived of during the late Contest.

It would also be extremely disirable that you should send forward to Red River without delay any persons, particularly Mr John McLeod, John McVicar, Donald Livingston Sen. - George Sutherland, Alexander Sutherland &? AM Gruer? &c &c respecting the destruction of the colony in 1815. - Mefs Alexander McDonell, James Sutherland & Peter Fidler also Michall Kilkenny, Antoine McDonell Alexander Sutherland Sen. - part of Murray's family &c &c respecting the Massacre of Governor Semple & people in 1816. - And any other Capable of giving evidence as to the other atrocities that have been Committed within the Hudson Bay Territories so as to be laid before the commifsioners of Special inquiry appointed by Government. -
You are requested to forward this letter to the Governor of York Factory it being necefsary that he should be apprized of the circumstances which have taken place - We are Sir
Your most obdt. Servts.
(Signed) Maitland, Garden, & Allejo"



" To Mr James Bird Esq.
Norway House Aug. 29th 1817
Sir
Nine days ago I embarked Andries & his Son-in-law in a Boat with seven Men & Mr Holmes to command them to proceed with the greatest dispatch to Red River. they only got as far as Popular River Bay & returned here late last night, the weather certainly as been boisterous, but the Wind fair most all the time So that I think they must have mismanaged the businefs completely. - As Andries can be of no Service here I again Send him down and his Son-in-law, the former to proceed to YF?, immediately, in case you wish to send him home the latter with the family at to Stop at Oxford House where I think he will be serviceable to go along with Godin. - Mr Decoigne is still here making his Bales, I could not persuade him to take one of them as they were, And notwithstanding the latenefs of the Season & scarcity of Provisions he does not seem to be in the least Hurry, he has got nearly all his requests, And altho' they appear to me to be very extravagant in fine Articles & Luxuries, I did not restrict him. On the arrival of his men here they were in high Spirits And all seemed to be inclined to return to Athabasca but, a few days idlenefs here, And the Stories of Andries have made many of them to Alter their minds & publicly say they will go no further than Isle a la Crofse.

As their is no hopes now that the canada Canoes will arrive, I today proposed to Mr Decoigne that Mr Halcro Should accompany him And if any of the Men refused going to their destination, that he Mr Halcro should Winter with them at Isle a la Crofse, & himself to proceed with the Remainder to Athapuscow. - Mr Halcro Stipulated that they should be completely independant of each Other, & requested to be put in the command of Two Canoes at once from this place, Mr Decoigne seemed to demur at this and said he would think of it & inform me tomorrow. Some Officer ought to accompany him, & I believe Mr McDonald will not, he says that if Mr D. insists on his going with him he will prefer going by himself & Allow Mr D. to go to Qu'Appelle. - Mr Halcro offered his Services to go to Athapuscow by himself And I have no doubt but he would do as well as him? intended, As I know him to be more interested for his employers & perhaps equally enterprizing, Altho' not equally prudent? in commanding his pafsions. I could not think of taking upon myself the responsibility of making the Change, And I have no hopes that Mr Decoigne will see Athabasca this Season. - he speaks in such an Ambiguous manner that there is no knowing his intentions, nor can I yet tell how the businefs will be Settled. - I now have not got provisions in the House to serve half allowance to all the Crafts that are to go from here & how we are to do I know not. - Michael Killkenny is sent down to be sent home, his conduct has been such for this last Year, as to merit a greater punishment, besides his refusing his lawful duty last fall, & being very insolent to Mefs Logan & Finlayson, who requested him to do it, he this Summer at YF? behaved in as improper a manner by Grumbling at his Cargoe by saying it was too much, & threatening to leave it by the way - On his voyage up he broke his Boat & a great part of the cargoe Spoilt through his carelefsnefs in not drying it in time. - His refractory disposition with the influence he has among the men make him a very dangerous Character. - There is also a Man of the Name of - Valiant who goes down by this Boat, he Absolutely refused going to Cumberland house nor would he consent to stay any where else, he is determined to go home, & can give no Reason for such a determination. I told him he should lose every farthing he had in the Cy's Hands. -

The account book of Lefser Slave Lake is also sent down, but is very imperfect & I am convinced Erroneous, & apt to mislead. The Statement of the mens Accounts in particular, it was made soley from Mr Decoigne's memory & several men there credited by large Sums, who I have no doubt is in Debt. Some I see is credited with more by a great deal than their Two Years wages Amounted? to which is all the time they have been in our Service. -

I have a great deal to write you, but time will not permit & indeed from the anxiety I feel in not being able to execute all your plans, & the presure of businefs my ideas are so scattered that I know not what to write first. In short I find my present task too much for me, And no consideration would induce me to undertake such another, in the present unsettled State of affairs. - I can forsee there will not be a sufficiency of Goods for Mefs Thomas & Henry, however I suppose the former has wrote you about it. - I wish you a pleasant voyage here - & Remain, Sir
Your most Obt. Servt.
(Signed) James Sutherland"



"York Factory Sept. 26th 1817
Mr Alex. McDonell
Dear Sir,
The late extraordinary bad behaviour of Several of the Companys Servants, And the evident proofs we have of its having arisen in a very material degree from a belief that it is at all times in their power, by retiring to the Colony, to become independant of the Companys Officers, And to elude every punishment their Conduct may deserve, induce me to Apply to you Officially, with a view of pointing out the necefsity of your establishing immediately certain rules related to the Terms on which Servants of the Company are to be allowed to hold Lands, & to Settle in Red River. -

You are fully aware that the Settlement at Red River was founded with a view of its affording a powerful Support to the Trade of the Company; And it must be equally evident to You that it must produce a very different Effect if it is allowed to become a retreat for the idle, the disobedient or the refractory part of their Servants. - I would therefore propose that no Servant of the Company's should be allowed to engage in the Service of the Colony, or to occupy Lands in Red River unlefs he can produce a certificate from the Master he has served under testifying that he has Served the Company one Contract at least. And conducted himself, during that Term, like a good & faithful Servant. - And I am warranted in saying that if a measure of this nature is not seedily adopted, generally made known, And strictly observed that the Colony cannot fail to produce even Next year very mischevious effects on the minds of many of the Servants. -

The Committee seem early to have foreseen that the Settlement might have the Effect I have mentioned And therefore determined, I believe, that none of their Servants should be Allowed to retire to it, till they had a discharge, and a Character from the Chief Factor under whom they had served. Lord Selkirk also exprefsed himself to me, at Red River, to the same purport but not apprehending, at that time, So early a disposition in the Servants to profit by an apparent choice of Situations I neglected to Solicit his Lordship to order the immediate adoption of Measures of the nature of those I have now proposed.

The very refractory behaviour of Mich. Kilkenny and John Cameron, has been the cause of my addrefsing You on the Subject in question at this time, They were both ordered by Mr Sutherland at Norway House to go to York Factory and both positively refused to obey. The former persisted in his disobedience and Embarked for Red River Saying he was going "to take his Lands there". The latter after sometime embarked for York Factory (where he now is) but Showed many instances of disorderly conduct on his way down from Jack River.

A Boat loaded with 2700 lbs of Flour and 560 lbs of Pork, intended as a supply for the Soldiers; left this place the 22nd Ult. and Mr Sutherland informs me that he has sent 900 lbs of Flour from Jack River for the same purpose making together a total of 3600 lbs. Still however 400 lbs of Flour is wanting to complete the whole quantity we engaged to furnish The Troops left with you; but the Stock in Store is so very Small, the chances against the Ships arriving so many, and the number of Men now at this place, to be provided for, so great that I have thought it imprudent to send more Flour from the Factory particularly as Mr Laidlow afsures me that the Difficiency in the Supply Abovemented can certainly be furnished from the product of Your crop in Red River.

The unusual demands which have been on the Factory in the course of the Summer have rendered the Stock of Goods in the Factory (Admitting the Ship Arrives & brings the quantity indented for) is unequal to the probable demands of the ensuing Year in the Articles of Rum Guns and Ammunition at to render necefsary for you to render your expenditure of these Articles during the insuing Winter as Small as pofsible. The Stock of Flour & Sugar will be equal difficient, & If you can there fore find means to preserve part of the quantity of the former Article sent for the Soldiers, and send a quantity of Maple Sugar next Spring to Jack River, You will do us a most efsential Service. -

Mr Laidlow remains here a few Days after the Bearers; and should the Ship Arrive And any great alterations take place You will of course receive every information that may be then thought Necefsary.
I am, Sir
With Sentiments of Esteem
Your obedient Servant
(Signed) James bird
P.S. I will thank you to advertise all the Traders in your quarter of the necefsity of their being as sparing as pofsble in the Expenditure of the Articles I have mentioned."



" York Factory Sept. 19th 1817
Sir
The small supply of Goods we have received by the Ship (in consequence of the Indents not reaching the Committee last season) renders the whole Stock in the Factory so very unequal to the demands for next Summer, that the Company's Trade in this Department must suffer most seriously unlefs we can obtain through some channel or other a large additional supply of many Articles, both Trading Goods & Stores.-

I therefore inclose to you a List of the most Material deficiences in our Stock, and request that you will return the Bearer, with all convenient expedition, & by him inform me what quantity of, or any of the articles mentioned, Moose can furnish, and to Martins Fall, to be from thence brought by our Boats to Jack River.

It will also be necefsary for us to be informed as accurately as pofsible of the number of Pieces (of 90 lb ea.) the supply you can afford us will Amount to; also at what Date we may rely on finding them at Martins Fall, And whether our people can there be supplied with Provisions for their Journey back to Red River.

The Ship Britania here on the 17th inst. And I hope she will be ready for Sea in time to insure her a safe pafsage to England, altho' there are greater quantities of Ice in the Bay than were ever before Seen at so late a period.

The Earl of Selkirk was in perfect health at Red River on the 7th of August. The Honble W.B. Coltman had also arrived there And taken a body of evidence that must, it is believed, clearly proved to the public the atrocious crimes of which the NWC have been guilty. His Lordship entended proceeding by the way of Mifsifsippi, to Canada accompanied by a large escort.

The Canoes which, you must have heard, we expected from Montreal had not arrived at Jack River so late as the 7th of September; And according to accounts received, they have been detained (in consequence of the Intrigues of the NWC) by Major Fletcher, one of the Commifsioners.

The Trade of this Department is rather better than that of last season, but quite unequal to the expences incurred. - The partners & Servants of the NWC having taken and plundered, no lefs than six of our Settlements of, property to a very considerable amount.
I am Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird
[to] Thomas Vincent Esq. or the Gentlemen in charge of Moose Factory
PS. It may be necefsary to mention that it is material that I should hear from Moose, at Cumberland before the navigation opens, & I am at a lofs to know whether Spence can return easiest by Osnaburgh, or the Coast."



" To Robert Dickson Esq.
York Factory Sept. 20th 1817
Sir
I have the honor to inclose a Tariff of Prices at which I conceive it to be in the power of the Hudsons Bay Company to furnish you with Goods at this place. and which I hope you will find Sufficiently reasonable to admit of your carrying on an advantageous Trade, in the Sioux Country, on the plan you have proposed to Lord Selkirk.

I am sorry however to be under the necefsity of informing You that the Stock of Goods in Store here is so small (owing to the Indent for this Factory not being transmitted to the committee last Season) as to put it out of our power to Supply you with the full quantity of many Articles that you may pofsibly require.
Such articles as we are particularly Short of, I have marked in the List with red Ink. and of those it will be necefsary for you to furnish yourself with as large a portion as pofsible from Canada.-

Silver works are an Article that we have not, of late, been in the Habit of using in Trade, and that, consequently, we have not on hand, but a considerable quantity of each kind mentioned by his Lordship are now ordered from England.

I could wish to have known the opinion of the Committee, before I took any Steps on a point of Such importance as that in Question; but as I am Sensible that that cannot be obtained without a delay which would occasion uncertainty in your future Views, And pofsibly render your plans ultimately abortive; And as I have his Lordships commands I have fixed the Prices so as to yield a small profit to the Company and Indented for a Supply from England sufficient, I believe, to admit of your receiving as ample an outfit in the Summer of 1819 as you may require.

You will however be sensible that the Prices I have stated cannot be considered fixed for a longer term than, till the pleasure of the Committee is Known, And that it will always be in their power to make such reductions in them, as a desire to promote? your views, and a due regard to the interests with which they are intrusted, will permit.
I am Sir
With Sentiments of Respect
Yor very obedient Servant
(Signed) James Bird
PS you will oblige me by directing your sentiments on the above to me at Cumberland House."



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