" A Sketch of the principal Transactions & Occurrences during a Winters Residence at Edmonton House & on the Pafsage from & to Oxford House by James Bird"

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July 30 1808
" Sent off four Boats manned with thirty six Men & loaded with Trading Goods &c for Cumberland House."

Aug. 1 1808
" Embarked in a Canoe which is fitted out for Swan River
Copy of a Letter to Mr McNab
Dear Sir
I arrived here with Mefs Howse & Fidler in three Canoes the 25th inst. & found that Mr Isham from Edmonton House had landed a few hours only before us.
The news from Inland is I am sorry to say not of the most satisfactory nature; Mefs Hallet & Whitford seem to be under the most lively apprehensions of an attack from the Slave Indians; I am happy however to be able to add, from the information I have received from Mr Isham that their fears seem to be much greater than their apparent Danger. This is my Opinion, yet I am fully sensible that some degree of Risk is always attached to their Situation & have no doubt that if any Accident was unfortunately to happen, those who judge of the probability of Events by the Events themselves, would not fail to attribute it to Inattention or want of Discernment on my part in not having foreseen & more effectually provided against such a Contingency.
The Expedition accrofs the Rocky Mountain does not seem to be quite relinquished by the NWC though their Succefs last year appears not to have been encouraging.
A Canoe manned by five Iroquois & carrying sixteen pieces of Goods, they have again sent there, principally as it appears with a view of drawing their Freemen & Iroquois to that Quarter & to obtain from them those Beaver they have in vain hoped to receive from the Natives.
I shall expect to hear by the fall Canoe your Wishes with regard to the west side of the Mountain in every point of View; it must always however be understood, that a few extra Men will be required for such an Undertaking should it appear eligible.
Several Circumstances have recently occurred which convince me, that if a large supply of Men is not soon sent to York the present inland Servants will not fail to avail themselves of every advantage, an apparent Necefsity of their being employ'd can create, a general Detemination of this kind has already been whispered about. I think it my duty to say thus? much on the Subject with a View to your taking it into due Consideration, & making such a Representation to the Honble Committee as the importance of the Case requires.
Mr Fidler embark'd for Swan River with one Canoe (six Canoes did not arrive from Hill River till the 28th inst) the 27th inst. the Boats set off to day & to morrow I propose following them in a Swan River Canoe which I detain a day for the purpose.
Wishing you an early sight of the Ship with agreeable News from England. I remain, Sir
Your Obedt. Hble Servt.
James Bird."

Aug. 3
" Arriv'd at the White Fall carrying Place; here we found the Boats & the Men still employed carrying over the Goods."

Aug. 4
" Brought all the Boats over the Portage & made every thing ready for starting to morrow."

Aug. 6
" At 8 AM arrived at Jack River House, took on board some Pemmecan we had left here on our Pafsage down, & proceeded on our Journey."

Aug. 10
" Arriv'd after a Stormy Pafsage through the Lake at the foot of the Great Rapid."

Aug. 12
" Finished carrying over the Portage
A Mr McTavish of the NWC pafsed on his way to the Athapuskew, he inform'd us of a Peace, having taken place between France and Rufsia, and that there is a probability of War being declared between the United States & Great Britain."

Aug. 19
" Arriv'd with every thing in good Condition at Cumberland House; & had the Satisfaction to find Mr Sutherland & Man well, but not the least News from the upper Settlements."

Aug. 20
" Employ'd forming an Afsortment of Goods, for this place & South Branch, selling the Men their supplies for the Winter &c."

Aug. 21
" Employ'd as Yesterday"

Aug. 22
" As yesterday"

Aug. 23
" At 5 AM embarked for Paint River, with twenty seven Men in three Boats & one Canoe. Mr Howse with seven Men in a Boat will follow us to morrow for the South Branch."

Sept. 3 1808
" Arriv'd at the Steep Bank (Near Hudson House) here we found a Man & a Boy from Paint River waiting for us, with Horses, and had the Satisfaction to learn from them that they left all well at Paint River. A Blackfoot (who had been left by his relations for the purpose of cementing more firmly the Peace between them & the Crees) had it appears however been shot close to the Gates of the House by a young Cree, who immediately fled. This affair will not I hope lead to any unhappy Consequences this Fall, though it may probably occasion fresh Retaliations on the Crees hereafter. Several Tents of Crees are likewise at this Place but unable to furnish us with any Provisions."

Sept. 4
" Sent off the two Men of yesterday & the Horses, with an Iroquois to fetch Skins (as he says to the amount of 98 MB) which he has concealed in the Woods, the Men are to meet us again at an appointed Place that the Horses may furnish us with fresh meat."

Sept. 7
" Nine Canadian Canoes manned with 50 Men and having two Proprietors on board overtook us."

Sept. 9
" Found the Men of the 4th Inst. awaiting us with seventy Beaver skins & other Furs to the amount of 6 MB also a supply of fresh Buffalo Meat."

Sept. 14
" Early AM set off on Horseback for Paint River, about 3 PM arrived at the house & had the pleasure to find Mr Hallet & Men well. Seventeen Tents of Blackfoot have been tenting here several days & have behaved in the most friendly manner to Mr Hallet notwithstanding the late unfortunate accident; they however exprefs intentions of taking Vengeance on the Crees."

Sept. 15
" The Boats & Canoe arrived."

Sept. 16
" Employ'd forming an afsortment of Goods for this Place."

Sept. 17
" Sent off two Boats for Edmonton House.
Several Freemen arrivd with us at this place; these Men Wintered last year in the Red River, & traded with your Honors Servants from Albany. they now propose purchasing their supplies from us, if they can be afsur'd of receiving a fair price in Cash, for that part of their Beaver they may so wish to dispose of. This I have given them every reason to expect will be granted to them, & I have even promised to give some Bills on my own account for a part of their Hunt (if they require it) till the Determination of the Honble Committee on this point is decidedly known. As I so fully explained last year the Terms these Men receive for their Beaver from the NWC it is unnecefsary to add any thing on the Subject here."

Sept. 18
" Set off on Horseback for Edmonton House."

Sept. 23
" Arrived at Edmonton House & had the satisfaction to find Mr Whitford & Men well, tho' very poorly off for Provisions."

Sept. 24
" Several Blood Indians arrived, bringing us a most seasonable supply of Provisions, as there was not two days food in the House."

Sept. 25
" Mr David Thompson embarked this morning with ten Men in two Canoes very lightly laden for the west side of the Rocky Mountain."

Sept. 27
" The Boats arriv'd with every thing very safe."

Sept. 30
" Three of the Freemen before mentioned arrived (the rest remain with Mr Hallet) one of them has his Wife a Canadian Woman with him, who being unable to accompany her Husband in his Winter excursions, I have consented to entertain as a Lodger till his return."

Oct. 2 1808
" Several Blood Indians arriv'd with Provisions &c.
These People it appears from a variety of Accounts, & from Spoils now in their Pofsefsion, discovered in their Summer War excursions, on a southern branch of the Mifsifsoury two small Settlements which they plundered of Goods to a considerable amount, besides about 300 Beaver Skins. One of the Men belonging to these Settlements was killed & the rest (ten in number) after being stripped were permitted to escape - From some papers brought us by the Indians, the immediate? Traders seem to have been Canadians; but from the situation of the Houses, & from the American Colors which were taken from them, it is concluded that they must have been Subjects to the United States."

Oct. 12
" Several Sufsus arriv'd, most of the few? Beavers they have brought have been taken from the Settlements above mentioned, several of them are mark'd with the Initials of their former Owners (who we suppose to have been Freemen) Names."

Oct. 18
" A few Sufsus & Blood Indians arriv'd"

Oct. 19
" The Indians of yesterday traded & went away. They brought a few Beavers & a little Provisions. Sent a party of Men with an Indian on hunting towards the Red Deers River; also two Men to catch & collect Fish at the Gods Lake."

Oct. 23
" Several Sufsus & Blood Indians arriv'd bringing a few Beavers & a little Provisions."

Oct. 27
" The Men of the 19th arriv'd with the Meat of thirteen Cow Buffalo."

Oct. 29
" A few Muddy River Indians arrived - they have brought a few Beaver Skins."

Oct. 31
" A few Fall & several Muddy Indians arrived. The Fall Indians have likewise plundered a small American Settlement on the Mifsifsoury, & as they confefs themselves, killed two of the Men that belonged to it. Amongst other plunder they have brought us a rifle Gun which, on account of its weight they consider as of little Value."

Nov. 1 1808
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went away. we have received from them about 70 Beavers but most of them of a very inferior Quality."

Nov. 6
" A Band of Muddy River Indians arrived. In trading with these Indians we experience great Inconvenience from the very bad Quality & large size of our Tobacco. Our Neighbour has Tobacco of the very best Quality & of a size exactly suited to the Trade; eleven Feet of his weigh only 1 lb, whereas five Feet of ours make the same weight & as the Length is the principal Thing attended to by the Indians, we are under the Necefsity of selling this Article much cheaper than him, without deriving the least Advantage from it. The Badnefs of our Tobacco & its Largenefs have long been a Subject of Complaint, but never more deservedly than this Year, it resembles in Appearance a Bar of rusty Iron, & its Consistance may be compared to a decayed Cabbage Stock."

Nov. 7
" The Indians of yesterday went away. We have traded from them 76 Beavers, A Bear Skin & a few Musquashes."

Nov. 11
" A Band of Muddy River Indians arrived, & we had the Mortification to see (contrary to Custom) the greater share go to our Neighbours."

Nov. 12
" The Indians of yesterday traded & went away. We have received from them 86 Beaver Skins, 3 Bear Skins a few Musquashes & 3 Wolves. Tobacco is the principal Article they bought, & had not a part of our Brazil Tob. prove fortunately good, we should have found difficulty in satisfying them. Our Neighbour knows his Advantage & will avail himself of it to the utmost whenever a Beaver Skin is in Question. That these Remarks may not appear unworthy of Attention it is necefsary to be understood that the Muddy River Indians bring annually to the Honourable Company's Settlements upwards of 400 Beaver Skins & the greater part of the Bears carried from this place and that, to them, Tobacco is an Article of the very first Consideration, there is not any Thing we have they value so much, in short they are nearly as much devoted to smoaking as the Crees are to drinking. I know not whether the Tobacco called at the Factory, small Irish Roll would be too expensive in England to be used for the whole Expenditure of this River, but if not, am convinced that it would be the most proper both from its size & Quality (made up in Rolls of 90 lb each) for the trade."

Nov. 14
" The River froze over."

Nov. 16
" The Freeman whose Wife is our Lodger arriv'd with 60 Beaver Skins of sizes. These Skins he nearly owes me for Horses & other Necefsaries required for this part of the country & with which he was unprovided."

Nov. 21
" Sent three Men to the Gods Lake for Fish & others to the Hunters for meat."

Nov. 22
" Late in the Evening two Men arrived on Horseback from Paint River with the Letters from England, York Factory &c. The Canoe that brought them from the Factory was stopped by the Ice about sixty Miles below the Mouth of the South Branch from whence a Man convey'd the Packet on his Back to South Branch House & from that place they have been brought on Horseback."

" Copies of Letters from Mefs McNab & Auld
From Mr McNab
Dear Sir
I received your Letter of the 30th July: with you I trust the Inland houses are in little danger. you know it is impofsible to prevent accidents or command Succefs, in the latter case let us endeavour to deserve it, at this I believe you Aim.
You know my sentiments respecting the Rocky Mountain accord with yours; as our wishes depend on the aid of extra Men, they must remain unfulfilled.
In 1805 as many Labourers as your Honors pleased? was sent for, the number received was smaller still & Mr Geddes in June 1807 says Mr Lean writes thus' "YF does not appear so much in want of hands as the other Factories, but the Committee would have no objection to send 10 or 12 if it does not interfere withe the above proportion" The proportion was that YF should have 1/10 only of those procured.
Few among the most ignorant but are alive to their own Interest, & opportunities have occurred in the state of York for years past, we may have dreaded its evincement, the requests of several Servants now to be sent home point clearly the sense they have of the necefsity for their own service & this year again not one is received. I understand a great number is gone to Churchill where Mr Fidler now goes, & am in expectation of a few from thence this fall, as I think Mr Auld will not be ready for their employment, till one or two years preparations are effected. I have told him you will do all in your power to afsist him with Pemmecan for the prosecution of the Athapacow bufsinefs. The Honble Committee tell us the Kitt foxes sold well, you will therefore act discretionary in trading them, 30 for a B. is too many to hope for procuring a great number. Their Honors also say "The Executors of the late James Spence, has paid us his arrears & also £20 for the use of his Children"
If you can procure Canad'n Servants at a reasonable rate & think they will benefit the service you will use your endeavours therein. Their Honors say "We authorise you to give a Bounty according to your discretion but in no case exceeding 12 guineas to all our Servants not receiving more than £25 a year wages upon their entering a new Contract for 5 years". I need not tell you the delicacy of this trust & that it ought to be kept from the knowledge of the Men for some time at least, you will be guided by this incase absolute necefsity requires? & where a Man will not agree for 5 years, their Honors may permit a proportional part of the Bounty being advanced; thus instead of 12 Guineas for 5 years, to give 7 for 3 years.
These Men have as many of the articles you may desire as can be sent without prolonging their journey too much - The Committee has thought proper to make some return to the Indian Chief who sent them last year an Indian drefs, they send an excellent Gun of superior workmanship, which you will beg his acceptance of in their names & they hope it will excite him to hunt well & encourage his Tribe to follow his example.
In the 7th Particular of Gen'l Letter, their Honors say " We have determined to give the Bounties, Premiums &c to your Factory & its dependencies on the same plan as others, which we find happen to be more favoured in this respect & desire you will regulate it in future as follows
To Masters on Inland trades 1/.
- Afsistants ./6d
- Labourers ./3d P score? on their respective trades
This you will communicate accordingly."
I am
Dear Sir
Your very Hble Servant
John McNab
YFactory
30th August 1808"


" From Mr Auld
Mr James Bird
Sir
It is with much pleasure I learn by Mr Fidlers letter to me he was instructed by Mr McNab to afsure me of his willingnefs to supply our People from Cumberland House with Pemican. It is then my part to give you warning of our intentions, to take most thankfully the advantage of this offer. & I particularly beg to afsure you of the incalculable importance of such a supply. which is superfluous here to display. suffice to say our People from want of this & perhaps Canoes were unable to make their way to the place Mr Fidler had directed as proper for their establishment last year.
The readinefs & obliging manner in which for so many years you supplied us when at Ile a le Crofs leaves me in no doubt of the future, & as I have already proposed this very thing to the Honble Board, it will be highly pleasing to find you anticipate their wishes, or even their Orders. If you would overwhelm us with gratitude for real & important services, excuse me if I point out the way by obliging us with a Vehicle or Vehicles rather (denominated in this Country Canoes) to carry the Pimecan from Cumberland House next Spring, where I mean to order People to repair by the 25th May.
In the mean while I remain with best wishes for your Succefs & happinefs.
Your most Obedt. Servt
William Auld
Churchill Factory
6th August 1808."

Nov. 27
" Sent off the two Men who arrived from Paint River. Three Men arriv'd with 120 Tickemeg & these Men inform us that our Fishermen have caught about 1500."

Dec. 10 1808
" A band of Fall & another of Muddy River Indians arrived."

Dec. 11
" The Indians of yesterday traded & went away. Receiv'd from the two bands, 220 Wolves, 37? Beavers, 3 Bears, 12 Badgers & a few Musquashes."

Dec. 19
" Several Blood Indians arriv'd."

Dec. 22
" Sent eight Men with an Indian & Horses on a hunting party towards the buffalo Lake. Men arriv'd with the last of our Fish. we have receiv'd 2000 in all."

Jan. 2 1809
" Mr Hallet arriv'd on a visit from Paint River."

Jan. 5
" Sent four Men with Indians to fetch some Furrs."

Jan. 6
" Mr Hallet set off on his return to Paint River, Nine Men also for meat."

Jan. 7
" The Man that set off on hunting the 22d Ult. arriv'd & brought the meat of 5 Cows & 5 Bulls."

Jan. 13
" A Band of Fall Indians arriv'd."

Jan. 15
" The Indians of 13th Inst. went away. Traded from them 200 Wolves, 14 Beavers, a few red Foxes & a little dry Provisions. the Men of the 5th Inst. arrived with 700 Martins, 1 Bear, 3 Otters & only 5 Beavers."

Jan. 18
" Three Sufsew Indians arriv'd with a few Wolves. These People slept two nights on their way here & they tell us that the Buffalo were pretty numerous near their Tents."

Jan. 20
" Sent two Men with Horses & Sledges with the Sufsews of the 18th Inst. to try if a little meat can be got from their Pound, as we have no prospect of getting even a small Stock from any other Quarter, owing in some measure to the extraordinary depth of Snow.
The Men who set off the 6th Inst. arriv'd with the meat of six old Bulls, which is all they have been able to bring on Nine Horses, notwithstanding they have been nine Days coming from the Hunters Tent, - about the Distance of 60 Miles."

Jan. 22
" The Men that went away the 20th Inst. arrived having met a few Sufsews who told them that far from being able to furnish us with Meat, their Relations were all living on dry meat, Berries &c. The Sufsews also arrived."

Jan. 23
" Sent off eight Men with Dogs & Sleds for Meat."

Feb. 1 1809
" The Men of the 23d Ult. arrived with the Meat of 4 Bulls."

Feb. 3
" A Band of Fall Indians about forty Men arrived."

Feb. 5
" The Fall Indians traded & went away. Received from them 520 Wolves, 26 Beavers, 60 Badgers, 36 red Foxes, 160 Kitts & two large Bears."

Feb. 7
" Sent three Men with a Cree who arriv'd yesterday, for to fetch Furrs, also five for Meat. Three Blood Indian young Men arrived, sent by the Sufsews to inform us that they have got the Meat of 20 Cows on a scaffold for us."

Feb. 13
" A large Band of Blood Indians arrived."

Feb. 15
" The Indians of the 13th Inst. finished trading & went away. They brought us 538 Wolves, 30 Foxes, 220 Musquashes & 12 Beavers."

Feb. 16
" The Men of the 7th Inst. arrived with 300 Martins, 35 Beavers & 6 otters."

Feb. 18
" Sent fifteen Men with Horses & Dogs to the Sufsews Tents for meat, our Hunters being unable to furnish us with half the Quantity requisite."

Feb. 19
" Two Men arrived from Paint River, bringing part of the Articles brought by the Fall Canoe from YF.
An Exprefs likewise arrived at our Neighbours from Peace River, by which (he tells me) he is informed that a Mr Frazer with fourteen Men had in course of last Summer penetrated to the Southern Ocean, North of the Mouth of the Columbia; but that he found the Natives so unfriendly (having frequently owed his safety to his Number) & the Country in general so destitute of Beaver as to make him determine on relinquishing all their Settlements (in that Quarter) on the west side of the Rocky Mountain, & that accordingtly, all had returned last Autumn to Peace River."

Feb. 22
" Sent away the two Men that arrived from Paint Creek & by them a few Trading Articles that Mr Hallet is in want off."

Feb. 26
" Four of the Men who went off the 18th Inst. arrived & brought the meat of four Cow Buffalo. The rest of the Men are waiting at the Sufsew Tents till they can complete their Loadings."

Mar. 1 1809
" Sent one Man with an Indian that arrived yesterday to fetch Furrs."

Mar. 3
" The remaining eleven Men arrived from the Sufsew Tents with the meat? of sixteen Cow Buffalo."

Mar. 6
" The Man who set off the 1st Inst. arrived and brought about 176 MBeaver principally Martins. Eight Men set off to our Hunters for meat."

Mar. 7
" The eight Men of the 6th inst. arrived with the Meat of five Cow Buffalo. Notwithstanding every exertion it will be impofsible for us to procure a Sufficency of fresh Meat & there is no prospect of our being able to procure any considerable Quantity of dry Provisions, the great depth of snow having prevented the Slave Indians from pounding or running any great Number of Buffalo."

Mar. 18
" Nine Men arrived with the last of the Bulls Meat killed by our Hunters: should they meet with no more Succefs, I must be under the Necefsity of sending the greater part of our Men to Paint Creek to live till our Embarkation."

Mar. 20
" Sent eleven Men to fetch home Birchrind taken last summer, & also to endeavour to get a little more, that I may be able to furnish Mr Auld with the Canoes he requires, without distrefsing ourselves."

Mar. 22
" A Man arrived from our Hunters with the agreeable Intelligence of their having the Meat of sixteen Bulls for us. Bad as the Meat of these Animals now is, & far as it must be fetched; under the present Circumstances we are happy to be able to get it at any rate."

Mar. 23
" Eight of the Men that went off the 20th inst. arrived with all the Birchrind taken in the Summer. Three Men remained behind to endeavour to find & take off some more."

Mar. 25
" Several Crees arrived; the Three who remained to take Birchrind also, having been unable to find any fit for our purpose. Two Freemen also arrived."

Mar. 27
" The Indians of the 25th traded & return'd to their Tents. They brought us about five hundred Martins & five Beavers. Sent off 12 Men for Meat."

Mar. 28
" The Freemen of the 25th set off to make their Spring Hunt of Beaver in the Fighting River."

Mar. 29
" Sent off four to endeavour to get some Birchrind, one of the Freemen of yesterday having promised to conduct them to a place where plenty is to be had."

Apr. 3 1809
" Eight Men arriv'd with meat; several swampy ground Stone Indians also arrived."

Apr. 7
" The Stone Indians of 3d Inst. at length returned to their Tents after having been continually intoxicated, five succefsive days and Nights, We have traded from them five hundred Martins, 8 Beavers & a little Leather."

Apr. 8
" The Men of the 29th Ult. arrived with twenty fathoms of Birchrind only, which is all they have been able to find."

Apr. 14
" A few Muddy River Indians arriv'd."

Apr. 15
" The Indians of yesterday went away, & a Band of Blood Indians (eighteen Men) arriv'd - The River Ice broke."

Apr. 16
" The Blood Indians of yesterday traded & returned to their Tents. They brought a few Buffalo Hides and Musquashes with a little dry Meat."

Apr. 17
" Sent off four Men in a Boat loaded with 76 Packs of Furs & 180 Fathoms of Birchrind, for Paint River, where the Canoes are to be made."

Apr. 20
" Sent off three Men & an Indian to make another endeavour for a little Birchrind that I may be able to furnish Mr Auld without inconvenience to ourselves.
Perceiving that it will be impofsible for me to preserve a single Pound of tobacco at this place for the Summer, I have dispatched two Men on Horseback to Paint Creek with Orders to Mr Hallet to forward a Canoe expeditiously as pofsible to Cumberland House to fetch whatever Mr Sutherland can spare of this Article."

" Copy of a Letter to Mr Sutherland
Sir
Already short of Tobacco & without hopes of being able to save a single Pound for the Summer, I have ordered a Canoe to be dispatched immediately from Paint River to Cumberland to endeavour to obtain a supply from you. I know your Stock is small, but a single Roll will be of consequence to us & this I rely on you sending; therefore shall order Men & Horses to the Steep Bank, to meet those? three Men I conclude you will send up, & to convey what they may bring, to Paint Creek. Your Men will of Course return with us to Cumberland.
As I hope soon to have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall not trouble you with any particular News, but content myself with observing? generally that we are all well, & that considering the Times our Trade will be good.
I remain Sir
Yours &c
James Bird."

Apr. 21
" A large Band of Muddy River Indians, in which are forty-five Chiefs arrived; they seem to be loaded with Wolves; for which I know not how we are to satisfy them, as our Neighbour is entirely out of tobacco & we have only three Rolls."

Apr. 23
" The Indians of yesterday finished trading & went away. Immediately after their departure another Band equally large & equally loaded with Wolves arrived."

Apr. 24
" The Muddy River Indians traded & went away. Although they were obliged to take such articles as we had to give & principally Spirits, instead of those they Value Viz. tobacco and Ammunition, they still behaved extremely well & went off pretty well satisfied, telling us however that they expected we would furnish them more amply in future.
From the two Bands we have traded 1700 Wolves a few Bears & 50 Beavers, besides Hides Kitt Foxes & Provisions."

Apr. 25
" The Men who went away for Birchrind the 20th Inst. arrived & brought about forty Fathoms. On their way home these Men met five Stone Indians, who had seven Horses, stolen from the Crees at the House, with them; the Thieves avoided our Men a little & drove on homewards as hard as they could.
Several Crees arrived."

May 3 1809
" A large Band of Sufsees? arrived, who on account of our Neighbours being out of Tobacco, all came to us."

May 4
" The Sufsews of yesterday finished trading & went away. Notwithstanding we had a great deal of trouble in dealing with these from our having little besides Spirits to give them, they are gone off pretty well satisfied, indeed this Tribe of Indians are the best disposed, the Crees only excepted, towards the white People of any belonging to this Settlement."

May 12
" Sent off a small Boat, a Batteaux & a Canoe, together carrying one hundred & thirty Pieces & manned with nine Men for Paint River."

May 14
" Sent off five Men in a Boat loaded with 75 packs of Furs for Paint River, & soon set off myself on Horseback for the same Place. Mr Whitford I have left in Charge of Edmonton till Mr Howse; who I expect to meet at Paint River arrives."

May 18
" Arrived at Paint River & had the pleasure to find Mr Hallet well, as also to meet Mr Howse & to learn from this Gentleman, that nothing disagreeable had happened below. The Boat likewise arrived, but has unfortunately been broken & twenty six Bundles of Furs are wet, the opening, drying & repacking of which, will unavoidably lengthen our stay at this place."

May 21
" Embark'd for Cumberland House with eight Canoes, three large & one small Boat, together, manned with thirty one Men & carrying five hundred & forty Pieces, of 80 lbs Wt each consisting of Furs & Provisions &c."

May 31
" Arrived with every thing safe at Cumberland House & had the satisfaction to find Mr Sutherland & Men well, likewise to learn that the trade of Cumberland is much better than last year. Here also I had the pleasure to meet Mr Auld and Mr Fidler, who it appears have been awaiting our arrival at this place - several Days, for a supply of Provisions and Canoes."

June 1 1809
" Supplied Mr Auld with the full Quantity of Pemmecan he required, amounting to 3760 lbs Wt & two new large Canoes, with which he embark'd for Churchill River."

June 2
" Embark'd with six Canoes four large Boats and a small one, together carrying five hundred & twenty pieces for Oxford House. A Churchill Boat which is to convey Mr Fidler, by the way of York, to that Settlement embark'd also in company."

June 4
" Arrived at 1 PM at Moose Lake River & found here a Band of Indians who have been waiting our arrival in expectation of a Treat from me, after trading from them about 50 MB & in some measure fulfilling (as they deserve) their Hopes, we continued our Journey."

June 5
" Arrived at the Grand Rapid. Here we overtook Mr Kennedy from Swan River. His succefs in that Quarter is I am sorry to find by no means flattering; yet when the manner in which he has been opposed by the unprincipled Canadians is considered, fully as great as can be expected, nay it is more satisfactory than I could reasonably hope, for I was told last Winter by Hughs (the NW proprietor at Edmonton) that Mr McDonald (Mr Kennedy's opponent) had sworn to their Agents that he would prevent the English from making any thing at Swan River, or never return to Lake Superior, & that the first mark of his rancour had already appeared (which is now confirmed, your Honors Servants having been obliged, to cut a new road last August) in blocking up as effectually as pofsible the road acrofs the Long Carrying place. - Perhaps it may not be thought quite foreign to the Subject, or appear over officious in me, induced as I am to do it by no other motive, than what naturally arises from a desire of seeing the Company's Affairs prosper, if I relate the particulars of an action similar to this, & executed likewise by a NW Proprietor - Two years ago some Merchants of Canada sent up four Canoes, loaded with Goods &c with a view to trying their fortune in this Country; Know the real Character of the NW Company & consequently apprehending every Outrage from them, they instructed the Servants whom they intrusted with the Charge of their Property, how to act under every pofsible Emergency, & ordered them, whenever sufficient reason for justifying such Conduct should appear, to leave their Goods in the Woods, & return as expeditiously as pofsible to Montreal. To avoid as much as in their power giving opportunities for Insult, those? Canoes had intended to pafs by the way of the old (& now deserted) Grand Portage; but the NWC hearing of their intention dispatched a number of Men to the place & caused the Road to be effectually blocked up. The Adventurers in consequence left their Goods on the spot where they had been landed & all returned to their Masters by whom a prosecution was immediately commence'd against the NWC from which a favourable result was so certainly forseen that, to avoid public disgrace, or more probably heavy Damages, the Defendants thought themselves fortunate in being able to settle the Affair in a private Manner. - This I learnt from a NW Proprietor. But to return from this Digrefsion - Knowing the Desperate Character of McDonald I had every reason to think, that he would go the utmost Lengths to fulfill this gloomy promise to his worthy Afsociates, & it now appears that amongst many other unjustifiable Actions, he has not scrupled to commit an open downright Robbery on one of your Honors Servants, who was quietly conveying home a few Furs, which he had fairly purchased from an Indian, in the presence of one of this Agrefsors own Men.
Though I acknowledged that it is not directly my businefs to interfere in this Affair, yet conceiving that it cannot be too much prefs'd on your Honors Attention & conscious of the purity? of my Motives I hope to be excused if I here give a simple Narration of the Fact as relat'd to me by Mr Kennedy.
Hugh Sabbiston had been in company with one of Mr McDonalds Men to an Indian Tent to trade Furs, the Indian being better disposed towards him, than towards his Companion, gave him the greater proportion of his Hunt, though each had a part. The Canadian perhaps secretly picqed? at the succefs of his Rival, returned home the most expeditiously & informed his Master of the circumstances, which so enraged McDonald that, immediately afsembling his Men he exclaimed, Have I no Servants sufficiently interested & spirited to go & take by Force those Skins of which the English have deprived us. The Hatred borne him by his Men occasioned, it is said, a Hesitation which would not otherwise have appeared; two Rascals however soon jumped up & set off to fulfill the Desires of their Master. On meeting Hugh who had arrived by this time, within a few yards of his own Door, they suddenly snatched his Gun out of his Hand, threw it to a distance & by superiority of Numbers & Strength deprived him of fifteen Beaver Skins, which he had peaceably obtained & carried a long Distance on his Back.
That such Actions as them should be committed and repeated with Impunity, must be painful to every lover of Justice; but the full Extent of their discouraging Effect on the Minds of your Honors Servants, is known only to those who have suffered such Insults, or have been Eye witnefses of the Mortification of others. What, latterly?, save the continued Insults & Agrefsions of the Canadians has prevented your Honours from sharing advantageously at this Day in the lucrative Northward Trade.
Men would readily, for adequate Reward, have borne the Toils of the Journey & the Deprivations they might have experienced in Winter; but to endure, without hope of redrefs, the continual Insults of depraved Canadians was too mortifying a Condition for any Man however hardened by Poverty or devoted to Gain, to put up with; & the NWC are too sensible of the Truth of this Observation, ever, without powerful Reasons, to depart from a System of Conduct, which has procured them such unspeakable Advantages.
Were our Numbers equal to theirs or even nearly so, it might be expected that we should oppose Force to Force & we might with Justice be accused of a want of Spirit in tamely submitting to Insults, which a becoming resolution would prevent. But under the unequal Terms on which we generally Meet Viz. in the proportions of one to three what can be done: unlefs we should disregard all laws human & divine. The Robbery above related, took place before Mr Kennedys arrival at Swan River, he however made it his Businefs to demand the Skins of Mr McDonald & his Reasons for taking them, but received for an Answer, that the Indian to whom these Skins originally belonged owed him an old Debt, & till this was paid in full he would never think of returning them. - Here of course the Matter rests."

June 15
" Arrived without experiencing any Occurrence of consequence at Trout River where we had the pleasure to find Mr Sinclair well & to hear agreeable news from York Factory."

June 16
" Embark'd with Mr Kennedy & eight Men in two Canoes for Hill River House."

June 18
" Arrived at the Mouth of Hill River & had the satisfaction to find Mr McNab in good Health."

June 22
" Six Canoes which I left at Oxford House arrived and brought 108 Packs of Furs."

June 23
" Mr McNab embark'd for York Factory & a few Hours after he departed, a Boat arrived from thence with Goods."

June 24
" Eight Canoes carrying 160 Pieces of Goods embark'd for Swampy Lake at which place they will meet Boats laden with Furs, exchange Cargoes with them, & return to this place."

June 28
" Three Canoes arriv'd from Oxford House with fifty four Bundles of Furs."

June 30
" The Canoes of the 28th set off loaded with sixty pieces of Goods."

July 1 1809
" Two small Boats arrived from the Factory with Trading Goods Provisions &c"

" Copy of a Letter from Mr McNab
Dear Sir
You will receive by these Boats part of additional requests, the state of our Stores will not admit a full compliance - if there is any extra Men on hand I shall be glad of their Aid here, as I dread a large & small Boat will be necefsary for the conveyance of remaining consignments.
I have the greatest confidence in your regulation of the Businefs - Mr Bunn will ever attend to the method you advise for a final completion.
I am
Dear Sir
Your very Hble Servt.
John McNab
YFactory
28th June 1809"

" Copy of a Letter to Mr McNab
Dear Sir
The Boats arrived with evey thing very safe on the 1st Inst.
Mr Bunn being of oppinion, in which I fully concur, that to convey all the Furs &c from hence with Convenience & Dispatch, two Trips of the large Boat are Requisite, she is accordingly sent. That her Loading might be complete, we have been under the Necefsity of detaining the Men a Day to await the Arrival of the Canoes from Swampy Lake which have been much detained in course of their Voyage by stormy Weather.
We have not a single Man unemploy'd, nor even one that can be spared from his present Employment or of course they would be sent.
So far all has gone on as we could wish; tomorrow, as my presence is now quite unnecefsary here I intend embarking for Oxford House, with a view of settling a few small affairs, which will hasten the departure of the Boats from thence, & I have Confidence in hoping that all Businefs will be eventually concluded in a satisfactory Manner, with Care, Harmony & Expedition.
I am
Dear Sir
Your Obedt.
Hble Servt.
James Bird."

July 3
" Eight Canoes arrived from Swampy Lake with 144 Packs of Furs."

July 4
" A large & small Boat conveying together 218 Packs of Furs embark'd for York Factory."

July 5
" Embark'd with eight Canoes, loaded with Trading Goods &c."

July 11
" Arrived, after having been detained two whole Days by bad Weather, at Swampy Lake, & soon after us the Boats from Oxford House arrived, with the remainder of the Furs."

July 12
" Sent off nine Canoes with all the Furs for the Mouth of Hill River & soon after embark'd with the Boats for Oxford House."

July 15
" Arrived at Oxford House with every thing in good Condition."

July 18
" Employ'd selling Men their Supplies for the Winter - repacking &c."

July 20
" Sent away twenty Men in two large Boats, heavily laden, to proceed on, easily, as far as the Grand Rapid, at which place they are to await the remaining Boats, hasten them over that Carrying place, & then proceed in Company to Cumberland."

July 22
" Nine Canoes arrived lightly loaded, with the last of the Goods, Provisions &c, from the Mouth of Hill River."

July 24
" Employ'd selling Men their Winter Supplies afsorting Goods &c."

July 25
" Settled with the Men & completed all preparations for the Departure of the Boats to morrow.
Copies of Letters to Mefs Howse, Hallet & Sutherland.
To Mr Howse
Dear Sir
You will herewith receive an adequate Supply of Trading Goods &c &c, and a sufficient Number of Men for every Requisite Undertaking.
As You are accquainted with the Nature & Extent of the Honble Company's Concerns at Edmonton, & as I have already given you every Information that I could conceive to be requisite, I shall add nothing further on the Subject than to say that I have the utmost Confidence in your Zeal & Ability, and to wish that your Exertions may meet with the Succefs I know they will Merit.
You may tell the Freemen, that in the Fall we expect to be able to inform them decisively of the Consent of the Honble Committee to pay them in Cash for a part of their annual Hunts of Beaver.
I remain Sir
Yours &c
James Bird
PS My Compliments to Mr Whitford."

To Mr Hallet
Sir
Mr Garrioch? in pafsing will deliver You an ample Supply of Trading Goods &c &c as pr Acct. inclosed, to which is added the Names of the Men, who are to remain with you.
Your Goods will be all separately pack'd, little Time will consequently be required, to land them from the Boats, which should be dispatched for Edmonton as expeditiously as pofsible, that they may arrive there early enough for the accomplishing any new Undertaking our Opponents may render necefsary.
In dealing with the Freemen, you can abide as nearly as pofsible by the plan I proposed to you last Spring, & you may tell them (if necefsary) that we hope to be able to tell them in the Fall, that the Honble Committe has authorized the Chief a York to pay them Cash for a part of their Beaver Skins.
I am too sensible of your being fully adequate to the Management of the Honble Companys Concerns at Paint River to think any particular Directions from me Necefsary, therefore have little more to add, than a Desire that you exert yourself as usual, & to wish that your Exertions may be succefsful.
Horses & Men as pr list inclosed. You will send down to meet the Fall Canoes at the Steep Bank, at which place you will direct them to arrive by the 8th of October at farthest.
I remain Sir
Your humble Servant
James Bird."

" To Mr Sutherland
Sir
The Bearer of this. John Park, has charge of the Boats & their Cargoes from hence, & I have no doubt of your receiving every thing very safe.
I have settled the Men & the exact Quantity of Trading Goods, intended for each Settlement, as pr Acct inclosed: You will therefore have no farther Trouble than to forward all to their appointed Destinations.
With regards to the immediate Concerns of Cumberland my Confidence in you leaves me nothing further to add than my Wishes for your Succefs.
I remain Sir
Your humble Servant
James Bird"

July 26
" Nineteen Men in two Boats laden with Trading Goods &c embarked for Cumberland House Mr Kennedy likewise, with one small Boat and a Canoe, set off in company for Swan River."

July 28
" Embarked with Mr Sinclair and Men in two Canoes for York Factory."

Aug. 2 1809
" Arrived at York Factory."



1M49 B.60/a/8

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