" A Sketch of the principal Occurrences &c at Saskatchewan Factory Commencing August 14th 1811 and Ending July 27th 1812 by James Bird."

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Aug. 14 1811
" A Mr McDonald, a Proprietor of the NWCompany with two Clerks, and thirty Men in five Canoes pafsed by us, bound, as he tells me, for the Country West of the Rocky Mountain. Mr McDonald during his short stay with us informed me that he is determined in following the same Route taken by Mr Howse last Year; whatever may be the Consequence, as the pafs? through the Mountain explored last Winter by Mr Thompson is attended with too many Difficulties to admit of their pursuing the Trade with Succefs by that Quarter: he told me also that the NWC had at last come to a determination to send a Ship round to the Mouth of the Columbia, and that the East India Company have agreed to accommodate them in their future Intercourse with China by bringing? for them such Merchandize as they may want from England, & by receiving from them, at the Current prices, all the produce of China that they may receive in exchange for their Furs. Time will disclose the Truth of all this, but the magnitude of the present Outfit sufficiently demonstrates that the NWC consider the Country bordering on the Sources of the Columbia, of no mean Value: they will now? have upwards of fifty Men there."

Aug. 16
" Arrived at Cumberland House and had the pleasure to find Mr Sutherland well."

Aug. 17
" Continued our Voyage towards Carlton House."

Sept. 1 1811
" Arrived at Carlton House and had the pleasure to find Mr Pruden well, and to hear that all at the upper Settlements are in the same State."

Sept. 2
" Employed opening Bales &c and collecting a proper Afsortment of Goods for this place."

Sept. 3
" Sent off a Man and an Indian on Horseback with Letters to Mr Howse, in which I have desired him to meet us near old Manchester House, in the vicinity of which place it is rumoured that our Opponents intend forming a Settlement."

Sept. 4
" Took leave of Mr Pruden and continued our Voyage up the River."

Sept. 12
" Met Mr Howse and encamped together. It appears that Mr McDonald with his whole Retinue and all the spare Men he could collect in this River, are actually going to crofs the Mountain and by the old Route. - It has been whispered by some of Mr McDonalds Men that a large Party of Americans have taken pofsefsion of the NWC Store Houses at Lake Superior, but the present Adventure? seems, sufficiently, to prove the falsehood of this Report."

Sept. 13
" Left Mr Howse, with two Boats, to send a few Men with a small Afsortment of Goods to make a temporary Settlement near Turtle Lake (in the Neighbourhood of which place we have been led to think that there are still a few Beaver) after having done which he is to proceed on with one Boat and reoccupy Old Paint Creek House, as it is a Settlement that the Indians are much attached to, and well situated for our procuring the Additional Quantity of dry Provisions now required. - Continued our Voyage towards the Factory."

Sept. 21
" Arrived at the Factory and had the Satisfaction to find all well as well as to hear that the Indians have made tolerable summer Hunts of Swans."

Sept. 22
" Employed forming and packing up a proper Afsortment of Goods for Acton House."

Sept. 23
" Sent off ten Men in a large Boat (carrying a proper Quantity of Goods for Acton, and Little White Mud, Houses), for Acton House, the Charge of which place I have again given to Wm Flett Sen. and I have no doubt of his fulfilling the Duties of his Situation satisfactorily."

Sept. 25
" Send off Mr John Park (whom I found in charge of this place) to go and take charge of the Settlement made at Turtle Lake. He takes with him a few Articles of Stores &c required at that place and Paint Creek."

Sept. 27
" Two Tents of Sufsew Indians arrived they have brought nothing of Consequence and inform us that there are no Buffalo in the Neighbourhood."

Sept. 29
" Several Cree Indians, who have been tenting near the Factory ever since & before my Arrival moved off for their Winters Quarters."

Oct. 2 1811
" Mr Hughes, the principal Proprietor of the NWC in this River arrived on Horseback: He left his Canoes (twelve in number) a little below Battle River. Mr Hughes informs me that he was attacked on his way up the River by a large Band of Stone Indians who fired several Shots at his Canoes and wounded a Woman; his Men returned the Fire but with what Effect is unknown & the Indians at length retreated and allowed them to continue their Voyage without further Molestation. This Attack of the Indians was as unprovoked as unexpected, the only immediate Cause to which Mr Hughes can attribute it, is his Men's not going a shore immediately on being desired to do so by the Indians. These Indians have long beheld with a difsatisfied Eye, the Goods annually carried through their Country for a supply principally as they suppose, for their Enemies; and we are therefore not without some apprehension of their making some serious Attempt to plunder us or at least to prevent our pafsing by them hereafter."

Oct. 5
" A Man arrived from the Settlement at little White Mud, he brings no News of Importance."

Oct. 7
" A Canadian Canoe having the Woman wounded by the Stone Indians on board arrived. it is thought she will recover."

Oct. 8
" Eleven Canadian Canoes manned by fifty six Men arrived. - It? is the Value that Buffalo Robes and drefst Moose Skins are of to them that induces them to employ so many Canoes and Men on this River. They carry out annually on Average to the Value of 1000 £ in these two Articles."

Oct. 10
" Seven Canadian Canoes embarked, five of them carrying twelve pieces of 90 lbs each are destined for Acton House; the Remaining two, for Little White Mud, but if the Weather does not change soon they will not be able to proceed far by Water."

Oct. 11
" It has been reported privately by Mr Hughes Men that their late Arrival has been occasioned by the Detention for a considerable Time, of the Vefsel which the NWC have on Lake Superior at the Fall of St Marey, loaded with the principal Articles required in the Trade of this River, and particularly Spirits. They add that Mr McGilvarey, the Agent, was obliged to set off from Fort William and by pecuniary Sacrifices obtain the Liberation of the Vefsel. It is also reported that the Americans seized on eighty Packs of furrs which the NWC had procured on the borders of Lake Superior. - Mr Hughes says, that their late Arrival was occasioned by a Mistake of their Agents in loading the Vefsel her first Trip with such Articles as were not required till She could make a second, which obliged him to remain at their Store House till the Vefsel arrived a second time. He denies likewise the Americans having seized their Furrs; but I am notwithstanding inclined to think that the Report is not altogether without Foundation in Truth."

Oct. 12
" Sent off two Lads with seven Horses to go down to Carlton House, there to await the Arrival of the Fall Exprefs from YF and to afsist in bringing it up to this place."

Oct. 13
" Sent off Mr McFarlane for the Little White Mud, to give the Indians of that place their Debts, take an Inventory of the Goods in the House &c.
The Canadian Canoes are stopped by the Ice a little below old Edmonton House. - The Boat bound for Acton House is, I fear. also stopped short of its Destination."

Oct. 15
" A few Sufsews arrived, but they appear to have brought nothing, and say that they have not been able to find buffalo tho they have travelled far thro' the plains in search of them with a View of making dry Provisions: They have subsisted lattery entirely on Moose and Red Deer."

Oct. 18
" The River froze over. - Thrashed a little Wheat which grew in our Garden, from three Quarts of Seeds given me by Mr Hughes we have only obtained about four Gallons, and the Grain of this is so small and unripe as to be thought unfit for seed; but the past Season has been particularly unfavorable for Gardens, the Spring was uncommonly late, the first part of the Summer remarkably dry, the latter as much too Rainy, which, with the earlinefs of the Fall has prevented the Barley even from Ripening, so that notwithstanding the Failure of this first Attempt I think there is little Room to doubt that, in a favorable Season, Wheat will grow here in perfection. - Of Potatoes we have about 100 Bushels of an inferior Quality."

Oct. 26
" A few Sufsews arrived."

Oct. 27
" The Indians of yesterday traded and went awsay. They brought 14 large and 8 small Beavers."

Oct. 28
" The River Ice broke and drifted away leaving however great Quantities on the Shores."

Oct. 31
" Late in the Evening four Men, of the Crew of the Boat which went off for Acton House, arrived: The Boat was stopped by the Ice about twenty Miles below the House from whence they were obliged to transport the Goods on Horses, which has occasioned the long Absence of these Men. - Wm? Flett sends me no News of Importance; he has seen no Indians lately and cannot consequently form any good Idea of Trade.
Sent off one Man to little White Mud House with a supply of Ice Chisels, several Indians whom we expected here having arrived at that Place."

Nov. 2 1811
" Sent away two of the Men who arrived from Acton House to go down to Paint Creek at which place they are to pafs the Winter."

Nov. 3
" The two Lads I sent down to Carlton House arrived. Mr Pruden informs me that the River froze over there the 20th Ult. that on the 24 no News had reached him and he therefore concluded that the Exprefs could not have been far on this side Cumberland when stopped by the Ice. Two Men arrived also from Paint Creek for a few Articles required at that place."

Nov. 5
" Sent back to Paint Creek the Men who arrived from that place & by them the Goods they were sent for."

Nov. 7
" Two young Indian Men arrived from Acton House: These Lads inform me that a party of six Canadians, whom Mr McDonald had sent before him, on Horseback to make Canoes at the west side of the Portage in the Rocky Mountain, were there surprized by a Band of Muddy River Indians consisting of twenty four Men who stripped and plundered them of every thing they had, and beat them severely with their Bows, but spared their Lives. Mr McDonald fortunately soon after met those Men and saved them from the Miseries which their naked situation exposed them to. - Mr McDonald and his Party it appears found, owing perhaps to their Numbers, no Enemy to interupt them, and when the above Lads left them, were ready to embark on the Coottahna River, though, in all probability, the Weather will have prevented his proceeding far by Water."

Nov. 15
" A Man arrived from Little White Mud House with Letters from Mr Wm Flett Master of Acton House, in which he requests a Reinforcement of Men on Account of the Menaces of the Indians of that Quarter. - He says that the Muddy River Indians sent, lately, Young Men to his House, and to his Neighbours, to inform them that the Blood Indians were determined on attacking both Houses, on Account of a Defeat they had lately received from an Enemy who was afsisted by White Men, and to charge them in Consequence to be prepared to defend themselves. Information to the same Effect has likewise been received by my Neighbour from his Afsociate (who is opposed to Wm Flett) who, thinking it pofsible that the Blood Indians may have had a Skirmish with Mr McDonald and Party, seems to place no small Degree of Confidence in the Warning he has received. - It would certainly be imprudent to neglect entirely the friendly Intimations of a Tribe of Indians who profefs more than common Attachment to us it must however be considered that they are themselves secretly irritated against the Canadians in particular for crofsing the Mountains; not that they are without Doubt, actuated by a Desire to enhance the Value of their own Conduct by Misrepresentations of that of their Neighbours: indeed we have of late been so pestered with these Threatenings of savage Vengeance that it is become impofsible to attach much Belief to them, and we find it our best ? to make the Indians perceive that, although we are on peaceable Intentions some? amongst them?, we are neverthelefs prepared, and have Confidence in being able to defend Ourselves should they force us to so unwished for Situation as to render this Measure Requisite?."

Nov. 17
" Sent Mr McFarlane and two Men to Little White Mud House, from which place the latter are to proceed on to the Afsistance of Mr Wm Flett at Acton House."

Nov. 23
" A Canadian arrived at my Neighbours from Paint Creek: He brings me a Letter from Mr House, from which I have the Mortification to learn that the small Settlement we had made at Turtle Lake, with a View of drawing a few Indians into the Woods to kill the few Beaver which are in that Neighbourhood, had been totally deserted by the Natives who, after making fair promises, and receiving small Credits, are all gone off to the plains and will consequently kill no other Furs than a few Wolves."

Nov. 30
" A Canadian arrived at my Neighbour from Rocky Mountain House; and by him we have the Satisfaction to hear that several Indians have been at Acton House and behaved themselves much better than expected."

Dec. 9 1811
" A hunting Party of Canadians arrived at my Neighbours, after an Absence of twelve Days, with the Meat of six Old Bulls - the best they have been able to find."

Dec. 18
" Mr John Park, late Master of the Settlement we had made at Turtle Lake and which he abandoned agreeably to Instructions I had given him, arrived to go and take Charge of Little White Earth House. He informs me that, the Day before his Departure from Paint Creek, the Stone Indians stole seven Horses belonging to that Settlement. - If it was pofsible for us to do without Horses entirely we would much rather adopt the Expedient than be continually harafsed by the Depredations of these insatiable Villains; but this cannot happen at Settlements of long standing where Animals are seldom to be found near, and never during the Summer Season; at such places without Horses, Men could do little other Duty than fetch Meat."

Dec. 19
" A Young Lad, a Freeman, arrived from Acton House: He is sent by Wm Flett who is still, as I think, too Apprehensive of some hostile Attempt being made by the Indians on his House.
An Indian arrived from the Beaver Hill: his hunt consists of twenty three large and eleven small Beavers."

Dec. 21
" Sent a Man with the Indian of the 19th to fetch his and his Tentmates Furrs."

Dec. 23
" The Man above arrived with fifty Beavers, large & small, the Hunts of two Men."

Dec. 29
" Two Men arrived from York Factory which place they left the 17th of September; they were stopped by the Ice at Cedar Lake, from whence they with Difficulty walked to Cumberland House, and from this place they travelled on the River to Carlton House where they took Horses and came through the plains to this place. - The Ship not having arrived at York at so late a Date as the Time of their Departure from that place, is rather an alarming Circumstance and in the uncertainty of the ultimate Event I feel myself at a considerable Lofs how to act, relying however on the Vigilance and Foresight of Mr Auld I have confidence in expecting as early as pofsible decisive Information and am not without Hopes of having my Anxiety agreeably removed."

Dec. 30
" Two Men arrived from Little White Earth House, the Indians of which place appear to be doing very little indeed. they can find no Beaver and Martins appear to be as scarce, in all Directions, as last Year. This sudden and total Disappearance of the Martins is a Circumstance, to us, perfectly unaccountable, and seems to have arisen from no partial Cause, as they have abandoned too great an extent of Country to have been exposed in all Parts of it to any one Scourge of Nature."

Jan. 4 1812
" Sent off Mr John Park to go up to Little White Earth House to take Charge of that Settlement."

Jan. 5
" Three Sufsew Indians arrived, they have brought only 4 Wolves, and say, that they have been unable to find Cows, though they have ranged over a large Extent of Country in search of them, that Wolves are consequently scarce and that, from the want of Snow, they are unable to run the few that are to be found, so that in all probability this will be as poor a Season both for Wolves and Provisions, as the last, but from exactly opposite Causes viz. the uncommonly mild Winter and shallownefs of the Snow, In extraordinary warm Winters, such as the present, the Buffalo generally remain in the Large Plains at and beyond the south Branch River, and the Indians can do too well without any considerable Supplies from us, to be at the trouble of carrying any great Quantities of Wolves or Provisions, such a Distance, to trade."

Jan. 10
" Sent off two Men for Paint River with Letters to Mefs House and Pruden desiring them if they have not already received further, and conclusive, Intelligence from York Factory, to send two Men to Cumberland House or Swan River, at either of which place, I think, decisive News of the Fate of the Ship must eir this have been received."

Jan. 13
" Two Indians arrived from the Woods; they are come from the principal Band belonging to this House, consisting of seven Men, whose Hunts I am sorry to find are wretched beyond example, amounting to no more than 45 MB."

Jan. 15
" Sent two Men with the Indians of the 13th inst. to fetch the few Skins they have got."

Jan. 16
" Two free Canadians arrived: These two Men have Furrs to the Amount of near 600 MB (their Hunts of two Years) collected at the Red Deer Lake, and they are come here to dispose of them if we can agree on Terms."

Jan. 17
" In settling Terms with the Freemen for their Furrs I have been under the Necefsity of offering them 12 Livres pr lb for their seasonable Beaver and this I have been principally obliged to by the Situation in which their Furrs are, that is, exactly in the Road? of Mr McDonald the NW Proprietor at Slave Lake, who has already offered this price for their Beaver, but who would not sell them Goods quite so cheap as they receive them from us."

Jan. 18
" The two Men of the 10th inst. arrived with the few Skins they had gone for: The two Men I sent to Paint Creek arrived also and agreeable surprized us by the Delivery of Letters from Europe and York Factory which informed us of the safe arrival, at the last mentioned Place, of the Companys Ships."

" Copies of Letters received from Mr Auld
York Factory Sept. 24th 1811
Mr James Bird
Sir
I received yours of the 9th Ult. which gave great Satisfaction from the safe Return of Mr Howse and Party, which was also increased by the Succefs which attended him. I feel with You in the Mortification arising from that Danger which I sincerely sympathize with him for braving, and untill we have had a little Time to pour the Balm of Oblivion over the past, I will join with You and concede to another Year the Resumption of that Undertaking which imperious Necefsity will however force us to defer. - To this Moment no appearance of the Ship has gladdened our prospects, and Captain Taylor is busily employed in getting ready for England, and he will sail next Week. At no former Year could we have sustained this Privation with any prospect of comfortably surviving the Year round. we can now however, thank God, feel no other Regret than the want of our Letters from our Friends and no other Fears than for the Fate of the Ships and their Crews, with the Lofs? of the property? embarked while we confefs much uneasinefs will arise from taking Care of so many Furs again in a damp Factory. - This alone will render unnecefsary any Reply to your Letter and of course another Year will, at least ?, after this, before any Attempt can be made by us for extending our Trade. I could earnestly desire we may be enabled to keep what we now have. Short sighted Creature as I am, I had ventured last Year to think that our Affairs could feel no addtional prefsure; and little did it ever enter into my Calculations that the Declension of our Sun was to become so extreme as it now threatens to be. - For some time past we have been the Sport of Fortune, and it requires fully as much Faith as falls to the Share of NWesters to hope we shall be other, at least soon. - Being thus incapable of undertaking the Expedition this Year, from want of Hands, the lefs Cause have we to regret the Deficiency of Country Provisions You speak of.
It properly becomes me here to notice the Affair of Mr Hallett who has, as I learn, gone over to the Canadians, as You as well as himself had informed me during the Summer; Your Words are, after announcing his Departure the 24th May last. " I am afraid his lofs may be of some Consequence"; and he dwells simply on one of my Exprefsions to You last Fall as justificatory of his declining to wait the Honble Committee's Pleasure; it was he says, that the Company could never feel the lofs of one, two, or three of their best Servants. - Had he left out the word best the Quotation, as far as it goes, I acknowledge is correct: Best You remember well and common Sense will readily admit the reasonablenefs of my afserting that the Quotation on the face of it bears every trace of Incorrectnefs. I now supply the Deficiency. When You and others inconsistently petitioned for the Committee's forgivenefs of him and seized? his Abilities as a Trader, I did say that the Company could never feel the Lofs of one, two or three of their Servants who like him had disgraced their Service by an infamous, cool? deliberate and most impolite Murder; I might have said ten, twenty or thirty with equal propriety. - I had heard from several Quarters partial relations of the Affair; I enquired of You, and You gave me the most distinct, open, and satisfactory Relation that ever was delivered, and so sompletely satisfied were Mr Thomas and Mr Cook with it that they refused to sign the Petition in his Favour which was sent to the Honble Committee, tho' they had signed the Copy which was previously written?, and is now before me. You know during the Remainder of your Stay at YF I was deluged with Importunities in his Favor. I had conceived it my Duty in the exprefs Letter of the ? Instructions to suspend him from duty untill the Committee's Pleasure could be known; but willing to make the thing lefs disagreeable to him, I commifsioned You to tell him privately that, if he loved the Society of his Fasmily he would be wise not to come down to the Factory. In my Situation this might, perhaps, be construed to my Disadvantage; but I am myself a Parent and it was not my purpose to drive Matters to Extremities, tho' I thought then and do still think that a more horrid and unwise Deed was never committed by a rational Being. - You related in the simplest, yet terrifying manner the pains taken by the poor deceased Relations to rouse? the Vengeance of the other Natives; You remember the trembling Anxiety with which You waited here last Ship Time for Letters from the Saskatchewan to declare the State of the Natives there: Nor have I forgotten the infamous and treacherous Behaviour of a party of some of the people that same Year I think, who, after a parley and friendly parting with some of the Natives did, in a few Minutes after, turn and fire several Balls at the astonished Savages infinitely more civilized than their brutal & christian Afsailants. Neither have I forgotten your own and Peoples Danger who past thro' the Relations of the murdered Indian on your way to the House, who had not yet heard of his Fate else no Question but ample Vengeance would have been taken on the Innocent. You arrived only two or three Days after and where was the Necefsity for such precipitate Responsibility as Mr Hallett rushed into; Your Arrival was hourly expected and here the haughtiest Aspirant might have deferred to his superior Officer. - It was not untill some Days after your Arrival, that on finding You by no means approving his Conduct, that the long forgotten Affair of Wm Walker's Murder was conjured up; it has performed its puppet shew on the Carpet, but now another has just made its Appearance (with the Comet? perhaps) and he now says that the Deceased was also the Murderer of John Richards a Servant of the Co. (he should have said, of the Canadian Co.); it is ominous to mention the Death of a run away Servant of ours, and perhaps Mr Hallett may himself receive from Vengeance what Justice more properly ought to dispense to such a cold blooded and deliberate Murderer which You, I and every one in this Service, but his miserably deluded Men, most sincerely and truly believe him to be. - As for myself I never saw Mr Hallett, I never had the slightest Correspondence with him nor could have the shadow? of Dislike to him: I understand he was liked by the Natives, I heard he was a pleasant Man and dearly loved his Family. none of these could sway me to injure him, yet none of these could sway me to pafs over his deadly Crime. It was not for me to punish, but it was mine, it was yours, it was every human Beings Duty to shew our Abhorrence of his Crime, perpetrated too with such signal Marks of Ferocity as could have entered no Mind but that dead to the Feelings of Humanity. It is a horrible Blot that I thank God our energetic Vindication has in a great Degree erased, and had I done lefs my Conscience afsures me I never could have had Peace or Satisfaction hereafter. - Why is it necefsary to make so long a Vindication it may be asked, it is because some in our Service, having lost or forgotten the Duty they owe to God and their fellow Creatures, have permitted themselves to draw a Line of Distinction between a White and a Coloured Man. But let them know that with their Maker their is no Distinction of Colour, and deeply imprefs on the Minds of those whom Providence has placed under your Direction that, the Children of all Colours are lighted up with the same glorious spark emanating from the same Almighty Source.
I ought to have observed too that the Deceased could not have been the Murderer of Wm Walker else he never would have put himself in the Hands of the English People; Besides no one ever meant to revenge Wm Walkers Death no Offers were made to apprehend his Murderer, no Instructions were left by You; nor no Authority could be delegated by You to an Inferior, and no Motive of Rivalship could justify the Necefsity for the Canadians joining our desperate and inexorable Band in punishing an Indian for killing two of our Servants.
This and other Papers will be forwarded to You by an Exprefs from Cumberland House that You may as soon as pofsible take the necefsary Measures to counteract any unpleasant Consequences arising from the non-arrival of the Ship.
I am Sir
Your most Obedt. Servant
William Auld."

" York Factory Sept. 28th 1811
Mr James Bird
Sir
Leave as few Men as pofsible inland next Summer. Allow not a Woman to come down further than CH. Get as much Provisions as You can conveniently - Use your utmost Influence and Authority to support the Affairs of the Company. - The Honble Committee give pointed Orders for Halletts being sent home; he is now forever out of the Service, and order Presents to be made to the Relations of the Deceased Indian: Now I beg You will solemnly and becomingly perform that in the true spirit of these Orders and even Policy: Be sure to acquit yourself and the whole Concern as is expected, dont? be niggardly. Insert in a seperate Page of your Accounts, the Articles given, and the Names of the Indians You have treated with.
Come down yourself with Mr Howse as soon as pofsible to afsist in forwarding Businefs.
Sincerely wishing You every Happinefs, I am
Sir
Your most obedt. Servant
William Auld"

Jan. 19
" Sent three Men with three Horses and Sledges to fetch the Freemens Skins."

Jan. 21
" Sent off a Man with Letters for the White Mud and Acton Houses. I have apprized Mefs Park and Flett of the fall in the Value of sundry Kinds of Furrs and instructed them how to act in consequence - I cannot help remarking that the fall in the price of Musquashes has been so unexpected that, the Company will certainly sustain a Lofs in this Article, and we feel much Inconvenience? in our Traffic with the Indians as the Canadians encourage the killing of this Fur?, take the Musquashes indiscriminately six as a Beaver and afsure us that they are still worth to them, on an Average, 1.3 each."

Jan. 30
" Three Canadians arrived at our Neighbours from the Rocky Mountain House, and if we may credit Report, bring News of Importance from the Columbia. - My Neighbour says that, conformably to Orders he had received from their Agent, Mr David Thompson proceeded (?) down the Columbia to the Sea, on approaching which he found a party of Americans in the Service of Astor? and Co. New York, (and who had lately arrived there in a Ship which still lay at Anchor off the Mouth of the Columbia) already building a House and making preparations to proceed up the River to occupy an inland Station: that on Mr Thompsons Return up the Columbia four Canoes of the Americans actually accompanied him and are now settled near to Mr Thompsons principal part?, where they so much undersell the NWC Traders that they entirely ingrofs? the Trade of that Quarter. A former Proprietor and a principal Clerk of the NWC are said to be the chief Traders of the American Party. It is also reported that another Party is landed by the same Ship in the Neighbourhood of the place where Sir Alex McKenzie arrived at the Sea: at the head of which party is a Mr McKay, who accompanied Sir Alex in his Journey from Peace River to the Ocean, & that the Americans threaten, Ultimately, to invade the Athapuskow from the West side of the Mountain.
It is impofsible for me to ascertain the Truth of the above Statements, the Story has been related by several of the NWCs Clerks, at several places, and with a great deal of Consistency; and I have been shown Pafsages of Letters from Mr Thompson, and party, which confirm apparently the oral Information we had received on the Subject, but this amounts to no more than a proof that the Story has not been fabricated on this side the Mountain; and I know the Proprietors of the NWC, in general, to be, so artful so shamelefs, and so earnest in their Wishes to exclude us from a Participation in the Trade of that Quarter as to render it impofsible for me to place much Belief in a Report of this Nature that is not supported by infallible Confirmations of its Truth. Mr McDonald and Party, who pafsed this last September were it seems stopped by the Ice two Days from the west side of the Portage acrofs the Mountain and they are consequently at such a great Distance from the Country where Furs are to be had, that the Americans, if there are any, will have all the Advantages they could wish.
Mr Thompson writes that one of the principal American Traders informed him that he expected to have met at the Columbia a Party of Men who had been sent up the Mifsouri for that Purpose, and that he was fearful this Party must have been cut off by the Indians who trade with us. - The Indians have mentioned at Acton House their having had a Skirmish (in which several of them were killed and wounded) with a large Party of Americans, but the Information is not sufficiently clear for us to know whether it was with the large party of Americans, said to be gone up the Mifsouri, or a few straggling Hunters.
To relate the whole of the Information received from Mr Thompson I must also add that, after arriving at his Winter Station, Indian Report said another Ship had arrived off the Columbia and taken the American Ship."

Feb. 1 1812
" Received a Letter by a Canadian from Mr John Park of Little White Mud in which he informs me that he is fearful that the Indians of that place are all gone off on a War Excursion to the Rocky Mountain."

Feb. 3
" The Men who set off the 19th Ult. arrived with the Freemens Skins."

Feb. 6
" Settled with the Freemen for all their Skins. I have received from them 400 Beaver of Sizes, 200 Swans, 340 Martins, and a few Musquashes, Otters and Bears. For about one third of the above Skins the have received payment in Goods, and for the Remainder they are credited with Cash. - If Furs? retain even their present Value the Company will have gained by these Men upwards of 200 £ Sterling."

Feb. 17
" Received a Letter from Mr Pruden (brought by the Canadians). At Carlton House, as at all the other Settlements in this River, an uncommon Scarcity of Buffalo and consequently of dry Provisions. nor are the prospects of Trade at all more gratifying; indeed there is every Reason to fear, what we thought impofsible, that this Season will turn out even worse than the last. At Little White Mud the Indians after receiving Credits are gone to War. the few that are here do so little that it is impofsible to trade with them without Lofs, at Paint Creek they are doing little better, at Carlton House the Crees are killing nothing but Wolves and Musquashes, which are so lowered in Value as to afford no profit; and a Scarcity of Buffalo has effectually prevented the Indians of the Plains from making up the Deficiencies in those of the Woods."

Mar. 16 1812
" Two Lads arrived from Little White Mud House. they bring Letters from Acton House also. A few Indians only, visit the latter place, and these come such a great Distance, owing to the scarcity of Buffalo that they can bring very little with them. From John Park of Little White Mud I have the Mortification to hear confirmed our Apprehensions that the Indians of that place were gone to War. - All the Indians of his place except two are gone to War on the Snare Indians who inhabit the Rocky Mountains.
Two Crees arrived from the Beaver Hill: These two are the only Indians who have made good Hunts - since the Autumn they have killed 112 Beavers of sizes, and promise still to kill a few more before the Embarkation."

Apr. 5 1812
" An Indian arrived from four Tents of Crees that are near this place - their whole collective Hunt during the last Month amounts to no more than 2 Beavers."

May 1 1812
" The principal part of the Indians that have wintered near this place arrived - they brought no more than ten Beavers amongst them all."

May 3
" A Man arrived from Little White Mud with Letters from Mr John Park, by which I am informed that the War Party, in which were twenty of our Traders, had returned to that place with twelve Slaves, the sole Survivers of five Tents of Snare Indians that they discovered in the Mountains, and only eight Beavers - their Debts will therefore of course remain unpaid till they can make their Swan Hunts."

May 8
" The Ice broke a little opposite the House but did not drive far till it stopped again."

May 10
" The River Ice broke again and continued to drive down. The Ice, I believe, was never known to break so late before."

May 17
" The two Crees from the Beaver Hill arrived - they have brought 40 MB between them - and have now killed more Furs than all the rest of the Indians of this place taken together."

May 19
" Mr Wm Flett and the Men of Acton House arrived in one large Boat and a Batteaux. The Trade of this place is comparatively small; two Tribes of the Indians who trade there have killed no Skins at all during the Winter, which has been owing in a great Measure, to the unaccountable Scarcity of Buffalo; and not an ounce of Pimecan has been procured at that place. - James Whiteway is gone, agreeable to orders I had sent him, to pafs the Summer with the Muddy River Indians, to perfect himself in their Language and to acquire certain Intelligence of the Americans on the Mifsouri River, and acrofs the Mountains that we may be able to form some Idea of the Effect they may produce on the Trade of this River."

May 20
" Sent off two Boats to Paint River."

May 21
" Sent off one Boat and one Canoe to Paint River."

May 23
" Embarked for Paint River. Wm Taylor is left in charge of this place for the Summer."

May 24
" Arrived at Paint River. The Trade of this place is poor beyond Example, both in Furs & Provisions, instead of 100 Bags of Pimecan usually procured here there are now only 19 Bags, and instead of 3000 Wolves they are now scarcely one Thousand. The Dimunition in these two Articles is owing principally, to the scarcity of Buffalo which has been general in the upper Part of this River."

May 26
" Sent off four Boats and one Canoe down the River."

May 27
" Embarked with six Men, in one large Boat, for Cumberland House. Mr John Park remains in charge of Paint River House during the Summer."

May 28
" Overtook the Boats and Canoe I sent off the 26 inst. and encamped together."

June 2
" Arrived at Carlton House - had the pleasure to find Mr Pruden well and to learn that he has obtained a large Supply of Pimecan which is a very fortunate Circumstance, as, all the Houses together have procured 2320 lb only; and I believe that a great Scarcity prevails in Red River likewise."

June 6
" Arrived at Cumberland House."

June 9
" Embarked with six Boats carrying 400 Pieces, Furs and Provisions, for York Factory."

June 12
" Arrived at Lake Winnipeg and found it so full of Ice as to be unable to proceed."

June 13
" Broke through a point of Ice and continued our Journey thro' the Lake till the Evening when we found the Ice so firm as to prevent our proceeding further."

June 14
" A strong Gale of Wind NE with Rain - this has drifted the Ice a little from the Shore and will, I hope, enable us to proceed."

June 15
" Broke our Way through the Ice about a Mile & then rowed through loose Ice till we arrived at the Play Green Lake."

June 18
" Encamped at the White Fall carrying place. Here we met two Men from Oxford House who inform us that the Holy Lake is still froze over."

June 21
" Arrived at Oxford House & had the pleasure to find Mr Sinclair well - pafsed a good deal of Ice in the Holy Lake."

June 22
" Embarked for York Factory."

June 27
" Arrived with three Boats at the Entrance to Steel River - here we found two Clerks and a Quantity of Goods from York Factory"

" Copy of a Letter from Mr Auld
Mefs Bird & Sinclair YF 16 June 1812
Gentlemen
I write these few lines on purpose to beg you will favour us with your Company at the Factory as soon as convenient where much is to arange. I had intentions of coming to meet you but have since thought that we could meet here more advantageously as we are yet so scattered, some being in this & many remaining in Nelson River. Mr Cook has forwarded goods in 4 Boats which will keep your people employed some considerable time in Hill River & more will be sent up immediately. We shall want for YF CF & Severn some fat and as much Pimecan as you can pofsibly supply. In consequence of the very great Stock of Bacon sent out last year have forwarded to you a part that you may serve to your people who may like the change. we much fear that a great part of the remainder will spoil on our hands before the Summer is over. James? Monswick? in a middling sized Canoe will be required? at the Factory by the latter end of this Month if you can pofsibly? spare him as I am going up as far as the Winnipeg thro Nelson River you will therefor be so good as to make your arrangements accordingly.
Gentlemen I remain Your Most Obt. Sert. Wm Auld."

June 28
"Left Mr McFarlane to fit out three Boats, that I expect will arrive here tomorrow, and send them back loaded with Goods to Swampy Lake, and proceeded on with Mr Sinclair in Company to York Factory."

June 29
" Arrived at York Factory and had the pleasure to find Mr Auld, Mefs Cook, Hillier & McDonnell in good Health."

July 2 1812
" We were surprized and Mortified to see the Men with the three Boats, I had ordered to return from the Mouth of Hill River, arrived at this Factory. It appears that they absolutely refused to obey Mr McFarlane's Orders for them to return, on Account of the Provisions which were offered them, Viz. Bacon and Oatmeal, not being, in their Estimation sufficiently good for them: and in spite of him they have come to this place."

July 3
" It being deemed imprudent, in the present posture? of Affairs, to inflict immediate punishment on the Men who in defiance of Orders have dared to come to this Factory, I have ordered them all to reimbark tomorrow and proceed with Cargoes of Goods to Swampy Lake."

July 4
" The Men and Boats which arrived here the 2nd inst. embarked for Swampy Lake."

July 6
" Embarked with Men in two Boats."

July 9
" Overtook two of Captain McDonnells Boats which had preceeded us from York Factory, mixed part of our Hands with his Men & proceeded on with the four Boats."

July 12
" Found one of the Boats I sent from York Factory on the 4th inst., laying at a Carrying Place, unable to proceed on, three out of five of Crew being very ill of a Dysentery and unable to Work. Made the best shift in my power to man this Boat & proceeded on with the five Boats."

July 16
" Met two of the Boats which left YF the 4th inst. on their way back to make a second Trip to Steel River, but this, with the Afsistance of Mr Cook, we have rendered unnecefsary; and they therefore accompany us on to Swampy Lake."

July 17
" Arrived at Swampy Lake, loaded the Boats heavily with Goods. left six of them to come on as fast as the Ladings will permit and proceeded on with Mefs Sinclair & Hillier in one Boat to Oxford House."

" Copy of a Letter from Mr Auld.
York Factory 6th July 1812
Dear Sir
Aquanted as you are with the lively interest that the Honble Com. have in the succefs of the Colony about to be settled in Red River, with the absolute unfitnefs of the greater part of the crew belonging to Capt. Macdonell to navigate themselves thro the bad part of the Rivers leading to the Country they are bound to and with the unwillingnefs manifested by numbers of the new hands from Orkney to go there. I conceive it almost superfluous and unnecefsary to request you afford afsistance to them as I am afsured you will cheerfully and effectualy perform that which you have so handsomely of yourself offered. And I beg leave Dear Sir to afsure you that this ? note is more designed to record your ready & voluntary offer than to stimulate you to what your own zeal & anxiety so naturally urge you to, in crowning those ardent and unremitted exertions all have made to enable this most interesting expedition to terminate happily & succefsfully. In this generous stripe? every amiable & honorable feeling will be abundantly gratified in our being the instruments of advancing those means which are directly calculated to benefit our fellow creatures - That part of the service also which is delegated by the Honble Com. to Mr Hillier equally requires your afsistance as his people are likewise unfit of themselves to reach their destination, You will naturally therefore extend to him as much of your help as will enable his party to get at least to Oxford House before you part with them from which both his & Capt. Macdonells forward themselves to their Destinbation - Should any of Cn McD people refuse to proceed you must endeavour with all your influence to encourage as many of our own freemen? to engage with him as will supply their places. I need not hint to you the impropriety of receiving such people into our service should they offer. I am convinced they entertain hopes of being acceptable to us as they know our great want of hands. The above and all other matters connected with the hble Company's interests I am thoroughly convinced will occupy as heretofore all your attention and care. - In this perfect connection I conclude with my ardent wishes for the prosperity & succefs of every thing you undertake for the happinefs and interest of ? in the pursuit of which your own happinefs will be promoted & I ? wish your own interests may also be secured.
I am Dear Sir
Yours very Sincerely
Wm Auld."

" Copy of a Letter from Mr Auld
Mr Bird
Sir
In consequence of the Traders of the NWCoy having again encouraged & protected a Servant of the Coys at Swan River to leave their service before the expiration of his Contract which is well Known cannot take place in this Country you are henceforward to convey the earliest intelligence of any thing of this happening in your department to Mr Hillier the Chief of East Winnipeg Factory - Should complaints of a Similar kind be forwarded from the posts in Churchill River you will give instructions to your Officers traders to afford every facility to their Mefsengers also. But you must not confine yourself merely to this Single illegal conduct but whatever other unjustifiable acts of aggrefsion Violence robbery or opprefsion may have been perpetrated during the winter will equally require reporting. - Moreover you are required to caution your rival Traders that on no account will they be suffered to build their Houses nearer our houses or inclosed primises than 100 yards and infraction of this must be carefully reported at E Winnipeg.
I am Sir
Your most Obedt Servt
Wm Auld."

" Copy of a Letter from Mr McNab
Moose Factory Nov. 8th 1811
Sir,
When I wrote you last from on board the Prince of Wales I little thought my next would be Public and from hence, or that I should have a relation to give, so unpleasant to both, the inclosed will tell you, duplicates of which I have sent to the Northern Factories. I cannot suppose you have any Knowledge of the Authors of such a falcity - Did you ever give me a Single Beaver in goods, I confefs my memory defective which it very much must be if you did. And Mr Bunn must have Known if such had occured - Equity requires the exposition of such irregular measures if ever? conceded to, if not surely the credit of the Service may authorize the notoriety of such falsehoods.
I am
Sir
Your very humble Servant
John McNab."

" Copy of a Letter to Mr McNab
Sir
Your Letter purporting to be a public one, dated Moose Factory Nov. 8th 1811, I received on my arrival at York Factory in June last; it contained however no inclosure, but the lofs of this will be of little consequence as I have been favoured with the sight of one of the Duplicates you alude to. In this I read read the following words, or, words to the same Import, "Did you ever Know of Mr Bird giving me 6000 MBeaver in goods or, which is the same thing, did you ever know that 6000 MBeaver in goods more than were actualy sent from York Factory were charged to Mr Bird as Master in the Saskatchewan." If it was pofsible for me to conceive that the latter part of the foregoing sentence exprefsed, in different words only, the Question proposed in the first, my answer would be a simple Negative but I would appeal to the most respectable of the Companys officers to confirm, if necefsary the truth of my afsertion. It is with much regret however I have to observe that, to my apprehension, your words appear to state two very different, nay almost opposite, Questions, and that in replying to those words "Did you ever know that 6000 MBeaver in goods, more then were actualy sent from York Factory were charged to Mr Bird." a regard to truth and justice to my own character obliges me to declare my perfect knowledge of such a transaction, a transaction that, at the time excited in me equal surprise and Indignation; and I will candidly confefs to you that nothing but a consideration that, any representation made to the Honble Committee by a person so insignificant as myself might fail to produce the desired effect, prevented me from laying the whole affair before their Honors. Time had now almost effaced the remembrance even, of the Injury I supposed you to have done me, I therefore feel considerable pain at being thus obliged to contribute to give new publicity to an action which I believe the Honble Committee to have been already aquanted with and to have generously consigned to oblivion.
I cannot but feel grateful for the anxiety you exprefs for the vindication of my character. I must say, however, I am unwilling to believe that the Honorable Committee would hastely, and without convictive Evidence believe me culpable, and determine on punishing me in the decisive manner you mention: I will add that full of confidence from the conscious rectitude of my whole conduct towards the Company, I am without fear of being exposed, on such a scare, to feel the full weight of their displeasure; and that I have no desire to owe to the intercefsion of a friend any situation that the Dishonesty of my conduct would deservedly make me forfeit.
I am Sir
Your humble Servant
James Bird."

July 19
" Arrived at Oxford House."

July 23
" Six Boats, viz. four belonging to the Saskatchewan and two to Captain McDonald, arrived heavily loaded with Goods."

July 25
" Captain McDonald, and all the Boats belonging to the different inland Districts arrived with every thing safe."

July 27
" Completed our Preparations for embarking tomorrow."

" Copy of a Letter to Mr Auld
Sir
I am happy in being able to inform You that Mefs Hillier and McDonnell, with all their Men and Goods, are safely arrived at this place. By the Afsistance of Mr Cooks Men we were enabled to get all the Goods, destined for all the inland Departments up to Oxford House at one Trip. This I consider an Event of considerable importance, not only on Account of the Inconvenience and Expence it has saved, but from its placing it in the Power of all Parties to arrive at their several Destinations in good Time.
Captain McDonald, afsisted, as he is to be, by the old Hands of Red River, can now find little Difficulty (Mr Hillier still lefs) in reaching the End of his Voyage, the Orkney Men, who at York refused to accompany him, no longer persist in their Disobedience, and the whole State of his Affairs wears a favorable Aspect. - The Captain afsures me that he is perfectly satisfied with the Afsistance we have given him, & that he intends writing You to this Effect.
I have thought it highly necefsary that an Example be made of at least part of the Men who, in defiance of the Orders I had left at Hill River House, for them to return from thence, with a Cargo of Goods to Swampy Lake, because the Provisions offered them viz. Bacon, Pimecan, & Oatmeal were not exactly such as they had heretofore received at that place, with such singular Effrontery came down to York Factory. The following appear to have had either by their Influence or Example, the greater Share in the above disgraceful Transaction viz. John Deron, John Tate, Peter Corrigle, Robert Rowland, and John Fobister. I have therefore thought it proper to fine these five Men as follows, John Deron Steersman in the Sum of fifteen Pounds, John Tate Steersman in the Sum of ten Pounds, Peter Corrigle Bowsman in the Sum of ten Pounds, Robert Rowland Bowsman in the Sum of five Pounds, John Fobister Middleman in the Sum of five Pounds, and if you approve of it shall consider them as fined, and inform them accordingly. The Fines I have endeavoured to proportion to the Degree of Guilt, and to the Means of the Delinquents.
You may rely on my paying the strictest Attention to Your Orders regarding the Canadians, & I beg leave to afsure You that You may at all times depend on my doing the utmost in my power to execute your Wishes, confident that in so doing I cannot fail to promote, according to my Ability, the general Succefs of the Companys Affairs.
I am Sir
With Respect
Your obedient
humble Servant
James Bird."



1M49 B.60/a/10

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