" From the NorthWest Proprietors to J.C."
"Grand Portage July 27 1795"
"Sir
By the Return of our Canoes from the interior Country we had the disagreeable Intelligence of the unfortunate Fate of our Mr Robert Thompson, and as this has been the first Instance of the like Nature having ever happened to us; we are determined that it shall not pafs with Impunity; but as we have every Reason to suppose that the Indians who committed that Deed have fled from the Country which our People occupy and that they may have taken refuge about York Fort or some of the other Posts belonging to the Honble? Hudson's Bay Company, we have to request of you as a favor that Search may be made for them in order that they may be delivered into the Hands of the Gentlemen who transacts our Businefs at the Rat River or any other of this Concern.
We are induced to make this Request from our Conduct towards your People on the Sascachiwan River in nearly similar Circumstances where we afforded them every Protection in our Power of which we dare to say you are not ignorant, and surely it is a Duty you owe to Humanity to give every pofsible Afsistance to bring such Villains to Punishment.
We would at the same time recommend that a good understanding may subsist between your people and ours, in regard not only to mutual Protection but in the way of Trade, towards which desirable Purposes we will endeavour to contribute as much as in our Power. We are with Respect
Sir
Your most obt Servts
John Gregory
D. Sutherland
Wm McGillivray
Alex McKenzie
Angus Shaw
Cuthbert Grant
Rod McKenzie
Simon Frazer
Alex McKenzie for?
Alex McLeod
Wm. Thorburn
James Finlay"
"The Names of the Indians are Keshica Peshim, a Chief - Sha wakkek - his Son-in-Law"
"From Mefs Shaw Finlay & McKay to Mr? Sutherland"
"Grand Rapids June 4 1796"
" Sir from the Knowledge I have formed of your Disposition, and the general Character you bear in this Country for Rectitude? & Sincerity I should be sorry in the beginning of an Acquaintance to commit any Action that might bear an unfavourable Appearance without representing the Motives of it in a proper Light. Without further preamble then. you must know that I found here the two Men who deserted from you last Fall and upon their earnest Solicitation? have resolved to embark them for Grand Portage. This Step was not taken without mature Deliberation & my Reasons for it will I hope appear evident and convincing. had I declined embarking them they would wait the Arrival of Mr Beaulies? who undoubtedly would be rejoiced to have so fair an Opp'y of retaliating the Lofs of his Negro, who, he is well aware, has been debauched by your People, & is now in the Honble H. Bays Company's Service. besides, these Men finding themselves abandoned to? us? & left exposed to your Resentment & to Hunger & Starvation in waiting your Arrival, would readily embrace any proposition which might screen them from the Punishment that people of this Description so richly deserve. Moreover I have been informed at this place, that one of our Men in Maskiegon Country has reced unwarrantable Encouragement from some of your Officers in that Quarter. in Consequence of which he has deserted our Service & clandestinely entered into yours. And as it is not my Intention to countenance? ? or desertion? in any Respect whatsoever (unlefs I am forced to do it) I rely on your Profits? & Honour to have the Man delivered up to me next Fall on which Condition your two Deserters will be faithfully restored to you to be punished at your Discretion. Since having written the foregoing the Gent. whose names are under written have overtaken me and you may perceive by their Signatures that they approve of my Conduct in this Affair. Wishing you a pleasant pafsage & expecting to have the pleasure of seeing you next Fall we remain
Respectfully
Dear Sir
Your very obt Servts
Angus Shaw
James Finlay
M? McKay."
"From J.C. to the Northwest Proprietors"
"York Fort July 16 1796"
"Sir
Your Letter from the Grand Portage dated the 27th July 1795 as also the one to Mr Sutherland dated at the Grand Rapid were delivered me at Gordon House on the Arrival of the Honble Company's Officers from Inland the 29th Ult.
I sincerely lament the Lofs of so valuable a Member of Society as Mr Robert Thompson, the more so, he having always lived on very friendly Terms with the Gent. from York. and it's the ardent Wish of myself and every Officer that the Indians who committed the Deed may meet the Fate they so justly deserve.
Pemoochisquan alias Keshicow Peshim had been at York but left the Plantation in Company with a numerous Tribe of Indians his Friends a few Days before I arrived. I consulted my Officers respecting the proper Steps to be taken against the Delinquents who were unanimously of Opinion that it would be improper to attempt to confine or pursue him whilst surrounded by so many Followers. & that to send him Inland as a Prisoner to one of your Stations would be attended with much Danger to those who had him in Charge as he must be taken through his own Country where his Friends would afsemble and overmatch any Force I could send with him. and it would be a Miracle if any escaped the Fate of Mr Thompson.
For these Reasons I must decline as an Agent for the Honble the Hudson's Bay Company having any Concern in the apprehendings of the Offenders.
The Officers and Honble Co's Officers having treated the Murderer & his Family with Neglect during their Visit here the whole set off to the Eastward. Report says they are gone for Severn, a Settlement the old Man originally came from. I must remark here while the Consultation was held one of the Officers informed the Council that Mr Tomison had made Application to one of your Gent. who had Charge of Fort Augustus up the Sascachewan to surrender? up the Indians who so cruelly butchered three of the Honble Co's Servants in the Summer of 1794, when they plundered & burned that Settlement, and that Mr McDonald's Answer was (which if true reflects wither Honour or Humanity on himself) "That it was not for the paltry Consideration of the lofs of three of the Hudson's Bay Company's Servants that he would lose the Trade of so valuable a tribe of Indians". and positively refused Mr Tomison any Afsistance or Support in securing? the Offenders altho' he had it in his power to do it. I leave you to make Comments on such Conduct.
- As to Joseph De Rocker's coming down to York with the Honble Co's Servants to be engaged in this Employ it is true. but he reced no Encouragement from any Officer whatever. I shall abide by the verbal Agreement I made in England with some of the Gent. of the North West Company "Not to engage a Man who was under Articles with you". Mr McTavish likewise promised not to engage any Man belonging to the Hudson's Bay Service. Mr Sutherland will deliver up Joseph De Rocker to the Master of the first port he shall arrive at belonging to you. I rely on your Honour & expect that our two Runaways John Ward & Peter Sabbeston be also delivered up to Mr Sutherland. If you pursue these Steps a good Understanding will always subsist? between the Officers in your Employ & those in ? theHonble Hudson's Bay Company's Service. I flatter myself you will ever find the Gent. from York ready to afford you the best Afsistance in their power consistent with their Duty, not only in regard to Mutual Protection but in the Way of Trade. I remain
Gent.
Your very obt. Servt.
J.C."
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