" YF Correspondence 1809-10"
[cover]


" To Mr Topping, Churchill - by Hookemowkeshick
York Factory 24th Sept. 1809
Dear Sir
Knowing how necefsary it is to check the wandering disposition of the Indians & to discourage a practice which has too long been suffered to violate the Obligations of Friendship & subvert the best Interests of our Employers I send the bearer and has Family to you & he returns with the fullest afsurance that he must not on any pretence whatever think of returning to this place again - They are fitted out with such necefsaries as are indispensable to the Indian Life & I have not forgot to administer some salutary Admonitions on the necefsity of Honesty and fair dealing. These have been given freely & I hope will have the desired Effect.
The Debt trusted them at this time & others of last Season are inserted below which you will be pleased to receive & either place to our Credit or make Us an Equivalent in any thing you can best spare.
I remain
Dr Sir
Your Obt. Hble Servt.
WH Cook
Hookemowkeshick - 15 MB - say? real standard 10
1st Son - 16 MB - say real standard 11
2nd Son - 17 MB - say real standard 12
3rd Son - 15 MB - say real standard 11
Wethewecappo - 7 MB - say real standard 5
Shewacoochin - 1 MB - say real standard 1
Keshecowethin - 5 MB - say real standard 3
Iammehogan - 10 MB - say real standard 10
Tho. Ishams Son - 15 MB - say real standard 11
WHC"


" To Mr Topping - by Keshecowithin
YF 30 Sept. 1809
My Dr Sir
I wrote you a Letter by Hookemowkeshick of the 24th Inst. wherein I noticed a Debt taken last Summer by Bearer and another by his Son - In addition to these we have supplied them with Necefsaries to the amount of 15 Made Beaver - that is to the Old Man 5 and to the Son 10.
The Standard is 9 Beav. which you will be so good as add to our former Credit & I sincerely hope this may be the last time you will be troubled on such an unworthy Occasion.
I remain
Your Obed. Hble Servant
WH Cook."


" From Mr Topping
Churchill 10th Dec. 1809
My Dear Sir
Wethewacappo came here last night by whom I received your letter dated 30th Sept. - I have neither seen nor heard any thing of Hugemowkeshick or any of his Family this Winter. of course your Letter of the 24th Sept. is not yet come to hand.
I shall wait until I receive your first Letter when will give you credit for the whole of the Debts you have supplied these Indians to return to us again and flatter myself their rambling from one place to another is now quite over. - I am glad to hear you are all well at YF we are tolerably well now but in the Fall we had the misfortune to lose James Robinson the Steward who was taken poorly soon after the Ship sailed and lingered untill the 6th of October when he died - He is a great lofs to me.
Partridges are scarse but Deer have been numerous which has made up for the former, they have enabled me to serve out 6 Days Country's Provision which I think myself very fortunate in doing. I sincerely hope they have been with you equally plentiful. - Wishing you Health, Plenty & every Succefs.
I remain
Your Obed. Servt.
Tho. Topping."


" To the North River Traders - by an Indian returning to his Friends at Split Lake
YF May 10th 1810
My Good Friends
I mentioned last fall that I should endeavour to send up a Canoe to you in the Spring, but unfortunately the illnefs of James Flett who has long been afflicted with Rheumatic pains and is now in a very languid state will I am afraid deprive me of the ability to do it - You will therefore find it necefsary not to depend on any afsistance from me, but to exert your own Strenght & strive to get the businefs done as usual, which as the difficulties are great will entitle you to much credit and regard - John Allan must try to prevail on some Indian to go to Lauchlan Leith that he may be prepared as soon as there is a pafsage open by Water to go to Robert Spence's Settlement in the Grafs River and accompanied by James Yorston, Alex Work and another hand, afsist him down with the Furs - No house except the Split Lake one can be kept up all summer & at that place, only John Allan & Tho. Isbester must remain.
You will judge wether it be necefsary to give any afsistance to Jn Harper - I think he will be able to get Indians to help him down as he is much nearer to the Split Lake than Robt. Spence & has the advantage of a better Track.
I shall be glad to see you at the Factory by the 1st of July & will if pofsible give you some Afsistance on your return from it, but as I have said before you must exert yourselves greatly and strain every nerve to conquer difficulties that cannot be avoided.
The Goods at the Factory are so trifling as to admit of little or no Supply for the North River before Shiptime & the uncertainty of getting it taken up then, inclines me earnestly to hope, that the strictest economy has been observed - No extravagant Debts I hope have been given - yet I am sorry to understand that some of the Crofs Lake Indians were permitted to take credit at the Split Lake last Fall - This if true is the most disgraceful Action that any man can be guilty of; it is hurtful to the Company, & exposes the mercenary and dishonest principle of those who can so far forget themselves as to commit it.
Do not fail to mention repeatedly to the Indians the great demand for Swan's Skins, Beaver, Castorum, quills, feathers and other Articles as Pr list last Fall - Permit no Indians to come to the Factory unlefs they have a good errand - there is nothing to give away here and they do not visit us at any time from Good Will or Friendship only. If any of them can be useful in bringing down Furs I shall be glad to see them, otherwise let them remain up.
I hope you have all done well and had a pleasant Winter - Provisions have been scarse with us and the Season remarkably backward - Wishing a good sight of you all with prosperous Trades.
I remain
Your Friend & well wisher
WH Cook."


" To Mr Bird
YF 5th June 1810
My Dear Sir
My attendance being necefsary at the Factory on account of the homegaurd Indians I have deputed to Mr Bunn the charge of the Goods alloted to your department & flatter myself with the hope that the Afsortment upon the whole will be satisfactory and approved.
The small receipt of Articles by the Ship deprives us of the Happinefs of affording at this time an ample supply to any Quarter but what is sent to Saskatchewan is rather partially selected and will I trust enable you to support the Event of every prefsure till the Fall.
The General Letter and other papers are forwarded which as they regard the Terms of the Men & fully convey the Sentiments of the Honble Committee must be a sure and safe Guide - yet I am free to confefs that should any extraordinary Case occur there must be a discretionary power which I think you ought and may in justice exercise - I fear there will be much discontent and murmuring among the Men, the natural Consequence of the privations & hard ships which the Times have brought on us all - but as no one is better qualified than yourself - you will bear up with these difficulties - soothe the irritated Mind & rub down Asperities with a soft & lenient hand.
With respect to the time of bringing your Men to the Factory I have only to observe that in consequence of an unfavorable Winter our Stock of Salt Provisions is reduced to a low Ebb & the chance of laying in a Supply of Geese to eke out is at present precarious & unpromising.
I shall be happy to see you when convenient & beg in the interim that you will not fail to mention any thing that I may have forgot & is in my power to supply.
I remain wishing you Happinefs and a good Trade.
Dear Sir
Your sincere friend
WH Cook."


" To Mr Kennedy Swan River
YF 6th June 1810
My Dear Sir
I have exerted my utmost Ability to forward to you a good proportion of every Article in Stock at the Factory - but so destitute are we of many efsential Requisites that I fear your post will suffer exceedingly and I am sorry that you are unfortunately so far distant as to afford but little chance of a supply in the Fall - All you can pofsibly do, is, to deal with caution & if it be practicable , to reject such furs as are in the present situation of Affairs not worth the Company's Notice - for instance - All Parchment of the Deer and Buffalo kind is uselefs, but Swans Skins, Quills, Feather & Castorum are valuable & cannot be too carefully collected or too highly prized - I earnestly beg your Attention to these points as the Indians you know are always thoughtlefs & require perpetual Stimulation - Your last years Afsortment of Furs was in general good - There is nothing that merits Rejection except the Parchment and Cats - the latter of these are really not worth the Castorum used in catching them - I give you these Hints without the least intention of invalidation your Exertions, which have been tried & are known to be exemplary, or with any Idea that Indians so independant & unruly as those with whom you have to deal. can be governed by us - but it is absolutely necefsary to know exactly how the Honble Company's Affairs stand, & to use the most ardent & industrious Means to alleviate or retrieve them.
Inclosed is the Account of Goods now sent which I heartily wish were more, but your Zeal, Abilities, & good Conduct are a sure & certain Warranter for the Result.
I remain
Dear Sir
With wishing you every Happinefs
Your sincere Friend
WH Cook"


" From Mr Kennedy
Hill River 28 June 1810
Sir
On my Arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter inclosing a list of Goods for Swan River - The supply considering your Circumstances at the Factory was as ample as could be expected & with the addition of a few Articles hereafter mentioned if it could be forwarded in the Fall the Afsortment would be sufficient & in some Articles even more than is required, such as Powder & Shot. Twine & Net Lines all of which now sent up may be spared to Saskatchewan or where it is most wanted as the stock in hand of these Articles will be sufficient for one Years Expenditure.
I am well aware of your distrest situation at the Factory for many Articles as well as the disadvantage arising to the Company from the greatest part of their Furs remaining in the Country, but where Opposition exists one must in some Measure be guided by ones neighbour to insure a part of the Trade and it was my Misfortune to be alongside of one who seemed determined on carrying all before him, which circumstance obliged me to take skins of interior value at the same rate as better Furs for by intirely rejecting the worst kind I should have had the mortification of losing the good ones also - It being late too in the Fall of the Year before I received your Instructions I had previously given out Credits to a few Indians which I was obliged to take payment for in such kind of furs as the Country when they Winter'd produced.
Upon the whole my Trade is better than last year amounting according to my Calculation to about 1400 MBeav. & altho the proportion of Beaver Skins are few I feel happy in reflecting that nothing has been lost for want of our utmost endeavours to procure them.
As it is my earnest wish to be down at Shiptime to wait the Company's determination respecting my Wages I most humbly request your permifsion to come down in the Fall as I am determined to return home for a year in case my request is not complied with.
At all events my absence from Swan River till the Fall can be no way detrimental to our Employers as I could be back again after seeing the Ship as early as my Neighbour - Should you be pleased to grant my Request I shall pafs the time till then any where that my Services may be wanted, as knowing the distrefsed state of the Factory I do not wish to become a burthen on it till near Ship time without my services there could be of any use.
Hoping to see you in the Fall I conclude with wishing you a plentiful Trade from all Quarters & a better Sale for them at home
I am
Sir
Your very Hble & most Obt. Servt.
Alex Kennedy"


" To Mr Sinclair Oxford House
YF 5 June 1810
Dear Sir
You will receive from the hands of Mr Bunn the Invoice of Goods appropriated to your Settlement & I hope you will find the supply liberal according to our Means & sufficient to meet every Exegency till the Fall.
I hope the Crofs Lake Settlement has answered your Expectation, if it has, I think it will obviate the necefsity of keeping up the post at Duck Lake which indeed cannot be sustained if the NRiver Men continue to leave us & no fresh hands are received by the Ship.
Some very unpleasant Accounts having been brought by some of our Homegaurds respecting the desertion of Mr Tomisons Indians from Succor Lake. I feel it incumbent on me to apprize you of the Affair - I beg that should any of them visit your Outposts in the Bungee Country that you will advise your Traders to secure the Honble Company's Debts & endeavour to reconcile the Differences subsisting between Mr Tomison & them; - and should any part of these Indians come to you or be near Oxford House you will do well to force an Interview with them and by flattery and persuasion contrive to draw them back to our Interest & Attachment.
I remain
Dear Sir
Your sincere friend
WH Cook."


" From Mr Tate, Merrys House - Bungee Country
Merry's House June 10, 1810
Sir
I have sent down 4 Men in the Canoe with 14 Bundles of Furs which hope you will receive safe.
I have done my utmost to get Beaver Skins, but the Indians say they cannot get any & I believe they speak the truth for their is a scarsity all over this part of the Country - Please to send the men back as soon as pofsible and another Man to take down the Canoe in the Fall as it will be much wanted.
A List of Articles wanted at Merrys House is enclosed which if to spare should be glad to have by first Opportunity as the fall Journeys are late and uncertain.
I remain
Sir
Your Obt. Humble Servt.
James Tate"


" To Mr Tate
York Factory 18 July 1810
Dr Sir
I am sorry that you have been so unsuccefsful in the Article of Beaver, but it is a general failing tho' a great & serious misfortune to the Company.
The Goods you wrote for are sent with some additions but there are still some deficiences which must be made up in the Fall - I hope you will be down as early as pofsible to enable us to get the remainder of your Furs packed before the hurry of Shiptime & you will appoint any of the men you think most capable & whose times do not expire this year to take charge in your Absence.
I remain
Dear Sir
Your sincere Friend
WH Cook"


" To Mr Bunn
YF 25 June 1810
Dr Sir
By favor of Mr Sinclair I forward the List of Trials Cargo & hope by the time she arrives at Hill River you will be provided with Furs sufficient to load her, but should this not be the case you will Order the Slabs from Sawyers Tent to be brought down so that no time or labour may be lost.
The Goods remaining will not half load the Trial another Trip but as it will not require many Hands to bring down the Furs a proportionate deduction in the Crew can take place & enable us to finish the Businefs with convenience & ease the next Trip.
I remain
Yours &c
WH Cook."


" From Mr Bunn
Hill River 28 June 1810
Dr Sir
The Canoes having arrived from the interior I now send down the Trial with 193 Bundles of Furs but what number are still remaining at Oxford House I cannot say
About the 14 or 15th of July I conjecture the last Canoes will start from hence & the remainder of the inland Furs will be here at that time ready for conveyance to the Factory.
I remain
Dear Sir
Your obed. Humble Servt.
Tho. Bunn."


" To Mr Bunn
YF July 7th 1810
Dr Sir
I have sent by this the last conveyance the whole of the inland outfit - The Crew as you will perceive being composed of Merrys House and North River Men it will be necefsary to use dispatch that the Furs remaining at these places may be brought down some time previous to the arrival of the Ship.
With wishing you a Quick sight of the Factory
I remain
Dr Sir
Yours &c
WH Cook
List of Cargo is enclosed"


" To Mr Topping at Churchill
YF 9th Aug. 1810
In case of the Honble Company's Ship touching at Churchill first, I have taken the liberty of sending the Bearers for the purpose of conveying the YF Packet hither - They are charged to make the quickest dispatch & I shall esteem it a favor if you will send them off as soon as pofsible after the arrival of the Ship.
I remain
Dr Sir
Your Obt. Hble Servt.
WH Cook."


" York Factory 31st Aug. 1810
Dear Sir
The Honble Committee having in their new Arrangements appointed you to the Charge of Severn. I sincerely congratulate you on the Event. - You will no doubt receive particular Instructions from Mr Auld who is superintendant of the Northern Settlements and whose Anxious Desire is, to adopt some adviseable Measure for the joint benefit of the departments & for the general good of the Company. I am sorry that the scarsity of Men at this time and the great demand for them at the Saskatchewan & other Factories renders it impofsible for us to give you that Aid we are sensible your necefsities require.
The time is too prefsing now to enter into particulars on the subject of future Operations but as Mr Auld will be here about the 10th Feb. next I must by the favor of your Attendance when there will be an opportunity of explaining in the fullest Manner every particular concerning the Trade of Severn & of the Conduct of Affairs under the new system.
We have detain'd a small part of the Severn Cargo judging that your Request for the Articles will be lefs than usual as the Hands returning to Severn this year are very few.
You will be pleased to return the Invoice in Winter as the SR Goods are to be accounted for at this place and we have not had time to copy it - I have also to beg the favor of an accurate Statement of Remains at SR exactly as they are in your Warehouse not taking into the Account such Articles of Stores as are in use & cannot be brought forward as actual & ostensible Remains.
I have sent 40 Moose Skins which I hope will be serviceable & if more be wanted I shall be very happy to accomodate.
Wishing Health & Succefs to attend you.
I remain
Yours sincerely
Will. Hemmings Cook."


B.239/b/80

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