The northern department is very extensive, having for its southern boundary the line which divides the British from the American territories, sweeping east and west from Lac La Pluie, in 95 deg.  W. long, and 49 deg.  N. lat. to the Rocky Mountains in 115 deg.  W. long.; then, with the Rocky Mountains for its western boundary, it extends northward to the Arctic Sea.  The whole of this vast country is divided into the following districts:  Norway House, Rainy Lake, Red River, Saskatchewan, English River, Athabasca, and McKenzie’s River.  The depot of this department is York Factory, in Hudson’s Bay, and is considered the grand emporium; here the grand Council is held, which is formed of the Governor and such chief factors and chief traders as may be present.  The duty of the latter is to sit and listen to whatever measures the Governor may have determined on, and give their assent thereto, no debating or vetoing being ever thought of; the Governor being absolute, his measures therefore more require obedience than assent.  Chief traders are also permitted to sit in council as auditors, but have not the privilege of being considered members.

The Columbia department is bounded on the east by the Rocky Mountains, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.  An ideal line divides it on the south from the province of California, in lat. 41 deg. 30’; and it joins the Russian boundary in lat. 55 deg..  This, although a very extensive department, does not consist of many districts; New Caledonia is the principal, situated among the Rocky Mountains, and having several of its posts established along the banks of the Fraser River, which disembogues itself into the Gulf of Georgia in nearly 49 deg. lat. and 122 deg.  W. long.  The next is Colville, on the Columbia River, along with some isolated posts near the confluence of the same river.  The forts, or trading posts, along the north-west coast, have each their respective commander.  The shipping business is conducted by a person appointed for that purpose, who is styled, par excellence, the head of the “Naval department.”  The Company have a steamboat and several sailing vessels, for the purpose chiefly of trading with the natives along the coast.  The primary object, however, is not so much the trade, as to keep brother Jonathan in check, (whose propensity for encroaching has of late been “pretty much” exhibited,) and to deter him from forming any establishments on the coasts; there being a just apprehension that if once a footing were obtained on the coast, an equal eagerness might be manifested for extending their locations into the interior.  Strong parties of hunters are also constantly employed along the southern frontier for the purpose of destroying the fur-bearing animals in that quarter; the end in view being to secure the interior from the encroachments of foreign interlopers.  The depot of this department is at Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River.