600 cwt. flour, first and second quality. 35 bushels rough barley. 10 half-firkins butter, 28 lbs. each. 10 bushels Indian corn. 200 cwt. best kiln-dried flour. 60 firkins butter, 56 lbs. each. 240 lbs. cheese. 60 hams.

Thus it happens that the Red River farmer finds a “sure market” for six or eight bushels of wheat—­and no more.  Where he finds a sure market for the remainder of his produce, Heaven only knows—­I do not.  This much, however, I do know,—­that the incomparable advantages this delightful country possesses are not only in a great measure lost to the inhabitants, but also to the world, so long as it remains under the domination of its fur-trading rulers.  In the possession of, and subject to the immediate jurisdiction of the Crown, Assineboine would become a great and a flourishing colony—­the centre of civilization and Christianity to the surrounding tribes, who would be converted from hostile barbarians into a civilized and loyal people;—­and thus Great Britain would extend and establish her dominion in a portion of her empire that may be said to have been hitherto unknown to her, while she would open a new field for the enterprise and industry of her sons.

In describing the advantages of this country, candour requires that I should also point out its disadvantages.  The chief disadvantage is the difficulty of the communication with the sea, interrupted as it is by shoals, rapids, and falls, which in their present state can only be surmounted with incredible toil and labour.  Yet there cannot be a doubt that the skill of the engineer could effect such improvements as would obviate the most, if not the whole, of this labour, and that at no very great cost.  The distance from the mouth of Red River to York Factory is about 550 miles; 300 miles of this distance is formed of lakes—­(Lake Winnipeg, 250 miles in length, is navigable for vessels of forty and fifty tons burden).  The greater part of the river communication might be rendered passable by Durham boats, merely by damming up the rivers.  Along the line of communication, many situations may be found suitable for farming operations.

CHAPTER XXII.

    SIR G. SIMPSON—­HIS ADMINISTRATION.

Sir George Simpson commenced his career as a clerk in a respectable counting-house in London, where his talents soon advanced him to the first seat at the desk.  He was in this situation when first introduced to the notice of a member of the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who were at that time engaged in the ruinous competition with the North-West Company already referred to.  While the contest was at its height, the Company sent out Mr. Simpson as Governor of the Northern department;—­an appointment for which, by his abilities natural and acquired, he was well qualified.  Mr. Simpson combined with the prepossessing manners of a gentleman all the craft and subtlety of an intriguing courtier; while his