Some years ago, I happened to be at an establishment where a “Council” was about to be held.  On inquiring of his Excellency’s Secretary what subject of moment he thought would first engage their attention—­

“Engage their attention!” he replied; “bless your heart, man! the minutes of Council were all drawn out before we arrived here; I have them in my pocket.”

Clothed with a power so unlimited, it is not to be wondered at that a man who rose from a humble situation should in the end forget what he was and play the tyrant.  Let others, if they will, submit to be so ruled with a rod of iron.  I at least shall not.

In reply to his favour, I addressed the following letter to his Excellency, a transcript of which I transmitted to the Committee.

“Portage La Loche, “August 3, 1844.

“To SIR GEORGE SIMPSON, Governor of Rupert’s Land:—­

“SIR—­I have the honour to acknowledge your several favours from Lachine and Red River, and am mortified to learn by them you should think me so stupid as not to understand your letters on the subject of my appointment to the charge of the district; your language being so clear, in fact, as to admit of no other construction than the one I put upon it.  By referring to the minutes of Council for 1843, I find myself appointed to Fort Good Hope for that year; but you wrote me subsequently to the breaking up of the Council, and used these words:  ’That is now the finest field we have for the extension of trade, and I count much on your activity for promoting our views in that quarter.  But while directing your attention to the extension of your district, you must also use your best endeavours to curtail the indents.’

“Your letter to Mr. C.F.  Lewis states, in nearly these words, that I ‘am appointed to succeed him;’ and you beg of him ’to deliver into my hands all the documents that refer to the affairs of the district.’  Mr. Lewis understood your letters in the same sense as myself, and so did every other person who perused them.  What your object may have been in altering this arrangement afterwards, is best known to yourself; and whether such conduct can be reconciled with the principles of honour and integrity which you so strongly recommend in others, and which are so necessary to the well-being of society, is a question which I shall leave for the present to your own decision; while I cannot avoid remarking, that the treatment I have experienced from you on this and on many other occasions, is as unworthy of yourself and as unworthy of the high station you fill, as I am undeserving of it.

“When in 1837, I was congratulated by every member of Council then present at Norway House on the prospect of my immediate promotion, (having all voted for me,) your authority was interposed, and I was, as a matter of course, rejected.  You were then candid enough to tell me that I should not have your interest until the two candidates you then had in view were provided for, and that it would then be my turn.  With this assurance from you I cheerfully prepared for my exile to Ungava. My turn only came, however, after seven other promotions had been made, and I found myself the last on the list of three gentlemen who were promoted at the same time.