After all, this is not much to be wondered at, since Sir G. Simpson openly avowed to Mr. Evans his preference of Roman Catholic Missionaries; one reason for this preference being, that these never interfered with the Company’s servants, nor troubled them with any precise or puritanical notions about the moral law.

CHAPTER XXI.

SKETCH OF RED RIVER SETTLEMENT.

    RED RIVER—­SOILS—­CLIMATE—­PRODUCTIONS—­SETTLEMENT OF RED
    RIVER, THROUGH LORD SELKIRK, BY HIGHLANDERS—­COLLISION BETWEEN
    THE NORTH-WEST AND HUDSON’S BAY COMPANIES—­INUNDATION—­ITS
    EFFECTS—­FRENCH HALF-BREEDS—­BUFFALO-HUNTING—­ENGLISH
    HALF-BREEDS—­INDIANS—­CHURCHES—­SCHOOLS—­STORES—­MARKET FOR
    PRODUCE—­COMMUNICATION BY LAKES.

Red River rises in swamps and small lakes in the distant plains of the south; and after receiving a number of tributary streams that serve to fertilize and beautify as fine a tract of land as the world possesses, discharges itself into the eastern extremity of Lake Winnipeg in lat. 50 deg..  The climate is much the same as in the midland districts of Canada; the river is generally frozen across about the beginning of November, and open about the beginning of April.  The soil along the banks of the river is of the richest vegetable mould, and of so great a depth that crops of wheat are produced for several years without the application of manure.  The banks produce oak, elm, maple, and ash; the woods extend rather more than a mile inland.  The farms of the first settlers are now nearly clear of wood; an open plain succeeds of from four to six miles in breadth, affording excellent pasture.  Woods and plains alternate afterwards until you reach the boundless prairie.  The woods produce a variety of delicious fruits, delighting the eye and gratifying the taste of the inhabitants; cherries, plums, gooseberries, currants, grapes, and sasgatum berries in great abundance.  Coal has been discovered in several places, and also salt springs.

Lord Selkirk having been made acquainted with the natural advantages of this favoured country by his North-West hosts in Montreal, determined forthwith on adopting such measures as might ensure to himself and heirs the possession of it for ever.  Accordingly, on his return to England, he purchased Hudson’s Bay Company’s stock to an amount that enabled him to control the decisions of the Committee; and thus, covered by the shield of the charter, he could carry on his premeditated schemes of aggression against the North-West Company, with some appearance of justice on his side.