to venture upon the task solely by an imperious sense of duty,
when called upon to undertake it.
In the ensuing Narrative the notices of the moral condition of
the Indians, as influenced by the conduct of the traders towards
them, refer entirely to the state in which it existed during our
progress through the country; but lest I should have been mistaken
respecting the views of the Hudson’s Bay Company on
these points, I gladly embrace the opportunity which a Second
Edition affords me of stating that the junction of the two Companies
has enabled the Directors to put in practice the improvements
which I have reason to believe they had long contemplated.
They have provided for religious instruction by the
appointment of two Clergymen of the established church, under
whose direction school-masters and mistresses are to be placed
at such stations as afford the means of support for the establishment
of schools. The offspring of the voyagers and labourers are to
be educated chiefly at the expense of the Company; and such
of the Indian children as their parents may wish to send to
these schools, are to be instructed, clothed, and maintained at
the expense of the Church Missionary Society, which has already
allotted a considerable sum for these purposes, and has also sent
out teachers who are to act under the superintendence of the
Rev. Mr. West, the principal chaplain of the Company.
We had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman at York Factory,
and witnessed with peculiar delight the great benefit which already
marked his zealous and judicious conduct. Many of the traders,
and of the servants of the Company, had been induced to marry
the women with whom they had cohabited; a material step towards
the improvement of the females in that country.
Mr. West, under the sanction of the Directors, has also promoted
a subscription for the distribution of the Bible in every part of the
country where the Company’s Fur Trade has extended, and which
has met with very general support from the resident chief factors,
traders, and clerks. The Directors of the Company are continuing
to reduce the distribution of spirits gradually among the Indians, as
well as towards their own servants, with a view to the entire disuse
of them, as soon as this most desirable object can be accomplished.
They have likewise issued orders for the cultivation of the ground
at each of the posts, by which means the residents will be far less
exposed to famine, whenever, through the scarcity of animals, the
sickness of the Indians, or any other cause, their supply of meat
may fail.
It is to be hoped, that intentions so dear to every humane and
pious mind, will, through the blessing of God, meet with the utmost
success.