Covenhoven (grandson), 136–
37,142–43
Vancouver, British Columbia, 87, 100
Vedder, Elizabeth (see Van Horne,
Elizabeth)
Whitman, Walt, 26
Whitney, Henry, 179
Whyte, William, 107
William Notman and Son, 86
Willison, Sir John, 122, 139
Willson, Henry Beckles, 32
Will County, Illinois, 13, 16, 26
Windsor Hotel, Montreal, 128
Windsor Station, Montreal, 100, 102,
195
Winnipeg, Manitoba, 72–75, 121
Wood, General Leonard, 159–60,
165–67
Prologue: A Gentleman in Waiting
London, 23d. Feby 1820
To: Mr. and Mrs. Pooler, My old Friend Dick, Miss Helen,[1]
Reigate, Surrey, England
Since I last had the pleasure of seeing You, an unexpected circumstance has occurred which renders it necessary for me to leave Old England for a time, and at the short notice of 5 days.
On Sunday afternoon I leave Town for Liverpool, embark in the packet for New York on Tuesday, from thence proceed direct for Montreal and afterward take an inland Rout by the St. Lawrence, Lakes Ontario, Huron, Superior, and Winnipeg to Hudson Bay and afterward to Athapascow to Slave Lake and Copper Mine River. The Journey is rather a serious undertaking and the mission is important connected with the affairs of Lord Selkirk, the Hudson’s Bay and North West Compys. Travellers you know meet with some extraordinary adventures I shall therefore have some wonderful Tales to relate when I again have the pleasure of visiting You.
Pray offer my affectionate regard to Mrs. and Miss Pooler Dick and the Children as also to Mrs. Palmer and with unfeigned esteem believe me always to be
My Dear Sir
Yours Most Truly
Geo. Simpson
* * *
Montreal 28th Apl. 1820
To: Same
I am sure it will not be uninteresting to learn that I have got this length in perfect safety and in the enjoyment of good Health and spirits.
My adventures hitherto possess little interest, yet I shall give you a summary account of my proceeding since my departure from London, and by the time I shall next have the pleasure of seeing you my Journal will be furnished with abundant store for a long evengs chat. On the 27 Feby I left Town for Liverpool where I was detained a few Days by contrary winds, and on the 4th ultimo embarked on board the James Monroe for New York: my Fellow passengers consisted of 13 gentlemen & 2 Ladies; the Spanish Ambassador Genl. Vevas and suite were of the party, the other Gentlemen were commercial Men, but amongst them were two Vile Radicals who would have kept us in continual discord during the Voyage had we not sent them to Coventry which was affected not only by threats but by actual hard thumps. Of the ladies … they were of the same cast going to join their husbands who by their treasonable proceedings had found it necessary to take refuge in the states, an asylum for the outcasts and malcontents of all Nations…. On the whole we had a very agreeable party but the passage throughout was one continued storm; on the banks of Newfoundland we encountered very severe Weather and [were] much annoyed with Ice; the wind was so intense that wherever the spray reached, it immediately congealed, the Deck covered with Ice a foot thick and our sails as thick as a 3 Inch plank; with some difficulty however we got out of this Frozen Latitude and on the 4th instant landed at New York after a quick but tempestuous voyage of 31 Days. The harbour of New York is perhaps the finest in the World, protected by strong batteries so as to render it impregnable from the sea. The Town is well laid out, some handsome streets and a few elegant publick buildings; it is situated on an island formed by the harbour the North and East Rivers and is altogether a gay, bustling city with a population of about 130,000 Souls.
At New York I remained but a few days and received much attention & hospitality from some friends to whom I had Letters of Introduction. From thence I took my departure inland by Steamer to Albany about 170 Miles up the North River which is a noble stream navigable by Ships of any burthen and an average of from 1/2 to 3/4ths of a mile broad on which there is much Traffick & abounding with fish….
Albany is a neat pretty town where I merely remained an hour to get horses and proceeded direct for this place, thro’ boundless Forests, extensive plains and over some stupendous Mountains; an interesting country at any other Season of the Year but covered with snow the roads one continued morass so that it was necessary to keep my eye fixed on them to avoid getting drowned in the Sea of Mud and the weather so bad that I had no opportunity of devoting much of my attention to the surrounding Scenery; my vehicle was nothing more than an open cart drawn by 4 animalcule unworthy the Name of Horses and after about 50 Spills in which I had numerous bruises & contusions was compelled to have recourse to the Marrowbone stage the greater part of the Journey; my time being limited I found it necessary to Travel by forced marches 19 hours out of the 24 and got here the seventh Day nearly worn out with Fatigue; had the credit of opening the St. Lawrence being the first boat that crossed this Season, the floating Ice made it a source of some danger but the Soaking I had will teach me to be more cautious in future. Here I am in excellent quarters and quite at Home with many of the first Families in Town; my time pleasantly divided between business and amusement; Dinner parties, Tea Squalls, Cards, Balls, Theatres & Masquerades occupy my evengs, and I assure you the representative of the Hudsons Bay Coy & Lord Selkirk is looked upon as no inconsiderate personage in this part of the World.
I am busily preparing for my Journey into the interior, a serious undertaking, my conveyance is a canoe pulled by 10 stout Fellows which they carry over the portages; my Cloak will answer all the purposes of a bed and the canoe turned bottom upwards my chamber so that there is no danger of my getting enervated by ease & luxury. The first part of my Journey I expect to accomplish in 40 Days and my future proceedings will be regulated by the state of things in the interior. The serious differences between the Hudsons Bay & North West Compys are the causes of my mission and from the preparation being made by both parties I suspect we shall have some hard Blows; I am not however paid for fighting will therefore keep my bones whole if possible yet show my Governors that I am not wanting for Courage if necessity puts it to the test. There is a possibility that I may be obstructed in my Rout as the N.W. Coy, a band of unprincipled and Lawless Marauders, stick at nothing however desperate to gain their ends; I am, however, armed to the Teeth, will sell my Life if in danger as dear as possible and never allow a north Wester [to] come within reach of my Riffle if Flint Steel and bullet can keep him off.
My best regards and with unfeigned esteem believe me to be
My dear Sir
Yours most truly and Sincerely
Geo. Simpson
These letters reveal the quintessential George Simpson. He has just been promoted on short notice to the position of governor locum tenens of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC); that is, to take charge of the Company’s interests in North America if the appointed governor is arrested. This Simpson is young, good-natured, almost boyish. He is brash, bright, quick to adverse judgments of whole groups (Americans, Northwesters — judgments he is just as quick to reverse), quick to put his fists to work, and a lucid writer and describer. He revels in the toils of travel, storms at sea, oceans of mud, and the danger of crossing a river in ice flood. He loves good company, banquets and balls, good food, dancing,