formed for the supply of the North canoes: but this expedition found Mr. Alexander Macdonell, who commanded there, better prepared than the other stations, and the assailants were obliged to retreat quietly without effecting their object. Mr. Robertson retained possession of Fort Gibraltar and the Post at the Pembina River, till the arrival of the winter Express of the North-West Company, which he knew was daily expected, bringing accounts of the situation of the different departments, and the success of their wintertrade. He intercepted this Express, and made no scruple of seizing and opening all the Letters, above 100, whether addressed to the Partners, or other persons attached to the Company. The Forts were then abandoned, and razed to the ground; such of the timber as might be useful to Lord Selkirk's Establishments, being first removed for that purpose. On the 19th of May, some persons in the employment of the North-West Company, without authority from any of the Partners or Agents, hearing of the seizure of the fifty packs of furs at the two Posts, took an opportunity of seizing, by way of retaliation, thirty packs found in a batteaux of the Hudson's Bay Company; and these furs were afterwards carefully and separately packed and marked, and sent out to Fort William.

Some disputes had now taken place between Governor Semple and his coadjutor; and, disappointed in the attempt upon the Post at Riviere Qu'Appêle, the former considered it necessary to

cut off the communication between that Post and Lake Winnipic, through which Lake the NorthWest canoes from Athabasca, and other remote parts, pass, and are usually supplied with provisions from the Red River depôts. The lower Posts were already destroyed, and if these canoes could get no provisions from Qu'Appêle, about 500 men would be at Mr. Semple's mercy. A gun-boat, commanded by a Lieut. Holt, was fitted out on the Lake, and batteries, with cannon mounted, were erected on the banks of the river, to effect this object. The Canadians saw nothing before them but the prospect of confusion, and the doubtful issue of the conflict that must ensue; but being convinced, from the plunder of their property at the other Posts, there would be no hesitation in seizing also these, their most valuable returns, preparations were made to protect them, and expresses were sent to the Interior, to advise the different parties coming out of the country, of their danger, and of the necessity of guarding, by all the means in their power, against it. Being still desirous to prevent an actual contest between their canoe-men and the people under Governor Semple's orders, an experiment was made by the Canadians, at the time the canoes were expected, to open the communication between Qu'Appêle and Lake Winnipic, by land; and about fifty Indians and Half-breeds were dispatched, with an escort of provisions, for that pure pose. They received express orders, and were

strictly enjoined, to pass at a distance behind Fort Douglas, Semple's station, and the Colony, to molest no person, and, if possible, to avoid all observation*. In pursuance of these directions, the escort proceeded by the edge of a swamp, (which prevented their making a wider circuit), about four miles from the Fort, with the intention of turning into the usual land-path on the river, nearly a like distance below: in their progress they met one or two Colonists, whom they detained, to prevent information of their route reaching the Fort; and, at the place of their encampment below, a party of them, who had preceded the rest, found some other Colonists fishing, whom they also detained, but did not in the least molest, otherwise than by the restraint of not allowing them to return to give information at the Settlement. Governor Semple, seeing, by a telescope from a look-out on the top of his Fort, the circuit made by the Indians, and probably concluding, if the communication was established, that his plans would be rendered abortive, determined, in an evil hour for himself, to pursue the party, and marched out of the Fort, with twenty-eight men and officers, with great parade in battle array, for this purpose. The Indians and Half-breeds, supposing themselves undiscovered, and unsuspicious of danger, were much scattered twenty-four of the number, as has been before stated, having proceeded about two

See Appendix, No. XIX.

leagues below the others, had begun to encamp: the remaining twenty-six, finding themselves pursued by an armed force, retired to join their companions, sending a Canadian of the name of Bouché, who happened to be with them, and who could speak English, to enquire the reason of their pursuit by Semple's party in a hostile manner. Some words were exchanged, upon which Mr. Semple suddenly seized the bridle of Bouché's horse, disarmed him, and ordered him to be taken prisoner*. Upon his attempt to escape, the Governor ordered him immediately to be fired at, and when his people made some hesitation, seeing the danger they ran in such a conflict, he was more peremptory in his commands, accusing them of cowardice for not immediately obeying. His orders were at last complied with by some of his party, and of the shots fired, one passed close to Bouché's ear, in his flight, and another through the blanket of an Indian, who was advancing after Bouché, in the attitude, and with the language of friendship. Seeing himself thus treacherously assailed, the Indian levelled his gun, and fired in return, which example his party followed, and the melancholy and afflicting result of the conflict was, that the Indians rushing in, Mr. Semple and about twenty of his people lost their lives, and one Half

* These particulars are taken from the testimony of Bouché, who was carried down to Montreal, and other persons present in the affray. It has not been deemed advisable, pending the legal proceedings which the case must give rise to, to publish the evidence of parties who may be implicated.

breed, and one Indian, on the other side, were killed.

Of course the accounts of this most deplorable event, given by Lord Selkirk, attempt to throw the blame on the opposite party, and his misrepresentations have gone so far as to accuse the North-West Company of having dispatched this force, not for the purpose of escorting the provisions they had in charge, but for an hostile attack upon Fort Douglas. The facts of the Indians having actually passed that establishment, some part having encamped at about ten miles below the Fort, and who, to the number of twentyfour, did not join in the action, and the conflict having taken place at least four miles below, form a sufficient refutation of the latter part of his accusation: add to this, their studied efforts to avoid collision by the detour made, and the facts, not even denied by the opposite party, that they marched out and followed the Indians, and fired first upon them, no doubt can remain as to who were the aggressors in this most unfortunate affray. The Indians and Half-breeds were all on horseback, and dismounting when the fire commenced, sheltered themselves behind their horses, and took deliberate aim at their antagonists over the horses' backs, which accounts for the destructive result of the contest. After their first fire, according to their usual custom, they rushed in upon the survivors, and a Half-breed of the name of Grant, who appears to have acted as leader of