That upon demonstrating to Archibald M'Donald, that such was not the kind of provisions promised by his Lordship in his (Archibald M'Donald's) presence, Archibald M'Donald answered him, that he ought to be content with what he got, as it was good enough for him. The Deponent also states, that the English provisions which had accompanied them, were taken from them (the Colonists), and issued to the Hudson's Bay Company's Servants; and states that, to procure the scanty pittance of half a partridge per day, they were under the necessity of travelling fifteen miles, to draw it on sleighs; that if they (the Colonists) refused to comply, their provisions were immediately stopt.

That on his route from Churchill to Red River, they laboured in the same manner as the Servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, and without recompense.

That on their (the Colonists') arrival at Red River, one hundred acres of land was given to each Settler, and that he and five or six Settlers, were furnished with horses.

That he received no impliments of husbandry or live stock, and all the kitchen furniture he could procure, was an old frying pan, and a small copper kettle.

That the provisions issued to them at Red River were very indifferent, such as pemican and cat fish; no salt could be procured.

That Miles M'Donell assembled the Settlers at his dwelling-house, in Red River Settlement, and calling him (this Deponent), Angus M'Kay, and John Mathuson to his room, desired them to tell the Settlers that arms would be furnished them for their defence.

That he went out and spoke to the Settlers on the subject, and which measure they all adopted, but two would

not.

That upon this, they were formed into a line at the end of Mr. Miles M'Donell's house, where they were treated to a glass of spirits per man, Miles M'Donell at the same time telling him, that the laws of this Country (meaning Red River) were, the stronger parties dictating to the weaker. After this harangue, each man was furnished with a gun and ammunition.

That finding his treatment the reverse to what he was led to expect from Lord Selkirk's representations, and for the reasons specified in this Deposition, he judged it expedient to return to Canada, and for that purpose requested a passage from Red River, from Mr. D. Cameron (a

Proprietor in the North West Company), which was granted.

And farther this Deponent says not.

St. Mary Two Falls, 19th August, 1815.

James Toomy's Affidavit.

PERSONALLY came and appeared before me, Archibald Norman Macleod, Esq. one of the Justices of our Lord the King, duly appointed for the Indian Territory-James Toomy, a native of Ireland, now at Montreal; deposeth and saith, that in the month of June, in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven, he was engaged to the Hudson's Bay Company for three years; that in the spring of the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen, he was at the Red River, in the said Indian Territory; that early in the said spring, on or about the 15th of March, he this Deponent, and several other servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, were ordered by Captain Miles Macdonell, to prepare themselves to go off next morning to the Plains, in search of provisions, to the tents of the Freemen, and that he, Captain Miles Macdonell, would follow them; that he the said Captain Miles Macdonell addressed himself chiefly to this Deponent on this occasion; that the following morning, he this Deponent, and several other servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, to the number of fourteen or fifteen, received arms and ammunition from one Mr. Spencer, and proceeded under the command of one Mr. Warren, to the tents of some Freemen, one Charles Hesse and others, near Turtle River; that the second or third night, he this Deponent and party aforesaid slept in the tents of the said Freemen; that he this Deponent and party found one Michael Macdonell (one of the Clerks of the said Hudson's Bay Company) at the Freemèn's tents;

E

that he this Deponent found there also the servants of the North-West Company, named Jean Baptiste Desmarrais, and two or three others, whose names this Deponent does not recollect; that the next morning this Deponent was present, when the said Jean Baptiste Desmarrais and the other servants of the North-West Company received from the said Freemen a quantity of provisions, consisting of beat meat*, and tallow, as well as fresh meat, with which the said Jean Baptiste Desmarrais loaded two or three trains † (being more than one-horse load), and the said Desmarrais and party proceeded with the said trains so loaded, towards the North-West Company's Forts at Turtle River; that the said Mr. Warren and the said Michael Macdonell, immediately ordered this Deponent and the other servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, to fall in rank and files, to load their muskets with powder and ball, and to screw on their bayonets, and put themselves in array to force the said Jean Baptiste Desmarrais and others, the servants of the North-West Company aforesaid, to give up to him this Deponent, and the said Mr. Warren and Michael Macdonell and party aforesaid, the said provisions then in the possession of the said Jean Baptiste Desmarrais, and the other servants of the North-West Company; that the said Jean Baptiste Desmarrais and his party, not finding themselves strong enough to oppose the said Mr. Warren and the said Michael Macdonell, they took the said provisions from the said Desmarrais in the presence of this Deponent; that the said Michael Macdonell ordered this Deponent to go and meet the said Captain Miles Macdonell, and inform him of what had just passed between the said Michael Macdonell and the said servants of the North-West Company; that is to say, to "tell Captain Miles Macdonell, that he, Michael Macdonell, had succeeded in taking the provisions from the servants of the North-West Company by force;" that this Deponent did impart this message to Captain Miles Macdonell, who replied, "it was all very well;" and he the said Captain Miles Macdonell then ordered this Deponent to return to where the said Mr. Michael Macdonell had taken possession of the said NorthWest Company's provisions, to tell the said Michael Macdonell to keep possession of the said provisions until he, the said Captain Miles Macdonell, should arrive there himself; that this Deponent then did return, according to * The Buffalo-meat is prepared by being beat, or pounded, with tallow. The trains, are sledges drawn on the snow by dogs, and sometimes by

men.

orders, and imparted the said last-mentioned message to the said Michael Macdonell; that this Deponent accompanied the said Michael Macdonell from Fort William, on the said Indian Territory, to this place; that the said Michael Macdonell is now in Montreal.

James Pinkman's Affidavit.

PERSONALLY came and appeared before me, Archibald Norman Macleod, one of His Majesty's Justices duly appointed for the Indian Territory-James Pinkman, a native of Ireland, now at Montreal, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that on or about the twenty-ninth day of May, Eighteen Hundred and Fourteen, at the Forks of the Red River, he was ordered by Mr. John Spencer to arm himself, and to be in readiness to proceed to Portage La Prairie, about two days' journey up the Assiniboine River; that on the following day he, with two others, under the immediate orders of John Spencer, went to the said Portage La Prairie, where they remained a few hours to refresh, after which they proceeded to Brandon House, on the banks of the River La Sourie, where they arrived on the third morning succeeding that of their departure from the Forks; that on their arrival at the said house, he, Mr. John Spencer, went to the North-West Fort at that place, making a demand for provisions; that to the best of his knowledge and recollection, one of those two men who accompanied him from the Forks of the Red River, went with him, Mr. John Spencer, to the said North-West Company's Fort; that he cannot pretend to any knowledge of what passed between the person in charge of the Fort and Mr. John Spencer, but states, that a letter was written by John Spencer, and sent by one of his men to Miles Macdonell; that he supposed the letter was relative to the provisions, but is

not positive; that during five days that the messenger was absent, they remained inactive; that on the fifth day the messenger stated, arrived with an answer from Miles Macdonell, to this effect: "that Mr. John Spencer should force his way;"-That on the afternoon of the same day Mr. John Spencer ordered him, with the aforementioned two men, to embark and cross the river, which was effected, Mr. Howes, of the Hudson's Bay Company, having accompanied them, by landing before the gates of the Fort; that Mr. John Spencer remarked while in the boat, that his orders were to take the provisions by force; that on their arrival at the gates of the Fort, which were shut, Mr. John Spencer demanded, in the King's name, that the provisions, or pemican, grease, &c. then in the Fort, should be delivered to him; that on which, Mr. Pritchard, the person in charge of said provisions, &c. desired he, Mr. Spencer, would wait a few minutes: Mr. Pritchard returned with a small note, which he pushed through the stockades to Mr. John Spencer; that on Mr. John Spencer's reading the note, he turned round and said, "that will not do;" to which Mr. Pritchard replied, "then you must force your way, as I will not open the gates;" that he and the other two men were then ordered by John Spencer to cut down the stockades, and take the said provisions, and by force of arms, which they did; to effect also which, the, iron staples of the store were drawn, to open the door, and John Spencer took all the provisions belonging to the North-West Company, in the house and store so broke open, viz. five hundred bags of pemican, about ninety-six kegs of grease, and about nine bales of dried meat; that this Deponent objected to breaking open the house, and to be aiding in taking the provisions, to which the said John Spencer replied, he must obey his orders; that these provisions, &c. being taken in the manner stated, were conveyed across the river to the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort, and there deposited, except two batteaux loads, which were by the said Spencer taken down to the Forks, and delivered to Miles Macdonell.