way. In the Wesleyan Missionary Report for 1843, referring to their station at Fort Edmonton, the Society remark: Mr. Rundle's situation is one particularly trying; the people around him are chiefly Roman Catholics; and the priest from Red River has this summer visited extensively both the Company's posts and the Indians, and I fear thrown many obstacles in his Mr. Harriot, the gentleman in charge of Edmonton House, has cheerfully assisted in advancing the great work among the aborigines; and as that gentleman is the best speaker of the Cree language to be found among Europeans, his services are invaluable to us. He has acquired a thorough knowledge of the Cree character, and has this summer presented me with translations of the Morning Service, the Baptismal Service, several Collects, the first seven chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel, and a good collection of Hymns translated from our Hymn book.'-(P. 161.) The Wesleyan Missionary Notices for January 1843, again advert in several places to the encouragement given by the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company to the dissemination of the Gospel. The following is an extract from a letter and journal of the Rev. James Evans, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Missions in the Hudson's Bay territories, dated August 1841 :'Since my arrival in the country, I have visited York Factory, of which I made the Committee aware last autumn. On my return, I remained at Norway House until December, and left it, early in that month, to visit the posts within my reach. During the winter I visited Moose Lake, the Pas, Cumberland House, Shoal River, Fort Pelly, Beaver Creek, Red River, on my way to Fort Alexander and Berring's River; and returned to Norway House at the latter end of March. I was received at every post of the Honourable Company with the greatest kindness, and experienced every attention from the gentlemen in charge. I endeavoured to discharge the duties incumbent upon me, with an eye to the glory of God, in the salvation of sinners; and trust, that the fruits of my humble labours will appear on the day of eternity. I intend, by the Divine blessing, to visit the following places during a journey, which it is my purpose to commence, namely, Cumberland, Carlton, Fort Pitt, and Edmonton, where I hope to meet my good brother, the Rev. Mr. Rundle. After spending a few weeks in that vicinity, I shall proceed, by winter conveyance (snow shoes and dog carriages) to Forts Jaspar, Assiniboine, Lesser Slave Lake, Dunvegan, Vermillion, Chippewyan, Feud du Lac, La Crosse, Green Lake, and back by Carlton; thence to Norway House, by the Saskatchewan or Athabasca boats, reaching Norway House in June or July 1842. The journey is undertaken with the decided approbation of the Governor in Chief Sir George Simpson, who kindly assured me that he would himself, in passing the Sacskatchewan see that every preparation should be made for me to proceed thence. Before my return, should I succeed in my proposed tour, I shall travel about six thousand miles. During this time I hope to preach the everlasting Gospel to hundreds who never heard the joyful sound; and I humbly trust that, in a short period, not a post belonging to the Honourable Company will be found where the glad news of salvation by Christ shall not have been heard. I shall, I feel convinced, have the co-operation of my brethren here, and of the Committee at home, and the unlimited aid of the Honourable Company's officers, in carrying out this great object. I likewise become better acquainted with the state, wants, and general character of the country, as well as with the number, disposition, and languages of the natives. I feel assured of the Divine protection and blessing. We have great cause of gratitude to Almighty God, that we are saved from that scourge of poor Indians, the fire waters' (rum), the use of this being by the Honourable Company prohibited to a great extent in the country; an arrangement equally wise and benevolent. September 1st: I found Mr. Grant (one of the Company's officers) at Oxford House, anxious to make my night's stay as comfortable as possible. I preached to the Honourable Company's officers and servants, and several natives attended. At the close of the service I baptized an adult, who expressed a determination to forsake sin and cleave to the Lord; and six children; and solemnized two marriages. 7th.-To-day my worthy brother Rundle left by the Saskatchewan boat for Edmonton. About two months, with God's blessing, will bring him thither; during which time he must sleep on the ground, wet or dry, not unfrequently without erecting his cloth tent, as sometimes it cannot be pitched, Rain or fair, heat or cold, he must sit in the open boat, and look to Heaven for present and eternal comfort. Every thing which the fort could supply was kindly furnished, in order to make his voyage as comfortable as circumstances would permit.' January 19th, 1842.-Thermometer 42° below zero. It is excessively cold. Water from the tea-kettle, nearly boiling, being poured into a tin plate to the depth of about half an inch, became frozen and solid, or sufficiently so to slide out, when warmed on the under side, in seven minutes and a half. '20th. We made Fort Pelly at ten o'clock.-Thermometer 25o. Sunday, 24th.-I preached to an attentive congregation, several professing their determination to seek and serve the Lord. 6 ' 26th. We have prayers every night at seven, at which time I always deliver a short discourse, or expound some portion of Scripture, catechize the children, and teach them prayers at halfpast eight. '28th.—I have had several interviews with a sick Indian, who is taken care of in the fort. He appears anxious to receive instruction, but is very deaf. 'Sunday 31.-I preached at eleven, at three, and at seven o'clock, and baptized eight after the forenoon service. February 1st.-I left Fort Pelly, having experienced every kindness and attention from Dr. Todd, and derived great satis faction in seeing a marked attention to the word of life. 5th. We made Beaver Creek House, and found all well. Thanks to our great Preserver. 6th. We experienced great kindness from Mr. and Mrs. M'Kay; an excellent Cree speaker kindly furnished me with a translation of the Lord's prayer. We held prayers at eight p. m. in a large fort, and had a good congregation: several Indians encamped in the neighbourhood. Sunday, 7th.-I preached at eleven and at six. I baptized three persons connected with the fort; much pains having been taken by the gentleman in charge, and his family, to instruct those connected with the establishment. RAINY LAKE.-Great praise is due to the gentleman in charge of this post, for the readiness with which he has co-operated with the Missionary in promoting the interests of the Mission. A change has been made this year, and Nichol Finlayson, Esq., with whom I spent the winter of 1838 on Lake Superior, is at present at Rainy Lake; by whom I am satisfied, every assistance will be afforded.' The following extracts are copied from the journal of Mr. Rundell: His station is the most westerly position occupied by this Society, and is in the immediate vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, in which are the sources of those great rivers which water the American continent, and flow into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The tribes of Indians which occupy the extensive plains in their neighbourhood, are both numerous and powerful, and are also in better circumstances than their brethren in other parts of the country. Mr. Rundell has the honour of being the first Protestant Missionary who has been stationed among them. He reached Edmonton House on the 18th of September, 1840, after having traversed, from the time of his landing in New York, about three thousand five hundred miles. He received a most cordial welcome from the officer in charge, and immediately commenced his Missionary labours and toils, in humble dependence upon Him, who hath said for the encouragement of his servants, 'Lo I am with you alway, even even unto the end of the world.' · February 22nd, 1841.-I reached Rocky Mountain House, and was very kindly received by J. H. Harriott, Esq., the gentleman in charge. I found several Indians at the Fort, and, shortly after my arrival, another party arrived from the plains. Great warmth of feeling was expressed by them on seeing me. Their dresses But as the subject is of the highest importance, and a neglect of religious duties and moral observances would justly subject any association to the condemnation of the people of England, and require Her Majesty's Government to deny an extension of authority to those who violate the laws of God which have been revealed to man for his temporal as well as for his spiritual good-I have been induced to inquire what has been done by the Hudson's Bay Company in support of that excellent institution, the 'Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society,' whose efforts for the conversion of the heathen, in various parts of the globe, are deserving of cordial encouragement. Dr. Alder, one of the general Secretaries of the Society, has kindly furnished me with all the Missionary Reports on the subject. He was in North America last year, and informs me that the Mission has received the valuable aid of the Hudson's Bay Company at home, and of Sir G. Simpson and their chief factors and traders abroad. The Missionaries are supplied with provisions by the Company; they are conveyed, free of charge, from station to station by the Company; at Ross Ville, near Norway House, the principal station of the Mission, the Company have built for the Wesleyans a church, school-house, &c. 1839, the Hudson's Bay Company invited and encouraged the Wesleyan Society to extend their Missions to the territories of the Company, and to certain districts of country beyond the limits of those territories, with a view to the moral and religious instruction of the numerous tribes of the aborigines, and to their civilization, and the general amelioration of their condition. To an application, alike honourable to the Christian benevolence of the Company and to the character of the Wesleyan Society, the committee promptly attended; and five Missionaries and one Indian Assistant Missionary are now actually employed in this sacred service. From the following brief description of the stations which these evangelical labourers severally occupy, some idea may be formed of the extent of the country, the character of the population, and the arduous nature of those duties which our In |