﻿130 SEND HOME LETTERS. Jult, 



ceived by the officer in charge of the brigade, 

 Chief Factor Murdoch M'Pherson, who waited till 

 we joined him. From this gentleman I received 

 much useful intelligence of the measures he had 

 taken for supplying the expedition with provisions 

 during our winter residence in Fort Confidence, at 

 the north end of Great Bear Lake, and also a list 

 of all the provisions and stores remaining at Fort 

 Simpson, the Company's chief post and depot on 

 the Mackenzie ; and I have pleasure in acknow- 

 ledging here, that I am indebted to him for much 

 invaluable assistance, as well as for very many 

 acts of personal kindness. 



To him we committed the last letters that we 

 could send to our families and friends in Europe 

 this year. I had sent despatches to the Admiralty 

 from Methy Portage, not being sure that we should 

 meet the Mackenzie River brigade, which is the 

 latest that goes out. It can seldom cross Great 

 Slave Lake before the end of June, and from 

 twenty to twenty-four days are required for the 

 passage of loaded boats from thence to Methy 

 Portage. There the Mackenzie River party are 

 m.et by a brigade from York Factory, which brings 

 up goods for next year's supply of the northern 

 posts, and takes back the furs brought from 

 the Mackenzie. There is just time in common 

 seasons for that brigade to descend to York Fac- 



