PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 23 



Numerous, indeed, are the obligations which I 

 am under to a multitude of excellent persons, both 

 in England and America, who either gave or 

 offered assistance at different stages of the enter- 

 prise. A particular and circumstantial acknow r - 

 ledgment of all these is impossible ; but my 

 English friends, I am sure, will forgive me 

 for making one exception. After the fire at 

 Montreal, by which our hotel was consumed, a 

 rumour having got abroad that all the instru- 

 ments, &c. belonging to the expedition were de- 

 stroyed, I received, not long afterwards, the 

 following communication : — 



"Albany, April 29.1833. 



" My dear Sir, 



" We have just heard of the destruction of the 



British American Hotel, and it is reported you 



have suffered loss. Under these circumstances, 



permit one of your American friends to offer to 



do any thing for you in his power, by way of 



replacing any articles at his own expense. 



" Any thing I can do for you it will give me 



pleasure to do, on hearing from you. 



" With sincere regard, 



" Yours very truly, 



" (In haste,) 



" S. De Witt Bloodgood. 

 " Capt. Back: 9 



c 4 



