INTERVIEW WITH MESSRS. STUART AND M'LEOD. ?3 



the Company, which, Mr. Charles had informed 

 me, might, if we pleased, be appropriated to our 

 use. 



On arriving at the Pine Portage, I was agree- 

 ably surprised by meeting Mr. J. Stuart, and 

 Mr. A. R. M'Leod, who had got thus far 

 on their way from M'Kenzie's River, with a 

 large cargo of furs. I had looked forward with 

 no little anxiety to the chance of seeing the latter 

 gentleman, not only as he was the first person 

 named in Governor Simpson's circular to accom- 

 pany me, but as being an old acquaintance, and 

 one whom I knew to be particularly well qualified 

 for the performance of those duties which the 

 nature of the service would require. Indeed, his 

 refusal to accompany me would have placed me 

 in a very awkward predicament ; for I had reck- 

 oned on his assistance in many matters which 

 could not, without great inconvenience, have de- 

 volved on myself. It was therefore of importance 

 to secure him ; and my friend Mr. Stuart, to 

 whose kindness and love of enterprise I was 

 no stranger, undertook at once to break the 

 subject to him. But there was no necessity for 

 mediation ; for, although Mr. M'Leod had long 

 been indisposed, and was then on his way to 

 Canada, with a view to the re-establishment of 

 his health, no sooner did he see the circular 

 from Mr. Simpson, and learn the humane 



