178 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
LETTER FROM N. GARRY TO GOV. WILLIAMS. 
Fort William, 5th July, 1821. 
Dear Sir: 
I am happy to learn from Mr. McKenzie your safe Arrival at Jack River 
House and considering you will be anxious to receive further Advices as to 
the Nature of the Arrangement entered into with the North West Company 
I have thought it to be advisable to forward to you by a light Canoe sundry 
Letters and Papers which are marked at the Foot of this Letter. The North 
West Company having made Fort William the principal Depot of their Trade 
have a very large Supply of Goods in Store and as from the Manner in which 
the Trade under the new Arrangement will be conducted, the keeping up of 
so considerable a Depot would be useless and would only incur great Expense 
and Risk it is in Contemplation to send forward as large a Proportion as may 
be practicable and thus it is probable it will be found expedient to supply 
from hence the Posts of the Athapascan, Saskatschewan, English River, Cum- 
berland House, Fort Dauphin and the Red River. ta S * a 
The Canadians in the Service of the Hudson Bay Company exceeding so 
much the Number which will be required, it will be expedient not to renew 
the Engagements of such Men whose Time is expired, and, even though it 
should be done with some Sacrifice, to annul the Engagements of others who 
may be willing to retire. * * * * 
I consider it will be advisabie, till we meet, that your Communication on 
the Subject should only be general and particularly as to the Names of the 
Chief Factors and Traders. 
Believe me to be, &c., &c., 
NICHOLAS GARRY. 
To William Williams, Esq., Governor of Ruperts Land. 
Fort William, 1ith July, 1821. 
Wednesday the 1iith July. After Dinner Mr. McGillivray came to me 
stating the Partners of the N. W. Company were ready to sign the Covenant 
of the Hudson’s Bay Company which was done by the following Gentlemen 
who accordingly received their Commissions :—John Thomson, John Mac- 
donald, James Leith, Alexander Stewart, J. G. McTavish, George Keith, John 
Dugald Cameron, James Keith, Angus Bethune, John McBean, Chief Factors; 
Thomas McMurray, Donald McIntosh, Allan McDonell, D. W. Harmon, 
Roderick Mackenzie, Joseph McGillivray, William Connelly, Peter Warren 
Dease, J. F. Laroque, Alexander Stewart, Alexander Macdonald, John Thom- 
son, Donald McIntosh, Thomas McMurray, Chief Traders. 
* * * * * * # * * * + * * 
Thursday the 12th July. It was contemplated to have a Meeting of the 
New Concern, but it was too late to arrange a Plan of Appointments to Posts. 
Thus it was put off to Friday, which was again altered to Saturday from a 
Motive of Superstition. Considering that the best Plan to open the Business 
was to have a general Meeting I mentioned my Intentions to the Chief Factors. 
They however protested against it as being a bad Precedent in admitting the 
Chief Traders. On my communicating this to the Mr. McGillivrays, Mr. Simon 
immediately found out that the Commissions stated that the Factors were 
only Members of Council in Ruperts Land. Thus no meeting in regular Form 
ee ee En, 
Re D eme A 
