[bryce] settlers of OLD ASSINIBOIA 159 



himself as representative and adviser of his countrymen who were 

 struggling as we have seen for liberty in Red River Settlement. Isbis- 

 ter's advice to his friends and relatives in the struggle of Sinclair and 

 Sayer against "The Company" was invaluable. Having a bent to 

 serve as an educationalist he retired from the Law Courts, and became 

 Head of the College of Preceptors in London. It was in this capacity 

 that the writer knew him. Having accumulated a considerable 

 fortune, Isbister left all, with an obligation to support his mother 

 and sister, to Manitoba University. By successful management the 

 bequest has reached in value to S 100,000 of invested capital of which 

 all the revenue now goes in scholarships to Manitoba University. 

 Dr. Isbister was a warm friend of liberty. He was devoted to his 

 native land and will always be kept in memory on account of his 

 magnificent bequests. 



V. 



Captain William Kennedy. 



Forty years ago on the banks of Red River at the Rapids lived a 

 cousin of Alexander Kennedy Isbister of whom we have just spoken. 

 Of good Orkney descent he also was born on the Saskatchewan River 

 and after various adventures became one of Lady Franklin's captains 

 to go in search of Sir John Franklin who was lost in the Arctic Sea. 

 While in command of his vessel he very nearly reached the spot where 

 traces of Sir John Franklin were aftenvards found by Captain McClin- 

 tock in 18.59. Lady Franklin herself fitted out the Prince Albert 

 schooner and placed Captain Kennedy in command. On their long 

 journey Kennedy's second in command was Lieutenant Bellot of the 

 French Navy. Bellot made a long sledge journey in the great search, 

 and discovered the Strait which now bears his name between North 

 Somerset and Boothia in the Arctics. After returning from his 

 Arctic Expedition Captain Kennedy, having done benevolent work in 

 Central Ontario, settled down at the Rapids of the Red River where 

 the massive bridge now stands some eighteen miles below the City of 

 Winnipeg. The writer knew him well and remembers a most inter- 

 esting lecture before the Manitoba Historical Society in which he 

 declared that the Magnetic Pole discovered by Captain John Ross in 

 1831, where the magnetic needle stands vertical, as being at the centre 

 of terrestial magnetism for the Northern Hemisphere of the earth, 

 lying directly north of Winnipeg might be tapped to Winnipeg to 

 supply the whole continent of North America with electricity. It 

 was a matter of interest to the writer, to take part in the obsequies of 

 the old Captain at the burial place of St. Andrew's on the banks of 

 the Red River. 



