68 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
up the study of Latin, French and Italian, besides acquiring those 
habits of neatness and precision, both in caligraphy and expression, 
which his journals disclose. He, at this time, also took up the study of 
music and acquired some proficiency with both flute and violin, accom- 
plishments which afforded him much enjoyment in after life, especially 
during his service with the Hudson’s Bay Company. The loneliness of 
the life, the absence of amusements, especially in the evenings of the 
protracted winters spent in remote outposts, rendered any musical 
instrument in the hands of one who could master it, a delight, not only 
to the performer, but to his comrades as well. Where two or more, of 
musical taste and ability, were thrown together as sometimes happened, 
the enjoyment was enhanced by their joining in duets or concerted 
pieces. 
The father of the lads, who had had no intercourse with his family 
in Canada for 20 years, now paid them a visit. While in Canada he met 
Colin Robertson (a Chief Factor since 1821) and he advised sending the 
young men to Hudson bay. In the spring of 1818, L. E. Ermatinger 
obtained for his sons apprentice clerkships in the Hudson’s Bay Com- 
pany’s service. The contract entered into by Edward Ermatinger with 
the company hes before the writer. It provides that he shall enter 
into the Company’s service “in the capacity of clerk and that he will 
embark when thereunto required, on board such ship or vessel as shall 
be appointed by or on behalf of the said Company and proceed to their 
settlements on Hudson’s Bay aforesaid and there for the term of five 
years to be computed from the said embarkation” faithfully serve the 
Company as a clerk, and failing to give notice one year before the 
expiration of said term of his intention to quit the service, he shall 
serve one year longer and also until the next ship sails for Europe. 
The agreement bears date the 13 May, 1818. The remuneration 
was for the 1st year £20, 2nd £25, 3rd £30, 4th £40, and 5th £50. 
The brothers set sail from London in the Prince of Wales the latter 
part of May and arrived at York Factory on 14th August, 1818. 
Edward Ermatinger remained in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 
service ten years. During that time he wintered at Island Lake one 
year and part of another, as long at Oxford House, two years at York 
Factory, one at Red River and three years in the Columbia. He left 
the service in 1828 although his prospects in it were very good, and the 
promise of preferment was held out to him, “but nothing could induce 
me to spend the remainder of my life in a country, where so much hard- 
ship and privation had to be endured, beyond the bounds of civiliza- 
tion ””—wrote Mr. Ermatinger afterwards. He came out by canoe route 
to Lachine, a diary of which trip is presented herewith. 
