LEAVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED. Ill 



double and aboon for wliat I married her; but she said I had 

 made the best of husbands, and needed a consolation for the loss of 

 her ; so saying, she died, leaving me with the meal, though the 

 basin was taken away." 



I show part of a letter in the curious, even, sloping, handwriting of 

 Mr. Widder, so long associated with the Canada Company, with his 

 familiar signature attached. " T have been urged by three successive 

 mails from England, by influential parties, to endeavour to draft some 

 project for a Railway, and Colonization purposes. This I have done, 

 and with the concurrence of favourable circumstances, I believe that 

 success will attend my scheme. I shall require to submit it, as I 

 have previously intimated, to the consideration of this Government 

 after I obtain the approbation from home ; and as I think my success 

 will be mainly influenced by the scheme having to be dealt with 

 whilst you are a meml^er of the Council, I feel extremly anxious about 

 your continuance therein for two or three months. Believe me, &c., 

 Fred. Widder." As a memorial of Mr. Robinson, the Com- 

 missioner of the Canada Company, lately deceased, 1 preserve with 

 care an autograph addressed to him by Sii- John Franklin, who, on one 

 of his journeys north, previous to the expedition which proved fatal 

 to him, was the guest of Mr. Robinson at Newmarket. " Dear Sir," 

 Sir John Franklin writes, " you will be glad to learn that we reached 

 the River by eight this morning with all the stores. I feel much 

 indebted to Mr. Beaman for his exertions : without his aid and that 

 of the men under him we should have had to remain some days on 

 the other side of the Portage, as the Contractor had neither Teams 

 nor Cart ready. The former were procured by Mr. Beaman from a 

 farmer, and I have to request you will pay him for their use and 

 charge the sum to the general account. I have just heard that 

 Lieut. Douglas sent oft' his Batteaux yesterday ; but as the wind is 

 strong from N.W., I fear it will be three days befoi-e it reaches us : 

 in that case otu- provision will run short, if Mr. Beaman does not 

 succeed in getting us some on his return, which he will endeavour to 

 do. We have found your Canteen and supplies extremely useful, and 

 feel much obliged for your kindness in letting us have it. Believe 

 me, &c., John Franklin. Monday, 11th April, 1825. Lieut. 

 Back will have to get provisions from you for the men. The Batteaux 

 will be sent back here for them as soon as possible." The river 

 spoken of would be the Holland River, and the other side of the 



