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COLUMBIA RIVER. 
anchored off Vancouver. Here we found that Sir George Simpson 
had arrived over-land from Canada, on a tour of inspection, and on his 
way to visit the Russian settlement at Sitka. The next morning we 
had a visit from him, accompanied by Dr. M’Laughlin, Mr. Douglass, 
Mr. Rowan, and Mr. Von Freeman, of the Russian Company. 
Sir George Simpson left England the preceding month of March, 
and was to return thither by way of Kamtschatka : a journey which 
he hoped to perform in less than two years. He had seen much 
service while acting as an officer of the Hudson Bay Company, from 
which he has retired, and in which he now holds no share. Since his 
retirement, he is employed by the stockholders of the Company, as the 
inspector of all the departments, and to report upon the state of the 
trading posts; this leaves him free to act without prejudice. 
The mode of apportioning the profits of the Company is as follows: 
after a certain per centage is paid to the stockholders who own the 
capital, the surplus is divided among the active partners, including 
the chief factor, traders, &c.: who are thus all interested in the profits 
arising from their own exertions. In order that Sir George Simpson 
may be impartial in adjusting and reporting on the affairs, he receives 
a salary of two thousands pounds a year. Sir George has been 
lately knighted, for projecting and superintending the outfits of the 
voyage of his nephew, who completed the discoveries in the north, 
and the history of whose melancholy end has become so well known 
to all interested in Arctic discoveries. 
Captain Hudson, the officers, and myself, were invited to partake of 
a formal dinner at Vancouver: on this occasion, all the functionaries 
of the Company were present, and each individual seemed to have his 
place assigned him. It reminded me of the description of a feast of 
feudal times, for there were many “ below the salt.” 
Like all great dinners, it was stiff and formal. Sir George Simpson 
occupied the head of the table, and there were none but men present. 
Their wives seem to be little thought of, but for what reason I could 
not imagine, as many of them were highly worthy of notice. Their 
frequent exertions in protecting the settlements and their husbands, 
show a devotion to them and their interests, that is highly commenda¬ 
ble ; and why they should not be treated as their equals, I am at a loss 
to conceive. They will bear an advantageous comparison with any 
others who have had so few opportunities. Those whom I saw ex¬ 
hibited both propriety of behaviour and modesty of deportment. It 
may perhaps be, that their seclusion from mixed society is their own 
choice; but such a regulation cannot but tend to prevent improvement, 
and retard advancement in civilization. 
