122 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. 



