22 



WINTER. 



were discharged in Canada at the conclusion of 

 the American war, and were mostly Catholics. 

 There was a large population of Scotch 

 emigrants also, who with some retired servants 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company were chiefly 

 Protestants, and by far the most industrious 

 in agricultural pursuits. There was an un- 

 finished building as a Catholic church, and a 

 small house adjoining, the residence of the 

 Priest ; but no Protestant manse, church, or 

 school house, which obliged me to take up my 

 abode at the Colony Fort, (Fort Douglas,) 

 where the ' Charge d' Affaires ' of the settlement 

 resided ; and who kindly afforded the accom- 

 modation of a room for divine worship on the 

 sabbath. My ministry was generally well 

 attended by the settlers ; and soon after my 

 arrival I got a log-house repaired about three 

 miles below the Fort, among the Scotch popu- 

 lation, where the schoolmaster took up his 

 abode, and began teaching from twenty to 

 twenty-five of the children. 



Nov. the 8th. — The river was frozen over, 

 and the winter set in with severity. Many 

 were harnessing and trying their dogs in 

 sledges, with a view to trip to Pembina, a 

 distance of about seventy miles, or to the 

 Hunters' tents, on the plains, for buff aloe meat, 



