Harmon's journal. 



157 



form me of their health and reasonable prosperi- 

 ty. It is a great satisfaction thus to hear from 

 them ; but this satisfaction would be greatly in- 

 creased, could I be permitted to see and converse 

 with them. Although the seven years, for which 

 I was under an engagement to the North West 

 Company, have now expired, I cannot with the 

 least degree of propriety, as I think, gratify the 

 ardent desire which I have of seeing my friends, 

 by going down this year. And when the happy 

 time will come, that I shall visit them, God only 

 knows. It is trying to a person who has the least 

 affection for his friends, to be separated from 

 them, for such a series of years, in such a savage 

 country. My duty and happiness, however, re- 

 quire that I endeavour to make the best of my 

 situation. Notwithstanding the bad examples 

 which we daily witness, a person can be as virtu- 

 ous in this, as in any other part of the world. 

 True it is, if a person were here to lead a really re- 

 ligious life, he would find but few associates, who 

 would directly encourage him in his course. But 

 this is in a great measure true in every part of 

 the world. 



Sunday, July 19. This, which was formerly 

 called the New Fort, is now named Fort William, 

 in honour of William M c Gilvray, Esq. the head 

 agent 'of the North West Company. At the time 



