OF THE POLAR SEA. 149 



write down every occurrence in your books ; 

 but probably you have only noticed the bad 

 things we have said and done, and have 

 omitted the good." In the course of the 

 ^ desultory conversation which ensued, he 

 said, that he had been always told by us, to 

 consider the traders in the same light as 

 ourselves ; and that, for his part, he looked 

 upon both as equally respectable. This 

 assurance, made in the presence of Mr. 

 Weeks, was particularly gratifying to us, 

 as it completely disproved the defence that 

 had been set up, respecting the injurious 

 reports circulated against us amongst the 

 Indians in the spring; namely, that they 

 were in retaliation for our endeavours to 

 lower the traders in the eyes of the Indians. 

 I take this opportunity of stating my opi- 

 nion, that Mr. Weeks, in spreading these 

 reports, was actuated by a mistaken idea 

 that he was serving the interests of his em- 

 ployers. On the present occasion, we felt 

 indebted to him for the sympathy he dis- 

 played for our distresses, and the kindness 



