Читать книгу Mine Inheritance - Frederick Niven - Страница 8

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I, David Baxter, for many years in the service of the famous Red River Settlement, have sometimes to remind myself that I was not present in the London home of its founder, the Earl of Selkirk, when Captain Miles Macdonell, appointed organiser and governor of the projected Colony, called on him there for final instruction before setting out for Red River. Very clearly, from Macdonell’s account of it to me, is that occasion fixed in my mind.

That I take upon myself the task of inditing this record of the first British settlement in the Canadian west is due to the fact that I participated in all the stirring and desperate events of its early history, remaining there while several governors, in various upheavals, came and went, and that each governor in turn I served. With a prior incident relative to the Settlement—though I was not a participator in that—I begin this record because I feel that, on reading of it as it was vividly related to me, you will have fair impression of what led to all that follows.

It was in the spring, then, of the year 1811, that Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, and Captain Miles Macdonell—who, towards the end of the American Revolution had been an ensign in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, later a lieutenant, then captain in the Royal Canadian Volunteers—sat in the study of the earl’s London house. On the table between them lay a map, lit by a shaft of sunlight from the tall windows.

“I have progressed some way,” said his lordship, “since I first discussed with you, visiting you at your farm at Osnabruck in Upper Canada, my scheme further to help these unfortunate people who are being evicted from their homes in Scotland. It is my desire, my intention—more strong now than ever—to establish them in a part of the world where they can own their land, from which they can never be evicted, that will be an inheritance for their children.”

He paused.

“I have therefore purchased from the Hudson’s Bay Company,” he said, his fingers tapping the map, “that large tract known as Assiniboia, and it is there, on the banks of the Red River, that I propose to found a settlement for these people. The Hudson’s Bay Company retain judiciary rights over the territory. Already it has been brought against me that I am the chief shareholder in the Company, as though that fact makes my personal purchase of land from them in the nature of sharp practice. I may as well frankly tell you, Captain Macdonell, that it looks as if their enemies, the North-West Company, will be the Settlement’s enemies too. Already that rival fur company has shown disapproval of my scheme. I want you to go out in advance of the first settlers, take over the tract of land from Mr. Hillier of the Hudson’s Bay Company, start clearing for the farms, and install yourself amicably with all concerned. Suaviter in modo will be your best maxim, I think, for the sake of all who will be eventually in your care. I must tell you that I anticipate a little antagonism even from Hudson’s Bay Company officials out there. I am prepared to hear that many, not only in the North-West service, may look upon the venture as an intrusion. After all, what have they thought of all the years of their service?”

It was obvious that he was not merely meditating aloud, that he had made an inquiry. So Miles Macdonell sought for a reply and at last——

“Furs,” he suggested.

“Precisely—furs,” said Lord Selkirk. “Their duty to the Company is to procure furs. Must they not be dubious of any plans for a settlement of farmers, even in a small corner of the land? Might they not look upon the venture as an intrusion? Actually it is not so. Practically no furs are taken in the area to be settled, by the banks of the Red River below the place where Assiniboine flows into it. I realise there will be difficulties, and probably from within as well as from without. But most undertakings of value have their difficulties.”

Captain Macdonell looked directly across the table and bowed.

“I am indebted to you, my lord,” he said, “for entrusting me with this service. As I have told you, I think your plans should have happy attainment. My brother John, as you know, has been in the neighbourhood—in the service, by the way, of our rivals, the North-West Company—and he also agrees that it is excellent alluvial soil.”

As he spoke he considered the face opposite him, the high forehead over eyes of candour, the face of a man of refinements and sensibilities. Raeburn’s portrait, the Governor told me, well represented him and conveyed a sense of his height. Macdonell, one of a family of tall men, and Douglas were near of stature as well as in age. At their first meeting, that meeting at Osnabruck in Upper Canada, he had been greatly taken by the earl’s character, and had then written a letter to his brother John telling of his admiration for his guest—of how, rebuffed by parliament when suggesting a scheme for the relief of the labouring poor of Scotland he was endeavouring to remedy the situation by personal aid. And that, his first impression of Lord Selkirk’s character, was renewed when talking with him on that May day of 1811 in London.

“I am, of course, a Lowlander,” said Selkirk. “We are of the border Douglases, but ever since my visit into the Highlands it has been impressed upon me that I might be of service to these poor people. They are in a pathetic plight. All is not as simple as it seems. I was amazed to discover how many of the chiefs who were evicting the crofters—aye, and even the tacksmen—talked as though they were averse to emigration of their victims. I tried to get inside their heads; I tried to be fair to them. I realised that since Culloden the condition of a Highland chief has changed. In the old days he was as a father to the clan. Even the most humble crofter considered that he had the same blood in his veins.” A smile passed on his face. “You hear them talking up there of ‘forty-second cushins.’ ”

“I know,” said Macdonell, who, being a Highlander, knew well.

“They were all,” said Lord Selkirk, “the chief’s willing retainers. When he called all answered, whether for foray or defence, but they were answering not only him—they were answering themselves. He and they, in a sense, were as one. Then the old life ended. Culloden rang its knell. This generation of Highlanders does not bear arms.”

“Unless for the Sassenach,” remarked Macdonell.

“Unless for the Sassenach,” agreed Selkirk, “and even when the Highlander bears arms for the Sassenach he does so at the desire of his chief.”

“To be rid of him,” said the Governor.

“It often seems so,” replied his lordship. “But what I was coming to is this: The making of the Caledonian Canal cannot give employment to them all, and after that is finished—what then? Some of them, I gather from my inquiries among them, would as soon go to Georgia as to the canal. I speak from my own experience, Captain. I gave work on my own estate in the borders to some of these folks who were driven out of their small crofts to make room for the sheep. When this idea of a promised land in the west filled my mind I discussed it with some of them.”

“With what result?”

“They told me—or almost all told me,” replied Douglas, “they would as lief be thousands of miles from home as hundreds. It is a strange thing, but these folks, treated even as they are, seem to retain something that is less love of their land than of a spirit which, it seems to me, it symbolises.”

“You have, of course,” said Captain Macdonell, “Sir Alexander Mackenzie of the North-West Company against you.”

“Yes,” said Douglas. “Ecky of the North-West Company has pledged himself to put every stumbling block he can in our way. I am a little hurt,” he added, “a little hurt that these Nor’-Westers do not confine themselves to saying that the scheme is ridiculous from the practical point of view, do not confine themselves to saying—even if it be an inaccuracy—that the Red River soil will not grow crops or that depopulation of the Highlands must be prevented. You have read my book so you know what my answer to that is, both by my own statistical researches and by consideration of Mr. Malthus’s book on population. Oh, well!”

Miles Macdonell understood what was in his mind.

“It must be galling,” he said, “to have them spread the view that you are merely wishing to exploit these people.” He meditated briefly a moment and then said he: “As a matter of fact I think it would be excellent to have a settled community at the back door of our late rebellious colonists, a settled community between their back door, so to speak, and the great fur countries.”

They had come very close in mutual respect during this talk. The shaft of spring sunshine had drifted across the table, across the map, and left the map. Lord Selkirk bent forward.

“A shadow is on my Red River Settlement,” said he. “You will have your work cut out for you, sir.”

“I am willing to take the burden, my lord.”