N^o 1

Nipigon Spring 1809

Roderick MacKenzie Esq^r;

Sir,

I promised at Camanistiquia to send you an account of the Missisouri Indians. This I delayed from time to time until my friend M^r Haldane induced me to select from my Journal the Extracts which will be handed to you, by him with this letter[.] I wish these Extracts were better and more derserving of your acceptance[.] I am sensible that their greatest merit consists in their Veracity; for I was a[n] Eye witness to most of the scenes which they expose. If the present specimen will please, I shall take delight in transcribing more passages for your perusal. Two motives encourage this desire. One is, that I almost despair of ever having it in my power to testify sufficiently that grateful sense which I shall always entertain, of your uniform kindness towards me. [T]he other is – That by reading these simple Observations, You will be more able to judge whether my services comparing them to those of others, in my line, should not have recommended me, to more attention in the scale of promotion than I have hitherto experienced[.]

I have

[1]