N^o 7

Fort Chepewean May 28^th 1816

Dear Sir,

I duly received your very Friendly Favour dated 1815 for which I beg leave to offer my grateful thanks – and humbly intreat your forgiveness that I should (for want of time) be less diffusive this year than I could have wished, or a gratified remembrance for your Kindness & generosity towards me – can very well justify[.] M^r Stuart who will have the pleasure of seeing you will testify how much I feel affected on that Account[.] Hoping however, from a conviction of having had recourse very Seldom to Such excuses, that you will Sir overlook this[.] I respectfully request you will still honour me with a Continuance of your Correspondance[.] Herewith I have the Satisfaction of forwarding one of M^r Keith's Journals Containing an Account of the unfortunate affair which occurred in the destruction of Fort Nelson – it is Correct – and I have M^r G. Keith's leave to forward it[.] Next year I shall endeavour to Send the Journal which you was pleased to express a wish, while I was at Montreal, Should also be sent to you[.] I obtained it too late to Copy less it should likewise have gone with this[.]

Respecting the late enterprise of the Hudson's Bay Company (in the Person of M^r John Clarke as their Superintendant) against the Athabasca Department – I request leave to refer

you

[53]