to my Letter addressed to M^r James M^cKenzie as well as to M^r John Stuart personally[.] Athabasca tho unfortunate these many years back, is yet worthy of Notice and never I believe had the Concern a greater cause for exultation in the prosperity of their affairs than the Success which has attended their measures this year against the formidable opposition by whom they were assailed the preceding year[.] Unsuspicious of a Contention, without an outfit or a Competent number of hands to defend it – Athabasca is attacked all on a Sudden – by upwards of 100 men 10 Clerks & a Superintendant bringing in 14 loaded Canoes – full of merchandizes &^c &^c &^c fit for the Indian Trade[.] And Proud I am to Say – as Suddenly repels & Crushes them – at last for upwards of a year – at the Same time increases her Exports[.] Four hundred Packs have been Shipped off for Lac La Pluie – While the HBay Party have not 5 Packs of Weight in Furrs throughout the whole depart^t[.] No less than 15 men 1 Clerk with a Woman & Child died going up Peace River of Starvation – of 4 Establishments they had formed in the Fall, not one could weather out the Winter, all were obliged to enter into Terms with the NWC^o to save themselves from Starving to Death[.] The major part of their Goods Still remains in Our Stores and are to continue untill the months of October & December – ensuing[.] Such has been the consequences of the infatuated presumptions of the M^r Clarkes Brain that out of his once numerous Crew which he brought in this Department last Fall, that only

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