N^o 12

Latitude 64, 28-30 N. Longitude 113-06 W.

Winter Lake Fort Enterprise near Copper mine

River March 26^th 1821

Dear Sir,

When I had the pleasure of closing my letter to you last Spring I expected to have had also the Satisfaction in a future communication, to continue the information on the progress of the Expedition, which had arrived in the Country on a mission of discovery; little suspecting at the time that I was destined to become a party concerned in its pursuits, and subject to an order of secrecy, or rather silence, in my correspondance to my friends, on Some matters connected with the general objects which the Expedition had in view[.] It seems by the Commanders discourse, to be his determined plan not to allow any intelligence to transpire, that embraces particular points, untill it has previously been approved & ordered for publication by the Right Honorable Earl Baethurst, Secretary of State for the war & Colonial department[.] Nevertheless I am at liberty to mention that the party will endeavour to reach Churchill, and in order to facilitate an understanding with the Esquimeaux, supposed to inhabit the Sea coast in that direction; two men of that nation have been sent from Churchill, and are now with us, to Serve as Interpreters[.] Our Company consists at present of Four Officers, Nineteen Candians, one Sailor, the two Esquimeaux mentioned above & myself – to support this establishment & provide provisions as well as the management of the Canadians – was entrusted to me[.] Six Hundred of the Red Knife or Copper Indians, have been found Sufficient to supply us with the means of subsistence[.] Indeed it was scarcely possible for people to want, where the Rein Deer are in thousands & not difficult to approach; so little skill in hunting does it require, that any man who can level a firearm would live with little trouble or care[.] Our House Stands [on] the borders of the last woods, our future march will consequently be directed through a barren country, broken by Stony Hills, intersected by numerous Lakes & deprived of all vegetation, excepting a few Crowberry Plants & the mossess which afford nourishment to the immense herds of Rein Deer that crowd the mountains[.]

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