have apparently relaxed in extravagance of their measures – last autumn they [ca]me into the department with fifteen Canoes only – containing each about fifteen Pieces each[.] M^r Simpson a Gentlemen from England last Spring Superintends their Business, his being a Stranger & reputed a Gentlemanly man, will not create much alarm, nor do I presume him formidable as an Indian Trader[.] Indeed M^r Leith, who manages the Concerns of the North West Company in Athabasca, has been So liberally Supplied with men & Goods, that it will almost be wonderful if the opposition can make good a Subsistence during the winter[.] Fort Chepewean alone has an Equipment of no less than seventy men – enough to Crush their rivals[.] Warrents are flying about the Country against Governor Williams, M^r John Clarke and a number of the Clerks of the Hudson Bay Company, for their daring assumption of power, in the transaction of Grand Rapid two years ago[.] I Sincerely hope they will meet with that punishment which is due for such outrages[.]

Permit me to offer my humble respects to M^rs MacKenzie & best wishes to my little friend Master Alexander & his brother & Sisters – nor am I […] forgetful of the grateful Esteem & regard with which I shall ever […]

Dear Sir

Your Faithful and most obedient

Servant Whilst

Willard Ferdinand Wentzel

To

The Hon^ble Colonel Roderick M^cKenzie

Seigneur of Terrebonne

P.S. Perhaps it will be interesting to you to hear that the height of the aurora Borealus was measured by two of the officers of the Expedition while at Cumberland House[.] They took its altitude at the distance of fifty miles asunder, at stated periods with wooden plomet Quadrants, and by the rules of trigonometry found it to be between Six & Seven miles high, from three different observations[.]

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