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No. 4

Mackenzie's River Dept.

25^th Nov. 1807.

Roderic M^ckenzie Esq.

Dear Sir,

Your obliging and kind favor of the 10^th July I duly received & am happy to find that you seem pleased with the Idea given in my last regarding my winter quarters. I could wish that my little knowledge in the natural secrets of the Athabasca could be deemed worthy to be communicated. My first Years in this Country were spent not much to my own improvement, either with regard to my occupation, and much less in searching into the natural Secrets of the country, both which in a manner depends the one upon the other; I wanted the proper qualifications and opportunities and some times the example, which then might have been of some service to me, but of much more since. I do not know any thing further that might tend to illustrate the description formerly given of this place; and having been lashed to it for some years Succeeding, I find myself entirely

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