Canada.Journal of a Voyage to Hudson’s Bay, and the Red River Settlement, [Manitoba, Canada]

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Canada. Journal of a Voyage to Hudson’s Bay, and the Red River Settlement, [Manitoba, Canada], British North America, from May the 27th 1820 to May the 27th 1821, [by] John West, a manuscript journal on 23 folio pages, a total of approximately 8,000 words written in diary form with date entries for approximately 130 days of West's first missionary year, the entries of varying length, endorsed on final blank and addressed to the Rev Mr Pratt, Church Missionary House, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London, note on first page 'rec[eive]d October 20/[18]21', paper watermarked 'Snelgrove 1818' [a Somerset papermaker], a little spotting and soiling, some dust-soiling and browning to folds of final blank, stitched as issued, slim folio (30.5 x 18.5 cm)

(Qty: 1)

Provenance: John Lawson (1923-2019), bookseller.

The Manitoba Red River Colony, also known as the Selkirk Settlement, was founded in 1811 when Thomas Douglas, 5th Early of Selkirk, received a grant 120,000 square miles of land from the Hudson's Bay Company (known as the Selkirk Concession). On the west of the Selkirk Concession, it is roughly formed by the current boundary between Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

John West (1778-1845) was the first Anglican priest in western Canada and a teacher, reformer and author. A missionary of the Church Missionary Society and a chaplain for the Hudson’s Bay Company. At the Red River Settlement West located his mission three miles north of Fort Douglas and here constructed a chapel, a school and residences for himself and his Indian pupils. The chapel would eventually come to be known as ‘The Upper Church’ and later as St John’s Cathedral. West returned to England in June 1823 and his account of his time was published as The Substance of a Journal during a Residence at the Red River Colony, British North America; and Frequent Excursions among the North-West American Indians, in the Years 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823 (1824). The account of this first year is covered in chapters 1 and 2, pp. 1-60. While there are some identical sentences, the published account is not presented in such a specific diary form and differs greatly, some of the published account being more lengthy and descriptive of certain incidents. The journal ends before he was soon to mentor 'Henry Budd', the first North American Indian to be ordained to the ministry, in 1850. West's published Journal is dedicated to Budd.

Josiah Pratt (1768-1844) was an English evangelical clergyman, involved in publications and the administration of missionary work. He was elected secretary of the Church Missionary Society on 8 December 1802 keeping that post until 23 April 1824.

The journal begins with embarkation at Gravesend on board the Eddystone, with West travelling to take up an appointment as Chaplain to the Honourable the Hudson’s Bay Company, at the Red River Settlement [Manitoba], the journal continuing with entries from May, June and July as they sailed up the east coast of England and around the north coast of Scotland before leaving the Orkneys for Hudson’s Straits, the entry for Sunday 23rd July at the top of page 4 noting that they had entered Hudson’s Straits.

Here follow selected journal entries:

24 July: The captain ordered several guns to be fired to apprise the Esquimaux Indians of the ship’s being in the Straits. Went in a boat in the evening among the floating fields of ice and icebergs which presented one of the most sublime views I ever saw. All the imposing objects in nature floated past us in silent grandeur, in the shapes of church steeples, broken columns and vast ruins. The imposing scenery mocks imagination to describe.

25 July: Nearly off the savage islands. The Esquimaux Indians to the number of about 300 visited the ship. Their appearance was remarkably healthy, and I was astonished at the wonderful dexterity with which they paddled their canoes across the boisterous waves. They bartered blubber to about 3 ton weight with the ship Eddystone, for a few axes, kettles and bits of old iron hoop. Some climbed up the ship’s side, and went on board, were very imitative in their manners. Several of their children I observed were eating raw flesh from the bones of animals which they had killed, and they appeared to have a strong natural affection towards them. When bartering their articles, they held them very tenaciously till they actually got hold of what was offered for them, and when not satisfied expressed much savageness, with ferocity in their countenance and manners. Being the first Indians I had seen wandering in their extreme ignorance, wretchedness, and cruelty I felt strong emotions of pity towards them, as they withdrew to their haunts along the shores.

29 July: … discovered a polar bear swimming with her two cubs towards the ship. The mother bear and one of the cubs were killed, the other was taken alive, which the captain intends taking to England.

3-13 August: August trapped in ice.

15 August: Anchored off York factory.

17 August: Was much impressed in seeing the Indians around the Factory. They appear to be sunk into the lowest state of degradation as human beings. Could scarcely refrain from tears in visiting them in their tents. The life of the Indians appear to be one succession of difficulties in procuring subsistence and they wander their life without hope and without God in the world. When shall this hitherto neglected race of the north give up and come to the knowledge of the Saviour. Fulfil O Lord thy promises in their salvation.

19 August: Feel deeply interested in the education of the half breed children, numbers of whom are running about the factory, and are to be found at all the Hudson’s Bay Company’s posts, growing up in ignorance and idleness. They are the offspring of the Company’s officers and clerks by Indian or half breed women. Have submitted a plan to the HB Company for educating, clothing, maintaining 100 of them at the RR Settlement.

25 August: Conversed a good deal with the chief of the department at Churchill (most northern post in the Hudson’s MC territories) who informed me that a considerable number of Esquimaux Indians traded at that post, who were clothed with the skins of deer entirely. In summer they live upon seals, and whales like the Esquimaux Indians we saw in Hudson’s Straits. In winter, they live under the snow, burning oil with moss as a wick, which cooks their food as much as they wish for, while at the same time, it must contribute to their warmth. He supposed they might travel 150 or 200 miles north of the fort till they met another Tribe, who like them might range the same distance on the shore, further north.

3 September: Left York Factory for the Red River, a supposed distance of about 800 miles.

29 September: Arrived at the White Fall… as I sat in my tent in the evening some Indians came, and sat by the fire, in front of it, and gave me to understand that one of them knew a little English. I found that he had been taken prisoner when very young and was taken to England by an American, probably in the capacity of a servant boy. All that he remembers about England he told me, was, that he was very much frightened lest the horses should fall upon him. He told me that he knew a little about Jesus Christ and as going to the Red River hoped I would teach him to read, after he returned to the Sioux Country where he was going to see his relations. He has a most interesting, intelligent countenance and expressed much delight at my coming over to his country to teach them.

5 October: An old Indian with his truly weather-beaten wife arrived at the post with some dried meat of the moose dear. For a little rum he bartered away all that he and his wife carried. It was truly distressing to see them reeling in their intoxication. When the obtain what they call a good drink, the drunken parents delight in making their children drunk.

12 October: Thank God we are now nearly thro’ the [Winnipeg] Lake, which may be considered a dangerous navigation. In fact, the whole passage from York to the mouth of Red River is as difficult as can be imagined, which must operate to the prejudice of a settlement I would suppose so far in the Interior.

25 January [1821]: The men who accompanied us from Brandon House as guards, left us this morning as we were informed that the band of Indians we feared were some considerably to the north of our track. Saw vast numbers of buffalo grazing on the plains near us. Soon after it was dark, we were considerably alarmed at our encampment, in hearing the Indians drumming, and dancing a short distance from us in the woods. We immediately nearly extinguished our fire, and lay down with our guns under our heads, with considerable apprehensions that they had seen our fire, before we heard them, and would visit us during the night.

6 April: Am sorry to find that an Indian stabbed one of his wives last night in a fit of intoxication. Having obtained liquor in barter for his goods he entered the tent and wantonly (without the least provocation it is said) committed the murderer’s attempt. The barter of rum which the Indians frequently occasions murder amongst them and is attended with a train of evils, that may be compared to the curse and cruelty inflicted on the Africans by the slave trade.

7 April: Sent a small quantity of English flour and a little vinegar for one of the Catholic missionaries, as I found him without these articles, and apparently suffering in health from observing Lent, literally on boiled fish.

15 May: Rumours prevail that the Indians will attack the Settlement but think there is no occasion to be alarmed for our safety. There appears indeed some agitation among several tribes of Indians around us, and they are preparing for war with the Sioux Indians, for having sculped one of their chiefs with his party a short time ago. But none of these things move me, in my plans for the education of the children and the natives, and others at...