to publish to the world a fragment of one of these communi-
cations which was not destroyed.

This interesting fragment, written on azure foolscap,
slightly burnt at the edges, is now in the possession of a
gentleman in Montreal. It reads as follows:

. . . a most difficult one, and the circumstances are such that
the late Governor could not possibly presume to give orders to Com-
missioned Gentlemen, who must during the present anarchy con-
duct the business according to their own judgment.

Privately, as one man to another, it is a question whether McDougall
should not be starved out for his arrogance. Only I strongly advise you
to risk nothing for the greedy London Directory, from whom we are
not likely to receive any thanks, but who will themselves receive
full compensation for the stores, etc. As for Riel, he is every day
strengthening himself, and all our work-people are with him.

It is quite useless to send me any further accounts as Mr. R.
has possession of all our books here, and it only adds to present con-
fusion and future labour, inventories of losses, etc. The question
of supplies to La Rose rests entirely with your discretion.

W. MACTAVISH.

When all is said and done, this merely proves afresh
what all the world now knows, that the wintering partners
were indignant at the way they had been treated, and also
that the Governor of Assiniboia was human enough to resent
the tone of Mr. McDougall's official communiqués to him.

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