THE JOLLY GOVERNOR.
Great crises in the world's history generally produce the men who solve
them. Cromwell, Washington, Garibaldi--each of them was the movement
itself. A wider philosophy may see that the age or the Community evolves
the man, but as Carlyle shows, it is the man who reacts upon the
community, becomes the embodiment of its ideal, and is the mouthpiece
and the right hand of the age which produces him.
That Andrew Colville, a brother-in-law of Lord Selkirk, should select a
young clerk in London and send him out to Athabasca to see the great
fur-region of the Mackenzie River District, is not a wonderful thing,
but that after one year of active service this young man should be
chosen to guide the destinies of the great united fur company, made up
of the Hudson's Bay and Nor'-Wester Companies is a wonder.
This was the case with George Simpson, a Scottish youth, who was the
illegitimate son of the maternal uncle of Thomas Simpson, the famous
Arctic explorer, who is known as having followed out a portion of the
coast line of the Arctic Sea.
Anyone can see that from the proverbial energy that is developed in
those of inferior birth, there was here one of Nature's commanding
spirits, who would bring order out of chaos.
Moreover, the fact of his short service in a distant part of the fur
country, left him free from prejudice, gave him an open mind, and
permitted him to serve as a young man when he was yet plastic and
adaptable--all this was in his favor.
Governor Simpson was short of stature, but possessed of great energy and
endurance. He was keen in mind and observing in his faculties. Active
and determined, he might at times seem a martinet and a tyrant, but he
had at the same time an easy and pleasant manner that enabled him to
attract to himself his servants and subordinates, but especially the
savages with whom he had constantly to have dealings. His ardent
Highland nature led him to rejoice in the picturesque and the showy, and
he was fond of music and of society. Given to change, Simpson became a
great traveller and made a voyage around the world before the days of
steam or railway.
One of the first gatherings of the fur traders, in which the young
Governor gained golden opinions, was held at Norway House, the old
resting place of the Selkirk Settlers. This meeting took place in June,
1823; the minutes of this meeting have been preserved and are
interesting. Such items as, that Bow River Fort at the foot of the Rocky
Mountains was abandoned; that because of prairie fires the buffaloes
were far beyond Pembina; that the Assiniboine Indians had moved to the
Saskatchewan for food; that trouble with the French traders had arisen
on account of their determination to trade in furs; that the French
half-breeds had largely moved from Pembina to St. Boniface; that the
trade should be withdrawn from beyond the American Boundary line; that
the Sioux Indians should be discouraged from coming to the Forts to
trade; and that the company intended to take over the Colony from Lord
Selkirk's trustees, all came up for consideration.
These were all important and difficult problems, but the young Governor
acted with such shrewdness and skill, that he completely carried the
Council with him, and was given power to act for the Council during the
intervals between its meetings--a thing most unusual.
The Governor was ubiquitous.
[Illustration: SIR GEORGE SIMPSON Governor of Rupert's Land, 1821-60.]
Now at Moose Factory, then at York; now at Norway House, but every year
at Red River, the Governor saw for himself the needs of the country, and
the opportunities for advancing the interests of the Hudson's Bay
Company. Forty times, that is, nearly every year of his Governorship, it
is said he travelled the route between Montreal and Fort Garry, and this
by canoe. He drove his men, who were chiefly French-Canadians, with
irritating haste, and it is a story prevalent among the old Selkirk
Settlers, that a stalwart French voyageur, who was a favorite of the
Governor, was once, in crossing the Lake of the Woods, so infuriated
with his master's urging that he seized the tormentor who was small in
stature, by the shoulders, and with a plentiful use of "sacrés," dipped
him into the lake, and then replaced him in the bottom of the canoe.
It does not fall within the scope of our story to tell of Simpson's
journeys through Rupert's Land, nor of his famous voyage around the
world, but there is extant an account of his methods of appealing to the
interest of the Indians and servants of the company in his notable
progresses through the wilds. Some seven years after his appointment
Governor Simpson made a voyage from Hudson Bay, across country to the
Pacific Ocean, namely, from York Factory to Fort Vancouver on the
Columbia River. Fourteen chief officers, factors and traders, and as
many more clerks had gathered to see the chieftain depart. Taking with
him a lieutenant--Macdonald, a doctor and two canoe crews, of nine men
each, the jolly Governor with dashing speed ascended the Hayes River, up
which the Selkirk Colonists had laboriously come, receiving as he left
the Factory, loud cheers from all the people gathered, and a salute of
seven guns from the garrison. The French-Canadian voyageurs struck up
their boating songs with glee, and with dashing paddles left the bay
behind.
The expedition was well provided with supplies, including wine for the
gentlemen and spirits for the men.
The arrival at Norway House was a féte.
Before reaching the Fort the party landed on the shore, and paying much
attention to their toilets, put themselves in proper trim. In full
career the canoes dashed through the deep rocky gorge leading to the
Fort, the Governor's canoe, had on its high prow, conspicuous the French
guide, who for the time gave commands. The Governor always took his
Highland piper with him, and now there pealed forth from the canoe the
strident strains of the bagpipes, while from the second canoe sounded
the shrill call of the chief factor's bugle. As the party approached the
Fort they saw the Union Jack with its magic letters H.B.C. floating from
the tall flag-staff of Norway pine erected on Signal Hill. Bands of
Indians from all directions were assembled to meet the great chief or
"Kitche Okema," as they called him. Ceasing the pipes and bugle, the
voyageurs sang with lively spirit one of their boat songs, to the great
delight of their old friends, the Indians.
The Governor was in 1839, at a time when Canada was much disturbed in
both Provinces by the Mackenzie-Papineau rebellion, rewarded for the
loyalty of his Company by having knighthood conferred upon him.
Sir George Simpson's annual visits to Red River Settlement were the
bright spots in the life of the Colony. Never did a Governor get so near
the people as did Sir George. Old settlers tell how when Sir George
arrived every grievance, disaster, suspicion, or bit of gossip was
faithfully carried to him, and his patience and ingenuity were freely
exercised in "jollying" the people and giving them condescending
attention.
Sir George married in time, and on occasion brought Lady Simpson, who
was a native of the country, to visit the Red River Settlement. Her
presence was taken as a compliment by the people. Sir George Simpson,
like many of the Hudson's Bay Company, had among all his business
engagements the taste for literature. He encouraged the formation of
libraries at the several trading posts, and in his letters throws in a
remark about Sir Walter Scott, or Blackwood's last magazine, or other
living topic, although the means of communication made literature often
months late even on the banks of the Red River. His own effort in
producing a book gave rise to a considerable amount of amusement. After
his great journey around the world, he published an account of his
travels in two considerable volumes. It is now no secret that these were
prepared for him by a well-known judge of Red River Settlement, of whom
we speak more fully in a later chapter. This double authorship became
decidedly inconvenient to Sir George on the celebrated occasion when he
was cited in 1857 to give evidence before the Committee of the House of
Commons as to Rupert's Land. Sir George's experience in introducing
farming into Red River Settlement had been so troublesome, and expensive
as well, that he really believed agriculture would be a failure in the
West, and so he gave his evidence. Unfortunately for him his editor had
indulged in his book, in a pictorial and fulsome description of the
Rainy River, as an agricultural region. Mr. Roebuck quoted this passage
and Sir George was in a serious dilemma. If he admitted it his evidence
would seem untrue, if he denied it then he must deny his authorship. He
admitted that the book was somewhat too flattering in its description.
But, take him all in all, Sir George really stood for his duty and his
people. He lifted the fur trade out of a slough of despond, he was kind
and charitable to the people of the Red River Settlement, he was a good
administrator and a patriot Briton, and though as his book tells and
local tradition confirms it, he could not escape from what is called
"the witchery of a pretty face," yet he rose to the position on the
whole as a man who sought for the higher interests of the vast territory
under his sway, as well as for the financial advancement of his company.