"The Company's agent at New York (Mr. Wm. McNaughton), who is a
valuable officer, has not at present sufficient employment to make his
position worth occupying. As there is a valuable market in New York to
which it would, at certain times, be advantageous to send buffalo
robes, wolves' and some other furs, which could be done without
interference with the market in England, it is important to render the
New York agency more efficient.
"(Signed) A. G. DALLAS.
"(Signed) EDWARD W. WATKIN.
"7th August, 1863."
This memorandum was sent home to Governor Sir Edmund Head, with other
papers.
On the serious questions of the future relations of the vast territory
to Canada and the Mother Country; how it could best be settled; how it
should be governed; what arrangement as to boundaries, and so on - I had
many and serious conferences with public men. And in answer to many
questions as to my own views, I drew up the following memorandum, as a
resume of the whole subject. It is now nearly twenty-four years
old. I have read it again and again. I am not ashamed of it. I see
nothing to retract; little to alter: -
"The present state of government in the Red River Settlement is
attributable alike to the habitual attempt, encouraged, perhaps very
naturally, in England and in Canada, to discredit the traditions, and
question the title of the Hudson's Bay Company, and to the false
economy which has stripped the Governor of a military force, with
which, in the last resort, to support the decisions of the legal
tribunals.
