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trade should be withdrawn from beyond the American Boundary line; that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.
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