JOURNEY TO MONTREAL--APPOINTMENT TO LAC DE SABLE--ADVANTAGES OF THIS
POST--ITS DIFFICULTIES--GOVERNOR'S FLATTERING LETTER--RETURN FROM
MONTREAL--LOST IN THE WOOD--SUFFERINGS--ESCAPE.


Early in spring I returned to the Chats, and after the close of
the trade took my departure for Montreal, having finished my
apprenticeship. I renewed my contract for three years, and was
appointed to the charge of Lac de Sable, a post situated on a
tributary of the Ottawa, called _Rivière aux Lièvres_, two hundred
miles distant from Montreal.

I embarked on the 15th August, 1826, and arrived at the post on
the 1st September; where I was gratified to find a comfortable
dwelling-house, and a large farm with pigs, poultry, and cattle in
abundance. All this was very well, but there was also a powerful
opposition, and I had experience enough to know that the enjoyment of
any kind of comfort is incompatible with the life we lead in
opposition.

The difficulties of my situation, moreover, were from various
causes extremely perplexing. The old North-West agents, acting for
the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada, had declared a bankruptcy the
preceding winter; the principal manager having quitted the country
rather precipitately, as was supposed, and forgotten to appoint a
successor; the management devolved in consequence upon the head
accountant, Mr. C----e, who, however well he might be qualified
for the duties of the situation, felt the responsibility of acting
without authority to be too great, and confined himself accordingly