Lord Selkirk: "Sir A. (Mackenzie) has pledged himself as so decidedly
opposed to this project that he will try every means in his power to
thwart it. Besides, I am convinced he was no friend to your Lordship
before this came upon the carpet."

No doubt Miles Macdonell was correct, and the two Scottish antagonists
were face to face in the conflict. We shall see the means supplied by
which the expedition will be harassed. And now the enterprise is to be
set on foot.

For nearly a century and a half the Hudson's Bay Company ships have
sailed yearly from the Thames, and taken the goods of the London
merchants to the posts and forts of Hudson Bay, carrying back rich
returns of furs. Sometimes more than one a year has gone. In 1811 there
was the Commodore's ship the "Prince of Wales," with cabin accommodation
and such comforts as ships of that period supplied. A second ship, the
"Eddystone," chartered for special service, accompanied her. These two
were intended to carry out employees and men for the fur trade, as well
as the goods.

It must not be forgotten that there was some want of confidence between
the trading side of the Hudson's Bay Company and that which Lord Selkirk
represented, in the Colonizing enterprise. Also at this time the laws in
regard to the safety of vessels, the comfort of passengers, or
precautions for health were very lax. While the records of emigration
experiences of British settlers to Canada and the United States are
being recited by men and women yet living in Canada, the want of
resource and the neglect of life and property by Governments and
officials up until half a century ago are heart-sickening. So the third
ship of the fleet that was to carry the first human freight of Manitoba