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Letter from Alexander Kennedy to William Hemmings Cook, 28 June 1810.
HBCA, B.239/b/80, fos. 7-8.
From Mr Kennedy
Hill River 28 June 1810
Sir,
On my arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter enclosing a list of Goods for Swan River – The supply considering your circumstances at the Factory was as ample as could be expected & with the addition of a few articles hereafter mentioned if it could be forwarded in the Fall the assortment would be sufficient & in some Articles even more than is required, such as Powder & Shot – Twine & Net Lines all of which now sent up may be spared to Saskatchewan or where it is most wanted, as the stock in hand of these Articles will be sufficient for one Years Expenditure
I am well aware of your distrest [sic] situation at the Factory for many articles as well as the disadvantage arising to the Company from the greatest part of their furs remaining in the Country, but where Opposition exists one must in some measure be guided by ones neighbour to insure a part of the Trade and it was my Misfortune to be alongside of one who seemed determined on carrying all before him, which circumstance obliged me to take skins of inferior value at the same rate as better Furs for by intirely [sic] rejecting the worst kind I should have had the mortification of losing the good ones also – It being late too in the Fall of the Year before I received your Instructions I had previously given out Credits to a few Indians which I was obliged to take payment for in such kind of Furs as the Country where they winter’d produced –
Upon the whole my trade is better than last year amounting according to my calculation to about 1400 Made Beaver & altho the proportion of Beaver Skins are few I feel happy in reflecting that nothing has been lost for want of our utmost endeavours to procure them
As it is my earnest wish to be down at Shiptime to wait the Company’s determination respecting my Wages I most humbly request your permission to come down in the Fall as I am determined to return home for a year in case my request is not complied with
At all events my absence from Swan River till the fall can be no ways detrimental to our Employers as I could be back again after seeing the ship as early as my neighbour – Should you be pleased to grant my request I shall pass the time till then any where that my services may be wanted, as knowing the distressed state of the Factory I do not wish to become a burthen on it till near ship time without my services there could be of any use
Hoping to see you in the Fall I conclude with wishing you a plentiful Trade from all Quarters & a better sale for them at home
I am
Sir
Your very Humble & most Obedient Servant
Alexander Kennedy
