Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/345

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Letters of Dr. John McLoughlin
297

him likewise I have done what I promis'd and he requir'd, and that I will send him it by the next opportunity. The short notice I receiv'd prevents my writing him, as for yourself, Sir, I hope you are well assur'd that I am with sincerity,

Your affectionate nephew

John McLoughlin

To Dr. Simon Fraser

Terrebonne.

DR. JOHN MCLOUGHLIN TO DR. SIMON FRASER

Fort William 2nd August 1810

Dear Sir,

In a day or two I take my departure for my winter quarters, which perhaps will be the last I will pass in this country, though I have not given my Employers any formal information of this yet. I have told several that I thought I would go down next year but whether I came back again or not was uncertain. My uncle Alexander writes me that on his retireing from being an active partner in the business he wish'd to make a transfer of his interest in my favor for which I should have been accountable for the value to him or else appoint me his attorney. Mr. McGilivray told him it could not be done nor would it add to my advantage, and that I was afraid of (not) getting an interest in the Country as soon as any of the Gentlemen of my standing. This is directly contrary to what you told and wrote me, your words in your letter of the 20th May last are: "When I engag'd you to the N W Co., Mr. McTavish told me the Company would allow you a hundred pounds per annum if requir'd to practice as a surgeon, but he would not advise you to take it for if you went on the common wages the Company would take into consideration the time you serv'd as an apprentice to a surgeon, that is to say, would recon your services from 1797, that in consequence of this you should be bound for five years only whilst others were for seven years.” You see how different the answer my uncle Alexander got is to the promises made you. It is well known that even while Dr. Munro was in the Country I act'd always as surgeon and that he only act'd now and then when he happen’d to be here before I came from my wintering place or remain’d after I was gone and receiv'd only one hun-