BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

REMINISCENCES
On my arrival in Canada, in september 1784, Peter Stuart, 1784.
Esq., of Quebec, to whom I had a letter of introduction, advised
me strongly to fix my mind on the Indian trade, and that he
would recommend me to his friends of Montreal, who were
largely concerned in the commerce 'of the Indian territories.
In the course of the ensuing winter, a new company, lately
formed, starting up business, friends of my uncle, viz: Messrs
Gregory McLeod &. Company agreed to take me into their service,
and, in June 1781, I embarked at Sainte-Anne for the North West
under an engagement of three years.
St. Ann's church was the last church on our route, and the
Voyageurs, in consequence, generally drop a piece of money into
a box there, as an offering, to secure the protection of" La Bonne
Sainte Anne" during their absence, and I, with a view to do as
the people of Rome do, joined my mite to that of the rest of the
crew.
The brigade was in charge of a respectable middle aged man
named LaLonde, a guide well known among the voyagettrs of
that time. In about two days, our brigade reached the head of
the Long Sault, in the Ottawa, where the guide had orders to wait
for Mr. Gregory who appeared with two gentlemen Mr. Duncan
Pollock and Mr. James Finlay. The first has served his time
in the Post Office of Quebec, but had lately been engaged in the