Statement respecting the Earl of Selkirk's Settlement of Kildonan ...

M'.78now too far advanced to proceed with aU theiiexaminations. They pledged their word of honour,that no further attempt should he made to obstructthe execution of the law, and that all measures ofa hostile nature should be abandoned. LordSelkirk, in consequence, cotisented to allow theprisoners to return to their apartments in the Fort.It appears^ however, that sufticient precauti«>n hadnot been adopted.— It was discovered next morning'that the seals were broken from seversii places,and that many letters and papers had been burnt inthe kitchen in the course of the night ;—that acanoe loaded with arms and ammunition had beensent off,—that several barrels of gunpowder hadbeen secretly conveyed from the Fort in the nighttime,which were afterwards traced to a place ofconcealment among some brushwood in the neighbourhood; and abcn^t fifty or sixty stand of Indianguns, to all appearance fresh loaded and primed,were found hidden under some hay iu a baru orloft, adjoining the Fori.In consequence of these discoveries, and thesuspicions that a surprise might be attempted bythe Indians and Canadians in the Company's service,the greater part of the latter were sent topitch their teiit< :)n ti^e opposite side of the river;and their canoes v/ere secured. —Lord Selkirk-W^;and his party came over nnd pitched their tentsin front of the Fort, where ihe guards werestrengthened.-^, •?>">„--^: