" The private Journal of Hugh Carswell bearer? of dispatches from Hudson Bay for the Honorable the Hudsons Bay Company London."

" At York Factory on the 30th September 1817 I embarked on board the Ship Britannia. John Edman? Master accompanied by Mefs Robertson, ?, and Hutchison with about forty labourers pafsengers for Europe. At noon next day we sailed with a fair wind and fine weather, but had not got far when we fell in with a very close body of ice, and it was not untill the 4th October, that a stream of clear water opened by the wind which then blew very fresh, gave us an opportunity of entering it; we continued our pafsage as far as the North East end of the Island of Mansfield? which we pafsed on the 7th; when our situation became realy alarming, it blew a gale, the Island about 12 Miles to leeward, close to windward and a head as far as could be seen an immense body of ice; On the 8th the Storm increased and we were driven within six miles of the Island, the Captain afraid of being cast upon the land thought it most prudent to ? the ice and many efforts were made to get fast to a piece but could not succeed. the Anchors always giving way were either lost or came home; during this time all sails were taken in, the ship drifting amongst the ice and receiving most terrible blows. On the morning of the 9th one of the planks in the bow and several timbers were found broke and the Ship very leaky; untill the Morning of the 10th we were driven before the storm without it being in the power of any one to dirrect - the course at times in? clear water when getting considerable way the Ship struck against the ice with great force; being now in clear water we stood again for the Staits? endeavouring to get to the Northward of the ice but the wind being unfavorable made but little progrefs by Meridian Observation we were then in Latitude 60-53 North having drifted ? two degrees to the Southward."
At 2 PM fell in again with ice continued beating to the northward till the 13th when finding it uselefs to continue any longer the Captain resolved on making the best of his way to Churchill. after continuing very hard till the 22d and within 12 Miles of it. was also defeated in this attempt then bore away for Charlton? but were obliged to run ashore on the afternoon of the 23rd finding it impofsible to proceed any further through the new ice, which had become so strong as to beset us for hours together at different times, though under a great prefs of sail. - the weather for this some time has been the most Severe, heavy falls of snow, hazy and very squally, an immense weight of ice gathered to the Ship and rigging, the sails became froze like boards and Ship so very leaky as to require the pump almost constantly at work. in short She had become nearly unmanageable, and many of the Seamen disabled.
We are now laying upon a pretty even bottom about 2 1/2 miles from the Shore sixty miles to the Northward of Severn House."

" On the 24th instant I sent three Men to Severn with a request to Mr Todd for a few necefsaries for the Ship and pafsengers. the ice closing in very thick upon the Shore prevented any further communication untill the 27th when accompanied by eight Men whom I chose from among the pafsengers as the best hands for House building. after looking about for several hours I fixed upon a Spot about six Miles from the Ship for to build Huts for the Ships crew and Cargo &? next morning set them to work and leaving them under the direction of Harry Hay Carpenter. I returned to the Ship on the morning of the 29th - While ashore I saw a number of white Partridges. Killed a few. Saw the tracks of several Deer and the appearance of plenty of Rabits.
Sent Mr Audieu? and Cauderick? ? to Severn for the purpose of getting a few necefsaries ready for a journey to Montreal as I intended setting off for it in a few days after on my way to London with the Packet. I was then much at a lofs whether I should undertake the journey being afraid I would not be able to undergo the fatigue? if so long a walk. Mr Andieu? whose? businefs lead? him to Montreal would readily have taken the Packet so far but as he is a person very little Known among us, the Captain and Other Gentm'n? were of opinion that it would not be prudent to entrust him.
On the 1st November the men returned from Severn with the articles sent for when I furnished the Pafsengers with the necefsaries for performing a journey to York Factory. from thence I expect Mr Swain will dispatch them to the interior where they can support themselves on Country provisions. Wrote Mr Swain an account of our misfortunes &c.
Sent Mr Alex Robertson a very worthy young man with three Men to Cumberland House, where I expect Mr Bird will pafs the winter, to acquaint him with every particular relating to our Situation &c &c."

" On the 2nd Nov. I opened the Packet in the presence of the Captain and other Gentlemen in the Ship took out the papers thought most necefsary to carry with me, and sealed them and the others left behind at the same time requested the Capt. to send the latter to York Factory by the first opportunity.
I hope it may not be thought? ? in ? the past? - I have acted on this occasion, ? at the time only pafsinger; my interest for the Employ ? the Confidence which Governor Bird has hitherto placed in me induced me to suppose he would expect my service on this occasion which I hope will appologize?
On the afternoon of the 3rd accompanied by Mr Hutchinson and two Men I took my departure from the Britannia for Severn and on the 6th arrived there, a distance of about sixty miles.
We had very snowy weather and during the few days at Severn it snowed and rained alternately almost all the while. - Having got Snow Shoes, Sleighs &c and a months provisions; left Severn accompanied by Mr Andin? Neil McDonald, George Spence and an Indian as guide, but as he had never been through this part of the Country before he went intirely by the dirrections of an Old Indian. the consequence was we lost our way in crofsing Cape Henrietta Maria which lengthened our journey about eighty miles. In this stage we had a great deal of snow, blew hard and drifted thick which made it very uncomfortable travelling but what we felt hardest of all along this wild coast was the great scarcity of firewood and no shelter in the nights. we arrived at Albany in twenty eight days from Severn which is several days Shorter than it has ever been performed by Europeans before, and as near as I can reckon (as we walked it) the distance is about six hundred Miles; after resting a day to get Snow Shoes and Sleighs repaired, we set out on our journey again and on the fifth day arrived at Moose Factory a distance of about one hundred Miles. here we were obliged to remain Several days till new Snow Shoes and Sleigh were made, as the ones we had from Severn were completely wore out.
I wished to have taken the road by Atbitibi and the Grand River from here, but Mr Buoly? declared to me that he had no power to stand with us as guide, though I have since learned from George Moar our Guide to New Brunswick that he could as well have taken us to Abtitibi. On the 22d December we left Moose for New Brunswick provisioned for twenty days the usual time taken on this stage, but which we perform'd in thirteen days, a distance of about two hundred & forty miles through very deep snow, and from the mildnefs of the weather the river was almost every where overflowed, and the slush adhering to the Snow Shoes made it very fatiguing. - here we had the pleasure to find Governor Vincent MJB? McCormick & Murphy all well and were very kindly received by them; left George Spence on account of his not being able to proceed further, remained two days for the Governors Dispatches and then continued our journey, accompanied by Mr Murphy and a man named Loutit for the Sault St Marie. Loutit was completely Knocked? up his second day not being with his utmost exertion capable of Keeping up with us, we sent him back again and proceeding on arrived at Mishipecotton? on the 13th Jan. distant 150 Miles."

" On our arrival at Mishipecotton to our great surprize and Mortification we saw Lake Superior completely clear of ice; to proceed on the mountain seemed impracticable. we therefore determined on taking a boat and immediately had it hauled down on the ice to the Lake, in hopes of an early start in the morning, but was disapointed by the coming on of a gale from the Lake, which continuing to blow prevented our starting till mid day of the 16th when with ten Men we took leave of Mishipicotton - did not get far till we were surrounded with ice that had been driven in by the late gale, proceeded on through the ice and at Sun set encamped at three league? point? - a Gale sprung up we hauled our boat about twelve feet out of the water, it increased to a tremendious height - and continued with unremitting violence untill the 18th. The weather ? fine with a fair breeze we made sail and was not much incomoded with ice till about 3 PM when we came into a strong body of it and began breaking our way to the Shore, which though but one Mile from us we did not effect before ten OClock; found a little cove and hauled up our boat, it froze hard during the night and blew strong off Shore. At day light the Lake appearing clear from outside the cove, repaired the bows of the boat in the best manner we could with canvas and turning Stern foremost, again launched to sea but the ice in the cove having froze so hard it was ten oClock before we got into open water, we rowed with all our might till 3 oClock sometimes through ice at other times through open water, when we beheld ourselves completely hem'd in by a field of Strong ice, hauled the boat up into the woods and encamped; distant about forty miles from Mishipicotton. At day light on the 20th we set off by land and had tolerable walking along shore for about one Mile and a half, we then found ourselves at the foot of inpafsable Mountains. after many hard efforts to ascend them we were obliged to return to our encampment. the remainder of the day Mefs Murphy & Andin with myself were employed in endeavouring to find a pafsage - to cut off the Mountain point - but without effect. - - Jan. 21st It froze severely during the last night and this morning we were enabled to venture on the ice, and pafsed with alertnefs round the point which yesterday gave us so much difficulty - proceeded on about nine miles when we found the ice so weak that it was actually sinking under us, went ashore walked through very rough ice for about three miles more and encamped near the foot of the most frightful Mountains - the wind blew fresh, the ice was broken up, and we were obliged to try the mountains - this was the summit of labour, the most fatiguing and hazardous of our journey, ? days of the 23rd and 24 were exactly similar and on the morning of the 25th after infinite toil we saw ourselves advanced about five miles from out encampment of the 21st. Our whole stock of provisions at this time amounted to no more than two quarts of Indian corn each, a quantity not sufficient for two days, and not half through the Lake.
During the night it froze hard we attempted to crofs the bay to Montreal River but had not proceeded more than two miles when we found open water, we altered our course for the bottom of the bay sounding the ice the whole way before us with poles. we just reached the Shore when Mr Andrie fell in up to the waist - we were obliged to make a fire to dry him, this occasioned an hours delay - pushed forward along shore and encamped at 5 PM distant say 6 miles - - 27th this morning we set out with pretty good hopes as it had froze hard last night. in about a mile and a half we came to weak ice, took to the Mountains and after climbing on all fours acrofs a point ventured on the ice again, it was still very weak but as we advanced it Strengthened, our prospects brightened we insensibly pushed forward and to our great joy pafsed Montreal River. Mr Murphy in crofsing some broken ice fell in but we quickly extricated him, it blew tremendious in the night, broke up the ice but towards Morning it abated and we proceeded along shore about two Miles, could not get farther, the ice was in numerous small pieces we ventured on it and I went ahead sounding every step with my pole, but frequently plumped? in the Lake; - 29th It blew a Storm last night - and we were obliged this morning to Keep along shore in heavy deep snow and rough ice, at 9 OClock we got on the lake and proceeded on it about four miles an hour. at Noon we perceived a seperation in the ice the part we were walking on moving at the rate of about a mile and a half an hour along Shore in a contrary direction to our course. being fearful of drifting out to sea, quickened our pace and after infinite hazard and difficulty reached a point on which the ice was shoring and fortunately got ashore all safe, and at ? PM encamped. - Now completely out of provisions and for a long time have been on very short allowance.
30th About two hours before day we started and reached the Sault at St. Marie at 8 OClock distant as we walked it from Mishipicotton not lefs than 200 miles, though in a direct line not more than 120.had the pleasure to find Mr Ermatinger? well. - The fatigue of this short stage of our journey has been more hurtful to us than all we had experienced before. - Mr Murphy early the afternoon before we came to the Sault St. Marie was so fatigued that he threw himself down on the snow and declared he was not able to walk a step further and I had myself a severe pain in the knee from a cold in falling so frequently into the Lake."

" Feb. 1 - Having received a supply of provisions from Mr Ermatinger? I set out to crofs Lake Huron accompanied by Mr Andrie, Neil McDonald and a Canadian named Lafantie? - Weather in general very cold & windy often drifting thick - I suffered great misery in this stage from the pain in my knee, with a severe pain in my left shin bone. On the 13th we arrived at Penetanguishene - a new Naval Establishment on the Lake, Distant about 370 Miles. - An exprefs for Governmant which left Drumond Island eight days before we did the Sault, pafsed only two days ago.
Our journey now was principally through the woods to Lake Simcoe, which we crofsed on the 16th - and arrived at a Mrs Ennes?, who afforded us lodgings for the night - Distant about 72 miles - Here are a few farmers, the first appearance of civilizaion - and here ended the fatigue of a walk on Snow Shoes of upwards of 1800 miles, we joyfully laid aside our snow shoes and next morning took our departure in a Sleigh and two horses for York and got there early our Second day - called at Mr Woods and drew £ 27 Sterl'g. I expected to have gone direct from here to New York which is about the same distance, as to Montreal. - but meeting with a Mr Clark from the States, Agent for the Earl of Selkirk, was prevailed upon to go by way of Montreal on account of his Lordships being there - where I arrived on the 25th and delivered the dispatches to his Lordship. -
Mr Colin Robertson informed me that his Lordship proposed his going into the Athapuscow next spring and requested that I accompany him, he was desired to offer me a salary of £ 200 and an afsurance of succeeding him in the charge the year following. - I was at the House of his Lordship on the evening of the 27th when he was desirous I should accompany Mr Robertson in this expedition, and I was only sorry that businefs which I have to attend to at home prevented my embracing so favourable an opportunity of getting forward in the employ. - At 8 Oclock on the morning of the 28th - I called upon his Lordship for the Packet and in an hour afterwards set off in the Mail for New York a journey usually made in five days, so that I expected to arrive in time to have takin my pafsage in the Courier Packet for Liverpool, which sailed on the 5th March but was disappointed by a great deluge from the breaking up of the Hudson and other rivers, which carried away the bridges in every direction, and did great damage otherwise, this stopped me at Albany three days, and it was not till the evening of the eight I arrived at New York - called next Morning early? on David S Kennedy Esq. with a letter from Mefs Maitland, Garden and Auldjo, Montreal and received £ 81-3-5 Sterl'g on account of the latter. - Paid £ 59 St'g for my pafsage on board the ? Captain Vivian for Falmouth and set Sail same day at 11 AM -
This is the same Vefsel & Captain which carried Mr Spence from last year - Put into Halifax on the 15th and was detained till the 24th March - the usual detention of the Packet is only 24 hours. It was a Petition from the Merchants that made the Governor Keep us so long.
Arrived at Falmouth April 15th - Left Falmouth on the 16th and Arrived at London on the 18th.
H Carswell"

" ?
Hugh Carswell
Journey from
York Fort to
London."


B.239/a/125

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