Adam Sherriff Scott
Reproduced with the permission of
the Hudson’s Bay Company
From the HBC Corporate Collection
 

She sailed the afternoon of the same day we started (with ) trading goods, provisions--potatoe seed, for Nisqually Bay where should every thing come up to expectations we now have establishment--- While on a trading trip to Puget Sound last spring with 8 or 9 men, I applied 12 days of our time to the erecting of a store 15 by 20 and left L. Be Ouvrie, and two other hands in charge of a few blankets--a couple kegs potatoes and small garden seeds. When I returned to the (post on the Columbia).

20th of April---This is all the semblance of a settlement there is at this moment, but little as it is it possesses an advantage over all the other settlements we have on the coast. Mr. Yale--in consequence of a notice to that effect sent him from home, hence by Indians six weeks ago, forwarded the other day, 4 men out of the 13, left with him at Fort Langly--middle of February: which now makes our total number at Nisqually House 11 hands: I have also this moment with me Doctor William Tolmie, a young Gentleman lately arrived from England as Surgeon for the Company, and is bound for the Northern Establi. in the Vancouver, but did me the pleasure of his company across land with us thus far.

signed by Archibald McDonald.

31st. No account of Capt. Ryan and the Vancouver -- a very unlucky circumstance - no goods for the trade - no provisions for the people, and above all the season is getting late for the seed.  Our people have been put upon various little jobs about the place - the principal one is the building of a small house on the edge of the plain above the high vank which lines the whole of these shores, and must be at least half a mile from the trading house and Naval depot below - a farm on the site I speak of is indispensable on account of the live stock and many other considerations.