I Blyster’d for the Cough McRea came to my bed, & asked how I did, I told him it made no matter to him how I was, not to bother me, that I would be soon well, from the effects of the Blyster & repeated I did not think he was a Gentleman

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke.

(reference: pages 17849 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

[McRae] Told me a Skin was wanting of the Number he gave me to put under me for a bed, they were in Captn. McDonell’s tent where I slept I told him I did not take it, nor had not it, & that it was surprising any person would go into Captn. McDonell’s tent to take it out, that perhaps he did not count them well that it must be among the others, upon which he said he did, I must pay for the one that is lost. I told him he spoke very peremptorily, & that stil a tryal ought to be made, but the word was I must pay for it. I then told him I would not that he gave them, & I did not reckon them, & as he gave them that he took them. That if he required so many from me, he ought as he was so particular to receive them, from my hands, & not take them himself. Upon this He told me go be damned. Upon which I told him but that I was a Clergyman I would kick him. He wanted me to box him. I told him I was no Blackguard, but that he was a Comissary had a sword & pistols & that if Captn. McDonnell would lend me either of his, I would try him at either. There was no Man on the ground I could depend on for arms but Capts. McDonell. I brought none myself, thinking I’d have no occasion for any, for which I was sorry & more so that I should be under the necessity of calling to Captn. McDonell for his, Captain McDonell was out at the time, when he came in I told him what happened, & that in McRea’s presence, & that I was sure McRea was no Gentleman, tho’ he had the arms of a Gentleman, sword & pistols. I guess’d from the Doctor & McReas being always with Hillier, that perhaps they were put up to this, & I was resolved to try what the best of them could do. In fact I heard some days after, that McRea went to Mr. Hillier & requested he would be is Friend in a day or two, when he would call on him But I understand Hillier gave no reply whatever, but changed colour.

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke

(reference: pages 17848-9 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

Miles Macdonell and Mr. Hillier made two camps near York Factory over the winter of 1811/12, where the men who were to be the work crew for the Red River Settlement lived until moving south after break-up. Even from Macdonell’s journal, which is often somewhat brief and lacking detail in its daily record of events, it is clear that the winter was full of malcontent.

With the men was a Roman Catholic priest, Charles Bourke – Irish, like many of the men of the working party. He, too kept a journal, a journal that is far more outspoken about the tensions between the Irish and the Orkneymen, and the outright prejudice and abuse the former suffered. Several times violence erupted and, on occasion, serious injury occurred. While it seems that the Irish were doing the erupting, the entries in the ailing priest’s diary over the next three days show that they were well and truly goaded.

This ill feeling carried over into later years at the RRS, as these Irishmen formed most of the working party and were joined later by some Irish immigrants.

[A Bad Cough & sore breast] increases I observe a great deal of impertinence in McRea & a bad disposition in general towards the Irish

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke

(reference: pages 17867 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

“Mr. Auld after returning on foot from Churchill paid us a Visit. I gave the Men a sound lecture on Sunday in his presence, he seemed to like the discourse well, & said it was much to the purpose. He hoped for good results from the practice of such moral good instructions.”  – Rev. Charles Bourke Journal 1812

Throughout the winter of 1811/2 there had been tension between the Orkneymen and Irish of the two work party camps. On several occasions, the tension broke into violence or deliberate destruction of property. Each of the officials seemed to have his own idea about discipline and how to maintain order…

(reference: 17868 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)