30 April 1817
by Elizabeth Campbell“[W]hen at Mr. Christies, I was much amused in perceiving a file of the Inverness Journal of 1812; where I find Mr. Simon McGillivray writing for his associates the North West Company under the signature of the Highlander, her is answered by Messrs. [Rev. Charles] Burke and McLean, the former wrote with pith and elegance, I wish he had been better acquainted with his opponents…” – Colin Robertson Journal
Here is testament to more of the propaganda used by the N.W.Co. to crush the success of the Red River Settlement, this time directed at settler recruitment efforts in Scotland. The anonymous ‘Highlander’, identified here as on of the senior partners of the N.W.Co., wrote at length of the hardships of living in and the unsuitable nature of the soil and climate of the Assiniboian region in which the colony was proposed. ‘Highlander’ came across as a kindly advisor, one who regretted dashing the hopes of would be settlers, but who truly had the emigrants’ best interests at heart. Robertson’s commentary makes for interesting and insightful reading.
Copies of Highlander’s articles may be found in Vol. 1 of the Selkirk Papers.
(reference: page 17733 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)
Tags: Alexander McLean, Colin Robertson, Colin Robertson's Journal, Highlander, North West Company propoganda, Rev. Charles Bourke, settler recruitment, Simon McGillivray
