Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-01
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

of the Hudson'S Bay Companys territories. Philadelphia
Lea & Blanchard ls47." svo; two parts in vol PIP.
273 and 23O.
surprising travel, accomplished as none but
man trained in the interchangeable school of the Ca
madam trapper and uoyagem could well have ac-
complished, and told with an indebtedness and
a high practical intelligence that make the narrative
as instructive the scenes and incidents make it
interesting. With the adventurous spirit of Led
yard or Captain Cochrane, at least equal powers
of personal endurance, an energy seemingly bound
less, advantages of position and resource and 1--WE
are persuaded) practical ability which they did
not possess, Sir George-the child, we believe, of
hardy enterprise and strong sagacty-has accom-
plished, in the short space of nineteen months,
much more than it made poor Ledyard famous only
to have designed he has passed around the globe
by probably its most difficult track that is, through
nearly the whole length of the Hudson Bay terri
tories west to the northern branches of the Oregon
and down to its mouth; thence along the west coast
up to Russian America then downwards to San
Francisco and the Californian Monterey after
wards to the Sandwich Islands; from these, once
more to Russian America and thencs through 81
IBERIA and Russia back to his sartmg-place, London.
The book is written without the slightest literary
pretension and even with decided disregard OF the
nicer conveadlonalisms of authorship, as they may
be called. critical purity of expression he seems
not to study, and what is usually considered fine
writing to disdain. In Short the merits of style
about the work are merely those of general sim
plcity, sense, and animation looking if the
wrote WELL not because he had ever studied to write,
but by dint of being person OF vigorous capacity,
strong character close observation, and most diver
sifed acquaintance with the teatherless biped, of
whatever race or climate.
We have explained the scope Of the journey
and we need scarcely add that its objects appear to
have been any thing but the honor OF book-making
or the glory of locomotion. We presume that, if
there is position in the world that would leave
man. at all fiji for it, no time nor inclination for what
may be styled fancy travelling, it is just that which
Gov. Simpson occupies, This enormous trip had
of course, at every point, important objects and
high interests in view, although these cannot often
be guessed from the general narrative. Our very
favorable judgment of the book, its value and its in
terest, we have expressed; all that remains, then,
is to select from it such passages will best Justify
our opinion by giving pleasure to our readers.
To give clearer notion of the life Of those en-
gagged IN the service and expeditions of the great
fur companies of our continent, Sir George details
the labors of day. in his passage from the Great
Lakes and the Ottawa Chat of Moore's Canadian
Boat Song, we believe) towards Lake Winnipeg
"Beore bidding goodby old friend the Ottawa let me
here offer description Of days march, general speci
men Of the whole journey. To begin with the mpor
tant part of proceedings the business of encampng
brief night selected, about sundown dry and
toeaby clear spot and, Immediately landing sound
OF the would be ringing through the wood, the
were telling whole trees for fires, ard preparing if
say, space for our tents In less than ten minutes
three lodges would he pitched each with such blaze in front
virtually impaired of enjoyment to all the
young campaigne while through the cracking flames might
be the requisite number of pots and kettles for sup
per. Our beds laid, consisting of oil-cloth
spread the bare EARTH with three blankets and pillow,
and, when OCCASION demanded, with cloaks and
discretion and whether the wind howed the rain poured
payons of formed safe barrier against the wea
Their While part OF comprising all the landsmen,
doing duty sokers and cooks and architects and
chambermaids, the experienced voyageu after unload
ing the had drawn them the beach with their bot
toms upwards, to inspect and If needul to the
stitching, and the cumming and the little vessels were
made to incline side to windwad, each with a roaring
fire to ieewa the crews every man in his single ban
ket, managed TO set wind and rain, and cold defiance
almost efiecualy ourselves Weather permitting, our
umbers would be broken by in the morning by the cry
Of Leue hue lcer In five minutes wo to the inmates
that slow in dressing, the tumbng about
and within half hour the camp would be raised the
laden, and the paddles keeping merry old
About eight O'Clock convenient place would be select
ed for breakfast about Of hour being allotted
Tor the muuiaous operations OF unpacng and repackng
the equpage laying and removing the CLOTH boiling and
ing eating and dnkng and, while the prelminaries were
arranging the harder among would wash and shave each
person carrying and towel in his pocket and finding
mirror in the sandy rocky basin that held the water
About two IN the afternoon usually put ashore for dinner
and as this meal needed fire. least got none vas
not allowed TO occupy than minutes half
hour Such the routine Of journey, the day, gene
rally speaking being divided into six hours of rest and eg
teen OF labor This almost incredible toll the bore
without murmur and almost invariably with such an hay
Of spirit few other could sustain for single forenoon
"B But the quality Of the work. decidedly than
the quantity, requires operatives of iron mould In smooth
water the paddle piled with twice the rapdy of the oar
taxing both and lungs the utmost amid shall
lows, the is literally dragged by the wadng their
knees to their lons while each poor fellow after replacing
bis drer half m seat aughngy shakes the heaviest the
wet from bis legs the gunwale before he again gives them
inside berth in rapids, the towing line has to be hauled
along rocks and sumps through swamps and thcke
excepting that when the ground utterly mpracticable poles
substituted and occasionally also the bushes the shore
Again, the porages, where the breaks Of all magn
able kinds and degrees Of Badness the and their
goes carried in less Than two three
the little vessels alone monopozng the first turn the
more expert half Of their respective Of the baggage
each man has to carry at least pieces estimated hun
dred and eighty pounds avordupo which he suspends in
ngs OF leather placed the forehead that he has
hands free TO clear the way among the branches Of the stand
ing trees, aud over the PROSTATE trunks But addition
the separate abo Of the land and the water the poor fellows
have to endure combination Of both Of hardship at least
three or four times every day. The seldom APP
proach near enough enable the passengers step ashore
from the gunwae; and is halt made than the
men are IN the water to dry ground their backs
In this unique department Of their duty they take
PRIDE and little fellow often get possession of the
heaviest customer in the party considerably exceeding
often been the case IN my experience the standard aforesaid
Of two pieces Of baggage
Lake Huron it seems, possesses in one of its
islands, musical stone, like that out of which the
celebrated image of Memnon was made:
q ~. l,p.. al.