The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-07
MISCELLANY.
Lord Selkirk's American Settlement.

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Lord Selkirk's American Settlement.
This settlement, formed some thirty wears
ago, on the Red River, in the British pos
sessions, north of Minnesota Territory, b,
a few Scotch Highlauders, sent out by Lore
Douglass, Earl of Selkirk, appears to have
surmounted all the trials and seventies O
such an enterprise in an inhOspitable reg ion
and to have become considerable and thri
wing colony, with schools, churches, anC
other means of prosperity and growth. Its
early history is characterised by great trIal-
and sutierlngs, and for many years the ISSUE
seemed doubtful. But we learn by a Ielte,
in the Boston Evening Traveller thar is
period of probation is probably over. The
ipresent number Of inhabitants is about seven
thousand, including the Indian settlement
which contains o00-500 Creos or Kristen.
eaux, and 100 Oiibways. There are, how
ever, only fifty families Of Scotch, many oil
their countrynen having moved to the L
States and Canada during the days of theil
adversely. There are also few Englisl
AMI Orkneymen, but the greater part of the
inhabitants are half natives, and descend
ants of fur traders and their servants, by
native women.
Wequote the following brief account Off
The settlement lies on both sides Of the
river, and extends more than forty miles
There are four Episcopal churches, Cath
olic cathedral, and a chapel. The Papists
are the most numerous, but the Episcopal
ians, are, by far, the most influential. The
Scotch had the promise Of a Galeic minis
ter when they left Scotland, aud they are
very much disaffected that the promise has
not been fulfilled. Nearly all Of them un-
derstand English now, aud they meet with
the Episcopalians for worship, but none OF
them Join in reading church service, and
only a part come to the communion. They
are still partial to the Presbyterian form OF
worship. They all have their children hap
tised, and it is often done when the child is
very young--ALwAYs, if there is proba-
biIity that it will not live long.
There are only seven schools in the set
Element. Most Of these are supported in
part by the Church Missionary Society,"
Rev. Mr.. Cochran has been there more
than twenty wears. He is the founder OF
the Indian settlement. Rev. Mr.. Maccalum
principal of the Academy, succeeded MIR.
Jones. He has been in the school fourteen
years. Most Of his pupils are children of
the fur traders. Some Of them, Of course,
are from great distance. 1t is q boarding
school; and but very few Of the settlers
think they are able to avail themselves Of
its privileges. The expense is E25 sterling
per annum. They live in what would be
considered good style in any New England
village. Neatness and order are visible
throughout the whole establishment. The
buildings are sufficiently large to accommo-
date nearly one hundred pupils, but at pres
ent they have not half thai number. The
schools are not quite as flourishing as for
merly. Mr.. Maccallum has two assistants,
gentleman from England, and a lady
Ihalf native) who was educated in the AGA
denny. She is the only female teacher in
the whole settlement. There is another
school in the mission premises, few rods
from the academy, which is also under Mr..
Maccallum's supervision, except that the
settlers have the privilege of choosing their
own teacher. 1t is now kept by one Of MIR.
Ms former pupils.
The great reforms Of the day have moi
yet travelled as far as the Red River yet
All, with few exceptions, think it right to
drink IL little; and smoking and snuffing are
quite fashionable Several cart loads OF
alcoholic liquors were drawn across the
plains last summer from st. Peters to the
Colony. Our young Scotchman, who has
from the mission to read seems to be fully
aware of the evils Of even temperate drink
ing. | know of but two others in the. ett!e
irhent who abstain from all intoxicating
drinks.
But notwithstanding all this, there seems
to be a spirit of improvement among them
Last year premiums were given out Of the
public treasury, to the individuals who man.
ufactured the best cloth, yarn, cheese, SC.
Thirty shilings-about S7-was awarded
to one woman for very fine wooden yarn,
about as much as a lady could run through
her thimble. The family that will make,
during the present year, one hundred yards
of the best cloth Of d.ffereut kinds, has the
promise of ego sterling and good market
for all the cloth they wish to sell. The
Scotch are the principal manufacturers.
The Touring mills in the settlement are all
wind mills, and all the lumber is sawed by
hand. The wheels they use for spinning
wool are just like those used in the States
for spinning linen. Every family card their
own wool and full their own cloth. The
process of fulling is quite amusing. When
a web is brought from the weayers, few
young men are invited in, the cloth is wet
in soap suds and thrown upon the floor
They SIT down on the floor to, work, with
the cloth between their feet, (barefOoted)
and something to support their backs.
don't know of any shorter way to describe