nment. Here,
then, was a field worthy of his talents; and that he did every manner
of justice to it, no one can deny. Yet he owes much of his success
to the valuable assistance rendered him by Mr. McTavish; at his
suggestion, the whole business was re-organized, a thousand abuses
in the management of affairs were reformed, and a strict system
of economy was introduced where formerly boundless extravagance
prevailed. To effect these salutary measures, however, much tact
was required: and here Sir George's abilities shone conspicuous.
The long-continued strife between the two companies had engendered
feelings of envy and animosity, which could not subside in a day; and
the steps that had been taken to bring about the coalition, created
much ill-will even among the North-West partners themselves. Nor were
the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company without their dissensions
also. To harmonize these elements of discord, to reconcile the
different parties thus brought so suddenly and unexpectedly together
into one fold, was a task of the utmost difficulty to accomplish; but
Sir George was equal to it. He soon discovered that the North-West
partners possessed both the will and the ability to thwart and defeat
such of his plans as were not satisfactory to themselves; that
they were by far the most numerous in the Council--at that time
an independent body--and the best acquainted with the trade of the
Northern department, the most important in the territory; and finding,
after some experience, that while those gentlemen continued united,
their power was beyond his control, and that to resist them openly
would only bring ruin on himself, without any benefit to the concern,
he prudently gave way to their influence; and instead of forcing
himself against the stream, allowed himself apparently to be carried
along with it.

For a time, he seemed to promote all the views of his late
adversaries; he yielded a ready and gracious acquiescence in their
wishes; he lavished his bows, and smiles, and honied words on them
all; and played his part so well, that the North-Westers thought they
had actually gained him over to their own side; while the gentlemen of
the Hudson's Bay Company branded him as a traitor, who had abandoned
his own party and gone over to the enemy.

The Committee received several hints of the Governor's "strange
management," but they only smiled at the insinuations, as they
perfectly understood the policy. His well-diges