iness to a perfect
system, which he had only to follow. It is true he introduced great
economy into every department; but the North-West Company had done
so before him, and the wasteful extravagance which preceded his
appointment was entirely the result of the rivalry between the two
companies, and under any governor whatever would have ceased when the
coalition was effected.

Not a little, too, of Sir George's economy was of "the penny-wise and
pound-foolish" kind. Thus it has been already observed, that the lives
of the Company's servants, and the property of an entire district,
were placed in extreme jeopardy by his false economy; and a
contingency, which no prudent man would have calculated upon,
alone prevented a catastrophe which involved the destruction of the
Company's property to a large amount, as well as of the lives of its
servants. But independently of this, he has committed several errors
of a most serious kind. Of these the chief is the Ungava adventure,
an enterprise which was begun in opposition to the opinion of every
gentleman in the country whose experience enabled him to form a
correct judgment in the matter; and this undertaking was persisted in,
year after year, at an enormous loss to the Company. Finally, he has
not even the merit of correcting his own blunders. It was not till
after a mass of evidence of the strongest kind was laid before the
Committee, that they, in his absence, gave orders for the abandonment
of the hopeless project.

His caprice, his favouritism, his disregard of merit in granting
promotion, it will be allowed, could not have a favourable effect on
the Company's interests. His want of feeling has been mentioned: a
single example of this will close these remarks. A gentleman of high
rank in the service, whose wife was dangerously ill, received orders
to proceed on a journey of nearly 5,000 miles. Aware that his duty
required a prompt obedience to these orders, he set off, taking her
along with him. On arriving at the end of the first stage, she became
worse; and medical assistance being procured, the physicians were of
opinion that in all probability death would be the consequence if he
continued his journey. A certificate to this effect was forwarded to
Sir George. The answer was, that Madame's health must not interfere
with the Company's service; and that he must continue his journey, or
abide the consequences.

In consequence of this delay, he only reached Montreal on t