he trading side of the Hudson's Bay Company and that which Lord Selkirk
represented, in the Colonizing enterprise. Also at this time the laws in
regard to the safety of vessels, the comfort of passengers, or
precautions for health were very lax. While the records of emigration
experiences of British settlers to Canada and the United States are
being recited by men and women yet living in Canada, the want of
resource and the neglect of life and property by Governments and
officials up until half a century ago are heart-sickening. So the third
ship of the fleet that was to carry the first human freight of Manitoba
pioneers was the "Edward and Ann." She was a sorry craft, with old
sails, ropes, etc., and very badly manned. She had as a crew only
sixteen, including the captain, mates and three small boys. It was a
surprise to Miles Macdonell that the Company would charter and send her
out in such a state. The officers came down to Gravesend from London and
joined their ships, and somewhere about the 25th of June, 1811, they set
sail from Sheerness on their mission, which was to become historic--not
so historic, perhaps, as the Mayflower--but still sufficiently important
to deserve a centennial celebration.

The fleet was, however, to take up its passengers after it had passed
Duncansby Head, on the north of Scotland. But the elements on the North
Sea were unpropitious. Sheerness left behind, the trio of vessels had
not passed the coast of Norfolk before they were driven into Yarmouth
Harbor, and there for days they lay held in by adverse winds. On July
2nd they again started northward, when they were compelled to return to
Yarmouth.

In company they succeeded in reaching Stromness, in the Orkney Isles, in
about ten days. Here the "Prince of Wales" remained and her two
companions sailed down to Stornoway on the 17th.

And now, with the storms of the German Ocean left behind, began the
opposition of the "Nor'-Westers." The "Prince of Wales" brought her
contingent from the Orkneys, and on July 25th Miles Macdonell writes
that after all the efforts put forth at all the points he had 125
Colonists and employees, and these were in a most unsettled state of
mind.

Some dispute the wages offered them. One party from Galway had not
arrived. Some are irritated at not being in the quarter of the ship
which they desired, and some anxiety is evident on the part of Miles
Macdonell because large advances of money have been given to a