Page:Letters to Mrs. F. F. Victor, 1878-83.djvu/25

 ally took some years to carry them off. I might mention that S H Smith was not admitted to the Companys mess. As I told you in Mr Kelly's case discipline forbade. A great deal of the Companys success may be attributed to a kindly paternal discipline. You may imagine it was a great thing to maintain a proper order here, without troops or accessory aid. You may notice what a mixture we had—so as to prevent emutes & insubordination, and how this discipline reacted on the indians—we had ahead. I may mention by the way that Sir EdBelcher when here with the Sulphur & Starling in 39 or 40 complimenting me on the respectful bearing of the men whom he observed at the Fort Gates ready to be told off to their du ties. I further remember his telling me that in his opinion the then prospective voyage of the Wilk[e]s expedition would fail from the almost impossibility of maintaining discipline. I am not sure but that he more particularly alluded to the scientists, 30 in number. At all events you can easily imagine how necessary order was here in those days. The Company's business with either all English or Irish would have failed. Capt Dominus was here in '29 with the Brig "Owyhee" & the indians firmly believed he introduced the Fever & ague. Poor Dominus took a lot of sheep by instruction of his owners to the Islands from California, much to there loss and his amazement when it was explained they were all wethers. I dont know whether he brought the peach or not-we had plenty of peaches in my time but they seldom ripened. Lots of things of this kind were lost upon our old gardener Bruce. he went home to England with Dr McL as servant he was Scotch but would not go beyond London & returned forth with—he was sent out to one of the gardens I think of the Duke of Devonshire for trees (they came out under glass) but Bruce posh poshed at what he saw & led them to think it was all nothing to what we had at Vancouver. I can now see our old Vancr Hall with the Dr at the head of the table suddenly