Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/96



68 T. C. ELLIOTT

kind is attended with som difficulty whenever that appears to you call to mind your Courage and resulution and not let that faile you in the Attempt. Consider the honor it will be to you and the Detachment with you besides the Great advant- ages that much arrive to the undertakers of it. Believe in it like a Man that is Devoted to his King and Brave out every difficulty and you may be sure of Success.

You are to take great care not to leave the least suspicion among the many different nations of Indians that your design is any other than to open a Trade with them. Beware of their Women not to take them without consent of their Chiefs pay them puntually for what you have of them which is the Sure way to have Success.

And when you have made all the discovery you can you must return to this place in the way and manner you think most conveiant and easy for yourself and party either by Hud- sons Bay, or back the way you go out, across the Country observing proper places for posts going and coming, but I strongly recommend it to you not to touch at any of our Hudson Bay Posts as they may detain you and make advant- ages of your Journey to themselves but should you fnd out a North West passage as I do not doubt but you will or a Short carrying place cross over to Fort la Parrie where you may be assured to meet relief.

I heartily wish you Success and that God may preserve you and the detachment through this undertaking and that you may meet the reward of a deserving officer at your return over and above the Money offered for the discovery to effect which may good offices shall not be wanting to every Individual. You are Strictly commanded to make your report to me at your return wherever I may be, or in case of my Death to the Honourable Charles Townsend or in case of both our Deaths to the Honorable Lords of Trade and Plantations and for so doing this shall be your Sufficient Warrant and Instructions. Given under my Hand and Seal at Michilimakinac this 12th Septembr. 1766.

ROBT. ROGERS. No. 7

Copy of Major Rogers's letter to Captn. Tute Micha. loth

June

Michilimakinac Ye. 10th June 1767 Dear Sir:

I had the pleasure to Receive your Letter dated sometime