Search results
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from William Kennedy:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "April 5th 81 - My dearest old chum, As work is utterly out of the question for me to night I thought that I might profitably employ myself for the remainder of the night by writing to all my old friends whose old and treasured epistles I have just been perusing over and over again for the last hour or so - And finding that all of you without exception express in each of your letters the pleasure that you ever derive from receiving a letter from an old school mate. I thought that I could not possibly do better than write you all a few lines in turn although after having read through your old letter I feel that I justly deserve to be [?] by one and all of you for my neglect and laziness in not writing to all of you more frequently than I have done in the past and although I might plead a heavy pressure of work as my excuse for not writing you [?] I do not think such and excuse would exculpate me in the least bit. Now please do not be disgusted at this dry and hard style of writing old fellow. You remember we are told somewhere in scripture if I mistake not, that out of the fullness of the heart proceed the words of man, or something to that effect. Well just so it is with me All the old letters which I have been reading, coming as they do, from all parts of the world you may say - from yourself at Carlton, from Mowat at Edmonton, from Larry at Toronto, from Rorie in South Carolina, from San Francisco and from Machray at Cambridge, and all of them teeming as they do with warm and kindly sentiments as well as those from old "Scout" in British Columbia have made my manly though tender heart full ever to overflowing. When I had finished the perusal and the re-perusal of them all the first thing that I said to myself was "by jove, I'll write to dear old Angus". Well enough of this - call it by whatever name you please. I must be getting on to the real gist and substance of this epistle, or you will at length be saing "Aut insanit homs, aut versus facit" - Have you forgotten your Latin? And first of all I must tell you that in accordance with your instructions to your brother James, which be delivered to me, with respect to the collar for your dog of famous name and fame I racked thoroughly the poetical departments of my brain and by [?] perseverance, mingled at the same time with talent for poetical composition to acclaim degree, I managed to turn out some couplets which I thought to be extremely suitable for a Doz collar, and which I handed over to James for inspection and I desired him to select one of them but alas! His criticism proved too severe for my verses - they were all repudiated - and all deemed equally unsuitable for the Collar of so distinguished a day as "Suabs or Nibs". From that time the poetical and our within me has completely died out, it having been, I thin previously exhausted by my two [?] "to the moon" of which you may probably have heard. But while [?] on this subject I must thank you for the high compliment you paid me in selecting me to write the verses I would [?] I had been more worthy of the high honour paid me! Jimmie is see is your frequent correspondent and from him I suppose you get all the current news at this place, so I will refrain from wearying you with a rehash of the same old story. To a fellow who is staying all along at this place, there does not appear any change though perhaps to an old boy like you (pardon me you are a man now) a very great change might be visible, were you to revisit the scenes of your boyhood once more. There is always the same routine day after day without any intermission at which one is apt to repine, at any rate I often do I know; I sometimes long for change. I suppose I do not fully realize that a persons school-days are really the happiest days of this life, although even now I look back with [?] pleasure on the days when you and I were in the noble old 5th form together, the prestige of which we managed to keep up wonderfully well. We have a Debating Society formed, in which we all take a very great interest. We have one or two very good speakers especially one a Mr [?] whom you possibly may have seen last summer out there as he was coming in from the North - he takes rank as a speaker with Mr McKenzie who used to take a leading part with Debates of our old society...."
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - William Kennedy
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from [?] MacFarlane:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "Personal. 251 Colony Street, Winnipeg. 14 Sept 1903. My dear Mr McKay, Your welcome favor of 12 Aug came to hand on the 12 instant - just one month on the way! Yes, the Manitoba Victory was splendid! I hope British Columbia will follow suit; but most of all I desire to see the - aggregation at [?] turned out. I earnestly hope and believe this will be their certain fate so soon as they give the people of Canada the chance for doing so. I am sorry to hear of good old Pierre Saliberte's departure altho' he had outlived the three and even four score years limit given to man. I suppose old Payette is not much behind him in age. Where are [?] [?] and the other [?] of the older family now? There are other old servants of the Company I used to know but I suppose they are nearly all dead by now? I think Mr [?] will do well - and no doubt his utmost up in MacKenzie River, altho' matters there are not by any means, in a favorable state from the Company's stand point - the opposition traders get too buy half of the Furs, in Peace River Athabasca and McKenzie River Districts, A "penny wise from [?] life" . [?[ is not adapted from the Fur Trade business of these times - but the Authorities know all about and no doubt will think their own plan of conducting the same, the best. I thought they would have [?] on the charge of English River District, with an increase in pay, but the [?] Macdonald may succeed while you have less to do and are therefore better off unless the pay was greater. I suppose you will endeavor to qualify for the Pension, which in some cases should have been much more liberal than is the case at present, altho' there may be an improving modification of some of its provisions later on. So far, they have withheld the small bonus (so far as the [?] were concerned) from J.M. McDougall and King, altho' fully [?] herewith, while I have been shut out of the both Pension and Bonus; but I am making a stand in this correction and trust to succeed. It is _ to withhold a life Pension from the above, myself and other who have retired since the agreement of 1893 and I also think of those who left before should now receive something for the remainder of their lives, but I am not very hopeful [?] [?] [?]. J. McDougall has separated from his wife and he feels the loss of this children very much - she (the wife) is more to blame than Mac. He talks of leaving Winnipeg for year or so soon as he sells the new house and furniture he purchased a year ago this fall! He has not been very well in health of late. King has returned and has bought a residence in Winnipeg. J.K. McDonald has also left, but has not yet decided what to do for a living. They seem to be getting rid of the older hand as soon as possible - Bill [?] who has for many years had the softest [?] in the service, is holding on hard [?]. Winnipeg is nearly a third layer now than [?] when you were here a few years ago and it is bound to be a great City in time. I hope you and Mrs McKay are having a good time of it at Prince Albert. I did not see the Halls when they were here recently. The [?] is still in the East! With an [?] regards to Mrs McKay and to yourself I am in haste, Yours very sincerely [?] MacFarlane"
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - MacFarlane
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from [?] MacFarlane:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "c/o H Bay Company, Winnipeg 28 May 1898 - My dear Mr McKay, We were sorry to learn from your letter of 19 May of the death of "Barrie", one of the Fortescue twins. I am sure the parents will feel this loss for many a day, and the surviving brother must be inconsolable. [?] I bless this heavy [?] done and all of the family! The Cumberland [?] of today must call for especially built [?] for the [?] river [?] seeing that Mr McDougall's presence and Superintendent leave is now required annually at Prince Albert!!! Better come there on a real case rather than on a [?]! But the matter concerns me not, one may or the other. [?] [?] me lots of [?] Cumberland [?] when you write again. I am a long white interested in the welfare of my old [?]! I guess there will be a decline in [?] there as elsewhere for the [?] 1897. Prices are [?] better and that will help the balance sheets. I hear that Henry has given up the [?] of proceeding to the [?] this season. This may be for the best, altho' no doubt money is to made up there [?] many these years. [?] expects [?] Dawson with [?] [?], George Bannerman, [?] [?] and Massy Baker, about 7 or 8 of June. [?] hears that his claims on the Dunker Creek were in good shape, and that one of them (now being developed I labor paid) was [?] on well! Billy did not accompany his brother and will be going to Dawson later on. Hunter [?] of [?] has offered $30.000 for his claim on Sulphur Creek; [?] as he hopes to secure as much from this openings [?]! No doubt, many of the Winnipeg and Selkirk [?] will do well on the Yukon and among them I hope your brother [?] and sons also. M [?] I think is going to the Yukon shortly on a [?] visit. At [?] he goes as far as [?] Lake. The Commissioner was in Victoria later. Mr Bissett was here this week on a visit to his son. He had been to the Coast for several weeks. I regret to hear that Mr [?] [?] [?] beer his [?] with. I feared as much, altho' he is no politician. Has Herbert his son come much in fur trading this year? How much to the HBCo get for their Cumberland House mail contract! That much for the [?] addition [?] Who is running same for the Company? What is Gordon doing now? Why does he not go [?] [?] [?] the MacKenzie River District? The [?] rush has greatly cooled for the present; but mark my works, it will be better than ever when the [?] of the season's gold washup becomes known. I think you should charge your [?] in the [?] [?] but you may defer this until next month when I write you as to the [?] of the present investigation. By the way, has Tom Campbell gone to the Yukon gold fields - it was reported in Winter that he was going this opening. With all good wishes and kind regards to Mrs McKay and yourself, Believe me yours ever sincerely, [?] MacFarlane - Angus McKay Esq."
-
Call Number
-
McKay - Box 2 - Angus McKay - Folder 1 - Book 2
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from [?] MacFarlane:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "Private. c/o H.B. Coy. Winnipeg 15 Oct. 18994. My dear Mr McKay, I received your welcome favor of 4 October the other day. Under all the circumstance I think you did very well at [?] time - better than either Mr McDougall or yourself expected. We [?] [?] all we want and desire here below! I never though [?] the proper place for the Indian Agency. The Pas is the right position and Mr Beader[?] erred in not building there as he first intended. Did you lose any money by advances to [?] Indians? Write me fully in this regard. I am very sorry to see that with much better returns this part Outfit, your fort comes out by loss! (nearly $700.00) of course, the Chief Factors' share of salary makes a little difference - but please write me fully at once in this regard and send detailed statement of the differences caused by reduced prices of [?], produce, steel [?], repairs and other matters. Don't forget this and also give any other reasons and notes of changes made in your inventory at Cumberland House. I find similar or more results at other forts in [?] [?] loss - while no doubt we shall have it the other way, out of proportion, next Outfit. Write me fully in the foregoing and other regards please. Typhoid is very prevalent in Winnipeg and elsewhere in Manitoba. Mrs C Mathson died this [?] week after only ten days illness! You should do your utmost to have Betts[?] returned to the [?] House. He is far ahead fo the other men, who is not a persona grata. I trust to hear of Betts success at the elections 31 Oct next. It is a good thing Deschambeault did not come out. Horace has good work this winter and [?] to be [?] to render good service to the concern [?]. I wish him well and you also dear Mr McKay. After 2 weeks of very bad weather, I think we are now in for the Indian Summer. I trust so the Commissioner's family proceed to England for the winter - he goes with them as far as Montreal tomorrow. I hope you will write to me fully now and again with all the La Corne and Cumberland business. Laurier and Co are a lot of windbags - better then devil return than the [?] Devil of 1873/8! With all good wishes and kind regards to Mrs McKay, Believe me, yours ever Sincerely, [?] MacFarlane - Mr McKay Esq"
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - MacFarlane
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from William Kennedy:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "John M. Mcdonnell, Barrister, &c. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg, June 22 1882 - My dear Angus, Nothing ever gave me greater surprise in my life, than your nice long friendly letter which I found awaiting me at the old Coll: where I still contrive to hang out, although I am studying to be a "liar" in Winnipeg here. It is good for sore eyes (as is commonly said) to behold once more your well known characters. By George! I was just commencing to think that you had long ago forgotten me, however I am delighted in the extreme, to find that such is not the case, and I may say that the delight and joy that I felt at receiving your letter was simply indescribable. Well I am very much afraid that I cannot suitably reply to such a nice long letter as yours as alas! My stock of [?] is very limited indeed, so if I don't give you satisfaction, you must make ample allowance for one. I have now been at the Law for nearly a year - 11 months more nearly; so that you see I have had a pretty good opportunity of getting an insight into legal affairs. Last summer, as you are aware, I had the great distinction of having the appendage "B.A." added of affixed to my previous signature, so that I have only to serve another year under articles to admitted as a full fledged Barrister of this Prov: It is [?] any serious intention to go out to Prince Albert to join myself to the legal fraternity in that "Eden of the North West" as it is so frequently designated when I hope I may have the distinguished honour of counting you amongst my clients and I may say that my desire to do so is greatly inflamed by the glowing accounts both yourself and Jockey give me of the settlement. I want to try to get out there as early as possible so that I may not be made to give place to newcomers. Your brother Jimmie is also going to study for the law - He is going to Baird and Blanchard's office the best in the City - He has lately distinguished himself in a remarkable degree, thereby reflecting very great credit on both himself and his noble old institution of St. John's and I may say that brilliant as all his former achievements were, his last fairly eclipses them all and sheds a most dazzling light and luster on his expansive brown, and skill (which by the way is very closely shaven - the result of a very severe attack of [?] which took place a few weeks before his Exam:) I consider that his [?] the Governor Generals silver medal was an [?] in his remarkable career, the men [?] of which will be handed down to the very latest posterity. And I am sure that wherever the numerous progeny of the "rale auld" McKay stock may take up their habitation his praises will be sung in a style worthy that renowned a sturdy race, whose proud boast is that she also has you amongst her sons. He competitors for the prize were all able men - very able - which only renders his distinction the greater. [?] Machray also received the Gov Genls bronze medal which is given to the best candidate at the Prev Exam: You may imagine the magnitude of his success when I tell you that amongst his competitors was the Rev. A.E. Cowley who is one of the Examiners of the [?] [?] [?] Phil: in fact old St John's took the lead this year all through all her studends did very well indeed which fact I know will delight you. Larrie has also lately obtained his degree as the [?] : of Toronto, he is also council with Bain and Blanchard's office shortly. His Rev [?] Flett has arrived - arrived last Saturday I was surprised rather to see him so [?] and to my taste he looks very uncanonical. Pinkham who was married two months ago took a trip down to New York and Montreal - is expected back to night - he has done deuced well for himself marrying the daughter of a man who is as rich as the devil, and can quite afford to bestow on her a dowry of $10,000 or $20,000. No doubt A.G.P.[?] will have a say in the exact amount. I suppose you will be the next one we will hear about getting a better half - wish you joy old boy if you do take yourself a blooming bride - I heard you were awfully spooney on Miss Clarke when she was at Carlton. She is a [?] just now. I will again undertake to look after your interests on that quarter if you like - and look after them too most assiduously. I was doing remarkably well in that [?] in the other quarter when I commenced to find out that my own interests were taking a first consideration whilst yours were only obtaining a second, so I quite the task in utter disgust. How ever I'll try and do better this time. John Hector has returned from Alaska, quite recently where he was employed in some fur coy'. He does not seem to have altered very much, although he has grown very tall. No more news once cannot gather up a surplus of it you Know in a law office Your old friend Wm T.B. Kennedy. P.S.[?] is shortly leaving for the Cumberland Mission - He feels father glum at leaving St John's more especially as his affections are set upon something in that Parish "Old Tom's" daughter I am very much afraid old Mae has his eyes fixed on [?] - Old Tom sold out for $90,000 - O [?] for [?] scribe, et melius scrib[?] [?] W.L.B.K."
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - William Kennedy
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from [?] MacFarlane:
-
Institution
-
Univesity Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "Personal. c/o Hudson's Bay Company, Winnipeg 10 May 1899. My dear Mr McKay, Your always welcome favor of 4 May is just to hand. I am glad to hear of your own and family's health and welfare. We were all sorry to hear of Major Colton's recent death at Battleford. He was a kind and find man. Your brother Henry came in from Grand Rapids the other day and will be going North with Mr Laird as Cree Interpreter and Trader etc. He's in a good position and will pave the way to something better, should he keep straight, which he appears to do, and have done from many months. We all wish him much success. Mr McLean is in Chicago at present and will be going North this month - there is any [?] [?] gold up there in [?]. Mr [?] is much interested in rich finds adjoining the McLean [?]. We have a great country, but a cursed Minister of the Interior, who blocks proper development. The [?] will turn out well this season despite Sifton's cursedness. Alice[?] will be in early in June on a ten days visit on business to Winnipeg. The Winnipeg boys were all well and doing well early in April, the date of the letter. I am surprised to hear that Gordon secured to many Rats[?] at the Pas. He must mind his debts, or those Indians will trick him out of much money in this way. I hope your [?] may turn out better than you expect. I should not wonder if Mr McDougall were stationed at Prince Albert, with the [?] of Cumberland and English River Districts etc. They keep all things close here: But this is an old [?] and likely to become a fact. We are glad to hear such good accounts of the Fortescues's, and your own Fortie. We are all well Dieu Merci. The spring has been very late and unfavorable tho' warmer of late - but still not quite settled. I am sending you herewith a copy of the [?] [?] [?] which you will greatly enjoy. All do - the sale of them has been immense. With all [?] regards and best wishes I remain yours ever sincerely, [?] MacFarlane - A MacKay [ie McKay] Esq."
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - MacFarlane
-
-
Title
-
Letter to Angus McKay from William Kennedy:
-
Institution
-
University Library, University of Saskatchewan
-
Description
-
Letter reading "May 23rd 1880, My dear old Angus, I suppose you have, bu this time [?] forgotten that there is any such person as N. T.B.K. in existence, and no wonder. I however have not yet forgotten that there is such a distinguished personage as Angus McKay Esq. still living to honor Carlton House with his presence as this letter proves. I have often wondered during the past year which of us was the worse. The year, commencing August 1st 1879, began with strong protestations on both sides, that a good and continued correspondence should ensue between myself and thee, most noble Angus. Time has shown how these good resolves have been kept. I write a letter and send off to you by mail a set of razors, about the middle of September 1879. I get the answer to my letter and receipt for the razors about the 2nd of January 1880. Then I write an answer to you immediately thereupon, but I leave it unfinished in my mothers desk which she sends away to you in its unfinished state: and at that point all correspondence drops. Don't you that this is a truthful statement of the facts of the case? Well then who do you think is the more at fault? We'll say that we are about six of one and half a dozen of the other, and then we quit. Will that satisfy you? I guess we both consider letter-writing a horrid nuisance, and that lies at the bottom of the whole affair. But at any rate you ought to let a fellow know how you are getting along once in a while at least. Perhaps it's because you think that you have no news to tell me of. That doesn't matter. You have a knack of inventing news as it were, and you always make your letters enjoyable to read owing to that ever-flowing fountain of whit and humor which you possess. So then you must write sometimes (indefinite) and I will do the same. Don't abstain from writing because you hate corresponding with religious persons. I am not a "parson" yet and till then, I give you open freedom of speech. Well old fellow I suppose you would very much like to know what I am doing with myself now-a-days: whether I am still the same indolent and stupid old Kennedy you knew in days of yore. Well I am not quite so lazy as I used to be - although certainly I don't rise till eight o'clock in the morning. I am working at Classics and Mathematics. I intend going up for Honors in both subjects. Don't you wish me joy and success? Next summer I am going up for the Final Exams for B.A. MacLennan or as we fondly style him Micawher - is going in for Classics your brother Jimmie and Alfred and Davie are going up for the Previous Exam in a weeks time I fully expect that Jimmie will be the Bronze Medalist of the University this year. I had a letter from "Scout" a few weeks ago, in which he says he should very much like to come back here again, enter the Univ. and study Mathematics, although he says he has forgotten nearly all the maths that he once knew. I'll bet you thought if Scout were to come back again, he would do credit to this old institution in the shape of maths. By jove I think you ought to write to him Angus. He is at Fraser's Lake, New Caledonia, B. Columbia. He is in charge of two posts in that district. He tells me that he lives alone at the post at Fraser's Lake in a large house with no other occupant but himself, and that there is no one there who can talk English to him. He says that he is lonely, but that the has any account of hunting to compensate for his loneliness. If you do write put the above address on the envelope and write via Quesuelle and send the letter down to Winnipeg. I say a few weeks ago I had a letter from your noble brother Gilbert, which he closes by telling me that "his wife joins him in kind regards" or something to that effect. Is he really married? and if so who is it to? He ends a letter to McLennan in something the same manner, and from that I infer that he is married. But he may be only joking. Your epistle of last winter made me at our time suspect that your worthy bro was my 2nd cousin-in-law and that you therefore were a little closer connected to us than by this tie of forty-fifth of fiftieth cousinship; but I afterward reflected upon your quizzical and jovial disposition, and I therefore reject the [?]. You will be surprised to hear that the Rev. [?] Pinkham is to be married on the 24th of next month, and also that Prof. Bourue M.A.; A.I.M.; C.E.; D.L.S; T.C.D. and the devil knows what else besides, has already dabbled in matrimony. And now I must close, as it is getting late. Be sure and write soon, like a good fellow as I am dying to hear from you. Give my love to Mr and Mrs Taylor and all her family, and Believe me Ever your faithful friend, Wm. T.B. Kennedy"
-
Call Number
-
385 Corr - William Kennedy