KLATSASSAN. 247 Indians, who had kept aloof at first,” writes Lieut. Cooper in a Government Despatch, published by Mr. Birch, then Colonial Secretary, in the Columbian of Aug. 5, 1864, “began to familiarize themselves with the prestnce of the white force in the centre of the country. Women first came into the camp to trade, and finally Alexis was induced to present himself to the Governor. He came on horseback with a considerable retinue. There was great embarrassment and some alarm in his manner at first, but by degrees both disappeared, and he agreed to take active steps for the apprehension of the murderers. For several days he professed to consider the whole affair as a war in which it was his duty to remain neutral. The supply of provisions having become exceedingly low, it was a matter of regret to the Governor, that the recep- tion given to Alexis and his party was not of a liberal nature. But for the indefatigable exertions of the Bella Coola Indians in fishing, the New Westminster party would have been reduced to considerable straits for want of food. The scale of rations was cut down very low; but the Volunteers and others bore their privations with- out a murmur, and the most perfect order prevailed in camp.” Nothing definite appears to have been arranged with Alexis at this time; but it seemed that matters were in train for bringing the business to a close, and getting possession of the prisoners. The Governor accordingly determined to carry out his intention of visiting the gold-diggings of Cariboo; and, indeed, his presence was much desired there. The miners felt that the representa- tive of the Queen would do well to come and see the most important part of his whole dominion, its treasure- house, and, in summer, its most peopled district. Thus, when his Excellency, leaving Puntzeen, and performing successfully the arduous journey, appeared at Richfield, he was received with much enthusiasm. The miners took him over their claims, and loaded him with “specimens.” They gave him a “big” dinner, in the course of which—the room waxing close, and air being wanted in—an honest miner simply pushed his elbow through the window, as the most expeditious means of ventilation. They bestowed on him every mark of their rough but honest regard. Among such men, a spirit of enterprise and an affable manner go far to make a great man popular, and Governor Seymour possessed these qualities in a high degree. Indeed, he was a man liked by all classes of the community, and when, three years later, his life came to an abrupt end, there were many to regret the sudden and untimely close of his career. Mr. Seymour was the second Governor of the colony. The first was Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., a man to whom the colony owes much; more, probably, than it will fully acknowledge while he lives. A man who had character and force of will to raise himself from a clerkship, in a Hudson’s Bay Company’s office, to be chief factor of that Company, west of the Rocky Moun- tains, and then to become a Governor of one of England's colonies, and who, after his elevation to so great a posi- tion, had skill and patience to preside over the colony's early struggles and laborious development, and, finally who had wisdom, when his work was done, to retire from the Governorship, and leave it to more modern—hardly to wiser men—certainly to men better versed in liberal institutions, and more able to form a constitution such as a British colony must sooner or later possess. Surely ee Oe ee such a man deserves well of his fellow-countrymen—above all, of the colonists themselves. And if he was apt to rule them somewhat arbitrarily, was not such mode of government, indeed, the best suited for men engaged with the struggle for existence which marks the early years of a colony, and, consequently, with little leisure to bestow upon politics ? Ix. KLATSASSAN IN THE WHITE MAN’S CAMP. Aveust 5th, an Indian, named Joe, arrived from Klat- sassan’s camp. He insisted on being taken at once to the white chief’s tent. The captain received him with his wonted courtesy, and motioned him to a bearskin. He said he had come from his chief with a message for the whites who had been at Tatla, the place where Maclaine was shot. He was to say that the Indians wished for peace, but if the whites dared to come into that country again, they should be shot—every one of them.