Douglas, Thomas, Earl of Selkirk (1809) Copy ofa letter dated 6 December 7809. Selkirk Papers: PAC, MG. 19 E1 Vols. 753, 14183-15253. [Microfilm copy in P.E.I. PARO: 3053/3:]

The extract below comes from a letter written by Lord Selkirk that was copied into the Selkirk papers (see Selkirk (1803) for background information on Selkirk ’s involvement with the island). It is not immediately evident to whom the letter is addressed but it must be someone connected with Selkirk ’3 business interests. It concerns an agreement that Selkirk ’8 agent on the island, James Williams, had made with some lumber merchants for the exploitation of the timber on Selkirk ’s island estate, especially the pine and hemlock. Evidently the terms were not favourable to Selkirk though according to Bumsted ( 7.978), Selkirk was unable to get out of the agreement. Selkirk had appointed James Williams in 7803 as agent to manage his settlement on the island, but after Selkirk ’3 second visit to the island in October 7804, he was unable for several years to get any first—hand reports from Williams concerning his island estate. The letter is of interest on two counts: it indicates that timber rights could be signed over to merchants who had little connection with the island (I do not know who ’Scraggan May & Co. ’ are, but they do not seem to be an island firm); second/y, it is evident that agents had a great deal of de facto control over the timber resources on the estates that they were managing, a position that was open to abuse and misappropriation. Without further research / am unable to say whether this particular contract led to the extensive exploitation of the timber on the Selkirk estate, though according to Bumsted it did lead to further litigation against Selkirk in the island’s chancery court.

REFERENCE: Bumsted, J. M. (1978) Lord Selkirk of Prince Edward Island The Island Magazine 5: 3-8.

A contract In the letter which Mr. Williams wrote to me in January last he enclosed 2 for Pine and agreements with Spraggan May & Co. Lumber merchants, one for the lease of my hem/00’“ mills on Pinette River & a right to cut Pine &c. on Lots 58, 60 & part of 62 for 20

years at a rent of 225E Hal". pr annum, payable by bills in London — with a further rent of 50E in case the Lessees should exploit 2 Ship loads of Hemlock. The other agreement was for the Timber of Lot 10 at the price of 5/ pr Ton while the American Embargo continues, & the trade with Baltic closed — & at 3/6 to 4/3 in other two predicaments, which are very loosely & indistinctly described in the paper sent to me. These merchants referred Mr. W. to Mr. Ritchie in London, who has however refused to enter into any engagement on their account. The papers are however so loosely drawn that my solicitor thinks they will still be binding — I am surprised to see these inaccuracies as Mr. W. had access to professional assistance, which I cannot help

thinking would have obviated them. [pp. 1497144972]

87b