Undelivered Letters to Hudson's Bay Company Men on the Northwest Coast of America, 1830–57

A.A. den Otter is a professor of history at the Memorial University of
Newfoundland in St. John’s. He is the author of The Philosophy of
Railways.

From the 1820s until the middle of the 19th century, the Hudson’s Bay
Company operated several sailing vessels from England to North
America’s Pacific Coast. A return voyage could be made in two years,
but at times, for various reasons, it could take longer. The crews on
these vessels, usually recruited in the United Kingdom, would therefore
be away from home for at least two years. Some of the men might stay
longer in North America, working on other company ships, while others
deserted for more lucrative employment ashore or at sea; a few even died
along the way. Many received letters from home—from wives, siblings,
parents, or others. In the case of those who deserted, left no
forwarding addresses, or died, the letters were returned to London,
where the company’s secretary archived them. Similarly, the secretary
also stored undelivered letters from voyageurs, men employed at various
posts, and emigrant workers. The vast majority of undeliverable letters,
however, were intended for men on the ships, likely because their length
of absence and forwarding addresses were the most uncertain.

Judith Hudson Beattie and Helen M. Buss have taken many of the archived
letters and transcribed, edited, and published them. They have done a
marvellous job. Rather than simply reproducing the letters, they have
added short biographies of the recipients and, at times, the authors of
the correspondence. In addition, they have supplied valuable appendixes
on the ships and the posts. Lastly, they have meticulously documented
the sources of biographical information.

At first glance, Undelivered Letters... appears to be of use only for
scholars. Nothing could be further from the truth. While academics may
indeed find the book valuable, the casual reader will be entranced. The
biographical details animate the characters and enliven the letters.
They remind the reader that the authors (a lonely wife, for example,
yearning for the return of her husband) and the intended recipients
(George Wishart, for instance, who was killed by Aboriginals on
Vancouver Island after deserting the company vessel) were real people,
whose stories are often poignant and touching.