Codex Battleford
Transcription: 16
Transcription:
{15 [written in the top right corner]
The people of Prince Albert were not in the mood for accepting a refusal. A petition pressing Riel to hold the projected meeting was drawn up and, on xxxxxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] eighty-four persons representative of all walks of life had already signed it.The question of the expediency was discussed anew xx [crossed out] by the French committee;many members were adverse,but Maxime Lépine was insistent.The unequivocal success of the petition settled the question.
On the 19th of July,early in the morning,Riel set out in company with Nolin,Baptiste Boyer and Maxime Lépine.But a few miles from Prince-Albert, being seize with remorse,he sent Boyer to find out if Fr.André approved of his design and if he might continue his trip without failing in the respect and obedience due to his director.The priest,feeling sure of his success, sent him back the following note.“My dear Mr.Riel,the opinion here is so pronounced in your favor,and you are so ardently desired,that it will be a great disappointment to the people of Prince Albert if you do not come.So you must absolutely come;you are the most popular man in the country,and xx [crossed out] with the exception of four or five persons evety [sic] one awaits you with impatience.I have only to say to you:come.Come quickly.” Riel received this note ,at about three miles from the town;he appeared satisfied and read the contents of this letter aloud to his three companions.Then he hastened cheerfully towards the end of his voyage.
The entire population of Prince Albert wexre on the alert to receive him Riel was conductedxxxxxxxx [crossed out] triumphant to Preston Hall where the meeting began at 1.30 P.M.The chairman of the meeting,Mr Millar made an eloquent address.Slater,Tom Scot,William Henry Jackson,leaders of the xxxx [crossed out] Whites’ agitation and organizers of the Settlers’Union,spoke also with heat and conviction.Riel,satisfied with the frank cordiallity [sic] of his reception,feeled [sic] more at ease;he spoke in english [sic] calmly and judiciously,stressing on peace and union.All his efforts seemed to show that in answering their call,he had nothing else in view but helping them through lawful and peaceful means.The Riel of 69 and the of 84 were two different men.In 1869,he rose up against Canada who wished to take possession of this country without any previous agreement;but now,as the North-West was an integral part of Canada,he would be a criminal to ignore it.During his long exile in the United States,he had learned useful lessons,among others,that of working for the welfare of his countrymen through frank and honest means.
Riel spoke at length;he had not his former mettle.He felt somewhat nervous in the presence of an audience that he could suppose in a great measure opposed to his cause.However he was heard with attention ,and was ever applauded. xxx [crossed out] The people who had come from the surrounding country returned home charmed with the quiet and gentle way he spoke to them all. The following day,being Sunday, he departed after mass.
Fr.André hastened to report to Governor Dewdney that xxxx [crossed out],according to his conviction,there was no trouble to fear.On the contrary,Riel had quieted the people’s minds by his words of peace and goodwill.
Assured of White and Indian support,Riel turned his attention to the Halfbreeds.Meetings succeeded to meetings,calmly and orderly.However, xxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] the missionaries discovered in him ere long a more and more emphasized tendency to keep them out of his way,to conceal them his dexsigns and even to discredit them in front of the people.Several times, they deemed necessary to give him warnings,which he always received with gratitude,protesting that he was working only for God’s glory and his people’s welfare.But if the leader was promptly submissivex, his followers were extremely touchy about the upbraiding of the man whom they considered}
The people of Prince Albert were not in the mood for accepting a refusal. A petition pressing Riel to hold the projected meeting was drawn up and, on xxxxxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] eighty-four persons representative of all walks of life had already signed it.The question of the expediency was discussed anew xx [crossed out] by the French committee;many members were adverse,but Maxime Lépine was insistent.The unequivocal success of the petition settled the question.
On the 19th of July,early in the morning,Riel set out in company with Nolin,Baptiste Boyer and Maxime Lépine.But a few miles from Prince-Albert, being seize with remorse,he sent Boyer to find out if Fr.André approved of his design and if he might continue his trip without failing in the respect and obedience due to his director.The priest,feeling sure of his success, sent him back the following note.“My dear Mr.Riel,the opinion here is so pronounced in your favor,and you are so ardently desired,that it will be a great disappointment to the people of Prince Albert if you do not come.So you must absolutely come;you are the most popular man in the country,and xx [crossed out] with the exception of four or five persons evety [sic] one awaits you with impatience.I have only to say to you:come.Come quickly.” Riel received this note ,at about three miles from the town;he appeared satisfied and read the contents of this letter aloud to his three companions.Then he hastened cheerfully towards the end of his voyage.
The entire population of Prince Albert wexre on the alert to receive him Riel was conductedxxxxxxxx [crossed out] triumphant to Preston Hall where the meeting began at 1.30 P.M.The chairman of the meeting,Mr Millar made an eloquent address.Slater,Tom Scot,William Henry Jackson,leaders of the xxxx [crossed out] Whites’ agitation and organizers of the Settlers’Union,spoke also with heat and conviction.Riel,satisfied with the frank cordiallity [sic] of his reception,feeled [sic] more at ease;he spoke in english [sic] calmly and judiciously,stressing on peace and union.All his efforts seemed to show that in answering their call,he had nothing else in view but helping them through lawful and peaceful means.The Riel of 69 and the of 84 were two different men.In 1869,he rose up against Canada who wished to take possession of this country without any previous agreement;but now,as the North-West was an integral part of Canada,he would be a criminal to ignore it.During his long exile in the United States,he had learned useful lessons,among others,that of working for the welfare of his countrymen through frank and honest means.
Riel spoke at length;he had not his former mettle.He felt somewhat nervous in the presence of an audience that he could suppose in a great measure opposed to his cause.However he was heard with attention ,and was ever applauded. xxx [crossed out] The people who had come from the surrounding country returned home charmed with the quiet and gentle way he spoke to them all. The following day,being Sunday, he departed after mass.
Fr.André hastened to report to Governor Dewdney that xxxx [crossed out],according to his conviction,there was no trouble to fear.On the contrary,Riel had quieted the people’s minds by his words of peace and goodwill.
Assured of White and Indian support,Riel turned his attention to the Halfbreeds.Meetings succeeded to meetings,calmly and orderly.However, xxxxxxxxxx [crossed out] the missionaries discovered in him ere long a more and more emphasized tendency to keep them out of his way,to conceal them his dexsigns and even to discredit them in front of the people.Several times, they deemed necessary to give him warnings,which he always received with gratitude,protesting that he was working only for God’s glory and his people’s welfare.But if the leader was promptly submissivex, his followers were extremely touchy about the upbraiding of the man whom they considered}
