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Show 1V The fi I'St cli sroYC I'Y- of the vV estern lVorld by Europc <~ns of which we have any authcntick acrotmts, bl:in:~ near the southt:rn extremity of North Atncdca, drew, as might be expected, their· attention to that qmtrtcr : and the rage which this g r and Lliscovcry excited for other enterprizes of the same nature; the aYidity, with which avarice ·wr,s stitnnJatcd to seize the precious Inetals, known to c:xist in those parts; the means ht:ld out for gratifri P')" am- • • • t,.) bltwn ; <1nd the prospects of a Iuc1·ative comr1H rre, with many othc1· objects and conside rations tended larg t!ly to extend th em; while the diminution of the Notthern Continent to a narrow isthmus, and its large gulphs. bays and rivers, furnished and facili tated tl1e means of cxpioring it. The spirit of enterprize, however, was not confined to the southern extremity ; but extending itself to the climates congenial with those which it had left, and conncctin1·v with its researches the planting of colonies, impot:=: tant discoveries were made along the Atlantic co~st. In the mean time the project of discovering a northwest passage to the East Indies led the boldest naval commanders of Europe through the inland seas, bays and straights of the north ; and at length produced surveys of the shores of the Pacific. To these dia-coveries, and those occasionally made during the settlement of the country within the limits of the U ni- - ted States, and in Canada, the Hudson's Bay company, though not famed for enter·prize added gamething to the stock of general information, and by their establishments aided others in their enterprizes. Mr. llearne under the direction of this company, in an expedition, which lasted from the 7th of December 1770 to the 30th of June I 772, proceeded from Prince of Wales' Fort, on the Churchhill river in latitude 5 8d. 4 7 1-2m. north, and long itude 94d. 7 1-2m. west of ·Greenwich, or I9d. west of Phila. Jelphia, to the tnouth of the Copperznine nn:r, PREFACE. y which accorcling to some accounts is it~ Iatituc:e 72d. norLh and Ion o-itutle I 19cl. west f1·om C.·reen w1ch, o1· tt.4d. we~t of P l1ilacldphia; but is laid down by o~hl!rs to be in latitude ahout 69cl. north, and lon gltud_e 1 12cl. west fron1 Greenwich ot· 3 7d. west from Plul aclelphia. vVhatever the confined views and con· tt·acted policy of t he H.udson's Bay C1~mpany 1nay, · however have omitted 111 the way of chscovery, the enterpriz' e and perseverance of the Canad1. an tl'a d e t's, sometime since united under the n am e of the Nor·th \Vest Company, have amply supplied . Priot· to the year 1789 they h:1d extended their di-,coveries. and establishments along the numerous la 1.tes and rH·et·s situated north of that high tract of conntry which tli vidcs the ~li:;sissippi antl l\li ~souri waters frotn those which run towards the north ancl ea-,t, to within a short distance of the Rocky ~'lonntains. In the snn1mcr of this year Mr. M' Kenzie m ade a voyage from Fort Chepewy~n on the lake of the Bilis in btitude 58cl. 40m·. north, and l o11~it ude l• I OJ. 30m. west frmn Greenwich o t· ..,.) I. 22m. west ft·onl Philadelphia, by the \~ ay ol: the Sla\:(' T'i\"l'l', s.laYe lake, and a t·i rel' l:>y whtch this lake chschar~;es lts waters (?ince called ~1'K~n~ie's rivc1·) rto the mot~th o~ th:1.~ nver ' where 1t f<llls mto the. North sea, 111 hltitmlc ' 09d. 14m. north and longttnde 1 .Jsd. we~t front C ree::lw ich , or S9d. 52m. west f1om Philadelphi.t. He ag<lin in the year 179 3. pcn~tvate<~ from an c.:stabl~'> hm e nt on the Peace nver m lnutudt: 5Gd. !J 1ll. north, and longitude l1 7d. 35m. west fi'om Crecuwich, or 4lcl. 27m. west from P hi ladelphia, to L1_e Pacific ocean in latitede 52cl. 2·1·m. non'1, nn<l long·~ tude 12 3J. 2m. west from G reeJl\~ ich, m· 5 2d. 54m. we s~ from Philctclelphia. .... By the discoveric:s aUuded to, and tlwse occ.ls(onally 1nade dn ring; the l~dpid scttl..~m eu toft; e country and the prog ress of ente rprize, the rrinci p·d eli \·i"ions of this Nol·thern Continent has been exvlorcd a:l\1 vt.~ \ •) .( ... |