^72 DISCOVERIES OF KNIGHT, 1719 tO 



of this information he came over to England to 

 solicit the Company to fit out two vessels, and 

 send them, under his command, to discover this 

 rich mine ; but the Company, for certain reasons 

 which were construed unfavourably to the liberal 

 views of the directors, refused to comply with tlie 

 proposal of their Governor. Knight, however, 

 did not give up his point. He plainly told them 

 that they were obliged by their charter to make 

 discoveries, as well as to extend their trade ; that 

 they were particularly required to search for a 

 north-west passage through the straits of Aniaii 

 to the South Sea ; and that if they still refused 

 to send him and Barlow on a voyage of discovery, 

 he should lay his application before the ministers 

 of the crown ; and for this purpose he actually 

 waited on one of the secretaries of state. When 

 the Company perceived him thus resolutely bent 

 on his project, and that his " troublesome zeal," 

 as Robson calls it, " might actually bring on an 

 enquiry into the legality of their charter,"* they 

 thought it necessary to comply, and fitted out a ship 

 and sloop called the Albany and the Discovery y the 

 former commanded by Captain George Barlow 

 and the other by Captain David Vaughan; 

 Mr. Knight being however entrusted with the 

 sole direction of the expedition. Perhaps they 



• An Account of Six Years Residence in Hudson's Bay. B/ 

 Joseph Robson, Appen. p. ^J, 



