546 DISCOVERIES OF 1790, 



dices of their predecessors, and that no further 

 obstruction would be thrown in the way of those 

 Svho miglit be sent on discovery," he addressed 

 himself to the Governor of that Company, and 

 prevailed on him to employ Mr. Charles Dun- 

 can, a Master in the navy, (now Master-attendant 

 of His Majesty's dock-yard at Chatham,) w^ho had 

 shewn considerable talent on a voyage to Nootka 

 Sound. 



Mr. Duncan was no less sanguine of success 

 than Mr. Dalrymple. In 1790 he left England in 

 one of the Company's ships called the Sea-horse, 

 to take the command of a sloop named the 

 Churchill, then in Hudson's Bay, and destined 

 for the discovery. He found, on his arrival, a 

 crew who affected to be terrified at the idea of 

 proceeding to the northward on discovery. The 

 Company's servants endeavoured to persuade him 

 that the vessel was totally unfit for such a purpose, 

 and told him, that there were no means in that 

 country to make her sea-worthy — though Mr. 

 Duncan has since learned that this same vessel 

 was constantly employed for twenty years after- 

 wards. Finding that every impediment was 

 thrown in his way, and nothing likely to be done 

 that season, he returned to England, resolving 

 to have nothing further to do with the servants of 

 the Hudson's Bay Company. However, on his 

 arrival in England the Governors expressed so 

 much regret and disappointment, and Mr. Dal- 



