INTRODUCTION. xlv 



prejudices of their predeceflbrs ; and we have it in our 

 power to appeal to facfts, which abundantly tedify, that 

 every thing has been done by them, that could be required 

 by the Public, toward perfecting the fcarch for a North Weft 

 paflage. 



In the year 1761, Captain Chriflopher failed from Fort 

 Churchill, in the floop Churchill ; and his voyage was not 

 quite fruitlefs ; for he failed up Chefterfield's Inlet, through 

 which a pafTage had, by Mr. Ellis's account of it, been fo 

 generally expecfled. But when the water turned brackifh, 

 which marked that he was not in a ftrait, but in a river, he 

 returned. 



To leave no room for a variety of opinion, however, he 

 was ordered to repeat the voyage the enfuing fummer, in 

 the fame floop, and Mr, Norton, in a cutter, was appointed 

 to attend him. By the favour of the Governor and Com- 

 mittee of the Company, the Journals of Captain Chriflopher, 

 and of Mr. Norton, and Captain Chriftopher's chart of the 

 Inlet, have been readily communicated. From thefe au- 

 thentic documents, it appears that the fearch and examina- 

 tion of Chefterfield's Inlet was now completed. It was found 

 to end in a frefli water lake, at the diflance of about one 

 hundred and fevcnty miles from the fea. This lake was 

 found alfo to be about twenty-one leagues long, and from 

 five to ten broad, and to be completely clofed up on every 

 fide, except to the Weft, where there was a little rivulet ; to 

 furvey the ftate of which, Mr. Norton and the crew of the 

 cutter having landed, and marched up the country, faw that 

 it foon terminated in three falls, one above another, and not 

 water for a fmall boat over them ; and ridges, moftly dry 

 from fide to fide, for five or fix miles higher. 



Thus 



