x INTRODUCTION. 
Coast of North America, and the trending 
of that Coast from the Mouth of the Cop- 
per-Mine River to the eastern extremity of 
that Continent; that it was left for me 
to determine, according to circumstances, 
whether it might be most advisable to 
proceed, at once, directly to the northward 
till I arrived at the sea-coast, and proceed 
westerly towards the Copper-Mine River ; 
or advance, in the first instance, by the 
usual route to the Mouth of the Copper- 
Mine River, and from thence easterly till I 
should arrive at the eastern extremity of 
that Continent; that, in the adoption of 
either of these plans, I was to be guided 
by the advice and information which I 
should receive from the wintering servants 
of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who would 
be instructed by their employers to co-ope- 
tate cordially in the prosecution of the 
objects of the Expedition, and who would 
provide me with the necessary escort of 
Indians to act as guides, interpreters, game- 
killers, §e. ; and also with such articles of 
clothing, ammunition, snow-shoes, presents, 
