318 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. IV. 



Many, I think, will agree with me that among the men who have 

 distinguished themselves in the annals of our country there is no name 

 more illustrious than that of Sir Alexander Mackenzie. In my judgment 

 there is no event which we can point to with greater interest and satis- 

 faction than the completion of his perilous enterprise on that day, 

 July 22nd, 1793, when, with his Canadian comrades, he floated in a 

 small canoe on the tide-water of the Pacific. 



