TEE 
IN TRODV € TEOMNM 
The accounts.of this grand River, which fome 
have. turned into a Strait, together with the fam- 
ples of copper, were brought to the Company’s 
Fadtory at. Churchill River immediately after its. 
firft eflablithment, in the year one thoufand feven, 
hundred and fifteen; and:it does not appear that 
any attempts were made to.difcover either the 
river or mines till the year one thoufand feven 
hundred and nineteen, when the Company fitted 
out. a-fhip, called the Albany. Frigate, Captain, 
George Barlow*, anda floop, called. the Difco- 
very, 
* Captain Barlow was Governof at Albany Foit when the French went 
over land from Canada to befiege it in the 1704. The Canadians and their 
Indian guides lurked in the neighbeuthood of Albany for feveral days be- 
fore they made the attack, and killed many of the cattle that were graz- 
inginthe marfhes. A faithful Home-Indian, who was on a hunting ex, 
curfion; diftovering thofe (trangers and fuppofing them to be enemies, 
immediately returned tothe Fort, and informed the Governor of thercir- 
cumftance, who gave little credit to it. However, every meafure was 
taken for the defence of the Fort, and orders were given to the Mafterof 
a floop'that lay at fome diflance, to come to the Fort with all poffible ex- 
pedition on hearing a gun fired. 
Accordingly, in the middle of the night, or rather in the morning, the ° 
French came before the Fort; marched up to the gate, and-demandéd en 
trance. M:, Barlow, who was then.on the watch, told them, that the 
Governor was afleep, but he would get the keys immediately, The French 
hearing this, expe@ed no oppofition, and flocked up to the gate as clofe 
as they could (land, Barlow took the advantage of! this opportunity, and 
inftead of opening the gate, only opened two port holes, where two fix- 
pounders flood loaded with grape fhot, which were inftantly fired. This 
difeharge killed great numbers of the French, and among them the Com- 
mander, who was an [rifhman.. { c 
Such an anexpeéted reception made the remainder retire with great 
precipitation; and the Matter of the floop hearing the guns, made the 
befeof his way uptothe Fort; but fome of the Fiench who lay concealed 
nuder the banks of the river killed him, and al] the boat’s crew. 
The 
