PREFACE 31 



near Whale River, have any trees on them ; while the West 

 coast of the Bay in the same latitudes, is well clothed with 

 timber. Where then is the ground for such an assertion ? 

 Had Mr. Dalrymple considered this circumstance only, I 

 flatter myself he would not so hastily have objected to woods 

 and grass being seen in similar situations, though in a much 

 higher latitude. Neither can the reasoning which Mr. Dal- 

 rymple derives from the error I committed in estimating the 

 distance to Cumberland House, any way affect the question 

 under [viii] consideration ; because that distance being chiefly 

 in longitude, I had no means of correcting it by an observation, 

 which was not the case here. 



I do not by any means wish to enter into a dispute with, 

 or incur the displeasure of Mr. Dalrymple ; but thinking, as 

 I do, that I have not been treated in so liberal a manner as I 

 ought to have been, he will excuse me for endeavouring to 

 convince the Public that his objections are in a great measure 

 without foundation. And having done so, I shall quit the 

 disagreeable subject with declaring, that if any part of the 

 following sheets should afford amusement to Mr. Dalrymple, 

 or any other of my readers, it will be the highest gratification 

 I can receive, and the only recompence I desire to obtain for 

 the hardships and fatigue which I underwent in procuring the 

 information contained in them. 



Being well assured that several learned and curious gentle- 

 men are in possession of manuscript copies of, or extracts from, 

 my Journals, as well as copies of the Charts, I have been 

 induced to make this copy as correct as possible, and to 

 publish it ; especially as I observe that scarcely any two of 

 the publications that contain extracts from my Journals, agree 

 in the dates when I arrived at, or departed from, particular 

 places. To rectify those disagreements I applied to the Gover- 

 nor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, for leave 

 to peruse my original Journals. This was granted with the 

 greatest affability [ix] and politeness ; as well as a sight of all 



