286 Journal of a Voyage through the 



received, however, the reward of my labours, for they 

 were crowned with success. 



As I have now resumed the character of a trader, I shall 

 not trouble my readers with any subsequent concern, but 

 content myself with the closing information, that after an 

 absence of eleven months, I arrived at Fort Chepewyan, 

 where I remained, for the purposes of trade, during the 

 succeeding winter. 



The following general, but short, geographical view of 

 the country may not be improper to close this work, as 

 well as some remarks on the probable advantages that may 

 be derived from advancing the trade of it, under proper 

 regulations, and by the spirit of commercial enterprize. 



By supposing a line from the Atlantic, East, to the Pa- 

 cific, West, in the parallel of forty-five degrees of North 

 latitude, it will, I think, nearly describe the British terri- 

 tories in North America. For I am of opinion, that the 

 extent of the country to the South of this line, which we 

 have a right to claim, is equal to that to the North of it, 

 which may be claimed by other powers. 



The outline of what I shall call the first division, is 

 along that tract of country which runs from the head of 

 James-Bay, in about latitude 51. North, along the Eastern 

 coast, as far North as to, and through, Hudson's Straits, 

 round by Labrador ; continuing on the Atlantic coast, on 

 the outside of the great islands, in the gulf of St. Laurence, 

 to the river St. Croix, by which it takes its course, to the 

 height of land that divides the waters emptying themselves 

 into the Atlantic, from those discharged into the river St. 

 Laurence. Then following these heights, as the boundary 

 between the British possessions, and those of the American 

 States, it makes an angle Westerly until it strikes the dis- 

 charge of Lake Champlain, in latitude 45. North, when it 

 keeps a direct West line till it strikes the river St. Lau- 

 rence, above Lake St. Francis, where it divides the Indian 

 village St. Rigest ; from whence it follows the centre of 

 the waters of the great river St. Laurence : it then pro- 

 ceeds through Lake Ontario, the connection between it 

 and Lake Erie, through the latter, and its chain of con- 

 nection, by the river Detroit, as far South as latitude 42. 

 North, and then through the lake and river St. Clair, a» 



