VI 



INTRODUCTION. 



tions, in substance, informed me that the 

 main object of the Expedition was that of 

 determining the latitudes and longitudes of 

 the Northern Coast of North America, and 

 the trending of that Coast from the Mouth 

 of the Copper-Mine River to the eastern 

 extremity of that Continent ; that it was left 

 for me to determine according to circum- 

 stances, whether it might be most advisable 

 to proceed, at once, directly to the north- 

 ward till I arrived at the sea-coast, and 

 thence westerly towards the Copper-Mine 

 River ; or advance, in the first instance, by 

 the usual route to the Mouth of the Cop- 

 per-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 in- 



