PREFACE, , V 
which according to some accounts is in latitude 72d. 
north and longitude 1 19d. west from Greenwich, or 
44d. west of Philadelphia ; but is laid down by others 
to be in latitude about 69d. north, and longitude 
11 2d. west from Greenwich or 37d. west from Phi- 
ladelphia. Whatever the confined views and con- 
tracted policy of the Hudson's Bay Company may, 
however, have omitted in the way of discovery, the 
enterpriz^ and perseverance of the Canadian traders, 
sometime since united under the name of the North 
West Company, have amply supplied. Prior to the 
year 1789 they had extended their discoveries and 
establishments along the numerous lakes and rivers^ 
situated north of that high tract of country which 
divides the Mississippi and Missouri waters fvovci 
those which run towards the north and east, to with- 
in a short distance of the Rocky Mountains. In the 
summer of this year Mr. M'Kenzie made a voyage 
from Fort Chepewyan on the lake of the Hills in la-_ 
titude 58d. 40m. north, -and longitude I lOd. 30m. 
west from Greenwich or 35d. 22m. west from Phi- 
ladelphia, by the way of the Slave river, Slave lake, 
and a river by which this lake discharges its waters 
(since called M'Kenzie's river) to the mouth of that 
river, where it falls into the North sea, in latitude 
69d. Mm. north and longitude 135d. west from 
Greenwich, or 59d. 52m. west from. Philadelphia. 
He again in the yea-r IT93 penetrated from an esta- 
blishment on the Peace river in latitude 56d. 9m. 
norgi, and longitude 117d. 35m. west from Green- 
wicl, 4 Id. 27m. west from Philadelphia, to the 
Pacific ocean in latitude 5 2d. 24m, north, and longi- 
tude 1284. 2m. west from Greenwich, or 52d. 54m. 
west from Philadelphia. 
By the discoveries alluded to^ and those occasion- 
ally made during the rapid settlement of the country 
and the progress of enterprise, the principal divisions- 
of ti^s Northern Continent has been explored and be- 
A 2 
