INTRODUCTION. 
xlv 
every thing has been done by them, that could be required 
by the Public, toward perfecting the fearch for a North 
Weft paffage. 
In the year 1761, Captain Chriftopher failed from Fort 
Churchill, in the Hoop Churchill; and his voyage was not 
quite fruitlefs; for he failed up Chefterfield’s Inlet, through 
which a paftage had, by Mr. Ellis’s account of it, been fa 
generally expeCted. But when the water turned brackifh, 
which marked that he was not in a ftrait, but in a river, 
he returned. 
To leave no room for a variety of opinion, however, he 
was ordered to repeat the voyage the enfuing fummer, in 
the fame floop, and Mr. Norton, in a cutter, was appointed 
to attend him. By the favour of the Governor and Com¬ 
mittee of the Company, the Journals of Captain Chrifto¬ 
pher, and of Mr. Norton, and Captain Chriftopher’s chart 
of the Inlet, have been readily communicated. From 
thefe authentic documents, it appears that the fearch and 
examination of Chefterfield’s Inlet was now completed. It 
was found to end in a frelh water lake, at the diftance of 
about one hundred and feventy miles from the fea. This 
lake was found alfo to be about twenty-one leagues long, 
and from five to ten broad, and to be completely clofed 
up on every fide, except to the Weft, where there was a 
little rivulet; to furvey the ftate of which, Mr. Norton 
and the crew of the cutter having landed, and marched 
up the country, faw that it foon terminated in three falls, 
one above another, and not water for a fmall boat over 
them ; and ridges, moftly dry from fide to fide, for five or 
fix miles higher. 
Thus ends Chefterfield’s Inlet, and all Mr. Ellis’s expecta¬ 
tions of a paftage through it to the Weftern Ocean. The 
other 
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