The following are observations that I took from the map.

It begins at the upper end of Lake Superior, in Lat. 46-47 North, where there is a Portage of near 9 miles before you enter the waters communicating to the North West.

The Mississippi heads in the same Lat. with the head of Lake Superior, about 10 Degrees of Longitude to the westward of it, and from the Portage there is a water Communication to that River, and down it, which is only interrupted by the Falls of St. Anthony. The traders go on this Course Westward, leaving the Mississippi to the Eastward one thousand miles; and may go south west down the Mississippi to its mouth.

The furs much inferior to those on the North West trading Posts.

From the end of the Portage at the Head of Lake Superior, all the Lakes and waters as high up as Lat. 58 and Long. 124 set first to the North-West and North, and then take a South Easterly and South course, and empty into York River, (Hudson's Bay). These Lakes and Rivers are almost innumerable.

Some of them are very large such as the Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods and others. The Mouth of York River lays in Long. 94 West and Lat. 57. It is an extensive large River setting nearly West, and is supplied by the above Lakes and Rivers which fall into it from the North and South.

The Hudson's Bay Company have Posts several hundred miles west from them, but none to the Northward;-Our Traders pass them at one of their posts about the Lat. 57 and Long. 110. A Chain of Lakes, &c., continue from thence to the Lat. 58 & Long. 124 when with a small Portage they enter into the Rivers and Lakes that run a North West course and empty into other Lakes and Rivers, which all finally communicate and empty into a great Lake called the Slave Lake, which lays between the Lat. of 63 & 65, being three degrees in width, & Long. from 125 to 135, and this Lake is the last water before you come to the Great Northern Ocean, which lays in Lat. 68 & in the Long. 132 where the water ebbs & flows, of which the Gentleman gave me indubitable Proofs.

The Lakes that empty into the Great Slave Lake, at least the largest of them are named the Arabaska (which has a large River running into Slave Lake of three or four hundred miles at least in Length, its course North West) the Lake, or rather the upper Lake of the Woods, or Lake of the Hills (there being one near Lake Superior) and this Lake extends itself near 8 degrees of Long, and lays in Lat. 60 and the Lake Pelican which is also large, and besides these there are a number of small Lakes.

The River that carries all these Waters into the Slave Lake is called Slave River and is very large, it runs North West several hundred miles in Length.

From out of the Great Slave Lake runs a very large River, which runs almost South West, and has the largest Falls on it in the known World, it is at least two miles wide where the Falls are, and an amazing Body of Water. This River leaves the Lake in Lat. 64 & Long. 135, & the Falls are in Long. 141.

The great chain of Mountains that extend from Mexico along the Western or Pacific Ocean, and the Northern Pacific Ocean, terminates in Lat. 624 & Longitude 136, so that the Slave River runs to the Westward of them and emptys into the Ocean by its course in about the Lat. of 59.

There is no wood to the Northward of Slave Lake, there is only a little low Brush which is filled with a species of Buffaloes which have no Tails, but have long Hair on the Back of their Thighs & Legs that resemble a Tail. They are smaller than the common Buffaloes.

When you have proceeded thus far, & have looked over your map, you will readily conjecture what River the above Slave Lake River is known by, when it empties into the Ocean. To save you much Trouble I will tell you it is Cook's River, which he penetrated upwards of 70 Leagues North Eastwd., as you will see by his chart. Cook's River as he has laid it down in his chart (that is the Mouth of it) lays in Lat. 59-40 & Long. West 154.

His calculation and laying it down was East Longitude, but if you deduct his Eastern Long. from 360 you will find it to be 154 West. His course up the River was North Easterly, the course of the River out of Slave Lake was South Westerly.

He traversed his River that course near 70 Leagues North Easterly, the River out of Slave Lake is known as far South Westerly, therefore the distance to form the Junction or to ascertain the River to be the same is very short. The Mouth of Slave River at the Lake is in Lat. 64 & Long. 134. The mouth of Cook's River is in Lat. 59-40 & Long. 154. The Course is North Easterly and South Westerly. The Degrees of Long. in that Lat. are but little more than 26 miles upon the Average to a Degree, and the Difference of the Lat. only about 4 Degrees. Hence, and as there is no other known Vent for the River setting out of Slave Lake, nor any other River in that Country to the Northward, or Southward of Slave Lake to form such a River as Cook's River, there can be no doubt, but the Source of Cook's River is now fully discovered and known. There are other Proofs that are incontestable-Cook found a great quantity of drift wood on the Coast. This wood is only found on the Banks of the River that emptys into Slave Lake. Neither are there any Rivers of any size from the near Approach of the Mountains to the Sea to the Eastward of the Lake. The Rivers of Arabaska, Slave and Mountain, which empty into Slave Lake are annually twice overflown, in the month of May by the breaking up of the Ice, and in the month of August by the melting of the Snow on the Mountains. Hence then is accounted for the quantity of drift wood which Capt. Cook met with, and these could only be launched into the Ocean from Cook's River-for as I have already observed, there can be no extensive River to the Southward of Cook's River, or the River that empties out of Slave Lake, as the great Chain of Mountains approach to the verge of Slave Lake & River.

Another Proof is, that the Gentleman (from whose Chart and from whom I collected the above Information) met with two Indians who came, as they said up a River from the Northern Pacific Ocean, all the way to the Slave Lake.

They brought him in 1787 a Blanket which they received from Vessels which were at the Mouth of the River; they say that the River he was in is large to the place of Discharge and Navigable, so that if we take the Latitude and Longitude of the two Rivers, the Courses, and all the other circumstances into consideration, little doubt. remains that they are the same.

In the Northern part of the Slave Lake there was a great quantity of Ice on the 15th July, 1787, and in that year the Indians from that Lake penetrated North, and where the waters ebb and flow.

At the Northern Ocean they met with and killed a number of Esquimaux Indians, which Indians are to be found only on the Banks or Boundary of the Ocean from the Labrador Coast Northward, and they are found on the whole Extent of that Coast as far North as we have any knowledge. Cook went as far North as 72 or 73 and was there obstructed by the Ice. He was there in August, my Informant tells me, that if he had been a month later, he would have met with no obstruction from Ice in that Quarter. This I believe, and at the middle of September he might have passed the Northern Coast of America, and have returned to Europe by that Rout. On the North Western Coast of America there is a large or long Point of Land that extends to the Lat. of 71 or further, and then the Coast trends South Easterly so that when you are in Long. 128 the Ocean washes the Land in the Lat. of 68. The Inferences that I shall now draw are,

1st. That Lake Superior lays in the first Range of High Lands between this and the Western Ocean, in Lat. 46, 47 & the waters from thence are discharged by the Rivers St. Lawrence and Mississippi.

2nd. That the waters to the Westward and Northward of the Lake up as high as Lat. 58 & Long. 124 discharge themselves by an Eastern course into York River, which empties into Hudson's Bay.

3rd. That in Lat. 58,lays the great Height of Land from whence the waters divide and run Easterly and Westerly. The former into the Atlantic and the latter into the Pacific Ocean.

4th. That the great Slave Lake is the most Northerly large piece of water before you arrive at the Northern Ocean, and that the River which rises from that Lake empties into the Northern Pacific Ocean, and is the River that Cook discovered.

5th. That an easy communication with, and an advantageous commerce may be carried on by Posts established on Lakes Slave, Arabaska, Pelican, &c. &c., and to deliver the Fruits of their commerce at the Mouth of Cook's River, to be then carried to China &c., and that as Cook's River and the Lands on Slave Lake, Arabaska &c. are very fine, some advantageous settlements may be made there which may be beneficial to Government.

The Country about Arabaska is exceedingly fine, and the Climate more moderate than it is here, which is owing to its Propinquity to the Western Ocean. The Distance is not more than 200 Leagues, if so much, on a West South Western Course. We have a Post there, as we have on the different Lakes from Lake Superior to the upper end of Slave Lake, the number of Posts is 21, in that distance where Traders are posted to trade with the different Tribes of Indians.

The distance from this Town to the Head of Lake Superior is 750 Leagues and from the Head of Lake Superior to the Great Slave Lake is one thousand Leagues, in the whole 1750 Leagues.

The person from whom I had my Information is Peter Pond, who was supplied with the proper Instruments here to take his Latitude and instructed fully in the knowledge of Astromony &c. &c. His Latitude is undoubtedly Right and his Longitude is near Right. It was taken by some Persons sent from York River seven hundred miles to the westward of it, and from thence by the Courses of the Rivers and Lakes, no great mistake can be made.

Perhaps another use might be made in time of War by this Rout, which would be to convey Intelligence to the East Indies by that Rout."

Another man by the name of McKenzie was left by Pond at Slave Lake with orders to go down the River, and from thence to Unalaska, and so to Kamskatsha, and thence to England through Russia &c. If he meets with no accident you may have him with you next year.

No. 3a.-DAVID OGDEN TO EVAN NEPEAN.

(Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 356.)

SIR,-Having received from my son Isaac Ogden of Quebec a letter dated 7th Novem. 1789 giving an account of a Mr. Pond's having explored the interior parts of North America, I have the honor to inclose you an extract of said Letter as the same may afford some advantageous Information to Government, which, if you think proper you will lay before Mr. Grenville.

I have the Honor to be Sir,
Your most obedt. & very humle serv.,

RATHBONE PLACE, No. 50,

January 23d, '90.

DAVID OGDEN,

No. 4.-MEMORANDUM BY ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE ON THE ROUTE FOR DISCOVERIES.

(Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 368.)

2nd Feby. 1790.

The season being so far advanced renders a voyage round Cape Horn inexpedient, I do not say impracticable, for admitting a Vessel to sail the beginning of March, we cannot fairly suppose less than three months to double Cape Horn, which

brings it to June, the beginning of winter in South Latitude. Allow three months more to the N. W. Coast of America. This brings it to September, which is the beginning of winter there. But altho' it is therefore an inexpedient season to proceed round Cape Horn on discovery of that Coast It admits a question whether It would not be better under the disadvantage to make the voyage immediately than to procrastinate: for altho' their arrival on the Coast of America would not be at the most proper season for Discovery, there would be some advantage in the passage round Cape Horn, for the Lion's Voyage P. 4, says it is commonly found that the winds in the winter months are favourable to go round Cape Horn from Europe and unfavourable to come out of the South Seas, and by the Journal of Winds at the Falkland Islands this opinion seems to be confirmed as the Easterly winds seem, at least, as frequent as Westerley in June more frequent in July.

Admitting therefore that the Vessel came upon the Coast of America so late even as October we know by experience of the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal who remained on the Coast till after the middle of Novr., that it is practicable to remain on that Coast so late, but these Vessels were at Calamity Harbour in Lat. 54° 12' North and the present object of Discovery is De Fouca's Strait in 48 N. Lat., and if they can find a convenient harbour on that Coast to winter in, much progress may be made by land during the winter towards effecting a communication; and if they choose they can proceed to the Sandwich Islands & return at the early part of Spring.

But however much I may be an enemy to Procrastination, on any account, my opinion is that the present operation ought to be by Hudson's Bay in preference to Cape Horn.

The antient idea of a N. W. Passage was by the Hyperborean Sea on the N. of America, altho' I am very far from meaning any imputation on Capt. Cook's memory or abilities, I cannot admit of a Pope in Geography or Navigation.

It is alledged that the Esquimaux's extend to the most remote parts of the North Coasts of America. This the Language given in Cook's voyage proves incontrovertibly in western parts; and it is beyond dispute that the Esquimaux's are confined to the Sea Coasts & its vicinity; that they are not to be found where there is not a communication with the sea, is self evident from the nature of their Boats &c., & therefore the argument is almost demonstrative that there is a Sea Communication, navigable for their Boats, from Labrador & Greenland to the utmost extremity of America & the Islands.

Whether the Sea Communication is navigable for more than Boats, is a matter well worth examining.

Every modern discovery tends to corroborate the old reports, and in the earliest maps, long before Hudson's voyage, the Bay or Sea which bears his name is Distinctly marked, tho' represented of much less dimension than it is.

In these maps a channel is represented as communicating the N. W. part of that Sea which corresponds to Repulse Bay, with the Hyperborean Ocean; and this sea communication is conformable to all the Indian Maps, which continue the Sea coast from Churchill in Hudson's Bay to the Copper River

Captain Meares, who was frozen up in Prince-William-Sound, remarks, that there are no High Islands of Ice, such as are found in Cross-Sound in a much lower Latitude. His inference is a natural one, that Cross-Sound is a Sea communication to a higher Latitude where these High Islands of Ice are found.

Capt. Portlock learnt from the Indians at his Harbour, to the South-ward of Cross-Sound, that there was a Sea beyond the mountains, which environ that Harbour, to the Eastward and the concurrent opinion, of all those who have visited the Coast for many degrees to the Southward, is that the whole is only a Range of Islands.

The opinion therefore of a N. W. Passage is strongly confirmed by the concurrence of the antient Reports, the Indian Maps, and the opinion of those who have recently visitsd the N. W. Coast. The only allegations to the contrary that Capt. Middleton represents Repulse Bay to be shut up, and that Capt. Cook & Capt. Clerk could not find a Passage by the Strait of Anian now called Behring's Strait.

Whoever looks into Capt. Middleton's Journal will, I am confident prefer the positive testimony of the Indian Maps, to his conjecture, and without controverting the Inference drawn from Capt. Cook's voyage. This can by no manner of argument prove the Sea, from Repulse Bay round to the Westward is unnavigable.

The many great Rivers of Asia disemboguing into that Sea which lyes on the North of It, bring down multitudes of Drifts, which will tend to congregate Ice. That Ice may be so accumulated between Asia and the opposite Coast (the extent Northward of both which is unknown) as to prevent a passage that way. But we have no Reports to indicate any considerable Rivers falling into the Hyperborean Sea from Repulse Bay to the meridian of Cross-Sound & both Mr. Hearne and the Canadian Traders represent the northern part of America as destitute of Timber. The allegation concerning the Bar of fixed Ice, admitting this as a Fact, instead of an Hypothesis, as it is by some alledged to be, make nothing in favour of what it is brought to prove, for we know the sea is navigable at Spitzbergen to 80° N. Lat. and we have no reason to believe the Coast of the Hyperborean Sea, from Repulse Bay westward extends to 70° N. Lat. The Canadian Traders represent it to lye in 68 N. & Mr. Hearne only alledges it to be in 72° N. Lat. The Danes have a settlement in Davis's Strait in 73° 15′ N. Lat., and there is no one circumstance, either in Mr. Hearne's Journal or in the Canadian Reports, to countenance an opinion that the Country on the west of the Northern part of the Hudson's Bay is uninhabited in winter; on the contrary Mr. Hearne set out in December from Churchill, where the climate seems to be more temperate than at Albany, altho' the latter be much further to the South, and this is a strong presumption of a Sea to the Northward.

But even supposing for a moment, what is not supported by any probable inference, that the navigation westward by the North of Hudson's Bay is impracticable, then we are to consider the matter as confined to an Examination by Land.

The Canadian Traders represent the distance from Quebec to the extremity of Lake Superior to be 750 Leagues or 2250 Geographical miles, & from thence to the Great Slave Lake 1000 leagues, or 3000 more, in the whole 1,750 Leagues or 5250 Geographical miles. Altho' this distance be admitted to be greatly exaggerated, still the estimation operates equally in favour of Hudson's Bay when compared with the distance from thence.

I will suppose the distance in direct Line may be admitted in miles instead of Leagues, because I would give the fairest computation, this gives 1750 miles, thro' a country full of falls & rapids to impede the navigation.

We shall take it however only to the Island in the Arathapescow Lake at 1350 Geographic miles.

This distance from Hudson's Bay is only 600 miles, of which above 200 is the Chesterfield Inlet known to be navigable. The Canadian Trader represents the Arathapescow Lake to extend 100' to the Eastward of the Island, Mr. Hearne 90'; and a very considerable portion of the remaining 300 miles is occupied by the Dobaunt and other Lakes.

By Hudson's Bay the Discoverers would profit by the information of Mr. Turnor whom the Hudson's Bay Company have sent into those parts and from whose Astronomical abilities we may reasonably expect competent Information, whereas Peter Pond's allegation (as reported by Mr. Holland) "that the Observations of the Latitude in his last Journey agreed to a second with the positions in his former map laid down by Estimation, betrays his ignorance or impudence and invalidates any Reports coming from him.

Supposing some person of knowledge and veracity to be sent with him it is probable Pond would hide that Person as is at present alledged of a person whose merits raised his Jealousy.

It is also to be considered that Pond is a native of the United States, and cannot therefore be deemed to be attached to this Country. He also pretends to the Sovereignty of the Lands adjacent to the Arathapeskow Lake, so that by encouraging him we may be fostering a viper in our bosom.