Should the Vessel be going to Hudson's Bay find no Sea communication practicable, she would return back to England by the beginning of October in time to proceed by Cape Horn, in prosecution of the Voyage on the west side, with the advantage of all that Local knowledge which their Observations and enquiries in Hudson's Bay had obtained. I am given to understand that the Wages and Provisions for a Vessel of 120 tons & 30 men would not exceed £100 p. month, so that the expence of this attempt would be small. The most eligible mode of promoting the enterprise would be by sending one vessel round Cape Horn without delay & another to Hudson's Bay; and the Hudson's Bay Company have expressed their readiness to co-operate with Government as the Esquimauxs on the West side of the Bay, are on Friendly Footing with the Hudson's Bay Company's Agents, some of them might probably be induced to accompany the Adventurers in their Canoes. Mr. Hearne mentions that the Esquimauxs winter at a very great Lake, called Yathked, situated to the S. W. of the Chesterfield Inlet, & it is not improbable they may be induced under the English Influence to accompany some of our People across those Lakes & by those Rivers which the Indian Maps represent as connecting Hudson's Bay & the Arathapescow Lake, which would obviate the objection made to the navigation from the Northern Parts of Hudson's Bay, as being a country destitute of Birch-wood for making Bark Canoes. I cannot omit mentioning the propriety of having Dogs as a watch; for the Indians coming upon their enemies like a Tiger by stealth, The Alarm would be given and their Brutal Ferocity prevented. No. 5.-ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE TO EVAN NEPEAN. (Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 379.) DR. SIR,-My Friend Mr. Wegg the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, desires me to say that the Directors of that Company have unanimously determined to send their Sloop of about 90 Tons at the Company's Expence, if Government will send a proper Person in her to examine if any out let can be found from Hudson's Bay to facilitate the communication with the West Coast. They are particularly solicitous that Government would send a proper Person in her that the Publick may be assured of every thing being done to effect the desired purpose. They also wish that two proper Persons may be sent by Government to travel inland to ascertain the shortest communication by the Lakes & Rivers, and The Hudson's Bay Company will defray any reasonable Expence of that undertaking. Dr. Sir, A. DALRYMPLE. No. 52 High Street, Marylebone, 11th Feby., 1790, No. 6.-NOTE BY ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE. (Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 380.) DR. SIR,-I find you were mistaken concerning D. He is a Cumberland man and not an American! I thought I recollected Stockdale had so informed me, I therefore enquired of him & find they come from the same part of that Country. I should think Capt. F. & D. would do well for the Land Expedition to Hudson's Bay & H. and his Brother from Canada, if that Plan is still followed; I mentioned Johnstone to Wegg in the manner we agreed and shall write to day. Yrs. very truly, A. DALRYMPLE. No. 7.-CAPTAIN HOLLAND'S PLAN TO EXPLORE FROM QUEBEC. (Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 381.) The following Plan strikes Mr. Holland as most Eligible for carrying into Effect the proposed Expedition for Discovering, and Exploring the Interior parts of the Northern and Western Quarter of America: Lying between Lake Aurabusquie, or Arathepeskow and the Line of Coast discovered by Capt. Cook: First. That the Party to be employed should consist of not less than sixteen Persons, including a Surveyor and Assistant: Four Men having some knowledge of Boat Building; Eight Canadians, and Two Indians, for navigating Two, or sometimes Three Canoes, in order at Times, or as occasion may require to be enabled to Detach one, on any separate work which may present itself, such as exploring Rivers, sketching in the side of a Lake opposite to that taken by the Main Party and Chief Surveyor with whom Two Canoes must constantly be stationed for fear of accidents to either; and by keeping the Duplicates, Plans, observations, Journals &c. separated less injury would be sustained by the loss. One of the great Obstacles to impede such an Expedition, would be the want of Provisions. It will therefore be necessary that a sufficient Quantity (for at least Three years consumption) should be deposited at Aurabusquie, to be conveyed thither from the King's Stores at Fort Michilimacinac, and as our Canoes, from the smallness of their size would not be able to contain the Quantity requisite, a Party, and Canoes, might be spared from the Fort, to aid in the transporting of it to Aurabusquie; from whence our chief operations ought to commence. The Track from Lake Superior thither being known (and an accurate survey not the object in view) all that appears necessary between those Places is the ascertaining the Latitude and Longitude of some Principal Posts in our Route; and making such Sketches as may be useful to Persons who may follow. This I presume will be all that can be done in the course of the Ensuing Summer, supposing the Party to depart from Quebec about the end of May; at which Place, and at Montreal; a Month at least will be consumed in making the necessary Preparations Prior to our Departure. Little further during the winter season can be done at Aurabusquie, than exploring the Surrounding Country; making Observations; gaining Intelligence; and preparing for pursuing our Route in Spring; which I think should be by mounting the Slave River; thence North West coasting the Slave Lake (which by Information gained at Quebec from Persons who have been in that Country) is not less than Ten Degrees of Longitude; That it discharges itself into a River which takes its course N. West, and that its Distance from thence, to Prince Williams Sound or Cook's River, does not exceed Fifteen Degrees of Longitude. After reaching the mouth of Cook's River, or whatever other River, we may fall in with on the outset, It will be advisable to stretch along the Coast, to the South East, to observe the course of all such rivers as may appear of importance; untill we shall be joined by the Party, intended to depart from Hudson's House, who I apprehend will follow the Coast to the North West, and explore the rivers in like manner untill our Junction. No. 8.-ESTIMATE OF EXPENSE NECESSARY TO EQUIP A PARTY ON AN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH WEST PARTS OF AMERICA TO BE EMPLOYED IN EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. (Archives, series, Q, vol. 49, p. 385.) Pr Diem........ A Surveyor at £ s 182 10 219 365 Two Indians at 2s. Pr Diem.................... Necessary Disbursements not included in the above....... Indian Trinkets... Canoes, Oil Cloths, Tackling &c....... Arms, Ammunition, Hatchets, Nap Sacks, &c............... No. 9.-LIST OF INSTRUMENTS, &c. List of Instruments necessary for making Astromonical and other Observations by the party intended to cross from Canada to the Pacific Ocean. Prepared by Mr. Holland, February, 1790. A Transit Instrument. A Time Piece. A Refractor of sufficient power to observe the Eclipses A Thermometer graduated considerably below the Freezing Point. A Theodolite, Azimuth and Hadley. No. 10.-DALRYMPLE TO RIGHT HON. W. W. GRENVILLE. (Archives series Q, vol. 49, p. 388.) SIR-I take the liberty of troubling you, to express how much depends on your speedy determination on the propositions of The Hudson's Bay Company, the Season drawing near for the departure of their Ships-At the same time that I wish to interest you in my own behalf, if you think my pretensions in the enclosed letter to the Court of Directors of the East India Company is founded on Justice. I have the honour to be, Sir, High Street, Marylebone, 16th April, 1790. Your most obedient humble servant, No. 11. A. DALRYMPLE TO EVAN NEPEAN. (Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 389.) NG. 52 HIGH STREET, MARYLEBONE, 1st June, 1790. DR. SIR,-I shall be very much obliged to you if you will be so good to use your influence with Capt. Holland to obtain any Latitudes (and also Longitudes if he has any) of Lake Superior. I recollect to have heard that he had come down the Falls of St. Mary from Lake Superior to Lake Huron so that he must have been in these parts & the character he bears makes me conclude he could not have been there without making observations. I have only one position on Lake Superior from the Hudson's Bay Company, & that does not agree with D'Anville. Yrs. truly, A. DALRYMPLE. No. 12.-A. DALRYMPLE TO EVAN NEPEAN. (Archives, series Q, vol. 49, p. 390.) 7th July, 1790. DR. SIS, I have not been able to get down to Whitehall since I had your note. My map is not finished because I have not received the Latitudes &c. of Lake Superior, you promised to ask of Mr. Holland. I think everything else is prepared. If you wish to have a Proof of what is done, viz. the West Coast of Hudson's Bay without any of Peter Ponds or the Canadian Parts I will bring it to-morrow as I shall be your way. I suppose you have heard that Capt. Douglas is gone again from China to the N. W. Coast of America under American colours. I was yesterday told by Mr. Raikes that the King of Sweden had made good his Landing within a small distance of Petersburgh (I think 25 miles) and had repelled the Russian Troops. But I suppose this is not news to you. Yours truly, A. DALRYMPLE. No. 13.-CAPTAIN HOLLAND TO EVAN NEPEAN. (Archives series, Q, vol. 49, p. 391.) LONDON, July 25th, 1790. SIR,-Presuming from the advanced state of the season, that little more can be done this year towards prosecuting the intended exploration of the Interior parts of the North West of America; than in making such arrangements at Quebec during the winter as will enable us to leave that place the Instant the Ice breaks up in Spring; to effect which I conceive it of material consequence to have the necessary Instruments and other articles to be procured in this Country shipped this season for Canada, for the following reasons, That after Sunday next the 1st of August the direct communication by shipping to Quebec closes till next Spring; when from numberless impediments their arrival is frequently retarded till near the commencement of June at which time we should be near Michilimacinak. Submitting the above with all deference to your superior judgement. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most devoted, most obedient and most humble servant, JN. F. DE B. HOLLAND. No. 1-SUMMARY OF THE CENSUS OF CANADA, 1784. (Archives, series B, vol. 225-2 p. 406.) RECAPITULATION GÉNÉRAL du dénombrement de la province de Québec en l'année 1784. 7,911 7,137 7,380 4,112 10,041 20,131 18,904 19,354 9,381 24,552 Ville et district de Montréal. Ville et district des Trois-Rivières.. 2,080 1,973 2,247 912 2,874 877 2,726 676 104 118 Ville et district de Québec.. Total 9,794 9,727 4,357 11,637 3,809 10,803 4,020 304 625 212 726,703 4 214,875 4,206 8,984 1,795 88 93 150 23,781 8,892 22,513 6,491 501 893 304 965,059% 39,349 3,155 1,602 5,368 3,147 10,206 6,458 1,291 126,318| 9,116 8,456 16,344 12,439 41,222 22,202| 3,575|| 217,703 17,825 12,036 22,579 16,620 33,238 41,806 5,968 -14,493 383,349 30,096 22,094 44,291 32,206 84,666 70,466 10,834 28,249 |