“Alexander Mackenzie, who had risen to the station of a partner in that Company, and was even among them remarkable for his energy and activity both of body and mind, having, with others of the leading partners, imbibed very extensive views of the commercial importance and capabilities of Canada, and considering that the discovery of a passage by sea from the Atlantic to the Pacific would contribute greatly to open, and enlarge it, undertook the task of exploring the country to the north of the extreme point occupied by the fur traders.”—Rev. C. G. Nicolay.
In 1794 this enterprising man ascended to the principal water of the Mackenzie River, which he found to be a small lake situate in a deep Snowy Valley embosomed in woody mountains; he crossed a beaten path leading over a low ridge of land, of 817 paces in length, to another lake, situated in a valley about a quarter of a mile wide, with precipitous rocks on either side,—the head waters of the Frazers’ River. On the 19th of July, he arrived where the river discharges itself into a narrow arm of the sea thus showing that a communication between the west and east of North America was open to mankind.
(8) I regret I cannot say when exactly, nor where, his Grace gave his opinion on this subject, and I regret this the more, because I cannot give his Grace’s exact words; but of the fact I have no doubt, and I must only trust to your forbearance and memory when I cannot point to the day and place.
(9) “Not long since a very general ignorance prevailed respecting the Western Coast of North America, and no less general apathy.”—Rev. C. G. Nicolay, 1846.
(10) “Oh, Squire! if John Bull only knew the value of these colonies, he would be a great man, I tell you,—but he don’t.”—Clockmaker, 1838.
“We ought to be sensible of the patience and good feeling which the people of Canada have shown in the most trying circumstances.”-Mr. Labouchere, Debate on Navigation Laws.