Having been a builder at Churchill, he knew the ground, yet we find him uttering such absurd charges as that the Company purposely sent Governor Knight to his death and were glad “that the troublesome fellow was out of the way.” This is both malicious and ignorant, for as Robson knew, the Northwest Passage played a very secondary part in Knight’s fatal voyage. The Company just as much as Knight was infatuated with the lure of gold-dust. Perhaps, it will some day prove not so foolish an infatuation. Gold placers have been found in Klondike. Indian legend says they also exist in the ices of the East. * * * * * The Parliamentary Report for 1749 is an excellent example of investigating “off the beat.” The only thing of value in the report is Joseph La France’s Journal. It is valuable not as a voyage—for this trip was well tracked from the days of Radisson and Iberville—but as a description of the French posts on the Saskatchewan, which Hendry visited—Pachegoia or Pasquia or the Pas and Bourbon—and as helping to identify the Indians, whom Hendry met. * * * * * La Vérendrye voyages are not given here, because not relative to the subject. His life will be found in “Pathfinders of the West.” * * * * * The Canadian Archives give Hendry’s name as Hendey. It is spelt Hendry in the H. B. C. minutes. * * * * * In 1746 the warehouse on Lime Street was purchased for £550. This year, too, comes a letter to the Company from Captain Lee of Virginia, warning that a French pirate of two hundred and fifty men, which captured him, is on the lookout for the fur ships. * * * * * Sharpe was the lawyer who engineered the Parliamentary Inquiry of 1749. I find his charges in the Minutes £250 and £505. * * * * * John Potts was the trader of Richmond, when Coates was captain. * * * * * In 1766, Samuel Hearne’s name appears as on the pay roll of _The Prince Rupert_. * * * * * Whale fisheries were now flourishing on the bay, for which each captain received a bounty of 25 per cent. on net proceeds. * * * * * In 1769, the Company issued as standard of trade 3 marten, 1 beaver; 2 fox, 3 beaver; gray fox, 4 beaver; white fox, ½ beaver; 1 otter, 1 beaver. CHAPTER XVIII 1754-1755 THE MARCH ACROSS THE CONTINENT BEGINS—THE COMPANY SENDS A MAN TO THE BLACKFEET OF THE SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN—ANTHONY HENDRY IS THE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO PENETRATE TO THE SASKATCHEWAN—THE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO WINTER WEST OF LAKE WINNIPEG—HE MEETS THE SIOUX AND THE BLACKFEET AND INVITES THEM TO THE BAY