Effect of the Conquest on the Fur-trade of the French -- Indians again Seek the Company's Factories -- Influx of Highlanders into Canada -- Alexander Henry -- Mystery Surrounding the _Albany_ Cleared Up -- Astronomers Visit Prince of Wales' Fort -- Strike of Sailors -- Seizure of Furs -- Measures to Discourage Clandestine Trade. 286 CHAPTER XXV.--1768-1773. Reports of the "Great River" -- Company Despatch Samuel Hearne on a Mission of Discovery -- Norton's Instructions -- Saluted on his Departure from the Fort -- First and Second Journeys -- Matonabee -- Results of the Third Journey -- The Company's Servants in the Middle of the Century -- Death of Governor Norton. 299 CHAPTER XXVI.--1773-1782. Company Suffers from the Rivalry of Canadians -- Cumberland House Built -- Debauchery and License of the Rivals -- Frobisher Intercepts the Company's Indians -- The Smallpox Visitation of 1781 -- La Pérouse appears before Fort Prince of Wales -- Hearne's Surrender -- Capture of York Fort by the French -- The Post Burned and the Company's Servants carried away Prisoners. 314 CHAPTER XXVII.--1783-1800. Disastrous Effects of the Competition -- Montreal Merchants Combine -- The North-Westers -- Scheme of the Association -- Alexander Mackenzie -- His two Expeditions Reach the Pacific -- Emulation Difficult -- David Thompson. 327 CHAPTER XXVIII.--1787-1808. Captain Vancouver -- La Pérouse in the Pacific -- The Straits of Anian -- A Fantastic Episode -- Russian Hunters and Traders -- The Russian Company -- Dissensions amongst the Northmen -- They Send the _Beaver_ to Hudson's Bay -- The Scheme of Mackenzie a Failure -- A Ferocious Spirit Fostered -- Abandoned Characters -- A Series of Outrages -- The Affair at Bad Lake. 344 CHAPTER XXIX.--1808-1812. Crisis in the Company's Affairs -- No Dividend Paid -- Petition to Lords of the Treasury -- Factors Allowed a Share in the Trade -- Canada Jurisdiction Act -- The Killing of MacDonnell -- Mowat's Ill-treatment -- Lord Selkirk -- His Scheme laid before the Company -- A Protest by Thwaytes and others -- The Project Carried -- Emigrants sent out to Red River -- Northmen Stirred to Reprisal. 361 CHAPTER XXX.--1812-1815.