John Finlay, Att. Duncan Cameron, Att. James Hughes, Att. Alex. McKay, Att. Hugh McGillies, Att. Alex. Henry, Jr., Att. John McGillivray, Att. James McKenzie, Att. Simon Fraser, Att. John D. Campbell, Att. D. Thompson, Att. John Thompson, Att. John Gregory. Wm. McGillivray. Duncan McGillivray, Att. Wm. Hallowell. Rod. McKenzie. Angus Shaw, Att. Dl. McKenzie, Att. Wm. McKay, Att. John McDonald, Att. Donald McTavish, Att. John McDonnell, Att. Arch. N. McLeod, Att. Alex. McDougall, Att. Chas. Chaboillez, Att. John Sayer, Att. Peter Grant, Att. Alex. Fraser, Att. Æneas Cameron, Att. Anyone acquainted in the slightest degree with the early history of Canada will see in these lists the names of legislative councillors, members of Assembly, leaders in society, as well as of those who, in the twenty years following the signing of this agreement, by deeds of daring, exploration, and discovery, made the name of the North-West Company illustrious. These names represent likewise those who carried on that wearisome and disastrous conflict with the Hudson's Bay Company which in time would have ruined both Companies but for the happy union which took place, when the resources of each were well-nigh exhausted. CHAPTER XVIII. THE LORDS OF THE LAKES AND FORESTS.--I. New route to Kaministiquia--Vivid sketch of Fort William--"Cantine Salope"--Lively Christmas week--The feasting partners--Ex-Governor Masson's good work--Four great Mackenzies--A literary bourgeois--Three handsome demoiselles--"The man in the moon"--Story of "Bras Croche"--Around Cape Horn--Astoria taken over--A hot-headed trader--Sad case of "Little Labrie"--Punch on New Year's Day--The heart of a "Vacher." The union of the opposing companies from Montreal led to a great development of trade, and, as we have already seen, to important schemes of exploration. Roderick McKenzie, the cousin of Sir Alexander, in coming down from Rainy Lake to Grand Portage, heard of a new route to Kaministiquia. We have already seen that Umfreville had found out a circuitous passage from Nepigon to Winnipeg River, but this had been considered impracticable by the fur-traders.