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Rod^k M^cKenzie Eq^r

Forks MacKenzie River

March 27^th 1807

Dear Sir,

Agreeable to the request you intimated me last Fall per a printed memorandum – I have the pleasure to forward the following Collection – which the inconveniences arising from a dull and illiterate capacity – would allow me to make[.] These considerations will I hope, enduce you to overlook the many errors and inaccuracies I may have committed in this undertaking[.] My desire to please you will my attempting what is so much above my abilities to handle – So as to from entertaining to you or of credit to myself[.]

The Grand River which obtains its waters from the Slave Lake and which divulges into the Pacific Ocean is perhaps one of the Longest & most beautiful Rivers in the North[.] It Steers a Straight course with little variation and has a Smooth tho' Strong Current which is interupted by only two or three rapids of no consequence and of no length – Islands lie interspersed here and there then contain a good Stock of wood[.] Thus it glitters, through an ungratified Country enjoying the waters of three middling Long Rivers[.] It is about half a league or two thirds broad in its widest Place[.] The Banks are high on both Sides of the River and are Barren – Supposed to be occasioned by the great fires made in the Spring Season by the Inhabitants to clear the Country of under

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