Even before this effort, reading Alexander Mackenzie's great book of voyages detailing the discoveries of the Mackenzie River in its course to the Arctic Sea, and also the first crossing in northern latitudes of the mountains to the Pacific Ocean--he had applied (1802), to the Imperial Government, for permission to take a colony to the western extremity of Canada upon the waters which fall into Lake Winnipeg.

This spot, "fertile and having a salubrious climate," he could reach by way of the Nelson River, running into Hudson Bay.

The British Government refused him the permission necessary.

Lord Selkirk's first visit to Canada was in the year 1803, in which his colony was placed in Prince Edward Island.

Canada was a country very sparsely settled, but it was then turning its eyes toward Britain, with the hope of receiving more settlers, for it had just seen settled in Upper Canada a band of Glengarry Highlanders.