On leaving the lake the river was found to have a gentle current for a few miles.  It was then interrupted by a bed of timber, after passing which it became as rapid as ever.  In a short time, however, a noble sheet of water was reached, surrounded by lofty hills, and of great depth.  At the upper end of this a place was chosen for a stationary camp, and preparations were made for proceeding to the land survey.  While these were going forward with as much dispatch as possible, Mr. Lally, one of the first assistants, was detached to reconnoiter the inlet of the lake.  During his absence observations were taken and the rates of the chronometers worked up.  Of the four instruments with which the expedition was furnished, two had varied from the other two on the portage.  All were of good reputation, and no means existed of determining on which pair reliance could be placed.  From the rates of two of them it appeared that the camp was situated 12 miles to the northwest of the tree chosen by the American surveyors in 1818 as marking the northwest angle of Nova Scotia.  Actual survey has shown that the distance is about 10 miles.  The result given by the chronometers was speedily confirmed by the return of Mr. Lally, who reported that he had actually reached the marked tree, well known to him by his visit to it the year before, and that he had pursued for a couple of miles the line cut out subsequently by Captain Broughton.

6.  The preparations being completed, Messrs. H.B.  Renwick and Lally were sent out, each at the head of a sufficient party, with instructions to proceed together to the west until they reached waters running to the Restigouche and then to divide, Mr. Lally proceeding to the northwest angle and Mr. Renwick toward Rimouski.  Each was directed to pursue as far as possible the height of land and to remain in the field as long as the supplies which the men could carry would permit.  They were also ordered to mark their path in order to insure a safe return, as well as all the stations of their barometric observations.  Bach of the laborers was loaded with 56 pounds besides his own baggage and ax, and the engineers and surveyors carried their own baggage and instruments.  The commissioner, with one assistant, remained in the stationary camp for the purpose of determining the longitude accurately and of making corresponding barometric observations.

7.  In this place it will be proper to state that the lake which was thus reached was ascertained with certainty to be that seen by the surveyors of the joint commission in 1818, and which was by them supposed to be Lake Metis.  As it has no name yet assigned to it, it has been called upon our maps Lake Johnson, in honor of the American surveyor by whom it was first visited.  It is 1,007 feet above the level of the sea, being more than twice as much as the total fall assigned to the waters of the Metis in the report of Messrs. Mudge and Featherstonhaugh.  So great an elevation in so short a course is sufficient to