14 Sar ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

called to mind his former clerk, Alexander
Mackenzie, now at Detroit; he seemed a
young man of the right stamp, not easily
daunted. So high was Gregory’s opinion of
Mackenzie that he had him made a full part-
ner at once in the “New Company,” as it came
to be called. Mackenzie had not been con-
sulted, and McLeod went to Detroit to offer
him his partnership on condition that he
would go to the far west in the spring of 1785.
Mackenzie readily agreed, and at once left
Detroit for Grand Portage to attend the first
meeting of his partners. He had been given
his chance, and he was to make the most of it.