A Section of the Map of the British Colonies in North America (John Mitchell 1755) Thomas Mitchell was an important intermediary between Franquelin and De l’Isle, for the northwest of America, and a host of later cartographers, such as Bowen, Bowles, Kitchen, Bell, Rogers and others, English mappers all. Mitchell’s map extends just to the west of Lake of the Woods and north to the Albany river. The insert map provides a view of the territory north along the James and Hudson Bay shores. North and west of Lake Superior are the familiar shapes of Lake Assenipouals, Issatis, Christinaux and Alemipigon, all vestiges of Franquelin and De l’Isle. Lake of the Woods and Lake Tecamaniouen and their uniting rivers and lakes stem, of course, from French sources, but are given a “Mitchell” treatment. A significant addition to cartography, also important for later political geography, is the delineation between the 49th and 51st parallels of a boundary between lands granted to the Hudson’s Bay Company and those considered later to be British colonial holdings, and finally American territory. The supposed relationship of this boundary to the western shoreline of Lake of the Woods contributed to the political problem of final national boundary demarcation when the United States was defining its perimeter. (Warkentin and Ruggles. Historical Atlas of Manitoba. map 45, p. 116)

A map of the British and French dominions in North America, with the roads, distances, limits, and extent of the settlements, humbly inscribed to the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, and the other Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations, by their Lordships most obliged and very humble servant, Jno. Mitchell. (1755). Drawn by John Mitchell. Printed in black ink with coloured portions. “Tho. Kitchin Sculp” (engraver). “Printed for Jefferys and Faden Geographers to the king at the Corner of St. Martins Lane Charing Cross, London. Published by the Author, Febry 13th. 1755.” Image Source: Library of Congress American Memory Project