newly discovered land, verified the Eskimaux accounts given to Captain Parry of an inland sea, and brought to light lakes, rivers, and islands; while, during its progress, the powers of human endurance had been subjected to the severest ordeal, were placed, as it were, upon the rack, and called upon for four years and five months to sustain every kind and degree of privation; and to all this misery three individuals only had fallen victims, two of whom died of diseases foreign to the climate.

The case of Sir John Ross and his brave men was brought before a select committee of the House of Commons in April, 1834, and it is gratifying to be able to state, that the gentlemen who composed that committee were fully alive to the advantages accruing to a great naval power, like England, from voyages of discovery of this class, and that they unhesitatingly recommended that its gallant commander should be voted the sum of 50007.

As to the other officers and men of the ship, although none but Commander Ross had any claim on the government, the Admiralty, in a wise and liberal spirit, rewarded all bountifully. Double pay was given to the men up to the time of the abandonment of the ship, and full pay after that, till their arrival in England, whilst eligible situations in the dockyards and elsewhere were liberally bestowed. Commander Ross, to whom the greater part of the scientific results of the expedition are due, was appointed commander of H.M. S. Victory for twelve months, that he might, by that length of service, be enabled to receive post rank, which, by a special minute, the Admiralty ensured to him at the expiration of that time; and, finally, acting on the warm expressions of the committee, his Most Gracious Majesty, William the Fourth, was pleased to create Mr. Felix Booth, to whose modest public spirit and rare munificence this expedition was entirely due, a baronet.

CHAPTER XXI.

Anxiety in England respecting the Fate of Captain Ross-Captain Back appointed to go in search of him-Liberal Conduct of Hudson's Bay Company-Instructions from Colonial Office -Departure-Arrival at Great Slave Lake-Difficulty of Route -Discovery of Sussex Lake-Canoe Voyage-Rapids-Erection of Winter Dwelling-Native Superstitions-FamineNews of the safe Arrival of Captain Ross in England-Return of Spring, and renewal of Journey-Construction of Boats, and Embarkation on Back River-Hopes and DisappointmentsArrival within sight of Sea-coast-Arrested by a Barrier of Drift Ice-Return to Fort Reliance-Winter-Arrival in England.

VERY nearly the same anxiety was displayed in England for the fate of Captain Ross and his men, in the year 1833, as now exists in 1850 with regard to Sir John Franklin; and plans were as eagerly formed for his release then, as they are now for that of our noble countrymen. Captain Back, the wellremembered companion of Franklin and Richardson, was in Italy when he first heard of the intention of government to send an overland party to the relief of Captain Ross; and hastening home, he offered his valuable services, which were gladly accepted, and accordingly were transferred by the Admiralty to the Colonial office, under which department of government he was to act.

A committee of the first men of the day was formed, of which the King was pleased to be patron; and

subscriptions were received from various learned and scientific bodies, and different parts of the empire, to the extent of several thousands of pounds, to which his majesty's government added 2,000l., for the purposes of the expedition.

Soon after the committee had been appointed, the governor and committee of the Hudson's Bay Company came forward, and in the handsomest manner undertook to furnish from their stores, for the use of the expedition, everything it might require during its absence, upon the understanding that all beyond their truly liberal subscription of one hundred and twenty bags of pemmican, two boats and two canoes, should be regularly charged. They also gave Captain Back a commission, which would enable him to command obedience, and even supplies when required, from any of their servants, who might not have received direct instructions on this head.

Captain Back quitted England in the month of February, 1833. He was accompanied by Mr. Richard King, who was engaged, at a salary, as surgeon and naturalist to the expedition, and three men, the remaining thirteen, of which the complement was to be composed, were to be picked from the best hunters of Canada. To give the reader an accurate idea of the ground which Captain Back was directed to traverse, we subjoin the instructions he received from the Colonial office.

"COLONIAL OFFICE,
"4th February, 1833.

"SIR,-The Commissioners of the Admiralty having been pleased to lend your services to this office, that you may conduct an expedition now preparing to proceed to the Polar Sea in search of Captain Ross, you are hereby required and desired to undertake this service, placing yourself for the purpose at

the disposition of the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, who have undertaken to furnish you with the requisite resources and supplies.

"You are to leave Liverpool early in February, and to proceed with your party by way of New York to Montreal, and thence along the usual route pursued by the North-West Traders to Great Slave Lake, which it is hoped you will reach by the 20th July. You are then to strike off to the north-eastward, or in such other direction as you may ascertain to be most expedient, in order to gain the Thlew-eechoh-dezeth or Great Fish River, which is believed either to issue from Slave Lake, or to rise in its vicinity, and thence to flow with a navigable course to the northward till it reaches the sea. On arriving at the banks of this river you are to select a convenient situation for a winter residence, and immediately appoint a portion of your force to erect a house thereon: but, if possible, you are to proceed yourself with an adequate party, and explore the river to the coast the same season, erecting a conspicuous landmark at its mouth, and leaving notice of your intention to return the ensuing Spring, in case Captain Ross should be making progress along this part of

the shore.

"You are to take care, however, to return before the commencement of the Winter, to avoid any undue exposure of your men. During the Winter you are to construct two boats capable of navigating the Polar Sea; and as early as possible in the ensuing Spring you are to descend again to its shores.

"Your proceedings afterwards must be much guided by your own judgment. The first object will be to reach Cape Garry, where His Majesty's late Ship Fury was wrecked; on the remaining stores of which it is known that Captain Ross in some measure

relied; but in making for this point, whether by the east or west, you must be governed by the position of the mouth of the river, and other local circumstances, as you progressively ascertain them. While passing along the coast you are to keep a vigilant look-out upon the shore for any signal or indication of the party of which you are in search (particularly at the entrance of the Hecla and Fury Strait, should you take the eastern passage); and in the event of your meeting them previous to your arrival at Cape Garry, you are to offer to return immediately, and bring them with you to the Hudson's Bay Settlements. Or, should you find any indication of their having been on any part of the coast before your arrival, you are to search minutely for some memorial which may lead to the discovery of their intentions; and to proceed, in the event of success, in whatever practicable direction may seem best calculated to lead you to them. Devoting the summer, then, to` the interesting search in contemplation, it is unnecessary to recommend to you to make it as effectual as possible, consistently with a due regard for the health and preservation of your party.

"But whatever may be its prospects or success, you are on no account to prolong it beyond such a period of the year (varying from the 12th to the 20th of August, according to the distance which you may have attained) as will ensure your return to your winter quarters before the severe weather sets in. On your acting in this particular with due caution may depend the eventual success of the whole Expedition. On your return to your temporary establishment you are carefully to examine the state of your supplies, if possible also communicating with Great Slave Lake, to ascertain whether additional stores are there collected for you. And if you find that you can, with reasonable prudence, devote a second Summer to the service on

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