PREFACE. IX 



reaches us, must yet believe that his parties divided as I 

 have imagined. 



Although I have not in these pages asserted any claim 

 to the participation in the solution of the Northern 

 Passage to the Pacific, still any geographer will readily 

 understand that the continuous frozen sea, traced by the 

 officers under my command, in 1853, proves a water 

 communication through Wellington Channel, round 

 Parry Islands, to the position attained by Captain 

 M'Clure; and that in 1854 our sledge-parties had pe- 

 netrated to the southern extreme of Prince of Wales 

 Strait, perfecting the labours of Dease and Simpson. 



I am indebted to Sir John Richardson, Professor 

 Owen, Professor Bell, Mr. Salter, Mr. Glaisher, and Mr. 

 Reeve, for their valuable contributions to the Natural 

 History portion of the second volume. Each statement 

 offered is supported by documents, accessible to any 

 who may be desirous of further evidence. 



To those who have seconded and supported me in my 

 duties, whether named or otherwise, my thanks are due ; 

 and I thus express myself because I know it will be 

 acceptable to those who honestly performed their duty : 

 " Palrnam qui meruit ferat." 



EDWARD BELCHER. 



London, November 1, 1855. 



