X INTRODUCTION. 



The College of Surgeons sent bottles of spirits for 

 the preservation of specimens, and the Horticultural 

 Society enhanced our extra stores with a box of 

 seeds properly prepared for keeping. 



The seamen were furnished with two suits of 

 clothes gratis, and were allowed the further privilege 

 of having six months' wages in advance. 



In the equipment of all the expeditions of this 

 nature it has been the good fortune of the officers 

 engaged in them to meet with the utmost courtesy 

 and attention to their wishes from the departments 

 which have the power so materially to contribute to 

 their comfort ; and I take this opportunity of ex- 

 pressing my sincere thanks to Sir G. Cockburn and 

 the other Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 

 to Sir Thomas Byam Martin, and the Commission- 

 ers of the Navy and Victualling Boards, for the 

 readiness with which they at all times complied with 

 my requests. 



Being in every respect ready, on the 19th May I 

 received the following instructions from the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty : — 



" By the Commissioners for executing the office 

 of Lord High Admiral of the United King- 

 dom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c. &c. 



" Whereas it is our intention that his majesty's 

 sloop Blossom, under your command, should be at 

 Beering's Strait in the Autumn of 1826, and, con- 

 tingently, in that of 1827, for the purpose of afford- 

 ing such assistance as may be required, either by 

 Captain Parry or Captain Franklin, should one or 

 both of those officers make their appearance in 

 that neighbourhood. You are hereby required and 

 directed to put to sea in the said sloop, so soon as in 



