Chap. III. CAPTAIN DAVID BUCHAN. 59 



appointed commander of the Blossom, destined for 

 a voyage to the Pacific and Behring's Strait, with 

 instructions, among other things, to co-operate with 

 the Polar land expeditions ; to keep the Blossom, 

 however, in open water, and not to risk her being 

 beset in the ice. Finding in Kotzebue Sound the 

 sea clear of ice, all hands on board were most anxious 

 to try for a north-east passage, but his instructions 

 did not admit of it. He did all he could, which 

 was, to send his master, Elson, in the decked launch, 

 in which he proceeded along the coast of America, 

 until impeded by a neck of land, running to the 

 northward, and encumbered with ice. In 1827 

 Beechey was made captain, while on this service, 

 in which he remained to the year 1828, and pub- 

 lished a very clever book on the shores and islands 

 of the Pacific. He has since been employed in 

 various surveying duties, in which he has greatly 

 distinguished himself, and has been for some years 

 past, and still is, employed in conducting the sur- 

 vey of the coasts of Ireland, and the west coast and 

 islands of Scotland. 



Charles Palmer and W. J. Dealy, then acting- 

 mates, were promoted to lieutenants in 1821, and 

 remain still in the same rank. 



Andrew Reid was promoted at the same time ; 

 went with Parry on his first and second voyages, 

 and still remains on the list of lieutenants. 



George Back followed up the service from his 



