Char II. COMMANDER JOHN ROSS. 53 



regions, the several appendices, amounting to up- 

 wards of one hundred and forty pages, will afford 

 all the information gained, and which, though 

 meagre enough, considering the very limited and 

 restricted means afforded by boats for the attain- 

 ment of it, displays a considerable share of talent, 

 attention, and industry by the several respective 

 officers of both ships, who have given full proof 

 how much more would have been accomplished 

 had more frequent opportunities been afforded to 

 them. The names of individual observers and col- 

 lectors are always given by the commanding officer 

 of expeditions of this nature — that of Ross forms an 

 exception. 



Commander John Ross was promoted to the 

 rank of captain in December, 1818, on paying off 

 the ships ; and, singular enough, no other officer 

 appears to have been promoted, not even Parry, who 

 commanded the second ship, and who was not only 

 suffered to remain a lieutenant, but was sent out, 

 the following year, with two ships under his com- 

 mand, on a similar expedition, still as lieutenant, 

 with Instructions addressed to " Lieutenant Wil- 

 liam Edward Parry, commanding." 



Among the little irregularities of Commander 

 Ross, it cannot escape notice that he addresses all 

 his letters and orders, issued during the voyage, 

 and unnecessarily printed in his book, as from John 

 Ross, Captain of the Isabella. His promotion to that 



