336 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



Hudson's Bay Company, and were furnished by 

 them with a boat of the largest size, well stored with 

 provisions and ammunition, as much as she could 

 carry. They were also furnished with letters to 

 all their agents in the several factories in the 

 country, directing them to give every possible as- 

 sistance towards furthering the object of the expe- 

 dition. Here also they had the good fortune to 

 meet with several of the partners of the North- 

 West Company, from whom they also received the 

 most friendly and full assurance of the cordial en- 

 deavours of the wintering partners of their esta- 

 blishment, to promote the interest of the expedition. 

 This was the more gratifying, as there then existed 

 a violent commercial rivalry between the two Com- 

 panies. With the knowledge of this, and with that 

 prudence and propriety of conduct that has at all 

 times been the characteristic of Franklin, he deemed 

 it expedient " to issue a memorandum to the officers 

 of the expedition, strictly prohibiting any inter- 

 ference whatever in the existing quarrels, or any 

 that might arise, between the two Companies : and 

 on presenting it to the principals of both the parties, 

 they expressed their satisfaction at the step I had 

 taken." 



On the 9th September, the boat being completed, 

 arrangements were made for their departure, and 

 at noon they embarked under a salute of eight 

 guns, and three cheers, which they gratefully re- 



