234 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VIII. 



Any thing approaching the shape of an apology 

 from Captain Parry himself will be deemed, as it 

 ought to be, superfluous ; nor will it be thought 

 necessary that, on the introduction of his narrative, 

 he should be called upon for any explanation. He 

 says, — 



" I have considered it expedient to avoid all minute and 

 technical description of our first season's operations, which, 

 whatever vexation they may have cost ourselves, would pro- 

 bably have afforded little interest or amusement to the 

 public. In the circumstances attending our second season's 

 navigation, and particularly those relating to the loss of the 

 Fury, I have deemed it right to enter more into detail ; 

 considering, on the one hand, that the loss of one of His 

 Majesty's ships is an event too serious to be lightly disposed 

 of; and on the other, that I could thus alone do justice to 

 the unwearied zeal and exertions of Captain [Commander] 

 Hoppner, our officers and men, on that occasion." — Intro- 

 duction, p. xiii. 



Commander H. P. Hoppner served as Lieu- 

 tenant with Parry in the Alexander, and also as 

 Lieutenant in Parry's two preceding voyages, in 

 all of which he was considered an able, active, 

 and zealous officer. He had therefore worked his 

 way to the rank of Commander. " To Commander 

 Hoppner, who," says Parry, " has been my con- 

 stant companion from the very commencement of 

 these enterprises, I feel every possible obligation for 

 his steady and persevering zeal in this service, and 

 for his advice and assistance on every occasion." 



