Chap. XIV. MISCELLANEOUS. 511 



by the House of Commons, and thus have spared 

 a great deal of nonsense in the Committee, as will 

 be seen in the few extracts that will here be pro- 

 duced. We have, first, the history of the expedition, 

 which is doubtless the true one. 

 Captain Ross examined : — 



" What was the inducement to you to undertake this 

 last expedition ? 



" When His Majesty became Lord High Admiral I sent 

 in my propositions, and afterwards again to Lord Melville, 

 when he became again First Lord of the Admiralty : I re- 

 ceived an answer that they did not intend to pursue it any 

 more. 



" What was the cost of the expedition ? 



" The cost of the expedition was 17,0007. to Mr. Booth 

 and 30007. to me. 



" Did your men express themselves satisfied with what 

 had been done to them by the Admiralty ? 



6i Every one of them ; they all rejoiced that the Admi- 

 ralty had behaved so well to them." [The Admiralty gave 

 them double full-pay till they abandoned the ship, and full 

 pay afterwards, in all 4580/.] 



Mr. Felix Booth examined : — 



" Perhaps you will have no objection to state the circum- 

 stances which induced you first to undertake the charge of 

 the enterprise which Captain Ross -commanded? 



" Not in the least. I had known Captain Ross for some 

 years, and I undertook it for the credit of the country and 

 to serve Captain Ross, thinking that he was slighted in his 

 former expedition — that there was a cloud hung over him, 

 and that he was anxious of an opportunity of going out 

 again. I felt interested that all discoveries should be made 

 by our countrymen. He said he should very much like to 



