512 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XIV. 



go out again, and I think I could do it at a small expense. 

 I said, ■ Well then, put down and let me see what you call a 

 small expense.' He afterwards brought me a paper making 

 it about 10,000/. I said, ' Well, I should have no objection 

 to advance 10,000/. if that would be the utmost sum re- 

 quired ;' but I said, ' I will not engage in it, because there 

 is 20,000/. reward for any person who shall discover the 

 passage, and it would look very much as though I had an 

 object in view.' 



" About a twelvemonth after he came to me, and said, 

 ' Now it is all over, the reward is done away with.' I then 

 said, I was glad of it, and if he wanted assistance I was 

 willing to give it ; he was amazingly delighted : on which 

 I told him, ' I will assist you, but remember it must be in 

 the utmost confidence, and I will not do anything that is 

 inimical to government.' 



" In the event of Parliament voting any money to Captain 

 Ross, have you any expectation of receiving any portion of it ? 



" Certainly not. 



" Your object in making this munificent sacrifice of private 

 fortune was solely for the advancement of the honour of the 

 country, the interest of science, and to gratify the feelings of 

 a friend ? 



" Precisely ; that is the truth." 



Thus far everything appears to have been con- 

 ducted with great liberality on one side, and with a 

 proper feeling on the other. If, as Mr. Booth states, 

 Captain Ross felt a cloud was hanging over him on 

 account of ill-natured reports, and, moreover, felt 

 himself slighted, he certainly took the most proper 

 method of silencing them, by going out once more 

 to the same spot where he had undoubtedly failed 

 on the former expedition ; but the slight he received 



