27 



CHAPTER I. 



Departure from England. — Arrival at Montreal. — 

 Preparations for the Expedition. — Fire at the Hotel. 



— Departure from La Chine. — The St. Lawrence. — 

 The Ottawa. — Lake Huron. — The Saidt de Ste. Marie. 

 — Arrival at Fort William. — Distribution of the 



Loadings. — The Mountain Fall. — Lac de la Pluie. 



— Arrival at Fort Alexander. — Magnetic Observations. 



— Arrival of Governor Simpson, and Arrangements 

 made by him. — Arrival at Norway House. — Diffictdty 

 of procuring Men for the Service. — Departure from 

 Norway House. 



On Sunday, the 17th of February, 1833, ac- 

 companied by Mr. Richard King and three men, 

 two of whom had gained experience under Sir 

 J. Franklin, I embarked in the packet ship 

 Hibernia, Captain Maxwell, from Liverpool; 

 and, after a somewhat boisterous passage of 

 thirty-five days, during part of which the ship 

 was entangled amongst ice on St. George's Bank, 

 arrived at New York. We were received with 

 every attention that politeness and hospitality 

 could dictate. The usual forms at the Custom- 

 house were dispensed with in our favour ; and 

 all classes seemed anxious to facilitate an under- 

 taking, in the success of which the warmest 



