22 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 



humbly hoped, will be demonstrated in the nar- 

 rative which follows. 



I cannot, however, close this preliminary state- 

 ment, without conveying the public expression 

 of my thanks to Mr. Richard King, for his uni- 

 form attention to the health of the party, and 

 the readiness with which he assisted me in all 

 cases where his services were required. To him 

 the merit is due of whatever collections have 

 been made in natural history, as well as of the 

 preparation of a table of the temperatures of 

 animals, &c. &c. 



To the invaluable services of Mr. R. M'Leod, 

 the narrative itself bears ample testimony ; yet 

 I must be permitted to indulge my own feel- 

 ings, by offering to him here the tribute of my 

 gratitude and esteem, for the zeal, courage, 

 constancy, and ability which he displayed in 

 emergencies and trials of no ordinary kind. 



The men, also, and particularly those who ac- 

 companied me to the sea, were admirably quali- 

 fied for the service they undertook, and are 

 entitled to my warmest commendations for their 

 general conduct. Nor can I withhold especial 

 notice of the three artillery-men who accom- 

 panied me from Montreal; their behaviour 

 furnishing an instructive and useful example to 

 the others, and fully according with the high 

 and generous feeling which induced them first 

 to engage in the expedition. 



