PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 17 



from your principal pursuit, until you shall have 

 either succeeded in its accomplishment, or satis- 

 factorily ascertained that its success is impossible. 

 " You are, during your absence, to embrace 

 any opportunities that may offer of corresponding 

 with this Office, and report your arrival here on 

 your return. 



" I have the honour to be, Sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



" Goderich." 

 " Captain George Back, R. N. 

 21. Regent Street" 



Strengthened by this authority, as well as by 

 the commission from the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 which ordered every assistance to be rendered me 

 by the different officers in their territories, there 

 now wanted only an efficient medical man to take 

 care of the health of the party. This was found 

 in Mr. Richard King, who, having in the first 

 instance volunteered his services, was subse- 

 quently engaged, at a salary, as surgeon and 

 naturalist to the expedition. Three men only 

 (two of whom were carpenters and shipwrights) 

 were taken from England : the remainder, as will 

 hereafter be seen, were selected either from 

 Montreal or from the Company's posts in the 

 interior. 



To present at one view the objects, purpose, 



c 



