PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 13 



Highness, recommending me to the attentions 

 of Doctor Hossack, a scientific gentleman at 

 New York. 



Finally, it was deemed expedient, on many 

 accounts, but more especially to give me ad- 

 ditional authority over the men whom I might 

 engage for the service, that my mission should 

 be taken under the direction of his Majesty's 

 Government ; and accordingly I received from 

 the Secretary of State for the Colonies the follow- 

 ing instructions : — 



" Colonial Office, Downing Street, 

 4th February, 1833. 



" Sir, 



" The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 

 having been pleased to lend your services to this 

 office, that you may conduct an expedition now 

 preparing to proceed to the Polar Sea in search 

 of Captain Ross, you are hereby required and 

 directed to undertake this service, placing your- 

 self for the purpose at the disposition of the 

 Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, who have undertaken to furnish you 

 with the requisite resources and supplies. 



" You are to leave Liverpool early in the 

 present month, and proceed with your party by 

 way of New York to Montreal, and thence along 

 the usual route pursued by the north-west 



