12 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 



plans and prospects of the service, with the 

 means adopted to guard against privation, and 

 to secure the party from those disasters to 

 which they might otherwise be subject; and I 

 had the high gratification of receiving the royal 

 approbation of these plans, and a gracious ex- 

 pression of sincere desire for the safety of my 

 party. 



Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent 

 and Princess Victoria also received a deputa- 

 tion, consisting of Vice Admiral Sir George 

 Cockburn, Captains Beechey and Maconochie, 

 with myself, for the purpose of pointing out on 

 the chart the line of the proposed route, sub- 

 mitting, at the same time, a sketch of the intended 

 proceedings ; — on which occasion their Royal 

 Highnesses evinced a truly benevolent interest 

 in the expedition.* Nor was the Duke of Sussex 

 less solicitous to forward the undertaking, as I 

 had the honour to receive a letter from his Royal 



* Besides being liberal subscribers to the expedition, their 

 Royal Highnesses sent me, some days afterwards, a pocket 

 compass and a case of mathematical instruments, as a con- 

 tribution to its scientific equipment ; and I shall not attempt 

 to describe the enthusiasm which these tokens of the interest 

 taken by them in our benevolent mission afterwards created, 

 not only in British North America, but also in the United 

 States. It will be seen in a future part of my Narrative, 

 that this compass, from its extreme delicacy, became after- 

 wards of essential service. 



