46 governor Simpson's letter 



" Permit me, however, my dear Sir, to assure 

 you that I have perused these favours, together 

 with the printed plan of the expedition under 

 your command, with impressions of the most 

 lively interest. Indeed, such are the humane and 

 philanthropic views of the enterprise altogether, 

 that they cannot fail to excite and command the 

 sympathies of all with whom you may come 

 in contact. 



" For myself, allow me to say, that in my in- 

 dividual as well as official capacity, I am exceed- 

 ingly anxious to further your benevolent views ; 

 and I cannot but rejoice that the conduct of the 

 enterprise is intrusted to one whose experience, 

 character, and abilities have been already so 

 well appreciated by the British public in re- 

 ference to former expeditions. 



" What may be the fate of those who are the 

 objects of your humane exertions it is, in the pre- 

 sent state of things, impossible to say. Should the 

 worst forebodings be realised, still the expense 

 and fatigue of the expedition will be compensated 

 abundantly in the valuable acquisitions which 

 discovery and science will acquire, collaterally, 

 in its prosecution ; while the public in general, 

 and your party in particular, will have the proud 

 satisfaction of having done all within the reach 

 of human exertion for the relief of fellow 



