4 INTRODUCTION. 



approbation of the conduct of the officers and 

 seamen I had the honour to command."* 



The narrative, however, although thus far 

 approved by Captain Buchan, is taken from my 

 own private journal ; and I hold myself respon- 

 sible for whatever faults may be found in the 

 course of its pages. 



Before I had finished this narrative, it was 

 suggested to me that it would receive additional 

 interest if a sketch of the several voyages which 

 had already been performed in the same direction 

 were appended, in order that the public might 

 be made acquainted with the origin and pro- 

 gress of Northern Discovery without having to 

 wade through ponderous folio volumes, or make 

 a selection from the " Voyages of a mixed cha- 

 racter." 



To such as have not perused these voyages, 

 I trust they will be of use in assisting their 

 judgment as to the merits of the one now placed 

 before them ; and those persons who recognise 

 them as old friends will find them accompanied 

 by remarks which modern surveys have- sug- 

 gested, and by corrections of some mistakes 

 which appear to have been made in modern 

 compilations. But it must be borne in mind, 

 that it is not intended to give more than a brief 



* Captain Buchan's letter, dated August 1, 1834. 



