CAPTAIN BACK. 



Before this sheet was put to the press, this intrepid and persevering officer arrived in 

 London. It will be recollected, that in the spring of 1833, he volunteered his services 

 in the most praiseworthy and disinterested manner to search for me and my companions, 

 who had then been absent nearly four years. Immediately after our providential return, 

 despatches were sent to him, which he received in iVIay, 1834; and at the same time, 

 directions to continue his survey of Great Slave river, the very existence of which was 

 doubtful, principally with the view of uniting the coast between Cape Turnagain and 

 Commander Ross's furthest beacon. The result of this enterprise has proved that 

 the line of coast to the southward of the Isthmus of Boothia had not been completely 

 examined, and that the information received by Commander Ross from the Esquimaux, 

 making into a bay the land between the isthmus and Matty island, was incorrect; and 

 thus opening a new field for conjecture; but, although it is very probable that the land 

 to the westward of that inlet is an island, I am not of opinion that the western sea joins 

 with Prince Regent's inlet. No one will deny that Captain Back, whose zeal, intelligence, 

 and perseverance, has done so much, will be the fittest person to finish the work he has 

 begun; and I have learnt with peculiar pleasure, that his Majesty, our august sovereign, 

 having dispensed with the term of servitude established by the regulations of the navy to 

 qualify him for the next step, has promoted him to the rank of Captain, as a reward 

 (the most honourable) for his eminent services, and which will render it unnecessary 

 for him to serve on board a ship, before he takes the command of another land expedi- 

 tion, which I hope he will soon undertake by order of government. 



I cannot conclude without offering my grateful thanks, to the corporations of London, 

 Hull, the Trinity of Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, and Wicklow, who have each conferred 

 their freedom upon me, as also to the sovereigns of Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Den- 

 mark, France, Belgium, and above four thousand individuals, who have presented me 

 with splendid and flattering testimonials of the sense they have entertained of my humble 

 endeavours in the cause of science, but more especially for the kind interest which has 

 been so universally felt for me and my companions. 



