ROSS’S SECOND VOYAGE. 603 
Back, forgetful of their long life and death struggle with famine 
(1819), had once more (1825) with heroic perseverance bent 
their steps to the north. This time they chose the mouths of 
the Mackenzie for the starting-point of their discoveries, and 
having separated into two parties, proceeded to the east and 
west, and explored 4000 miles of unknown coast. 
In 1829 Captain John Ross, having for a long time vainly 
solicited government to send him out once more on an Arctic ex- 
pedition, was enabled by the munificence of a private individual, 
Mr. Felix Booth, to accomplish his wishes, and to purchase a 
small steamer, to which the rather presumptuous name of 
“Victory ” was given. The selection of the vessel was no doubt 
unlucky enough; for can anything be conceived more unpractical 
than paddle-boxes among ice-blocks; but, to make amends for 
this error, the veteran commander was fortunate in being 
accompanied by his illustrious nephew, James Ross, who with 
every quality of the seaman united the ardour and knowledge of 
the most zealous naturalist. 
He it was who discovered the peninsula which in compliment 
to the patron of the expedition was named Boothia Felix; to him 
also we owe the discovery of the Magnetic Pole; but the voyage 
is far less remarkable for these after all not very important 
successes, than for its unexampled protraction during a space of 
five years. 
The first season had a fortunate termination. On the 10th of 
August, 1829, the “ Victory ” attained Prince Regent’s Inlet, and 
reached on the 13th the spot where Parry on his third voyage 
had been obliged to abandon the “ Fury.” Of the ship itself no 
traces remained; but the provisions which had providently been 
stored up on land were found untouched. The solid tin boxes 
had effectually preserved them from the voracity of the white 
bears; and the flour, bread, wine, rum, and sugar were found as 
good after four years, as on the day when the expedition started. 
It was to this discovery, to this “manna in the wilderness,” 
that Ross owed his subsequent preservation ; for how else could 
he have passed four winters in the Arctic waste? Never was the 
hand of Providence more distinctly visible than here. 
On the 15th of August Cape Garry was attained, the most 
southern point of the inlet which Parry had reached on his third 
voyage. Fogs and drift-ice considerably retarded the progress 
