376 - Notices respecting. New. Books, 
favour, he could not: act:in the face of his orders with such; bad 
sailing ships. and so late in the season. Of course I made no re- 
ply; these were matters for his judgement, not for mine, and I 
was obliged to content myself under my disappointment. I took 
the opportunity, however, of asking Captain Ross concerning the 
land which he had seen the day. before, the particulars of which 
he recounted ; but made no inquiry.what I thought of them, 
< It remains for me to state the opinion that I did form, and to 
justify it; not from any importance which I attach to it,—because 
however persons may differ as to whether Lancaster’s Sound. was 
or was not sufficiently explored by Capt. Ross, there can be little 
doubt but-that it will be most satisfactorily examined by the ex- 
pedition which is now preparing,—but, as a reference: has. been 
made to my opinion, it is but justice to myself to make known 
what it really was. Of Captain Ross’s conduct I did not judge, 
because I did not.know what his orders were: but presuming 
that the object of the voyage was to ascertain whether there was 
or was not a north-west passage, I considered direct and absolute 
proof of the continuity of land as the only decisive evidence of its 
impossibility,, and as. the evidence which the public would ex- 
pect, 
‘< Had we indeed found a strong current, or drift wood, I should 
have deemed them very: hopeful indications ;, but their absence 
proved nothing; and an inlet with shores wider apart than those 
of Behring’s Straits, with a depth of water exceeding 600 fathoms 
when above 30 miles from its entrance, an increased temperature 
of the water*, and an open sea, were encouragements to our 
progress westward, presenting themselves after we had entered 
the inlet, which rendered the absence of what are popularly called 
indications of a passage, of less comparative importance even 
than usual. 
“‘ For the particulars of this land, which stands alone to prove 
that the expectations so generally excited in Lancaster’s Sound 
were fallacious, I was necessarily wholly dependent on Captain 
Ross. Even when he related them to me, I-did not think them 
conclusive ; and the more | considered them; the more strong 
my conviction grew, that Laneaster’s Sound, as well as many 
parts of the coast which we had passed before, would be revi- 
sited.” 
The remaining part of this. little work points out some differ- 
* ences between Captain Ross’s printed. account and his previous 
verbal statements respecting the land seen by him, and its di- 
stance; and showing from Captain Ross’s log, and those of the 
* The temperature of the surface of the sea had averaged 31° and 32° 
for a considerable time previously. When we opened Lancaster's Sound it 
became 36°, and continued so, generally, whilst we were in the sound. 
lieutenant 
Pe a oe ee 
