1823.] of the Expedition under Capt. Parry. 163 



know them to be bold and resolute ; zealous and persevering in 

 the discharge of their duty, dreading nothing so much as failure. 

 On the other hand, there is the experience of a former voyage ; 

 the prospects thence opened out, a certain share of national 

 reputation hanging on the event, the honour that must accrue 

 from success ; nay, that must attach even to failure. In short, 

 a thousand considerations all of them most deeply interesting, 

 and tending powerfully to fix on this expedition the notice of the 

 world, and assuredly to engage our warmest sympathies on 

 behalf of those who have embarked in it. A few conjectures 

 then, respecting the probable situation and condition at present 

 of this brave band, and also as to their prospects for the future, 

 will not, we hope, be considered mistimed at this season ; to us 

 one of rejoicing and festivity, to them, probably, one of dreari- 

 ness and darkness. 



Next to the honour of participating in their hazardous pursuit, 

 is the pleasure we derive from following them in our mind's eye, 

 or from tracing their fancied route on the map ; joining in 

 their labours, and entering into their difficulties. While thus 

 employed, we feel, as if by taking a part, we lightened their 

 toils ; and we at all events discharge the duty we owe them of 

 taking a lively concern in their affairs, the belief of which on 

 their part, we may be assured, helps, perhaps, more than any 

 thing else, to cheer the dull monotony of their abode, and con- 

 stitutes one of the principal means of enabling them to bear up 

 under the pressure of hardships or misfortunes. Let us then 

 endeavour to follow them, and, if possible, to find them out. 



Various situations present themselves in which we may 

 imagine them to be placed, some of them more or less difficult; 

 some of them dangerous. Before pointing these out, however, 

 we shall attempt to assign the limits so far as respects latitude 

 and longitude, within which their course must have lain, and 

 within which they must in all probability be, if alive, and their 

 object still unattained. In doing this, although there be few 

 data of any kind, and still fewer upon which we can approxi- 

 mate with any thing like precision to the spot that they are 

 likely to be now occupying, we can at least say with some cer- 

 tainty where they are not ; and even this negative knowledge, in 

 the absence of something better, is not wholly unimportant. 



It is not easy to guess accurately where the entrance from the 

 North Atlantic has been made. The experience, however, of 

 the former voyage — the fact of their not having been traced or 

 heard of by any of the whalers — the views of Capt. Parry him- 

 self — and other considerations — lead to the belief that the place 

 of entrance has been sought for, and found, either through Hud- 

 son's, Frobisher's, or Cumberland Straits, and thence northward 

 by either Sir Thomas Rowe's Welcome, Repulse Bay, or Fox's 

 Farthest. It will save some trouble if we at once take this for 

 granted. 



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