Personal and Impersonal. 181 



For many reasons, in placing him in command of the Expedition, 

 the Government made an excellent choice. He is pretty well versed 

 in the science of navigation, and has had much experience in the 

 practical application of that science, though not, of course, in the ice- 

 bound regions of the north. He is acquainted with the use of mag- 

 netic instruments, an important qualification for one navigating the 

 northern waters of the Dominion. In every way, so far as experi- 

 ence, education, and character can fit a man for any station, Lieu- 

 tenant Gordon was well prepared to undertake the very important 

 responsibility of commanding the first Expedition to enquire into 

 the navigation of Hudson's Bay and Strait. 



He is young, ambitious, thoughtful, persistent, unassuming, cheer- 

 ful, obliging, a little headstrong, tenacious of his own opinion, scep- 

 tical of the opinions of others, very English in his views, and equally 

 English (although a Scotchman) in his nationality. He is strict in 

 the observance of Christian ordinances, and of a high moral charac- 

 ter. He conducted during the voyage a brief service, condensed 

 from the Church of England ritual, each Sabbath morning in the 

 cabin of the Neptune. He was well liked by the officers and men 

 of the Expedition, and will long enjoy their fullest respect and 

 highest esteem. 



The more than ordinary abilities of Captain W. Sopp, master 

 of the Neptune, demand that he should receive some notice. He 

 was born in Earnley, Sussex, England, on the 15th of December, 

 1840, and first went to sea in September, 1854, as a boy, in the 

 coast trade. In 1857 he became an able seaman. In 1861 he re- 

 ceived a second mate's certificate, and the papers qualifying, him for 

 first mate in 1863. In 1867 he received a captain's certificate, and 

 commanded his first vessel, the Isabella Ridley of Liverpool, in 1868. 

 He has been in command of vessels from that date until the present 

 time, continuously, and in the employ of Messrs. Job Brothers and 

 Co., of St. John's, Newfoundland, since 1870. He commanded the 

 Neptune in the Greely Relief Expedition in 1882, and reached the 

 high latitude of nearly 80° N. 



Captain Sopp is a tall, quiet, unassuming man, with some very 

 marked characteristics. He is cautious almost to excess ; a thorough 



