Preliminary Cltaptvr. xix 



be gtiined by pursuiii^ii- it? — This is 51 question lli;it lias Itccn put I <•; 



but I think Mr Hall liad not the means of sni)i)oi(in.ii liimscir in the 

 barren island, and could get no one to accompany liini, or not enough 

 of men; and then the new idea of the North Pole took possession 

 of him and seemed to him a more worthy object of ambition. — Yet, 

 though he abandoned, whether from necessity or choice, the object Ik- 

 had held out to himself from the beginning-, he is too conscientious to 

 say that nothing- more can be done, or that he did all that man can 

 even do ; and his declaration is, in my view of things, creditable to his 

 candor and truthfulness; he almost invites others to do that in wliicli 

 he has failed himself, — and this leads me to ask (and many are asking 

 the same question) whether anything would induce him to go again .' 

 and, if so, whether he would consent to accompany one of the bravest 

 and ablest of our Arctic officers, as his Second. — 



I would ask you to ascertain from him whether he would postpone 

 his efforts to reach the Pole, for one season (he may be quite sure there 

 is no danger of any body getting there before him) and devote a whole 

 summer to the recovery of the precious documents on King AVilliani 

 Island, and the several adjoining jdaces on the main-land, wlierc he 

 believes the last of our poor people perished. 



The emoliuneuts or remuneration must be such as to make it -woi-tli 

 his while to undertake another voyage, and should be suggested b\ 

 himself, so that he might start with a willing mind and be able to see 

 that his further movements northward would be facilitated rather than 

 checked, by joining in this final Arctic search. — In fact, he and liis 

 two Esquimaux, if he takes them with him towards the Pole, wt)ul!l Ix- 

 so far forwarded on their way when the King W':' search was over. 

 I do not enter at present into more detail, except that such an P^xpe- 

 ditiou would be on a manageable but sufficient scale, composed of well- 

 tried, trustworthy men, whether English, American, or Canadian, i. c. 

 Hudson Bay people: and, that the funds are jirovided and are ample 

 for the purpose. To apply again for Government aid seems totally out 

 of the question. Such an appeal wouhl not be listened to for a moment , 

 and it is quite certain that whatever has been hitherto effected lias bei-n 



