VI PREF AC i". . 



in 1816, when the English nation was roused to a strong 

 desire for the acquisition of geographical knowledge 

 in British America and the Arctic Zone. His second, two 

 or three years later. His third in 1825, and the last in 

 1845. We have endeavored to select the pith of his 

 story from the bulky volumes inaccessible to the general 

 reader, >ind, indeed, out of print long ago ; and now to 

 be found only witli old book collections in stray copies in 

 English cities. In reading this true story of the adven- 

 tures of a truly brave man, the reader cannot fail to per- 

 ceive that in this case, at least, truth is more strange and 

 more interesting than fiction. 



Washington, D. C. D. W. B, 



