324 CAPTAIN BACK'S LAND EXPEDITION— 18S3-S5. 



panions had perished ; but fully aware that in the event of the " Victory " 

 having reached Fury Beach, there were stores enough there to provision the 

 people of the ship for two or three years, in which case they might still 

 survive, he hurried to England, prepared and resolved to offer to Govern- 

 ment his services as leader of an expedition in search of them. Arriving in 

 England in June 1832, he was informed that Mr George Ross, the nearest 

 relative of the two chief officers of the "Victory," was anxious to meet with 

 an oflficer properly qualified to lead a search party through America to the 

 shores of the Polar Sea, and, if possible, along the western shores of Regent 

 Inlet as far north as Fury Beach, where it was believed the survivors of 

 Captain Ross's expedition would be found, or at least authentic tidings of 

 the missing men be obtained. Mr George Ross was as glad to obtain the 

 services of Captain Back as that famous traveller and navigator was to 

 obtain the appointment, and a petition was forthwith laid before the king, 

 asking his Majesty's sanction to the despatch of the projected expedition. 

 A favourable answer was received from Lord Goderi-ch, then Colonial Secre- 

 tary, in which Mr George Ross was informed that the proposed expedition 

 to ascertain the fate of the son and brother, had the approval of Govern- 

 ment, and that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury were prepared to 

 grant the sum of £2000 in aid of the expenses of the expedition, provided 

 that gentleman and his friends subscribed the remainder of the expense, 

 which was estimated to amount to £3000. Subscription lists were imme- 

 diately opened in London, Devonport, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Cheltenham, 

 Exeter, Hull, Glasgow, Greenock, Liverpool, Newbury, Portsmouth, Ply- 

 mouth, and Stranraer ; " and," writes Back, " it was gratifying to observe, in 

 the rapid accumulation of our funds, the liveliness of the public sympathy 

 in this disinterested project." Meantime, the governor and directors of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company had become deeply interested in the enterprise, and 

 had despatched directions to their agents in America informing them that 

 such an expedition might be expected in the following spring, and directing 

 the necessary preparations to be made for it. These gentlemen also placed 

 120 bags of pemmican, two boats, and two canoes at Captain Back's dis- 

 posal ; and they formally took the expedition under their especial protec- 

 tion by issuing a commission under their seal to Captain Back, as its com- 

 mander, thus furnishing that officer with credentials which empowered him 

 to levy contributions of provisions and stores, etc., at any or all the stations 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company. 



The expedition was to consist of two officers— the commander and a 



medical officer, who should also take up the duties of naturalist and eighteen 



men, two of whom should be boat carpenters. This force, it was proposed, 

 should sail to Canada, and, starting from Montreal, should proceed north- 

 ward, following the ordinary route of the fur traders of the Hudson's Bay 



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