294 EXPEDITIONS OF PARRY AND ROSS— 1827-BS. 



subject next my heart. If you will accept my services, I am ready to go 

 with you, in an^ capacity, and will make over all I am worth in the world 

 for the advancement of your object. I promise you most implicit obedience ; 

 and will never offer an opinion unless required. Be assured of my devotion 

 to the great and noble undertaking." Captain George Back, the tried and 

 trustworthy companion of Franklin, also offered equally disinterested ser- 

 vice. Meeting Captain Ross walking in Parliament Street, London, Back 

 begged to be put upon the expedition. " Will you take me on any terms ? " 

 he asked; " I will go as draughtsman, or anything you chose to make me." 

 Offers like these are in themselves the most valuable testimony to the 

 character of the famous seaman to whom they were made/ as well as to the 

 spirit and courage of the naval service. In the meantime, however, Captain 

 Ross had selected his nephew, Lieutenant James Clark Ross, who sailed in 

 all Parry's expeditions between 1818 and 1827, as his second in command, 

 and there was no accommodation for gentlemen-volunteers. 



The " Victory " sailed from Woolwich on the 23d May 1827. From the 

 first day the steam-engine was felt to be a failure. Primitive and rude in 

 design, it was ineffective for speed, and had been so carelessly put together, 

 and was constructed of material so imperfect, that it was continually getting 

 out of working order. It seemed " as if it had been predetermined that not 

 a single atom of all this machinery should be aught but a source of vexa- 

 tion, obstruction, and evil." The smaller boiler was landed as useless 

 lumber, on the Irish coast, on the 9th June — and the whole of the removable 

 machinery of this detestable engine was thrown out, with execrations and 

 " curses not loud but deep," on the shore of Regent's Inlet, to allow the 

 explorers additional space before settling down comfortably in their first 

 winter quarters. 



With the tedious catalogue of small misadventures with which Ross 

 burdens the narrative of his departure from the British shores, we cannot 

 here concern ourselves. It is enough to state that after a series of minor 

 misfortunes which severely tried Ross's patience — and completely exhausts 

 that of the readers of his " Narrative " — the " Victory " departed from 

 the Irish coast in the middle of June, and, with a fair wind, ran in a fort- 

 night to Cape Farewell. Disco Island was left behind at near the close of 

 July, and early in August Captain Ross found himself at the entrance 

 to Lancaster Sound. He had now reached the spot at which, on his 

 former voyage, he had resolved to return, believing as he then did that 

 there was no westward passage through the sound, but that an immense 

 range of mountains landlocked the inlet. On August 7th land was seen on 

 both sides of Lancaster Sound, and the course of the " Victory " was about 

 mid-way between the two coasts. By observation at noon the latitude was 

 found to be 73° 50', the longitude about 74° 42' W. Good progress west- 



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