TRAGICAL DEATH OF SIMPSON. S77 



pleting the surveys which our ensuing voyage may leave unfinished. Indeed, 

 it is impossible at present to say what those unfinished parts may be, or 

 how much ; for though in our letter we state that we only anticipate reach- 

 ing the Great Fish Eiver— our original limit — yet if we can by any means 

 penetrate farther, you may rely upon it that we will do so. I rejoice that 

 you have resolved at all events upon pushing these discoveries to Hudson's 

 Bay ; and I gladly devote life and limb to their completion. I should 

 greatly prefer finishing the whole before going home to publish any part of 

 our travels. The pi'esent expedition fthat of the summer of 1839) must un- 

 doubtedly terminate with next voyage ; for our men, boats, goods, provisions 

 — all are worn out and exhausted. . . . Should another expedition 

 then be necessary, / would readily undertake to conduct it into the north 

 next year." Simpson then goes on to propose a plan for a final expedition 

 to be undertaken in the summer of 1840, for the purpose of completing the 

 survey of Boothia Felix, passing through Fury and Kecla Strait, and return- 

 ing south to Hudson's Bay by the east coast of North America. The suc- 

 cessful manner in which he conducted the expedition of 1839 led him natu- 

 rally to expect that Governor Simpson would have favourably considered 

 his proposed plan for a final expedition in 1840. We may readily imagine 

 then what must have been the effect, upon a man of his sensitive, not to say 

 excitable temperament, of the following reply to his proposals, which he re- 

 ceived when returning flushed with success from having not only reached the 

 mouth of Great Fish River, but discovered a considerable tract of coast-line 

 farther to the east : " We observe that, whether successful or otherwise in 

 accomplishing the survey to Great Fish Eiver, you are not prepared to con- 

 tinue the operations of the expedition next year, which is to be regretted, as 

 we were in hopes that, after that section of the coast had been surveyed, you 

 would have been in a condition to push your discoveries to the Straits of the 

 Fury and Hecla. That, however, we find cannot be done under any circum- 

 stances ; you may therefore repair to the depot, and take a winter's leave of 

 absence, if agreeable to you, by way of recruiting after your severe and 

 hazardous labours, during which I have no doubt plans will be matured for 

 completing this very difficult and interesting service, which cannot be 

 allowed to fall to the ground while a shadow of hope remains that there is a 

 possibility of accomplishing it." 



Thus was Simpson's eager offer to conduct another expedition to the 

 north not only ignored, but a most galling intimation made that the work 

 of completing the service which he had so brilliantly conducted so far 

 should be deputed to another ! The effect of this missive from the governor 

 seems to have driven Simpson to the brink of madness. He at once replied, 

 dating from Fort Simpson, October 25th, 1839, and stating that so far from 

 wishing to avail himself of the proffered leave of absence, it gave him the 

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