OF THE POLAR SEA. 



43 



ally drifted between the vessel's side and 

 the rocks just at the time he expected to 

 strike, to which he secured it until a breeze 

 sprang up and enabled him to pursue his 

 voyage. 



The governor acquainted me that he had 

 received information from the committee 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company of the 

 equipment of the expedition, and that the 

 officers would come out in their first ship. 

 In the evening Dr. Richardson, Mr. Hood, 

 and I, accompanied him to York Factory, 

 which we reached after dark ; it is distant 

 from the Flats seven miles. Early next 

 morning the honour of a salute was conferred 

 on the members of the expedition. 



Having communicated to the governor 

 the objects of the expedition, and that I 

 had been directed to consult with him and 

 the senior servants of the Company as to 

 the best mode of proceeding towards the 

 execution of the service, I was gratified by 

 his assurance that his instructions from the 

 committee directed that every possible as- 

 sistance should be given to forward our 



