OF THE POLAR SEA. 93 



we were compelled to wait for the appear- 

 ance of the Isle a la Crosse canoes under 

 Mr. Clark. 



On the 8th Mr. Williams embarked for 

 York Fort. He gave us a circular letter 

 addressed to the chiefs of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's Posts, directing them to 

 afford us all possible assistance on our 

 route, and he promised to exert every 

 endeavour to forward the Esquimaux inter- 

 preter, upon whom the success of our 

 journey so much depended. He was ac- 

 companied by eight boats. With him we 

 sent our collections of plants, minerals, 

 charts, and drawings, to be transmitted to 

 England by the Hudson's Bay ships. After 

 this period, our detention, though short, 

 cost us more vexation than the whole time 

 we had passed at Cumberland House, be- 

 cause every hour of the short summer was 

 | invaluable to us. On the 11th Mr. Clark 

 arrived, and completed our crews. — He 

 brought letters from Mr. Franklin, dated 

 March 28th, at Fort Chipewyan, where he 

 was engaged procuring hunters and inter- 



