22 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Commander of the Wear. The pleasure we felt in welcoming the 

 latter gentleman can easily be imagined, when it is considered what 

 reason we had for the apprehension that he and his crew had been 

 numbered with the dead. We learnt that one of the larger masses 

 of ice had providentially drifted between the vessel's side and the 

 rocks just at the time he expected to strike, to which he secured her 

 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 equip- 

 ment of the Expedition, and that the officers would come out in the 

 first ship. In the evening Dr. Richardson, Mr. Hood, and I, accom- 

 panied the Governor to York Factory, which we reached after dark ; 

 it is distant from the Flats seven miles. Early next morning the 

 Governor conferred the honour of a salute on the members of the 

 Expedition. 



Having communicated to the Governor the objects of the Expe 

 dition, 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 

 assistance should be given to forward our progress, and that he should 

 feel peculiar pleasure in performing this part of his duty. He intro- 

 duced me at once to Messrs. Charles, Swaine, and Snodie, masters 

 of districts, who, from long residence in the country, were per- 

 fectly acquainted with the different modes of travelling, and the ob- 

 structions which might be anticipated. At the desire of these gentle- 

 men, I drew up a series of questions on the points on which we re- 

 quired information ; to which they had the kindness to return very 

 explicit and satisfactory answers two days afterwards ; and on re- 

 ceiving them I requested the Governor to favour me with his senti- 

 ments on the same subject in writing, which he delivered to me on 

 the following day. 



