INTRODUCTION. 



JtllS Majesty's Government having determined upon sending an 

 Expedition from the Shores of Hudson's Bay by land, to explore 

 the Northern Coast of America, from the Mouth of the Copper- 

 Mine River to the eastward, I had the honour to be appointed to 

 this service by Earl Bathurst, on the recommendation of the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty ; who, at the same time, nominated 

 Doctor John Richardson, a Surgeon in the Royal Navy, Mr. George 

 Back, and Mr. Robert Hood, two Admiralty Midshipmen, to be 

 joined with me in the Expedition. My instructions in substance 

 informed me, that the main object of the Expedition was that of 

 determining the latitudes and longitudes of the Northern Coast of 

 North America, and the trending of that Coast from the Mouth of 

 the Copper-Mine River to the eastern extremity of that Con- 

 tinent; that it was left for me to determine, according to circum- 

 stances, whether it might be most advisable to proceed, at once, 

 directly to the northward till I arrived at the sea-coast, and proceed 

 westerly towards the Copper-Mine River ; or advance, in the first 

 instance, by the usual route to the Mouth of the Copper-Mine 

 River, and from thence easterly till I should arrive at the eastern 



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