LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
105 
from the Esquimaux, who came from the westward, that the passage 
undoubtedly exists, but that so long as the Hudson’s Bay Com- 
pany oppose the discovery, it will be in vain to attempt it. An 
anonymous writer, on discussing the premature return of Capt. 
Ross, alludes strongly to this opinion of Robson, and says there 
was something suspicious in the Captain of the Isabella giving a 
signal to return, without any just reason, when he was just in 
sight of the desired object, of which all the other officers com¬ 
plained; but on his return he ordered them to deliver up all their 
papers, in order that he might publish just what he pleased; by 
way of a climax, this most sapient and acute writer observes, 
“the ancient Phoenicians, when others began to follow" in their 
track, in order to share their trade, misled them, and even ran 
the risk of losing their own ships and also their lives.” 
The foregoing is merely given to show the extent to which 
the invention of some persons carried them, for the purpose of 
attaching odium and obliquy to the character of Capt. Ross. In 
the first place it accuses him by implication of allowing himself 
to be diverted from his duty, at the secret instigation of a third 
and highly interested party, for some purpose of private emolu¬ 
ment or aggrandizement; for we are warranted in drawing the 
conclusion, that no one will relinquish a certain benefit, if a 
greater were not offered to him. The charge, however, against 
the Hudson’s Bay Company carries with it its own refutation, 
for so far from that company being in any degree injured by the 
discovery of the north west passage, they would reap greater 
advantages from it, in a commercial point of view, than any 
other individuals. The discovery of the north west passage had 
never any direct relation with the commerce of the Hudson s Bay 
Company; in fact, it was sought to be discovered long before 
that company was in existence; its original intent being to ob¬ 
tain a shorter route to China and India, and thereby wrest from 
the Portuguese the sovereignty of the Indian trade, but it is now 
become rather a geographical problem, than an object of com¬ 
mercial rivalry, for even should it be discovered, it is admitted 
by all parties, that its difficulties and obstacles are of so formid- 
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