LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
4 27 
to embark readily in the undertaking*. The weather was beau¬ 
tifully fine, with a gentle breeze from the east. 
On the 18th, seven of the men returned, who had been assist¬ 
ing Commander Ross; but they were all in a deplorable state, 
being nearly blind. They left the two parties of six each, with 
provisions for one-and-twenty days, but almost every one of 
them complaining of sore eyes. It was the decided opinion of 
Mr. McDiarmid, that it was a species of ophthalmia, with which 
the men were afflicted ; and that it had its origin in the con¬ 
stant exposure of the eye to the glare of the snow; at the same 
time, that a number of fine spiculse wrere floating in the air, pro¬ 
duced by the influence of the sun on the snow, assisted by the 
high winds, which appeared to blow at this season with un¬ 
usual violence. 
Capt. Ross having expressed his intention to go to Shager- 
wak, although it did not transpire, for what particular benefit 
or purpose, preparations were accordingly made for the excur¬ 
sion. It is not to be supposed, that a personage of high rank 
and consideration, can undertake a journey, however short it 
may be, without a corresponding display of fuss and bustle. 
When the emperor of China visits one of his country houses, 
a few miles distant from his usual place of residence, he des¬ 
patches a messenger to the most distant parts of his empire, to 
inform his subjects, of the important step, which he is about to 
take; and we have only to look into the Court Journal of this 
country, to become immediately acquainted with the motions of 
a pack of individuals, whom chance in one of the most insane mo¬ 
ments of her life, has placed in the ranks of royalty; but, for 
whom the people have as great an affection, as a roman catholic 
for a Unitarian, a petitioning creditor for a bankrupt, or a rat 
for arsenic. It cannot, therefore, be supposed, but that some differ¬ 
ence was observable, in the preparations that were made for the 
excursion of Capt. Ross, as the commander or sovereign of the 
ship, than what were made for his subordinates: for, although 
his projected expedition was only one of a few hours, yet it 
was deemed necessary to provide against any contingency, that 
might happen, or that might prove injurious to the health and 
safety of the principal person concerned in it. 
