604 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
have, unfortunately for the country, sprung from the loins of 
royalty, or on some visionary enthusiast, who may have projected 
a plan for carrying on the affairs of government by the power 
of steam. 
From this digression, imposed upon us, in a great degree, 
in self-defence, we return to the narrative. 
By the beginning of November, the abandonment of the 
Victory was reduced to a certainty; the ice in the bay was 
above a foot in thickness, and the men were for some time 
employed in keeping the groove open, in case the ice should 
part, for on the outside of the bay it was all in motion ; and 
far away to the north, a considerable extent of clear water 
was to be seen. The harbour it elf was nearly surrounded with 
very high land, except at the mouth and the head, where there 
was a very long lake, and at the further end a high hill. Beyond 
this hill there was another large lake, and then a tract of land 
of about a mile in breadth, beyond which, another lake extended 
itself to about the distance of a mile, and to this lake was given 
the name of Like Landon, out of compliment to one of England’s 
sweetest poets, although by her it will not perhaps be deemed 
a compliment to connect her name with an object so hard and 
frozen, so cold and cheerless ; at all events, it is not very 
probable that Landon Lake will ever again be visited by 
an admirer of poetic genius; and on the other hand, it is 
very probable, that the hydrographers of future times will be 
sorely puzzled to discover the latitude and longitude in which 
Lake Landon is to be placed. 
A high hill bounds Lake Landon to the southwest, at the 
base of which is the salt water. The whole distance from the 
ship in a straight line, being only about three miles, whereas 
to take a circuitous route of the same land, to the salt w T ater 
Bay at the head of Lake Landon, would not be less than from 
twelve to fifteen ; in fact, the whole of Prince Regent’s Inlet, 
from Felix Harbour to Awatootooak Bay , is distinguished by 
some very deep bays, and a very long continuance of low land, 
and at the furthermost extremity is studded with islands. It 
was at the head of Awatootooak Bay , that it was conjectured a 
