710 
APPENDIX. 
and as two out of the three, who died the four and a half years, were 
cut off early in the voyage by diseases not peculiar to the climate, only 
one man can be said to have perished. 
Mr. Mc’Diarmid, the surgeon, who had been several voyages to these 
regions, did justice to the high recommendation I received of him : he 
was successful in every amputation and operation which he performed, 
and wonderfully so in his treatment of the sick ; and I have no hesita¬ 
tion in adding, that he would be an ornament to his Majesty’s service. 
Commander Ross, Mr. Thom, and myself, have indeed, been serving 
without pay, but, in common with the crew, have lost our all, which 
1 regret the more, because it puts it totally out of my power ade¬ 
quately to remunerate my fellow-sufferers, whose case 1 cannot but 
recommend for their Lordships’ consideration. 
We have, however, the consolation that the results of this Expedi¬ 
tion have been conclusive, and to science highly important; and may 
be briefly comprehended in the following words : the discovery of the 
Gulph of Boothia, the continent and isthmus of Boothia Felix, and a 
vast number of islands, rivers, and lakes: the undeniable establishment, 
that the N.E. point of America extends to the 74th degree of north 
latitude. Valuable observations of every kind, but particularly on the 
magnet, and to crown all, we have had the honour of placing the illus¬ 
trious name of our most gracious sovereign, William the Fourth, on the 
true position of the Magnetic Pole. 
I cannot conclude this Letter, Sir, without acknowledging the im_ 
portant advantages we obtained from the valuable publications of Sir 
Edward Parry and Sir John Franklin, and the communication kindly 
made to us by these distinguished officers before our departure from 
England. 
But the glory of this enterprise is entirely due to Him, whose divine 
favour has been most especially manifested towards us, who guided 
and directed all our steps, who mercifully provided effectual means for 
our preservation, and who, even after the devices and inventions of 
man had utterly failed, crowned our humble endeavours with complete 
success 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
John Ross , 
Captain R. N. 
Your committee have found the statements contained in the 
above Letter confirmed, as far as they have been examined, by 
