determined not to send any more expeditions to the northern regions. Early in 1829, we find Commander Back offering his services to accompany Captain Hoppner on a voyage of discovery to the south pole.
Towards the close of 1832, strenuous exertions were made to equip an expedition, with the object of ascertaining the situation of Captain (now Sir John) Ross, who had left this country in the summer of 1829, to effect the long-sought north-west passage. A meeting was held at the office of the Royal Geographical Society (the Right Hon. Sir George Cockburn in the chair), by the friends of Captain Ross, at which it was agreed that he and his companions might be still alive, and possibly be extricated from their perilous situation by efforts to be made for their relief. This conclusion was founded on the extent of his preparations, which were calculated to meet the wants of his party for three years – on the quantity of stores which it is presumed he would find untouched in the wreck of the Fury, in Prince Regent’s Inlet[1], – and on the fact, that the crews of two Hudson’s Bay vessels, cast away on Marble Island, in 1769, subsisted nearly three years on what they could find, as related by Hearne, and quoted by Barrow, in his “Chronological History of Arctic Voyages.” His Majesty’s Government consented, on certain conditions, to furnish 2000l. towards forwarding the expedition; the sum of 5000l. was raised by subscription for the same purpose; the Hudson’s Bay Company gave directions to provide boats, &c. for the party free of expence, and gave Commander Back, who had volunteered to conduct the enterprise, a commission investing him with full command throughout their extensive territories, and unlimited authority over all their servants, the governor alone excepted.
Commander Back sailed from Liverpool, on his errand of humanity, Feb, 16th, 1833; accompanied by Mr. King, of the Royal College of Surgeons, in the capacity of surgeon
