not the character of the Navy been habitually maintained at, perhaps,
the highest level which human exertion is capable of reaching.
To produce this generous spirit, however, and to preserve it entire
when once created, there was required, on the part of the Koyal F amily,
some signal example of personal sacrifice to the popular service of the
country. And although it would be very presumptuous in any one to
pretend to estimate the advantages which the profession has derived,
in our own days, from Your Majesty having condescended to become
one of its working members, there can be no doubt, that in all future
times, the British Navy will retain the salutary impression, and cherish
the remembrance of this high honour.
May it please Your Majesty,
Your Majesty’s
most dutiful servant,
most grateful
and most faithful subject.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BEECHEY.
IN T RO D U C T IO N .
T h e discovery of a north-west passage to the Pacific had for some
years occupied the attention of the British government and of the
public at large, and several brilliant attempts had been made both by
sea and by land to ascertain the practicability of its navigation, which,
though conducted with a zeal and perseverance that will transmit them
to the latest posterity, had, from insurmountable difficulties, failed of
SUCCGSS
In 1824, His late Majesty having commanded that another attempt
should be made by way of Prince Regent’s Inlet, an expedition was
equipped-the last that sailed upon this interesting service-and the
command again conferred upon Captain Parry, whose exploits have so
deservedly earned him the approbation of his country. At the same
time Captain Franklin, undaunted by his former perilous expedition
and by the magnitude of the contemplated undertaking, having, with
the p/oniptness and perseverance peculiar to his character, proposed to
connect his brilliant discoveries at the mouth of the Coppermine River
with the furthest known point on the western side of America, by
descending the Mackenzie River, and, with the assistance of his intrepid
associate, Dr. Richardson, by coasting the northern shore m opposite
directions towards the two previously discovered points, His late Majesty
was also pleased to command that this expedition should be simultaneously
undertaken. ■■ i *1, .
From the nature of these services it was nearly impossible that
either of these expeditious could arrive at the open sea in Beerings
Strait, without having nearly, if not wholly, exhausted their resources;