and there was not a sufficiency of willows to make a fire to dry them. Mr. Back, with three of the Canadians, was now sent forward in search of relief from the Copper Indians; while Captain Franklin, with the rest of the party, moved on as well as their extreme weakness would permit. As yet none of their number had actually perished; but now some of the Canadians began to drop behind, from the united severities of cold, hunger, fatigue, and despondency. The English party were borne up by a firmer tone of animal spirits, increased in no small degree by the influence of religious feelings and considerations. Mr. Hood's weakness, however, was such, that he was obliged to be left behind, in company with Dr. Richardson and Hepburn, while Captain Franklin bent his course, with infinite difficulty, towards Fort Enterprise. His party was soon diminished to four persons besides himself; the rest having sunk through fatigue; while their companions were reduced to the dreadful necessity of abandoning them in this forlorn condition. On reaching the Fort, how bitter was their grief and disappointment at finding it wholly destitute of supplies! "There was no deposit of provision, no trace of the Indians, no letter from Mr. Wentzel to point out where the Indians might be found." "The temperature was now between 15 deg. and 20 deg. below zero." Two days after their arrival Belanger came with a note from Mr. Back, stating that he had seen no trace of the Indians. Here, then, they remained from the 12th of October to the 7th of November, in a state of the most afflicting destitution, feeding on deer skins which they found buried under the snow, several of which were putrid, and scarcely eatable even by men suffering the extremity of famine. A very few days more must have sealed the destruction of the whole party, when some Indians, whom Mr. Back had at length met with and informed of their distrésses, most providentially came to their relief: but, of eighteen Canadians who had accompanied the expedition, not more than five or six seem to have survived their sufferings. On the evening of the 29th of October, while Captain Franklin and his wretched companions were seated round their fire, they were suddenly surprized by the approach of visitors, whom they at first hailed as a party of Indians, coming to their relief, but presently found to be Dr. Richardson and Hepburn, the only poor remains of the party who had been left in the rear. The account of their meeting is affecting beyond expression. The "We were all shocked at beholding the emaciated countenances of the Doctor and Hepburn, as they strongly evidenced alteration in our appearance was equally their extremely debilitated state. distressing to them, for since the swellings had subsided we were little more than skin and bone. The Doctor particularly remarked the sepulchral tone of our voices, which he requested us to make more cheerful if possible, unconscious that his own partook of the same key. "Hepburn having shot a partridge, which was brought to the house, the Doctor tore out the feathers, and having held it to the fire a few minutes, divided it into seven portions. Each piece was ravenously devoured by my companions, as it was the first morsel of flesh any of us had tasted for thirty-one days, unless indeed the small gristly particles which we found occasionally adhering to the pounded bones may be termed flesh. Our spirits were reviyed by this small supply; and the Doctor endeavoured to raise them still higher by the prospect of Hepburn's being able to kill a deer next day, as they had seen, and even fired at, several near the house. He endeavoured, too, to rouse us to some attention to the comfort of our apartment, and particularly to roll up, in the day, our blankets, which (expressly for the convenience of Adam and Samandre) we had been in the habit of leaving by the fire where we lay on them. The Doctor having brought his Prayer-book and Testament, some Prayers and Psalms, and portions of Scripture, appropriate to our situation, were read, and we retired to bed." Vol. 11. pp. 324–326. Ꮓ ? Amidst this scene of calamity, it is truly delightful and edifying to observe the steady piety of the English party, and the efficacy of right religious feelings and principles, in enabling them to hold up under a pressure of suffering which overwhelmed those who had nothing better to lean upon than their animal strength and spirits. The Canadians had an advantage over the English, with respect to bodily strength, and the habit of being exposed to the hardships and severities of a NorthAmerican winter. Yet they all sank, as much through the influence of despondency, as through cold, hunger, and fatigue; while their less robust companions weathered and outlived the storm. Some may be disposed to ascribe this to the greater fortitude inspired by superior reflection and intelligence. We attribute it far more to the operation of religious hopes, feelings, and principles, kept alive by frequent acts of devotion, and displaying themselves in a spirit of profound resignation to the will of God, attended with a cheering trust in the continued protection of his good Providence. lives, and dwelling with hope on our future Dr. Richardson's narrative is distinguished by a mixture of pious reflection and resolute conduct, under circumstances the most trying to a benevolent and religious mind. His pious feelings may be collected from the following short passage. Through the extreme kindness and forethought of a lady, the party, previous to leaving London, had been furnished with a small collection of religious books, of which we still retained two or three of the most portable, and they proved of incalculable benefit to us. We read portions of them to each other as we lay in bed, in addition to the morning and evening service, and found that they inspired us on each perusal with so strong a sense of the omnipresence of a beneficent God, that our situation, even in these wilds, appeared no longer destitute; and we conversed, not only with calmness, but with cheerfulness, detailing with unrestrained confidence the past events of our Dr. Richardson's resolute conduct, under very delicate and difficult circumstances, will appear from the following afflicting statements. On Sunday, October 20th, Mr. Hood, in a state of extreme debility, which must have terminated his life within a few days, was sitting before the tent, at the fire side, arguing with Michel, an Iroquois, and the only American now in their company. Dr. Richardson and Hepburn, who were at some little distance, were surprised at the report of a gun; and on coming up, found poor Hood lifeless, having been shot through the head. All the circumstances concurred to fasten suspicion upon Michel, as the murderer; and his subsequent behaviour served to confirm that suspicion. In short, the proof of his guilt may be said to have amounted to a moral certainty. We cannot help interrupting this narrative for a moment, in order to notice the pleasing symptoms of Mr. Hood's piety, at the moment when he was called out of the world. Bickersteth's Scripture Help was found lying open beside the body, as if it had fallen from his hand; and it is probable that he was reading it at the instant of his death. But to *We cannot pass over the mention of Mr. Bickersteth's name without strongly recommending to our readers a little work lately given to the public from his pen, entitled, "Practical Remarks on the Prophecies." This tractate states, with great moderation and knowledge of Scripture, the general bearings of sacred prophecy, particularly in reference to a question which has of late much interested many devout minds; namely, the due application of scriptural predictions to the case of Jews and Gentiles. If any of our readers, in perusing Mr. Faber's sermon before the Jews Society, or any similar line of argument, should have been inclined to feel any degree of chilliness creep over them, as respects their support of missions to the heathen, they have but to return to Michel-This man's be haviour continued to excite the most reasonable alarms in the minds of our two surviving English travellers; and Dr. Richardson soon found himself reduced to the dreadful necessity of taking away the life of a fellow-creature, in order to preserve his own, and that of his companion. The following is his defence of the conduct which he pursued on this occasion. "Thick snowy weather and a head wind prevented us from starting the following day; but on the morning of the 23d we set out, carrying with us the remainder of the singed robe. Hepburn and Michel had each a gun; and I carried a small pistol, which Hepburn had loaded for me. In the course of the march Michel alarmed us much by his gestures and conduct, was constantly muttering to himself, expressed an unwillingness to go to the Fort, and tried to persuade me to go to the southward to the woods, where he said he could maintain himself all the winter by killing deer. In consequence of this behaviour, and the expression of his countenance, I requested him to leave us, and to go to the southward by himself. This proposal increased his ill-nature, he threw out some obscure hints of freeing himself from all restraint on the morrow; and I overheard him muttering threats against Hepburn, whom he openly accused of having told stories against him. He also, for the first time, assumed such a tone of superiority in addressing me, as evinced that he considered us to be completely in his power; and he gave vent to several expressions of hatred towards the White people, or, as he termed us, in the idiom of the voyagers, the French, some of whom, he said, had killed and eaten his uncle and two of his relations. In short, taking every circumstance of his conduct into consideration, I came to the conclusion, that he would attempt to destroy us on the first opportunity that offered, and that he had hitherto abstained from doing so from his ignorance of the way to the Fort, but that he would never peruse Mr. Bickersteth's pages to warm them again into new ardour and animation. There is, however, nothing controversial in this little work, which, like all the author's other publications, is devout, candid, scriptural, and directly adapted "to the use of edifying." suffer us to go thither in company with him. In the course of the day he had several times remarked that we were pursuing the same course that Mr. Franklin keeping towards the setting sun he could was doing when he left him, and that by find his way himself. Hepburn and I were not in a condition to resist even an open attack, nor could we by any device escape from him. Our united strength was far inferior to his, and, beside his gun, he was armed with two pistols, an Indian bayonet and a knife. In the afternoon, coming to. a rock on which there was some tripe de roche, he halted, and said he would gather it whilst we went on, and that he would soon overtake us. Hepburn and I were now left together for the first time since with several material circumstances which Mr. Hood's death, and he acquainted me he had observed of Michel's behaviour, and which confirmed me in the opinion, his death, and he offered to be the instruthat there was no safety for us except in I was thoroughly convinced of the necesment of it. I determined, however, as sity of such a dreadful act, to take the whole responsibility upon myself; and, immediately upon Michel's coming up, I put an end to his life by shooting him through the head with a pistol. Had my own life alone been threatened, I would not have purchased it by such a measure; with the protection of Hepburn's, a man, but I considered myself as intrusted also who, by his humane attentions and devotedness, had so endeared himself to me, that I felt more anxiety for his safety than for my own. Michel had gathered no tripe de roche; and it was evident to us that he had halted for the purpose of putting his gun in order, with the intention of attacking us, perhaps, whilst we were in the act of encamping." Vol. II. pp. 341-343. scientious man, must have experienced no ordinary struggle of mind before he could bring himself to perform it. We cannot conclude our extracts from this most interesting Narrative, without affording room for the following passage, from Captain Franklin, tending to shew the influence of bodily weakness, in producing that sort of mental imbecility which displays itself in a childish waywardness and pettishness of disposition. It may be useful to invalids in putting them on their guard against their infirmities, and to those around them in teaching them to bear with it. The former part of the extract is curious, as illustrating the strange vagaries of a state of sleep. "I may here remark, that owing to our loss of flesh, the hardness of the floor, from which we were only protected by a blanket, produced soreness over the body, and especially those parts on which the weight rested in lying, yet to turn ourselves for relief was a matter of toil and were willing to receive assistance, although the task was disproportioned to our strength. On one of these occasions Hepburn was so convinced of this waywardness that he exclaimed, "Dear me, if we are spared to return to England, I wonder if we shall recover our understandings.'" Vol. II. pp. 354-356. We must omit noticing Mr. Back's narrative. It is, like the rest, a tale of woe. The hardships he encountered may be judged of from the following short remark. "We halted at five among some small brushwood, and made a sorry meal of an old pair of leathern trowsers, and some swamp tea." Captain Franklin's party left Fort Enterprise on the 16th of November, nine days after the arrival of the Indians to their relief; and from this period to the 26th of the same month, they continued gradually improving, under the care of their Copper-coloured friends, who behaved towards them with a kindness and attention that could hardly have been exceeded by natives of the most 'civilized countries. On . the 26th, they reached Akaitcho's habitation, and on the 11th of December arrived at Fort Providence. "Our sensations,' Franklin, "on being once more in says Captain a difficulty. However, during this periòd,. and indeed all along after the acute pains of hunger, which lasted but three or four days, had subsided, we generally enjoyed the comfort of a few hours' sleep. The dreams which, for the most part, but not always, accompanied it, were usually (though not invariably) of a pleasant character, being very often about the enjoy comfortable dwelling, will be much ments of feasting. In the day-time we better imagined than any language fell into the practice of conversing on comof mine can describe them. Our mon and light subjects, although we some- first act was again to return our times discussed with seriousness and ear- grateful praises to the Almighty for nestness topics connected with religion. the manifold instances of his mercy We generally avoided speaking directly of towards us." The speech and beour present sufferings, or even of the pros-haviour of Akaitcho, on finding himpect of relief. I observed, that in propor- self disappointed of his expected tion as our strength decayed, our minds exhibited symptoms of weakness, evinced recompence, in consequence of the by a kind of unreasonable pettishness with non-arrival of the supplies, is really each other. Each of us thought the other too admirable to be passed over weaker in intellect than himself, and more without notice. in need of advice and assistance. So trifling a circumstance as a change of place, recommended by one as being warmer and more comfortable, and refused by the other from a dread of motion, frequently called forth fretful expressions which were no sooner uttered than atoned for, to be repeated perhaps in the course of a few minutes. The same thing often occurred when we endeavoured to assist each other in carrying wood to the fire: none of us "He spoke of this circumstance as a disappointment, indeed, sufficiently severe to himself, to whom his band looked up for the protection of their interests, but without attaching any blame to us. The world goes badly,' he said: 'all are poor, you are poor, the traders appear to be poor, I and my party are poor likewise;" and since the goods have not come in, we cannot have them. I do not regret having supplied you with provisions, for a Copper Indian can never permit White men to suffer from want of food on his lands, without flying to their aid. I trust, however, that we shall, as you say, receive what is due next autumn; and at all events,' he added, in a tone of good humour, it is the first time that the White people have been indebted to the Copper Indians.' We assured him the supplies should certainly be sent to him by the autumn, if not before. He then cheerfully received the small present we made to himself; and, although we could give a few things only to those who had been most active in our service, the others, who, perhaps, thought themselves equally deserving, did not murmur at being left out in the distribution. Akaitcho afterwards expressed a strong desire that we should represent the character of his nation in a favourable light to our countrymen. I know,' he Surely, if minds like that of Akaitcho should continue permanently in their present low condition, as to moral and intellectual improvement, it must be more owing to our neglect of teaching and good example than to any want of a capacity for receiving instruction in the subjects of savage life. The travellers continued at Fort Providence for more than five months. This long interval nearly restored them to their accustomed health and vigour. About the latter end of May they embarked for Fort Chipewyan, and thence proceeded to York Factory, which they reached by the 14th of July, 1822, after an absence of nearly three years. During this period they had journeyed, by land and water, 5550 miles. Throughout the whole of this arduous, and, in the end, most calamitous expedition, the five Englishmen appear to have discharged their duty in the most exemplary manner. We have already more than once had occasion to introduce Captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson to the reader's notice. Dr. Richardson represents Mr. Hood as 66 a young officer of distinguished and varied talents and application, whose loss would be felt and duly appreciated by the eminent characters under whose command he had served; though the calmness with which he contemplated the termination of a life of uncommon promise, and the patience and fortitude with which he sustained unparalleled bodily sufferings could be known only to the companions of his distresses." Respecting the merits of Mr. Back, as he was a survivor, facts of course speak more forcibly than words. But we cannot withhold our feeble tribute of applause and admiration from the honest seaman, John Hepburn. The vigour of his constitution, united to his hardy and robust habits of life, enabled him to hold up for a longer period than most other individuals of the party. And he made a noble use of this advantage. He was foremost in encountering perils and hardships, and always at hand to administer to the relief of his companions. His courage and fortitude seem to have inspired the whole party, from time to time, with fresh resolution. Without him the Canadian voyagers might have refused to embark on the Polar Sea. At the same time, he appears to have been free from all improper forwardness and pretension, perfectly submissive to his superiors, and disposed to distinguish himself in no other way than by a patient, persevering industry, in the discharge of his arduous and painful duties, and by a constant serenity and good humour under the pressure of the severest sufferings. The common seamen of the British navy never probably could boast of a greater ornament to the service than John Hepburn. We have now, we hope, given our readers a tolerable sketch of this interesting and important narrative. Captain Franklin offers an apology |