BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

Dear Sir,
LETTERS 145
LETTER No. 13.
MacKenzie's River, April 'lOth, 1823.
Labouring under a severe fit of sickness which has much Projected
d d ", bl' b' Artic voy-
"epresse my SPUlLS, 0 Iges me to eg you WIll have the good- ages.
ness to forgive me should I fail in not communicating the
intelligence which, I am convinced, would be most acceptable to
you, and that I had most at heart to relate, touching the Land
Arctic expedition and the new turn which affairs have oflate taken
in this country. The solitary corner from whence I date the present,
has become an object of the most serious consideration of the
'York Factory Council, and important advantages expected to be
disclosed by a number of enterprises set afloat for the discovery
of every unknown parts of the mountains. Indeed, such is the
spirit and avidity exhibited by the Council, that it is believed
'these discoveries will be extended as far as the Russian settlements
on the Pacific Ocean. A party is likewise to leave Churchill
Factory this Spring, consisting of fourteen persons including
two Gentlemen, and proceed along the sea coast in boats, and, if
necessary, to winter with the Esquimaux with whom they may
'happen to fall in, and then the ensuing season, to resume the
prosecution of their survey and endeavour to come out in Great
'Slave Lake. One of the gentlemen selected to accompany the
'Party is ac}mowledged to possess a sufficient knowledge of
astronomy to ascertain the longitudes and latitudes of the
different countries through which they shall have to travel.
I hope and wish they may not be exposed to the same diffi- Disclosures
on Frank-
·.culties and hardships which proved so fatal to the Land Artic liu's Expedition.
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