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—_—_ »——. * On Saturday afternoon 2 special meeting of the Managing Committee for the Arctic Land Expedition under Capt. Back was held in the rooms of the Royal Cleographical Society, in Regent-street, for the purpose of determining on the coure to be adopted with respect to the further progress of that expedition, after the gratifying intelligence of the safety of Capt. Hoss and his crew. Although the notices of the intended meeting were only de livered on Friday morning, there was a numerous attendance of the members of the committee. The chair was taken by Admiral Grye. The first question raised was, what should be done in respect of Capt. Back's further progress. Mr. Spence (the brother-in-law of Captain Ross) was of opi nion that it was incumbent upon the committee, ox trustees on behalf of the public, who had so liberally subscribed towards the expedition, now that the primary object was so happily and so unexpectedly accomplished, not to suffer any further expense to be incurred beyond what was necessary for the recall of Captain Back and his associates, and the remunerating chem for the perils and hardships they might have undergone. On the contrary, it was urged that it was well understood by the public before the expedition quitted this country, that, in the events of no tracey being discoverable of Captain Ross and his crew, or of its being ascertained that he had been rescued by other means, the funds sould be appropriated to the subsidiary purpose of enabling Captain Back to make a geographical survey, particularly of the coast of the unexplored regions of America lying within the Arctic Circle. Mr. Spence urged, in reply, that those who contributed in supplying the funds for the enterprise were actuated, for the most part, more by feelings of humanity than by considerations of a scientific nature, and he therefore thought, before the remaining funds were allowed to be appropriated , the latter purpose alone, it was but common justice to the subscribers to convene a public meeting, and thus afford them an opportunity of express ing their sentiments on the subject. For his own part, he was desirous that the important design of surveying the coast should be accomplished, such would readily give his voice in its favour, but he thought that, before these funds were go applied, the consent of the majority of the subscribers ought to be obtained. A majority of the committee present dissented from the view thus taken of the nature of the trust under which they held pos session of the sums subscribed, and it was strongly urged that Captain Back must by this time have penetrated as far into the unexplored country as to render the further prosecuting his en terprise for scientific purposes a source of comparatively inconsi derable expense. After a protracted conversation, it was resolved that means should be adopted for conveying to Captain Back the gratifying intelligence which had reached this country, and directing him to confine himself for the future to an exploration of the territory for scientific purposes. it was also agreed that Captain M‘Cormick should commu nicate immediately with the Hadson's Bay Company, in order to ascertain the bost means of forwarding an express to Captain Back. The necessity of this latter course was superseded by the arrival of Mr. Pelly, the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, im mediately after the resolution had been passed. Mr. Perly expressed his opinion that the news of the safety of Captain Ross and crew which had reached this country was not of that conclusive character to justify the instant recall of Captain Back. He had no doubt of its being practicable to overtake Captain Back before he gained his winter quarters, but he thought it would be unwise to send off a Messenger for that purpose till Captain Ross arrived, or the news of his safety was placed beyond all doubt. What he would suggest was, that he (Mr. Pelly) should write that night to an agent of the Hudson's Bay Company at Montreal, directing him to procure light cancel, and imake the necessary preparations for despatching an express after Captain Back on the instant that further orders migght be received. . The advice of Mr. Pelly met with general approval, and it was agreed that it should be adopted. A conversation afterwards took place as to how the information received could be relied on, and it seemed to be the general opinion that it was scarcely possible to suppose that a master and crew of a vesecl would all concur in circulating an account, professing to give various details, and which, if false, was a most cruel hoax.
Newspaper Details
Albion and the Star
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, Oct 21, 1833
Page 4
Full Page
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CA 25 Jul 2026
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