The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-30 00:00:00

FATE OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

York Factory, Nov. 7,18.36.
My dear King,—Here I am once again in the solitudes
of the " Far West," cheerfully taking up the pen to write
to you according to promise. London life is over ! Where
now are the snug parties—where the theatres—your reflec-
tion—and the rest ? All gone—sunk into endless night.
Such are the strange vicissitudes of this fitful world.
When I parted with you at London Bridge I little anti-
cipated the heavy forfeit I was about to pay for a winter
in London. But to my tale. The voyage down to Strom-
ness was as gentle and propitious as Cleopatra herself could
have wished ; but from that place to this a more tedious,
perilous, and disagreeable one was never known. Heavy
gales of contrary winds opposed our passage across the
Atlantic; and at the month of Hudson Strait we encoun-
tered interminable fields of massive ice, among which we
w‘ro involved and knocked about for upwards of two
months, with slender hopes of over being able to extricate
ourselves. The passengers and crew (95) had already been
put upon half rations, when, happily, the Equinoxes con.-
ing on, we succeeded in forcing a passage through, and
ultimately reached this place about the latter end of Sep-
tember. All the vessels received more or less darn-
age in the "strait," and yet their misadventures did
not cease. The Rupert was barely able, with great
difficulty, to land her passengers, when she broke from her
anchors, ran out to sea, and has net since been heard of
Another, the Esquimaux, was ordered to " Churchill" to
winter, and had Mr. Lewis on board, on his way to take
charge of that " Fort." She had not, however, proceeded
far, when she encountered a violent storm, which drove
her upon the coast near Cape Tatnam. She, too, ulti-
mately drifted out to sea, and was lost to sight.
Such has been the unhappy conclusion 'of a voyage
so auspiciously begun. The place of my destination
is Cumberland Home, an appointment with which I
have every reason to be pleased. My family have already
preceded me hither, and to join them I'll have to travel
the whole distance on snow shoes, which I may add to
the other evils resulting from my journey to London.
Great changes have happened here since you left. That
incomprehensible disease, of which you heard so much
While here, bids fair to make the place untenable. It
returned last spring with redoubled violence. All your
friends in the interior are just as yon left them.
New, my dear Sing, I long to learn how "affairs in
general " have prospered with you,—whether you still
fondly cherish your Arctic journey—whether subscriptions
are fast filling up—and whether everything is cut and dry
for a start. There are many here who would rejoice to
see you among them again and again ; but I fear all will
not do unless the Hudson Bay Company sanction the un-
dertaking. There is a report, indeed, that they themselves
intend to prosecute it next year. Peter Taylor is at Lac
la Pluie, and fully expected you. Both he, as well as your
other companions in adventure, are high in your praise,
while Captain— is the theme of their aversion and con-
tempt.

As no ships return from the wintry this season, this
letter will reach you via New York ; and, I fear, will cost
a heavy postage, without affording any adequate return.
Bnt I have fulfilled your wish. Have you heard anything
of Heron, or Stuart, and what is doing in the political
world ? Write me all this, and in return you shall have
from me all yon may want, from a scull down to a peri-
winkle ! I have hardly room to say that I always am,
my dear King, yours most truly,
To Dr. King, M.D.

CHAS. Ross.

Great SlaTe Lake, July 2, 1836.

My dear King,—Both your letters of last September came
duly to hand, and I was extremely happy to learn of your
welfare. May you long enjoy that
_blessing is my sincere
wish.

Your determination to accomplish the discovery of the
North West Passage inspires me with the hope of seeing you
the current season, and if your plans admit of your coming
this length to pass the ensuing winter, it will be to me most
agreeable. Even if the upper establishment* should be
your residence, some very calamitous event 'must inter-
vene to prevent me from going to see you.
It may, perhaps, be in favour of your enterprise, the
late intimacy that has taken place between the Chipe-
wyan and Esquimaux tribes, in the course of the last sum-
mer, on the Valew-ee-dezza.t Amongst the latter there
were many inhabitants of the Thlevr-ee-cho ;I: but the ma-
jority were those that frequent Churchill annually, to
prove which they produced the articles they obtained frerz
the Hudson Bay Company's stores in the way of trade, and
readily exchanged the same with their guests, by way of
cementing their friendship. There can be no doubt of a
successful issue to your undertaking, of which I feel so
confident that I hail with pleasure tha moment that will
bring you once more among us, as I am equally certain
that every attention will he directed to promote your views
and be assured none shall wore willingly contribute thereto
them your humble servant.
I have not succeeded in obtaining the skeleton of a
moose, but I have bright hopes of getting it as well as a
skeleton of the musk ox by the next spring ; and if you
do not make your appearance, I shall endeavour to for-
ward them, to England to your addiess.
I am much obliged to you for your kind wishes to my-
self and family, they are, thank God, in the enjoyment of
health, and unite their wishes to mine for your welfare
and prosperity.—Believe me, my dear King, your sincere
friend, (Signed) ALRX. R. ki`Luou.
To Dr. King, M.D.

Norway House, 12th August, 1836.

Dear Sir,—l was very happy to receive your letter last
spring, when I arrived at Norway House, always expecting
to see you here again. I was here for about a month and
a-half, looking earnestly for your arrival. I was at last
obliged to join with the expedition again,JJ and I am now
going to Red River, where I shall remain until the first
ice, and then travel to Athabaska to join with the rest.
bil`Kay and Sinclair have joined it. Of the birds and in-
sects you requested me to preserve for you, I have got as
many as I could. _ _

Dear Sir, I should have been very happy to havo seen
you here, and joined with yen with all my heart, but since
it cannot be, I therefore must leave you, with my best
wishes for your temporal and eternal welfare.—l remain
your sincere friend and humble servant,
(Signed) I PETER TAYLOR.
To Dr. King, M.D.

Athabasca Fort, 28th May, 1837.

Dear Sir,—l was very sorry to hear that you could not
got into the country last spring, for I was atNorway House
waiting till you showld be there ; and when I saw you
were not coming, I was obliged to enter into the service of
the expedition. But I was most sorry when I received your
last letter that you sent by the last ship—though I hope
I shall have the pleasure of seeing you in the north if you
do come.—Your over true friend,
(Signed) PETER TAYLOR.

To Dr. King, M.D.