The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-11-10 00:00:00

ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION.

The following extract of a letter from an Officer
attached to the Arctic Land Expedition, has been
politely handed to us by a Gentleman of this county
of the highest respectability; and although no name
is attached to the document, the reader may rest as-
sured that it is perfectly genuine.—(Dtunfriee Courier.)
" North Miseries, lat. 64.28. N. long. 113.4. W.
"The public papers have probabl/ informed you of
the arrival of the Northern Laud expedition in Had-
son's Bahia September, 1819, after an escape from ship•

ft

THE

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wreck. It proceeded from thence to CumbOrlanf heater'
one of the Hudson's Bay Company's settlement:4 nearly
half-way acrossthe Continent, this being considered the
best route in order to reach the sea at the mouth of the
Copper Mine River. Here the winter of 1819 was
passed. The depth of snow and the severity of the cold
during the almost interminable winter in this country,
precluded the possibility of conveying heavy stores, as
only One-third of the year can be employed with any ad-
vantage to the traveller.
" The time, however, was not lost : we employed it
in making drawing of animals, birds, Ike., charts, meteo-
rological observations, and collections of specimens,
which we transmitted to England in the ensuing spring.
" In June, 1820, we set forward in canoes, manned by
Canadians. The extreme heat of the abort summer, the
persecutions of noxious insects, and occasional want of
food, are the usual concomitants in these voyages ; ob-
stacles insignificant in comparison with the formidable
difficulties which we have yet to overcome. On the
29th July, we arrived at the north side of the Slave
Lake. A party of Copper Indians were engaged to ac-
company us, and we commenced the work of discovery.
On the first of September, we reached the banks of the
Copper Mine River, in lat. O. N. long. 113. W. a mag-
nificent body of water, two miles wide.

" We have penetrated into a country destitute of
wood, and our men were exhausted with the labours of
carrying canoes, cargoes, &c. amounting to three tons,
from lake to lake. Their broken spirits were revi►ed
by our success; but the season was too far advanced to
make any farther progress. We returned to a s►rtall
wood of pines, and erected our winter residence of
mud apd timber, which we have named Fbrt utitr-
prise.
" Hy the Indian report, this river rues into the Nii,rth-
ern Sea, in West longitude 110. and, we suppose, in
lat. 72. In June, 1821, we shall embark, and the river
will enable us to reach the sea in a fortnight. If the
shore i 3 encumbered with ice, which is most probabic,
we must then leave our canoes, and trace the coast in
foot to Hudson's Bay ; or, if no North-west passage
exists, to the shore which forms the boundary of Ilaffin's
Bay, I think we are capable of executing this 'plan. Our
chief dread was the hostile disposition of the Esquinsapx.
This danger is now almost obviated by the arrivata
two Esquimaux interpreters, who have been provided
at Churchill, and with great diligence sent after us.
" We are not so desolate perhaps, in our exile, as our
friends may suppose. The rein-deer are numerous
about us, and we l►ve on the most delicate venison. We
find pleasure in the examination of a new and amiable
race of people."

LORD MAYOR'S-DAY.

(Proceedings continued continued from our last.)

The company having landed at Palace•yard stairs, then
went in procession on foot to the Court of Exchequer,
where the new Lord Mayor was presented in the usual '
form, and afterwards sworn to the faithful perform-
ance
of the duty of his office, and the late Lord Mayor
to the correctness of his accounts. After an impres-
sive speech from the Bench, on the impolance of the
character and duties of the Chief Magistrate Of the
City of London, and a suitable answer on the- tart of •
the Corporation, they made their obeisance and with- '
drew. They then visited the several Courts of Law,
paid their respects to the Judges, and invited them to
dinner at Guildhall. The Civic procession returned
by water in the same manner in which they led gone
up the river ; on their ascending the stair, at Black-
friars-bridge, the Lord Mayor e.. cute r-,,
ye carriages, end teriner.
late 1114 Mayor and the late Sheriff werehummed
by the ninfttp, who frequently made attempts to
take the horse 7 from their carriages.
The windows of the houses in the line of the pro-
cession were crowded with ladies; and, considering
the plain manner in which the procession was arranged°,
there being no men in armour or military, as on for-
mer occasions, we never witnessed such a multitude of
spectators.
The Civic Dinner was served up in a very elegant
style. At an early hour Guildhall was filled to ex-
cess, the far greater number of the seats was filled by
elegant women; this extensive saloon was lighted
with gas, and produced a very beautiful effect.
The company of distinction who honoured the oc-
casion, were his Royal Highness the Duke of York.
his Grace the Duke of Wellington, the Marquess of
Londonderry, Lord Sidmoutb, the French, Spanish,
Swedish, Sardinian, Prussian, and Portuguese Ambas-
sadors ; together with the Chief Justice Dallas,Judges
Boroughs, Bayley, Holroyd, Best, and Park; Ser-
jeants Lens, Pell, Peak, Cross and Bosanquet; Mr.
Hobhouse, Mr. Marryat, Sheriff Spicer, Mr. Butter-
worth, Sir John Hamilton, and several others.
Dinner having been concluded, and " Non nobis
Domine" performed,
The Loan MAYOR gave "The King," with four times
four. It was followed by loud applause.
The toasts of " the Dike of York"—" The Duke of
Clarence and the rest of the Royal Family"—" The City
of London and its trade"—" The Rose, the Shamrock.
and the Thistle"—and " the Duke of Wellington" fol-
lowed.—The latter was received with warm applause.
The Duke of WELLINGTON begged leave to return
his best thanks be the honour which the company bad
done him ; and in return he begged to drink all their
good bealths.—(Cheers.)
" The most Noble the Marquess of Londonderry,"
with three times three, was the next toast.
Lord LONDONDERRY also begged leave to express
his sense of the honour conferred on him, in proposing
his good health, as well as for the kind manner in
which it bad been received. He was not prepared for
the compliment that had been paid him, and it therefore
was more grateful to Mm.—Applause.)
The health of Lord Viscount Sidwouth was honoured
with three times three.
Lord SIDIIOI/TH said, be was highly satisfied with
the honour they bad done him ; and in return be beg-
geJ leave to drink all their good healths.
The Duke of Yonu begged leave to givea toast, in
which be was sure they would all heartily concur—the
health of the Lady Mayoress.—(Loud Applause.)
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks for his Lady, ob-

serving, be was desired to say, that her Ladyship
would be happy to see all her friends at the blansioo-
house.

The Duke of WILLINGTON proposed a toast, which
he was sore they would all give with satisfaction—" The
health of the Lord Mayor."—(Loud cheers.)
The LORD Maros returned his acknowledgments.--
He was grateful for the honour they had conferred on
him. He was sensible of the high importance of the
office to which his fellow-citizens had elevated- him ; ,
and he assured all around him, that he would exert
himself as much as possible to fulfil its ditties !with
advantage to those who bad placed him thertt.—(Ap-
please.)
The Ladies then began to withdraw, passing found