Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-07-03

ichpologyl And beside, provision should
be made to guard against the death of
| a person of SO much importance to the
scientific part of a journey. In some
instance the French have sent out be-
tween so and 40 gentlemen in one ex-
pedition, exclusively attached to the sew
eral branches of sciences.
We do not wish to detract from the
| merit of Mr. Hood and Mr. Buck, mid
shipmen, who accompanied Captain +
but we believe those gentlemen as well
as their commander, made no preter-
sions to an acquaintance with natural
science.
MIR. Hood excelIed in drawing, and
with the assistance of Mr.. linden, an
excellent engraver of London, we have
work more highly ornanented with
rich engravings than is generally SEEN
in truth, some of the plates are of the
most exquisite kind The work alto
gether is go, up in most superior man
ner.
Capt. Franklin possessed peculiar
powers to overcome the great natural
dangers incident to a journey Of this
sind-he had that perseverance and
steadiness requisite to manage the hc-
likeness of the Indians who acted as
guides, as well as that Of the Canadians
who accompanied them. At one time
the whole object of the expedition was
near being destroyed by their determi-
nation to go no further Capt FPS firm
ness, however, overcame their objec-
ton, and the party continued their jour
ney, frequently lying out with a single
blanket, when the Thermometer stood
at 40 degrees below zero.
Their hafdships and deprivations of
various kinds, were truly horrible-de-
prived of food for days, with the skin
worn from their ankles, by their large
snow shoes, they frequently marked
their footsteps with blood, yet our per-
severing travellers continued their route
with almost undated yigour.
1t being our intention chiefly to give
a few interesting and curious facts in
lextracts from this work, which has not
iyet been republished, we will first brief
| ly state that the main object of the ex-
ipedition was to determine the latitude
land longitude OF the Northern coast of
North America, anu observe the dip and
variation of the needle and the magnec-
tic force. Mr. Hood and Mr. Back
lwere to assist in those observations.
| hftervery considerable difficulty, and
Ian almost miraculous escape from ship
wreck, our travellers arrived on the
icoast of Labrador, and soon after set out
from York Factory, up HAYES, Steel
land Hill rivers, to Lake Winnipeg;
Thence through chain of Lakes by
fChurchill river to Methye Lake. Cross
ling some hills, they then got into Elk
triver and slave river, which brought
them into Great Slave Lake. From
| this they entered Yellow Knife river,
land after passing innumerable Lakes,
1.-THE principal of which was Point Lake,
they entered into and passed down Cop
lper Nine river TO the sea- They as
lcertained the mouth of this river to be
lnearly 1l6 deg. w. longitude. Captain
III. pursued his discoveries along the
lcoast, through rocks and islands of ice,
star East as the loT deg. of longitude.
He did not begin to retrace his steps
until ne had but one days provision On
hand had there been sufficient on board
his canoes, 600 miles, which might have
been accomplished in IL days, would
have brought him into Wager Bay.
| We shall now proceed to make some
lextracts, and regret that the deteriora-
ted character of the hapless Indian
, should first present itself
| "They (the Cress) show great fortitude in
the Endurance ofhunger, and the other evils
incident to a hunters life: but any unusual &C.
ciient disp'ritI them at once. & they seldom
venture TO meet their enemies in open warfare,
or to attack ITEM even by surprise, unless
with the advantage of superiority Of numbers
Their existence at present hangs upon the
supplies of ammunition and clothing they re-
ceve from the traders, and they deeply feel
their dependent Situation. But their charac-
Ter has been still more debased by the passion
for sPirtuous liquors, SO assiduously fostered
among them. To obtain this noxious beverage,
they descend to the most humiliating entreaties
and assume an ablectness Of behavior, which
does not seem natural to them, and of which
not veStlge IS to DC seen in their intercourse
with each other.'
We give the following as specimen
of the difficulties and dangers OF hum
ter's life.
This morning some men and the families,
VINO had been sent off in search CT some Indi-
ans, with whom they intended to pass the sum.
mer, returned to the fort in consequence OF
serious accident having befallen their canoe, in
the hed Deer River, when they Were in the
act OF hauling up strong rapid, the line broke,
the canoe was overturned, and two fthe psrty