p. xvii, on supplies for the expedition: There was likewise an ample stock of tobacco, a small quantity of wine and spirits, marquees and tents for the men and officers, some books, writing and drawing paper, a considerable quantity of cartridge-paper, to be used in preserving specimens of plants…together with many articles to be used at winter-quarters, for the service of the post, and for the supply of our Indian hunters….
p. 33: After our Sunday evening’s supper, the party assembled in the tent to read prayers, and return thanks to the Almighty, for having thus far crowned our labours with success.
p. 54-55, winter at Fort Franklin: As the days shortened, it was necessary to find employment during the long evenings, for those resident at the house, and a school was therefore, established, on three nights of the week, from seven o’clock to nine, for their instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic; and it was attended by most of the British party. They were divided in equal portions among the officers, whose labour was amply repaid by the advancement their pupils made: some of those who began with the alphabet, learned to read and write with tolerable correctness. Sunday was a day of rest; and, with the exception of two or three of the Canadians, the whole party uniformly attended Divine service, morning and evening. If, on the other evenings for which no particular occupation was appointed, the men felt the time tedious, or if they
expressed a wish to vary their employments, the hall was at their service, to play any game they might choose ; and on these occasions they were invariably joined by the officers. By thus participating in their amusements, the men became more attached to us, at the same time that we contributed to their health and cheerfulness. The hearts and feelings of the whole party were united in one common desire to make the time pass as agreeably as possible to each other, until the return of spring
should enable them to resume the great object of the Expedition.
p. 56: Previous to the officers leaving London, Dr. Fitton, President of the Geological Society, had the kindness to devote much of his time to their instruction in geology; and having furnished them with a portable collection for the purpose of reference on the voyage, Dr. Richardson, when he had leisure, explained these specimens, weekly, to the party, and assisted them in reading on this science, which proved a most agreeable and useful recreation to us all.
p. 67-68: On the 16th [Jan, 1825], by the return of the two men who had been sent to Slave Lake, we had the happiness of receiving a packet of letters, which left England in the preceding June. Beside the more interesting private communications, our friends had been kind enough to forward piles of newspapers, and several periodical publications. The ‘Quarterly Review,’ the ‘Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,’ and a series of the ‘Literary Gazette,’ and the ‘Mechanics Magazine,’ were spread upon the table, and afforded us the most agreeable amusement, as well as never-failing topics for conversation….” [Plate of Fort Franklin faces p. 69]
Opp. p. 120, engraving of “Winter Houses of Equimaux.”
p. 137-38: More tedious hours than those passed by us in the present
situation, cannot well be imagined. After the astronomical observations had been obtained and worked, the survey brought up, a sketch made of the encampment, and specimens of the plants and stones in the vicinity collected, there was, literally, nothing to do. The anxiety which was inseparable from such an enterprise as ours, at such an advanced period of the season, left but little disposition to read, even if there had been a greater choice of books in our travelling library, and still less composure
to invent amusement.
p. 209: In the evening, the party having assembled in one of the tents, prayers were read, a practice to which we adhered on every Sunday evening during the voyage.
p. 279: On Sunday, the 20th, prayers were read, and thanks returned
to the Almighty for his gracious protection and the success which had attended our voyage.
p. 288-89: We were rejoiced at the receipt of a large packet of letters from England, dated in the preceding February. They brought out the gratifying intelligence that my friend, Lieutenant Back, had been promoted, in December, 1825, to the rank of Commander. I likewise received a large packet of newspapers from his Excellency the Earl of Dalhousie, Governor-in-Chief of Canada, to whom I take this opportunity of
returning my best thanks for the warm interest he took in the welfare of the Expedition.
p. 304: Some other very wholesome regulations have been introduced by the Company; amongst others, the Sabbath is ordered to be properly observed, and Divine Service to be read at every post.