Details

RICHARDSON, John (1787-1865). Autograph letter signed ("John Richardson"), to Robert McVicar (?1799-1864), Edinburgh, 2 January 1824. 2¼ pages, with integral address panel, tears/hole along folds, not affecting text.

RICHARDSON DISCUSSES FRANKLIN'S SECOND OVERLAND EXPEDITION AND THE SECOND VOYAGE OF PARRY. "I heard lately from Capt. Franklin that you had returned home and I could not avoid doing myself the pleasure of congratulating you on your safe arrival ... Capt. Franklin goes out to Hudson's Bay with the intention of exploring the coast to the westward of Mackenzie's River, but it is not finally decided whether he acts out this year or the next, most probably the latter. The Company are very desirous of promoting the Expedition and offer every aid in their power. Another expedition goes out to connect Capt. Parry's late discoveries with our survey at the mouth of the Copper-mine River and Capt. Parry goes out himself in another quarter." Richardson goes on to say he is writing an account of the animals seen by Parry on his last voyage, and asks McVicar to provide him with the "Cree & Northern Indian" names of 22 various animals. McVicar was chief trader of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Saskatchewan and Athabaska country, 1812-1827. Richardson had been Franklin's surgeon and naturalist on the 1819 polar expedition and joined Franklin's second overland expedition in 1825. At this time, Parry was on his third voyage in search of a Northwest Passage.