There is nothing to induce a belief or supposition that there exists any obstructing land between these two points: on the contrary, there are the strongest reasons to conclude that there is an open-sea communication between them.

With the plan of the maritime expedition to be sent by Her Majesty's Government to the Arctic Regions, I am quite unacquainted: but taking naturally a deep interest in, and having long and attentively studied the subject, I cannot forbear making a few remarks in regard to it.

My decided opinion is, that the most advisable channel for vessels to attempt the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean is through Barrow's Straits, Prince Regent's Inlet, the Straits of Boothia, and thence along the Arctic American coast to Behring's Straits: and I express a strong conviction, that notwithstanding the uncertainties of Arctic navigation, a passage may be accomplished through this channel with only one winter's delay, in the Polar seas: nay, that by good fortune a passage from sea to sea might be accomplished the same season.

It is certainly within the bounds of perfect probability, that by following the Eastern coast of Prince Regent's Inlet, and Boothia Gulf beyond the Straits of the Fury and Hecla, (as yet an unsurveyed coast,) and thence traversing

westward, the river Castor and Pollux' might be reached before the 20th of August. After that date my brother made good his way, in open boats, in an open sea, frequently delayed by storms, but not by ice, to the mouth of the Coppermine River. Supposing that the vessels attained this point too late to push further westward, they might be secured for the winter in one of the numerous harbours of Victoria Land, or of the continent, of which the shores here, and for a considerable part of the way to the Mackenzie River, are bold and easy of approach.

There would be abundant occupation for the officers in spring and early summer, in making pedestrian journeys to the northward, and in a careful examination of the copper deposits long known to exist near the mouth of the Coppermine River, and which my brother discovered on Barry's Islands in Bathurst's Inlet.

Those journeys, if well planned and directed,*

*It would much facilitate and increase the prospect of success of such journeys, if a few men accustomed to travelling with dogs and snow shoes were shipped, instead of the crews being composed solely of genuine Jack Tars, good men and true, in their own element, but, of course, perfect novices in this mode of travelling. In the Orkney Islands there could be found many men who have wintered in the fur countries bordering on "the barren grounds," hence well qualified to traverse the warmer bays of the Arctic Ocean."

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might do much to connect Victoria Land' with the land seen by Parry to the South of Melville Island. My belief is, that there is a Polar continent, or close Archipelago of islands, of which 'Victoria Land' (Simpson) and 'Wollaston Land' (Richardson) are the southern extremities, while 'Bank's Land' (Parry) forms part of its northern coast. Its western extremity, I think, will be about long. 125°. Whether it is continuous on the eastward to Boothia Felix, or not, is a question which, I believe, exploration will decide in the affirmative.

I have a strong opinion that the copper deposits will be found of much value: moreover, that their working would be by no means an impracticable scheme, when once the way has been opened to private enterprise by welldirected Government efforts. In these straits and bays, I also believe that our whale fishermen would find a rich and virgin field for the prosecution of their daring but lucrative enterprises.

The second season of open water should certainly suffice for the passage between the Coppermine and Behring's Straits, particularly after the convincing evidence given by my brother's success, that September is really the month most propitious to Arctic navigation. A. S."

"Ross-shire, March, 1845."

THE INDIANS OF NORTHERN AMERICA.

AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR CHARACTER-THEIR CONDITION.

AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR CHARACTER.

A QUARTER of a century ago, the poet's description of the Red men of North America as "stoics of the woods-men without a tear," was considered no romantic picture. Latterly the opinion of the world has receded into the opposite extreme.

While there was much illusion in the beau idéal of dignity and bravery that was long received as the correct delineation of the American Indians, but scant justice has been done by late writers to many noble and interesting traits of character which they exhibit.

Let us first consider the causes which led to exaggerated ideas regarding them.

The pilgrim fathers of New England found the tribes in whose country they landed, haughty, bold, and treacherous, repaying by the most fierce attacks and horrible massacres the injuries which they considered the white men had done them by

settling in their country, and encroaching on their hunting-grounds: the lovely vale of Wyoming is a true type of many a fair scene suddenly and fearfully devastated.

They found them, also, sternly resolute in enduring the punishments which the New Englanders when the fortunes of the desultory yet destructive warfare turned in their favour-did not fail to inflict on the wicked and blood-thirsty savages, who disquieted them in the retreat to which they had fled from oppression in their native land. The pilgrims and their descendants for more than half a century, never met the Red men save in a bloody skirmish, or in a solemn council at which some temporary truce was to be arranged, consequently, had little opportunity for observing their real manners and character; and the remembrance of injuries received prevented their forming anything like a calm and correct estimate. In the chronicles of the early settlers in New England will be found abundant evidence of the feeling of hatred mixed with dread, which they entertained towards the race by which they were surrounded.

During the war between England and France, which ended in the capture of Quebec, and the expulsion of the French from Canada, in which war the New Englanders nobly bore their share,