officers and men, the boats, and all the collections of natural history, rough journals, notes, and astronomical, magnetical, and atmospherical observations, were left in the charge of Commander Back, who was directed to remain at Fort Franklin until the breaking up of the ice, and then to proceed to York Factory, where he was to embark with the British part of the expedition in the first Hudson’s Bay ship bound to England. In addition to this mark of confidence. Captain Franklin, at the end of his written instructions, thus addressed him:–
“I am happy in having this opportunity of thanking you for your uniform kindness to me personally, and of renewing my testimony to the ability, zeal, and assiduity you have evinced throughout the progress of the expedition, and of expressing my fervent hope that your services may be rewarded by promotion.”
Commander Back arrived at Portsmouth on the 10th Oct. 1827, only a fortnight after Captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson had landed at Liverpool. On the 13th and 15th of the same month, his friend, the captain, wrote to him as follows:–
“I hope you will have seen the Lord High Admiral and Sir George Cockburn before we meet – to both I have urged your claims to promotion, as well as those of Lieutenant Kendall, in the strongest manner, and they expressed themselves much pleased with your zeal, attention, and ability.”
“I have written this day officially to Mr. Barrow, to convey my opinion of your conduct, as well as that of Kendall, and strongly to recommend you both to the favorable notice of the Lord High Admiral, and to the members of his Royal Highness’s Council.”
On the 7th July, 1827, his late Majesty in Council directed that the period of time (one year) required to elapse before a commander can be promoted to the rank of captain shall be actually served by such officer on board a ship or vessel in commission. Although Commander Back had then been upwards of two years and four months on what may well be considered active service, this Order in Council was enforced against him; and notwithstanding repeated applications for employment in the active line of his profession, he never obtained an appointment. We may here remark, that several of Captain Parry’s officers were promoted on their return from
