In the course of the month the ice gradually wore away from the south side of the lake but the great mass of it still hung to the north side with some snow visible on its surface.  By the 21st the elevated grounds were perfectly dry and teeming with the fragrant offspring of the season.  When the snow melted the earth was covered with the fallen leaves of the last year, and already it was green with the strawberry plant and the bursting buds of the gooseberry, raspberry, and rose bushes, soon variegated by the rose and the blossoms of the choke-cherry.  The gifts of nature are disregarded and undervalued till they are withdrawn and in the hideous regions of the Arctic Zone she would make a convert of him for whom the gardens of Europe had no charms or the mild beauties of a southern climate had bloomed in vain.

Mr. Williams found a delightful occupation in his agricultural pursuits.  The horses were brought to the plough and fields of wheat, barley, and Indian corn promised to reward his labours.  His dairy furnished us with all the luxuries of an English farm.

On the 25th the ice departed from Pine Island Lake.  We were however informed that Beaver Lake, which was likewise in our route, would not afford a passage before the 4th of June.  According to directions left by Mr. Franklin applications were made to the chiefs of the Hudson’s Bay and North-West Companies’ posts for two canoes with their crews and a supply of stores for the use of the Expedition.  They were not in a condition to comply with this request till the arrival of their respective returns from Isle a la Crosse and the Saskatchewan departments.  Of the six men whom we brought from England the most serviceable, John Hepburn, had accompanied Mr. Franklin, and only one other desired to prosecute the journey with us.  Mr. Franklin had made arrangements with Mr. Williams for the employment of the remaining five men in bringing to Cumberland House the ammunition, tobacco, etc., left at York Fort, which stores were if possible to be sent after us in the summer.  On the 30th Dr. Richardson returned from Carlton House, and on the 31st the boats arrived belonging to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Saskatchewan department.  We obtained a canoe and two more volunteers.  On the 1st of June the Saskatchewan, swelled by the melting of the snow near the Rocky Mountains, rose twelve feet and the current of the little rivers bounding Pine Island ran back into the lake, which it filled with mud.

On the 5th the North-West Company’s people arrived and Mr. Connolly furnished us with a canoe and five Canadians.  They were engaged to attend us till Mr. Franklin should think fit to discharge them and bound under the usual penalties in case of disobedience or other improper conduct.  These poor people entertained such dread of a ship of war that they stipulated not to be embarked in Lieutenant Parry’s vessels if we should find them on the coast, a condition with which they would gladly have dispensed had that desirable event taken place.  As we required a Canadian foreman and steersman for the other canoe we were compelled to wait for the appearance of the Isle a la Crosse canoes under Mr. Clark.