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A SEQUEL lU Tltli NORTH-WEST PASSAGE, AND THE 7(5 PLANS FOR THE SEAROH FOB SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. % llefruto. BY JOHN BROWN, 1 Jl.G.S.. FRI, 0\r OP THB ROYAL 80CIBTT 01? irOBTTtRBN ANTIQUABTRS OV COPENnAOEN. "A mighty maze ! but not without a plan."— Pots. " irere, on a single plank thrown safe ashore, I hear the tumult of the distant throng."— Yorso. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY E. STANFORD, CHARING CHOSS. 1860. mm s^o;3 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. In the Preface to the former edition of the " North-West Passage, and the Plans for the Search for Sir John Franklin," we felt it our duty, in following out the subject of the Search for the Franklin Expedition, strenuously to urge the imperative necessity for renewed exertion, if we would clear the mystery clouding the movements and the fortunes of our long-missing countrymen. We did so under a sincere conviction, that that which was wrapt in darkness and gloom — the mystery — was a creation of our own ; it was therefore the more our duty to imravel and dispel it. It had already been seen that the spirit of the original Plan of Sir John Barrow, and the Instructions (of 1845) based upon it, for Sir John Franklin's guidance, had been departed from ; they no longer ruled as the text on which to found our measures for the recovery of the Expedition. On the contrary, they were altogether ignored, their intent set aside — why ? To give place to chimeras of the brain. Imagination, wayward, assumptive and unsteady, reigned: the sad results we know; could other be expected? The lost were not found, and yet the search was not complete. To let the subject rest was incompatible with the nation's honour. We felt, in short, that it was England's duty to persevere to the end. These considerations, from their very seriousness, induced us earnestly in our Work to recall attention to the priuiary object and plan of the voyage ; we pointed out the area yet to be searched, its circumscribed limits, its ^n I PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITIOX. easinoHB of noross, nm\ its inexpensive cost ; and over and above all, wo observed that it was in the true direction involved in the intent of Sir John Franklin's Instructions. The Government declined to Oct— "Enough had been done." That Government, which had with such prodigal pertinacity directed the Search in a wrony direction, now refused all pecuniary aid to complete that which it bad left incomplete in a right one. It was left to the high-minded English wife — Lady Franklin — to do it, if to be done at all. With pious hope, and undespairing energy. Lady Franklin and her friends made the attempt, and have succeeded. Her Final Expedition has uplifted the mysterious veil. To record and perpetuate her noble conduct, the talent, the daring, and the energy of M'Clintock, Young, Ilobson, and the other officers, and gallant little crew of the " Fox,''* this Sequel is published.* Their conduct, shown in their deeds, tella us that the chivalrous spirit of our ancestors, the " Old Worthies," still animates us as a nation. May this spirit be ever cherished ; for by it England became great, and with it will continue po to the end. J. B. ScALEBY Lodge, Camden Eoad, August, 1860. • Wo here would acltnowledgo our obfigation to Mr. Jon:: MruUAi", the eminent Publisher of Albemarle Street, for the fao*6iaiile of the precious Beoord found at Point Victory. On our application, he, with a most kind and generous feeling, at once acceded to our request, and permitte 1 us to have tlio number of copies we required. We have had, on another occasion, to thank Mr. Murray for his liberality. INTRODUCTION TO TUE SECOND EDITION. In the Introduction to the First Edition of the " North-West Passage, and the Plana for the Search for Sir John Eranklin," in referring to the Relics found and brought home by Dr. Eae and Captain CoUinson, R.N., we pointed out that while " they indicated the probable locality of the Franklin Expedition, its weal or woe was as inexplicable as ever," and " we thought they had not received sufficient attention." In that work we endeavoured to trace whence these relics came, and in the course of doing so proved that a Strait must exist running out of Melville or Parry Sound to the S.E,, iu the direction of King "William Island. Looking to the original Plan and Instructions for the voyage, and there being no evidence to show that Sir John Franklin was unable to complete the object for which he was sent, we suggested the route he would take, the probable position in which the Erehm and Terror would be found ; and on the char is appended to the work, this assumed track is In id down. The existence of the Strait has since been confirmed by Captain Allen Young, and is now distinguished by the name of the enter- prising and talented commander of the Fojff, M'Clintock Channel ; and the soundness of our views regarding the position of the ships has also been verified by the recovery of the precious Eecord at Point Victory by Lieutenant (now Commander) Hobson, clearly proving that all search by the North was, as we expressed it, " the pursuit of a myth." The Record does indeed tell us that Franklin iSiP 2 INTBODUCTION. really did ascend the Wellington Channel — ^no doubt from finding his passage West and South obstructed — but this we can only regard as an experiment. Hia subsequent route, there is as little doubt, was in the line of his Instructions. Surprise has often been expressed that no notices or records of the Franklin Expedition have been found by the searching squadrons. If we calmly reflect on the route he was directed to take, abundant reasons will be afforded in answer : — First, Beechey Island is on the North side of Barrow Strait, and Franklin's route lay along the South side ; he would conclude, therefore, that he would not be looked for on the North, and to leave a record unnecessary. Secondly, his first point for leaving such document would be Cape Walker : but that Cape has never been found accessible by water,— it may not have been accessible to him ; and, to avoid loss of time, he would pass on to the westward. His course would then lie to the S.W., and this would take him clear of the Parry Group ; hence no traces have been found on the South sides of those Islands. After this, he would have no chance of leaving a record on any then known land until, being beset, he had drifted through M'Clintock Channel down on to King William Island, and hereabouts the first records are found. We regret the unknown space between Gateshead Island and Wynniatt's furthest was not examined, for here ov- hope rests that more information regarding the Expedition will be found. Captain M'Clintock had intended to have examined this space, but from circumstances — ^finding the Eecordj &c. — he did not deem it necessary ; for these various reasons we find no previous records or indications of the movements of the Erebus and Terror. We have felt it our duty, in justice to the memory of the great and good Franklin, to say thus much. The voyage of the Fox has set at rest the fate of Sir John Franklin and part of the officers and crews — we would that wo knew the end of the remainder, and that the journals, &c., had been recovered ; about these, and whether Frauklin was enabled to realize the plan of the voyage, there is yet mystery. AV^e con- seiontiously believe he did, to \}\Q letter. We have ever advocated Arctic Facts over Arctic Opinions, hence wo INTnODUCTION^. 8 find ouraelvos in the present case dillering from high Arctic authority Ri to the route the Erebus and Terror took to arrive at their known position ; we have no doubt it was hi/ Melville Sound and M^Clintock Channel, and not hy Feel Sound and FrankU:t Channel. It cannot but be regretted that the search should have been made by tlie North. Time was lost, and labour, suliering, and suspense uselessly endured, while Melville Sound was altogether neglected. During our inquiries into the various plans and results we have ex- pressed our opinions frankly, but we hope without prejudice, much less malice : our object was Truth. Here, again, we would repeat our admiration of our Arctic officers and men, founded on the sincere conviction that, with rare exceptions, they have nobly done their duty, and deserve well of their country. We feel that the history of Arctic enterprise has yet to be written ; the n ass of facts our Arctic Expeditions have gathered, have yet to be collected and recorded. Proud should we be if the materials we have brought together could be made available, and contribute to so desirable an end. J. B. ScALEBT Lodge, Camden Eoad, Avgust, 1860. B ! A SEQUEL, I':TC. CHAPTER XX. FINiA-L EXPEDITION — LADT EllANKLlx'S I>STKrCTiO>'S — M'cLTNTOCK ■ — YOUNG —IIOBSON — CREAV — THE OLD SPIRIT -DR. RI>K — SlMRir MANIFESTATION — OEOORAPIUCAL SOCIETY — COLLINSON — LETTEIJS I'OX BESET — DRIFT — LETTERS, POND's BAY — DR. HAYES, t.S. EX- PEDITION — ARRIYAL OF FOX — REPORT — BIMXllEY ISLAND — PEKI- SOUND BELLOT STRAIT PORT KENNEDY — DEPOTS — CAPK VIC- TORIA — ESQUIMAUX — A SlflP CRUSHED — SPRIN(i .lOURNEYS — SLEDGE PARTIES START — ESQUIMAUX REPORT — A SECOND SHU' LOST — FATE OF CREW — m'CLINTOCK AND HOBSON PAKT — m'CLIN- TOCK DOWN THE EAST SIDE OF KINO WILLIAM ISLAND — HODSOX FOE THE WEST SIDE — MONTREAL ISLAND — BACK's FISH RIVER — M'CLINTOCK RETURNS TO KINO WILLIAM ISLAND SKELETON — CAPE IIERSCHEL — NOTE FROM HOBSON — POINT VICTORY RECORD LEFT BY UORE — DEATH OF FRANKLIN, ETC. — SHIPS ABAN- DONED, 1818 — 105 MEN LANDED — BOAT AND TWO SKELETONS — RETURN TO SHIP — TOUNO RETURNS FROM PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND NEAV STRAIT — EFFECTS ON TOUNO AND IIOI5S0N — FOX RETURNS TO ENGLAND — M'CLINTOCK's REMARKS — RECEPTION — LADY FRANKLIN SUCCESS OF FINAL EXPEDITION — MISS CRACROFT — M'CLINTOCK — RESULTS OF VOYAGE — SERVICES KECOGMZED BY '^HE QUEEN KNIGHTED — DUBLIN MEETING — FREEDOM OF LONDON — GEOGRA- PHICAL MEDALS AWARDED TO LADY FRANKLIN AND M'cLINTOCK REWARDS — COPY OF RECORi, UFjiARKS ON IT, 1857. — We closed our last chapter with the departure of Lady Franklin's Final Expedition, the Fox, to search nut aud bring back her husband, and the long-sought ofReers and crews of the Erchiis and Terror, or ascertain their fate — that last sacrifice of conjugal devotion. The only Instructions Capt. M'Clintock could prevail on Lady Franklin to give him are comprised in the following letter, dated Aberdeen, June 20, 1857: — n 2 '!i ' ^' 2 L.VOY FKAMCLIN S T>'STUU0TJO>'S, '■ Ary (k-ar Capt. M'Clintock, " Yoti have kindly invited nic to give you 'In.4iuctions,' but I cannot bring niy.-flf to tool tliat it wonld bo right in mo in any way to influence your judgment in the conduct of your noble undertaking; and indeed, I have no temptation to do so, since it appears to nie that your views are almost identical with those which I Jiad independently formed before I had the advantage of being thoroughly i)0 'ncssed of yours. Jhit had this been otherwise, I trust you would iiavo found me "eady to prove the implicit confidence I place in you by yielding my own views to your more enlightened judgment ; knowing, loo, as I do, that your whole heart also is in tl;i cause, even as my own is. As to tiie objects of the I'.Xj.edition, and their relative importance, I am sure you know that the rescue of any possible survivor of the F.reliHs and Terror would be to me, as it would be to you, the noblest result of our clfbrts. , " To this object I wish every other to be subordinate ; and next to it in importance is the recovery of the vmspeakably precious documents of the Expedition, public and jirivate, and the personal relics of my dear husband and his companions. " Aiul lastly, I trust it may be in your power to conflrm, directly or infeivntially, the claims of my husband's Expedition to the earliest discovery of the Passage, which, if ])r. Eae's re])ort be true (and the Government of our country has acce])ted and rewarded it as such), these martyrs in a noble cause achieved at their la>t extremity, id'ter live long years of labour and suflering, if not at an earlier P'.M'iotl. " I am sure that you 'vill do all that man can do for the attainment of (hose objects ; my only fear is that you may spend yourselves too much in the effort ; and you nnist therefore let me tell you liow much deai'er to me, even than any of them, is the preservation of the valuable lives of the little band of heroes who are your companions and followers. "jMay Groil in His great mercy pr'scrve you all from barm amidst tlie labours and jierils which await you, and restore you to us in health and safety as well as honour! As to the honour I can have no misgiving. It will be yours as nmch if you (ail (since \,ow mail fail, in spite of every elfort) as if you succeed ; and be assured, that, under anii and all ciniunatances whatever, such is my vuibouuded confidence in you, you will possess and be entitled to the enduring gratitude of " Your sincere and attached friend, "Jane Feanklin." The stoain yadit Fo.v, 177 tons, Capt. F. L. M'Cliiitodc, with its noble little bund of twenty-five souls, tlid not really get away from Aberdeen to pursue her lone votjcKje, until Jidy 2nd, 1857, having grounded on the bar going out, but escaped nnhurt ; — ill omen of the futuiT, but, liUe omens, false as absurd. We have said lone voyage, but tliuiii;li alone, few vessels have ever sailed freiglitcd with greater ho[)i', notwithsttiuding the previous nine years' fruitless search; or bearing with them such sincere good wishes, such kitid sympathies, as did the gallant inmates of the Fox. As to Lady Franklin, every one felt tliat she had, in licr self-devotion and sacrifice of fortime. ^' wm M'tl.lMOCK. Y(.)L>G — ]Il)l!80X. II indcL'.l tlonc her duty; ami deep was the coimiiiseration aiul scdii-itiuk- lor her— many a prayer was then ottered iijjthat ht-vj/nal rfort uiiglit be crowned witli success, and succour extended, if only fo one of (he siin-ifors of that ill-filcil Kqjn/i/iou : all hoped and trusted that it nn'ght please llim to bless it, a.s the Final Euyedilion. This experience of public opinion, says her gallant Connnaiuler, " con- ilrined my own impressio]i, that the glorious nn'ssion entrusted to me was in reality a (jreat national diiti/:'* An Expedition would seciii to imply the employment of one or more vessels on an arduous service, especially when directed to realms of everlasting ice— adamantine rocks afloat ! — frost, and storm, where danger lurks on everv side ; but the little Fox nris to purme her icay alone. The Governiuciit, whose prodigal but misdirected efforts had ended in useless results, refused its aid; and the Admiralty, "unwilling to incur fresh respon- sibility," turned aside to let her pass. Isolated, she passed to fidlil her sacred mission; and that which was the nation's duty was left to bo execut(>d by the devotion, energy, and pecuniary sacrifice of an anxious, sorrow-stricken woman. "I could not but feel," says Cai)t. M'Clintock, "that the effort became still more remarkable, and wortliy of approbation, when its means were limited to one little vessel, equipped and provisioned more according with the limited resources of a private individual than with those of the public purse. The less +'.ie means, the more arduous I felt was the achievement. The greater the risk — for the Fox was to be launched alone into the turbulent seas from which every other vessel had long be,en with- drawn — the more glorious would be the success, the more honourable even defeat, if defeat awaited us."t But who are the uoble-hearted fellows — who the leaders of this forlorn ho])e, who, for the achieve- ment of a national object, unaided by the Government, dare think they can do without it— who each by their own act doth '' disahle himself e from all demands for his salari/, and indues taJcinq, if he dis- cou' notr Who? Capt. F. L. M'Clintock, E.X.+— Who ? Capt. Allen Young,§ the " merchant-sailor."— Who ? Lieutenant llobson, * Soc the "Toyage of the Fox iu the Arctic Seas," by Capt. now Sir LeopoM M'Clii.tock, E.N., p. 11. t Ihid., p. 12. X See the preface to tlie above, by Sir R. I. aiurchison, pp. ix — xi, and \m. 7 s • and tlie " Dublin University Magazine," February, 1860, p. 208. See " I'luns " &.r p. 4J1. ' ' ' § Capt. Allen Young gave Ills services, and £500 contribulion, to Liic "Final Search." Fl! 4 CllliW — THE ULD Sl'lHTT. ]>.^'.*_^Vnio? Dr. WalkcT.t— And last, not least, who? l\'tcrsen.+ i\ii(l the more liuiiiblc of thid distinguisliod band, M'Clintock, says, — "I ciieci-fiilly acccplfd the command; my whole heart was in tlic cause. How could I do otlierwiae than devote myself to saw. at least the record of faithful service, even unto death, of my brother odieers and seamen ? I could not willin<>;ly resign to posterity the honour of filling up even the small remaining break upon our maps." Let it sudice. The Commander, and llobson, and Petersen, had been nursed amid ice and storm, and were distinguished : and where not so reared, an ardent but sound experience, gathered from the oceans of other climes, Sfms fear, joined with a noble generosity; these claimed for Allen Young a post among this select but noble Jifflr hand, as did also the scientific attainments of tlie accomplished surgeon. Dr. AV^dker. For the rest let M'Clintock speak : — " INIany Avortliy old shipmates, my companions in the previous Arctic voyages, most readily^ volunteered tlieir services, and were as cheerfully acci'pted ; for it was my anxious wish to gather around me well-tried men, wlio were aware of the duties expected of them. Hence, out of the twenty-five souls composing our small company, seventeen had previously served in the Arctic search." " Expeditions of this nature," he adds, "are always popular with seamen, and innumerable were the applications — s*-ill more abundant were the offers to "servo in ajiy ca])acity," which poured in from all parts of tlie country, from ])eople of all clashes, many of whom had never seen the sea. It was, of course, impossible to accede to any of these latter proposals ; yet, for my own part, I could not but feel gratified at such convincing ])roofs that the spirit of the country was favourable, and that the ardent love of hardy enterjirise still lives amongst Englishu.en as of old ; to be cherished, I trust, as the most valuable of our national characteristics — as that which has largely contributed to make England what she is,"§ at once the pride and envy of the world. The Fox sailed. With such a band of " heroicke " spirits what might not hope anticipate ! "How busy, how happy, and how^ full of hope, we all were then!"|| says M'Clintock. "Our views and ()[)inions as to the course Franklin took, and the position of the Expedition at this time, were well knowu,^[ as well also our ideas * TTotjson lin.l ^^(>rTcrl in tlic Arptif senrcli in Echring's Straits. t J)r. Wiilkci*, pciciitific! and iiC('0!n|)li>liecl. + I'l'IcrsLii was witli Penny and Kane. § " VovHiri- of tlio Fo.v" I'll. I, 7, S. Ibid., p. 15. •: See "i'luufi," ic, \)\}. »Gl-y(JS; 13y il 1 W. Dll. UINK COLLINSOX — FOX IJESl-T. 5 of the routes by which the important area to be soarchecl miglit be reached, and its thorough examination accomplished. Thus ended 1857. IHoS. — Pursuing our plan, we shall jot down every fact coiuieetcd with Arctic enterprise, touching the elucidation of tlie fate of our unfortunate countrynien, the unhappy sulfcrcrs on board the Erchun and Terror. April 12th, at a meeting of the lioyal Geograpliical Society, Dr. N. Shaw read a paper from Dr. Itink, of Copenhagen, " on the supposed discovery of the North Coast of Greenland, and an open Polar Sea, by Dr. E. K. Kane, U.S.N." After some observations en glaciers, especially the "Humboldt Glacier" of Dr. Kane, he says, "It is really nothing more than what may be noticed in most upper Greenland fiords." He opposes Kane's theory of a Polar Sea, throws great doubt on Morton's statements, and points out tlie erroi-s of the northern positions, arising from Kane's having taken the mean of meridional observations and dead reckoning.* In May, one of the oracles of spiritualism, or spir"*; manifestation, declared he had had frequent intelligence from Sir John Franklin up to May 2nd, 1858, when he died ; and by some this monstrous absurdity was believed. Its falsehood we know now, as will be seen liereaftcr. We should not have noticed this, but to show the visionary notions afloat in our day, and their evil tendency. May 2l!th. — The Eoyal Geographical Society presented their Pounder's Gold Medal to Capt. Kichard Collinson, H.X., for his valuable services in the Arctic regions. Never was medal more ap])ro- priately awarded. In August, letters were received from Capt. M'Clintock,t dated Holstenborg, May Gth, and Disco, May 21th, 1858 ; the substance of which we give. The Fox, in attempting to cross Melville Bay, to reach the north water, was stopped by the ice, August 18th, 1857, and ultimately frozen in ; drifting southward with the pack, she did not get clear of her icy cradle until April 25th, 1858. She was beset in lat. 75J° N., and drifted, in 212 days, to G8,\° N., long. 58° 25' W.=s 1,19]. geographical or 1,385 statute miles. Tlie whole period of this lengthened winter drift was one o; painful susjiense ; and the dav she broke her icy fetters must have been one of fearful anxiety to the iniiul- worn M'Clintock ; he says, " After yesterday's experieuce 1 can under- * See "Plans," &c., p. 398 ; also, " Arctic Explorations by Dr. Kane, U.S.X.," p. 388, Position 11.; and "Proceedings of the Kojul Geographical Socictj," vol. ii., No. iv., p. l'J5, t See Times, August 26th and 28th. 1 1 M;TTE113 DR. IJAVKS. ill i is 'i W: sliiiid how men's litiir haa tiinicd grey in a few hours. Had self'-rcliauce hicii my only Hii])i)ort, and my hope, it is not impossible but I might have iiliisti'ated the I'art. Hut we have been brought safely through, and are truly gratei'nl, I hope and believe."* This intelligence was disheartening to the friends at home, still, no ways daunted, M'Clintoek writes I'heerfully on: — "The vess'd has behaved admirably in the struggle, and is unscathed." "Should 1," he adds, "ever have to pass through such an ice-covered, heaving ocean again, let me secure a passage in the Fox.'' Satisfied with the original plan, bis vessel and his crew, provisions, etc., the gallant oliicer resolves at oiici; aL!:aiu to return to the north to carry out the great object of the voyage — the succour of Franklin and his crews. He only regrets the inevitable delay; the suspense of another year to Lady Franklin ; and the unavoidable expense of wages. The press now generally advocated the cause of the suflering, devoted wife. October 1th, IS5S. — Letters were again received from the Fox bv tlie Diana, steam whaler, Capt. J. Gravill, Jun.t Ou the 2Sth July, (';ip(. M'CIintock was in the north part of Pond's Bay, and was last S'.'cn on th'' ;{rd Aui^ust ])lying up to it to make inijuiry about a wjH>ck he had heard of. lie had thus happily passed theuuich dreaded JNliddle Ice. The little Fox, in asceutling to the north, had grounded on a rock near Jiuchan, or Cone Island, and great apprehensions for a time piwailed fur her safety; but fortunately she got otf easily, and without injury. The natives still adhere to the report of ships visited in iSli); but it was two, not four as was understood at the time. + 'JTk^v had got l,oO() rotchies in addition to their provisions. December Kith, Is.jS. — In a paper read before the Geographical and Statistical Societies of Aew York, Dr. Isaac J. Hayes, surgeon of the second (Jrinnell Expedition, under the late lamented J)r. Kane, IJ.S.X., detailed the plan of his proposed expedition up Smith's Somul with the object of confirming Dr. Kane's discoveries, especially that of the existence of Morton's Polar Sea.§ He intended to pro- cei'd along (jlrinneU's Land as far north as practicable with the vessel, and wiut .>r ; from thence to the noi'th and establish depots, and then on north again by a boat mounted on sledges, to the open sea. He exix'ctcd to llnd the ()[)imi water in hit. 80° X. By taking the western side of the channel, he hoped ti) avoid the dilHculties that beset Dr. * " \n\:\llll, K.\. Oct. -Itli and otli. Lottci's of J' ji. 'J(l. Esr. Ihi.t. I'l' :V.t7 Caiit; AianVAii Of 1(1 V. / Kane, experieucG liuviug shown tliiit tlu- liuminocky ice was set down nil tlie caHtorn or (jroenland slioro, wliile on the other it was I'rtv. ILe thoiiojht lie should be able to reach near Cape Frazer in iiis Aessel, and in a favourable season e\ "ii to tlie oi)en water of Kennedy Ciianuel; he combated the strictures of Dr. liinlx on Morton's observations,* &c., and insisted that an open sini always existed. The proposed expedition to consist of a vessel lOU tons and 12 men, and he hoped to start in the sprin?:!; of ISOO. iSoO. — The cheering intelligence of last year that the Fo.v had passed the middle ice of J3allin's Bay, and had reachetl Pontl's Hay in safety, gave assurance that the limited area for search on which so much auspicious hope and sound reason rested would be reached, rigidly searched, and the mystery solved as to the fate of tiie lost ones. No further intelligence could be expected for months, unless involving failure — its absence, then, augured favourably for the ultinuite success of this deeply interesting Expedition. The friends of the liapless Franklin and his associates, although with heads bowed, still looked to, still restedon the future. All had the greatest confidence that what it was possible to do would be done ; and surely if ever there was g(>od reason — under Him — to rely on the eiVorts of man, it was here, on jM'Cliutock and his gallant, now sorely-tested, little band. At this time all was propitious ; we had only one mis- giving, and that was lest the predilection in favour of Peel Sound might lead to delay and dilHculty for reasons we have before assigned.! Jmif. — We may mention incidentally, "The Last Journals of Capt. FitzJames, E.X., of the Last Polar Expedition," were now published. J How much it is to be regretted this was not done before, deeply inte- resting and valuable as they are ; they seem " as if they had not been." September 21st, 1850. — Capt. 31'Clintock arrived and landed at J'ortsmouth fi'oin the little Fox, having discovered a most imjiortant liecord (the first) and other relics of the long-mourned missing Expedition, temliiig greatly to elucidate the mystery so long en- veloping it. Ca[)t. M'Cliiitock proceeded at once to London, and re|)orted his arrival at the Admiralty ; the Fux continued her course u[) Channel, and arrived in the East India Docks onthe2;ird. AVe shall now refer to the proceedings of the Fox and her earnest little crew. This document, so ^M'Clintock-like, like all that have emanated from this talented olHcer, is most valuable. After incidentally alluding * See « r-u.ns," &e., pp. ;5Li8 e-f. 1 15. t Ifiid., pp. 3H"i ci .seq., aiul 11I3. X ELlitwl iiy Will. Coiiiiigluim, Kruj., .M.P. raiiiplilcl, 8vo. Bi-iglilou : Fcai'LC. I ■1(. 1 ill 8 KEl'OnT OF THE FOX. to their winter's ice drift of 18u7-5S, tlieir arrival at Tlolstonborq, llu'ir departure theiiee (IStli May, ISoS) for tlie north, their visitiii'j; (Jodhiiveii, U])ernavil<, Cape York, Capo Warreiuler, and I'ond's Hay, aiid aseertained from tlie natives tliere that tlie rumoured wn-cked ships did not belong to the Franklin Expedition, but were wlialers — II hliort, that "uo rumour of the Lost Expedition had reached them," they left Pond's Hay Gth August, lS.jS, and on the 11th reached Heechey Island ; here they landed the marble tablet to the meMU)ry of the lost erew of the IJrrLtissxwd Terror, sent out by Lady Franklin. -Having supplied themselves Avith some coals and stores, they sailed — touched at Cape Ifotham on the IGth, and sailed down Peel Strait on the I7th. Unable to get down further than twenty-five miles, their ])assage south being barred by unbroken ice, Capt. jNI'Clintoek deter- mined to make at once for Bellot tStruit, touching on the 19th at Port Leopold, lie found Prince Regent's Inlet unusually free from ice, and very little was seen during their run down to Brentford Bay, which tliey reached the 20th August. They found Bellot Strait, notwithstanding the doubts that had arisen, really to exist, and com- nuuiicating with the western sea, avcragi;ig cnc mile in width by f-cventeen or eighteen miles in length. AVheu they arrived, it was " iilled with drift ice; but as the season advanced it became perfectly clear." Tides strong, running six or seven miles at the springs. On September Gth, they passed through the strait without obstruc- tion, and secured the ship to fixed ice across its western outlet. Here they remained to the 27th, constantly watching the movements of the ice in the western sea or channel ; after many iueflectual attempts to get through, they returned to the eastward, selecting a snug port at the eastern entrance of the strait, which was named Port Kenned}', after the original discoverer of the strait. The ice in the western sea was observed in mid-channel broken up and drifting about ; gradually the water increased, until at length the ice which intervened was reduced to three or four miles in width, but still lirmly held fast by numerous islets, and withstood the autumn galea. '• It was tantalizing beyond description," says the Commander, im- patient of delay, "thus to watch from day to day the free water which we could not reach, and which washed the rocky shores a lew miles to the southward of us." "During the autumn, attempts were made to carry out depots of provisions towards the Magnetic Pole, but these almost entirely failed, in consequence of the disruption of tiie ice to the southward," — "on one occasion, to the imminent peril of Lieutenant llobson and his i)arty, the ice oh which they were ; j ■ S1'I(I\(J .lOUItN i;VH. ciicamped liaviiit,' diirin-]; a iiortli-t'ast pralo bccomo dotmOicd miuI (iririctl otrtlif sliorc; but after two days tl..'y Ibrtiinatoly f,'aiiu"(l tho l;iiid." 'I'he winter appears to have been iinusiially loii^ aiid stormy, Jiiid the reaourees of tiie country during eleven and a lialf nionliid only yielded eiglit reindeer, two bears, eighteen seals, and a few waterfowl and ptarmigan. Arrangements were completed during the winter for carrying out their intended plan of yeareli. C'apt. MC'lintock purposed visiting the Great Fish Eiver, and making the eireuit of King William Island. To Lieutenant llobson was allotted the search of the western shore of IJoothia to the Magnetic Pole, and from Oateseud Island westward to AVynniatt's furthest; and ('apt. Allen Young was to tra^e the shore of Prince of AVales Land from Lieutenant Brown's furthest to the south-westward to liieu- tenant Osborn's furthest, and also to examine tho coast from Bellot Strait northward to Sir James Eoss's furthest. The early spring journeys were commenced on the I7th February, 1859, Capt. Younjr carrying his depot across to Prince of Wales Land, while Capt. iNI-Clintock and Mv. I\'tersen, with a quartermaster, went southwards towards the JNIagnetic Pole, with the hope of couunuuicatiug with the Esquimaux. On the 2Sth February, tliis latter party, when near Cape yictr«ria, met with a small party of natives, increased subsequently to about forty-five. lieraaining four days with them, many relics were ob- tained, and the information " that several years ago a ship was crushed by the ice off the north shore of King William Island, but all her people lauded safely, and went away to the Great Fish Eiver, where they died. This tribe was well supplied with wood, obtained, they aaid, from a boat left by the white men on the Great Fish Eiver." They reached the vessel after twenty-five days' absence, in good health, but reduced by sharp marching and severe weather : the mercury for several days after starting continued frozen, April 2nd. — Their long-projected spring journeys commenced. Capt. M'Clintock was accompanied by Lieutenant llobson as far as Cape Victoria. Before separating they met two Esquimaux families living out upon the ice in snow huts, " From them we learned," says Capt. M'Clintock, " that a second ship had been seen off King AV^illiam Island, and that she drifted on shore at the fall of the same year. From her they had obtained a vast deal of wood and iron." Directions were now given to Lieutenant Hobson to search for the wreck, and to follow up any traces he might find upn King William Island, but, failing vo find any, to carry out the original ^F 10 I..S(,iU\lM\ M't I.INltti K AMI lIuliSoN I'A IM'. pl.ui ot'scarcliiii;^' Vicloiiii liiiinl bt'iufoii Colliiisoii's niul Wyniiiatt'M furtlu'sl. C'!i|it. M-t,'liiilocK, with liis pdPfy. now scaivlu'd aloii-; tlif e.;.;t .slunv cif Kiiii; Williiun IhIiiikI, (K-oiHioiially pasniiig clc'srrtcil Miiiw Ihilrt. hut without luootiiif? liny natives, till the Sth of I\lay, uIkmi, (iir Cape Norton, they arrived at a suow villai^e eciutainin;,' iil)i)Ht thirty inhahitantn. They cviiurd no fear or fhynet ; Ihey were willing; to (•(.nnuuiiieate all their kuowledi^e and bartt'r all their floods, but would have stolen everythini,'. 3Iany more I'elic.s wi're obtained. They could not carry away all they might have purehased. "They pointed to an iidet we had crossc-d," says Capt. :\l'Clintoi-k, " the day before, and told us that one day's march up it,and tlu-nce four days overland, brought them to the wreck. xSone of these people had been there since lSo7-S, at wliich time little remained. ]\[ost of our informa- tion was received from an intelligent old woman; she said it Avns in ihf fall of the year that the ship was forced ashore; many of the white men dr()[)|)ed by the way as they went towards the (Jreat I'isli l\i\cr; but this was only known to thein the winter following, when iheir bodies were discovered. T!iey all assured us that we should tind natives upon the south shore ol" the (ireat i'ish ]iiver, and some, of the wreck, but this was not the case; only one family was met with off I'oint Eooth, and none at ^Fontrcal Island, or any [ilace subse(piently visited. Point Ogle, INEontrcal Island, and Harrow Ink't, were searched without iinding anything, except a few scraps of i'op|)('r and iron in an Es(piimaux hiding-place." They now recrossed the Strait (Simpson's) to King William Island, aud examined its tiouthern shore without success, until the 21th of May, when, about ten miles eastward of Cape llei-schel, a bleached skeleton was found, around which lay fragments of European clothing, and a small pocket-book containing a few letters ; these, although much decayed, may yet be deciphered. "Judging," observes Capt. M'Cliutock, " from the remains of his dress, this unfortunate young man was a steward or oHlcer's servant, and his position exactly verified the Esquimaux'g assertion, that they dropped as they walked along." On reaching Cape llerschel next day, Simpson's Cairn was examined ; the central stoi'es had been removed, leaving the impression that records were deposited there by the retreating crews, and subse- nuentlv removed by the natives. After nartina from Cant. M'Clintock pari at Cape A^'ictoria, Lieutenant Hobson made for Cape Felix ; at a short distance westward of it he found a very large cairn, and close to it three small tents, with blankets, old clothes, and other relics of ^F ui:»()iM) i,i;i T itv 0()i!i; iii'.ahi ui- ik.vnm.ix. 11 n .sliodting or a iniii^iiitic station; but alllioui^li tlio cairn was dug uiuIlt, and a triMidi dii;; all round it at a di.stanco of ten t'cot, no record was discovered. A piece of blank paper folded up was fouuil in tlio cairn, and two broken bottles, wliicli nuiy perhaps have eon- taiiu'd records, l.iy beside it. The most interesting of the artichvs discovered here, including a boat's ensign, were brought away. .About two miles further to the south-west a snudl cairn was found, but nothing was obtained. About three miles iu)rth of Point Victurv n second small cairn was examiiu'd, but only a broken pickaxe and omjjty canister found. "On the Uth of JNlay," contiiuies the IVo- eeedlugs, " ]Mr. llobson pitched his tent beside a large cairn upon I'oint N'ictory. Lying among some loose stones which bad fallen from the top of this cairn was found a small tin case containing a record, the substance of which is briefly as follows :— This cairn was built by the rranklin Expedition upon the assumed site of Sir James lioss's Pillar, whicli had not been found. The Erehns ami Tirror spent their fu-st winter at ]Jeechey Island, after having asceudeil Wellington Channel to lat. 77° N., and returned by the AM'st j-ide of Cornwallis Islaiul. On the 12th of September, ISK!, tliey were beset in lat. 70° 5' N., and long. 98° 23' \V.* Sir Johii i'raiddin died on the Utlj of June, 1817. On the 22nd of A|)ril, 1818, the ships were abandoiu-d five leagues to the N.X.W. of Point Victory, and the survivors, 105 in number, landed here under the conunand of Capt. Crozier. This paper was dated April 25, 1818, and on the following Aay they intended to start for the Great Fish Jtiver. The total b)ss by death in the Expedition up to this date, was nine officers and liftecn men. A vast quantity of clothin<' and stores of all sorts lay strewed about, as if every article was thrown away which could possibly be dispensed with,— pickaxes, shovels, boats, cooking utensils, ironwork, rope, blocks, canvas, a dip-circle, a sextant engraved ' J'redcrick Hornby, E.]N".,' a small medicine; chest, oars, &c. A few miles southward, across Back Bay, n second record was found, having been deposited by Lieut. Gore and jNfr. Ues Yceux in May, 1817; it allbrded no additional information. Lieutenant llobson continued bis scarcb until within a few davs' march of Cape llerschel without linding any traces of the wreckor of natives." lie left full infcu-mation of his important discoveries for Capt. M'Clintock ; therefore, when returning northward by the west shore of King "William Island, he had the advantage of knowing what had already been found. After leaving Cape llerschel, the * Is not this n ini.srciuliiijr oi' the Reconl ? yxwrntF^m^ ^•P ■■ 12 IJOAT AND TWO Sk'ELKTONS — IlETUUX TO SHIl*. ;t • traces of natives becaino loss numerous and loss recent, and after rounding the west point of tlie island tliey ceased altogether. The shore here is extremely low and almost destitute of vegetation ; numerous banks of shingle and low islets lie oti' it, and beyond these Victoria Strait ia covered with heavy impenetrable ice. When in lat. 09° 9' X. and long. 99° 27' AV., they came to a large boat dis- covered by Lieutenant Hobson a few days previously. This boat liad been intended for the ascent of the Fish Eiver, but was abandoned ajiparently upon a return journey to the ships, the sledge on which she was mounted being pointed in that direction. A large (luantity of clothing was found in her, also two luunan skeletons ; one of these lay in the after part of the boat under a i)ile of clothing ; the other, which was much more disturbed, probably by animals, was found in the bow; live watches, a quantity of silver spoons and forks, and a few religious books, were found, but no joui'nals, pocket-books, or even names upon any article of clothing. Two double-barrelled guns stood upright against the boat's side, precisely as they had been placed eleven years before ; one barrel in each was loaded and cocked : there was ammunition in abundance, also thirty or forty pounds of chocolate, some tea, and tobacco. Fuel was not v.anting, a drift tree lay v;ithiu 100 yards of the boat ; many very interesting relics were brought away by Lieutenant llobson, and some few by Capt. ]\L'Clintock. Oil the 5th June Capt. M'Clintock's party reached Point Victory, without having found anything further. The clothing, &c., was again examined for documents, note-books, &c., without success, a record placed in the cairn, and another buried ten feet due north of it. Nothing worthy remark occurred on their return to the ship, which '' ey reached on the 19th of June, live days after Lieutenant Hobson. The shore of King William Island between Capes Crozier and Felix, observes Capt. M'Clintock, has not been visited by Esquimaux since the abandonment of the Erelus and Terror, as the cairns and articles lying strewed about, which are in their eyes of priceless ralue, remain untouched. If the wreck still remains visible, it is probable she lies upon some of the ofF-lying islets to the southward, between Capes Crozier and Herschel. On the 28th June, Capt. Young and party returned, having com- pleted their portion of the search, by which the insularity of Prince of Wales Land was determined, and the coast line intervening between the extreme points reached by Lieutenants Osborn and Browne discovered, also between Bellot Strait and Sir James Eoss's KFFECTS ON YOL'NO AM) UullSON. i;i iich fiirtlicst in 1SI9. "llaviiii^ scut back four of his inon, for forty (lays (remarks Capt. M'C'liiitock) he jouriieyod on through fogs and gales with but cue man and the doga, . . building a su-^w hut each night: but few men could stand so long a continuance of labour and privation, and its effect on Capt. Young was painfully evident. . . Lieutenant llobson was unable to stand without assistance upon his return on board; he was not in good health when he commenced his long journey, yet he also most ably completed his work. Such facts will more clearly evince the unflinching spirit with wliich the object of our voyage has been pursued than any praise of mine. We were now all on board again ; as there were some slight cases of scurvy, all our treasured resources of Burton ale, &c., were put into requisition, Bo that in a comparatively short time all were restored to sound health," The summer proved warm, and they were able to start on their homeward voyage 9tli August. They were six days closely beset near Fury Point ; but, a change of wind removing the ice, their voyage was continued, almost without interruption, to Godhaven, in Disco, where they arrived 27th August, and on 1st September tliey sailed for England. Capt. M'Clintock says, — " From all that can be gleaned from the Eecord Paper, and the evidence afforded by the boat, and various articles of clothing and equipment discovered, it appears that the abandonment of the Erchiis and Terror had been deliberately arranged, and every effort exerted during the third winter to render the travelling equipments complete. It is much to be apprehended that disease had greatly reduced the strength of all on board, — far more, perhaps, than they themselves were aware of. The distance by sledge route from the position of the ships when aban- doned to the boat is sixty-five miles ; and from the ships to JMontreal Island, 220 miles. The most perfect order seems to have existed througliout." He concludes, — " This report would be incomplete did T not mention the obligations I have been laid under to the com- panions of my voyage, botli officers and men, by their zealous and unvarying support throughout ; a feeling of entire devotion to the cause which Lady Franklin has so nobly sustained, and a firm deter- mination to eftect all that men could do, seems to have supported them through every difficulty. With less of this enthusiastic spirit and cheerful obedience to every command, our small number, twenty- three in all, would not have sufficed for the successful performance of so great a work." Here ends Capt. M'Cliutock's lleport of his Proct. dings. Thus terminated the voyage of Lady Franklin's Final Expedition, Jl I!F,MAl?Ka. i^ till' "lonely 7'y,r." liaroly has a voyanjo comnionceil iiiulcr iiidro iiiitoward circmnstanccs, ami omk'd with more success — tlie recovery of" the priceh>ss Kecord. It aloiic is woi'th all the anxiety and cost of the Expedition; for jt not only proved that Lady I'ranklin and the projectors of tlie plan of the voyaj^e were ripht as to the direction in which the search sliould he made ; hut showed also that the spot selected for search was wisely cliosen, heing within the limits of reason, and concluding tliat Fran''iin, if only enabled but partially to fulfil the first clause of his Instructions, would be brought within the inlluencc of the south-east drift in Melville Sound.* But in proportion to tlie great credit ivflected on Lady Franklin and her friends by the important discoveries resulting from this voyage, so was the discredit attaching to the Aduiiralty and the Government for withholding assistance at such a juncture. One knows not which to condemn, the heartlussness, ignorance, or meanness that ruled. It was indeed a pious object that led to the original intent of the voyage, and ought to have been respected. It was not : and but for the persistent aelf- sacrilicing spirit of that devoted wile, the fate of the Franklin Expe- dition, so far as it has been revealed to us, would probably never have been known. Her conduct is a practical illustration of what an active luidespairing woman's love can accomplish. How much more is it to be admired than that soul-enslaving supine faith, that, mire- kneeling, attempts nothing. Her energetic spirit has never rested, never relaxed. She may, at moments when intense feeling, with its exciting theories, prevailed and disturbed, liave vibrated to the pressure ; but the restraint withdrawn she ever reverted, " faithful as the needle to the north," to that true quarter that held her hapless liusband and his gallant followers in ice-girt captivity. It lias pleased Almighty God to bless her efforts. The veil hanging over the fate of the Franklin Expedition has been partially rent. We know now that the gallant Franklin died — died at his post. '" That death was a noble ending to a glorious life." He died, too, in peace. So far, though Slid the revelation, there is cause for thankfulness, for it relieves her from that intense withering anxiety, compared with which the painful reality is a chastened joy. He has blessed her efforts. Her husband is not restored, but his end is known. "The gi-eat navigator died in no sudden shock or great disaster; he was crushed by no iceberg; he did not starve miserably oil some wander- ing ice floe; nor did he drift away in storm and ice-haze, which cast a veil so thick around him that the survivors can only say, ' After that • See Map at tiic ond of (lie " PIan.«," kc. SUCCESS OF FIN.VL EXPEDITION. 15 wo never saw him more.' No; he died surrounded by messmates and friends, and in the discharge of his duty."* "The brave ukl man lias found a not inappropriate grave in tlie region wliich is indissolubly connected with his early fame," "and a nation's sym- pathies and condolences await ^ he widow. Evei\ now there is but one sentiment among the people of England— llojiour for the gallant veteran who, in the fulfilment of nis mission as a pioneer of discovery, died valiantly at his post, and tender sympathizing reverence for his noble-hearted widow, who, in the depth of her true woman's love, was daunted by no obstacles until she had placed his fate beyond the reach of doubt, and paid the last tribute of sorrowing allection to his nameless grave." f Let her, then, take comfort. AVill she? AVe tru' t she will. But her heart, so wra])ped in all that concerns the gallant companions of her husband's ghjry, we fear will prevent, with her, for a while the repose she needs so much. They were her children. "If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." Would that the whole secret were laid open. But, alas! this know- ledge is denied even to her. We must bow. She should, too. For the future she may countenance, she may even aid, but shoulil no longer lead. It is now fitting that she takes rest, and this she may, in the abiding comforting conviction, so justly her's, that as an English woman, as a sailor's wife and friend, she has indeed nohhj done her duty. J " When the world grows wiser, it will learn to recognize the great truth that such men as Franklin and his brave companions are the true Heroes who make a Nation's Glory." The voyage of the Fox terminated, having achieved the great object of its intent as far as its limited means, and the uncontrollable, per- verse mishaps that attended its early stage, permitted. This is altogether due, under Providence, to the enthusiastic feeling, and united, firm determination pervading this glorious little band of twenty-five souls. The difficulties that beset them at the offset were extreme. Who can contemplate the 212 days of helpless ice-drift, cold, cheerless, and monotonous, and yet full of anxiety, without par- ticipating iu the disheartening influence it must have had over those * Times, 23rd September, 1859. t Morning Star, 24tli September, 185i) J Here let us not omit to mention Miss Crncroff, the niece, the eliecrful com- panion, assistant, and fast friend of Lady Franklin, tlic niidy writer, the never- failing indefatigable advocate for search to the end. All who have had the honour to know and converse with Miss Cracrol't must have apjireciatcd in no common degree the excellences of her head and heart ; her inforniation embraced every branch of the Great Question, and she vas wholly devoted to the Ifoly Cause. C 10 M'CLINTOCK. to whom the destinies of the " little Fox" were entnistecl ? But Lady Franklin had made a wise selection in the choice of her com- mander ; the result proved her accurate discernment. Capt. F. L. M'Clintock had, by his Arctic antecedents, established for himself a name worthy to be enrolled among those of the " worthies" of old ; hence much was expected of him : he had given promise of great deeds, and nobly has he realized the sacred confidence reposed in him. He may have been depressed by the obstacles that met his advance, but he was not disheartened. "With a firm resolve he faced them ; combatted, and in the end overcame every difhculty. " To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield," seems to have ruled him ; and " Hope on, hope ever !"* his motto. It has not been given to him entirely to solve the strange mystery, but he has rent the veil, and unfolded to us the fate jf the great com- mander. Sir John Franklin ; of the manly Gore, and of seven other ofllcerij and fifteen men. He has told us of the abandonme.nt of the Erehus and Terror, and their subsequent loss ; of the safe landing at Point Victory of Captains Crozier and Fitzjames, with the remaining officers and crews — 105 souls. Has confirmed again, by other tribes of Esquimaux, the truth of Dr. llae's report of the landin^^' and supposed loss of a party of forty whites at Montreal Island and on the shores of the entrance of the Great Fish Kiver. He has traced the line of march of those poor wanderers to the southward by the western side of King William Island, bringing to light the deaths of three others, and has brought home numerous precious relics, derelicta of that fearful exodus ;t has followed their track on its southern side until all further trace was lost, obliterated by the Esquimaux's appropria- tion of every chance vestige dropped by the way, of priceless value to them : and, over and above all, he has established beyond all reason- able controversy, that to Sir John Franklin is due the priority of dis- covert/ of the N'orth-West Fassage, — that last link, to forge which he sacrificed his life. The "lonely Jkr," notwithstanding her year's detention in the ice, and her limited means, has done more towards developing the Tortunes and the fate of our unfortunate countrymen, than all the well-equipped argosies that have been sent on this melancholy mission over eleven years. The Government might well be proud of such success, if such had been their's. Added to these * M'Clintock's mottoes seem selected to govern him : — Ist. His flag, a white star on a blue field, and motto, " Lead Thou us on." Again, " Persevere to the end." There is a mind and a chivalry about them quite his own. t These aro now deposited in tlie United Sei-vice Muscwm. I!Ksri,T,S Ul till; VOVAdE, 17 arc tlie valiioble ^geographical discoveries made by Capt. M'Clintock and liis indel'atigable ollicers. The existence of BeUot Strait, before doubtful, lias been confirmed. The vest coast of lioothia, and the east and west coasts of King Williiuu Island, have been traversed ; also the coast line bet\vc(ni Osborn and Brown's furthest, by which the- insularity of Prince of Wales l^and is proved, and the truth of our induction as to tlie existence of a strait running north-west and south-east, communicating with INlvhille Sound, between tliat island and A^ictoria Laud, has been established.* Sir James lloss's farthest down Peel Sound lias been connected with Bellot Strait ; and the mistalcen conclusions of Kennedy and Bellot regarding Peel Sound, now proved to be a strait (Franklin Channel), continuous with the Victoria Strait of Eae, rectified ;t and (although it has not been much noticed) he lias discovered, by the east side of King William Island, a tliird North-AVest Passage ; and, besides these, large contributions have been added to science. Altogetlier, in v liatever light this voyage is viewed, it cannot but be considered as one of the most remarkable and complete on record. It has saved England from reproach. But with unity of purpose and unanimity of feeling, guided by a IM'Clin- tock, backed by a Young and a Hobson, and a gallant little band of Die-IIards, one cannot contemplate any undertaking, however fraught Avith risk and danger, but must succeed. " Fortune favours the brave." In the case before us she has rewarded with realization the plans which reason, courage, and perseverance framed. All these are tlie glorious results of Lad^ Franklin's " Final Expedition. "J The intelligence of the arrival of the Fo.v, with certain information as to the fate of the I'^-anklin Expedition, spread like a wild cry throughout England, Ireland, and Scotland. The cry was taken up by the press (to its honour), and perpetuated in all forms and in all types : thousaiid" of pages were devoted to i-ecord it. Science wore a gladsome smile. The learned and the elegant in literature embalmed the glorious theme in undying language ; and the poet sung prcans exultant, in every number of which verse is capable. The ephemeral at a penny, and the portly quarterly, up to six shillings, all alike joined the general exultation. It was taken up by our colonies, and re-echoed triumphantly back on the mother country. * See " Plans," &c., pp. 3G1— 309. t Ibid., pp. 261 ft 362. J " The extent of coast-lino explored by Capt. A. Young amounts to 3S0 miles, whilst that discovered by Hobson ami myself amounts to nearly 420 miles ; making a total of 800 geographical miles of now coast laid down." See "Voyage of the Fox," p. 33'J. 18 SEnytcES Ri;conxjzi:u nv Tin; quf,t;x. The United States, in the warm expression of her citizens, showed how earnestly, how deeply slie sympathized and rejoiced with the " fair mother." France, Germany, Kussia ; in short, all Europe — we may say, all the world — for the interest was universal ; all were touched with feeling— regret for the departed, and gratification that at last the lost Expedition had been found. Let no man say, the spirit of our fathers, the "old worthies," no longer aiumates ami warais ns: the love of adventure and of daring enterprise is, not- withstanding the cui hono wail so characteristic of this utilitarian age, as strong as ever ; it is felt by all classes — in the hut and in the palace ; by the peasant, and by her who now graces the British throne. No greater proof can be adduced of the old spirit prevailing witliiu us, than in the recej)tion and hearty greetings given to Capt. M'Clin- tock and his companions since his arrival. Tliey were hailed every- where with expressions of welcome and delight. Her Majesty, by an Order in Council, dated October 22nd, 1859, was pleased, "in con- sideration of the important services performed by Capt. M'Cliutock, in bringing home the only authentic intelligence of the death of the late Sir John Eranklin, and of the fate of the crews of the Ercbun and Terror^'' to sanction the time during which he was in the Arctic Eegions — viz., from June 30th, 1857, to September 21st, 1859 — to reckon as time served by a captain in command of one of Her Majesty's ships ; and, soon after, was furvher pleased to confer on liim the honour of knighthood. Vhe Universities of Dublin, Cam- bridge, and Oxford, conferred honorary degrees upon him. At a grand meeting held in the City of Dublin, on Xovember 12th, the Lord Mayor presiding, a national address Avas presented to him, and steps taken for inaugurating a testimonial in his favour. Other recogni- tions of his merit emanated from various other places in Ireland. On May 19th, 1800, the City of London presented him with its Freedom in a gold mounted oaken box, value fifty guineas : and on May 2Sth, the Royal Geographical Society, desirous to commemorate in an especial manner the Arctic Researches of Sir John Franklin, and of testilying to the fact that his Expedition was the first to discover a North- West Passage, awarded the Founder's Gold j\Ledal to his widow, Jjady Franklin, in token of their admiration of her devoted conduct, in per- severing until the fate of her husband was finally ascertained : at the same time they adjudicated to Sir F. L. M'Clintock, R.N., the Patrons' Gold Medal for his unflinching fortitude and skill, by which the precious Record unveiling the fate of Sir J. Franklin and the abandonment of the Erehus and Terror was recovered, and for his 'iji T 3wed with irope wore L that r, the i and , liot- tariau iu the lirone. rtithin ?Clm- every- by an n cou- iutock, of the W<.sand Arctic 59— to of Her lifer on 1, Cam- a grand le Lord id steps recogni- iid. On <>eedom ay 2Sth, especial 3btifying b North- )\v, Lady t, in per- l : at tlio I.N., the by which and the id for his 1 Vrvlr:'^-) --^^.^^ --'y ■ »-»-»»■»>/• "-> "i H *-»! t f'-Vti ■ Cfl^ot^Uj^^hi^ftZi: J( tJt^ u^ / ^2 <^. V t^^ ^''^' Admiralty, London, irith a note of fhe lime and plarr at tchirh it was ><^>^ '3 1 |s^ "^ fmnd : or, if more ronv. nient, to deliver II for tbit purpose to the British *^ i ' j ^ i cj - V ^ Consul at the rjearest Port. J :^ y^ 5 -V vl QuiNcoNQUE troiivera co papier est prie d'y uiai-quer le tenls et lieu ou ^ ^x^^ i i ."'^^ il I'aura trouve, et de le faire parvenir au plntot au Secretaire do rAinirautd^ ^^^ J y^. Britannique a Londres s^il ,1 CuAi.QUiKRA queliallareeste Papel,,se Icsuplicadeenviarloal Sccretari^ ^ j' i- J del Almirantazgo, en Ix)mlres, con una nota del tiernpo y del lugar ''V6^-^>.,£^ donde se halld. ^ ' • i ? Een ieder die dit I'apier niogt vindeu, wordt hiermede verzogt, om h?^ «o ^^ zelve, ten spoedigste, te wiUcn zendcn aau den Heer Minister van dfe? j Marine dcr N^ederlanden hi s Gravenhage, of wcl aan den Secretaris dci5 j-i' ^ j,^ - Britsche Adiniralitcit, te London, en daar by te vocgtn eene Nota,^_Vf-'^ ^ ^ ^Vjinhoudende de tyd en dc plaats alwaar dit Papier is gevonden gewoTdcw*^r) i^ C'\. - -^ ^ ' ^ ^^ J FiNDEREN af dcttc Papiir ombedcs, naar Lcilighed gives, at sende 2 \ sanime til Admiralitets Secrelairen i London, eller nifrmeste Knibcdsinand'^ ' i Danniark, Norge, eller Sverrig. Tiden og Stoedit hvor dette er fundct "^ onskes renskabeligt paategnct. -X~^ Wer diesen Zettel findet, wird hier-dnrch ersucht denselben an den 1 -^ ' Secretair des Adniiralitets in London einzusenden, niit gefaliiger angabe J 'M^iK'Ljur- London Jo,:n MuiTay , Albf raarlcStreel . 1859. JUtHtini/eSm' B^.nm M M S^Mar/aj .^-r, Il ■■■-■■— .■s^i^.-^i^^.-a ' '■^^'^ - *ltt^W W ^3yf:"*i-'!l^*'!"'^ TW COPV OF iiEconu. 10 Kf*(>grii|)1iit'al discoveries, — a p;rnceful tribute to Arctic euterj.i'ise. AVo rejoice to see Lieiitcnnnt llobsou promoted, Capt. Allen Young, not beiiii^ of the navv, cannot be ; but is there no way by which the n(»bl(! generosity and energi-tic services of tiie "merchant sailor" can be recognized, and deference shown to the genius of commerce, to wliom England owes so much? Again, there is the accomplished and scientilic Dr. AValker. The Arctic medal bas, we bear, been awarded to each olHeer and man of the Fox, and wo are delighted to lliid that the C'vil Service estimates contain the following votes, besides others in the eause of science — £2,000 for a monument to the memory of Sir John Franklin, and his ollicers and crews ; and £5,000 to Sir F. L. ]\['C'intoek, and the oflicers and crsw of the Fox. In granting these sums, the Government recognizes, not only the never-despairing fidelity and devotion of Lady Franklin, but also the talent, unflinch- ing daring and ])erseverance, of Sir Y. L. IM'Clintock, and every ofllcer and man of that noble little band engaged in the " Final Search." In doing this, the Government does honour to itself and to England. "We now give a copy of the precious Record found at Point Victory. Long has such a document been sought ; but where ? Alas ! any- where but where we ought to have looked for it. Let tliat pass. •' Yet pity weeps ; yet sympathy complains." How full of information is this document ! "Well may it be called precious ! " 28t.h of May, " II.M. ships EreJjits and Terror wintered in the ice, IS 17. ' " in lilt. 70" 05' N., long. 98°. 23' W. " Having wintorcd, in 18 lG-7,* at Eeechey Island, in lat. 7-i" 12' 28' N., long. 91° 32' 15 W., after having ascended Wellington Channel to lat. 77°, and returned by the west side of Coniwallis Island. " Sir John Franklin commanding the Expedition. «' All well. " Party, consisting of two officers and six men, left the ships on Monday, 24tli May, 1817. " O"- GoEE, Lieut. " Cha*- F. Des Vceux, Mate." Eound the margin of the Eecord is written : — "April 25th, 1818. — II.M. ships Erebus and Terror were deserted on the 22nd of April, five leagues N.N.W. of this ; having been beset since 12th Sept., 1816. The officers and crews, consisting of 105 souls, under the command of Capt. F. B. M. Crozier, landed in lat. 69° 37' 42" ; long. 98° 41'. This paper was found * There is an error here ; the correct dates should be 1845-6. Sec tlic dates at the toj) and bottom of the record. 20 11KMARK8. by Lieutonant Irving, under tlio caini supposed to Imvo boon built by Sir Jiimca K^ss, ill isril, four mill's to tlio northward, wIkm'c it hnd bctn dopositod by llicliito Coimnunder Ooro, in iluno, ISl". Sir Jiunes Uoss' 1ms not, however, been found} and the paper has been tranuforred to this position, which is that in which Sir James Ross' pillar wns erected. Sir John Tranklin died on the 11th Jur.", 1H17, and the total loss by death in the Kvpedition has been, to this date, nine oHlcers and fifteen men. " F. R. M. Cuozirn, ".T.v^rES Fitzjames, Cajitain " Captain and Senior Otliccr- " 11, M, ship Erthus. "And start to-morrow, 2Gth, for Back's Fish River." From the above it will be seen that the Expedition aacendiHl the Wellington Channel to lat. 77" ; that it retiifi-.i d by the west wide of Coruwallia Island, and wintered, IS 45-0, at llceehey Island; that after leaving Beechey Island the shi[)s were beset on September 12th, IS-iG, — where is not given, — andcon^^iniied so, wintering in the ice until May 24th, 1847, when they were in lat. 70° 5' >f ., long. OS" 2:3' W., on which day. Lieutenant Go/e and Mr. I3es Vceux, with six men, left the ships. All well. On May 2Stli, the record is deposited ii\ Sir James lloss's cairn (of 1S;U), by Lieutenant Gore. The marginal Avriting says it was deposited in June. ]May is first written, and afterwards crossed out, and June substituted, both by the same hand ; it may be, therefore, that May 2Sth is the date of deposit going out, and June the date of return to the ships. The record is afterwards found by Lieutenant Irving, and transferred to Point Victory, v. here further information is adtled by Capt. ritzjames — that Sir John Franklin died, June 11th, 1817; that the ships were deserted on April 22nd, 1818, five degrees to the N.N.W. of Point Victory ; the oilicers and crew, con- sisting of 105 souls, landed on April 25th. Up to that date, the total loss by death had been nine oilicers and fifteen men, and they intended to start to-morrow (2Gth) for Back's Fish liiver. The record is then again deposited on the site of Sir James lloss's pillar, where it was found, 3Iay Gth, 1859, by Lieutenant llobson, detached to search in that direction by Capt. IMcClintock. Hero we end the voyage of the Fox .• — ■ " Hope, too long deferred, became despair ; Yet one true heart still hoped the lost restored — Lady that well deserved her absent lord ; Uer every tliought on his dear weal intent : — « # * * * Yet fruitless all ; no power of mortal man I\ray change one tittle of the Eternal Plan."* * I'nzc roem, Oxford, June 10, 1858 ; b\ F. Law Latham, Erazenosc College. 21 CHAPTER XXI. AND BA'rnunsr islaxds— ooodisiu and m'douoall — iikeciiey tSLAND DEJ'AJITL'UE— liV Wlllfll ClIANXEL DID THE 81IH'S JfEACU KINO WIMJAM's island r—UELLOT STllAIT ?— HEMAIIKS— PEEL SOUND? — UEMAKICS— KENNEDY AND DELLOT—M'tLlNXOCK CHAN- NEL?— OUIl INVESTJUATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS— YOUNO CON- riRAIS THEM— NEW YOllK JOUIINAL OF COMMEBCE— 0USEUVATI0N3 DY TUB GUTNNELLS— ON " TUB PLANS FOll TUE SEAllCIl"— OUJEC- TI0N3 TO THE WESTKEN ROUTE ANSWEItED — THE RECORD MIS- CONSTRUED—DATES MISPLACED — ItEMARKS—HEKCHEY ISLAND, WHEN DID FRANKLIN LEAVE IT ?— DATE ESTIMATED— DISTANCES OBTAINED IN RARUOW STRAIT BY PARUY AND KELLETT— ESTI- MATE— MELVILLE SOUND AND M'CMNTOCK CHANNEL, THEIR TKEND— CUURENT AND DRIFT— FRANKLIN' S ROUTE BY MELVILLE SOUND — THE ESTIMATED TIME AND DISTANCES APPLIED — CON- CLUSIONS — ALSO TUE ESTIMATED TIME AND DISTANCES APPLIED TO THE ASSUMED PLACE OF BESETMENT IN THE CHART AND PLANS, ETC. — CONCLUSIONS — ERROR FOLLOAVS ERROR. In oiFering our reflections on this voyage of the Fox, we would have it distinctly understood that, so far from wishing to detract from the merits of Capt. M'Clintock, or Young, or Hobson, or the gallant little bind forming her crew, we say at once that they each and all have nobly done their duty, and each and all have our most sincere respect and admiration; for from such slujf as these are made of, England owes her greatness. Their heroism, their perse- verance, and their fortitude, is above all praise ; and as it has been truly remarked, their "endurance is supremely" their own. It has been said of England that her children " know not when they are beaten ;" " truth to tell, they are beaten so seldom, that their ignorance may surely be excused. It arises entirely from want of experience."* * See the talented article in " Sharpc's London Magazine," Nor., 1859, by Jovon, p. 2J,2. MM 1,1 I;. 5 M, 22 COIl^'WALLIS AND BATUURST ISLANDS. 8o witli Liuly rrankliu, aud Capt. M'Cliutock, so Avith the oinccra and ci^w of the Fox,— ''thoy knew not when they were beaten." That tearful drift of 2i2 days, and l,19i miles, knocked them down, but did not dishearten them; they got up, "turned to" again, and succeeded. In ottering reflections, tlien, we separate their heroic deeds entirely from their opinions. Their deeds are their own. No honourable person will filch from or dispute them. Their opinions are open to the world. Taking the data ailbrded by the Eecord, we will follow the Expedition. There is nuich in it that invites reflection. By it, it now appears that Sir John Franklin really did ascend the Wellington Chai.nel, and that to the 77th parallel; returned bf the west side of Coruwallis Island, and wintered at Beechey Island, IS-IS-G, showing thereby that lie adopted the alternative given him by the Section G of his Instructions. "We have always contended tliat Franklin would adlicre rigidly to his Instructions ; we believe he did so, even now. " You will not stop to exainine any opening to the northward or southward in that (^Barrow) Strait" (Section 5); and this apparent departure from them can be accounted for only on the assumi)tion tliat he was barbed out from the west by the accumulation of ice between Cornwallis and Grilllth Island ; and the latter and North Somerset ; and finding the AVellingtun Channel open. In the absence c'' positive information, we can arrive at no other conclusion, uidess we assume tliat he dejiarted from his Instructions at the very oflTset, which we cannot admit. A\"e consider the ascent of this forbidden channel as merely tentative. The Expedition appears to have been foitunate, both iu its advance up Wellington Channel, and in its return. The liecord says he rctiu'ned by the west side of Cornwallis Island. This surprises us, as that island and Batliurst Island were said to be joined by a narrow isthmus. Messrs, Goodsir and Marshall (of IVnny's ships), in their journey "along the north sliore of Cornwallis Isloiid, as far west as 0'.)"," "found drift wood in a bay on the uoi'th side of a narrow isthmus which connects Cornwallis and Batliurst Islands,"* and state, "The land between Points Decision and Disappointment is about 100 feet high, with a steep slope of snow down to the sea ; from Disappointment Bay, westward, it is higher. Cape Austin is a high, blulf headland, and from that point much lower to their ' furthest,' beyond Vthich it is very low indeed, so as to make it doubtful, iu some parts, which was ice aud * SiiUiirlund's Journal of Ciiiituiu Pcuny's Voyage, vol. ii., p. 10(i. nEECMIEY ISL.VXU DEl'AnTDRE. 23 which was land." * Still tlioy passed over it. Mr. IM'Dougall, second master of the licsohtlr, having i-eportcd these islands to bo connected, Capt. (now Admiral) Austin directed "that the whole extent should be accurately laid down;" and he was appointed to this duty. In hia report, June Sth, 1851, ho says : — " I had the satisfaction of tracing tlie laud all round, with the exception of a gap, four miles in width, and this, I am inclined to think, forms the mouth of a bay, or inlet, of uo great depth ; the circuitous nature of the surrounding coast-line being, in my opinion, a sufficient war- ranty for such a supposition;" and in a side-note adds: — "The most distant points forming the gap were estimated to be twenty-five miles distant." f Again, Commander (now Capt.) Sherard Osborn (Sir Edward Belcher'a Expedition), from the north, in his endeavour to connect his own with Goodsir's furthest, advanced as far east as 98° W., thereby overlapping the hitter's furthest west. The land about Drift Wood Bay he describes as " less indented and extremely low ;" and at Foul Weather Bay says, " The back land on the north side recedes more, with intervening terraces, than it does on the south side; at the bottom of the bay there is a flat valley between the hills, having a very tortuous course north-westerly. On the south side, near the middle, there is a series of small clilts, fifty or sixty feet high." J "A round-topped hill, eleven miles south of his position, he thiuks is pro- bably the AVood Island of IM'Dougall, and that Groodsir made a more northerly course than he supposed." From all this it would seem there must be some mistake somewhere. Eejectiug all unworthy rumours as to misappropriation, still we cannot but think there may yet exist some unfound record on Beechey Island. W^e cannot imagine Sir John Franklin would winter there and not leave some notice of his having done so. It is improbable tliat 184 officers and men should be fixed to one spot for ten or eleven months and not leave some note of their presence, unless under the impi'ession that they would not be looked for on that, the north side of Barrow Strait, as they were ordered to the south-west ; or the more prevalent idea, that the Arctic seas were navigable even to the Pole, and therefore not necessaiy, as they would be foUowciL AVe now know tliey maile the trial of the Wellington Channel and returned. * Sl'o Blue Book, "Fiirtlier CorrcspondcnccV kc, 1852, p. 111. t Ibid., " Aiiaitionnl Papers," &r., 1852, piif,'c 281. X If/itl., " jMirtlior Papers," Juiumrv, 1855, pp. 21G— 8. ill 21 UELLOT STBAIT, ! ': I May they not have left a record as they passed to the nortli, aud under this feeling have taken it up on their return ? But we leave Beechey Island, and would follow the course of the Erchus and Terror. All the talk of disaster there, or loss at Cape York on their return voyage, the Eecord found at Point Victory has, after eleven years of unavailing search, set at rest ; we now know with certainty the position the ships reached, and when and where they were abandoned, viz., five leagues to the ^.N-W. of that Point. But the question then arises, and a most important one it is, by what channel did they reach this position? There are three passages open to them from the north, as now kuown, — Bellot Strait via Prince Eegcnt's Inlet ; Peel Sound aud its continuation by the now Franklin Channel ; and Melville Sound, and by our strait, now M'Clintock Cliannel. jS'ow, as Sir John Franklin was specially ordered "not to stop to examine any openings to the northward or southward in Barrow Strait, but to push to the toestioard till he had reached Cape AValker," and " from that point to use every effort to penetrate to the southward and westward : " and as the coasts between Cape Clarence and Fury Beach, and the former and Cape Wal- ker, including Peel Sound, on both sides have been rigidly examined, aud yielded not a particle of evidence to show that he passed to tlie southward by liegent's Inlet or Peel Sound, or was shut outfr^. the west by tlie presence of ice, by what train of reasoning can we assume tliat he was unable to follow his instructions ? But let us examine these various channels, and weigh the facilities they each aftbrd for the passage of ships of 300 or 400 tons ; and in connection with the fruitless search that has been made, test the probability of their having done so. First, Bellot Strait was not known when the lamented Franklin sailed ; still he may, — but we doubt it, — have become acquainted with it subsequently. Capt. M'Clintock, with the full power and command of steam, which Franklin had not, made six attempts to push through aud failed, lie says, — " An unsparing use of steam and canvass forced the ship eight miles further west, half way through Bellot Strait ;" " at the turn of tide we were carried back to the eastward ; every moment our \elocity was increased. We were very quickly swept past it (the grounded ice) at the rate of nearly six miles an hour, within 200 yards of the rocks and instant destruction. The ice masses were large, aud dashed violently against each other, and rocks lay at some distance oif the southern shore." " Bollot Strait is about twenty miles lung, aud scarcely a mile wide in the narrowest part ; I'KEL SOUND. and there, within a quarter of a mile of the north shore, the depth was 400 feet." "The great rapidity of tlie tides accounts for tlie open water." " Thejlood comes from the west.''^ " Considerahle aug- mentations (of ice) were seen drifting in from the western sea." " We had been coquetting with huge rampant masses, that wildly surged about, or dashed through boiling eddies, and almost grazed the tall clitfs." " The Strait eastward of us is perfectly free, wliereas in the direction we wish to proceed, there is nothing but packed ice, or water which caunot be reached. Bitterly disappointed we are ; nothing but strong hope of success induced me to encounter such dangerous opposition." On a fifth attempt the Fox was made fast to the ice across its western entrance, two miles from the shore. " This ice is in large, stout fields, of more than one winter's growth, apparently immoveable, in consequence of the numerous islets and rocks which rise through and hold it fast." And again, on a sixth, " The ice, hemmed in by islets, has not moved. Tliere is now (September ls_), uiuch water in the offing, only separated from us by the belt of islet-girt ice, scarcely four miles in width. My conviction is that a strong east wind would remove this remaining barrier." Here they remained until the 28th, and " had considerable difliculty" in return- ing to the eastward.* Yet Capt. jNE'Cliutock is hoj)eful. Still, from all that has been adduced, it woidd seem that although, under a favour- able season, a small steamer such as the Fox, of 170 tons, might get through into that western sea, it is most improbable that with ships of the size of the Erehus and Terror, with their limited steam power of three knots, even were Bellot Strait known to Tranklin, tliat he would make the attempt, or, making it, would be likely to succeed. But all speculation on this point is set at rest by the fact of the stores at Fury Beach remainin;/ untoucheil, which would not he the case if the Fxpedition had passed down liet/ent^s Inlet, en route to Bellot Strait. We must look elsewhere, then. The next opening olVering a chance of getting south is Peel Sound. Capt. ]\[cCliutock tried to get down it, but was stopped at the end of twenty-live miles, by ice siuiilr.r to that described by Lleuteuaut Browne (Ommaney's division), 18.51. Peel Sound has never been known to be open, or free of ice. Eminent Arctic authorities think Frankliu adopted tliis route; but witli every feeling of respect and admiration for Capt. McClintock, and those who think with him, we cannot join in this opinion. IVel Sound was known to Franklin only as Barry left it, '• a seeming gap of about forty miles wide." It is true that distinguished navigator spoke » Soo " Voyugo of tlicFca-," I'p. l«i— 187, ct 1 are proud. But to return. We know little of the true nature of M'Clintock Channel but what is supplied by Captain Allen Young, whose exertions need no praise of ours ; they were most indefatigable ; but from circum- stances they were confined to its northern shores, from Cape Swin- bin-ne to Osborn's furthest. He says, " To the north-westward of the Cape (Swinburne) was pack, consisting of heavy ice — masses formed years ago in far distant and wider seas ;" and adds, " This channel is so constantly choked up with unusually heavy ice as to be (|uite unnavigable ; it is, in fact, a continuous ice-stream from the north- west." t Young attempted to cross this channel ; but found it * The Neiv York Jotirnal of Commerce, Nov. 5, l8ol), luis tlio following article on the Arctic Regions, with Map, "in the preparation of which," tlic Editor says, *' he has been greatly aided by Henry Grinnoll, Esiq.,J and his son, Cornelius Grinnell, just returned from Europe :" — " It is singular, and at the same time deeply inte- resting, with the information we now possess, to compare the route that Franklin actually did take with the various routes which it has been supposed he would take. Some time since, the British Goverinucnt required from most of the Arctic olRcers their opinions as to the route that Franklin most probably took ; and, strange to say, not one of them suggested tlic true path, while some of them were very wide of the mark. Mr. John Brown, F.R.G.S., of London, and the author of a very clear and able book on the ' Plans for the Search for Sir John Franklin,' a Review, ])ubU8hed in London, 1858, was wonderfully correct in his prognostics. Accompanying his book is the best map (by Arrowsmith) that we have of the Arctic regions. On this map he traces the route which he supposes Franklin took. He runs his line through an unknown strait, which M'Clintock since ascer- tained f' ^es exist, and goes directly to the very spot where the record tells us the ships woiu abandoned. The criticisms that IMr. Brown makes on the orders given to the different searching expeditions by the British Government are severe, but just, lie shows that not one of tliem contrincd directions to explore that quarter where the Government itself directed Franklin to go. Franklin was ordered to make from Cape Walker a south-west course, as near tis he could, to Bchring's Straits; and Mr. Brown strongly insists that Franklin would rigidly adhere to his orders, and that he would be found in that unknown area, south-west of Cupe Walker, then unexplored. M'Clintock has proved him to have been correct." t See "Voyage of he Foa-," pp. 337— 33'J ; also, " Plans," &c., p. 381. X See " Plans," &e., pp. 39, 281, 305-()-7. ON " rili; PLANS Foil THE SK.VliCII. ;u impracticable witli his moans and time. Collinson and Eao had pre- vioiialy noticed the presence of this lioavy ice from Point Telly and Gateshead Island. This is no more than, after what we have' said, might have been expected ; but that the channel is never uavi- gable is questionable. Captain M'Clintock is of Young's opinion as to its navigajbility, in which Captains Ommaney and Osboru join. These latter explored the north-west shores of Prince of Wales Land. All are good authorities. That bays and inlets and low coasts, having a north-west aspect, abutting on the line of drift, should be loaded with accumulations of ice, is likely; but the channel has depth, and this is proved by the heavy floating masses. Through such a channel as the one under consideration, so wide, having a powerful direct current setting through it, deep water and free drift— all these duly weighed— there must be, we think, at times, a passage practicable for ships.* AVe know, too, that occasionally the ice at the bottom of Melville Sound, whence the supply comes, cannot always be so heavy. In 1851, " the ice ims cliujlij of that year's fonnatio}i:'\ However, the sound, the coasts, and the strait, it must be admitted, bear an execrable charactc- ; but may this not arise from our as yet imperfect knowledge ? However that may be, all this was unknown to Franklin and to us in 1815. In the course he was directed to follow he would unwittingly tail in with these very obstacles, and would have to dare the danger. The trending of the coast line at the bottom of ]\Ielville Sound to the south-east, and the current guided and limited by it, would force him in that direction, and on to the north-west entrance of M'Clintock Channel. Question, Did he get through it down on to King AV^illiam Island ? "VVe firmly think he did. J We have endeavoured to show that the route by Kegent Inlet and Bellot Strait is impracticable for ships of the size of the JSrehus and Terror ; we have also shown that, from the nature of Peel Sound, now Strait, and the Franklin Channel, and the expe- rience of those who have examined Peel Sound and it— together v, ith the entire absence of all traces of the Franklin Expedition in t.ther — that those routes were not attempted by Sir John Franklin. AVe think a passage south by it, if not positively impracticable, is to the last degree improbable ; and, lastly, it was not within the tenor of his * See " Proceedings of the Eoyal Gcogra|jliical Society," vol. iv., Xo. 1, pp. 8, 9. t See Armstrong's "Personal Narrative of the Discovery of the North-West Passage," p. 315. X See tlie "Plans," &c,, pp. 368, 118, 421. D i" ' 32 011.IECTI0NS TO niE Wi;8Ti;it>' ItOUTi: vnsweiieu, 4 ilJ- '!■ • 111 ; I J !■■; I i I irJi i Instructions, but against tlicm. AV^liy, tlion, waste words and time on idle speculation ? "We have no proof that he Avas xinablc to follow out the original plan of the voyage : why nijt, then, assume that \w was able rather than that he was not, and J'oUow Jiim where %ve sent liim, to Cape Wallrr, and throurjU tfint tc)iq)linf/ wide opening, io tlie soxith-ioest, he was specially directed to ? For ourselves, we have no doubt but he made the attempt, conformably with his Instructions ; that he got hampered in that south-east drift, so often and so justly quoted as fraught with embarrassment, and in it was carried through M'Clintock Channel to Avherc, by the record, we fmd the Erehis and Terror on the 24;th May, 1817 ; having wintered in the ice, 1840-7, hesct, yet driftimj tliroui/h Victoria Strait, coniplelin;/ and solving the great question of a Xorth-Weat Fansage. Here the great navigator yielded up his good and gallant spirit to Him who gave it, dying with the consciousness (as we shall show anon) of having accomplished the glorious object of " the Voyage." Here- abouts, too, were the ships abandoned. It has been argued that Sir John Franklin could not have taken the route along the tvestern side of Prince of Wales Island, because it is unnavigable for ships. To this wo reply, there was no necessity for Ms attempting to do so. AVe know he did not land on Cape Walker, or a record would have been found deposited there. Wo know, too, it is seldom accessible, Barrow Strait about here becoming greatly contracted, by the islands (Lowther, (rriillth, &c.) lying between it and Cornwallis Island arresting the free easterly move- ment of the ice ; but though unable to land there, he might have been enabled to pursue a more westerly coiu'se (as Parry did, or Kellett), such as is known generally to oiler along the south side of the Parry Group, and subsecpiently a south-west one, which would take him clear of this " low land, abounding with shoals and heavy ice." Another objection is founded on the insufficiency of the time : it is urged he could not, after leaving Beechey Island, have taken the route by Cape Walker and Melville Sound, and arrive off the north end of King William Island, where it is said the ships were beset, by the 12th September, 1840. JS'^oiv the record does not give the date tvhen the shi2)S left Beechey Island, nor does it give their position when ■first beset, i.e., om the 12th September, 1810. The charts recently published give as the position where the ships were first beset, i. e., on September 12th, 1840, lat. 7U° 5' N., long. 98° 23' W. : but this is incorrect ; we Tcnoiv not tchere they ivere beset ; the position here assigned to September 12tk, 1840, is really that of Tin: HKCtUM) MiaCONSTlM r,i). 33 3[fii/2\tli, 1817,* after tliey hail wintered — a difference of more than e'KjJtl months : thin is a veri/ t/rave error, as it ii/nores nil the nwve- menfs hi/ drift of the ships ditrin;/ that period ; part of which is in tlio month of September, so well known to all Arctic oxplorora iis tho most open and favourable to navigation, and if to navigation, of drift too. Tho sliipH, we now know, notwithstanding they got entangled to tho north-west of King William Island, did drift, aud in the right direc- tion for the completion of the passage. Again, by giving tlie above position to September 12th, 18-lG, instead of the true dati' (May 21'th, 18-17), false inferences as to the rate of tlrift are drawn. Between the former date aud April 22nd, 1818, when the ships were abandoned, are nineteen months ten days, during which time tho shi[)s are found to have drifted nineteen miles, giving for the rate of drift one viilepcr month ; hence it is inferred the drift is trijiini/. This is another error arising out of the former. Give the above position of the ships its true date, viz.. May 2ith, 1817, we have then a very dillerent set of figures and results. From the latter date to April 22nd, 181S, aro only ten months twenty-live days as the period for this nineteen miles' drift ; this gives nearly 1 J per month, almost double that obtained by erroneously placing the above position as the spot of besetment on September 12th, 1810 : but more, this error iu misplacing dates involves other and most important inferences as to the direction and movements of the Expedition ; in short, whether Sir John Franklin took the Feel Sound route, apparcnth/ in contradic- tion to his Instructions ; or that hi/ Cape Walker and the south-icest, agreealle to them, — and also ivhcther he was enabled, by adopting the latter, to obtain the position given in the record tinder date of May 2.Wi, 18-17, lat. 70° 5' N., long. 98° 23' W. We think he did take the south- west route, and did reach the last-named position by it. The absence of other records where previous search has been made may, iu this view, be greatly accounted for. But let us examine the amount of time, as attbrded by the dates iu the record, and compare these with the known dates and distances obtained and recorded by previous navigators in these regions. First, the probable date of his departure from Beechey Island. Second, the distances obtained. First, as to the date of sailing from Beechey Island. In 1819, wheu Parry was here, on August 22nd, " not a particle of ice was to bo seen,"t either in the north, up Wellington Channel, or to the Avest * Lieutenant Gore and party loft tho ships in that position on May 21th, 1817. t See ParUamentary Papers, No. 97, 1851, p. 71. I'TT m 31 AVIIKN FRANKLrN LKFT HKECIIKY ISLAMJ. by Eiirrow Strait. In 1852, on August lOtli, tKo Xorlh Sffir pot into Erebus and Terror Bay. hi 185.'}, Au<;uHt 20tli, tlie ice broke up inside JJecehey Jsiand. In 185 i, on the same date (Aufi;u8t 20th), tlio JVoi'th S(a>' got free. In 1858, the Fo,v, Capt. ]Sl'Clinto.jk, arrived and anchored, August 11th, at Point lliley ; and on 15th, iu the Hay. Now, if we take the mean of these dates, it will give August 17th as the average time for the sliips being free, and the probable date of the sailing of Sir John Franklin from liceehey Island : but, by way of corroboration, li't us take the dates of arrivals there. From 1819 to 1858 we find the average is August 19th for arrivals ; we shall then not be far wrong if we assume the date for Franklin's departure to have been Ait(just 20/7/, 1810; between that date and September 12th, 1810 (the day he was first beset), are twenty-three days : now, assuming he took the western route by Melville Sound, how far is he likely (under favourable circum- stances) to have succeeded in getting west and south ? And this brings us to the second question, What are the distances obtained by preceding navigators ? AVe have but scanty data, as only twice has the passage been made from Baffin's Bay through to Melville Island ; but we shall avail ourselves of them. Parry, in 1819, from August 3rd, at the entrance of Lancaster Sound, to September 5th, at Winter Harbour, less fifteen days employed in his discoveries of and down Prince Eegent Inlet, did the entire distance in eighteen days. His position at the entrance of Lancaster Sound, August 3rd, 1819, at noon, was lat. 74° 25' 31" N., long. 80° 40' 30" W. ; on September 5th, in Winter Harbour, lat. 74° 47' 10' N., long. 110° 48' 15" W. : the difference of long. 30° 43' 25". Now taking the mean parallel 74.r— and it is rather higher — it will be seen that iu these eighteen days he groped his way to the westward over perfectly unknown ground, and against the easterly set of the current, 493 geographical miles, or 5G7 English miles = 27^ geographical or 31 1 English miles daily; and he sailed the same distance back, in 1820, in six days. Capt. Kellett, in 1852, deducting five days' detention at Beechey Island, was twenty-six days going over nearly the same ground ; this would give his daily rate of sailing at 19 geographical or 21:} English miles. It is admitted that Parry, in 1819, had a most favourable season, but his discoveries were made on entirely new ground, and he was compelled to be cautious ; we need not add, he showed himself a daring and a skilful navigator. Kellett followed him, and had the advar.tage of his experience ; but all shoals are not known and laid down, as the latter proved by grounding on an unknown one, and was = iht' ^ SOLTll-i;.VST t'l nui;>'T. w delayed the greater part of a day— a delay of immense consc(iuence in regions wliere the season for navigation is so short. Not, tlien, to ver-e8timai<' the daily rate of sailing, we have adopted the mean of the days and distances obtained by these distinguished Arctic explorers, which gives twenty-two days at twenty-four miles and a half each as the rate of jirogress. Now wo liavc for date of sailing from Jk'echey Island. August 20th, ISIG, and the time when beset, Se])tember 12th, 18 10 = twenty -three days for advance; we have also the mean daily rate (Parry and Kellett) of twenty-four miles and a half. These (21i x 2)]) would give a total distance of forward movement of oCJJJi miles. Taking the facts as they stand— and they are undoubted— do they allbrd suUicient sound data, in the absence of more precise knowledge, to reason upon, so that we may arrive at something like a just conclusion ? We have shown the improbability, if not iiupracticability, of the eastern routes ; let us inijuire if that by Ca[)e Walker and the south-west oilers any better hope of success ; we think it does. IMelville Sound is more extensive, and therefore offers greater space for the free drift of the ice. It is admitted that the ice is heavier ; but the larger the area, the more freedom is there for the motion and drift of its heavy masses. Even now we know little or nothing as to the navigability of jMelvi le Sound. Descrip- tion represents it as appalling and impassable, and yet no one has ever dared its dangers, if Sir John J-'rankliu did not. All the information we have goes to prove tluat a strong current sets through it to the south-east, bearing onward and relieving it of the very heavy ice masses it receives oid Banks Strait from the north-west. Ifi're we would make some remarks on the strength or rate of this south-east current. It was first noticed by Parry's Expedition at Melville Island. The ice was observed always to be drifting past Banks Laud, from the west to the south-east into Melville Sound ; and, as it was never observed to empty itself into Barrow Strait, and as it was impossible but that this constant inpouriug must idtimately choke it up, which it never did, we thought there must be some outlet at or near the bottom, producing a current, and an escape for the ice in that direction. In the course of our imiuiries as to the source whence came the Hood flowing down into Coronation Gulf, having found it could uot come from the north, south, or cast, having traced it to the north of Victoria Land, and having noticed, too, the heavy character of the ice, so different from that of Barrow Strait, we were confirmed in our conviction that a strait must exist between Victoria and Prince of Wales Lauds. The 'W «■■ n W- 30 m'clintock channel. it |i ■ ; journey of Capt. A. Young proved tbe fact. That a strong current exists, runuiug between Banks Strait and M'Clintock Channel, is no longer douhtcd, and the heavy ice proclaims its depth ; but whether it is i)racticable, or navigable for ships, is a ques'-ion — and above all is the (juestion, whetlier Franklin's ships passed through it to their known position off King William Island. AVe think they did, and not vi(i Peel Sound. The rate of this current has beeu variously estimated by some at one mile, by others at two miles and upwards, an hour, AVhen the Investigator rounded the north-western end of Baring Island, between Capo Alfred and on to INIercy Bay, ample opportunities were afforded of proving its velocity, and are recorded.* We have no account of its rate in INIelville Sound, nor in IM'Clintock Channel, but it must be considerable. As the pressure is found to be enormous when any obstacle is offered to the free drift of its floating masses, especially on coasts having a north-west aspect, and particidarly where the coast is low and shoally, here its effects would necessarily become still more apparent ; hence the nonh-west face of King William and Prince of AVales Islands are loaded with heavy ice, and are evidences of its strength. All this is easy of compreheneion. But it should be remembered that this strait — now M'Clintock Channel — is nearly 100 miles broad ; and that, while it is the great opening or channel for that current which brings down the ice-drift from the north-west, so also does it prevent the entire eholving of Melville Soinid, by the free passage it affords for its exit to the south- ward ; it slioidd bo remembered also, that the source from whence llicse ioe-mi?sscs flow is )iot always constant in its supply, that occa- sionally there is au interniissiou, as has been observed in the open water iu Banlvs Strait.f Failure in the supply, from whatever cause, taken in connection with the perpetual emptying going on through IM'Clintock Channel, as evidenced in Victoria Strait, and along the southern coasts of Victoria Land and King William Island, are facts wliicli lead to the idea of open water occasionally occurring at tho bottom of this Sound, and with it the probability of a navigable passage. J ^>o better proof can be given than in 1851, from the notes made by au observer on the spot, " the ice was chiefly of that * See Blue Dook, "Arctic Expeditions.," 185 1, p. 60; nlso, "The Nortli-AVest Piissnge," by Pr. Armstroiijj:, pp. 3'J0-2, '1.27, 132-9, 1 11-3, 115, 472 ; also, " JM'Clure's Diseovcry of the North-West i'ussage," by Capt. S. Osboni, K.N., p. 21Uj and "Phuis," J^n., pp. 310, 311. t " TlieNortii- West Passage, riaus," &c., p. 303 5 also, "Armstrong's rersonal Narr.ilive," !<^'., p. 172. X See the " Proreechn^is ol'lloyal Oeogruphieai Society," \ol. iv., ^o. 1, pp. 8, U. DATi;S COURECTED. 37 gear's formation, and only in the bays and inlets were there numerous old heavy tloos."* " Give a dog a bad name," &e. But to return ; we sliall have occasion again to notice the efiect of tliis current, and its rate. Here we have twenty-three days for navigation; is it possible for the Expedition to reach the position lat. 70' 5' N., long. 98° 23' AV., off the north end of King AVilliam Island, by Melville Sound in the time ? We have pricked off a course such as might occur in an ordinary season, avoiding too near an approach to the north and west sides of Prince of AVales Island, but penetrating south and west, as chances might be supposed to offer ; such an one as we might imagine Sir John Franklin would take, with the limited knowledge we possessed at the time (184.5), of the land to tlie east, south, and west of him, and what would result from his getting within the influence of this south-east current. We find tlie distance would be about 550 miles from Beechey Island to the position above-named. Xow, the distance, by the mean average daily rate of Parry and Kellett, is twenty-four an^ a half miles ; this rate, for twenty-tlirec days, will give 5G3 miles ; so that, if we make an allowance for more rapid progress in the early— i. c, the northern or more navigable part of tlie passage, it will make up for the slow advance, or retard from ice, in the southern. We think, with the prevalent north-west winds, once in the drift, the current would do the rest. Its mean rate, from the authorities before quoted, is one and a lialf miles per hour; this will give thirty-six miles per day: but say one mile per hour, it will be twenty-four per day ; and even this amount appears ludicrous. But then it is not constant: still we indicate it as proof of its strength. Spread over Melville Sound it would be less, but pressing through M'Clintock Channel, it must be consi- diu-able. From these observations it will bo seen it is possible tlio passage might be and may have been made by the Erdms and Tcr. ;r ill the time—/, r., twenty-three days between the points mentioned. We shall not pursue the subject further : we have merely gone into it to show its possibility, even with the dates misplaced, as they are. But as we have said, they are wrongly placed ; the position of St'piemhev Vlth is rcalJj/ ihat of Abiji 2-1/ Zt. Now, if we take these eorreotod dates, it will bo seen that the time elapsod between leaving Beechey Island, iVugust 20th, 1810, to May 21th, 1817, the position off King William Sound, where they had wintered, is nine months and four days, or 277 days. This is ample time to make the jissago » «' Avmstroiig's Perbonul Numitivo," \^. 315. ■ P 38 FllAN'KLl> S AiSSUMEU UOl'TB. U ' li f I; i vid Melville Sound. But let us follow them on the route laid down on the charts. In the first edition of this volume, it will be seen, we have given them large westing, with some southing, to a point, lat. 73|° N., long. 110° W. Of course, this is only an assumed position; but in choosing it, our view was that, after having attained the meridian of Cape Walker, Sir John Franklin would endeavour to get to the southward, as quickly as the presence of ice, known to exist in that quarter, would permit. The absence of all trace of his passage, by record or other^nse, along the southern shores of the Parry Group, is no proof that he did not take the route west of Cape "Walker. In pursuing him, we tliought, as he would be opposed by this ice — but persisting to the south-west — his westing would be prolonged. We had no doubt he would continue his westing, as long as he coidd, to the east of Banks Land, hoping to make southing in the meantime. As to returning to tlie eastward and nortliward, after he had attained large westing, because he could not get Eiouth, as wished, with the channel between the Parry Islands open, and leading to the north, close at hand — such an idea was out of the questi(m, especially with such a determined, persevering commander as I'ranklin — the s])irit of Arctic enterprise, and the director of the movements of the Erchm and Terror. His Instructions pointed to that quarter, and that was sufficient for him, and ought to have been for us. In fixing on this position, we took a common-sense view of what movements he was likely to make, with the knowledge of the positive impediments existing to obstruct liis patli. InTSi"]^., andllO°W., we considered he might be arrested —arrested by the ciu'rent and that flow of heavy ice already noticed. lie may have made less westing ; he could not have made more, or he wouhlhave got within the indraught of Prince of AVales Strait, and if obtaining a sight of the land, would have commuuicati d with its shores ; but in such case, CoUinson and McCIure would surely have fallen on indications of his presence. He may have made less westing, and more southing; may have obtained a siglit of the land, or its loom, more to the eastward, barring his passage in a south-west direction ; may have observed its general south-east trend, and may have, hereabouts, been beset : in any case, he would be witliin the south-east drift, and, under its inlluence, be not only prevented getting further west, but would bo borne helplessly in that (soiitli-cast) direction. All these are ))roijable, — nuich nmre so than that he should be supposed, facts iibseut. to have abaiulcned the course prescribed to iiim by the HATE OF DRIFT. 89 / original plan — returned eastwards, and gone up the Wellington Channel, or down Peel Sound. But to the point assnmed above, as tlie position where he was arrested : wc find its distance from Beechey Island, in a west and south direction, allowing everything for devi- ation from the direct course, is 820 miles. Now, taking the mean rate of Parry and Kellett, 21.i miles for daily progress, in twenty- three days (that is, from August 20th to September 12th, when beset), this would give ^03^ miles — far more than sufficient, in time. To bring the ships to the assumed position where beset, thirteen or fourteen days would have sufficed, and still leave eight or nine days to spare, to reconnoitre their position, the laud in their vicinity, the prospect it offi?red, and its trending ; the ice drift, its nature, direc- tion, and rate. They would soon have become sensible that they were being borne to the south-east, along the northern coasts of Wollaston and Victoria Lands, and this would bring them to the consideration whether some channel might not exist as the primary cause of this current, and in the direction of their drift. The known lands and passages, as shown on tlie charts in 1845, would then recur to them, aud be reflected on. James Boss's discoveries, in 1831, and Dcase and Simpson, in 1839, and the latter in connection with his own discoveries on the American coast line, — all these would pass in review. Seeing they could not extricate the ships from their icy entanglement, to get to the northward again ; seeing, too, that they were driving in the direction of James Ross's furthest, on King William Land, where he ilcscrihes " the land extc?idin// to the south- ivest,'" with a "vast extent of ocean,"* and supposed to be con- nected with Dease and Simpson's disc eries, or "that land on which stands Cape Felix," by " only fifty-seven miles from Boss's Pillar," f — this might give them hope of getting through to the American coast, and complete the passage in another quarter, although not in a south-west direction. The rate and time for drifting through would now be reverted to and calculated, aud the results would strengthen that hope J. AVe will now endeavour to show that this reasoning has a sound basis. The current, as we h.ave said, has been variout.ly estimated at oiif. mile, and two and upwards, per Jiotir ; this will give a mean of one and a half, or thirty-six miles per day, an amount having the " Ross's " Sucond Voyuge in Search of a N.W. Passage," ji. 115. t See "Royal Qoograj)hicul Soeictj's Jouniul," \ol. x., purl ii., \^. 271. X "Plans," ic, p. 121. HP " 40 nATE OF duift. I'. M ! I'is appearance of exaggeration ; but it may not be constant ; and then, again, there are the impediments of ice navigation, and tliose arising from the adverse winds. We know north-west winds prevail here, and tliereibre are favourable ; still the drift might be retarded : but we have excellent examples to guide us in establishing an average rate of drift in tliis quarter, in those expeditions which were beset in Barrow Strait, and, under the influence of the same easterly current, Avere carried to Lancaster Sound. Sir James Ross's Expedi- tion drifted at the rate of 11 miles per day. The first Grinnell Expedition, under De Haven, 42 per day. Again, there is that of the licsoliite ; but this we do not notice, as the time* and rate of lier drift to Lancaster Sound is included in that of Baffin's Bay, having a diff'erent rate. Taking the mean of the above, we have 7^ as the daily mean rate. Now, the distance from the position we have assumed as that where the ships were arrested, i. e., 73^° N., 110° AV., to the one given by the record. May 24th, 1847, where they wintered, lat. 70° 5' N., long. 98° 23' ^V., is about 807 miles, and the time between September 12th, 184G, and May 24th, 1847, is 8 months 12 days, or 254 days ; these, at 7| miles per day, will give 1,905 miles for the linear drift of the Erehiis and Terror, — more than six times the distance required, — which could be accomplished by an hourly rate of 3" of a minute, or less than 11- miles per day. Surely, with a direct drift south-east, and strong current from Banks Strait to King William Island, through a wide bay, and broad, deep channel, — desiderata admitted to exist, — surely all doubt as to the possibility and practicability of a passage for ships by this route must be admitted. If beset, the current would carry tliem througli, as it did Sir James Boss's, De Haven's, and Kellett's sliii)s llu'ough BiUTow Strait. Why, then, should we continue to doubt tliat the western route was adopted ? and finding the Ercliis and Terror too, in a position in which, from our knowledge of the trending of the land, and the direction of the current along it, is Ihc iwaiiion, above all others, tvJierc tee could alone rcasonahhj expect to find thcr.i. Wliy doubt, then, that Sir John rranklin followed the intent and instructions founded on Sir John Barrow's original plan pf — in short, that he attempted the south-west route by Cape Walker, was arrested by the land and ice in Melville Sound, and was carried by * Soo " Eoyiil Ocographieal Society's Journal," paper, " Findlay, on tlio Probable Course ol' Sir John Franklin's Expedition," vol. xxvi., p. 33 ; also " Plans," &i., p. 125. t " Plans," &f., pp. 20, 30, 3G8. 1)' ; ' co5CLrsioxs. 41 13 the south-east drift through (our) now M'Clintook's Channel, to the position where we find him on May 24th, 1847, lat. 70° 5' N., long. 98° 23' W. ? For ourselves, we cannot doubt the facii before us. \Vc firmly believe this was tlie route he took, and by it realized the position from which he afterwards completed the great object of the plan of the voyage,— -the discovery of the North- West Passage, — bringing imperishable glory on the name of Franklin and his gallant associates, and reflecting it on its talented progenitor, the " Father of Arctic Discovery," Sir John Barrow. AV^e should scarcely have entered at such length on this question of route, but, as we have already shown, there has always existed erratic notions on the subject, — always a feeling to assume for Sir John Franklin intentions involving routes and positions quite at variance witli the simple plan of Sir John Barrow, and the plain tenor of Franklin's Instructions, founded on it. All these were imaginary. AVe had no facts in pi'oof. Hence the total failure of all our searching expeditions to find him. It seems to us passing strange ; still such has been the result of ill-informed prejudice. We give Franklin credit for all the superior qualities of a commander, and as an active, enterprising navigator; and justly so; and yet we will not allow the merit of the results of these qualities ; w^e will not tolerate the only conclusions to be drawn, namely — that he attempted and was enabled to complete the great object of his voyage, in the direction in which he was sent. If Melville Sound had been known, and found so full of horrors as has been depicted, it could not liave been the favourable wide opening for the completion of the " Passage" it has been represented ; and, if so, why did we send him to such fatal quarter ? or, having sent him, why not have followed, despite the danger, and, at least, have endeavoured to dispel the mystery, and extricate him ? The fact is, we knew nothing of Melville Sound tlien, and we know but little now. Many severe animadversions have been passed ou the Franklin Expedition for not depositing notices and records en roit/c. It is a very simple, but not justifiable matter, to blame tlie absent, "who cannot plead for themselves;" but if we had not been perverse, — if we had talicn for granted, liaviuf no proofs to the contrary, — that tlie Expedition would be directed only on the principles of the Plan, we might have accounted for the omission. The Expedition was ordered to the soiitli side of Barrow Strait, and there the first traces or notices were expected to be found. Sir James Eoss's parties were, with one exception, con- fined to that bide. The first traces were found at Beecliey Island, 42 CONCIilTSIONS. m k V. on the north side, most unexpectedly, and in a most unexpected spot. No record has been found. But may not Fi-anklin liave left one before he ascended the "Wellington Channel, and recalled it on his return; feeling, as we did, that he would not he sought on the north, but on the south side of Barrow Strait? He left Beechey Island, but no record, that we know of, for the same reason. His course now lay to Cape Walker, and thence south-west. Unable to land on that Cape, he would try to pass it in the offing. From its meridian he would try to get to the south and west. There was no necessity for him to communicate with the Parry Group; and the heavy ices on the north and west sides of Prince of Wales Land would warn him off it ; he would endeavour to make westing and southing, when he could. At last, " under the lee of Banks Land," he would push south. Here he would be beset and in the current, diverted in a south-east direction by the trending of the land. Drifting, he would pass through M'Clintock Channel, on to King William's Land, where we find him. It will be seen, from what we have said, following the line of his Instructions, he had no oppor- tunity for leaving records. We have thought it due to the great Franklin's name, and that of his associates, to say thus much in their vindication. The blame rests with us, for not searching the pro- misiug area — Melville Sound — to which we sent him. The slow rate of drift of the ships, calculated on the assumption that they were beset on September 12th, 1846, in the position they were on May 24th, 1847, has been noticed and brought forward as a jiroof of the weakness of the currents hereabouts ; and hence IM'Clintock Channel has been pronounced as "ice-choked," and quite " unnavigable." Having shown the error arising from applying the position of May 24th, 1847, to September 12th, 184G, whicli is not given in the record, it will be imagined we cannot subscribe to this conclusion. Another channel. Peel Sound, was so considered — we have no proof to the contrary, but rather a confirmation in all we do know— and yet the Erclus and Terror are assumed to have passed down it. The slow rate may be attributed to other causes. The ships were carried down to just that abutting point, Cape Felix, where the land is low, and the ice is arrested. Here, too, tlie current, checked, divides, one branch flowing down James Boss's Strait, and along the eastern coast of King William Island ; the other down the western side, through Victoria Strait. At Cape Felix, it is remarked, — " The pressure of the ice is severe, but the shoalucss of the coast keeps the line of pressure at a considerable COXCIiTJSTOXS. 43 distance from the beach." This might have been expected. " Heavy masses of ice, of foreign formation," were found in James lioss's Strait, and "Victoria Strait was full of it."* Entangled in this ice, and at this point, the ships were not likely to drift so much as they would have done, were they more to the eastward, and especially if more to the westward, in the full stream of Victoria Strait. They could not have been in a worse position for deriving advantage from the current. In conclusion, tee repeat that Sir Jolin FranWin, rejecting Bellot Strait, Peel Sound, and Franklin Channel, followed implicitly the tenor of the 5th and Gth Sections of his Instructions, which directed hitn to the meridian of Cape Walker, and from thence to the south-west ; that in Melville Sound he teas heset in the ice, and in it, under the influence of the poiverfid south-east current, was carried through M'^Clintock Channel to the position ivhere, hy the Becord, ice find him on Hay 2^, 1847, latitude 70° 5' N., longitude 98° 23' W., off the north end of King William Island. * See " Voyage of the Fox," pp. 340-1. I 41 ciiapteh XXII. i ':' i THE QUKSTTOX, DID SIR JOHN rRANKLIN DISCOTER THE NORTH-WKSl' l'ASS.\.GK? A>'S\V£RED— Ills A>'\IETY TO ASCERT.VIX WIIETIIICR A I'ASSAGE EXISTED BETWEEN THE SHIPS AND DE.VSE AND SIMI'SON's SEA — GORE AND DE8 VOEL'X AND PARTY SENT — THEIR 1K)LTE S.W. PROVED rURTllER DY THE RECORD AT POINT (iOKE CAl'E CROZIER SIXTY-FIVE MILES DISTANT, THE EXISTENCE OF A PAS- SAGE COULD RE PROVED THERE — GORE RETURNS IN JUNE REMARKS IN PROOF THAT FRANKLIN KNEW THE PASSAGE EXISTED DEFORE UE DIED — THE HONOUR HIS — THE DISCOVERT FURTHER PROVED IN THl DERELICTA — RACIC'S TIIVER — WHY THE RETREAT IN THAT DIR',:;CTION ? — TUE QUESTION ANSWERED — FRANKLIN's PREDILECTIONS REPULSE RAT AVAGER INLET — DID THE CREWS DIVIDE? — POIi^T WARREN ARE THERE ANY SURVIVORS ? — RE- MARKS — RISK, AVASTE OF LIFE AND MONEV — REPLIED TO — THE " CUI BONO ?" CRY ANSWERED— OUR SAILORS OUR STAY AND PRIDE OUR ARCTIC EXPLORERS OUR ADMIRATION — ARCTIC HEROES SCIENCE, England's position — philosophers — prince Albert's OPINION of them — CONCLUSIOlf. Again we ask. Did Sir John Frankliu discover tlie North- AVest Passage ? Thinking the question set at rest for ever in the affirinative, and satisfied that he did ourselves, we should scarcely have entertained it again, but it has been again mooted and opened up. This we, amongst others, deeply regret. AVe regret it, as it has tlie appearance of an attempt to take from the fair fame of the Franklin Expedition gene- rally, and from the merit of its commander, the much honoured Frank- lin, particularly. We cannot sufficiently condemn the feeling that would prompt a doubt on that whicii is so palpably clear. Again, its cll'eet is to destroy the only solace remaining to the wives and families of those gallant heroes of the van embarked in the Erchns and Terror. To the illustrious lady whom all must reverence, these doubts and insinuations must be most painful, as their tendency is to stultify all her most approved actions, — shown over years of anxiety in her unwearied constant eftbrts to ascertain the fate of her husband and his companions, and would deny, indeed, would take from her niANKLIN .V\l) THE NOliTU-AVKHT I'AHSAGE. 45 the only consolation now left to her, — the comt'ort and gratilication of knowing that he had achieved the object he songht, and which was ever " nearest to his heart," the Discovery of tlio Xorth-West Passage. Is tlie Nelsoniau motto so soon forgotten ? Was it not to obtain the merit, the distinction, and the glory of solving the great question of centuries, these chivalrous, these valiant-liearted fi'llows, went forth from amongst lis ? "Was it not for these Sir Jolin Franklin, at an age when he might have claiuiixl, from former deeds, the privilege of rest, guided by a noble enthusiasm in the cause of science, tempted again the risks and dangers of . 227. t See " Macmillan's Magazine," February, 1860, p. 275. % See " Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine," January, 1860, p. 123. § See " DubUn University Magazine," February, 1860, p. 217. II See " The Ecleetic," February, 1860, p. 121. 11 ll' ! rnAXKtTX AVI) TUK XOnTII-AVEST PASaVOT?. 47 Tlio author of tlu^ above parngrapli (|uoto8 this opinion from our work, as far as it goes, quite correctly; but lie forgets that it is a review of events, with runninn; notes on tliem, as they occurred at the time. If he refers to pp. :JU1— liim, he will see, after Dr. Kae's return in IHTA, we had reason to alter our opinion ; and the voyaj^e of the Fox has now put us into possession of still better infoTmation. The liecord, the journey of Capt. IM'Ciintock, and the skeleton cast of Cape ilersehel, prove the Franklin Expedition had nhrruli/ made the pnssarje five years before, Tiie writer of this article nuist indeed be an inflexible doubter, or greatly wanting in knowledge of the subject, to assert that the " connnunication by water is only surmised." Kae's and Collinson's lloating relics, M'Clintock's and llobson's journeys, even the verif drift of the ships in the ice, prove a passage exists. But the whole drift of this paper is an ungenerous generosity in favour of M'Clure, " Tlie claim has, as it appears to us, with justice been advanced for Franklin and his companions, of the discovery in advance of IM'Clure."* "The North-West P:ia«ige, none have etfected it, eveu by foot or sledges, save Sir \i. ]\l-Chur." f " It will remain a notable fact that the North- West Passage was ili-st disclosed ^y Franklin and his companions." J The Press generally and justly awards the priority of discovery to Franklin. " Until the recent revelations respecting the actual success of Franklin in the solution of this problem four years before, IM'Clure enjoyed the reputation of being the first discoverer of the Passage. That reputation will not be diminished by the facts which have since been brought to light. M'Clure's was a perfectly new discovery." The skill, perseverance, and intrepidity, by which the enterprise was marked, will always remain conspicuous, even in Arctic annals. § But we must onward to our reasons for believing that Sir John Franklin made the Passage. Yet we would pause to notice two letters that have appeared: one by a Mr. Wm. Johnson, oi" King's College, Cambridge. This gentleman commences by rating the reviewers, " who, with one accord, are following Capt. M'Clintock in giving credit to Sir John Franklin. One of them (he remarks) actually says that he has no doubt Franklin, before he died, enjoyed the comfort of knowing that he had done what he was scut to do." (Wonderful ! that any one should have arrived at such a reasonable • "Good Words," Mareli, ISHO, p. im. t Colbiirn's "Now Montlily Macjiizinc," Fohniary. 18(10, \\ 229. % See the "London Kcvicvv," Aiiril, IBfiO, p. 219. § Ibid., p. 2'iy. E 48 FnANKLfV AND TIIK NOIlTn-WEST PASSAGE. If conclusion.) Iloscokls Cnpt. M'Clintock for naming his discovcricB — assumes a moaning for his words he never intended, and tlien proceeds to refute them — talks of Colliuscm, liichardson, I'ranklin, and I'arry, of navigability, of cracked and splintered lands, overlapping, &c., in such glorious jumble, that one feels at a loss to know what, at times, the wrifbr really is aiming at, unkiss cajjtiously to attack ^['Clintock, and, through him, decry Franklin. At last, out conies his object : "Sir li. ]\rC'!uro is entitled to the honour; and Franklin's voyago eeoms to bo neither more nor less creditable than other Arctic voy- ages" — generous eulogy on our Arctic dead ! — "and it shows either ignorance or carelessness in the reviewers not to have reminded Ciipt. JM'Clintock of this. . . If these attempts arc ever renewed, it may be foretold that the explorer will try to reverse M'Cluro'a voyage." That is to say, will go from east to west, a(jainst that cur- reut, and that stupendous ice-drift, that laJJIcd a Farry, and forced M'Chire, from havin// placed his ship on the wrong sido of Banks Strait, to abandon her, and rely on Capt. Kcllett to bring himself and crew homo. jMinerva! hast thou no bolt ? Capt. M'Clintock replied to this tirade of Mr. Johnson's in a clear and kindly manner, tho anti- podes of his (Johnson's) feeling — yet pointing him to his caj)tious spirit and utter ir/norance of the subject. It was also ably replied to by Mr. Isbister and Mr. Weld, all of which wc heartily endorse.* But to the second letter. This emanates from " Justitia." This gentleman refers to a letter of Mr. AVeld'Sjt in which the latter truly remarks, " Franklin and his companions forged the last link in tho chain of a North- West Passage, which they were tho frsf to discover;" and says, " Mr. Weld wanders rather from fiict to hypothesis ; there is not a single proof that" they "added any link;" and ho "would calmly and dispassionately examine on what grounds tho honour is taken from Sir 11. M'Clure, and given to Sir John Franklin." Thus prepared, he speaks of " three ocean paths. IJarrow Strait, the broad central highway: from this one channel runs northward; another runs southward (neither named). . . His first eflorts were to tho northward, and then ho turned southward, and sailed down a portion of it, , . having proceeded no further than Sir John Koss had done eighteen years ago (?), when he discovered tho Magnetic Pole. There perished the Erehus and Terror, just where the Victory bad perished eighteen years before" (?). He " discovered no Passage, and the * Soo AthetKeum, January 7th, 14th, and 2l8t, 18G0. t See TImex, January 7th, 1860. OUn OWN VIEWS. 49 vnnting link remained iiniliscovorcd ; lie did not, and could not, piove that any navigable passaj^o existed between the points wliero his thipswore blocked in llio k-c and JBiliriii',''^ Strait; nor is thcpo a Bing'e fact existing to show that he had any knowledge whatever of the route from one ocean to the other by this soiithern chaiHH"). One might better give the honour of the discovery to Sir John ]ioss, who had roaelied the spot so many yoars previously. Xt'ither i'raiiklin nor Crozior made any claim to discovery. In the llrst record, written during his lifetime, there is no word, no fact, no information given; not a line to prove that Sir John J'ranklin and his comi)anion8 were aware they had solved the Great I'roblem ; and when, abandoning their ships, a second record was written, not a word or claim made to a discovery of any kind. They seem to have made no investigations." "Justitia" then talks of " the channel (discovered by Ur. I'ae, lS.")i (?) onthcr«s/ side of Kinrj WiUiani's Lanil ;" says M'Clurc was the first who passed from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and so on.* We have extracted some of the best portions of this letter, so full of errors, and absurdities, but only to show that ignorance is still rampant. AVo are much pleased to find it ably cut up, with its host of ermrs, by Mr. George Woods Mansell and by "An Old Salt."t ^^Ir. Weld, also, in a full reply, shows up "Justitia'a " letter, as full of " juiscon- ccptions and errors." J But our space is limited. AVe have made a fair selection from all sides the (piestion. It will be seen, without inquiry assertions are made, bold but baseless. AVo now give our own views on it. If we examine the chart supplied to Franklin in 1S15, it will be seen Sir James Eoss, in 1S31, crossed from Boothia to King AVilliam's Land. From itii northenunost point. Cape Felix, the land treiuled to the south-west, with a " vast extent of ocean." He followed the coast Hue, and ultimately reached Point A'ictory ; from thence he saw a point more to the south-west of him, which he named Point Franklin; this he estimated to be in lat. 09" 30' N., and long. 9SJ° o W.§ ])easo and Simpson, in lS3i), from the south and east reached Cape Iferschel, lat. 08° 41' N., long. 98° 22' W. Between these pcjints, as it would appear on the chart of 18-15, there was a space of fifty-live * See Saunders' News Letter, Dublin, Jammry 12tli, 18G0. t See tlie same paper for both replies, January litli, 18G0. J Ibid,t January lOtli, 1860. Note. — We arc complimented by seeing our Book, " The Plans for the Search," &c., so frequently quoted ; but it had been graceful to liare ncknowlcdgcd the -ouivc. § See the Appendix to "Koss's Second A'oyage, 182U — 33," j-. xxii. £ 2 m 50 Tim UKfOIlT) AT rOITJT GORE. M milos of undlnoovorod land.* " Tf T can but p;(>t down tlioro," Fraiiltlin has bi'on heard to say, pointing to the weytern entrance of Simpson's Slrait, " my work is don(\"t It will easily be imagined, then, having just passed a winter, ISl(J-7, in the ice, with what anxiety he would look to explore this xiuJiiioxcii spocr; and in proof that he was anxious, turning to the Kecord, we find that active ollicer, Lieutenant Gore,J despatched from the ships on the 21th of May, 1S47, and that, on landing, he left a record at .Tames Eoss's cairn (1S31), fonr miles to the northward of Cape Victory, dated 2sth INIay, four days after leaving the ships, all well. The marginal notes by Captain Cro/.ier, Bubseqnently added, say it was deposited " I'yi Junr;^^ but this wo shall return to presently. It will be seen, looking to the relative positions, that is, of the ships and his own on the 28th of JNIay, that he was travelling in a south and west direction. This is farther proved by the second record, found on the southern point (now Gore Point) of Back Bay, some eight or nine miles more to the south and west. There can, therefore, be no doubt as to the object for which he was sent; it was to examine and Jill vp the coast I'ne to Cape Jlerseliel ; to p)i'ove, in fact, the confiniiiti/ or vnion of that ^- r/reat extent of sea," seen hi/ Ross from Foint Vidortj, ivi/h the sea traversed ly Dense and Simpson. \Ve will now refer to the diiVcrence of dates, between that at the top of the Kecord and that in the margin. The 2Sth of IMay is given as the day it was deposited by Lieutenant Gore, but in the margin Capt. J'it/james says Jane. There can be no mi.stake here, as it is the correction of a mistake — J/ai/ teas written, hut crossed throuf/h with the pen, and June suhstilnled. It seems to ns, then, more than probable that IMay 2Sth was the day Gore deposited the llecord on his outward journey ; and June, as given by Fit/james, the time of his return. That ho ('.id return is certain ; as by 'he Eecord we find him promoted, consecpient on the death of the lamented Fraidilin, on June llth. This is only important as it regards the safety of Gore ; his proi.iotion would follow, whether before or after Sir John's death, but it would he desirable to Know if he returned before. ITow long he was away, or to what distance he got, we lune no dat(>s to guide us, but the few days from May 2Sth to the early part v\ June. We now know, that in consequence of the elongation of King William Island * Soe " Jom-iiul of tlio Ivov.il G.ogriiphicBl Society," 1810, vol. 10, part 2, p. 271. t Sec till' " (.'are< i " ul' t!ir Joliii rraiiklin, I)}- Capl. S. Osborii, R.N., p. 45. I Liculenant (Joiv wuf in Uie Tenvr in lb;JG, under Caplani (now Achiiiral) Sir ' (! ^m DBASE AND SlMPSOJl's SEA. 51 to tlie westward, the distauco between Point Victory and Cape Ilerschel, instead of fifty-five miles, as it would appear on the charts of 1845, ia nearer 110; still, with the "vast extent of ocean" (of James lioss) running to the soutli-west in the direction of Point Turnagain (of Franklin, 1821), with the knowledge of the continuity of the sea from it eastward to 93° 7' W., as acquired by Dease and Simpson, 1839 — these, with the great object of his journey ever present to his mind and luring him on, it is scarcely probable that Gore returned without accouiplishing his mission. It was not so imperative that he should fill np the whole coast line to Capo Herschel — Franklin's object was to get west, not east — as that ho should establish the fact that the imters, north and south, were united ; i. e., that a passage existed between the position of the ships and the Sea of Dease and Simpson ; and this could as certainly be proved at Cape Crozier, only sixty-five miles off", as at Cape Herschel ; and in the time. Between May 28th and June 11th are fourteen days — but say thirteen days — at ten miles it equals the distance. This done, tlio discovery of the North- West Passage would be completed by Juno 10th, 1817, to the honour of Franklin, his shipnuites, and himself, and tlie glory of his country. Ho would then return and report the "glad tidings" to his anxious commander, and we havo no doubt did so before June 11th. AVe sincerely believe that the great Franklin died satisfied and happy in the knowledge that he had solved the Great Question, that lay "nearest to his heart." Were the ungenerous attempt not made to pluck from him this honour, it were little nuitter whether Gore returned before Sir John's death or not, for still to Franklin must the palm of discovery be awarded. Founded on the truths of his long experience, especially along the American coast line, was the journey doubtless designed. Following jiis plans, and acting under his orders, was it completed, and tlierelure would the honour be his. To suppose that Franklin remained inactive from September 12th, 1810, to May 2ltli, l8l7, or June lllli (whi'u lie died), without attempting to establish and prove the existcm-e of a passage between his ships and the sea traversed by Dease and Simpson, only sixty-live miles oil", is a libel on tiuit great maiirf memory, and the whole Expedition. It is iuipo.ssible to conceive <.)f Buch a mau, with his knowledge, anient feeliii^\ and experience, his whole heart imbued with i\w spirit of the "Old Worthies," urging him to the solution of the only one tiling " notable Ictt nuiloue," with a Crozier, and Fitzjaincs, and 100 iiu'ii, cliivalntus inid gallant, dcvolt d to him and to the uhject of tiie voyage,— \\c t^ay, it is iinpot-siblc to mi 62 THE PASSAGE HAD BEEN DISCOTEBEB. m ■a conceive it was not done — done at once, and for ever solved, and by Fx'anklin. There is no doubt Gore, under his direction, did it. It was not impracticable, as shown by Dease and ^ iinpson ; they sailed from Cape Herschel, traversed a deep bay to the southward, and returned north to Victoria Land (to 105° W.) in twelve days ; de- ducting four days of forced detention, we have eight days for the run, but, in fact, they did more than the distance between Cape Herschel and Point Victory in six days. AVe have no reason to assume, then, that he did not do it in thirteen, and prior to his commander's death. We remember Gore, and think he was not the man to leave his work incomplete. Again, is it not monstrous and absurd to suppose tliat Crozier and Fitzjames did not complete the examination of this limited unknown space between May, 1847, and April, 181S ? In the prosecution of the object of the voyage they were called upon by duty to do it ; and here their eftbrts would be concentrated. There can be, therefore, no doubt they did it ; and still the honour and renown would be Franklin's ; for his spirit ruled and directed them, BO that " we niiglit possesse and keepe that passage." We may add, this is further proved in t!ie route adopted by Crozier and Fitzjames, in their retreat to the Great Fish E-iver. If it had not been known that the passage existed, why have taken the longer route by the west side of King William Island, in preference to that by the cast ? Both presented unlcnown or doubtful coast lines, and yet the longer rout J is talcen ; tlie fact is, from Point Victory southward this coast Lad been examined, and a water communication proved. The North- Weit Passage liad been discovered ; and when it was determined to abandon the ships, it was adoi)tod as proscuting the readiest and most certain facilities for rotri'at to Back's) Fish Biver. It was Imown. That it should be doubted seems to us so extraoi'diuavy, that wo doubt the doubter, and ipiestion whether the ungenerous f'.'v.-iiug shown does not arise from some more objectionable moti' e — well knowing that the lost ones of the Erchitu and Terror can no longer plead for tlieiiisrlvi>s. Does it prove nothing in their favour that we find their dcrclicta bestrewing the course of their track, south- ward by the west side of King William Islaud, to Capes Crozier and lEerseht-'l, and even to Montreal Island, mournful evidences of their sufferings and their sorrows on that sad march F Is no proof alibrdfd in tlu'ii- bleached slselttons? for " tlii-y fell down and died as they walUc'd along;" none wlitii we see their clothes, their plate, even their boats, so many evidences of their having made the passage in IS 18? These all claim for them the priority of the iliscovcry — a I ! m PROTED BY TUE VESTIGIA. 53 f -a claim witli their death seal attached. AVe ask what greater proof can be oiFered ? It ia replied, the Eecord does not mention the fact. A paper such as the Record was not intended to be an abstract of the entire voyage ; it is the record of the act at the moment. The one found is most important, as it imparts more than usual informa- tion. But there is a record that time only can obliterate. At the risk of being tedious, wo repeat it, every step of their passage is written down, and may be traced in their sad remains — in the mournful vestigia dotting everywhere the path they pursued. The boat found at Erebus Bay, her head to the north-east, containing the skeleton remnants of part of her crew, identilied by the numerous relics of those who once had happy homes in the Erebus and Terror — where did she come from ? There can be but one answer. From the south- ward; ])erhaps from the far east of Cape Jlerscliel, or mayhap, only from Cape Crozior, returning from sosne unhappy cause— sickness, or want, to the ships, here to die. llere."n is proof, surely, and one of the most touching. But it may be objected, this is west of — tliey may not have reached. Cape llorscliel. Look, then, on that poor wreck of blighted humanity, the skeleton ten miles east of Capo Ilerschel. lie thus " dropped as ho wallvcd along" — " prone on the tangly beach he lay ! " This poor fellow had passed over the uidtnown space ; " the silent but certain wit iicss that in this, tlie last dread hour, this dying remnant of the Expedition had Jirsi proved the existence of a Korth-West Passarje.''''* Again, there is Montreal Island and it.^ vicinity, with its boats and thirty-live or forty men ; wliere did these forlorn ones come from? They could only reach there by nuilcing the passage froni the ships, and thereby solve the problem. Sui-ely, here is record enough ; but why multiply proofs further to remove doubt, and io convince those who doubt not— that truth might reign, but rather to unsettle the facts she would establish. How nuu-h more to be admired h;id been the prompt and truthful acknowledgment, that to Sir .Tohn Franklin and his associates is due the honom- and renown of being the (irst to discover a North-West Passage; that in achieving it he died, leaving "a name that will ever stand as asynonyme of pure and disinterested heroism — a name that shall nerve fresh genenitions of JOnglishnieu for the battle or the labour of their life. "t The ships were abandoned ; and in their retreat to Back's Fish Klver. passed through this ncuhj • See Introductory Notice to " Dr. Kayos' Boat Jouriu-y," by Dr. Norton Shaw, p. xsii. t Sec "Sharpc's Loudon Magazine," "Tlio Knd of an Kpie," November, IS.'/J. ' 54 DID THE CUEWS DIVIDE ? h] discovered passage. Tiicy died, one by one, as tliey walked along, martyrs to science. Their heroic spirit and "ortitude failed not ; resting on hope they drew comfort from tliat Great Source, inex- haustible, the Creator and Upholder of all things. We trust we have removed all doubt aa to who was the " First Discoverer of the North-West Passage." "We think Sir John Franklin and his associates.* In this opinion we find ourselves joined with many eminent Arctic and other authorities — Sir Koderick 1. Murchison, Capts. "Washington, Colliuson, M'Clintock, S. Osborn, Oiiimaney, llobson, A. Young, and a host of others. t In taking up this subject, we have had no desire to detract from the merit due to Sir li. M'Clure; he has, in an independent direction,, discovered a North-West Passage. All we wish to claim for Sir John Franklin is the priority of discovery — i. e., in June, 1847. ^^JPahnam qui meruit feraf." We have seen that, forced to abandon the Erchis and Terror the 22nd of April, 18i8, five leagues north-north-west of Point Victory (Jas. lloss's), 105 of our hapless countrymen landed there under the command of Capts. Crozier and Fitzjames, intending, says the Kecord, to " start on to-morrow, the 2Gth, for Back's Fish Eiver." Did they proceed in a body? or divide into two or more parties? J "We are inclined to the opinion they divided ; one party taking the direction of that river, and the other a western one, for the Copper- iiiiue or INfackenzie. There has been a great deal written and said since 1847 regarding the direction the missing ones would take if forced to abandon their ships. Some said they would be found on the west side of North Somerset, or here about Back's Fish Eiver, six degrees more southward. AVe do not pretend to the gift of prophecy ; there have been false prophets, and there may be more ; we think it will be found, as we shall show, that the true spirit of prophecy did not rule in this case. First, tlie west side of North Somerset was unknown at the time, tliorefore, to assume it as a point to retreat upon is imaginary. The long range between it and Back's Iliver includes all points of retreat ; a party then, falling back on any one of these from the westward, would realize the prophecy of some one, and yet be greatly in error. Our unfortunate countrymen were brought in the direction of the Fish liiver hy the combination of a variety (f ciraumstanccs ir/iolh/ distinct and disconnected with those * See " riuiiB, ' &e., p. 301. t Sec cviileiiee, " Uei)ort of Select Comuiitlcc, 1855," pp. 10, 18, 31. X Sco " i'luus," v*," &c., p. 23. X IbiJ., vol. X., purt 2, p. 271. 56 ARE TIIEBE ANY SUEVIVOKS ? 1 If i Gulf, and on to Repulse Bay ; or, by crossing over from that river to Wager Inlet, ultimately, in either case, to reach the //. J3. Coinpanifs posts in Uudsoii's Bay. We will now turn to the west. Have wo any material for tracing a party in that direction ? As far back as 1848, from Behring'a Strait to the Mackenzie, there have been constant rumours and reports of ships wrecked, and boats landing. One report seems to carry truth with it ; it is that two boats full of white men landed at the Kopak (east of the Mackenzie, and after- terwards identified with it) bartered their arms for food, and were afterwards murdered by the natives. At Point "Warren this report received remarkable confirmation in the confession of the chief, viz., " that a party had landed there, and had built huts, and that one white man had been killed and was buried there ; the rest went inland."* We must think, then, connecting these Esquimaux reports with the buttons, scalpers, files, &c., said to have been in their possession, that they are based on fact, and, therefore, that the 105 men who landed at Point Victory were divided into two or more parties. Are there any survi\'ors ? We are fearful to venture an opinior: where all is so dark around us. It is said an Arctic climate is inimical to a European constitution ; we have no evidence of this in the sanitary reports of the various searching squadrons, despite the extreme exposure, labour, and privation of the travelling parties. Of tlie 134 gallant men who embarked on this ill-fated expedition, five individuals returned by the transports ; and we know that up to the time of abandoning, nine officers and fifteen men had died, leaving the number 105 who landed at Point Victory. We can trace death in the three skelot ns on King AVilliam Island, and thirty-five or forty at Back's Fish Elver, according to Esquimaux report. Again, there is the Point Warren confession, said to be two officers and ten men, equal to twelve ; still there will remain fifty or fifty-five of our unhappy countrymen unaccounted for. Wo know that the spirit of the distinguished Fi\inklin has departed ; we know tliat the manly Gore i? no more; but where is tlio Antarctic Crozier and the chival- rous i^^'itzjames ? where the other ofllcers and men to make up the deficiency of that noble band of adventurous Englishmen who went forth from amongst us in 1815, — the ilife of our sailor-nation ? Surely it is due to these hapless wanderers that their fate should be • See " Plans," &c., pp. 81), 171 , 177, 230, 295, and 322 ; also, Armstrong's « Nar- rative of Discovery of the Nordi-Wost Pussnge," pp. 152 ct scq.; also, M'Cluru'a " Discovery of the Nor(li-W«>( I'useugc by I 'apt. S. Otsborn," p. 8U. BEMABEB. 57 ascertained.* Dr. Eae aays positively tliat Bomc of our unhappy countrymen were alive in 1850 ; and it' we compare liia E!*quimaux report with the Kecord and the boat found in Erebus Bay, it would seem not improbable. The first report brought by Kae says, "A party of white men were seen travelling sruth ; by signs the natives were made to understand that their ship or ships had been crushed by ice." Prom this it follows that the fatal event had occurred before they left ; now wo know the ships were safe when they were abandoned in April, 1848, the catastrophe must, then, have taken place after that date, which implies a return to the ships. And this is further couiirmed by tlie position of the boat found in Erebus Bay, with her head to the nortli-east, in the direction of the ships. The Escjuimaux told Capt. M'Clintock " it was in the fall of the year — August or kSeptember — when the ships were destroyed." This may have been 1818 — but more likely 1819 ; they might have w iutorod on board the ship forced ashore, and started, spring, 1850. for Back's Fish lliver. It would almost seem that this second party retreated to that river. AVe cannot bring our minds to think that all have perished, tliat not one survives. AV'here are they ? AVe have traced a part of our unfortunate countryuiun to Back's Eish Itivcr, and we have given the causes and motives iniluencing the decision in favour of that route, very diU'erent to what is generally put forth ; but the fact of their having been there is positive. Did they attempt to ascend that river with the hope of reaching Great Slave Lake, and on through the Hudson's Bay Company's territories to get soutli, a distance at least of 2,000 miles ? Tlie oilicers of the Eranklin Exjjc- dition were too well aware of the obstacles this river pretjouted,— its falls, its rapids, and, above all, tlie scarcity of animal life along its whole course, — to attempt it ;t add(;d to these, the enormous dis- tances to travel afterwards, even assuming they succeeded in ascend- ing it. Eor ourselves, we think tliey did not, and we ciiu only regard the suppositioii that they did as visionary. But had they, their late is certain, and we should have had rumours and ti'aees of their death-march reach us througli the natives, ur by Anderson and 8tewart. We do not think it likely that they attempted the route by Ee- pulse Bay, or that iudefatigable traveller, Dr. Eae, in 1851 would have heard of them there. It seems not improbable that they may have ascended the river to the Esquimaux euoampment, in about * Suo " Voyage of Fux,'' p. 252. t Sue Uack's " Arctic Lund Kxpcditiou, 1«33— 35." 68 RISK OF LIFE KVH MONEY. Ill lat. GG" 50' N., being tho nearest point ; and then attempted to cross to Wager Inlet. It is a reniarivable coincidence, but at this eucaiiip- nient the greatest number of Franklin relies were found by Anderson and Stewart. It is much to be regretted they had not an interpreter. They may have ascended higher up to the nearest point, and crossed to Chesterfield Inlet. Should an expedition bo sent by Back's Fish Kiver, it is of the greatest importance that the points indicated should be minutely examined, and also in the direction of the inlets named, if possible, — particularly the former. AVe fear there is little hope, still there may be a chance survivor.* It is our duty, and it should be done. A life rescued, or a stray leaf containing abstracts of the journals, would be invaluable, and might set for ever at rest the uncertainty and gloom still hanging over the fate of the gallant remnants of the crews of the Erelms and Terror. But we must now close. Lady Franklin's final search was well conceived and admirably carried out ; but let it not be supposed that it is the finale to all Arctic Expeditions. It is uot, uor can it be while England is true to herself. Science advances, — " science is jiot of yesterday," and she will have the new questions arising out of her onward progress replied to. She should, for it is for man's use and happiness. There may be an intermission, but Arctic enterprise will yet be renewed. Franklin and his followers achieved the great object for which they were sent. Their fate is, we fear, too certain, but how could they have died more gloriously ? Much has been the talk of risk and waste of life and money to solve a question which, now that it is solved, is of no value ; such is the cry of the maun- derers. "What nonsense! Was anything great ever gained for the good of man without risk and probable loss of life ? There is risk in everything, — on the water and on the land ; in mining, to obtain the crude ore, and the coal for its useful conversion ; in building; whether churches, bridges, or ships : there is risk in our workshops, our manufactories, even in our hospitals. It seems almost inseparable to life that risks should be incurred ; and that, even, for our daily wants — the wants animal. But these are not all ; there are others arising out of aspirations of a purer and loftier nature. It has pleased the '■ Imighty in ci'cating man to separate liim from the brute, by implanting in him a spirit that stirs and prompts him to seek to know ; can it be imagined, that this beautiful earth of ours, with its gorgeous, soul-enlivening sun, and its starry influences, "o full of wonder and mystery above, ao replete with all to charm the souses below, — can * Sec " riaus," &o., pp. 407, '121. AnOTTC lITinOEB. 69 it be supposed that man — so separated, so endowed — to liiin id vetoed — "Thou slialfc not inquire"? If not, man inquirea, and rittk and h)d8 of lift) follows, " as uiglit the dying day ! " — waste, in short, as thi >e maundercrs would call it. If we are forbidden to inquire, let us to the burrow, to the forest, or the mountain cave ; eat of Nature's vilest roots, and sleep ; it were " better to sleep than to wake, better to die than all." If so, life is not here. But it is not so. He gavo us the " talent," and it may not be " hidden in the earth." We shall have to render an account of it, disguise it how we will. The fact is, this outcry of waste of life is altogether false. The Arctic Circle has given to death only a minute fraction of that contributed by home,* in our harbours, where, it is said, " ships ground on their beef-bones." AVaste of money ! Well, no doubt money has been spent ; but let us comfort ourselves it was not for war, that scourge and depressor of our race ! but for the liappiness and exaltation of mankind. It should be remeuibered, too, that England stands higli among the nations of the earth, if not the highest ; and she is at the head uf freedom and of science. Isolated in herself, yet has she vast dependencies ; the sun always shines on her realm. She got these by discovery, by her ships and her sailors ; hence she is maritime — salt to the bacUVone. Long may she be so ! Still, money was required and money was spent, and these cvi bono people may call it wasted ; we think not, lias she gained nothing by the outlay, especially in the case before us, the discovert/ of the Xorth- West Fassar/e ? Look to tilt Newfoundland fishery; the Hudson's Bay fur trade; the whale fishery ; and lastly, the discovery of the American continent. Look at the United States and the Canadas, with their thousands and tens of thousands of happy homes, increasing and extending from the broad Atlantic to the boundless Pacific. Look at the populations and their wealth. They sow, they reap, and replenish the earth, — those smiling fields of plenteousness, rich as they are on the surface, cover inexhaustible mines of wealtli beneath. The end of these benefits to our race is beyond human calculation. Know, then, that all these are the direct results of seeking the Passage, by the north, from the " Orient to the Occident." Engliuid should value highly her sailors. The mercliant trained them in the olden time, as well for his indivi- dual interest as for those of science. The Government now backs the merchant, and caters for science. Our sailors, for daring and courage, for perseverance and fortitude, are the first in the world ; and here we » See " ri.ti.," &v., ri>. 122, 423. ARCTIC HEUOES. i tako occasion to nsk, where has tliis been more exemplified than in our Arctic expeditions? Oflicors and men, from the higliest to the lowest, England may well be proud of them. Their cflurts in the cause of "humanity have been unparalleled ; their exertions world- wide; "where'er they go, whatever realms to see," they leave their mark. In fond allegiance they claim continents for Victoria their Queen, lands and sounds for the royal Consort and the rest of the royal family, peninsulas and islands for our dukes, lords, and coumions. Science is not forgotten, nor loving friends at home. Lastly, they B:!al with their own gallant names the honour to their country. See, are they not inscribed everywhere, from the Arctic Pule to the Equator, from the Equator to the Antarctic Pole ? All this proves the untiring zeal and activity of our Arctic heroes. Surely suilicient has been said. Money spent in the cause of science and humanity cannot bo deemed to be wasted. Tliatthe Passage is useless for tlie purposes of commerce, it may be ; but this could not be known until it was dis- covered. Still the pursuit has yielded rich results to the world and to science, which in the end exalts and benefits mankind. Again, wo are not assured of the fact. M'Clintock thinks the passage may bo made by the east side of King "William Island. lie says, — " Per- haps some future voyager, profiting by the experience acquired by the Prauklin Expedition, and the observations of Eao, Collinson, and myself, may succeed in carrying bis ship through from sea to sea."* But whether available or not, the problem was bequeathed to us by the " old wortliies." England made the question of three centuries her own, — Franklin solved it. Ilad she relaxed her exertions, it not only had been disgracei'ul, but another nation miglit have stepped in and gained the laurel which, wortldess as it may seem, now adorns Victoria's brow. Let us have no more maundering, it is uuworthy the theme ; rather let us rejoice— wo sincerely do — that the spirit of the " old worthies " still rules amongst us ; that in our own age has been added to the list, commencing with John Cabot, a host of gallant names, ending with a INI'Clintock, a Young, and a Hobson. This is most gratifying, for already we hear of other expe- ditions starting, or being about to start, for the north. We would not envy the exertions of any nation, but to have been sup])lauted in a quarter lighted by the flame resulting from our own exertions over centuries, would have been most mortifying. There are yet questions to which, in the advanced state and progress of science, replies must Sec " The Yoyngo of the Fox," p. 31G ; also, " riau!»,"&(«., pp. 11- 18. CONCLUSION. Gl bo given. Ilcnco we have said Arctic Expeditions will bo ronc\,eil. AVo are not arrived at decrepitude or dotage yet. Hitherto we have been foremost; we may not la<^; we must continue to lead. The genius of England points to the van as our position ; we must take it, or adieu to England's fame, — the meridian of her greatness and her honoxir will be past. Thanks to God, the old spirit is still warm within us, and we have nothing to dread on that account. Let no one scolV at science, she is our fast friend. " Philosophers (it has been justly said) are not vain theorists, but essentially men of practice ; not conceited pedants, wrapped up in their vain, mysterious im])or- tance, but humble inquirers after truth ; proud only of what they may have achieved or won for the general use of man. Neither are they daring and presumptuous unbelievers, but ratlicr the pious pil- grims to the Holy Land, who toil in search of the sacred shrine, in search of truth — God's truth — God's laws, as manifested in Ilia works, — in Ilia creation."* • Spo "T1\o .\(Wro88 of II.II.II. the rHnco Consort to the Britisli Association at Abcnlocu," 1851). NEW SEARCHING EXPEDITIONS. ^ iiJ itl Mat 29, 1800, sailed from New London, Connecticut, IT. S., th»^ Oeorge Henry, for the north, having on board a now Arctic Expedition, called the Hall Franklin KoHearch, Thii txpedition consiats of a ISIr. Hall, of Cincinnati, an EH(|uimanx guide, Cud-le- ja-ah, and one whale-boat. The Oeorge Henry will land Mr. Hall and his guide at Sussex Island, between Frobishcr and Cumberland Straits, where he hopes to obtain a crew of five Esquimaux. His object ia to reach Cape Willoughby, Fox Land, and to search the lands north to the entrance of Fury and Hecla Strait, during which exploration he hopes to find further traces of parties from Franklin's Expedition. Mr. Hall expects to bo gone three or four years. In New York this Expedition has been characterized as " hair-brained." Advices from the United States inform us that Dr. Hayes sailed for Smith's Sound on the 7th July, 1860. The object of this Expe- dition has already been noticed, see ante, Dec. 10, 1858. Another Expedition for renewed Arctic Seanih, by subscription, proposed by Mr. Parker Snow, already known as having sailed in Lady Franklin's vessel the Frince Albert, under Capt. Forsyth, II.N., in 1850. Mr. Snow's object is to ascertain more certain information as to the fate of the lost Expedition, and to search for journals, records, Ac. ; this he thinks could be best accomplished by a summer search. He propoaes to equip a small schooner of 75 or 90 tons ; to take the Behring's Straits route, vid the Cape of Good Hope and China, and to return by the eastern route through Baffin's Bay. LT9T OF W0RK9 OK AnCTTC Sni.TECT9. 4.'1* Antiqtiitftfos Amrripanu' nivo Horiptorpn Spj)- li'nIriiiniiliM rcriini AiitP'Coliimhiitnnrum in Aiii.Tirii. Ily C. C. K»ln. With IH V\ntM. ■l<". 1H37. Ciipdihiii/fn. C. C. Riirn. Aniprirn dinocivprpil in tho Tenth CpMtiiry. Hvo. ls;w. XevVork. Dixr-ovcr.v iif AnifTiod Ity tho NorthniPn in thi< Ti>nlh Conliirv. Hy North, LiuUow, Bnd Hpnmi«h. K.U.S., *i'. Hll. Lomlon. C. V. Hnfn. Mi-mniro mir lit Dt'couvprto de rAnuTiqiiP Hu Uuii'mo SicVle. l»vo. is 13. Cnpenha(]rn. (Spp Oiiido to Northi-rn ArchrniloRy. Hy R. H. N. A., pditpd I'lir tho imp i>f fenptlish Kp»dprn. Ity thp Eiirlor Kllenmoro, Lon- don, ism. I'll, iia— lao.) OWin.'.'ids IlistorisKP Mindonmrorkpr (Oropn- land H Historical MoiuimpntH), w'lii VI I'lntpg. 3 vols. Svo. 1s;H — lSl.'i. K ireiih'h/cn. C. C. RaHi. Ampricas Arctiukp Lnndps Rainbe Opocrnphip. Hvo. 18l.>. Ciipenhitn'n, C. C. Uat'n. Apprfudp rAncipnnoGi'ograi)^.o dp« Ri!({ions Arctiqups do I'Anii'riqup. H Mapn. Hvo. 1H17. Copenhngen. Northprn Antiquities, MaUet'n. fly J. A. Illnckwoll, K!iq. 1H(7. Lomlon. Guidp to Northprn Archtoology. By the Karl of Ellpamere. 18 W. Loiiilmi. Orinnell Land. Rpmarks on thn En|;lish Maps of Arctic Discoveries in Is.Vt-Sl. By Pptpr Forpp. lHr>2. Wiithingtun, Orppnland. Do Danskn llandoUdlstrictpr i Nordgrdnland, *ic. (•)?'!• Rink), and Om don Opopniphiskp BeskHffpnhpd of do Dansko Handplsdistriktor i NorKriudand, Slc. Hy H. Kink, M.D. Map. 18,V2. Cnpeuhngrn. Lettpr to thp Lords Commis-'ionprs of thp A<1- niiralfy (a rpviow of tho Arctic Committee), with Appendix. By W. Penny. iNj-.'. Pamphlet. Journey from Oreat Boar Lake to WoUaston Land. By Dr. JulinUac. Journal U.O. S., Vol. 22. lM-)2. Liiiuhni. Recent Explriraticma nlong Ih'' South and Kaat Const of Victoria Land. Hy Dr. John Hae. Journal R. O. 8., \'ol. 22. H.Vi. l.n,i,h,ii. Report on the Rpturnof Lady Krnnklin'i Ves- Bcl, thp'Pi'iiiee Albert,' UT\derthe comniaud of Mr. Williiini Kennedy, I'rotii the Antic Regions. With Maps. "Journal R. (f. H., Vol. ZS. \<'A. V'»,l,i». Sir John Franklin ; the Sea of Spitzhergen, and WInilp Kisheries in the Aivlio KenioiiM. Hy AuyuslUH Petcrniann, F.U.O.S. Jnnnial H. U. S.., Vol. 2:t. ls,-.;». /,»»,/..». Report on the Return of tho ' Tsahel' from the Arctic He)»ions. Hv Comniamlcr K. A. lunle- tlehl, R.N., F.R.G.S. Joiiniul R. U. S., Vol. 23. 1HJ3. Imi'iIiui. On the Continental lee of Oreenliind, and the Origin of lcelHM'(»8 in the Arctic Seas. Hy D. H Rink, of Copenhagen. Coiniuunicatcd by Dr. N. Shaw. Journal R. (J. S., Vol. 2:). Is'iS. Loiulvii. Discovery of the North-West I'assnpe. Bv Cc.nniiander R. MClure, R..V., I'.R.U.S., of ILM.S. ' Invcstigalor." Journal R. (J. S., A'ol. 21. I'^-'t. V'liiluii. Account of the Proceedin^sof J] ll.H. ' Kiiler- iirise,' from HeUring iSlrait to Ciimbridge Jav. Hv Capt. Ridiar.l CuUiiison, K.\., eft., F.U.U.S. In Jouruiil of R. (f.S., Vol. 25. IH.i.'). h'liil.iit. Report ot^lhe Eipedilion in search of Sir John Franklm, during the years 1.>i.j;M-u, with a Chart. Hy E. K. Kane, M.D., I'.S.X. In Journal R. (i. S., Vol. 2H. 1V,I>. I.uiulun. On the Open Polar S.'a. Hv R. White, Vm\., r.R.O.y. Proceedings R.U.S. \ ol. 1. \aM, Luiiduii, Nolpii on thn Istn .\rptip Ktpoililion't. By Capt. 8. Oshorn, K..V., F.R.tJ S. Proe^ed- in)r< R. O. H , Vol. I. is.-iil. Lnnlnn. Notipp Binifrnphiquo iiur I'Amiral Sir John Franklin. Rpdigiin niir la demande ilo li» Hocii'ti* dp Ot^ographio do Paris. Par M. do la Rocpiettp, ki'., ka. IH.V). Ito. pamphlet. Krindringpr fr« Polar- Lftndpno, IHSO-.M. Af Carl Petprspn. IH,i7. Copcnhinirn. Extracts from Chipf-F»ptor Jamps Anilprmin's Arctic Journal. Communicated by Sir J. Richardson, M.D. Journal R.O.S., Vol.?7. lSf)7. hnn,l II. H Rink, Grdnland Opocpraphisk og statistislc bpstorevet. Map and platps. 2 voli. Hvo. 1H57. Ciipenhiiiifii, On Dr. II. Rink's Remarks on Dr. Kane'* Work. By Professor A. I). BiuliP. Pro. cppdingii of tho Royal Oeographicnl Society, Vol. 2. • WJ7-H. L,»iilon, Discovery of tho North-West Passsgo. Newdi. gate Prize Poem, Oxford. By P. L. Latham, of Balliol CollpRO. Oj/;.r,/. Remarks upon tho amount of Light pxpprionceil in high Northern LatitndpsduringrheAbsenco of the Sun. By Capt. SherardOsborn, R.N., C.B,, F.K.O.H., *o. J(mrnal of tho Itoyal Oeographical Society, Vol. 2S. iHox. L'iiuIkii. Polar Regions. From tho " Eneycdopiedia Hri. tannica." By Sir J. Richardson, Ml)., K.N , F.H.((.S. lS.iS. Eili 1,1,11 ri/h, C. C. Rafn, Cabinet d'Antiquiti'i .Vmericaiiips h Copenhagiio, rapport Pllinographiquo, (.\nlimiiti'H Scandinaves do la periode anti<' Colonibienno do lAmeriquo, Antiquitcs iles Esquimaux dos Regions .\rctiques.) Two maps. Svo. IS.'iS. C,iiiri,hii,i,;), KaladlitOknlluktualliait. Raladlisiit Rabhina- tudlo. Attuaktrtsiurdlicot. l-<5t». ^ioitii,i,nc Oronlnndske Folkpsagn, opskrevue og ined' decile af Indfiiille, ined daiisk Oversipttolso, Fi'irsto Bind Godthaal>. Svo. Is.'iit. Letter to Sir R. '. Murehisoii, on Dr. Kane's lato Kipctlilion. Hy I. J. Hayes, Esq. Pro- ceedings R. U. S., Vol. 3, No." I. H.'ii). r-nifhii. Arctic Discovery. In "Nautical Magazine." Captain A. U. Beechcr, R.N., F.R.G.S. December, Is.'ilt. Lnmlon. On tho Supposed Discovery, by Dr. E. K. Kline, L'.S.N., of tho North Coast (d'Orpen- land, and of an Open Polar Sea, &c. ; as described in Arctic Explorations in the veara ]><.W, W,i, 18.J5. Hv Henry Rink, Si, I)., Inspector in Greenland for tho Danish (lovernment. Condensed from the Danish, by Dr. N. Shaw. Journal uf the Royal (Jco. graphical Society, Vol. 2.S. IS.'jll. 'l.i.nJ,,,,. The Last Journals of Captain Kitz lames, R.N., of the Last Polar Expedition. Eiliteci by William Cunningham, Kscj., MP. Pam- phlet, Hvo. lH5a. VfArvi-.Jhii/hfo,!. Tho Arctic Regions to IStjll. Hy P. L. Sim- mons, K.R.tr.S. The Di.Hcovery of the Fate of Sir John Fnuiklin and liis Companions. Hy Captain .M'Clintock, R.N., LL.D. With Preface, by Sir Koderi-k I. Mnrchison. Hvo. bs'ii). [miki.i,!. The same. Proceedings of tho Hoyal Geogra- pliicai Society, Vtii'. hiiiil'iii. Career, Last Voyiige, and Fate of Captain Sir John Franklin. l>y Captain Slierard I >sborn, li.N., C.B., F.R.O.S., &o. iHtK). Luiidon. ''.■',* 45.1 LIST OF vronr^ os mictio srB.TF.rrs. Lb Dpstini'p ilc fir John Franlilin dovoil.-c. Pur V. A. MiiUi-Brun. Hvo. l-ttiO. P.n-i.-. An Vrc'tic IJoiit .loiiriu'v i" tho Autumn of iHJi. lly I. .1. Iluvos. Ksa., Surtioon to tlie Si>i-nn otice and Notoa, l).y Ur. Nor- ton Shiiw, »Mj. IHHO. Bentlev, Ai»/, l>y Charles Tondinson. Itimo. Society lor 1 ro- niotini? Christian Knowledge The Life and Cliariwter of Sir John Franklin, with special reference to time, place, and dis- coverv of his Death. A I'oem recited m the Sheldouian Theatre, July 2iid, IM), at the moptinc of the British Assoeiation for tho Advancement of .Science. By Owen A. Vidal, Trinity Collet;e, Oxford. iHtlt). Slirinipton, Oxford. Arctic Adventures hv Sea and Laud, from the KailiesI Dale to 'the Last Hxpedition in H.'arch of Hir John Franklin, hdited l>y Mr. F.pesSarscaiit. PuljUshc.l by Messrs. Brown and T«t;«»rd. 1«W>. ^''■"' 1 "'•*•• The North-West Passajie, and the Plans tor the fearch for Sir John Franklin. A Hcview : with Maps, .tc. Second I'Milion, with Sequel, in.ludinn the Vovane of •'»; ' I""?.' *'^-, ">' .John Brown, F.U.CJ.S., F.K.S.N.A. of Co- pt'uhaueu Published by Stanford. ^ '^ 18tiO. I.onihi,!. U'. lit' I lit : 'i OPINIONS OF THE PKESS, ETC. " '^h, Brown's is n Itluo Book in other respects than the ultramarine cover ; it is n nio.t vahiiible colU'etitJn of f'ncts and nr(i;unients. , . In o.'r opinion, his own zenl and perseverance are not inferior to tlmse of any of the voyufrers whose ix- pldits he rommeniorates. We think his hihi.urs will be remembcud; we are buie tlicy deserve to hi.:"— Li/cniri/ Uuzittr, June 1!), 1858. " Comnioneinp; with a sketch of the enterprises of the ' old worthies,' who battled witli thick -ribbed ice for upwards of tliree centuries in tiicir attempts lo dis- cover a \orth-West Passajje, Afr. Brown dwells at greater lenjrtli on the services of modem Arctic explorers, and partioilarly on those of Sir John Fianklin. . . As a >w'/)//e of the various Expeditions sent out in search of Franklin, this publiciitiou is undoubtedly oi \v\\u;:'—Atlic)i(ti(m, June 1!», 1858. "Tiic author of the volume before us has devoted a verj" larp^ sliaro of time and close! attention to hi^, favourite subject. Be^innin)? with the early days of Arctic discoverv, ho has enlarf^ed on it iis he advanced, n-:l the procecdini;s of every Arctic JSavigator, from the (list voyage of Boss ami I'uiiy, are given with a lidelity that will always render this work a complete epitome of what it as'iuines to be — Arctic discovery. lie has really produced a book which we would cordially recom- mend." — Xaiitiral Mdf/miiie, July, 1858. " Persons best acquainted with the subject will ho slow to believe that by this time all the members of the Expedition have perished. . . Mr. Brown is of simi- lar belief— nay, more, he gives anii)le reason for the hope that is in him. . . An authority our readers may consult with advantage." — Jlnifi/ 3V(r.«, July 1, 1858. " I cannot quit the taemc of Arctic researches, upon which I have long thought with intense anxiety, and on which I have dwelt so much at length at former anni- versaries, M'ithout expressing my obligations to an associate, Mr. John I'vown, lor his work entitled "The North- AVest Passage and the Search after Sir John Franldin," which he has dedicated to the lloyal Geog.aphical Society and niysilf. In this volume the philanthropic author, in all times in the fnmt rank of those who have sustained the search after onr missing cnuntiymcn, and who has uever given way to despondency, has placed before the reader an able epitome of all the eiforts which have been made, as well as the theories which have been formed on this engros^^ing topic. . . We must admire the warm-hearted earnestness with which Mr. Blown has acquitted himself of his ta^k, and has placed before us in acrmipact form the .-ser- vices of .so many of our Arctic heroes." — Extract from Sir It. I. Miirrh(s*s, and (b)ing justice to the zeal and devotion of our sea- men, will particularly recommend his volume to the attention of the naval pro- fession." — Naial Chronicle, Sept. 1, 1858. "Mr. BroM'u's, as it is the last so it is also one of the most valuable of our books on the Arctic (luestion. . . 'I'hc book is handsonudy got up, it is emichcd with a copy of the chart supplied to the Franklin Ex];editii>n, an cx( client niiip of recent discoveries, and a skct( h of Kielms and Terror Bay, where the ill-fated ships wintered." — Ihrer Ejrpress, Sept. 4, 1858. •' It seems to us the subject could not have fallen into more efficient hiuids, as Mr. Brown has made Antic incpiiry a study since 1817. . . IMr. Brown bases all his arginnents oii sources that cannot be doubted, and gives ample references to the woi ks themselves. . . It would be impossible here to enter upon oU the bearings in OPIMONS or THE PRESS. wliidi Ml'. IJi'own giasp.i (ho entire quL'stimi. IIo takes nutliiiis upon trust, hut ilculs witli it with a tirni hanil. IrresiJi'i'tivo of iianicoi- rank, he sclmus anxious tliat (iiir .si'iu'chint; sailors, ofHeurs and nion, shi>\il(l have jusliic done tlieni ; an old sailor I'.iin-icir, he records, with nnswervin<>; fidelity and truthfulness, tlieir heroie aets, au author of this work has evidently given the suhject on wliich ho writes his iiidivid ' 1 attention since 1817, and has well studied it in all its phases. Every Exp'dition to tht^ Arctic Seas from that period has been narrowly watched hy him, to the starting of tlie Eirbn.s and Terror, and all the subse(iuent Kxpeditions that have poae t ) rescue tliL'ir crews since. . . A faithful record of Arctic vova;^e3." — Xaval awl MiliUiry ILraM, (Jet. 23, 1858. '' Of 218 works, including different editions of the same hook, there is not a single Volniue which contains one tithe of the general information which ^[r. Ihown has eull'i tjd respecting the features of the Arctic liegions, and none nf the recent ones can com])are with that before us as a rational ai)preciation of tlie circumstances whicli h;ive led to the failure of every Exploring Kxpe(lition despatched fiom these shores to ascertain i)oor Franklin's fate. . . To all Englishmen, tluK hi .tory of th" search for Franklin presents a suhject of grave interest, and it nuist lie ivad witli avidity. Mr, Urown's lahoiu's have been of a most arduous nature in working uul liis idea, and we sincerely trust tliat ilwJirKt irork jim- (xcif/rurf on tin' Arctic Regions will obtain an exiensive circulation." — jrcshi/Kti 'I'iims, Oct. '2o, 1oj3. "Th.> volume before us is written by one of our warmest zealots for Arctic enterprise — by one who thoroughly understands the subject on wliicli he writes, h.iving stuclied it since 1817. . . Asa higli class authentic book of rci'crt'nce, i Is iuvahiible; whilst the views contained in it as to the scarcli fur Franklin we cipii- sider to l)e the soundest \t'e have ever read, . , ^Lost uM(iui'stionably docs Mr. Hre.wii's book throw more light on tlie subject than any previous work. 'J'rutbl'iil and unbiassed, all will find it a book of the most undoubted accuracy. , , The liiglu'st authorities are quoted, and references are in every case given to ilio>e a\it]iorities ; in short, the wholi; subject is analyzed in a most masterly way. . . We tliiak the highest praise is due to him for his exirtions; mid heartily do we recomnrjud the book to our readers." — limtinh Ouzv/tc, Dec. 10, IS.jS. " The author liaving studied this, his favourite topic, siiiee 1817, arid promoted and generoti-^ly aided with his counsel and his resources the departure of mo>t of the privat ■ ilxpeditions, has at h'Ugfh given to the world what is literally a liistory of Arctic discovery, entering largely u^.on the i)lans and the means that have been adopted in the attempts to rescue the ill-fated Sir John Franklin and his uuliappy band from the icy fetters of the north. . . ]\Iany have been the ])lans and opiniims on this painful subject, yet Mr. Hrowni has condensed all, with the di'iinrture and results of every Expedition, in so skilful a manner, that his work will be of value, and interesting to every one. . . In coiu'lusi.on, we cannot but admire and didy apjireciate the industry of Mr. Brown in rompiung tliis most valualile work : the inloriiiation it contains is gathered from the I'ai'lianu-ntary Blue IJooks, as well as from otlier undoubted soui'ces, and ample references are given." — Lirirpool Mircuri/, Dee. 2:3, 1858. "From the heginning of the long line of Arctic Expeditions, the object of which has been the search for Sir tJohn Franklin, John Hrown, a zealous member of tho Geogr:i[)]iical S icit'ty of l^ondon, ha.'^ taken ev<'ry opjiortunity of stating his oiiinion, that i'ianlJ.in, aetording to his Instructiiuis, pressed onward fiom lleechey Island in a s mtli-westerly (lire'''. OPINIONS OK Tin; IMllCS^ " rail (if llif doepust iuteivst, liotli siioiitillt; ami Kiini.ui." — /ji/w.(/ Ifm/.uni, \c)\- 9, I808. "f'Ar John Franklin iind hU l:)') cnniijaninns lii.vi- di.sovwil sutliru'iuly well of tlicir coni.tiy to Im' entitled to a toinKstone at her IlmkIh, and a hriet' reeord id' their fate u])on that stone — a luiL^er reeird elsewhere. They eliin;r to her cause, and to their dnty, till death itself.— and it was a death of horrors; aiid she should not nhandon their remains uu«.iiulturod, or she merits never more to hi' served with the like devotedness whilt! the world endures. . . Is it possihlo to refuse a hearins to a sensible and earnest msni, who has suidi a cause to plead, and such a story to tell? The case made out hy ;\[r. Hrown is, in our ojiinion, specious; probably truthlike." — Second notice. — Jloif/al JI"r/,t(r'i, Jau. 8, 18o!}. "^Fr. lirown has lonp: and deservedly heen an authority on all subjects relatiiip: lo Arctic discovery ; and therefore, whatever opinions he niij^ht advance relating; to the uidiiijipy fate of poor Fraiddin and his gallant conii)anions, w>)iild assuredly obtain both respect and consideration; bulaiareful perusal of his ' lleview,' entitles him to niuili more than this, iuasiuuih as he has conclusively shown, at least to our mind, that his theory is rinht. , . At first we were disposed to dispute his notions, nnd lo di-ia)::ree with his theory ; hut as we weiyhed the calm and deliberate evi- dence he oH'ers, and compared his views with ihi.' details already before the public, we became convuiced that his opinion is right." — Jk/rn Jl\i hli/ ATessctif/o; A]>ril 16, 18o9. " A well-intentioned review of the various Exi)editions which have been des- patched in scaiidi id' the ever-to-be-rei;retti'd Sir John Franklin. If anything; could induce us to clinj; to a hop(i, where iiosulistantiid p;round for hojie exists, it would be this excellent volume, -vhich is written in a calm and ai'p;umentative style. Our author will carry universal sympathy with him." — VonstUutional rrcss, May, 1859. " >[r. John Brown, a Fellow of the Royal Geojj;raphical Society of London, !ind nuthor of a very clear nnd able book on ' I'lans for the Search for Sir John Franklin ; a id \iew,' published in T.ondon, in 1S.')8, was wonderfully correct in his prognostics. Accom]ianyinfj; his book is the b.st map (by Arrowsmith) that we have of the Arctic I'ej^'iiins. On this mai> he (Mr. Ibvuii) traces the route \.-hiih he supposes F'rankliii look. lie rims his line tinoutth .in unknown Strait, which M'Clinloi k has pince ascertained does exist, anil noes dire, tly to the very spot where the ' Ki'cord ' tells us the shijis were abandoned. . . Fraidvlin was ordered to make liom Cape "NVi.iker a south-west i ours;', as near as be lould, for Hehring's Straits; and ^Ir. Ih'own strongly insists that Franklin w oidd rigidly adhere to his orders, and that Iir- vradd be found in that iniknown area south-west of Cape Walker, then unexplored. Jl'Clintock has proved liiiu to have been correct." — AViC Yurk JduviuiI j Hir li- I. Murehinoii, late rimii/rnt of the Jioiful Ueograjih ical Suekii/. " In his volume, before cited, ^Ir. John Brown gave strong ri>asons (which he had held for some time) for believing in the (\i.-tence of the very channel which now hears the name of M'ClMitoik."— Vi IV./nre 'to Ihi " \'<,iiinj( i,j l!a Fox," 'i;/ fia li. I. .U'lrcM'Oiii, lii'e J'lrsiid.Ht of the A'",'/"/ (iei"ji'i'jihia'l HocHti/. OVINIOXS OF THE PBESS. m Pi in "lierlin, August 16, 1858. " Siu, —I have boon much touched, my dear Sir, -a^ith tho mark of intert'st you have kindly •wished to show mo, in sending me your handsome end original work on tho ' North-West Passage,' the most complete and most instructive that I know, accompanied by such kind expressions. If I have delayed too long proving to you my gratitude, it is that for three months the little health that remains to me at the ago of eighty-nine has been much changed by my occupation being always the same. I am printing the fifth and last volume of the ' Cosmos,' which has fortunately had 80 -worthy an intei7)rcter in my old and illustrious friend. General Sabine, master, i.t the present time, of the great magnetic empire, whii^h extends even to the sun. The pages which concern my young and courageous friend, Lieut. I'im, have had for mo a heartfelt interest. liittle persuaded that he would meet with traces of Sir John Franklin on the northern shores of Siberia, to which, in 1829, I myself made a geological and magnetic expedition, I have not been less desirous of being useful to Lieut. Pim in an enterprise inspired by srrch noble sentiments. lie has not been so well received at the court of St. Petersburg as I hoped ; because Lo mentioned too often the great name of Admiral Wrangell, for some time past fallen into disgrnco J was much flattered to find one of my letters inserted in your book : and our excellent king, now so sadly ill, has preserved an aflfecting remembrance of your young countryman, whom he had invited to his table at Sans Souci, and who read to him, one day, tho admirable and dramatic letter of the worthy Captain M'Chrre to Captain Kellett (May, 1853) : — ' All descriptions mrrst fall below the reality ; the heart was too full to articulate; the sick forgot their maladies.' The King uaid : 'Behold, here, an extraordinary momciit of life well expressed ! What pleasure to know but one moment such as this ! ' Be kind enough, Sir, to attribute the little interest of these lines to tho necessity of limiting my correspondence, my writing being so illegible. I had the honour of being invited, the day before yesterday, to the family breakfast of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria ; and it gives me pleasure to inform you, that she if in the fidl and sweet enjoyment of affectionate impressions, which the sight of the young Princess, so pure, so charming, so simple, and so natural, rmeivs. " Accept at the same time, Sir, the assrrrance of my most lively gratitude, and the highest consideration, which is due to you for your labours. " Your verj- obedient and much obliged servant, " ALEXANnr.u von IIvmbcldt. "John Brown, Esq., F.K.GS., &:c." J.i^ W. I!'tn:n, riiiiti'iR, 11, Ilailholoinew Close, Loniion, K.C. ? 16, 1858. nteri'st you lal work on at I know, ving to you > mc at the ■8 tho saiiio. unatt'ly had .', master, r.t ! sun. The had for mc )f Sir John self made a ng useful to not heen bo intioncd too iisgro'"'* T )ur excellent your young ead to hiin, c to Captain le heart was 1: 'Behold, to know but 3 interest of ig being so iday, to the re to inform sions, which so natural, udc, and the .VMI1(,LI)T. O f