33 
On the Bleached Wood of the Arctic Voyagers, as a possible indication 
of the route of Captain Sir John Franklin ; by the Rev, M. J. 
BERKELEY. 3 
(PraTE III.) 
During the course of the voyage of Captain Penny in the “ Lady 
Franklin," in search of the missing crews of the Erebus and Terror, two 
pieces of drift-wood were picked up, which, from their possible con- 
nection with the object of their search, excited considerable interest. 
One of these, found in Robert Bay, of Baillie Hamilton's Island, lat. 
76? 2' north, long. 96? west, was evidently a piece of wrought wood 
which had been used in the construction of some ship; and as it was. 
found in the supposed course of the ships at Wellington Channel, and 
was bleached, and had traces of vegetation upon it, it was desirable to 
obtain information as to the probable time which it would take to pro- 
duce the appearance presented by the piece of board, as also with 
regard to the precise nature of the vegetation. The other piece was 
found in Disappointment Bay on the north side of Cornwallis Island, 
in lat. 75° 36’ north, and long. 96° west, by Mr. Goodsir. This was 
evidently a piece of drift-wood, and probably of White Spruce, which 
had been used for fire-wood ; and as there are no natives in that quarter, 
nor any recent traces, it is most probable that this really had some con- 
nection with Franklin's expedition. 
The former piece only was submitted to my inspection in the first 
instance, and, as an immediate reply was necessary, and I had scarcely 
two hours at my disposal, I was not able to enter into such investiga- 
tions as the interest of the subject demanded. My note however, im- 
perfect as it is, is alluded to in Sir John Richardson’s report published 
amongst the Admiralty papers on the subject, and the sketches which 
aecompanied it, though very rough and hasty, were considered of suffi- 
cient interest to be reproduced. Sir John Richardson’s paper is given - 
at length in the Appendix to Dr. Sutherland’s account of Captain 
Penny’s voyage, together with an extract from my note of October 
12, 1851, and woodcuts illustrative of my observations. 
I did not, however, feel content with leaving the matter as it stood 
at the time the report was delivered to the Admiralty, and therefore, on - 
the reception of the second piece of wood from Sir John Richardson, ja n 
together with other materials bearing on the subject, I examined as aes — 
VOL. Y. F a 
