REWARDS DUE FOR DISCOVERY. 259 



those who are deemed to possess the clearest views in 

 such matters, it has been considered that the solution of 

 the question (or really that America is sea-washed on its 

 Arctic bounds) would have been incontestably proved had 

 any person passed down Peel's Strait in open water and 

 arrived at the positions visited either by Captain Back in 

 former times, or by Dr. Rae on his late journey. 



It has therefore been assumed by the friends of Sir 

 John Franklin, that his ship did so pass down Peel's 

 Strait, and was wrecked in a position which would en- 

 title him, if living, to contest this matter. And my own 

 opinion goes to favour those who have, by much more 

 hazardous voyages than those made by Parry or his suc- 

 cessors, determined the commercial interests which may, 

 in consequence of their discoveries, and probably will, be 

 pursued at some future period along that sea-washed 

 shore. 



That a reward should be given for the fortunate solu- 

 tion, I am prepared to support ; but that reward should 

 be meted with justice to the Commander of that Expe- 

 dition, Captain Collinson. For if we deal with the ques- 

 tion on its naval rights, Captain M'Clure loses his initial 

 claim at the moment he sent his Lieutenant to precede 

 him to England, or when he abandoned his vessel. 



It has been asked by numerous friends what solution 

 I would give to the vessels reported to be seen off New- 

 foundland in the winter of 1851-52. I can only treat 

 the question with reference to the ' Erebus' and ' Terror.' 

 Setting aside, therefore, my recorded conviction that 

 those vessels were crushed within Lancaster Sound, I 

 will observe that the ' Erebus' and ' Terror,' if frozen in, 



s 2 



