THE FRANKLIN RELICS. 561 



and time-worn. The casual spectator would hardly 

 notice it, but it stands first in importance of all that ha8 

 been recovered, for it contains the record of the death 

 of Sir John Franklin that happy death which saved 

 our brave veteran all the subsequent horrors of the jour- 

 ney to the Fish Kiver. Further on are the rude spear- 

 heads into which the Esquimaux had fashioned the iron 

 they obtained from the wreck ; and a box-wood two- 

 foot rule, whitened with exposure, but with the figures 

 on it all as bright as the first day. This was, of course, 

 the property of the carpenter, who, it would appear, 

 had, even when starting on his dread journey, not for- 

 gotten the implement of his trade. In the same case is 

 a relic which will arrest the eye of many a passer-by. 

 It is the remains of a silk neck-tie, including the bow, 

 as carefully and elaborately tied as if the poor wearer 

 had been making a wedding toilette. This, which was 

 taken from the naked bones of a ghastly skeleton which 

 was discovered some miles distant from the main track 

 of the poor pilgrims, is supposed to have belonged to 

 the ship's steward. There are also various articles of 

 plate, the greater portion of which is marked with Sir 

 John Franklin's device, and two pocket chronometers 

 in excellent preservation. A small silver watch, mak- 

 er's name 'A. Myers, London/ probably belonged to 

 some young mate or midshipman ; and a worm-eaten roll 

 of paper, upon which the single word 'Majesty 7 re- 

 mains, was possibly the much-prized warrant of some 

 stout boatswain or quartermaster. There is a little ame- 

 thyst seal, in perfect preservation, and goggles and 

 snow-veils, to protect the eyes from the dazzling white- 

 ness of the polar snow. Two double-barreled guns, 

 covered with rust, are placed far in on the table. They 

 still contain the charges which were placed in them by 



hands which have long since lost their cunning 1 . The 

 36 



