ELISHA KENT KANE. 59 



open water the only indication that presented itself 

 in confirmation of this theoretical conjecture as to a 

 milder climate in that direction. As we entered 

 "Wellington Channel the signs of animal life became 

 more abundant ; and Captain Penny, commander of 

 one of the English expeditions, who afterward pene- 

 trated on sledges much toward the region of the 



o O 



* frost-smoke,' much farther than it was possible for 

 us to do in our vessels, reported that he actually 

 arrived on the borders of this open sea. 



"Thus, these admirably drawn instructions, de- 

 riving arguments from the enlarged and compre- 

 hensive system of physical research, not only pointer 

 with emphasis to an unknown sea into which Frank- 

 lin had probably found his way, but directed me to 

 search for traces of his expedition in the very chan- 

 nel at the entrance of which it is now ascertained 

 he had passed his first winter. The direction in 

 which search with most chances of success is now 

 to be made for the missing expedition, or for traces 

 of it, is no doubt in the direction which is so 

 clearly pointed out in my instructions. To the 

 channel which appeared to lead into the open sea 

 over which the cloud of < frost-smoke' hung as a 

 sign, I have given the name of Maury, after the 

 distinguished gentleman at the head of our National 

 Observatory, whose theory with regard to an open 



