398 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 25, 1857- 



with me, that in the whole series of literature there is no work, 

 which more feelingly developes the struggles of humanity under 

 the most intense sufferings, or which demonstrates more strikingly, 

 how the most appalling difficulties can be o^vercome by the union 

 of a firm resolve with the never-failing resources of a bright 

 intellect. In all these heart- rending pages there is no passage 

 which comes more home to the Englishmen who are still advo- 

 cating the search for the relics of the Erebus and Terror, than 

 that in which, after judging from the experience of his own com- 

 panions, how men of our lineage may be brought to bear intense 

 cold and trail on their existence among the Esquimaux, he thus 

 soliloquises: — " My mind never realizes the complete catastrophe, 

 the destruction of all Franklin's crews. I picture these to myself 

 broken into detachments, and my mind fixes itself on one little 

 group of some thirt}?-, who have found the open spot of some tidal 

 eddy, and under the teachings of an Esquimaux, or perhaps one 

 of their own Greenland whalers, have set bravely to work and 

 trapped the fox, speared the bear, and killed the seal, the walrus, 

 and the whale. — / think of tltsm ever with hope. I sicken not to he able to 

 reach them."* These generous and lofty sentiments, as I shall after- 

 wards point out in dwelling on Lady Franklin's final search, are 

 shared by that distinguished Aictic officer, our associate Captain 

 Hartstene, of the United States' Navy; and they have justly awakened 

 the hope in the breasts of many of my countrymen as well as myself, 

 that some of the fine young fellows who sailed with Franklin may 

 still be alive — the conviction that they must, for the honour of 

 our country, be sought for, as well as the debris and records of the 

 Erebus and Terror. 



It was, indeed, a subject of great regret to me that when Dr. 

 Kane visited England last autumn, this metropolis (as is usual at 

 that season) was deserted by many of those persons who most valued 

 his character, and that none of those attentions could then be paid 

 to him which, had his stay amongst us been prolonged, would 

 doubtless have been showered upon him from the Sovereign down- 

 wards. But, alas ! the stroke of death was already upon him, and 

 when I first shook his hand, I at once saw that his eagle- 

 eye beamed forth from a wasted and all but expiring body. As 

 geographers we were not, however, remiss in our endeavours to 

 honour him ; and although his malady prevented his attendance at 

 our apartments to receive our heartiest welcome, I then proposed 



* Kane's Arctic Expedition, vol. i. pp. 243-G. 



