xxx INTRODUCTION. 



It was in 1818 that he commenced his arctic career in 

 command of H.M.S. 'Trent,' consort to the 'Dorothea,' 

 Captain Buchan, R.N., in an attempt to reach the North 

 Pole. Disappointed in his desire to continue this voyage 

 alone, when the ' Dorothea ' became disabled, Franklin had 

 not long to wait on his return home before he was appointed 

 to command an overland and boat expedition (coincident 

 with the ship expedition of Parry, for the discovery of the 

 North-West Passage), the object of which was to determine 

 the limits and direction of the arctic shores of America, 

 where only two or three isolated points had hitherto been 

 ascertained. 



In this expedition he was accompanied by his faithful 

 friend and able coadjutor, Dr. (afterwards Sir John) Richard- 

 son. Together they surveyed 555 geographical miles of 

 arctic coast, and traversed, to reach it, a still greater extent 

 of inland country, carrying their boats with them, and 

 depending for food on the casual supplies of the chase, 

 which sometimes failed them altogether. The narrative of 

 their return from the Arctic Sea over the " Barren Grounds " 

 of the interior, in order to reach the nearest Hudson Bay 

 Company's settlement, is a tale of suffering and endeavour 

 which flushes the cheek and dims the eye of the most 

 phlegmatic of readers. The lichens on the rock, and 

 occasional bits of soaked shoe-leather, alone saved the 

 party from absolute starvation. What a foreshadowing of 

 that still deeper tragedy which was to close the career of the 

 gallant leader and his followers in later years ! But the 

 future was veiled from his eyes. 



Our adventurous explorers returned after four years of 

 absence to meet, when they landed in Europe, with the 

 sympathy and admiration of their countrymen. Franklin, 



