INTRODUCTION. xxxix 



He had seen much active service ; he was an accom- 

 plished as well as an excellent officer, and one in whom 

 remarkable evenness of temper was combined with great 

 stability of character. 



Commander Edward Little joined the Navy in 1825 ; 

 was made lieutenant in 1837, and served in various ships up 

 to March, 1845, when he was appointed to the ' Terror ' as 

 senior lieutenant. In November, 1846, he was promoted 

 to the rank of commander. In his last letters from Green- 

 land, Captain Crozier writes in terms of warm praise of his 

 senior lieutenant, Mr. Little. 



Lieutenant H. T. D. Le Vesconte entered the Navy in 

 1829 ; served throughout the Chinese war, distinguishing 

 himself on several occasions, and by repeated acts of con- 

 spicuous gallantry winning his lieutenancy in 1841. 



As lieutenant, he continued in active service, and was 

 appointed to the ' Erebus ' in 1845. 



Lieutenant James W. Fairholme joined the Navy in 

 1834. When despatched in a captured slaver, he was 

 wrecked on the coast of Africa, and taken prisoner by the 

 Moors ; most fortunately he was rescued within a few days. 



Mr. Fairholme served in the Syrian war in 1840. In 

 1 841 he accompanied Captain Trotter in a most perilous 

 expedition up the River Niger. He attained his lieu- 

 tenancy in 1842, and served without cessation up to his 

 appointment to the ' Erebus' in 1845. 



Lieutenant G. H. Hodgson commenced his naval career 

 in 1832. Mr. Hodgson served under Admiral Sir William 

 Parker in China, where he distinguished himself during 

 the war by his personal gallantry, and was also wounded. 

 In 1842 he was made lieutenant, and again distinguished 

 himself in an attack on pirates. 



