io DEPARTURE. Chap. I. 



ferentially, the claims of my husband's expedition to the earliest discovery 

 of the N.W. passage, which, if Dr. Rae's report be true (and the Govern- 

 ment of our country has accepted and rewarded it as such), these martyrs 

 in a noble cause achieved at their last extremity, after five long years of 

 labour and suffering, if not at an earlier period. 



I am sure you will do all that man can do for the attainment of all 

 these objects; my only fear is that you may spend yourselves too much 

 in the effort ; and you must therefore let me tell you how much dearer 

 to me even than any of them is the preservation of the valuable lives of 

 the little band of heroes who are your companions and followers. 



May God in his great mercy preserve you all from harm amidst the 

 labours and perils which await you, and restore you to us in health and 

 safety as well as honour ! As to the honour I can have no misgiving. 

 It will be yours as much if you fail (since you may fail in spite of every 

 effort) as if you succeed ; and be assured that, under any and all cir- 

 cumstances tukatever, such is my unbounded confidence in you, you will 

 possess and be entitled to the enduring gratitude of your sincere and 

 attached friend, 



Jane Franklin. 



We were not destined to get to sea that evening. The 

 ' Fox,' hitherto during her brief career, accustomed only to 

 the restraint imposed upon a gilded pet in summer seas, 

 seemed to have got an inkling that her duty henceforth was 

 to combat with difficulties, and, entering fully into the spirit 

 of the cruize, answered her helm so much more readily than 

 the pilot expected, that she ran aground upon the bar. She 

 was promptly shored up, and remained in that position until 

 next morning, when she floated off unhurt at high water, 

 and commenced her long and lonely voyage. 



Scarcely had we left the busy world behind us when we 

 were actively engaged in making arrangements for present 

 comfort and future exertion. How busy, how happy, and 

 how full of hope we all were then ! 



On the night of the 2nd of July we passed through the 

 Pentland Firth, where the tide rushing impetuously against 

 a strong wind raised up a tremendous sea, amid which the 

 little vessel struggled bravely under steam and canvas. The 

 bleak wild shores of Orkney, the uncouth aspect, hoarse 



