1818. BUCHAN, PARllY, AND FRANKLIN. 367 



and accommodation of the officers and crews. 

 They were stored with provisions and fuel for two 

 years ; supplied with additional quantities of fresh 

 preserved meats, tea, sugar, sago, and other arti- 

 cles of a similar kind. Each of the larger ships 

 had a surgeon and a surgeon's assistant, and the 

 two smaller vessels an assistant surgeon each. A 

 master and a mate accustomed to the Greenland 

 fishery were engaged for each ship, to act as pilots 

 when they should meet with ice. The whole 

 complement of men, including officers, seamen, 

 and marines in each of the larger ships was fifty- 

 six, and in the smaller forty. Captain Sabine, of 

 the Royal Artillery, an officer well versed in ma- 

 thematics and astronomy and in the practical use 

 of instruments, was recommended by the President 

 and Council of the Royal Society, and in conse- 

 quence thereof engaged, to proceed w4th the north- 

 west expedition; and Mr. Fisher, of the Uni- 

 versity of Cambridge, a gentleman well versed in 

 matliematics and various branches of natural know- 

 ledge, to accompany the polar one. A number of 

 new and valuable instruments were prepared for 

 making observations in all the departments of 

 science, and for conducting philosophical experi- 

 ments and investigations ; m order that, in the 

 event of the main object of the voyage being 

 defeated either through accident or from utter 

 impracticability, every possible attention might be 

 paid to the advancement of science, and correct 



