Chap. III. CAPTAIN DAVID BUCHAN. 63 



intelligence in the two commanders or officers ; 

 on the contrary, the two ships were supplied with 

 some of those who in future voyages so greatly 

 distinguished themselves, as to obtain the highest 

 steps of promotion, and to receive honorary re- 

 wards — need the names of Franklin and Back be 

 mentioned ? 



The Instructions directed that they were to make 

 the best of their way into the Spitzbergen seas, 

 where they should endeavour to pass to the north- 

 ward, between Spitzbergen and Greenland, without 

 stopping on either of their coasts, and use their 

 best endeavours to reach the North Pole — with a 

 suggestion, that where the sea is deepest and least 

 connected with land, it will be found most clear of 

 ice. Their instructions on objects of scientific in- 

 quiry on the voyage, and particularly on those to be 

 noticed on and about the Pole, are carefully drawn 

 up and in great detail, the latter part of which were 

 unfortunately not called into practice. The other 

 portions of a general nature appear to have been 

 carefully attended to, and well described by Lieu- 

 tenant Beechey, who introduces his reader into the 

 Greenland sea in noticing the interest taken by 

 those who, for the first time, witnessed the ship 

 working its way among floating masses of ice ; and 

 who viewed the bright sun darting its oblique rays 

 among them at midnight; conveying to the eye, 

 assisted by the imagination, and by the lights 



