Ch. XI. FRANKLIN & RICHARDSON'S SECOND JOURNEY. 409 



returned, and on which the extent of his sufferings 



had all but put an end to his existence. 



" I was well aware/' says this noble-minded officer, " of 

 the sympathy excited in the British public by the sufferings 

 of those engaged in the former overland expedition to the 

 month of the Copper Mine River, and of the humane repug- 

 nance of His Majesty's Government to expose others to a 

 like fate ; but I was enabled to show satisfactorily, that in 

 the proposed course similar dangers were not to be appre- 

 hended, while objects to be attained were at once important 

 to the naval character, scientific reputation, and commercial 

 interests of Great Britain : and I received directions from 

 the Right Honourable Earl Bathurst to make the necessary 

 preparations for the equipment of the expedition, to the 

 command of which I had the honour to be nominated." — 

 Introduction, ix. x. 



Many naval officers of distinguished talents 

 anxiously offered their services ; but his companions 

 in misfortune were the first to be considered, and 

 Lieutenant Back and Doctor Richardson were 

 among the foremost to volunteer ; the former al- 

 ready distinguished for his zeal and energy in all 

 the contingencies of an exploring voyage, and the 

 latter as surgeon and naturalist, it may be said of 

 the first distinction, as he had proved himself to be, 

 and moreover a gentleman of the most benevolent 

 and humane disposition. The valuable services of 

 these two officers on the former expedition can 

 never be overlooked. To their energy of character 

 and promptitude of action may undoubtedly, as 

 Franklin records, be ascribed the safety of himself 



