394 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



melancholy despondency in the minds of my party, and on 

 that account the particulars were deferred until another 

 opportunity." — p. 446. 



The emaciated countenances of the Doctor and 

 Hepburn gave evidence of their debilitated state. 

 " The Doctor particularly remarked the sepulchral 

 tones of our voices, which he requested of us to 

 make more cheerful, if possible, unconscious that 

 his own partook, of the same key." A partridge 

 which Hepburn had shot was held to the fire and 

 then divided into six portions. " I and my three 

 companions," says Franklin, " ravenously devoured 

 our shares ; as it was the first morsel of flesh any of 

 us had tasted for thirty -one days, unless, indeed, 

 the small gristly particles which we found occa- 

 sionally adhering to the pounded bones may be 

 termed flesh." Piety and resignation under cala- 

 mity are characteristics of the naval profession ; 

 and on the present occasion of distress we are told, 

 " the Doctor having brought with him his Prayer- 

 Book and Testament, some prayers and psalms, 

 and portions of Scripture appropriate to our situ- 

 ation, were read, and we retired to bed." Franklin 

 says — 



" After our usual supper of singed skin and bone soup, 

 Dr. Richardson acquainted me with the afflicting cir- 

 cumstances attending the death of Mr. Hood and Michel, 

 and detailed the occurrences subsequent to my departure 

 from them, which I shall give from his own journal, in his 

 own words ; but I must here be permitted to express the 



