506 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XIII. 



much boat-service on the coast of Spain ; on one 

 occasion he was in the launch, which was captured, 

 but not until fifteen men out of eighteen were killed 

 or mortally wounded. Back was sent a prisoner to 

 Verdun. On his release, in 1814, he joined the Ak- 

 bar, which was sent to the North American station ; 

 and on coming home received the flag of Sir Byam 

 Martin, and was sent to the Scheldt. In 1816 he 

 passed his examination, and was appointed Admi- 

 ralty Midshipman of the Bulwark; and, in 1818, 

 was appointed Admiralty Midshipman of the Trent, 

 under the command of Lieutenant Franklin. The 

 following year he again joined his friend, Lieutenant 

 Franklin, about to proceed to the coast of the Polar 

 Sea, where his character for talent, activity, and 

 exertion, was fully established ; and his humanity 

 was displayed by saving the lives of the whole party, 

 at the expense of great personal suffering. On his 

 return he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 

 joined the Seahorse, and was sent to Gibraltar, then 

 to the West Indies, Bermuda, and Lisbon ; from the 

 last he returned to join his friend Franklin, as Lieu- 

 tenant on his second expedition, in 1825: came back 

 in 1827, and was made Commander. Being abroad 

 for the recovery of his health, and having learned 

 that Captain Ross and his nephew had not been 

 heard of, he returned home, and by his own ex- 

 ertions, and the recommendation of the Royal 

 Geographical Society to Lord Goderich, he was 



