INTRODUCTION. xxxi ii 



bably because their means and resources were less 

 ample, and yet they all returned without any fatal 

 disaster. 



This alone was a powerful argument, and went far 

 to obliterate the deep impression produced by the 

 disastrous termination to the voyage of Franklin. It 

 was shown that the ' Erebus ' and ' Terror ' went into 

 the unknown and the illimitable, without any mis- 

 giving as to their return, and therefore without any 

 attempt at provision for their succour. Indeed it was 

 now apparent that no possible human precautions 

 could have rendered their safety certain, and it was 

 proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that an expedition 

 towards the Pole could be so circumscribed in its area 

 of discovery, and its succour so certainly provided for, 

 that the risk was reduced to a minimum. In short, 

 the public mind was now ripe, and the time had come 

 at last when this country was to resume her foremost 

 place, and put forth her whole strength in the renewal 

 of Arctic discovery. 



This decision having been come to, the only diffi- 

 culty which presented itself was where to find a 

 commander, for experience in similar service was, 

 above all, a necessity in the leader of such an enter- 

 prise. A generation had done its work on those who 

 had conducted or held responsible posts in former 

 voyages, and it was not deemed convenient to send a 

 flag officer into the Arctic regions, or the selection 

 would have been less limited. After mature consider- 

 ation it was decided to recall Captain Nares from the 

 command of the Scientific Expedition then being 

 carried out in H.M.S. ' Challenger,' and to appoint him 

 to the chief command. The loss to that expedition, 



vol. I. b 



