THE SEARCH EXPEDITIONS. 207 



scruples ceased. The offer was officially made, and accepted. To Sir John Franklin was 

 confided the Arctic expedition, consisting of H.M.S. Erebus, in which he hoisted his 

 pennant, and H.M.S. Terror, commanded by Captain Crozier, who had recently accom- 

 panied Sir James Ross in his wonderful voyage to the antarctic seas." 



The two vessels were completely overhauled and much strengthened, auxiliary screws, 

 engines, and fuel provided, and they were provisioned for three years. The vessels left Green- 

 hithe on May 19th, and by the third week of July reached a point near Disco, Greenland, 

 where a transport which had accompanied them took on board the last letters of officers 

 and crews for home. They were seen on July 26th by a whaler, and were at that 

 date moored to an iceberg, waiting for a favourable opportunity to enter the ice of 

 Baffin's Bay. From that day to the present no one of that gallant band has ever been 

 seen alive except by the wandering Esquimaux, and not till 1854 was anything certain 

 gleaned concerning their fate. Even the meagre outlines then obtained were not filled in 

 till 1859, when M'Clintock made his memorable discoveries, and brought to light one of 

 the saddest of modern tragedies. 



Subsequent researches enable us to state that their first winter was passed near 

 Beechey Island, where they lost three men. They had reached it by sailing through a 

 channel discovered between Cornwallis and Bathurst Islands, and thence by Barrow's 

 Straits. For a year and a half after the expedition had left no anxiety about it was felt ; 

 but after a council of naval officers had been called by the Admiralty, it was decided 

 that should no news arrive that summer, preparations should be made for its relief. 

 This was done. Light boats and supplies were forwarded to Hudson's Bay, and in 1848, 

 when the public alarm became general, several expeditions were sent out. Later, as we 

 all know, the Government fitted out a whole series of vessels; the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany sent forth several land parties ; Lady Franklin spent the larger part of her private 

 fortune, and America came bravely to the rescue. No less than thirty-two vessels were 

 sent out on the search by England up to 1859, and three by the United States, while 

 there were five land expeditions provided in large part by the Hudson's Bay Company. 

 We must necessarily only speak of the more interesting of these gallant attempts. 

 Strangely enough, as we shall see, almost the only information of value concerning the 

 fate of Franklin and his brave band was obtained by private enterprise, in spite of the 

 gallant efforts of so many in the royal navy. 



One of the very first attempts made to communicate with the missing party was sent 

 in 1818, via Behring Straits. Captain Kellett, of H.M.S. Herald, and Captain Moore, 

 H.M.S. Plover, added much to our knowledge of the northern coasts of Siberia and 



* o 



north-western America; and Lieutenant Pullen, of the Herald, made an adventurous 

 boat journey from Behring Straits to the mouth of the Mackenzie. But not the merest 

 spark of information was obtained concerning Franklin. 



Some few traces were discovered by Captain Penny in 1850, at a period when the fears 

 of all were at their culminating point. In this and the following year several vessels were 

 sent out by Government, among them H.M.S. Resolute, Captain Austin; H.M.S. Assistance, 

 Captain Ommaney; Lady Franklin, W. Penny, master; Sophia, A. Stewart, master; H.M.S. 

 Pioneer, Lieut. Osborn ; also, at the expense of the Hudson's Bay Company, the yacht 



