TflE WORLD S WONDERS. 



569 



an expedition sent out by the English government to explore the 

 coast of Australia, but the vessel in which they sailed proved un- 

 seaworthy, and they were transferred to the ship Porpoise, but 

 their Condition was by no means improved, for that vessel was 



SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. 



wrecked August 18, 1803, about 200 miles from the Australian 

 coast, and Franklin and his companions were barely saved from 

 drowning by escaping to a sand-bank 600 feet long, on which 

 they remained fifty days at the imminent risk of starvation, be- 

 fore relief reached them from Port Jackson. On reaching Eng- 



