260 Presidentship of Sir Joseph Banks 1818 



Ross and Lieut. Edward Parry for the main purpose of 

 exploring Baffin's Bay, and discovering if possible a north- 

 west passage into the Arctic Ocean and Behring Strait. 

 These two pioneers were guests of the Club in the spring 

 of this year. Ross was introduced first by Barrow, who at 

 the Admiralty was engaged in furthering the naval prepara- 

 tions for the departure of the Expedition. The President 

 brought him twice to the " Crown and Anchor " during the 

 winter. The Expedition sailed in April and returned in 

 November. Parry was again Barrow's guest in December, 

 and we may be sure that there was much talk at the Club 

 that evening over the details of the voyage. 



The greatest of all the Arctic explorers, John Franklin, 

 likewise dined this year with the Club. He and Captain 

 Ross were both guests on the evening of November igth. 

 Franklin, then thirty-two years of age, had already seen 

 some rough service in the Navy. He was present at the 

 battle of Copenhagen, and thereafter was engaged for some 

 years, under the skilled navigator Flinders, in exploring and 

 charting Australian coasts. After suffering shipwreck there 

 he returned to England, acted as signal-midshipman on 

 board the Bellerophon at the battle of Trafalgar and after- 

 wards, promoted Lieutenant, played a courageous part in 

 the attack on New Orleans. He had this year commanded 

 the Trent under Captain Buchan in the Dorothea, in the search 

 for a north-west passage by way of Spitzbergen or to reach 

 the North Pole. Owing to the Dorothea being seriously 

 damaged by ice she had to be brought back closely attended 

 by her companion vessel. But though this expedition was 

 not successful, it prepared the way for the brilliant part 

 which Franklin was yet destined to play in Arctic investi- 

 gation. 



Captain Kater, who dined twice with the Club during the 

 winter, on the invitation of Dr. Wollaston, had seen service 

 with the army in India, where he had taken part in the 

 triangulation for a survey of the country. He had to return 

 to England on account of ill-health, and was ultimately in 

 1814 placed on half pay. He then devoted himself with 



