l899-'oO TRANSACTIONS 57 



Sir John Richardson* and Dr. Rae, at the instance of the 

 Hudson Bay Co., searched in 1848 the continental shores over 

 Richardson's old route between the McKenzie and Coppermine 

 Rivers, and later on Dr. Rae examined the shores of Victoria 

 I^and. 



The earnestness with which the search was prosecuted is 

 seen in the fact that on Christmas Day, 1851, eight vessels were 

 in different parts of the District of Franklin frozen up. Some 

 400 brave men under the ablest arctic explorers were passing the 

 time of darkness as best they could, patiently waiting for the 

 sun's return vSO that they could scour the islands by means of 

 sledge parties. The plan of campaign was carefully prepared 

 and closely studied during the 120 days of the sun's absence. 

 When the time came, the sledge expeditions were despatched and 

 the work of searching systematically pursued during the next 

 three or four years. Some marvellous journeys were made by 

 these expeditions that were throwing search-lights over number- 

 less bays and inlets, ever hoping to discover some cairn erected, 

 some cache made by Franklin, some recognizable fragments of 

 the "Erebus" and the "Terror" cast ashore along the deeply 

 indented coasts. McClintock was away from his ship for 105 

 days, during which he covered 1,328 miles. During 94 days 

 Mecham travelled 1,163 miles. Sherard Osborn made 935 miles 

 in 97 days. In a second expedition Mecham made a record 

 journey of 1,336 miles during 70 days' absence. 



These efforts resulted in the addition of many islands to the 

 Queen's possessions in the far north and were not altogether 

 fruitless in regard to the main purpose. Traces of the missing 

 ships had been discovered as early as August, 1850, by Penny 

 and Ommanney, from which it was ascertained that Franklin, 

 with 154 officers and men, had spent his first winter (1845-6) on 

 Beechey Island at the south eastern end of Wellington Channel, 

 remaining there at least as late as April 1846. 



*In a letter to his fiancee, Prof. Hurley writes (Nov. 7th, 1851) : 

 "To-day I had the great pleasure of meeting my old friend, Sir John 

 Richardson, (to whom I was mainly indebted for my appointment in the 

 "Rattlesnake"). Since I left England he has married a third wife and has 

 taken a hand in joining in the search for Sir John Franklin, (which was the 

 more dreadful ?) like an old hero as he is, but not a feature of him is altered, 

 and he is as gray, as really kind and as seemingly abrupt and grim as ever 

 he was. Such a fine old Polar bear." Richardson was 62 years of age when 

 he set out on this overland expedition. 



