4 . NOMINATION OF COMMANDER. Chap. I. 



officers and men to the risk inseparable from 

 sueli an enterprise." 



Lady Franklin, upon tliis final disappoint- 

 ment of her hopes, Ijad no hesitation in im- 

 mediately preparing to send out a searching 

 expedition, equipped and stored at her own 

 cost. But she was not left alone. Many 

 friends of the cause — including some of the 

 most distinguished scientific men in England, 

 and especially Sir Roderick Murchison, whose 

 zeal was as practical as it was enlightened — ■ 

 hastened to tender their aid, and soon a very 

 considerable sum was raised in furtherance of 

 so truly noble an effort. 



On the 18th April,- 1857, Lady Franklin did 

 me the honour to offer me the command of the 

 proposed expedition, — it was of course most 

 cheerfully accepted. As a post of honour and 

 of some difiSculty it possessed quite sufficient 

 charms for a naval officer who had already 

 served in three consecutive expeditions from 

 1848 to 1854. I was thoroughly conversant 

 with all the details of this peculiar service ; and 

 I confess, moreover, that my whole heart was 

 in the cause. How could I do otherwise than 

 devote myself to save at least the record of 

 faithful service, even unto death, of my brother 

 officers and seamen ? and, being one of those 



i 



