Apb. 1857. PURCHASE OF THE ' FOX.' 5 



by whose united efforts not only the Franklin 

 search, but the geography of Arctic America, 

 has been brought so nearly to comj)letion, I 

 could not willingly resign to posterity, the 

 honour of filling up even the small remaining 

 blank upon our maps. 



To leave these discoveries incomplete, more 

 especially in a quarter through which the tidal 

 stream actually demonstrates the existence of a 

 channel — the only remaining hope of a prac- 

 ticable north-west passage — would indeed be 

 leaving strong inducement for future explorers 

 to reap the rich reward of our long-continued 

 exertions. 



I immediately applied to the Admiralty for 

 leave of absence to complete the Franklin search ; 

 and on the 23rd received at Dublin the tele- 

 graphic message from Lady Franklin : " Your 

 leave is granted ; the ' Fox ' is mine ; the refit 

 will commence immediately." She had already 

 purchased the screw-yacht 'Fox,' of 177 tons 

 burthen, and now placed her, together with the 

 necessary funds, at my disposal. 



Let me explain what is here implied by the 

 simple word refit. The velvet hangings and 

 splendid furniture of the yacht, and also every- 

 thing not constituting a part of the vessel's 

 strengthening, were to be removed ; the large 



