Apr. 1857. VOLUNTEERS FOR ARCTIC SERVICE. 7 



way in her, and she was purchased by Lady 

 Franklin from his executors for 2000/. 



Having thus far commenced the refit of the 

 vessel, I turned my attention to the selection 

 of a crew and to the requisite clothing and 

 provisions for our voyage. 



Many worthy old shipmates, my companions 

 in the previous Arctic voyages, most readily 

 volunteered their services, and they were as 

 cheerfully accepted, for it was my anxious wish 

 to gather around me well-tried men, who were 

 aware of the duties expected of them, and accus- 

 tomed to naval discipline. Hence, out of the 

 twenty-five souls composing our small company, 

 seventeen had previously served in the Arctic 

 search. 



Expeditions of this nature are always popular 

 with seamen, and innumerable were the appli- 

 cations sent to me ; but still more abundant were 

 the offers to " serve in any capacity " which 

 poured in from all parts of the country, from 

 people of all classes, many of whom had never 

 seen the sea. It was, of course, impossible to 

 accede to any of these latter proposals, yet, for 

 my own part, I could not but feel gratified at 

 such convincing proofs that the spirit of the 

 country was favourable to us, and that the ardent 

 love of hardy enterprise still lives amongst 



