xii PREFACE. 



season, may reasonably expect the success whicli 



followed. 



Whilst the revelation obtained from the long- 

 sought records, which were discovered by Lieu- 

 tenant Hobson, is most satisfactory to those who 

 speculated on the probability of Franklin hav- 

 ing, in the first instance, tried to force his way 

 northwards through Wellington Channel (as 

 we now learn he did), those who held a dif- 

 ferent hypothesis, namely, that he followed his 

 instructions, which directed him to the S.-W., 

 may be amply satisfied, that in the following 

 season the ships did pursue this southerly course 

 till they were finally beset in N. lat. 70° 05' * 



At the same time, the public should fully under- 

 stand the motive which prompted the supporters 

 of Lady Franklin in advocating this last search. 

 Putting aside the hope which some of us enter- 

 tained, that a few of the younger men of the 

 missing expedition might still be found to be 



* For a resume of all the plans of research and the speculations 

 of .seamen and geographers, see the interesting and most useful 

 volume of Mr. John Brown, entitled, ' The North- West Passage and 

 Search after Sir John Franklin,' 1858. In an Appendix to this work 

 we learn, that from the earliest Polar researches by John Cahot, at 

 the end of the 15th century, to the voyage of M'Clintock, there have 

 been about 130 expeditions, illustrated by 250 books and printed 

 documents, of whicli 150 have been issued in England. Amidst 

 the various recent publications, it is but rendering justice to Dr. 

 King, the former companion of Sir George Back, to state that he 

 suggested and always maintained the necessity of a search for the 

 missing navigators at or near the mouth of the Back Paver. 



