PREFACE. 



The following narrative of tlie bold adventure 

 which has successfully revealed the last dis- 

 coveries and the fate of Franklin, is published 

 at the request of the friends of that illustrious 

 navigator. The gallant M'Clintock, when he 

 penned his journal amid the Arctic ices, had 

 no idea whatever of publishing it ; and yet 

 there can be no doubt that the reader will 

 peruse with the deepest interest the simple 

 tale of how, in a little vessel of 170 tons 

 burthen, he and his well -chosen companions 

 have cleared up this great mystery. 



To the honour of the British nation, and also 

 let it be said to that of the United States of 

 America, many have been the efforts made to 

 discover the route follov/ed by our missing 

 explorers. The highly deserving men who 

 have so zealously searched the Arctic seas and 

 lands in this cause must now rejoice, that after 

 all their anxious toils, the merit of rescuing 

 from the frozen North the record of the last 



