358 APPENDIX. No. I. 



rather say the greater part of them, since we do not yet 

 know that there are no survivors) have laid down their 

 lives, after sufferings doubtless of unexampled severity, 

 in the service of their country, as truly as if they had 

 perished by the rifle, the cannon-ball, or the bayonet. 

 Nay more, — by attaining the northern and already- 

 surveyed coast of America, it is clear that they solved 

 the problem which was the object of their labours, or, 

 in the beautiful words of Sir John Eichardson, that 

 " they forged the last link of the North- West passage 

 with their lives." 



Surely, then, I may plead for such men, that a care- 

 ful search be made for any possible survivor, that the 

 bones of the dead be sought for and gathered together, 

 that their buried records be unearthed, or recovered 

 from the hands of the Esquimaux, and above all, that 

 their last written words, so precious to their bereaved 

 families and friends, be saved from destruction. A 

 mission so sacred is worthy of a Government which has 

 grudged and spared nothing for its heroic soldiers and 

 sailors in other fields of warfare, and will surely be 

 approved by our gracious Queen, who overlooks none of 

 Her loyal subjects suffering and dying for their country's 

 honour. 



This final and exhausting search is all I seek in be- 

 haK of the first and only martyrs to Arctic discovery in 

 modern times, and it is all I ever intend to ask. 



But if, notwithstanding all I have presumed to urge. 

 Her Majesty's Government decline to complete the 

 work they have carried on up to this critical moment, 

 but leave it to private hands to finish, I must then 

 respectfully request that measure of assistance in behalf 

 of my own expedition which I have been led to expect 

 on the authority of Lord Stanley, as communicated to 

 me by Lord Wrottesley, and on that of the First Lord 

 of the Admiralty, as communicated to Colonel Phipps 

 in a letter in my possession. 



