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did with Parry on it. . . . Sth. — I like a man who is in earnest. Sir 

 John Franklin read the church service to-day, and a sermon, so very beauti- 

 fully, that I defy any man not to feel the force of what he would convey. 

 The first Sunday he read was a day or two before he sailed, when Lady 

 Franklin, his daughter, and niece, attended. Every one was struck with his 

 extreme earnestness of manner, evidently proceeding from real conviction. 

 . . . We are very fond of Sir John Franklin, who improves very much 

 as Ave come to know more of him. He is anything but nervous or fidgety ; 

 in fact, I should say remarkable for energetic decision in sudden emerg- 

 encies, but I should think he might be easily persuaded where he has not 

 already formed a strong opinion." 



There is a capital sketch of Harry Goodsir, brother of the famous Pro- 

 fessor Goodsir of Edinburgh University. Young Goodsir, now assistant 

 surgeon of the "Erebus," had been previously curator of the Edinburgh 

 Museum, was an eminent naturalist, and was joint author, with his brother, 

 of " Anatomical and Pathological Observations," and other papers. Here 

 we have him in his habit as he lived : " I can't make out why Scotchmen 

 just caught always speak in a low, hesitating, monotonous tone of voice, 

 which is not at all times to be understood ; this is, I believe, called ' canny- 

 ness.' Mr Goodsir is ' canny.' He is long and straight, and walks upright 

 on his toes, with his hands tucked up in each jacket pocket. He is per- 

 fectly good-humoured, very well informed on general points, in natural 

 history learned, was curator of the Edinburgh Museum, appears to be about 

 twenty-eight years of age, laughs delightfully, cannot be in a passion, is 

 enthusiastic about all 'ologies, draws the insides of microscopic animals with 

 an imaginary pointed pencil, catches phenomena in a bucket, looks at the 

 thermometer, and every other meter, is a pleasant companion, and an acqui- 

 sition to the mess. . . . IQth. — A fine clear sunset at a quarter to ten, 

 and Goodsir examining 'moUusca' in a microscope. He is in ecstasies 

 about a bag full of blubber-like stuff", which he has just hauled up in a net, 

 and which turns out to be whales' food, and other animals." 



And so with a light and pleasant, but skilful touch, Fitzjames fills in the 

 portraits of the men who were to be his companions during a long and 

 arduous, but hopeful struggle for all of them in what is perhaps the gloomiest 

 and most tragic consummation in our history. Crouch, the mate, " is a little 

 black-haired, smooth-faced fellow, good-humoured in his own way ; writes, 

 reads, works, draws, all quietly ; is never in the way of anybody, and always 

 ready when wanted ; but I can find no remarkable point in his character, 

 except, perhaps, that he is, I should think, obstinate. Stanley, the surgeon, 

 I knew in China. He was in the 'Cornwallis' a short time, where he 

 worked very hard in his vocation. Is rather inclined to be good-looking, 

 but fat, with jet-black hair, very white hands, which are always abominably 



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