516 THE FRANKLIN SEARCH— 184:8-51. 



up the channel, could hold out no hopes of our being able to accomplish any- 

 thing to compensate the almost inevitable risks of a second winter." 



It has often been stated that the refusal of Captain Austin to place one of 

 his steamers at the disposal of Captain Penny, was the occasion of a more or 

 less serious altercation between these officers. There is little ground for this 

 opinion. Penny's instructions to return home in 1852 were peremptory, 

 and therefore to stay out another winter, with the view of sailing northward 

 through Wellington Channel, into the supposed Polar Sea beyond, in one of 

 Austin's steamers, was what he was not at liberty to do, even had Austin 

 agreed to the proposal. That officer, however, did not, and could not favour 

 any such proposal, as he was convinced that Franklin had not taken the route 

 up WeUington Channel. But without Austin's co-operation, Penny, whose 

 own resources were dried up, could effect nothing by remaining out another 

 year. It is not surprising, therefore, that Captain Penny, in reply to frequent 

 solicitations from Captain Austin, with respect to the further prosecution of 

 the voyage, wrote a note stating that he had accomplished all that could be 

 necessary within the limits of Wellington Channel, and adding a question — 

 " What more could be done ? " Yet he had every reason to be satisfied 

 with the results of his voyage, which, whether considered with reference to 

 discoveries in connection with the missing expedition, or to geographical 

 discoveries, must be regarded as the most successful of the search expeditions 

 hitherto undertaken. 



On the 12th August, the "Lady Franklin" and "Sophia" moved slowly 

 out of Assistance Harbour on the homeward voyage, and at three p.m. on 

 the 21st September they dropped anchor off Gravesend. The world had re- 

 claimed them. " We knew," says Sutherland, in conclusion, " that on the 

 following day we should reach our destination, and be paid off then, or as 

 soon as possible thereafter. In the meantime, however, the rows of lamps, 

 the rolling sounds of carriage wheels, and the well-known sound of the chain 

 upon the windlass as the anchor went down, all spoke loudly in our ears 

 that our voyage in search of the ' Erebus ' and ' Terror ' and their gallant 

 crews was at an end." 



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