538 THE FRANKLIN SEAECir—lM8-51. 



wholesome, but the majority utterly rejected it. The flesh of the seal, when 

 it could be obtained, was received with more favour. As the season 

 advanced, the cases of scurvy became more numerous, yet they were all 

 kept under by the unwearied attention and skilful treatment of the medical 

 officers. My thanks are due to them, especially to passed Assistant-Surgeon 

 Kane, the senior medical officer of the expedition." As the spring advanced, 

 the floe which encased the ships began slowly to decay. In April the 

 " Eescue " was cut free from the surrounding ice, and the officers and crews 

 removed into her ; but the ice continued so thick around the stern of the 

 " Advance " that the thirteen-feet saws were too short to pass through it. 

 It was not till June 8th that the " Advance " was set free, in latitude about 

 65° N. 



De Haven now made sail for Lievely on Disco Island, for the purpose 

 of verifying chronometers and recruiting his crew. On the 22d, having 

 replenished his stores and recruited his men, the gallant lieutenant again 

 turned his prow northward, "with the intention of prosecuting the object 

 of the expedition for one season more at least." He pushed north past 

 Proven and Uppernavik ; but on the 27th June the " Advance " was again 

 closely beset in the ice, and remained so till the 4th August. De Haven 

 now began to dread being frozen in for another winter, in a similar if not 

 worse situation than before. He therefore took advantage of an opportunity 

 afforded him, late in August, of retracing his steps, in accordance with his 

 instructions not to spend more than one winter in the Arctic regions. His 

 progress homeward, after one of the most remarkable cruises in the annals 

 of Arctic exploration, was favourable. On the 6th September, he left Hol- 

 steinberg for New York, where he arrived on the 30th of the same month, 

 the " Rescue " coming in safely a week later. 



Captain Forsyth's Voyage in the "Prince Albert." — The thorough 

 examination of Barrow Strait, Wellington Channel, Melville Island, and 

 the regions to the south and south-west of Cape Walker having^ been pro- 

 vided for by the Government expeditions under Penny and Austin, Lady 

 Franklin thought it advisable to send out an auxiliary searching vessel, to 

 the only quarter the examination of which seemed unprovided for in the 

 Government scheme — that of Prince Eegent Inlet and the east coasts of 

 North Somerset and Boothia. With this view the "Prince Albert," 

 schooner, eighty-nine tons, was purchased and equipped at the cost of about 

 £4000, of which more than one-half was contributed by Lady Franklin from 

 her own resources, while about £1500 was raised by subscription. Captain 

 Charles Codrington Forsyth was appointed to the command, and Mr W. 

 Parker Snow was engaged to take charge of what he calls " the civil depart- 

 ment of the vessel ; the superintending and issuing of stores, etc. ; the care 



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