448 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



one of the principal bird and egg specimen contributing fields 

 of the Anderson collections of 1861-1866 — may not prove 

 out of place. The Professor was pleased to state, " In regard 

 to Northern stations the work of Mr. K. MacFarlane takes 

 first place, and' the value of his collections and observations 

 on the nesting habits of birds within the Arctic cannot be 

 overestimated." 



" On the 26th May, 1845, Sir John Franklin sailed from 

 England, with the ships Erehus and Terror, for the discovery 

 of the long-sought-after North-West Passage between the 

 Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the north of the American 

 continent. Franklin, just returned from seven years' service 

 as Governor of Tasmania, was then fifty-nine years of age, 

 but as full of Arctic enthusiasm as ever. He would not 

 apply for the duty, but when all turned to him as best fitted 

 for the command, he accepted it unhesitatingly. He assured 

 a friend 'that no service was dearer to his heart than the 

 completion of the survey of the northern coast of America 

 and the accomplishment of the North-West Passage.' 



" As no definite information respecting the expedition 

 reached civilization after the ships were last seen, on 26th 

 July, 1845, moored to an iceberg in latitude 74° north and 

 longitude 66° 13' west, heading for Lancaster Sound, the 

 friends and relatives as well as the general public began to 

 feel much anxiety about their welfare and safety. In 1848 

 the British Admiralty was fully aroused, and from then on 

 until 1854 they spared no trouble or expense in the endeavour 

 to rescue or ascertain the fate of the missing navigators. 

 Several land and boat search expeditions were despatched 

 to the northern coast by way of the Mackenzie and Copper- 

 mine rivers. These were under the direction of Sir John 

 Richardson and the notable Arctic traveller. Dr. John Rae, 

 Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company.' 



" But the most persistent and costly exertions for the 

 relief of Franklin and his companions were those made by 

 sea from the Atlantic. The Government organized many 



