XXVlll 



OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS, 



preserve such specimens of the Animal, Mineral, and Vegetable King- 

 doms, as you can conveniently stow on board the ships ; salting in 

 casks the skins of the larger animals, as well as causing accurate draw- 

 ings to be made to accompany and elucidate the descriptions of them ; 

 in this, as well as in every other part of your scientific duty, We trust 

 that you will receive material assistance from Mr. Fisher, and the other 

 Officers under your command. 



In the event of any irreparable accident happening to either of the two 

 ships, you are to cause the Officers and Crew of the disabled ship to be re- 

 moved into the other, and with her singly to proceed in prosecution of the 

 voyage, or return to England, according as circumstances shall appear to 

 require ; understanding that the Officers and Crews of both ships are 

 hereby authorized and required to continue to perform their duties 

 according to their respective ranks and stations, on board either ship to 

 which they may be so removed, in the event of an occurrence of this na- 

 ture. Should unfortunately your own ship be the one disabled, you are 

 in that case to take the command of the Hecla ; and in the event of any 

 fatal accident happening to yourself, Captain Lyon is hereby authorized 

 to take the command of the Expedition, either on board the Fury or 

 Hecla, as he may prefer, placing the Officer who may then be next in 

 seniority to him, in command of the second ship ; also in the event of 

 your inability, by sickness or otherwise, to continue to carry these In- 

 structions into execution, you are to transfer them to Captain Lyon, or 

 to the surviving Officer then next in command to you, employed on 

 the Expedition, who is hereby required to execute them in the best 

 manner he can for the attainment of the several objects in view. 



His Majesty's Government having appointed Captain Franklin to 

 the command of an Expedition to explore the northern coast of North 



