SHORES OF THE POLAR SEA. 259 



Point Separation and the mouth of the 

 Coppermine River, by the route we pursued, 

 is nine hundred and two statute miles." 



Though geographical discovery was the 

 first object of Franklin's expedition, the 

 officers engaged in it were eminently quali- 

 fied to collect materials and make obser- 

 vations on all subjects connected with 

 science. In the winter evenings, at Fort 

 Franklin, Dr. Richardson delivered a course 

 of lectures to the party on practical geology, 

 from which most of them gathered a gene- 

 ral knowledge of what specimens of earths 

 and rock it was desirable to collect. Cap- 

 tain Franklin is an admirable navigator, and 

 fully acquainted with every kind of instru- 

 ment for astronomical, meteorological and 

 magnetical purposes. Commander Back is 

 no mean draughtsman, as the numerous and 

 well-executed prints in the volume, all taken 

 from his drawings, sufficiently testify ; and 

 Lieut. Kendall draws charts in a very supe- 

 rior manner. The result of their scientific 

 labours are chiefly thrown into an Appen- 

 dix, but incidental notices are interspersed 

 s 2 



