578 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



1820, — a supposition altogether unlikely. The third — consist- 

 ing of the Enterprise and Investigator, under Captain Sir 

 James Clarke Ross — was equally unsuccessful, though con- 

 ducted in a quarter where success was at least possible. At 

 Port Leopold, at the mouth of Prince Regent's Inlet, Ross 

 formed a large depot of provisions, — the locality having been 

 admirably chosen, being upon Parry's route to the Polar Sea, 

 and upon any track Franklin would be likely to take on his 

 way back, in case he had already advanced beyond it. His 

 men built a house upon shore of their spare spars, and covered it 

 with such canvas as they could dispense with. They lengthened 

 the Investigator's steam-launch, so that it would be capable of 

 carrying Franklin and his crew safely to the whalers' rendez- 

 vous, and left it. They then made their way through the ice 

 to Davis' Straits, and arrived in England early in November, 

 1849. 



The probable fate of Franklin now absorbed all minds, and 

 the Admiralty, Parliament, the public, and the press eagerly 

 discussed every theory which would account for his prolonged 

 absence, and every means by which succor could be sent to him. 

 The Admiralty offered a reward of one hundred guineas for 

 accurate information concerning him. Lady Franklin offered 

 the stimulus of <£2000, and a second of c£3000, to successful 

 search ; and the British Government sought to enlist the ser- 

 vices of the whalers by announcing a bonus of <£20,000. A 

 vessel was sent to land provisions and coal at the entrance to 

 Lancaster Sound. Three new expeditions were sent out in 

 1850 by the Government, besides one by public subscription, 

 assisted by the Hudson Bay Company, under Sir John Ross, 

 and another by Lady Franklin. They accomplished wonders 

 of seamanship, and their crews endured the most harassing 

 trials ; but we have no space to chronicle any thing beyond the 

 finding of a few distinct but unproductive traces of the missing 

 adventurers, which occurred in the following manner : 



