INTRODUCTION. 



XXV 



"New York, March H, 1860. 



"Mr. C. F. Hall: 



" Dear Sir, — Probably no one in this country is more desirous 

 of arriving at the truth relative to the fate of Sir John Franklin 

 and his party than myself. The fate of Franklin and some of his 

 officers and men is known by the record found on King William's 

 Land by Captain (now Sir F. L.) M'Clintock ; but the fate of 105 

 members of Franklin's Expedition, living on the 25th day of 

 April, 1848, and many other matters important to the history of 

 that expedition, has yet to be determined. 



" I believe some of the 105 may yet be found habitants among 

 the Esquimaux of Boothia, Victoria, or Prince Albert Lands. 1 

 farther believe that the graves of Franklin and some of his offi- 

 cers and men, known to be dead, as well as the records of the ex- 

 pedition and many important relics, will be found on King Wil- 

 liam's Land, if search be made there in the months of July, Au- 

 gust, and September. 



"The course you propose to pursue is entirely a new and im- 

 portant one, and I see not why, with the exercise of your best 

 judgment, you may not ultimately accomplish all that could be 

 desired in satisfactorily determining many of the unsettled ques- 

 tions indicated above, as well as increasing our geographical 

 knowledge of that portion of the arctic regions over which you 

 propose to pass. 



" You have my earnest wishes for the accomplishment of the 

 noble object you have in view, and I will cheerfully contribute 

 toward the requisite funds to carry it out. 



" With great regard, I am your friend, Henry Grinnell." 



Shortly afterward, Messrs. Williams and Haven, of New Lon- 

 don, sent me the following most kind and generous proposal : 



"As a testimony of our personal regard, and the interest we 

 feel in the proposed expedition, we will convey it and its required 

 outfit, boats, sledges, provisions, instruments, etc., free of charge, 

 in the barque George Henry, to Northumberland Inlet, and, when- 

 ever desired, we will give the same free passage home in any 

 of our ships." 



This generous offer relieved my mind of a great difficulty, and 

 most gratefully I accepted their kind proposition. 



Having thus far succeeded in opening the way, I now gave di- 

 rections for a suitable boat to be built. 



