INTRODUCTION. 



xxiii 



Smith. But to Messrs. Williams and Haven, upon whom I called 

 when at New London, I am especially indebted. In every possi- 

 ble way they tried to help me as to my plans ; and they most lib- 

 erally tendered me the well-known schooner "Rescue" (formerly 

 of the first Grrinnell Expedition) for $2000. 



I am also under great obligation to Mr. R. H. Chapell, of the 

 same place, who then displayed — and has so ever since — an earn- 

 estness in every thing connected with arctic research that com- 

 mands my respect and esteem. 



Other persons that I called upon in New London were Captains 

 Sisson, Tyson, Quayle, and S. 0. Budington, with whom I after- 

 ward embarked on my voyage. Captain Budington had brought 

 to this country an intelligent Esquimaux, named Kud-la-go, whom 

 I afterward fortunately secured to accompany me as an inter- 

 preter. 



At Grroton I called upon an individual named W. R. Sterry. 

 He had been four voyages to the arctic regions, and spent three 

 winters in Northumberland Inlet. I asked him, How long, at 

 any one time, he had remained with the Esquimaux ? His reply 

 was, Two months in the spring of 1855, thirty miles from the ves- 

 sel, and with three families, consisting of about twenty individu- 

 als, living in three or four huts. 



Sterry was able to give me a great deal of useful information, 

 which all tended the more to confirm my views upon the subject 

 of arctic exploration. 



From New London I returned to New York, where the great 

 kindness of Mr. Grrinnell, and the friendly attention of several oth- 

 er well-known names, much encouraged me. Promises of assist- 

 ance were made, and donations tendered toward my expedition. 

 Here, by invitation, on March 8th, 1860, 1 attended an informal 

 meeting of the American Geographical and Statistical Society, to 

 explain my views and intentions. At the meeting I gave a brief 

 statement of my ideas on the subject of Franklin's Expedition, 

 and argued upon the great probability of some survivors yet be- 

 ing found. Soon after this, Messrs. Henry Grrinnell, Miles Green- 

 wood, and R. M. Bishop kindly became treasurers of the fund 

 raising for my voyage, and it was now determined to adopt 

 the following plan, which, I may here state, was the one I acted 

 upon, so far as I could, throughout my whole undertaking. I 

 give that plan as promulgated by me at the time. I said, " My 

 object is to acquire personal knowledge of the language and life 



