xviii 



INTRODUCTION. 



ticulars as to the cause of m y embarking on a voyage to the Arc- 

 tic Seas. 



It is well known that, for many years past, the whole civilized 

 world has had its interest much attracted toward the polar re- 

 gions in consequence of the lamentable fate of the Franklin Ex- 

 pedition. The labors of Great Britain to discover what had be- 

 come of her lost children, and the sums of money devoted to that 

 purpose (no less than £2,000,000 sterling), stand unparalleled in 

 past history. Nor was America behindhand in the generous and 

 humane work. That the missing navigators belonged not to our 

 own beloved land made no difference. The one general feeling 

 was the same with reference to a desire for participating in the 

 search after those who, having periled themselves in devotion to 

 science and the good of mankind, had become as brothers to us 

 all. Hence the banner of Columbia — the glorious stars and 

 stripes — floated to the breeze of an arctic clime, side by side with 

 England's proud flag, in the noble errand of humanity, for which 

 a goodly fleet of some twenty vessels had been sent forth ! Of 

 the many bright names already chronicled for their generous 

 deeds in connection with those arctic explorations, need I say that 

 none stand more conspicuous than that of Henry Grinnell ? What 

 he and others have done is so familiar to all men who know any 

 thing of this matter, that I need not recapitulate what has been so 

 often told ; but I can not let pass the mention of that one name 

 here without expressing the warm emotions of my own heart. 

 Henry Grinnell has been to me, as he has shown himself to all 

 who were at work in the Franklin search, a true and noble friend. 

 To him I feel more than ordinarily indebted. He not only help- 

 ed me in my undertaking, but he has cheered me on, and spoken 

 words of comfort and bright hope when my soul was often nearly 

 overwhelmed. The memory of his generous kindness frequently 

 sustained and helped to invigorate me anew when wearied and 

 exhausted in the wild regions I have lately been exploring. May 

 every blessing, therefore, attend him and his, is my earnest and 

 grateful prayer. 



As to the search for Franklin and his brave comrades, who has 

 not heard of its fruitless result? Money and means expended 

 without success ! Large ships and small ships, in magnificent ex- 

 peditions, sent out vainly as to the recovery of those lost ! True, 

 some discoveries were made, and certain relics and information 

 brought to England by Dr. Eae in 1854, which gave a clew as to 



