14 
INTRODUC TORY. 
It was in 1844 that Sir John Franklin was ap- 
pointed to the charge of his latest Polar expedition. 
His first visit to the Arctic regions had been in 1818, 
as a captain in Commodore Buchan's squadron ; and 
after this had returned unsuccessful, he had headed 
that most fearful of all the overland journeys of our 
period, the descent to the mouth of the Coppermine 
River. Still later, in 1825, he had gone back to the 
same field of toil, and had delineated, in conjunction 
with Sir John Richardson, the more western portions 
of Arctic America. 
No ofiicer could have been found in the marine of 
any country who combined more admirable qualifica- 
tions for the duties of an explorer. To the resolute 
enterprise and powers of endurance, which his former 
expeditions had tested so severely. Sir John Franklin 
united many delightful traits of character. With an 
enthusiasm almost boyish, he had a spirit of large 
but fearless forecast, and a sensitive kindness of heart 
that commiserated every one but himself. He is re- 
membered to this day among the Indians of North 
America, as "the great chief who would not kill a 
nfiosquito." 
His vessels, the Erebus and Terror, were soon fit- 
ted for sea ; and on the 25th of May, 1845, he weigh- 
ed anchor, with a picked crew, and as noble a band 
of officers as ever volunteered for a service of peril. 
They were met by a whaler on the 26th of July fol- 
lowing, in the upper waters of Baffin's Bay, moored 
to an iceberg, and waiting for an opening in " the 
pack." They have not been seen since. 
When the year 1848 had arrived without any tid- 
ings of this gallant party, Great Britain dispatched 
three separate expeditions to reclaim them. These 
