220 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
After an absence of 61 days the boats reached Hecla 
Cove on the 21st August, and the ship arrived in the 
Thames on the 6th of October, 1827. If Parry had 
wintered in Hecla Cove and started in February he would 
have probably reached a much higher latitude. But 
success was not possible owing to the southerly drift of 
the polar ice. The weight of 264 lb. per man was much 
too great to drag for a lengthened period, and the daily 
allowance of food was too small. Experience would 
have corrected these details, and Sir Edward Parry, it 
should be remembered, was the pioneer of Arctic travelling 
without the mistakes of others to guide him. 
Parry returned to his work as Hydrographer. Of his 
companions, James Ross, Crozier, and Bird afterwards 
won renown as Antarctic discoverers. 
Parry was knighted on the 29th of April, 1829. 
Although his Arctic work was over, he was hard at work 
and in harness for the rest of his life. In 1829 he was 
offered the difficult post of Agent to the Australian 
Agricultural Company. Its affairs had been neglected and 
mismanaged, and the Directors turned to Parry, as a most 
able organiser, to restore their affairs to a proper footing. 
He was appointed Commissioner to the Agricultural 
Company in New South Wales, receiving also the D.C.L. 
at Oxford. He held the appointment for several years, 
returning to England in June, 1834. In 1839 he organised 
the Holyhead Packet Service, and in the same year 
became Comptroller of Steam Machinery. During Parry's 
time as Comptroller an immense advance was made in the 
use of steam, and it was due to his strong advocacy that 
the screw propeller was adopted for naval ships. In 1846 
he was appointed Captain Superintendent of Haslar 
Hospital and Clarence Yard, a position which he occupied 
for five years, retiring in 1851. 
Sir Edward took the warmest interest in the searches 
for his intimate and dear friend Franklin. His visit to 
the Assistance at Greenhithe was ever a sacred memory 
to us all. In 1853 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor 
of Greenwich Hospital, and began to reside in January, 
1854. He died at Ems on the 8th of July, 1855, an d was 
buried at Greenwich. 
Sir Edward Parry, as we have said, must be ranked 
