CHAPTER XXVI 
THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION 
When Sir James Ross returned from the Antarctic 
expedition, there were the two well-fortified bomb ves- 
sels, the Erebus and Terror, ready for Arctic work. 
Sir John Barrow was still Secretary of the Admiralty, 
and as eager as ever for the discovery of a North West 
Passage. There were the ships and he knew the best 
man in the navy to command them. James Fitzjames 
made the acquaintance of young John Barrow at the 
time when he was in the Excellent, passing out as a 
gunnery lieutenant, and he afterwards became acquainted 
with his father. Fitzjames was certainly an exceptionally 
fine character, and held a splendid record. He was in 
all the operations on the coast of Syria in 1840, and soon 
afterwards he and his friend Charlwood were specially 
selected to take out a steamer for Colonel Chesney's 
expedition, transport her in pieces across the desert, and 
put her together for service on the Euphrates. He 
served for two years with Chesney in Mesopotamia, and 
was the gunnery lieutenant of the Comwallis during 
the China War. He was in nearly all the actions, in- 
cluding the command of the rocket brigade at the taking 
of Nankin, when he was severely wounded. Fitzjames 
wrote a graphic and most amusing history of the war in 
verse, which was published. Promoted to the rank of 
Commander for his distinguished services, he received 
command of the Clio brig, and was very usefully em- 
ployed in the Persian Gulf. It was at this time that 
John Barrow hinted to him the possibility of Arctic work, 
and he at once eagerly volunteered. 
When he paid off the Clio in October, 1844, the pro- 
posal was further discussed with Sir John Barrow. 
Before long it was settled, so far as the Secretary of the 
Admiralty could settle it, that there should be an ex- 
pedition with Fitzjames in command, and his friend 
Charlwood in the second ship. 
