ch. xxvn] The Search for Franklin. L 251 
The results of Sir James Ross's expedition were the 
discovery of 150 miles of coast on the western side of 
North Somerset, the certainty that none of Franklin's 
people had been to Fury Beach, and above all the ex- 
perience gained by M'Clintock. Ross and Bird, who had 
commenced as Parry's faithful and loyal midshipmen, 
had now completed their polar careers 1 . 
The country was now thoroughly alarmed when it 
was too late ; the warmest sympathy was felt throughout 
the civilised world, and the Government was forced to 
take steps on a large scale. The Enterprise and 
Investigator were re-commissioned and despatched to 
search by way of Bering Strait, under the command of 
Captains Collinson and M'Clure, while the Plover was 
stationed near Cape Barrow as a depot ship. Two strong 
bluff-bowed, barque-rigged vessels of 410 and 430 tons, 
named the Resolute and Assistance, were strengthened and 
fitted out in the yards of Green and Wigram respectively, 
and two sharp-bowed screw steamers were bought as 
tenders, and named the Pioneer and Intrepid. These 
four vessels, under the command of Captain T. H. Austin, 
were to search by way of Lancaster Sound. Captain 
Ommanney was to have the Assistance, with M'Clintock, 
Mecham, and Vesey Hamilton. Sherard Osborn was to 
command the Pioneer, J. Bertie Cator the Intrepid. The 
Admiralty also bought two brigs, which were named 
the Lady Franklin and Sophia, for another expedition 
under Captain Penny, a well-known whaling captain in 
those days. Old Sir John Ross, with some aid from 
Sir Felix Booth and others, managed to fit out a small 
schooner called the Felix, towing the Mary, a decked 
boat. 
Sir John Ross declared that Franklin had promised to 
leave a record for him at Cape Hotham. He had with 
him Lieutenant Philips, who had been in Ross's Antarctic 
expedition on board the Erebus, and that old polar 
veteran Abernethy. Lady Franklin, with marvellous 
intuition, felt very strongly that one important route 
was being omitted — that by Prince Regent's Inlet. She 
1 Ross died on April 3rd, 1861, after seventeen polar navigable seasons, 
and nine Arctic winters ; Captain Bird retired an Admiral and died in his 
83rd year on December 3rd, 1881. 
