36 
EE VIEWS. 
searched without success, hut traces have actually been found at the mouth of the Back 
River, which only make us eager to know more, while scarcely any vestiges have been 
discovered elsewhere. I was myself present when the first traces were found in 1850, 
being a few things left by one of Franklin’s shooting parties on Cape Riley. We know, 
also, that the Erebus and Terror wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-6, but no record was 
found there, save the neatly cut epitaphs over the graves of three of the men—epitaphs 
which almost seem to speak to us as the last words of those missing heroes who were so 
soon themselves to meet a glorious death in their country’s service—‘ Choose ye this 
day whom ye will serve.’ Then, in 1851, Dr. Rae picked up, at Parker Bay, a piece 
of flag-staff, with white line, bearing the Government mark, and a piece of oak three feet 
long; and Captain Collinson, in 1852, found a fragment of a door-frame on the Finlay- 
son Islands. At length, a report arrived from Dr. Rae in 1854, who was then exploring 
the country between Repulse Bay and Castor and Pollux River, which proved that a party 
had travelled from King William’s Land, and perished in the mouth of the Back River, 
about May, 1850. Fie procured from the Esquimaux, who gave this information, silver 
belonging to no less than nine of the officers of the Erebus and Terror, part of a watch 
belonging to another officer, and several other articles. The subsequent search of Messrs. 
Anderson and Stewart, at the mouth of the Back River, in 1855, proved beyond a doubt 
that a travelling party from Franklin’s ships had reached that desolate spot.” 
The Government having done so much, has now stopped short, and 
refused to permit any further expense to he incurred in searching for 
the ships and documents which would throw the fullest light upon the 
fate of the lost expedition. 
It has been, therefore, reserved for the untiring energy and womanly 
faith of Lady Eranklin to attempt the completion of the unfinished 
though almost perfect search, and she has found in the author of the 
“Beminiscenees of Arctic Ice-Travel,” Captain E. L. M'Clintock, an 
officer alike competent and willing to undertake the command of the 
last and final voyage of search. 
In Mr. Markham’s words :— 
“ M‘ Clin took has gone forth, single-handed, to complete the search for this most 
heroic body of men, with the determination of clearing up the mystery which has so long 
hung over their fate, and crowning his long and weary labours with success. The exer¬ 
tions of this gallant officer, whilst serving in the various searching expeditions, have been 
unceasing. When Sir James Ross sailed in 1848, M‘Clintock was with him, and ac¬ 
companied him in his long travelling party; when Captain Austin sailed in 1850, 
M‘Clintock formed part of the expedition, and, improving on his former experience, per¬ 
formed the longest sledge journey that had ever been attempted in the Arctic regions ; 
and when Captain Kellett sailed in 1852, M‘Clintock, with untiring zeal, still continued 
to search, and surpassed himself in his wonderful journey along the north shores of Mel¬ 
ville Island and Prince Patrick’s Island. On the 1st of July of this year he again sailed 
from Aberdeen on board the Fox, a vessel fitted out by Lady Franklin, assisted by the 
friends of this noble undertaking. The Fox is a screw steam yacht, of 320 tons and 30 
horse-power, admirably adapted for the service: she is rigged as a three masted schooner, 
with fore-topsail reefing from the deck ; she is 132 feet in length over all, diagonally 
built, and expected to go six knots under steam when deep, stowing two and a half 
years’ provisions, and five weeks’ fuel for full speed. A young merchant captain, named 
Allen Young, goes out as sailing master; and, besides his unpaid services, has contributed 
the munificent sum of £-500 towards the expenses of the expedition. Lieutenant Hob¬ 
son, R.N., late of the Rattlesnake in Behring’s Straits, Dr. Walker, the surgeon, and 
Petersen, the Esquimaux interpreter who was with Dr. Kane, with a crew of thirty men, 
complete her complement. It is intended that much of the travelling shall be performed 
by dog-sledges, and thirty dogs will be procured in Greenland. All the travelling equip¬ 
ments are to be of the lightest possible material, and the sledges drawn by men are to 
