ARCTIC VOYAGES. 
171 
care to provide ourselves at Beechey Island with what we may require. 
My plans are unaltered, except that I shall probably have more time, 
and will endeavour to get at the bottom of all the Pond’s Bay reports. 
Petersen* is admirable ; most faithful, intelligent, and experienced. I 
hope to obtain, through him, most valuable information. I desire no 
change in any of my companions, nor do I think any change could be 
for the better. For myself, I feel no regret at this failure which can 
at all be named with that which I feel for poor Lady Franklin and all 
our kind friends at home, including yourself, my dear friend. The dis¬ 
appointment is too great for such minor considerations. Next to the 
painful suspense of another year, I dread the unavoidable expense of 
wages—the provisions, clothing, &c., having already been paid for ; but 
I dare not allude to this to Lady Franklin. My hope is, that we may 
finally be rewarded with such a measure of success that the Govern¬ 
ment will relieve her of the cost. I wish you could have seen from a 
balloon our escape from the grip of the ice ; I never saw a finer sight! 
Closely packed heavy ice tossed about by a tremendous sea. Our bow 
is an acute iron-shod wedge, and, impelled by steam, we slowly ad¬ 
vanced, in spite of the most fearful buffetings. Not wishing to ‘ pile 
up the agony,’ I have said as little as I could about it; but in all my ex¬ 
perience I have never witnessed anything approaching to it. In a day 
or two I shall start for Lievely, the coal-mine, and the further north. I 
have asked Lady F. to write to me to Lievely next spring, as I hope to 
touch there on my return in September, 1859. Perhaps you will kindly 
write also. Excuse the brevity of this scribble, but between writing to 
the Admiralty and so many friends, my time is occupied, and my wits 
jumbled up into a strange conglomeration. 
“ Ever most sincerely yours, 
“F. L. M'Clintock.” 
V.—DIARY OR MR. DAVID WALKER, SURGEON AND NATURALIST TO THE “ EOX” 
ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 
11 Last letter, dated from TTppemavik on August 6, 1857. In the 
afternoon weighed and proceeded out to sea, after filling up our number 
of thirty dogs, and getting some seals for their food. The afternoon was 
very rough, and the ship rolled and lurched considerably, and rain com¬ 
menced to fall. Altogether, the evening was very unpleasant. Passed 
numerous icebergs. 
“ August 7th. Wind calmer, but still making good way westward. 
Passed many bergs. Towards evening these increased in size and num¬ 
ber. Some rotches and mollymokes were shot. The evening was very 
pleasant. About 10 p. m. got into the pack ice, and steered through the 
loose pieces. 
“ 8th. Continued sailing through the ice during the night till 5 a. m., 
when the ice closed around us, and there we remained till 10 a. m., when 
* Mr. Karl Petersen was ice-master with Captain Penny and with Dr. Kane. He is a 
Dane by birth, but lived many years in Greenland, and is married to an Esquimaux woman. 
