Project Gutenberg's In the Arctic Seas, by Francis Leopold McClintock This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: In the Arctic Seas A Narrative of the Discovery of the Fate of Sir John Franklin and his Companions Author: Francis Leopold McClintock Release Date: October 8, 2011 [EBook #37669] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ARCTIC SEAS *** Produced by Irma Spehar, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) Transcriber's Note: Variant spellings (including quoted proper nouns) remain as printed. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Unique page headings have been retained, moved to the left margin, and positioned at a relevant paragraph break. The 'Fox' steaming out of the Rolling Pack. IN THE ARCTIC SEAS. A NARRATIVE OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND HIS COMPANIONS. BY CAPTAIN M'CLINTOCK, R.N., LL.D. WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. PHILADELPHIA: PORTER & COATES, 822 Chestnut Street. AUTHOR'S EDITION CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN & CO., PHILADELPHIA. DEDICATION. My dear Lady Franklin, There is no one to whom I could with so much propriety or willingness dedicate my Journal as to you. For you it was originally written, and to please you it now appears in print. To our mutual friend, Sherard Osborn, I am greatly obliged for his kindness in seeing it through the press—a labor I could not have settled down to so soon after my return; and also for pointing out some omissions and technicalities which would have rendered parts of it unintelligible to an ordinary reader. These kind hints have been but partially attended to, and, as time presses, it appears with the mass of its original imperfections, as when you read it in manuscript. Such as it is, however, it affords me this valued opportunity of assuring you of the real gratification I feel in having been instrumental in accomplishing an object so dear to you. To your devotion and self-sacrifice the world is indebted for the deeply interesting revelation unfolded by the voyage of the 'Fox.' Believe me to be, With sincere respect, most faithfully yours, F. L. M'CLINTOCK. London, 24th Nov., 1859. LIST OF OFFICERS AND SHIP'S COMPANY OF THE 'FOX.' F. L. M'CLINTOCK Captain R.N. W. R. HOBSON, Lieutenant R.N. ALLEN W. YOUNG, Captain, Mercantile Marine. DAVID WALKER, M.D., Surgeon and Naturalist. GEORGE BRANDS, Engineer, died 6th Nov. 1858, (Apoplexy). CARL PETERSEN, Interpreter. THOMAS BLACKWELL, Ship's Steward, died 14th June, 1859, (Scurvy). WM. HARVEY, Chief Quartermaster. HENRY TOMS, Quartermaster. ALEX. THOMPSON, " JOHN SIMMONDS, Boatswain's Mate. GEORGE EDWARDS, Carpenter's Mate. ROBERT SCOTT, Leading Stoker, died 4th Dec. 1857, (in consequence of a fall). THOMAS GRINSTEAD, Sailmaker. GEORGE HOBDAY, Captain of Hold. ROBERT HAMPTON, A. B. JOHN A. HASELTON, " GEORGE CAREY, " BEN. POUND, " WM. WALTERS, Carpenter's Crew. WM. JONES, Dog-driver. JAMES PITCHER, }Stokers. THOMAS FLORANCE, RICHARD SHINGLETON, Officers' Steward. ANTON CHRISTIAN, }Greenland Esquimaux, discharged in Greenland. SAMUEL EMANUEL, OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SERVICES OF THE YACHT 'FOX.' Admiralty, London, 24th Oct. 1859. Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, that, in consideration of the important services performed by you in bringing home the only authentic intelligence of the death of the late Sir John Franklin, and of the fate of the crews of the 'Erebus' and 'Terror,' Her Majesty has been pleased, by her order in Council of the 22nd instant, to sanction the time during which you were absent on these discoveries in the Arctic Regions, viz., from the 30th June, 1857, to the 21st September, 1859, to reckon as time served by a captain in command of one of Her Majesty's ships, and my Lords have given the necessary directions accordingly. I am, Sir, Your very humble servant, W. G. ROMAINE, Secretary to the Admiralty. Captain Francis L. M'Clintock, R.N. PREFACE. The following narrative of the bold adventure which has successfully revealed the last discoveries and the fate of Franklin, is published at the request of the friends of that illustrious navigator. The gallant M'Clintock, when he penned his journal amid the Arctic ices, had no idea whatever of publishing it; and yet there can be no doubt that the reader will peruse with the deepest interest the simple tale of how, in a little vessel of 170 tons burthen, he and his well-chosen companions have cleared up this great mystery. To the honor of the British nation, and also let it be said to that of the United States of America, many have been the efforts made to discover the route followed by our missing explorers. The highly deserving men who have so zealously searched the Arctic seas and lands in this cause must now rejoice, that after all their anxious toils, the merit of rescuing from the frozen North the record of the last days of Franklin, has fallen to the share of his noble-minded widow. Lady Franklin has, indeed, well shown what a devoted and true-hearted English woman can accomplish. The moment that relics of the expedition commanded by her husband were brought home (in 1854) by Rae, and that she heard of the account given to him by the Esquimaux of a large party of Englishmen having been seen struggling with difficulties on the ice near the mouth of the Back or Great Fish River, she resolved to expend all her available means (already much exhausted in four other independent expeditions) in an exploration of the limited area to which the search must thenceforward be necessarily restricted. Whilst the supporters of Lady Franklin's efforts were of opinion, that the Government ought to have undertaken a search, the extent of which was, for the first time, definitely limited, it is but rendering justice to the then Prime Minister[1] to state, that he had every desire to carry out the wishes of the men of science[2] who appealed to him, and that he was precluded from acceding to their petition, by nothing but the strongly expressed opinion of official authorities, that after so many failures the Government were no longer justified in sending out more brave men to encounter fresh dangers in a cause which was viewed as hopeless. Hence it devolved on Lady Franklin and her friends to be the sole means of endeavoring to bring to light the true history of her husband's voyage and fate. Looking to the list of Naval worthies, who, during the preceding years, had been exploring the Arctic Regions, Lady Franklin was highly gratified when she obtained the willing services of Captain M'Clintock to command the yacht 'Fox,' which she had purchased; for that officer had signally distinguished himself in the voyages of Sir John Ross and Captain (now Admiral) Austin, and especially in his extensive journeys on the ice when associated with Captain Kellett. With such a leader she could not but entertain sanguine hopes of success when the fast and well-adapted little vessel sailed from Aberdeen on the 1st of July, 1857, upon this eventful enterprise. Deep, indeed, was the mortification experienced by every one who shared the feelings and anticipations of Lady Franklin when the untoward news came, in the summer of 1858, that, the preceding winter having set in earlier than usual, the 'Fox' had been beset in the ice off Melville Bay, on the coast of Greenland, and after a dreary winter, various narrow escapes, and eight months of imprisonment, had been carried back by the floating ice nearly twelve hundred [vii] [viii] [ix] geographical miles—even to 63½° N. lat. in the Atlantic! See the woodcut map, No. 1. But although the good little yacht had been most roughly handled among the ice-floes (see Frontispiece), we were cheered up by the information from Disco, that, with the exception of the death of the engine-driver in consequence of a fall into the hold, the crew were in stout health and full of energy, and that provided with sufficient fuel and provisions, a good supply of sledging dogs, two tried Esquimaux, and the excellent interpreter Petersen the Dane,[3] ample grounds yet remained to lead us to hope for a successful issue. Above all, we were encouraged by the proofs of the self- possession and calm resolve of M'Clintock, who held steadily to the accomplishment of his original project; the more so as he had then tested and recognized the value of the services of Lieutenant (now Commander) Hobson, his able second in command; of Captain Allen Young, his generous volunteer associate;[4] and of Dr. Walker, his accomplished Surgeon. Despite, however, of these re-assuring data, many an advocate of this search was anxiously alive to the chance of the failure of the venture of one unassisted yacht, which after sundry mishaps was again starting to cross Baffin's Bay, with the foreknowledge, that when she reached the opposite coast, the real difficulties of the enterprise were to commence. Any such misgivings were happily illusory; and the reader who follows M'Clintock across the "middle ice" of Baffin's Bay to Pond Inlet, thence to Beechey Island, down a portion of Peel Strait, and then through the hitherto unnavigated waters of Bellot Strait in one summer season, may reasonably expect the success which followed. Whilst the revelation obtained from the long-sought records, which were discovered by Lieutenant Hobson, is most satisfactory to those who speculated on the probability of Franklin having, in the first instance, tried to force his way northwards through Wellington Channel (as we now learn he did), those who held a different hypothesis, namely, that he followed his instructions, which directed him to the S.W., may be amply satisfied that in the following season the ships did pursue this southerly course till they were finally beset in N. lat. 70° 05'.[5] At the same time, the public should fully understand the motive which prompted the supporters of Lady Franklin in advocating the last search. Putting aside the hope which some of us entertained, that a few of the younger men of the missing expedition might still be found to be living among the Esquimaux, we had every reason to expect, that if the ships were discovered, the scientific documents of the voyage, including valuable magnetic observations, would be recovered. In the absence of such good fortune we may, however, well be gladdened by the discovery of that one precious document which gives us a true outline of the voyage of the 'Erebus' and 'Terror.' That the reader may comprehend the vast extent of sea traversed by Franklin in the two summers before his ships were beset, a small map (No. 2) is here introduced representing all the lands and seas of the Arctic regions to the west of Lancaster Sound which were known and laid down when he sailed. The dotted lines and arrows, which extend from the then known seas and lands into the unknown waters or blank spaces on this old map, indicate Franklin's route, the novelty, range, rapidity, and boldness of which, as thus delineated, may well surprise the geographer, and even the most enterprising Arctic sailor.[6] For, those who have not closely attended to the results of other Arctic voyages may be informed, that rarely has an expedition in the first year accomplished more by its ships, than the establishing of good winter quarters, from whence the real researches began by sledge-work in the ensuing spring. Franklin, however, not only reached Beechey Island, but ascended Wellington Channel, then an unknown sea, to 77° N. lat., a more northern latitude in this meridian than that attained long afterwards in ships by Sir Edward Belcher, and much to the north of the points reached by Penny and De Haven. Next, though most scantily provided with steam-power, Franklin navigated round Cornwallis' Land, which he thus proved to be an island. The last discovery of a navigable channel throughout, between Cornwallis and Bathurst Islands, though made in the very summer he left England, has remained even to this day unknown to other navigators! Franklin then, in obedience to his orders, steered to the south-west. Passing, as M'Clintock believes, down Peel's Strait in 1846, and reaching as far as lat. 70° 05' N., and long. 98° 23' W., where the ships were beset, it is clear that he, who, with others, had previously ascertained the existence of a channel along the north coast of America, with which the sea wherein he was interred had a direct communication, was the first real discoverer of the North-West Passage. This great fact must therefore be inscribed upon the monument of Franklin. The adventurous M'Clure, who has been worthily honored for working out another North-Western passage, which we now know to have been of subsequent date,[7] as well as Collinson, who, taking the 'Enterprise' along the north coast of America, and afterwards bringing her home, reached with sledges the western edge of the area recently laid open by M'Clintock, will I have no doubt unite with their Arctic associates, Richardson, Sherard Osborn, and M'Clintock, in affirming, that "Franklin and his followers secured the honor for which they died—that of being the first discoverers of the North-West Passage."[8] Again, when we turn from the discoveries of Franklin to those of M'Clintock, as mapped in red colors on the general map, on which is represented the amount of outline laid down by all other Arctic explorers from the days when these modern researches originated with Sir John Barrow, we perceive that, in addition to the discovery of the course followed by the 'Erebus' and 'Terror,' some most important geographical data have been accumulated by the last expedition of Lady Franklin. [x] [xi] [xii] [xiii] [xiv] [xv] Thus, M'Clintock has proved, that the strait named by Kennedy in an earlier private expedition of Lady Franklin after his companion the brave Lieutenant Bellot, and which has hitherto been regarded only as an impassable frozen channel, or ignored as a channel at all, is a navigable strait, the south shore of which is thus seen to be the northernmost land of the continent of America. M'Clintock has also laid down the hitherto unknown coast-line of Boothia, southwards from Bellot Strait to the Magnetic Pole, has delineated the whole of King William's Island, and opened a new and capacious, though ice-choked channel, suspected before, but not proved, to exist, extending from Victoria Strait in a north-west direction to Melville or Parry Sound. The latter discovery rewarded the individual exertions of Captain Allen Young, but will very properly, at Lady Franklin's request, bear the name of the leader of the 'Fox' expedition, who had himself assigned to it the name of the widow of Franklin.[9] Neither has the expedition been unproductive of scientific results. For, whilst many persons will be interested in the popular descriptions of the native Esquimaux, as well as of the lower animals, the man of science will hereafter be further gratified by having presented to him, in the form of an additional Appendix,[10] most valuable details relating to the zoology, botany, meteorology, and especially to the terrestrial magnetism, of the region examined. Lastly, M'Clintock has convinced himself, that the best way of securing the passage of a ship from the Atlantic to the Pacific, is by following, as near as possible, the coast-line of North America: indeed, it is his opinion, founded upon a large experience, that no passage by a ship can ever be accomplished in a more northern direction. This it is well known was the favorite theory of Franklin, who had himself, along with Richardson, Back, Beechey, Dease, Simpson, and Rae, surveyed the whole of that same North American coast from the Back or Great Fish River to Behring Strait. Thus, when Franklin sailed in 1845, the discovery of a North-West Passage was reduced to the finding a link between the latter survey and the discoveries of Parry, who had already, to his great renown, opened the first half of a more northern course from east to west, when he was arrested by the impenetrable ice-barrier at Melville Island. And here it is to be remembered, that the tract in which the record and the relics have been found, is just that to which Lady Franklin herself specially directed Kennedy, the commander of the 'Prince Albert,' in her second private expedition in 1852; and had that intrepid explorer not been induced to search northwards of Bellot Strait, but had felt himself able to follow the course indicated by his sagacious employer, there can be no doubt, that much more satisfactory results would have been obtained than those which, after a lapse of seven years, have now been realized by the undaunted perseverance of Lady Franklin, and the skill and courage of M'Clintock. The natural modesty of this commander has, I am bound to say, prevented his doing common justice, in the following journal, to his own conduct—conduct which can be estimated by those only who have listened to the testimony of the officers serving with and under the man, whose great qualities in moments of extreme peril elicited their heartiest admiration and ensured their perfect confidence. In writing this Preface (which I do at the request of the promoters of the last search), I may state that, having occupied the Chair of the Royal Geographical Society in 1845, when my cherished friend, Sir John Franklin, went forth for the third time to seek a North-West passage, it became my bounden duty in subsequent years, when his absence created much anxiety, and when I re-occupied the same position, ardently to promote the employment of searching expeditions, and warmly to sustain Lady Franklin's endeavors in this holy cause. Imbued with such feelings, I must be permitted to say, that no event in my life gave me purer delight, than when Captain Collinson, whose labors to support and carry out this last search have been signally serviceable, forwarded to me a telegram to be communicated to the British Association at Aberdeen announcing the success of M'Clintock. That document reached Balmoral on the 22nd of September last, when the men of science were invited thither by their Sovereign. Great was the satisfaction caused by the diffusion of these good tidings among my associates (the distinguished Arctic explorers Admiral Sir James Ross and General Sabine being present); and it was most cheering to us to know, that the Queen and our Royal President[11] took the deepest interest in this intelligence—such as, indeed, they have always evinced whenever the search for the missing navigators has been brought under their consideration. The immediate bestowal of the Arctic medal upon all the officers and men of the 'Fox' is a pleasing proof that this interest is well sustained. But these few introductory sentences must not be extended; and I invite the reader at once to peruse the Journal of M'Clintock, which will gratify every lover of truthful and ardent research, though it will leave him impressed with the sad belief, that the end of the companions of Franklin has been truly recorded by the native Esquimaux, who saw these noble fellows "fall down and die as they walked along the ice." Looking to the fact, that little or no fresh food could have been obtained by the crews of the 'Erebus' and 'Terror' during their long imprisonment of twenty months, in so frightfully sterile a region as that in which the ships were abandoned,— so sterile that it is even deserted by the Esquimaux,—and also to the want of sustenance in spring at the mouth of the Back River, all the Arctic naval authorities with whom I have conversed, coincide with M'Clintock and his associates in the belief, that none of the missing navigators can be now living. Painful as is the realisation of this tragic event, let us now dwell only on the reflection that, while the North-West passage has been solved by the heroic self-sacrifice of Franklin, Crozier, Fitzjames, and their associates, the searches after them which are now terminated, have, at a very small loss of life, not only added prodigiously to geographical [xvi] [xvii] [xviii] [xix] [xx] knowledge, but have, in times of peace, been the best school for testing, by the severest trials, the skill and endurance of many a brave seaman. In her hour of need—should need arise—England knows that such men will nobly do their duty. Roderick I. Murchison. FOOTNOTES: Viscount Palmerston. SEE THE Memorial (Appendix) ADDRESSED TO THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY, HEADED BY ADMIRAL SIR F. BEAUFORT, GENERAL SABINE, AND MANY OTHER MEN OF SCIENCE, AND WHICH, AS PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, I PRESENTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER; AND ALSO THE SPEECH OF LORD WROTTESLEY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, WHO, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE LAMENTED EARL OF ELLESMERE, BROUGHT THE subject earnestly under the notice of the House of Lords on the 18th of July, 1856. SINCE HIS RETURN TO COPENHAGEN, PETERSEN HAS BEEN WORTHILY HONORED BY HIS SOVEREIGN WITH THE SILVER cross of Dannebrog. CAPTAIN ALLEN YOUNG OF THE MERCHANT MARINE NOT ONLY THREW HIS SERVICES INTO THIS CAUSE, AND SUBSCRIBED £500 IN FURTHERANCE OF THE EXPEDITION, BUT, ABANDONING LUCRATIVE APPOINTMENTS IN command, generously accepted a subordinate post. FOR A résumé OF ALL THE PLANS OF RESEARCH AND THE SPECULATIONS OF SEAMEN AND GEOGRAPHERS, SEE THE INTERESTING AND MOST USEFUL VOLUME OF MR. JOHN BROWN, ENTITLED, 'THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE AND SEARCH AFTER SIR JOHN FRANKLIN,' 1858. IN AN APPENDIX TO THIS WORK WE LEARN, THAT FROM THE EARLIEST POLAR RESEARCHES BY JOHN CABOT, AT THE END OF THE 15TH CENTURY, TO THE VOYAGE OF M'CLINTOCK, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 130 EXPEDITIONS, ILLUSTRATED BY 250 BOOKS AND PRINTED DOCUMENTS, OF WHICH 150 HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN ENGLAND. AMIDST THE VARIOUS RECENT PUBLICATIONS, IT IS BUT RENDERING JUSTICE TO DR. KING, THE FORMER COMPANION OF SIR GEORGE BACK, TO STATE THAT HE SUGGESTED AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE necessity of a search for the missing navigators at or near the mouth of the Back River. THE LETTER A IN BAFFIN BAY (FIG. 1) INDICATES THE SPOT WHERE FRANKLIN WAS LAST SEEN. IN FIG. 2, B IS THE WINTER RENDEZVOUS AT BEECHEY ISLAND; C THE GREATEST NORTHING OF THE EXPEDITION, VIZ. 77° N. LAT.; Z THE FINAL BESET OF THE 'EREBUS' AND 'TERROR;' THE EXTREME NORTH AND SOUTH POINTS OF THEIR VOYAGE BEING represented by two small ships. In 1850. SEE A MOST HEART-STIRRING SKETCH OF THE LAST VOYAGE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, BY CAPTAIN SHERARD OSBORN, IN THE PERIODICAL Once a Week, OF THE 22D AND 29TH OCTOBER AND 5TH NOVEMBER LAST. POSSESSING A THOROUGH ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE ARCTIC REGIONS, THE DISTINGUISHED SEAMAN HAS SHOWN MORE THAN HIS ORDINARY POWER OF DESCRIPTION, IN PLACING BEFORE THE PUBLIC HIS CONCEPTION OF WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CHIEF OCCURRENCES IN THE VOYAGE OF THE 'EREBUS' AND 'TERROR,' AND THE LAST DAYS OF FRANKLIN, AS FOUNDED UPON AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE CHIEF AND HIS ASSOCIATES, AND THE RECORD AND RELICS OBTAINED BY M'CLINTOCK. THIS SKETCH IS PREFACED BY A SPIRITED AND GRACEFUL OUTLINE OF ALL PREVIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES, FROM THE DAY WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINATED BY THE FATHER OF ALL MODERN ARCTIC ENTERPRISE, SIR JOHN BARROW, TO WHOM, AND TO MANY OTHER EMINENT PERSONS, FROM SIR EDWARD PARRY DOWNWARDS, I HAVE IN VARIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL ADDRESSES OFFERED THE TRIBUTE OF MY admiration. In his volume before cited, p. xii., Mr. John Brown gave strong reasons (which he had held for some TIME) FOR BELIEVING IN THE EXISTENCE OF THE VERY CHANNEL WHICH NOW BEARS THE NAME OF M'CLINTOCK. IT IS, HOWEVER, THE OPINION BOTH OF THAT OFFICER AND HIS ASSOCIATES, AS ALSO OF CAPTAIN SHERARD OSBORN, THAT FRANKLIN COULD NOT HAVE REACHED THE SPOT WHERE HIS SHIPS WERE BESET BY PROCEEDING DOWN THAT ice-choked channel, but that he must have sailed down Peel Sound. Much of this Appendix will be prepared by Dr. David Walker. AT THE ABERDEEN MEETING THE PRINCE CONSORT THUS SPOKE:—"THE ABERDEEN WHALER BRAVES THE ICY REGIONS OF THE POLAR SEA TO SEEK AND TO BATTLE WITH THE GREAT MONSTER OF THE DEEP; HE HAS MATERIALLY ASSISTED IN OPENING THESE ICE-BOUND REGIONS TO THE RESEARCHES OF SCIENCE; HE FEARLESSLY AIDED IN THE SEARCH AFTER SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND HIS GALLANT COMPANIONS WHOM THEIR COUNTRY SENT FORTH ON THIS MISSION; BUT TO WHOM PROVIDENCE, ALAS! HAS DENIED THE REWARD OF THEIR LABORS, THE RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, TO THE AFFECTIONATE EMBRACE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF A grateful nation." CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [xxi] CAUSE OF DELAY IN EQUIPMENT—FITTINGS OF THE 'FOX'—VOLUNTEERS FOR ARCTIC SERVICE— ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS—REFLECTIONS UPON THE UNDERTAKING— INSTRUCTIONS AND DEPARTURE—ORKNEYS AND GREENLAND—FINE ARCTIC SCENERY—DANISH establishments in Greenland—Frederickshaab, in Davis' Straits, Page 1 CHAPTER II. FISKERNAES AND ESQUIMAUX—THE 'FOX' REACHES DISCO—DISCO FIORD—SUMMER SCENERY— WAIGAT STRAIT—COALING FROM THE MINE—PURCHASING ESQUIMAUX DOGS—HEAVY GALE OFF UPERNIVIK—MELVILLE BAY—THE MIDDLE ICE—THE GREAT GLACIER OF GREENLAND— Reindeer cross the glacier, 19 CHAPTER III. MELVILLE BAY—BESET IN MELVILLE BAY—SIGNS OF WINTER—THE COMING STORM—DRIFTING IN THE PACK—CANINE APPETITE—RESIGNED TO A WINTER IN THE PACK—DINNER STOLEN BY sharks—The Arctic shark—White whales and killers, 35 CHAPTER IV. SNOW CRYSTALS—DOG WILL NOT EAT RAVEN—AN ARCTIC SCHOOL—THE DOGS INVADE US—BEAR- HUNTING BY NIGHT—ICE-ARTILLERY—ARCTIC PALATES—SUDDEN RISE OF TEMPERATURE— Harvey's idea of a sortie, 51 CHAPTER V. BURIAL IN THE PACK—MUSK OXEN IN LAT. 80° NORTH—THRIFT OF THE ARCTIC FOX—THE AURORA AFFECTS THE ELECTROMETER—AN ARCTIC CHRISTMAS—SUFFERINGS OF AN ARCTIC PARTY—ICE ACTED ON BY WIND ONLY—HOW THE SUN OUGHT TO BE WELCOMED—CONSTANT ACTION OF THE ice—Return of the seals—Revolving storm, 67 CHAPTER VI. A BEAR-FIGHT—AN ICE-NIP—STRONG GALES, RAPID DRIFT—THE 'FOX' BREAKS OUT OF THE PACK— HANGING ON TO FLOE-EDGE—THE ARCTIC BEAR—AN ICE TOURNAMENT—THE 'FOX' IN PERIL— A storm in the pack—Escape from the pack, 84 CHAPTER VII. A HOLIDAY IN GREENLAND—A LADY BLUE WITH COLD—THE LOVES OF GREENLANDERS—CLOSE SHAVING—MEET THE WHALERS—INFORMATION OF WHALERS—DISCO—DANISH HOSPITALITY— Sail from Disco—Kindness of the whalers—Danish establishments in Greenland, 100 CHAPTER VII. 'FOX' NEARLY WRECKED—AFLOAT, AND PUSH AHEAD—ARCTIC HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES—NEARLY CAUGHT IN THE PACK—SHOOTING LITTLE AUKS—THE ARCTIC HIGHLANDERS—CAPE YORK— CRIMSON SNOW—STRUGGLING TO THE WESTWARD—REACH THE WEST-LAND—OFF THE entrance of Lancaster Sound, 116 CHAPTER IX. OFF CAPE WARRENDER—SIGHT THE WHALERS AGAIN—ENTER POND'S BAY—COMMUNICATE WITH ESQUIMAUX—ASCEND POND'S INLET—ESQUIMAUX INFORMATION—ARCTIC SUMMER ABODE —AN ARCTIC VILLAGE—NO INTELLIGENCE OF FRANKLIN'S SHIPS—ARCTIC TRADING— GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF NATIVES—INFORMATION OF RAE'S VISIT—IMPROVIDENCE OF Esquimaux—Travels of Esquimaux, 132 CHAPTER X. LEAVE POND'S BAY—A GALE IN LANCASTER SOUND—THE BEECHEY ISLAND DEPÔT—AN ARCTIC MONUMENT—REFLECTIONS AT BEECHEY ISLAND—PROCEED UP BARROW'S STRAIT—PEEL SOUND—PORT LEOPOLD—PRINCE REGENT'S INLET—BELLOT STRAIT—FLOOD-TIDE FROM THE WEST—UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS—FOX'S HOLE—NO WATER TO THE WEST—PRECAUTIONARY measures—Fourth attempt to pass through, 153 CHAPTER XI. PROCEED WESTWARD IN A BOAT—CHEERLESS STATE OF THE WESTERN SEA—STRUGGLES IN BELLOT STRAIT—FALCONS, GOOD ARCTIC FARE—THE RESOURCES OF BOOTHIA FELIX—FUTURE SLEDGE TRAVELLING—HEAVY GALES—HOBSON'S PARTY START—WINTER QUARTERS—BELLOT STRAIT— ADVANCED DEPÔT ESTABLISHED—OBSERVATORIES—INTENSE COLD—AUTUMN TRAVELLERS— Narrow escape, 174 [xxii] CHAPTER XII. DEATH OF OUR ENGINEER—SCARCITY OF GAME—THE COLD UNUSUALLY TRYING—JOLLY, UNDER ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES—PETERSEN'S INFORMATION—RETURN OF THE SUN OF 1859—EARLY SPRING SLEDGE-PARTIES—UNUSUAL SEVERITY OF THE WINTER—SEVERE HARDSHIPS OF EARLY SLEDGING—THE WESTERN SHORES OF BOOTHIA—MEET THE ESQUIMAUX—INTELLIGENCE OF Franklin's ships—Return to the 'Fox'—Allen Young returns, 192 CHAPTER XIII. DR. WALKER'S SLEDGE JOURNEY—SNOW-BLINDNESS ATTACKS YOUNG'S PARTY—DEPARTURE OF ALL SLEDGE-PARTIES—EQUIPMENT OF SLEDGE-PARTIES—MEET THE SAME PARTY OF NATIVES— INTELLIGENCE OF THE SECOND SHIP—MY DEPÔT ROBBED—PART COMPANY FROM HOBSON— Matty Island—Deserted snow-huts—Native sledges—Land on King William's Land, 217 CHAPTER XIV. Meet Esquimaux—News of Franklin's people—Frighten a solitary party—Reach the Great FISH RIVER—ON MONTREAL ISLAND—TOTAL ABSENCE OF ALL RELICS—EXAMINE OGLE PENINSULA—DISCOVER A SKELETON—VAGUENESS OF ESQUIMAUX INFORMATION—CAPE Herschel—Cairn, 235 CHAPTER XV. THE CAIRN FOUND EMPTY—DISCOVER HOBSON'S LETTER—DISCOVERY OF CROZIER'S RECORD—THE DESERTED BOAT—ARTICLES DISCOVERED ABOUT THE BOAT—THE SKELETONS AND RELICS—THE boat belonged to the 'Erebus'—Conjectures, 253 CHAPTER XVI. ERRORS IN FRANKLIN'S RECORDS—RELICS FOUND AT THE CAIRN—REFLECTIONS ON THE RETREAT— RETURNING HOMEWARD—GEOLOGICAL REMARKS—DIFFICULTIES OF SUMMER SLEDGING— ARRIVE ON BOARD THE 'FOX'—NAVIGABLE N.W. PASSAGE—DEATH FROM SCURVY—ANXIETY for Captain Young—Young returns safely, 272 CHAPTER XVII. SIGNS OF RELEASE—DEARTH OF ANIMAL LIFE—OWL IS GOOD BEEF—BEAT OUT OF WINTER QUARTERS— OUR GAME-LIST—REACH FURY BEACH—ESCAPE FROM REGENT'S INLET—IN BAFFIN'S BAY— CAPTAIN ALLEN YOUNG'S JOURNEY—DISCO; SAD DISAPPOINTMENT—PART FROM OUR Esquimaux friends—Adieu to Greenland—Arrive home, 292 CONCLUSION, 315 APPENDIX. No. I.—A Letter to Viscount Palmerston, K.G., &c., from Lady Franklin, 319 No. II.—Memorial to the Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, M.P., G.C.B., 329 NO. III.—LIST OF RELICS OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION BROUGHT TO ENGLAND IN THE 'FOX' BY Captain M'Clintock, 334 No. IV.—Geological Account of the Arctic Archipelago, by Professor Haughton, 341 No. V.—List of Subscribers to the 'Fox' Expedition, 373 JOURNAL OF THE SEARCH [xxiii] [1] Apr., 1857. FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. CHAPTER I. CAUSE OF DELAY IN EQUIPMENT—FITTINGS OF THE 'FOX'—VOLUNTEERS FOR ARCTIC SERVICE—ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS—REFLECTIONS UPON THE UNDERTAKING—INSTRUCTIONS AND DEPARTURE—ORKNEYS AND GREENLAND—FINE ARCTIC SCENERY—DANISH ESTABLISHMENTS IN GREENLAND—FREDERICKSHAAB, IN Davis' Straits. It is now a matter of history how Government and private expeditions prosecuted, with unprecedented zeal and perseverance, the search for Sir John Franklin's ships, between the years 1847-55; and that the only ray of information gleaned was that afforded by the inscriptions upon three tombstones at Beechey Island, briefly recording the names and dates of the deaths of those individuals of the lost expedition, who thus early fell in the cause of science and of their country. In this manner were we made aware of the locality where the Franklin expedition passed its first Arctic winter. The traces assuring us of that fact, were discovered in August, 1850, by Captain Ommanney, R.N., of H.M.S. 'Assistance,' and by Captain Penny, of the 'Lady Franklin.' In October, 1854, Dr. Rae brought home the only additional information respecting them which has ever reached us. From the Esquimaux of Boothia Felix he learned that a party of about forty white men were met on the west coast of King William's Island, and from thence travelled on to the mouth of the Great Fish River, where they all perished of starvation, and that this tragic event occurred apparently in the spring of 1850. Some relics obtained from these natives, and brought home by Dr. Rae, were proved to have belonged to Sir John Franklin and several of his associates. The Government caused an exploring party to descend the Fish River in 1855; but, although sufficient traces were found to prove that some portion of the crews of the 'Erebus' and 'Terror' had actually landed on the banks of that river, and traces existed of them up to Franklin Rapids, no additional information was obtained either from the discovery of records, or through the Esquimaux. Mr. Anderson, the Hudson Bay Company's officer in charge, and his small party, deserve credit for their perseverance and skill; but they were not furnished with the necessary means of accomplishing their mission. Mr. Anderson could not obtain an interpreter, and the two frail bark canoes in which his whole party embarked were almost worn out before they reached the locality to be searched. It is not surprising that such an expedition caused very considerable excitement at home. Lady Franklin, and the advocates for further search, now pressed upon government the necessity of following up, in a more effectual manner, the traces accidentally found by Dr. Rae, and, in fact, of rendering the search complete by one more effort, involving but little of hazard or expense. It was not until April, 1857, that any decisive answer was given to Lady Franklin's appeal. (See Appendix No. 1.) Sir Charles Wood then stated "that the members of Her Majesty's Government, having come, with great regret, to the conclusion that there was no prospect of saving life, would not be justified, for any objects which in their opinion could be obtained by an expedition to the Arctic seas, in exposing the lives of officers and men to the risk inseparable from such an enterprise." Lady Franklin, upon this final disappointment of her hopes, had no hesitation in immediately preparing to send out a searching expedition, equipped and stored at her own cost. But she was not left alone. Many friends of the cause— including some of the most distinguished scientific men in England,[12] and especially Sir Roderick Murchison, whose zeal was as practical as it was enlightened—hastened to tender their aid, and soon a very considerable sum was raised in furtherance of so truly noble an effort. On the 18th of April, 1857, Lady Franklin did me the honor to offer me the command of the proposed expedition; it was of course most cheerfully accepted. As a post of honor and some difficulty, it possessed quite sufficient charms for a naval officer who had already served in three consecutive expeditions from 1848 to 1854. I was thoroughly conversant with all the details of this peculiar service; and I confess, moreover, that my whole heart was in the cause. How could I do otherwise than devote myself to save at least the record of faithful service, even unto death, of my brother officers and seamen? and, being one of those by whose united efforts not only the Franklin search, but the geography of Arctic America, has been brought so nearly to completion, I could not willingly resign to posterity, the honor of filling up even the small remaining blank upon our maps. [2] FORMER EXPEDITIONS. [3] CAUSE OF DELAY IN EQUIPMENT. [4] NOMINATION OF COMMANDER. To leave these discoveries incomplete, more especially in a quarter through which the tidal stream actually demonstrates the existence of a channel—the only remaining hope of a practicable north-west passage—would indeed be leaving strong inducement for future explorers to reap the rich reward of our long-continued exertions. I immediately applied to the Admiralty for leave of absence to complete the Franklin search; and on the 23d received at Dublin the telegraphic message from Lady Franklin: "Your leave is granted; the 'Fox' is mine; the refit will commence immediately." She had already purchased the screw-yacht 'Fox,' of 177 tons burthen, and now placed her, together with the necessary funds, at my disposal. Let me explain what is here implied by the simple word refit. The velvet hangings and splendid furniture of the yacht, and also every thing not constituting a part of the vessel's strengthening, were to be removed; the large sky-lights and capacious ladderways had to be reduced to limits more adapted to a polar clime; the whole vessel to be externally sheathed with stout planking, and internally fortified by strong cross-beams, longitudinal beams, iron stanchions, and diagonal fastenings; the false keel taken off, the slender brass propeller replaced by a massive iron one, the boiler taken out, altered, and enlarged; the sharp stem to be cased in iron until it resembled a ponderous chisel set up edgeways; even the yacht's rig had to be altered. She was placed in the hands of her builders, Messrs. Hall & Co., of Aberdeen, who displayed even more than their usual activity in effecting these necessary alterations, for it was determined that the 'Fox' should sail by the 1st July. Internally she was fitted up with the strictest economy in every sense, and the officers were crammed into pigeon-holes, styled cabins, in order to make room for provisions and stores; our mess-room, for five persons, measured 8 feet square. The ordinary heating apparatus for winter use was dispensed with, and its place supplied by a few very small stoves. The 'Fox' had been the property of the late Sir Richard Sutton, Bart., who made but one trip to Norway in her, and she was purchased by Lady Franklin from his executors for 2000l. Having thus far commenced the refit of the vessel, I turned my attention to the selection of a crew and to the requisite clothing and provisions for our voyage. Many worthy old shipmates, my companions in the previous Arctic voyages, most readily volunteered their services, and they were as cheerfully accepted, for it was my anxious wish to gather round me well-tried men, who were aware of the duties expected of them, and accustomed to naval discipline. Hence, out of the twenty-five souls composing our small company, seventeen had previously served in the Arctic search. Expeditions of this kind are always popular with seamen, and innumerable were the applications sent to me; but still more abundant were the offers to "serve in any capacity" which poured in from all parts of the country, from people of all classes, many of whom had never seen the sea. It was, of course, impossible to accede to any of these latter proposals, yet, for my own part, I could not but feel gratified at such convincing proofs that the spirit of the country was favorable to us, and that the ardent love of hardy enterprise still lives amongst Englishmen, as of old, to be cherished, I trust, as the most valuable of our national characteristics—as that which has so largely contributed to make England what she is. My second in command was Lieutenant W. R. Hobson, R.N., an officer already distinguished in Arctic service. Captain Allen Young joined me as sailing-master, contributing not only his valuable services but largely of his private funds to the expedition. This gentleman had previously commanded some of our very finest merchant ships, the latest being the steam-transport 'Adelaide' of 2500 tons: he had but recently returned, in ill health, from the Black Sea, where he was most actively employed during the greater part of the Crimean campaign. Nothing that I could say would add to the merit of such singularly generous and disinterested conduct. David Walker, M.D., volunteered for the post of surgeon and naturalist; he also undertook the photographic department; and just before sailing, Carl Petersen, now so well known to Arctic readers as the Esquimaux interpreter in the expeditions of Captain Penny and Dr. Kane, came to join me from Copenhagen, although landed there from Greenland only six days previously, after an absence of a year from his family: we were indebted to Sir Roderick Murchison and the electric telegraph for securing his valuable services. Like the Paris omnibuses we were at length tout complet, and quite as anxious to make a start. Ample provisions for twenty-eight months were embarked, including preserved vegetables, lemon-juice, and pickles, for daily consumption, and preserved meats for every third day: also as much of Messrs. Allsopp's stoutest ale as we could find room for. The Government, although declining to send out an expedition, yet now contributed liberally to our supplies. All our arms, powder, shot, powder for ice-blasting, rockets, maroons, and signal mortar, were furnished by the Board of Ordnance. The Admiralty caused 6682 lbs. of pemmican to be prepared for our use. Not less than 85,000 lbs. of this invaluable food have been prepared since 1845 at the Royal Clarence Victualing Yard, Gosport, for the use of the Arctic Expeditions. It is composed of prime beef cut into thin slices and dried over a wood fire; then pounded up and mixed with about an equal weight of melted beef fat. The pemmican is then pressed into cases capable of containing 42 lbs. each. The Admiralty supplied us with all the requisite ice-gear, such as saws from ten to eighteen feet in length, ice-anchors, and ice-claws: also with our winter housing, medicines, pure lemon-juice, seamen's library, hydrographical instruments, charts, chronometers, and an ample supply of arctic clothing which had remained in store from former expeditions. The Board of Trade contributed a variety of meteorological and nautical instruments and journals; and I found that I had but to ask of these departments for what was required, and if in store it was at once granted. I asked, however, only for such things as were indispensably necessary. [5] PURCHASE OF THE 'FOX.' [6] FITTINGS OF THE 'FOX.' [7] OFFICERS OF THE EXPEDITION. [8] ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS. [9] July, 1857. The President and Council of the Royal Society voted the sum of 50l. from their donation fund for the purchase of magnetic and other scientific instruments, in order that our anticipated approach to so interesting a locality as the Magnetic Pole might not be altogether barren of results. Being desirous to retain for my vessel the privileges she formerly enjoyed as a yacht, my wishes were very promptly gratified; in the first instance by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, of which my officers and myself were enrolled as members—the Commodore, A. Arcedeckne, Esq., presenting my vessel with the handsome ensign and burgee of the Club; and shortly afterwards by my being elected a member of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club for the period of my voyage. Lastly, upon the very day of sailing, I was proposed for the Royal Yacht Squadron, to which the yacht had previously belonged when the property of Sir Richard Stratton. Throughout the whole period required for our equipment, I constantly experienced the heartiest co-operation and earnest good will from all with whom my varied duties brought me in contact. Deep sympathy with Lady Franklin in her distress, her self-devotion and sacrifice of fortune, and an earnest desire to extend succor to any chance survivors of the ill-fated expedition who might still exist, or at least, to ascertain their fate, and rescue from oblivion their heroic deeds, seemed the natural promptings of every honest English heart. It is needless to add that this experience of public opinion confirmed my own impression that the glorious mission intrusted to me was in reality a great national duty. I could not but feel that, if the gigantic and admirably equipped national expeditions sent out on precisely the same duty, and reflecting so much credit upon the Board of Admiralty, were ranked amongst the noblest efforts in the cause of humanity any nation ever engaged in, and that, if high honor was awarded to all composing those splendid expeditions, surely the effort became still more remarkable and worthy of approbation when its means were limited to one little vessel, containing but twenty-five souls, equipped and provisioned (although efficiently, yet) in a manner more according with the limited resources of a private individual than with those of the public purse. The less the means, the more arduous I felt was the achievement. The greater the risk—for the 'Fox' was to be launched alone into those turbulent seas from which every other vessel had long since been withdrawn—the more glorious would be the success, the more honorable even the defeat, if again defeat awaits us. Upon the last day of June, Lady Franklin, accompanied by her niece Miss Sophia Cracroft, and Capt. Maguire, R.N., came on board to bid us farewell, for we purposed sailing in the evening. Seeing how deeply agitated she was on leaving the ship, I endeavored to repress the enthusiasm of my crew, but without avail; it found vent in three prolonged, hearty cheers. The strong feeling which prompted them was truly sincere; and this unbidden exhibition of it can hardly have gratified her for whom it was intended more than it did myself. I must here insert the only written instructions I could prevail upon Lady Franklin to give me; they were not read until the 'Fox' was fairly in the Atlantic. ABERDEEN, June 29, 1857. MY DEAR CAPTAIN M'CLINTOCK, YOU HAVE KINDLY INVITED ME TO GIVE YOU "INSTRUCTIONS," BUT I CANNOT BRING MYSELF TO FEEL THAT IT WOULD be right IN ME IN ANY WAY TO INFLUENCE YOUR JUDGMENT IN THE CONDUCT OF YOUR NOBLE UNDERTAKING; AND INDEED I HAVE NO TEMPTATION TO DO SO, SINCE IT APPEARS TO ME THAT YOUR VIEWS ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL WITH THOSE WHICH I HAD INDEPENDENTLY FORMED BEFORE I HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING THOROUGHLY POSSESSED OF YOURS. BUT HAD THIS BEEN OTHERWISE, I TRUST YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND ME READY TO PROVE THE IMPLICIT confidence I place in you by yielding my own views to your more enlightened judgment; knowing too AS I DO THAT YOUR WHOLE HEART ALSO IS IN THE CAUSE, EVEN AS MY OWN IS. AS TO THE OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION AND THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE, I AM SURE YOU KNOW THAT THE RESCUE OF ANY POSSIBLE SURVIVOR of the 'Erebus' and 'Terror' would be to me, as it would be to you, the noblest result of our efforts. TO THIS OBJECT I WISH EVERY OTHER TO BE SUBORDINATE; AND NEXT TO IT IN IMPORTANCE IS THE RECOVERY OF THE UNSPEAKABLY PRECIOUS DOCUMENTS OF THE EXPEDITION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AND THE PERSONAL RELICS OF MY dear husband and his companions. AND LASTLY, I TRUST IT MAY BE IN YOUR POWER TO CONFIRM, DIRECTLY OR INFERENTIALLY, THE CLAIMS OF MY HUSBAND'S EXPEDITION TO THE EARLIEST DISCOVERY OF THE PASSAGE, WHICH, IF DR. RAE'S REPORT BE TRUE (AND THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR COUNTRY HAS ACCEPTED AND REWARDED IT AS SUCH), THESE MARTYRS IN A NOBLE CAUSE ACHIEVED AT THEIR LAST EXTREMITY, AFTER FIVE LONG YEARS OF LABOR AND SUFFERING, IF NOT AT AN EARLIER period. I AM SURE YOU WILL DO ALL THAT MAN CAN DO FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF ALL THESE OBJECTS; MY ONLY FEAR IS THAT YOU MAY SPEND YOURSELVES TOO MUCH IN THE EFFORT; AND YOU MUST THEREFORE LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH DEARER TO ME EVEN THAN ANY OF THEM IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE VALUABLE LIVES OF THE LITTLE BAND OF HEROES who are your companions and followers. MAY GOD IN HIS GREAT MERCY PRESERVE YOU ALL FROM HARM AMIDST THE LABORS AND PERILS WHICH AWAIT YOU, AND RESTORE YOU TO US IN HEALTH AND SAFETY AS WELL AS HONOR! AS TO THE HONOR I CAN HAVE no MISGIVING. IT WILL BE YOURS AS MUCH IF YOU FAIL (SINCE YOU may FAIL IN SPITE OF EVERY EFFORT) AS IF YOU SUCCEED; AND BE ASSURED THAT, UNDER any and all circumstances whatever, SUCH IS MY UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN YOU, YOU WILL EVER POSSESS AND BE ENTITLED TO THE ENDURING GRATITUDE OF YOUR SINCERE AND attached friend, JANE FRANKLIN. We were not destined to get to sea that evening. The 'Fox,' hitherto during her brief career, accustomed only DONATION FROM ROYAL SOCIETY. [10] REFLECTIONS UPON THE UNDERTAKING. [11] LADY FRANKLIN'S VISIT. LADY FRANKLIN'S INSTRUCTIONS. [12] [13] ORKNEYS AND GREENLAND. to the restraint imposed upon a gilded pet in summer seas, seemed to have got an inkling that her duty henceforth was to combat with difficulties, and, entering fully into the spirit of the cruise, answered her helm so much more readily than the pilot expected that she ran aground upon the bar. She was promptly shored up, and remained in that position until next morning, when she floated off unhurt at high water, and commenced her long and lonely voyage. Scarcely had we left the busy world behind us when we were actively engaged in making arrangements for present comfort and future exertion. How busy, how happy, and how full of hope we all were then! On the night of the 2d of July we passed through the Pentland Firth, where the tide rushing impetuously against a strong wind raised up a tremendous sea, amid which the little vessel struggled bravely under steam and canvas. The bleak wild shores of Orkney, the still wilder pilot's crew, and their hoarse screams and unintelligible dialect, the shrill cry of innumerable sea-birds, the howling breeze and angry sea, made us feel as if we had suddenly awoke in Greenland itself. The southern extremity of that ice-locked continent became visible on the 12th. It is quaintly named Cape Farewell; but whether by some sanguine outward-bound adventurer who fancied that in leaving Greenland behind him he had already secured his passage to Cathay; or whether by the wearied homesick mariner, feebly escaping from the grasp of winter in his shattered bark, and firmly purposing to bid a long farewell to this cheerless land, history altogether fails to enlighten us. From January until July this coast is usually rendered unapproachable by a broad margin of heavy ice, which drifts there from the vicinity of Spitzbergen, and, lapping round the Cape, extends alongshore to the northward about as far as Baal's River, a distance of 250 miles. Although it effectually blockades the ports of South Greenland for the greater part of the summer, and is justly dreaded by the captains of the Greenl...