brilliant discoveries of a Mackenzie, a Franklin, and a Parry!

Whilst, however, the Polar Regions are peculiarly a field for British enterprise, it must still be remembered that there are very great dangers attendant on all researches within the Arctic Circle, and it is a question by some, whether even the large interests of science involved in the solution of the problem of a North West Passage, would justify the renewal of any further attempts to set that much contested point at rest. Sir Edward Parry has recorded his opinion, that "it may be tried often, and often fail; but that it is an enterprise within the reasonable limits of practicability, and that it will one day or other be accomplished."

Whether, however, these attempts on the part of England will end with the voyage of Sir John Franklin, is of very little importance at the present moment; indeed, we may all candidly avow with Captain Thomas James, "I very well know, that what I have here hastily written, will never discourage any noble Spirit that is minded to bring this so long tried Action to absolute effect; and it is likely withal that there be some, who have a better understanding, and a surer way of prosecuting of it, than myself have; to whose designs I wish a happy success:"-but, although contrary to the opinion of Sir Edward Parry, and especially antagonistic to that unconquerable spirit seemingly inherent in the British Navy, we can hardly help sometimes hoping, that, should it please the Almighty to send back the gallant Franklin and his devoted crews in safety, England will be careful of again risking the lives of her adventurous sons, in further attempts to discover what is gradually assuming the appearance of a geographical ignis fatuus,

The North West Passage.

Addenda

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

SINCE the publication of this Volume, various important measures have been adopted to effect the rescue of Sir John Franklin and his crews, which it becomes necessary to include in the Second Edition. At the time of our going to press Captain Austin was fitting out a squadron at Woolwich, consisting of the Resolute and Assistance, with their screw steamtenders the Intrepid and Pioneer; Mr. Penny, the Lady Franklin and Sophia, at Aberdeen; and Sir John Ross, the Felix, at Ayr.

The Royal Dockyards of this Kingdom often display, in the launch and equipment of a magnificent ship, one of the grandest efforts of human ingenuity and enterprise, but they presented a still more noble sight during the time that the first-named ships were undergoing the necessary repairs, prior to sailing on their voyage of humanity. Day and night was the ceaseless and anxious duty of strengthening and fitting them for their severe tasks carried on, by all who had any connection with the object in view, and the result proves that we ought greatly to rejoice that so much discrimination has been used in the selection of the present energetic officers who conduct the enterprise, for it follows, as a matter of necessity, that we shall look up to men who have shown themselves so eager to encounter the danger, with greater confidence and hopes of their success.

On the 25th of April the Resolute and Assistance, being in all respects ready for sea, dropped down to Greenhithe, to have their compasses adjusted, and being there joined by their tenders, the Intrepid and Pioneer, on the 4th of May they all got under weigh and proceeded on their voyage; and here we leave them to take a glance at the various plans and expedients, the results of our accumulated Arctic experience, adopted to render them as effective as possible.

The ships were all fully provisioned for three years, besides those stores which had been sent out by the transport Emma Eugenia, to Whale Fish Islands. They have Rodger's and Porter's anchors; Downton's pumps, and Sylvester's heating-apparatus; Lieut. Redl's conical signals; and a waggon-load of Mr. Green's small balloons, which will remain in the air full twelve hours, and it is hoped with a moderate wind travel between five and six hundred miles, as one sent up from the roof of the Admiralty, dropped part of its despatches at Altona, near Hamburg. Thirty-two packets of printed slips of paper are connected to each balloon, and detached, at intervals of five minutes, by a slow match protected from the weather. They have nine wood, two Gutta Percha, and six of Halkett's air-inflated boats, all of light weight and draught. Sledges and sledging materiel, constructed under the personal direction of Lieutenant M'Clintock, and consisting of tents, kettles, lamps, spirits of wine, prepared chocolate, chronometers, sextants and compasses, wolf-skin blankets and bags to sleep in; Eskimo winter boots, &c., besides ice-saws, hammers, and tools, vulcanized sheets of india rubber, and many other useful inventions, which are plentifully distributed among the squadron. The steam-tenders, whose performances have given great satisfaction, have each a gun-metal screw, and a spare one of malleable

iron; the engine and machinery of either will fit the other: they have a hundred tons of patent fuel, and have been so thoroughly strengthened that the fears many entertain of the helplessness of a steamer in the ice, may almost be considered in their cases as groundless.

Captain Austin's orders were, to use every exertion to reach Melville Island, detaching two of the ships to search the shores of Wellington Channel and the coast about Cape Walker; but as his proceedings must necessarily be greatly regulated by any information he may obtain, his course of action is entirely dependent on circumstances, and is left to his own discretion. The search is to be renewed in case of failure this year, in the open season of 1851; but in the autumn of that year, unless some traces should be found of the missing expedition which may lead him to believe that a delay may contribute to their rescue, the ships are to return to England.

The Lady Franklin and Sophia, under the command of Captain Penny, sailed from Aberdeen on the 13th of April. They are provisioned for three years, and have the same appliances and aids as the Resolute and Assistance. They were ordered by the Lords of the Admiralty to proceed first to Jones's Sound in the head of Baffin's Bay, where a rumour had placed some traces of Franklin and his men, though, apparently, without foundation. Should it afford any clue, and at the same time a passage in the direction of Wellington Channel and the Parry Islands, this course was to be taken; but if not, Alderman Smith's Sound was to be examined, although, from the late period of the year when it is said to be open, it was feared by their Lordships that a passage by Lancaster Sound, which, with Wellington Channel, would then remain the only openings for a

search, might be lost, if too long a time were spent in the examination of this sound. Strict attention was to be paid to the duty of leaving evidences of their progress, by painting on the cliffs and otherwise, as much of the painful anxiety that now exists respecting the missing ships might possibly have been avoided, if greater care had been taken in this particular. Lastly, Captain Penny was cautioned as to securing his return in the summer of 1851.

The Felix, and her tender, the Mary, under the command of Sir John Ross, we regret to say went to sea from Loch Ryan, N. B., in a sad state of disorder, forming a most striking contrast to the departure of the next messenger of humanity-the Prince Albert.

1

It having been suggested to Lady Franklin that the bottom of Prince Regent's Inlet, a most important ground, still remained unexplored, her ladyship and a few other generous sympathisers in the cause, subscribed for the purchase of a small ketch, of 89 tons, named the Prince Albert, which, under Commander C. Codrington Forsyth, an able surveying officer of the Royal Navy, sailed from Aberdeen on the 5th June.

This, the last English expedition, probably carried with it a more favourable prestige than any of the others, owing to the peculiar circumstances attending its outfit; for, independent of the smallness of the vessel, the fact that her commander had offered his services gratuitously, and from a feeling of gratitude to Sir John Franklin, of whose kindness he had formerly been a partaker in a very different part of the world, and that another gentleman had come from America o volunteer in the same service, sheds a sort of chialric lustre around the little vessel, not to be so easily discovered in her coadjutors.

1 Shipping Gazette.