Chapter I: Front Matter

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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

[Device]

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.