John Franklin - The Journey to the Polar Sea

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November-2011

ISBN : 978-1-4121-6255-5

J OHN FRANKLIN,born in 1786. Many naval experiences, including Trafalgar, beforeheading an expedition across northern Canada in 1819. ElectedF.R.S. and knighted after a second expedition. Lieutenant-Governorof Van Diemen's Land, 1836 to 1843. Last expedition, 1845, waslost, and Franklin died in 1847 near the Arctic. Subsequentinvestigations have established him as the discoverer of theNorth-West Passage.

I n days ofhurried action I have been astonished at the depth of interestwhich a re-perusal of this wonderful old narrative has held for me.Wonderful it is in its simplicity and its revelation of thesimplicity of character and faith of the man who wrote it. It isold only by comparison - scarcely ninety years have elapsed sincethe adventures it described were enacted - yet such a period hasnever held a fuller measure of change or more speedily passedcurrent events into the limbo of the past.

Nothing could more vividly impress this change thanthe narrative itself. We are told that Mr. Beck missed his ship atYarmouth but succeeded in rejoining her at Stromness, havingtravelled "nine successive days almost without rest." What a visionof post-chaises, sweating horses and heavy roads is suggested! Andif the contrast with present-day conditions in our own Islands isgreat, how much greater is it in that vast Dominion through whichFranklin directed his pioneer footsteps. As he followed the lonelytrails to Fort Cumberland, or sailed along the solitary shores ofLake Winnipeg, how little could he guess that in less than acentury a hundred thousand inhabitants would dwell by the shore ofthe great lake, or that its primeval regions would one day providelargely the bread of his countrymen.

There civilisation has followed fast indeed, andever it presses forward on the tracks of the pioneer. But eventoday if we follow Franklin we must come again to the wild - to thegreat Barren Lands and to the ice-bound limit of a Continent -regions where for ninety years season has succeeded season withoutchange - where few have passed since his day and Nature alone holdssway. For those who would know what IS as well as for those whowould know what HAS BEEN, this narrative still holds its originalinterest; all must appreciate that it records the work of a greattraveller and a gallant man whose fame deserves to live.

R.F. SCOTT.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S VOYAGES INTO THE POLAR SEAS:

F.W. Beechey: Voyage of Discovery toward the NorthPole in H.M. Ships Dorothea and Trent (with summary of earlierattempts to reach the Pacific by the North) 1818.

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the PolarSea, in the Years 1819 to 1822, by John Franklin, 1823, 1824.

Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores ofthe Polar Sea in the Years 1825 to 1827, by John Franklin,1828.

PUBLICATIONS CONCERNING THE SEARCH FOR SIR JOHNFRANKLIN:

Report of the Committee appointed by the LordsCommissioners of the Admiralty to inquire into and report on theRecent Arctic Expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin, 1851.

Papers relative to the Recent Arctic Expeditions insearch of Sir John Franklin and the Crews of H.M.S. Erebus andTerror, 1854.

Further Papers relative to the Search, 1855.

R. King, The Franklin Expedition from First to Last,1855.

R. Huish, Recent Expeditions to the Polar Regions,including all the Voyages in search of Sir J. Franklin, 1855.

E.K. Kane, Arctic Explorations, the Second GrinnellExpedition in search of Sir John Franklin, 1856.

MacClintock, The Voyage of the Fox in the ArcticSeas. A narrative of the discovery of the fate of Sir JohnFranklin, 1859, 1861, 1869, 1908.

Sir J. Leslie, Discovery and Adventure in the PolarSeas, with a Narrative of the Recent Expeditions in search of SirJohn Franklin, 1860.

J.A. Browne, The North-West Passage, and the Fate ofSir John Franklin, 1860.

Sir Allen M. Young, The Search for Sir JohnFranklin, etc., 1875.

Schwatka's Search, Sledging in the Arctic in searchof Franklin Records, 1881.

The Search for Franklin.

American Expedition under Lieutenant Schwatka, 1878to 1880, 1882.

J.H. Skewes, The True Secret of the Discovery of theFate of Sir John Franklin, 1889.

LIFE:

S. Osborn, Career, Last Voyage and Fate of Sir JohnFranklin (Once a Week, 1859) 1860.

A Brave Man and his Belongings, by a Niece of thefirst Mrs. Franklin, 1874.

A.H. Beesley, Sir John Franklin; the Narrative ofhis Life (The New Plutarch) 1881.

A.H. Markham (The World's Great Explorers) 1891.

G.B. Smith, Sir John Franklin and the Romance of theNorth-West Passage, 1895.

H.D. Traill, 1896.

H. Harbour, Arctic Explorers, 1904.

E.C. Buley, Into the Polar Seas; The Story of Sir J.Franklin, etc., 1909.

H is Majesty'sGovernment having determined upon sending an Expedition from theShores of Hudson's Bay by land to explore the Northern Coast ofAmerica from the Mouth of the Copper-Mine River to the eastward, Ihad the honour to be appointed to this service by Earl Bathurst, onthe recommendation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; whoat the same time nominated Doctor John Richardson, a Surgeon in theRoyal Navy, Mr. George Back, and Mr. Robert Hood, two AdmiraltyMidshipmen, to be joined with me in the enterprise. My instructionsin substance informed me that the main object of the Expedition wasthat of determining the latitudes and longitudes of the NorthernCoast of North America, and the trending of that Coast from theMouth of the Copper-Mine River to the eastern extremity of thatContinent; that it was left for me to determine according tocircumstances whether it might be most advisable to proceed at oncedirectly to the northward till I arrived at the sea-coast, andthence westerly towards the Copper-Mine River; or advance in thefirst instance by the usual route to the mouth of the Copper-MineRiver, and from thence easterly till I should arrive at the easternextremity of that Continent; that in the adoption of either ofthese plans I was to be guided by the advice and information whichI should receive from the wintering servants of the Hudson's BayCompany, who would be instructed by their employers to cooperatecordially in the prosecution of the objects of the Expedition, andwho would provide me with the necessary escort of Indians to act asguides, interpreters, game-killers, etc.; and also with sucharticles of clothing, ammunition, snowshoes, presents, etc., asshould be deemed expedient for me to take. That as anotherprincipal object of the Expedition was to amend the very defectivegeography of the northern part of North America I was to be verycareful to ascertain correctly the latitude and longitude of everyremarkable spot upon our route, and of all the bays, harbours,rivers, headlands, etc., that might occur along the Northern Shoreof North America. That in proceeding along the coast I should erectconspicuous marks at places where ships might enter, or to which aboat could be sent; and to deposit information as to the nature ofthe coast for the use of Lieutenant Parry. That in the journal ofour route I should register the temperature of the air at leastthree times in every twenty-four hours; together with the state ofthe wind and weather and any other meteorological phenomena. That Ishould not neglect any opportunity of observing and noting down thedip and variation of the magnetic needle, and the intensity of themagnetic force; and should take particular notice whether any, andwhat kind or degree of, influence the Aurora Borealis might appearto exert on the magnetic needle; and to notice whether thatphenomenon were attended with any noise; and to make any otherobservations that might be likely to tend to the furtherdevelopment of its cause and the laws by which it is governed.