ar to us, as relatives, friends, or countrymen, to sudden death
in the dark waters of Lancaster Sound or Baffin's Bay. No one who knew
the men of that gallant squadron would so libel the leader, or his
officers, as to suppose them to have turned back when at the threshold
of their labours: if he does so, he does them foul injustice. And
against such I appeal, in the name of that humanity which was never
invoked in vain in a Christian land.

Give the lost ones the benefit of the doubt, if there is one on your
minds. Let not selfish indifference to your fellow-creatures' fate
induce you to dismiss the question by adopting any of the horrible
opinions to which unfeeling men have given utterance. True it is, they
are in sad peril; true it is, they have suffered long and much; true it
is, that many may have fallen by the way: but the remnant, however
small, of that heroic band, be assured, by one who knew many of them
intimately and dearly, will despair not, but, trusting in their God,
their Queen, and country, they will cling to hope with life's latest
breath.

They have done their duty: let us not be wanting in ours. The rescue of
Franklin's squadron, or the solution of their fate, entails no
extraordinary risk of life upon the part of those employed in the
search. Insurances to any amount--and I speak from a knowledge of the
fact--may be effected in the various insurance offices in London with a
lighter premium than is demanded for the Bights of Benin or Bengal.
This is a pretty good test, and a sound practical one, too, of the
much-talked-of dangers of Polar navigation. Ships are often lost; but
the very floe which by its pressure sinks the vessel saves the crew.

In short, we have every thing to stimulate Arctic exploration. No loss
of life; (for Franklin it will be time enough to mourn when we know he
is not of the living,) the wonderful proofs lately acquired of a Polar
sea; the undoubted existence of animal life in regions which were
previously supposed to be incapable of supporting animal life; the
result of the deeply philosophical inquiries of the talented
geographer, Mr. Peterman, which seem to establish the fact of an open
Polar sea during the severest season of the year; and lastly, the
existence of Esquimaux in a high northern latitude in Baffin's Bay, who
appear to be so isolated, and so unconnected with their brethren of
South Greenland, as to justify us in connecting them rather with the
numerous ruined