, and sleeping night
after night under the thin roof of a canvas tent; and, as summer draws
on, often wet through from the melting snow, without an opportunity of
drying his clothes. Seldom has he an abundance, and often he suffers
from a scarcity, of provisions; while, if his strength fails him from
illness or injury, he can scarcely hope to regain his ship alive. The
first exploring expedition which was sent out during the reign of Queen
Victoria was placed under the command of Sir George Back, in the
_Terror_; but winter setting in early, his ship was caught by the ice,
thrown on her beam-ends, and nearly destroyed. Though in a dreadfully
shattered condition, she was providentially enabled to return home. It
was not till the year 1845 that a new expedition by sea was determined
on, and the command given, at his earnest request, to Sir John
Franklin--an expedition over the fate of which for many long years hung
a mysterious uncertainty, full of pain and anxiety. Notwithstanding the
hazardous nature of the work in which they were to be engaged, numbers
of officers and men eagerly pressed forward as volunteers to serve under
the veteran Arctic explorer. The chief difficulty was in selecting the
most fit among the many applicants, and happy did those consider
themselves who were chosen.

The following is a list of the officers who were finally appointed to
the expedition:--

"_Erebus_."

Captain, Sir John Franklin, KCH; Commander, James Fitzjames;
Lieutenants, Graham Gore, Henry T. Le Vesconte, James William Fairholm;
mates, Charles T. des Vaux, Robert O'Sargent; second master, Henry F.
Collins; surgeon, Stephen Stanley; assistant surgeon, Harry D.S.
Goodsir; paymaster and purser, Charles H. Osmer; master, James Reid,
acting; fifty-eight petty officers, seamen, etcetera. Full complement,
seventy.

"_Terror_."

Captain, Francis R.M. Crozier; Lieutenants, Edward Little, George H.
Hodgson, John Irving; mates, Frederick J. Hornby, Robert Thomas;
ice-master, T. Blakey, acting; second master, G.A. Maclean; surgeon,
John S. Peddie; assistant surgeon, Alexander McDonald; clerk in charge,
Edwin G.H. Helpman; fifty-seven petty officers, seamen, etcetera. Full
complement, sixty-eight; making in all one hundred and thirty-eight
souls.

The expedition sailed from England, May the 26th, 1845. They arrived at
the Whalefish Islands, a group to the south of Disco, on the 4th of
July. On the 26th they were seen