The North-west Passage and the Plans for the Search for Sir John Franklin: A ReviewAn account of attempts to discover the North-west Passage. |
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Common terms and phrases
Admiralty arrived attempt Austin Baffin's Bay Banks Barrow's Strait Beechey Island Behring's Strait Bellot Blue Book boats Boothia Cape Walker Capt coast Commander countrymen depôts despatches direction discovery doubt drift eastward endeavour Erebus and Terror Esquimaux examination explored favour Franklin Expedition Franklin's Instructions Fury Beach gallant hope Jones's Sound Kellett Lady Franklin Lancaster Sound Lieut Lieutenant M'Clure Mackenzie Melville Island Melville Sound miles missing Expedition missing ships navigation North Somerset North-West Passage northern northward notice object officers and crews Ommaney opinion Parliamentary Papers Parry Islands passed Peel's Sound Penny Plover Polar Sea Prince probable question reason Regent's Inlet route Royal Geographical Society sailed says sent shores Sir Edward Parry Sir James Ross Sir John Franklin Sir John Richardson Sir John Ross Smith's Sound south-west southward tion traces vessels Victoria Land voyage Wellington Channel western westward winter Wollaston Land
Popular passages
Page 75 - It is far more probable, however, that Sir John Franklin, in obedience to his instructions, would endeavour to push the ships to the south and west as soon as they passed Cape Walker, and the consequence of such a measure, owing to the known prevalence of westerly wind, and the drift of the main body of the ice...
Page 192 - ... but as far as a man can be certain, who has one hundred and thirty pair of eyes to assist him, and all agreeing, I am certain we have discovered an extensive land. I think, also, it is more than probable that these peaks we saw are a continuation of the range of mountains seen by the natives off Cape Jakan (coast of Asia), mentioned by Baron...
Page 33 - You are well aware, having yourself been one of the intelligent travellers who have traversed the American shore of the Polar Sea, that the groups of islands that stretch from that shore to the northward to a distance not yet known, do not extend to the westward further than about the 120th degree of western longitude, and that beyond this, and to Behring's Strait, no land is visible from the American shore of the Polar Sea.
Page 20 - that there is an open and, at times, a navigable sea passage between the Straits of Davis and Behriug there can be no doubt in the mind of any person who has duly weighed the evidence...
Page 10 - Persevering in difficulty, unappalled by danger, and patient under distress, they scarcely ever use the language of complaint, much less that of despair ; and sometimes, when all human hope seems at its lowest ebb, they furnish the most beautiful examples of that firm reliance on a merciful and superintending Providence, which is the only rational source of true fortitude in man.
Page 32 - Strait may also be found equally free from obstruction ; and in proceeding to the westward, therefore, you will not stop to examine any openings either to the northward or southward in that Strait, but continue to push to the westward without loss of time, in the latitude of about 74 £°, till you have reached the longitude of that portion of land on which Cape Walker is situated, or about 98° west.
Page 103 - ... them will be exerted by yourself and the Company's officers in Mackenzie River; but should your late search have unfortunately ended in disappointment, it is the desire of the Company that you renew your explorations next summer, if possible. " By the annexed correspondence you will observe that the opinion in England appears to be that our explorations ought to be more particularly directed to that portion of the Northern Sea lying between Cape Walker on the east, Melville Island and Banks'...
Page 71 - ... this assistance aside as far from certain, to mention that Sir John Ross found Barrow's Strait closed in the summer of 1832. To a land journey, then, alone we can look for success ; for the failure of a land journey would be the exception to the rule, while the sea expedition would be the rule itself. To the western land of North Somerset, where Sir John Franklin is likely to be found, the Great Fish River is the direct and only route ; and although the approach to it is through a country too...
Page 118 - Sir John Franklin is not a man to treat his orders with levity, and therefore his first attempt was undoubtedly made in the direction of Melville Island, and not to the westward. If foiled in that attempt, he naturally hauled to the southward, and using Banks' Land as a barrier against the northern ice, he would try to make westing under its lee.
Page 32 - Walker is situated, or about 98° west . From that point we desire that every effort be used to endeavour to penetrate to the southward and westward in a course as direct towards Behring's Strait as the position and extent of the ice, or the existence of land, at present unknown, may admit.