Edward Parry in 1819. Up by it the ships sailed for
150 miles, when, being stopped by the ice, they returned south by a new
channel into Barrow's Straits, and passed the winter of 1845-46 at
Beechey Island. In 1846 they proceeded to the south-west, and
ultimately reached within twelve miles of the north entrance of King
William's Land.

Here they spent the winter of 1846-47, as far as can be known, in the
enjoyment of good health, and with the intention and hope of prosecuting
their voyage to the westward through the only channel likely to be open
along the northern shore of America, and from the known portion of which
they were then only ninety miles distant.

On Monday the 24th May 1847, Lieutenant Gore, with Mr Des Voeux, mate,
and a party of six men, left the ship, and proceeded for some purpose to
King William's Island, where, on Point Victory, he deposited a document
stating that Sir John Franklin and all were well.

This document was afterwards visited by Captain Crozier, and a brief but
sad statement of after events written on it. In less than three weeks
after that time, the brave, kind, and well-beloved commander of the
expedition, Sir John Franklin, had ceased to breathe, as Captain Crozier
states that he died on the 11th of June 1847. Who can doubt that his
life was taken by a merciful Providence before he could become aware of
the dreadful doom about to overtake his gallant followers?

Probably Lieutenant Gore returned from that journey of exploration, as
Captain Crozier speaks of him as the late Commander Gore, showing that
on the death of their chief he had been raised a step in rank; but not
long to enjoy it--he having among others passed away. The command of
the expedition now devolved on Captain Crozier; but who can picture his
anxiety and that of his officers and men, as the summer of 1847 drew
on--the sea open to the north and south, but the ships immovably fixed
in the vast mass of ice driven down upon them from Melville Sound? How
bitter must have been their grief and disappointment when August and
September passed away, and they found that they must pass another
winter, that of 1847-48, in those regions! We know, too, that the ships
were only provisioned up to 1848.

Painfully that dreary winter must have passed away, and sad must have
been the feelings of Captains Crozier and Fitzjames when they came to
the resolution of abandoning the ships, by which a high sense of duty
had induced