, Parr,
Giffard, May, and Sub-Lieutenant Egerton. Various important duties
connected with the scientific objects of the expedition were undertaken
by them. Dr Colan, the fleet surgeon, was known as a good ethnologist;
Dr Moss, in addition to other scientific attainments, was an excellent
artist. Captain Fielden went as ornithologist; Mr Wootton, the senior
engineer, was an officer of experience; Mr White was the photographer
of the _Alert_; and Mr Pullen, the chaplain, was a botanist. Besides
the officers, the complement of the _Alert_ was made up of petty
officers, able seamen, marines, and others, forty-eight in all, some of
whom were well able to assist the superior officers in their scientific
duties. Christian Neil Petersen, a Dane, who had served in the
expedition of Dr Hayes, was engaged as interpreter and dog-driver on
board the _Alert_.

The _Discovery_ was commanded by Captain Henry Stephenson. His active
staff consisted of Lieutenants Beaumont, Rawson, Archer, Fulford;
Sub-Lieutenant Conybeare; Doctors Ninnis and Coppinger; engineers
Gartmel and Miller; assistant paymaster Mitchell, a photographer and
good artist. Mr Hodson was the chaplain, and Mr Hart the botanist.

Their scientific duties were divided like those of the officers of the
_Alert_. HM steamship _Valorous_ was at the same time commissioned by
Captain Loftus Jones to accompany the exploring ships up Davis' Straits
as far as Disco, where she was to fill them up with the coals and
provisions which she carried for the purpose. She was an old
paddle-wheel steamer of 1200 tons, and was but ill fitted to withstand
the ice she was likely to encounter in those seas. Loud cheers from
thousands of spectators rose in the air, as, on the 29th of May 1875,
the three ships steamed out of Portsmouth harbour and proceeded towards
Bantry Bay, which they left on the 2nd of June for their voyage across
the Atlantic. Heavy gales were met with, which tried the gear of the
ships, the _Alert_ and the _Discovery_ each losing a valuable
whale-boat, besides receiving other damage. The _Valorous_ reached
Godhaven on the 4th of July, and the _Alert_ and _Discovery_ arrived
there on the 6th. Some days were spent here in transferring the coals
and stores brought out by the _Valorous_ to the two exploring ships--the
_Alert_ receiving also twenty-four dogs, which had been provided by the
Danish Government. The ships then proceeded, accompanied by the
_Valorous_,