“Seldom has such success been accorded to an Arctic navigator in a single season, and when the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ were secured at Beechey Island for the coming winter of 1845-6, the results of their first year’s labor must have been most cheering. These results were the exploration of Wellington and Queen’s Channel, and the addition to our charts of the extensive lands on either hand. In 1846, they proceeded to the southwest, and eventually reached within twelve miles of the north extreme of King William Land, when their progress was arrested by the approaching winter of 1846-7. That winter appears to have passed without any serious loss of life, and when in the spring, Lieutenant Gore leaves with a party for some especial purpose, and very probably to connect the unknown coast-line of King William Land between Point Victory and Cape Herschel, those on board the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ were ‘all well,’ and the gallant Franklin still commanded. [Illustration: SIR JOHN FRANKLIN’S RECORD] [Sidenote: _RECORD OF FRANKLIN’S EXPEDITION_] “But, alas! round the margin of the paper upon which Lieutenant Gore in 1847 wrote those words of hope and promise, another hand had subsequently written the following words:— “‘April 25, 1848.—H. M. ships _Terror_ and _Erebus_ were deserted on the 22d April, 5 leagues N.N.W. of this, having been beset since 12th September, 1846. The officers and crews, consisting of 105 souls, under the command of Captain F. R. M. Crozier, landed here in lat. 69° 37´ 42´´ N., long. 98° 41´ W. Sir John Franklin died on the 11th June, 1847; and the total loss by deaths in the expedition has been to this date 9 officers and 15 men. “‘(Signed) “‘F. R. M. Crozier, Captain and Senior Officer, “‘James Fitzjames, Captain H. M. S. Erebus, “‘and start (on) tomorrow, 26th for Back’s Fish River.’ “This marginal information was evidently written by Captain Fitzjames, excepting only the note stating when and where they were going, which was added by Captain Crozier. “There is some additional marginal information relative to the transfer of the document to its present position (viz. the site of Sir James Ross’s pillar) from a spot four miles to the northward near Point Victory, where it had been originally deposited by the _late_ Commander Gore. This little word _late_ shows that he, too, within the twelvemonth had passed away.