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In 1818, Lieutenant Franklin was given
the command of the Trent, on a voyage
of discovery to the Polar Sea, north of
Spitzbergen, under the orders of Captain
Buchan. Another expedition was sent
out at the same time under Captain John
Ross, to explore the coast east of North
America, within the Arctic Circle.

Early in 1819, John Franklin was ap-
pointed by Earl Bathurst to the command
of an overland expedition from the shores
of Hudson’s Bay to the Arctic Ocean.
The principal object of this expedition was
to learn more about the geography of the
northern portion of North America, which
at that time was little known. He arrived
in England on his return from this expe-
dition in October, 1822.

In 1825, he again set out in command
of an overland expedition through North
America. His departure from England
was under circumstances severely trying.
His wife was lying at the point of death,
yet, with heroic fortitude, she urged him
to leave on the very day appointed ; en-
treating him, as he valued her peace, and
his own glory, not to delay a moment on her
account. This was indeed a severe strug-
gle between the affections and a sense of
duty; but he started at the appointed
time, and his wife died within a day or
two after his departure. The following
extract from Sir John Franklin’s journal
of this expedition, alluding to his sorrows,
is a beautiful instance of the grace that
domestic tenderness lends to gallant forti-
tude.

“During our absence, the men had
pitched the tent on the beach, and I caus-
ed the silk union-flag to be hoisted, which
my deeply-lamented wife had made and

presented me as a parting gift, under the
express injunction that it was not to be

 

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

unfurled before the expedition reached the

sea. I will not attempt to describe my emo-
tions as it expanded to the breeze; how-
ever natural, and for the moment irresist-

ible, I felt that it was my duty to suppress
them, and that I had no right, by an in-
dulgence of my own sorrows, to cloud the
animated countenances of my companions.
Joining, therefore, in the general excite-

ment with the best grace I could com-
mand, I endeavored to return with corre-

sponding cheerfulness, their warm con-
gratulations on having thus planted the

British flag on this remote island of the

Polar Sea.”

On the 5th of November, 1828, Cap-

tain Franklin was married to his second
wife, Lady Jane Franklin. She was the
second daughter of John Griffin, Esq. of
Bedford Place, London. In April, 1829,
Mr. Franklin received the honors of
knighthood, in consequence of which he
is called Str John Franklin. In August,

1830, he was appointed to the command

of the Rainbow, destined for the Mediter-
ranean station.

He afterward became governor of Van

Dieman’s Land. On returning to Eng-
land, in 1845, from his arduous services
on that island, he received the command
of another exploring expedition, to attempt

once more a solution of the existence of a
Northwest Passage. This expedition was
to proceed by water in the ships Erebus
and Terror, which had returned but a
short time previous from an Antarctic ex-
pedition, under the command of Sir James
C. Ross. These vessels were refitted, and
supplied with every convenience which
the repeated Arctic expeditions could sug-
gest, together with provisions sufficient to
last the crew, consisting of about one
hundred and thirty-eight persons, for three