perished.* It is a most pathetic story. Of all who left Sheerness, as we have seen, on the 25th May, 1845, not one were found, not less pathetic because commonplace. The discoverers carried off some sledge-harness, marked with the inscription 'T II,' in proof that it formed part of the equipment of the Terror, with buttons, bottles, and such indestructible fragments of the ill-fated Franklin expedition. The slightest objects had their melancholy story to reveal; among others, a stocking roughly sewn together out of a piece of blanket, a sign that the unhappy creature to whom it belonged was in need of the first necessity of Arctic travel, proper and sufficient warm clothing. Handles of shovels, pick-axes, and iron cask-hoops were scattered about, together with many evidences of destitution, famine, and indescribable misery. Famished, terrified, reduced to despair, cannibalism, to the pangs and awful agonies of starvation, these noble Englishmen perished one by one before each other's eyes; but not unpitied by safe and warm English hearts, not unloved by many dear and afflicted ones at home, not unhonoured, and not unsung."

* A remarkable picture, of which we shall have more to say hereafter, but which we must here describe-one of a series of four illustrating the Franklin Expedition-was painted by Dr. Julius von Payer. The picture measures about 12 feet by 14 feet, and gives, in life size, seven of the last survivors of the expedition lying dead in their boat. An eighth, Captain Crozier, is still alive. It is moonlight, which shows with increased effect the terrible solitude of the scene. The field of hard, rough snow is dotted with patches of ice which have a greenish tinge. On the left, towards William's Bay, sparkles a large expanse of ice. On the right is the head of a polar bear watching the heap of corpses; while in the distance are two other bears. The boat is tilted up at one end and is seen in its whole length. Captain Crozier, bare-headed, his hood falling over his shoulders, his face anxious but resolute, musket in hand, is leaning forwards in the boat and fixedly watching the bear, against which he will endeavour to defend himself. But, alas you feel that that benumbed hand will falter, and you understand the tranquillity of the bear as it contemplates the dead bodies stretched beneath its eyes.

Almost at Crozier's feet the body of a man on his back, his hands clenched, with a band over his eyes, shows by its position that he has died in horrible agony. Near him, on his face, lies Dr. Stanley, holding in his frozen hands the Prayer-Book, from which he has read some passages when his companions in suffering were in agony around him. To the left, a few yards from the boat, his legs hidden in the snow, sleeping his last sleep, lies a man who tried to save the box containing the precious documents, now lost for science and humanity. The body has melted the snow, and all around the green ice reflects a grim shadow of the motionless body. One of the bodies, that at the right extremity, is swollen and hideous; but the others, full of painful melancholy, inspire no gloomy thoughts. You feel you are before a solitary and fearful battlefield; but one with duty and science for its object, and God for its witness. In the prow of the boat the English flag, rolled up, stands out against the snow. The general tone of the drapery is dull and discoloured, as would be the case after exposure in such a climate. Accessories, drawn with uniform fidelity to nature, are scattered over the spot, and in the foreground, on the left, you see emerging from the snow the remains of the box which contained the documents already mentioned.

Such is the appearance of this touching picture. It is firmly drawn, and the colouring is subdued and natural. The horizon is scarcely dis

returned to tell the tale of their three years' winter in the ice, of their success in the object of their expedition, or of the death of their beloved and devoted leader.*

"But they are found! Why goes no shout

From out the nation's heart?

Turns the ship's prow not homeward now,
To bring the whole or part?
Alas! her timbers are the sport

Of every Arctic wave,

And her brave crew lie stark and stiff,
Each waiting for a grave.

No more they feel the freezing cold,
No more for food they crave.

"Famine hath done its bitter work,
And frozen is their blood;

And the wives they left may now lament
In lonely widowhood;

Yet better so; to know the worst,

Than watch, and wait, and mourn

O'er hopes fallacious, of each breath
Of idle rumour born;

From affection's ark to send forth doves
That wearily return.

"Yes, found at last! All dead, not one
To tell the mournful tale

Of dangers dared, and perils met,
By hearts that would not quail :
Of hardships bravely undergone,
On land and on the flood,

Of fierce attacks of ravening brutes
All manfully withstood;

And kindly acts that closer drew

The ties of brotherhood.

Yes, the veil was indeed at last lifted-years of agonizing suspense were brought to an end-Lady Franklin stood before the world as a monument of wifely devotion ever to tinguishable from the ice. A few stars are dimly discernible. The work reveals great artistic talent, as well as ardent sympathy in Franklin's enterprise. It bears the name of "Starvation Cove," and may well remind us of a similar picture, bearing the same name, illustrating the fate of Captain Gardiner and his companions in 1851.

* A national monument to the memory of Sir John Franklin was afterwards erected in Waterloo Place (near the Athenæum Club), and inaugurated by Sir John Pakington, then First Lord of the Admiralty, in 1866. A monument to Sir John Franklin was also placed in Westminster Abbey in 1875, in which year Lady Franklin died, having thus seen the highest honours paid to her distinguished husband.

be associated with the annals of our Navy; and the more than twenty separate expeditions which, at enormous cost,† had been sent forth to search for our missing explorers, had not only cleared up the mystery that surrounded them, but had added in an unexampled degree to our geographical knowledge, and brought our explorations in the North for the present to an end.

For his discovery, Captain McClintock was rewarded with knighthood and many other honours. And as the £10,000 offered by Government for ascertaining the fate of Sir John Franklin and the crews of the Erebus and Terror had been granted to Dr. Rae, a special prize of £6,000 was granted by Parliament as a suitable recognition of McClintock's distinguished services. It may be added that Sir Francis afterwards published a very interesting volume on the "Voyage of the Fox in the Arctic Seas, to discover the Fate of Sir John Franklin and his Companions."

The Charybdis, screw corvette of 21 guns; the Hood, screw line of battle ship of 91 guns; and the Irresistible, screw line of battle ship of 80 guns, were all launched at Chatham in 1859. There were, moreover, nine ships repaired and fitted for further service. Thus yearly the Navy is reinforced, the shores and the commerce of England are protected, and the flag of freedom is borne aloft into every sea!

We must not omit to mention the Volunteer Movement, "unique in the history of nations," which, under the menacing aspect of the Continent, began this year throughout the land.‡

Lady Franklin died on the 18th June, 1875. "Her friends," says the Times in an obituary which appeared the following day, "are of many nations and many climes, but her own countrymen were probably foremost in testifying their respect and admiration for a character of singular activity and intelligence, as well as the sympathy due to her great bereave ment, met with that energy, all her own, which never rested till she had unlocked the secret of her husband's fate, and given his discoveries to the world."

Captain Hall, of the United States, observed in 1860 that "the labours of Great Britain to discover what had become of her lost children, and the sums of money devoted to that purpose (no less than £2,000,000 sterling), stand unparalleled in past history."

There are probably few members of the Volunteer force, and certainly still fewer Englishmen, who could name the man who first suggested the creation of the Volunteer force and was one of the organizers of the first corps (which was raised in England forty-two years ago). That man is

The Handel Festival, held in the Crystal Palace in June -following up the Preliminary Festival of 1857, and being itself held in commemoration of Handel's death-was the immediate precursor of the great Triennial Festivals, and may be regarded as an international event, full of promise for the future. It was attended by 81,319 persons.

Dr. J. C. Bucknill, who was at the time principal medical officer at the Devon County Asylum at Exminster. By his agency the Exeter and South Devon Rifle Corps was the first body of Volunteers whose services were accepted by the Queen.-Morning Chronicle. (This, however, preceded the movement of 1859.)

CHAPTER XVII.

NEW ADMIRALTY REGULATIONS-A GREAT EXPEDITION-ROYAL COMMISSIONS ON DOCKYARDS AND

FORTIFICATIONS-THE DECADE 1851-60.

WE

E have given many details respecting our Dockyards, considering that their efficient administration is of interest to the nation as tending to secure for the country a body of skilful and contented workmen to build and repair our war vessels. An important Admiralty Order was issued to the Yards on the 1st of January, 1860. It was then announced as the rule for the future that the entry of all artificers and labourers would rest entirely with the Superintendents of the Dockyards, who would be responsible that no workmen were entered but such as were in all respects the best to be obtained for Her Majesty's service. (In other words, the Board relinquished the patronage it had previously exercised in the nomination of workmen.) The following announcement was also made with regard to promotions: "An examination is required of every candidate for promotion. Their Lordships will select from the examination list, on the recommendation of the officers, those who are considered to be the best qualified. The claims of those whose names appear at the head of the examination list will be duly considered; but industry, merit, and practical qualification will have their weight in guiding the selection. Parties using political or other indirect influence will be punished." Of these rules all must approve.

It is interesting to notice that the railway between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-which links the latter with London, and is therefore of importance in connection with the Dockyard-was opened in February, 1860.