Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-01-31


out making any terms, and the old general be-
came the principal nurse Of his captor and ben
efactor, dividing his attentions between him
and his son, who lay wounded in an adjoining
room. This illness of our hero was long and
doubtful, and he was reported dead 10 Ms friends
at home.
when he recovered and returned, he was
employed in the Coast Survey. While enga-
ged IN this service, the government by lis cor
respondence with Lady Franklin became COM
mitled for an attempt at tue rescue Of Sir John
and hrs ill-starred companions in A rc,ic discoy-
cry. Nothing could be better addressed 10 the
Doctors governing sentiments than this adven-
ture. The enterprise of Sir Juhn ran exactly
into the current of one of his own entbusiasms
the service Of natural science combined with
heroic personal effort and, added to this. thai
sort of patriotism which charges itself with its
own full share in the execution of national en-
gagementy Of honor and besides this cordial
assumption of his counlry's debts and duties,
there was no little force in the appeal of noby
brave spirited woman to the chivalry of the
American navy.
He was bathing in the torpid waters Of the
Gulf of Mexico, on the 18th Of May, 1885,
when he received his telegrsp phic order 10 pro-
ceed forthwith 10 New York, for duty upon the
Arctic expedition. In nine days from that date,
he was beyond the limits of the United STATES
on his dismal voyage 10 the North Pole. OF
mls first American expedition, as is well known
TO the public, he was the surgeon, the natural
ist, and the historian. 1t returned disappoint-
ed OF its main object, after winter in the re-
gions of eternal ice and fifteen months ab-
sence.
Scarcely allowing himself day to recover
from the hardships Of this cruise, he set on fuoe
the second attempt, from which he has return
ed, after verifying by actual observation the
long questioned existence of an open sea be-
yond The latitude of 81 degrees, and beyond
the temperature, also, of 100 deg. below the
freezing point. His Personal Narrative,
published early in 1858, recounts the ad,en-
lures of the first voyage, and discovers his di-
versified qualifications for such an enterprise.
The last voyage occupied two winters in the
highest latituGes, and two years and half of
unintermitted labor, with the risks aud respon-
sibilites attendant. He is now preparing the
history for publication. But that part of ii
which best reports his own personal agency,
and would most justly present the man to the
reader, will of course be suppressed. We
would gladly supply it, but as YET this is i'm
possible to US. His journal is private proper
ty, the extracts which we may expect will be
only too shy Of egotism, and his companions
have not spoken yet, as some day they will
speak, of his conduct throughout ibe terrible
struggles which together they endured.
To form anything like an adequate estimate
of this last achievement, it is 10 be recolecieG
that his whole company amounted TO but twen-
ty men, and that Of this corps or crew he was
the commander, in naval phrase and when
we are apprised that his portfolio of scenery,
| skeiched on the spot with pencil, and in water
colors kept fluid over spirit-lamp, amounts 10
over three hundred sketches, we have hint of
the extent and variety Of The Office he filed on
| this voyage. He was in fact the surgeon,
sailing-master, astronomer and naturalist, as
well as captain and leader Of the expedition.
| The man of all work, and desperate daring
and successful doing, is in height about five
feet seven inches; in weight, say one hundred
and thirty pounds or so, ifhealih and rest would
bur give him leave 10 fill up his natural meas
ure. His complexion is fair, his hair brown,
and his eyes dark grey, with hawk look. He
is hunter by every e.ft and grace and instinct
that makes up the character; an.excelent shot,
and brilliant horsemah. He has escaped
with whole bones from all his adventures, 5ul
he has several wounds which are troublesome
and, with such general health as his, most men
would call themselves invalids, and live on fur
lough from all the active duties of life yet lie
has won the distinction Of being the frs, civili-
zeG man 10 stand in latitude 80 degrees 80 Sec
onds and gaze upon Inc open Polar Sea-to
/. reach the northernmost point of land on the
| elobe-to report the lowest temperature ever
endnred-the heaviest sledge journeys everper-
formed-and the widest life that civilized man
has successfully undergone and to return af-
ter all to tell the story Of his adventures.
The secret spring Of all this energy is in his
religious enihusiasm-discovered alike in the
generous spirit Of his adventures in pursuit of
science ia his enthusiastic fidelity 10 duty, and
in his heroic maintenance Of the point Of honor
in all his intercourse with men.
In his department there is that mixture Of
shyness and frankness, simplicity and fastidi-
BUSINESS, sandwiched rather than blended, which
marks the man of genius, and the monk of in-
dustry. He seems confident in himself but not
of himself. His manner is remarkable for ce-
leri,y of movement, alert attentiveness, quick
ness of comprehension, rapidly of uiterance
and sententious c0mpactness Of dciion, winch
arise from habiiual waichfulness against the
betrayal Of his own enthusiasms. He seems TO
fear that he is boring You, and is always dis
covering his unwillingness 10 sit for your ad-
miration. If you question him about the hand
some official acknow wiedgments Of his services