Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-11-25
THE FRANKLIN RELICS--AFFEC
ING MEMORIALS.

The articles brought by Capt. McClintock
in the Fox have been placed in the United
Service Museum for public exhibition. The
London Ne,rs Of the 18th says;
I'm the first ease is the ensign Of one Of
! the ships. reduc almost TO shreds, but still
! preserving its cOl0rs, aud rem nding the
spectators Of the many cheerless days upon
which it must have huttered sadly, but still
proudly, from the mast of the ice-bound YES
sci. In the corner Of the same case is also "a
thin tin cylinder stained and time-worn.-
The casual spectator would hardly notice it,
but it stands first in importance OF all that
has been recovered, for it contains the record
OF the death OF Sir John Franklin that hap
py death which saved our brave veteran all
the subsequent horrors of the Journey on the
Fish River Further on are the rude spear
heads into which the Esquimaux had fash
ioned the iron they obtained from the wreck;
and a lockwood two-foot rule, whtened with
exposure, bat with the figures on 1t as bright
as the first day. This was of course the
property of the carpenter, who it would ap-
pear had. even when starting on his dread
journey, not forgotten the implement of his
trade In the same case is relic which will
arrest the eve OF many passer-by. 1t Is
the remains of silk neck-tie, including the
bow as carefully and elaborately, tied as if
the poor wearer had been making we'd
ding toilette. This, which was taken from
the naked bones of ghi silly skeleton which
was discovered some miles distant from the
main track of the poor pilgrims, is supposed
to have belonged to the ships steward as
this class Of men are generally neat in their
dress, and Il sailor would have adopted a
much more simple arrangement.
"There are also various articles Of plate,
the greater portion Of which is marked with
Sir John Franklin's device, and two pocket
chronometers in excellent preservation. A
small silver watch, makers name a. Myers,
London, probably belonged to some Young
nate or midshipman, and a worm eaten roll
Of paper upon which the single wcrd Males
tv' remains, was possibly the much prlzed
warrant of some stout boatswain or quarter
master. There i "A little amethyst seal in
perfect preservation, and goggles and snow
walls to protect the eyes from the dazzling
whiteneSs of the polar snow. Two double
barreled guns, covered with rust, are placed
far in on the table. They still contain the
charges which were placed in them by hands
which have long since lost their GINNING -
They are labeled loaded in large letters. but
we should not be surprised to hear some day of
an accident. caused by the morbid curiosity
Of some foolish visitor The books recover
ed are very few; they would, of course, sue
cumb early TO the rigors of exposure, but
there is still preserved a small edition Of the
Vicar Of Wakefield some religious poetry
and a French Testament, in the hy-leaf of
which is written in a delicate female hand,
From your attached (the appellation is OBJ
lterated) ). NJ. p The open medicine
chests contains all its little bottles and prepar
ations very little injured, and little cooking
machine has the fuel arranged, the sticks
thrust through the bars ready for Ignition,
and lucifer matches at the side, as it might
have beenprepared over night for the moin-
ing cooking. 1t would be impossible to ex-
eggerate the interest and Importance of all
these simple memorials; they tell a tale that
will find Its way to every heart, and many
and painful, no doubt, viii be the scenes to
which they must give rise, when surviving
friends behold in them the property Of those
whom they mourned in blank uncertainty.
Lady franklin has. we understood, already
paid the collection frequent visits, and gen
tleman residing in the neghborhood Of Lon
don has identified in one of the scientif; in
struments the property Of his long lost SON