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Auction: 16043 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 45

(x) Documents
James Clark Ross - The search for Franklin's Lost Expedition, 1848
1849 a group of documents with (9 June) letter from H.M.S. Enterprise at Port Leopold to Capt. Edward Bird of H.M.S. Investigator, giving a report by day and time on a trip across Prince Regent's Isle from 31 May to 8 June. He concludes in his comments that he did not see a single crack in the ice.

(18 June) a letter from Lieutenant Robinson of H.M.S. Investigator to Capt. Edward Bird giving his report of his trip to Somerset House on Fury Beach which included a list of provisions found there, but full details were impossible as much had been buried in snow. There were also about 70 casks dated March and December 1823, two boats in bad condition, munitions and other ship's items. There was also a bottle with the label "The Box has a Bottle in it, J. Ross, July 8th 1833" (John Ross's second Arctic Expedition spent their 4th winter in Fury Bay). Following this he discovered a cairn about 5 feet high with a cross on top and gave its geographical location. He concludes with a copy of the document which he left in the empty John Ross box (the bottle had been taken some years before). "This Document was deposited by a party belonging to the Expedition under Sir James C. Ross wintering in Port Leopold, near Cape Clarence. The object of the party was to proceed to the south and to leave a copper cylinder in anticipation of its being found by Sir John Franklin, or any of his people. The cylinder was left in a large cairn erected on the crown of the first 'Turtle Backed' hill seen about 4 miles to the westward of the eastern end of the first long continuous beach ...". There is also a copy of the note which was put into casks and thrown into the water, "The cask which contains this notice was thrown overboard from H.M.S. Investigator on the - in Lat - and Long - for the purpose of informing Sir John Franklin or any of his party who may find it that H.M. ships Enterprize and Investigator passed the last winter in Port Leopold ..." and continues with further details of their expedition and the provisions left.


Three fascinating documents relating to this expedition. Photo

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