The Voyage of the Constance
Mary Gillies, Charles Keene
language
(, Nov. 23, 2010)
This book was published in 1860.From the Preface:It has been my purpose to make the following tale not only a tale, but a complete history of Arctic adventure and discovery condensed into a small space. It has seemed to me that the young ought to know the eventful story of the perils, the sufferings, and the triumphs of their countrymen, and of brave men of other nations, in those icy regions during the course of three centuries. The beginning of this story we know, and its end we have witnessed only a few weeks since; Captain M'Clintock's return, after dis- covering the last traces of Franklin, has probably brought it to a close. A great amount of knowledge in various sciences has been gained by the labours of Arctic explorers, and if many efforts have failed and many valuable lives have been lost, yet there have been so many instances of courage, devotion to duty, and wonderful escapes, that the whole leaves on the mind a feeling of high hope and pleasure rather than of gloom. To make my account trustworthy I have consulted all the best authorities on the subject, and carefully read the modem books of voyages, from Ross and Parry downwards. For Sir John Ross's four years in Boothia and his escape in the boats, I had the advantage of knowing an old sailor who was with him throughout, being one of the Victory's crew, and who himself gave me the whole account, besides many stories about the polar regions and adventures among the ice.With this explanation " The Voyage of the Con- stance" is offered to my young readers, to speak for itself.