Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and round the World 2 Volume Set: Being Personal Narratives of Attempts to Reach the North and South Poles

by Robert McCormick

Overview

Published in 1884 and illustrated with over 100 of his own drawings and maps, this two-volume work by the doctor and naturalist Robert McCormick (1800–90) provides an account of his voyages in the Arctic with William Parry and in the Antarctic with James Clark Ross, noting also his part in the search for Sir John Franklin. Incorporating a very detailed autobiography, McCormick's work also provides many details relating to natural history and geology. Volume 1 is mainly devoted to his Antarctic voyage (1839–43), during which he also visited St Helena, the Kerguelen Islands, Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. The volume ends with the abortive attempt in 1827 to reach the North Pole via Spitsbergen. Volume 2 describes his role in the 1852–4 mission to find Franklin in the Arctic, including an open boat voyage up the Wellington Channel. This is followed by McCormick's autobiography, tracing his struggles to gain promotion in his naval career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108071727
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/08/2014
Series:	Cambridge Library Collection - Polar Exploration
Pages:	1004
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.65(h) x 2.05(d)

Table of Contents

Volume 1: Preface; Part I. Voyage of HMS Erebus and Terror to the Antarctic Seas: 1. Departure from England; 2. Visit to the convents; 3. Trinidad; 4. A deep sounding; 5. At Kerguelen's Island; 6. Second boat-expedition; 7. New Bay discovered; 8. Geological résumé of Kerguelen's Island; 9. Our boatswain drowned; 10. A drive across the island to Launceston; 11. Excursion to Port Arthur; 12. First voyage towards the South Pole; 13. Campbell Island; 14. Discovery of a southern continent; 15. The volcanic mountains; 16. Remarkable rock, like a Roman gateway; 17. Summary of our attempt to reach the South Pole; 18. Quail-shooting at Risdon; 19. Leave for Sydney; 20. Trip to Waimate; 21. Up the Kava-Kava river; 22. Trip inland; 23. Second attempt to reach the South Pole; 24. Closely beset in the pack; 25. A heavy gale; 26. Collision with the Terror off the icebergs; 27. The Falkland Islands; 28. Trip to Swan Bay; 29. Hermite Island, Cape Horn; 30. Excursion up to the summit of Cape Spencer; 31. Summary of Hermite Island; 32. Second visit to the Falkland Islands; 33. Third attempt to reach the South Pole; 34. Our highest latitude; 35. Summary of the last voyage south; 36. Simon's bay; 37. Ascension Island; Part II. Attempt to Reach the North Pole in the Year 1827: 1. Departure from the Nore; 2. Hecla secured in Treurenberg Bay; 3. Return of the polar boats; 4. Résumé of the geological and botanical features of the island; Appendix; Plans for reaching the North and South Poles. Volume 2: Part III. Voyage in Search of Sir John Franklin: 1. Departure from the Nore; 2. Disco; 3. Upernivik; 4. The McLennen nipped; 5. Beechey Island; 6. I return from the boat expedition; 7. Lost in the snow-drift; 8. Weather worse than ever; 9. Successful ascent of Caswell's Tower; 10. On the way home; Narrative of a boat expedition; Appendix; Concluding remarks on the search for Sir John Franklin; Suggestions for the preservation health of polar climes; Correspondence; Part IV. Autobiography: 1. Early life; 2. First voyage to the West Indies; 3. On the home station; 4. Return; 5. To the West Indies again; 6. A year on half-pay; 7. Voyage to South America; 8. On half-pay; 9. Third voyage to the West Indies; 10. Four years on half-pay; 11. Fourth walking tour; 12. In the Lake District; 13. Appointed to the Erebus for the Antarctic expedition; 14. On half-pay again; 15. Transferred to the Fisguard frigate; 16. The Auckland Whaling Company; 17. Plan of boat voyage; 18. My new plan of search; 19. Again on half-pay after my return in 1853; Letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty; Reply; Appendix; Index.