A Short Narrative of the Second Voyage of the Prince Albert, in Search of Sir John Franklin

London: W.H. Dalton, 1853. First edition. Presentation copy inscribed by Lady Franklin. Folding map by Arrowsmith, 4 lithographed plates. xiii,[1],202pp. 8vo. Publisher's green cloth, yellow endpapers, very minor fading to spine, minor wear to top and tail, neat repair at rear joint and board edges. First edition. Presentation copy inscribed by Lady Franklin. Folding map by Arrowsmith, 4 lithographed plates. xiii,[1],202pp. 8vo. William Kennedy (1814-90) was the son of a Hudson's Bay Company factor and a Cree Indian woman. In 1851 he was chosen by Lady Franklin to lead the second private expedition in search of her husband. Although he found no trace of Sir John, the expedition discovered Bellot Strait in the far north of America. Kennedy utilized native Inuit clothing and techniques, and the expedition returned with the entirety of its crew intact. "His narrative of the expedition includes description of ice condition in the straits, sledging conditions, the country explored, rations, frostbite, and the weather; also a (four-times) daily journal of temperature, wind and weather notes" (Arctic Bibliography). The plates show the expedition's adventures living in the Arctic, and the map details their explorations in the area

A wonderful association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper by the dedicatee, "with Lady Franklin's kind regards"; the recipient, A. J. Wylie Esqr, has added his name and the date of the presentation, July 1853, respectively above and below Lady Franklin's inscription. TPL 3270; Arctic Bibliography 8539; Sabin 37443 (Inventory #: 371671)