LESSON XXIX.

Sufferings of Captain Franklin in the Polar Regions.TYTLER.

MATTERS had now reached a dreadful crisis; it was necessary to come to an immediate decision regarding their ultimate measures, and a plan proposed by Mr. Hood and Dr. Richardson was adopted. These gentlemen consented to remain, with a single attendant, at the first spot where there was sufficient firewood for ten days' consumption, while Franklin and the rest were to proceed, with all expedition, to fort Enterprise, and send immediate assistance.

This scheme promised to relieve them of a considerable portion of their burdens,—for one of the tents, and various other articles, were to be left; and it gave poor Credit and Vaillant a fairer opportunity, should they revive, of regaining their companions. On the resolution being communicated to the men, they were cheered with the prospect of an alleviation of their misery, and pressed forward in search of a convenient spot for the proposed separation..

Near nightfall they encamped under the lee of a hill, among some willows, which furnished a small fire, but not sufficiently strong to thaw their frozen clothes; and, no provisions having been found during the day, they lay down, hungry and cold, and full of the gloomiest apprehensions, while sleep fled from their eyelids, and the images of their dying companions rose before their imagination, in colors which made them shudder for a fate which might so soon become their own.

Next morning the weather was, providentially, mild, and, setting out at nine, they arrived, towards noon, at a thicket of willows in the neighborhood of some rocks, bearing a pretty full supply of tripe de roche (a kind of moss or lichen). Here Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hood determined to remain.

The tent was pitched, a barrel of ammunition and other articles were deposited, and Hepburn, who volunteered the service, was appointed to continue with them. The rest of the party now had only a single tent, the ammunition, and the officers' journals, in addition to their own clothes, and a single blanket for captain Franklin.

When all was ready, the whole party united in thanks

giving and prayer to Almighty God for their mutual preservation, and separated, with the melancholy reflection, that it might, in all probability, be the last time they should ever again meet in this world.

On leaving their friends, captain Franklin and his party descended into a more level country; but the snow lay so deep, and they were so little able to wade through it, that they encamped, after a painful march of only four miles and a half, in which Belanger and Michel, an Iroquois, were left far behind, yet still struggling forward.

In the evening they came in, dreadfully exhausted, and Belanger, till now one of the strongest of the party, could not refrain from tears, as he declared he was totally unable to proceed, and implored permission to return to Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hood. Michel made the same request, and it was agreed that they should do so.

The cold of the night was excessive, and the men were so weak that they could not raise the tent; from its weight, it was impossible to transport it from place to place, and it was cut up, the canvass serving them for a covering; but, though they lay close together, the intense frost deprived them of sleep. Having no tripe de roche, they had supped upon an infusion of the Labrabor tea-plant, with a few morsels of burnt leather.

Michel and Belanger being, apparently, more exhausted in the morning than the evening before, were left, while the rest moved forward. After a very short progress, Perrault was attacked with a fit of dizziness; but, on halting a little, again proposed to proceed. In ten minutes, however, he sank down, and, weeping aloud, declared his total inability to go on. He was, accordingly, advised to rejoin Michel and Belanger, a proposal in which he acquiesced.

These examples of the total failure of the strongest in the party had an unfavorable effect on the spirits of the rest, and the exertion of wading through the snow, and crossing a lake on the ice, where they were frequently blown down, was so severe, that Fontano was utterly unable to go farther. Being not two miles from the others, it was thought best that he, also, should attempt to rejoin them; as he was much beloved, the parting was very distressing.

The whole party was now reduced to five persons-captain Franklin, Adam, Peltier, Benoit and Samandré. They

made, that day, only four miles and a half, and encamped, for the night, under a rock, supping as on the preceding night. The evening was comparatively mild, the breeze light, and, having the comfort of a fire, they enjoyed some sleep. This gave them new spirits, which were further invigorated by a breakfast of tripe de roche, this being the fourth day since they had had a regular meal. Finding Marten lake frozen over, they walked straight upon the ice to fort Enterprise.

From the arrangements previously made, it was judged certain that they would here find relief, and be able to send assistance to their unfortunate companions. On approaching the house, they became agitated and silent. At length they reached it, and their worst apprehensions were realized. It was completely desolate. No provisions had been deposited no trace of Indians could be discovered-no letter lay there from Mr. Wintzel to inform them where the Indians might be found. On entering, mute despair seized the party. Still the hopes and cheerfulness of Franklin did not desert him. From his knowledge of the places mostly frequented at that season by the Indians, he was sanguine as to the likelihood of their being found; and their speedy arrival formed a constant subject of conversation. At length, when sitting round the fire, Peltier suddenly leaped up, and uttered a joyful exclamation, imagining he heard the bustle of Indians in the adjoining room.

It was not the Indians, however, but Dr. Richardson and Hepburn, who came in, each carrying his bundle. The meeting was one of mingled joy and sorrow. Poor Hood's

absence was instantly perceived, and their saddest anticipations were confirmed by Dr. Richardson declaring that this young officer and Michel were dead, and that neither Perrault nor Fontano had reached the tent, or been heard of.

All were shocked at the emaciated countenances and hollow voices of Dr. Richardson and his companion. "The doctor," says Franklin, "particularly remarked the sepul chral tone of our voices, which he requested us to make more cheerful, if possible, not aware that his own partook of the same key."

The arrival of these friends, however, was soon attended with a favorable change. The counsels and example of the pious and intelligent Dr. Richardson produced the best effect on the spirits of the party. He had brought with him his Tes

tament and prayer-book, and, by reading portions of scripture appropriate to their situation, and encouraging them to join in prayer and thanksgiving, he led them to the only source whence, under the awful circumstances in which they were placed, they could derive hope or consolation.

Help, however, was now near at hand. On November 7th, they were amazed at hearing the report of a musket, and could scarcely believe that there was any one near till they heard a shout, and espied three Indians close to the house. But for this seasonable interposition, their existence must, probably, have terminated before many days.

LESSON XXX.

Political Economy.-HARRIET MARTINEAU.

The

Fixed capital, that is, money laid out in land, buildings, machinery and tools, is a necessary part of the property of every one who endeavors to increase his wealth. farmer must have not only land to produce grain, but ploughs and harrows to prepare the soil, sickles to reap the corn, wagons to carry it away, barns to store it in, &c., if he means to make the utmost profit he can of his produce. He thus increases his wealth by fixing his capital, though his tools, and buildings, and horses do not directly afford him any profit, like his circulating capital.

That which is commonly called circulating capital is the wealth laid out with an immediate view to further production; such as the farmer's seed-corn, and the wages of his laborers. But as nothing is saidiin the word circulating about this further production, we had rather find a better word.

Reproduceable seems to us the right term. Thus the manufacturer's raw silk and cotton, the farmer's seed-corn, or the sheep and oxen he intends to sell again, the ironmaster's coal and iron-stone, and that which is paid by all in the shape of wages, are reproduceable capital, because it comes back to its owner when it has fulfilled its purpose, and procured a profit.

It is clear that the business which requires the least fixed capital, in proportion to the reproduceable capital, must be

the least in danger from a change of times. The winemerchant, whose fixed capital consists only of cellars, casks, hampers, and a cart and horses, has less of his wealth locked up in a useless form, in bad times, than the silk or cotton manufacturer, who has his factories, his steam engine, and all the machinery connected with it.

Both may have a large stock, the one of wine, the other of raw or wrought silk, or cotton; both may complain of having their reproduceable capital made unproductive by a failure of demand; but he is in the worst situation who has the largest portion of fixed capital locked up at the same time.

On a smaller scale, the basket-maker risks less in bad times than the baker. The one has merely his shed, and his block, and his knife, for his fixed, and osiers for his reproduceable, capital; while the other has his bake-house, ovens, bins, yeast-pails, and many other articles, as his fixed capital, and flour and fuel for his reproduceable capital. If a demand for baskets and for bread should ever cease, the baker would have a much larger capital laid by useless, than the basket-maker.

A very large fixed capital is necessary in an iron-work, and of a kind, too, which cannot be turned to any other account in bad times. Land may, generally, be made to produce something which is in demand; sheds, and wagons, and horses may be used for a variety of purposes; but blastfurnaces and forges serve no object but that for which they were erected.

There is, therefore, a degree of risk in thus investing. capital, which ought to make reflecting men very watchful in their calculations, and very cautious in extending their works, even in the best times.

LESSON XXXI.

Story of Louisa.-J. ABBOTT.

SHORTLY after my settlement in the ministry, I observed, in the congregation, a young lady, whose blooming countenance and cheerful air showed perfect health, and high