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Record Id:
040-003375372
Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
032-003374833
MDARK:
ark:/81055/vdc_100043186376.0x000001
LARK:
SLARK:
Format:
ISAD(G)
Reference (shelfmark):
Add MS 89230/2/1
Title:

Arctic Expedition: Volume one

Scope & Content:

First volume of the journal kept by Markham during the British Arctic Expedition 1875-76, as Captain of HMS Alert and second-in-command under Sir George Nares on the Discovery. This volume opens in Portsmouth on Saturday 29 May 1875, and concludes 24 July 1876. It includes a description of the first sledging expedition, 11-16 September 1875, (folios 132-142).

The volume contains several sheets of tabulated temperature data, titled 'Comparative Mean Monthly Temperatures', for various locations for the years 1819, 1850-1854, 1871, 1875, with individual tables for the following months of the year: September (f 151), October (f 165), November (f 197), December (f 232), January (f 263), February (f 294), March (f 322).

The volume also contains several illustrations, watercolours and printed ephemera, bound, tipped or glued into the volume. These are listed below, with titles taken from Markham's own annotations, or from given titles, unless indicated.

Printed ephemera:

  • [Printed poem] Farewell to the Officer and Men of H.M.S. Alert & Discovery, dedicated to Lady Franklin, 29 May 1875, Thomas Jenner, f 2.
  • The ARCTIC Printing Office notice, HMS Alert, 28 July 1875, f 54.
  • HMS Alert. Winter Routine, f 156.
  • HMS Alert. Thursday Popular Entertainment, f 172.
  • Menu for Markham's birthday celebration, 11 November 1875, plus two manuscript notes wishing him many happy returns, ff 174-176.
  • Gifford and Symons. Education Sheet (1), f 179.
  • The Royal Arctic Theatre, sheet announcing the performance of the celebrated nautical farce The Chops of the Channel, followed by the screaming tragico-comico burlesque Vilikins and his Dinah, ff 182-183.
  • Prologue, spoken at the re-opening of the Arctic Theatre, Thursday 18 November 1875, f 185.
  • Messrs. Giffard and Symons. Education Sheet (2), f 189.
  • Programmes for Thursday Pops, f 191, 199, 207, 213, 230, 244, 249, 255, 265, 270, 276, 297
  • Regulations for the use of the Drying Room, f 201.
  • Menu for Aldritch's birthday, f 205.
  • Menu (in rhyme) for Moss's birthday, with pen sketch, f 211.
  • Royal Arctic Theatre playbill for Boots at the Swan and Aladdin, or the Wonderful Scamp, f 218.
  • Two Christmas cards, f 221v.
  • Christmas poems [with pen sketch], ff 225-226.
  • A Happy New Year Poem, with a pen sketch titled 'Ye Commandere making ye Magneticke Observations. by ye sub-lieutenante', f 236.
  • Royal Arctic Theatre, playbill for Area Belle, f 260.
  • Menu (in rhyme), f 281.
  • Royal Arctic Theatre, playbill for the Little Vulgar Boy or Weeping Bill, f 284-285.
  • Menu (in rhyme) for Pullen's birthday, with pen and ink sketch, f 292.
  • HMS Alert. Chorus [verses on the reappearance of the sun, 2 March 186], f 299.

Watercolours:

  • Ye Commander's, and Nellie's, cabin. HMS Alert [Nellie was Markham's dog], f 5.
  • A native of Greenland harpooning ye lively Seal, f 30.
  • Ye Loom. ( Uria Brunnickii), f 36.
  • Ye Polar Bears. (Ursus Maritimus), f 48.
  • Ye Arctic Mollies. (Precellaria Glacialis), f 56.
  • Ye graceful Arctic Tern. (Sterna Arctica), f 110.
  • Ye little Lemmings. (Mgodes lemmus), f 115.
  • A Sledging Scene, under sail, f 136.
  • Untitled [a view of Flagstaff Point], f 161
  • Ye Arctic Hare observing. (Lepus glacialis), f 279.
  • A Floeberg cracked by intense cold, f 287.
  • In difficulties, f 312.
  • Westward Ho, Valley Latitude 82.40 N, f 333.

Illustrations:

  • Looms and Mollies, f 43.
  • Ferocious Bruin, f 50.
  • Ye indignant Walrus, f 80.
  • Ye 'canine troupe' performing a melodious concert, f 82.
  • Untitled [Ship and deck plan, showing saw cuts made in the ice, and the dimensions of the deck], f 86.
  • Track to represent the path of the Moon - above & below both horizons. Fold-out diagrams on graph paper, showing 1 September 1875 to 2 January 1876, and 4 January to 31 April, ff 101-102.
  • Ye agile musk oxen. (Ovibos moschatus), f 107.
  • Preparing for a start with the Dogs, f 124.
  • AHM as 'Alderman Grumbleton Gruffin' in 'Vilikins and his Dinah', signed 'W R fecit', f 187.
  • Lieut W Rawson as Vilikins, f 193.
  • G W as Dinah, and G Le C as Baron Boski Bumble in Vilikins and his Dinah, f 195.
  • Commander Markham RN, HMS Alert [showing two children floating a toy boat in a tub], f 222.
  • HMS Alert. Winter Quarters. 1875-6, f 223.
  • Aladdin. G Le C E as The Emperor. W R as the Princess Badroulladour, f 228.
  • Aladdin, A H M as Abanazar the Magician, f 234.
  • Aladdin, Captn Feilden as Widow Twankay, f 238.
  • A H M as Abanazar the Jew in Aladdin, f 240.
  • G A G as Aladdin, f 242.
  • A H M as Abanazar the Magician in Aladdin, f 251.
  • Arctic 'Bear' and 'Grisly Bears' stage scene, f 273.
  • 1876 Spring Campaign, showing the nine sledge flags, f 320.
  • Recto: verse to welcome home the sledging party. Verso: homecoming menu, titled 'Marco Polo Lat. 83o 20' 30", 29 June 1876', including vignette wash, f 337.
Collection Area:
Western Manuscripts
Hierarchy Record Ids:
032-003374833
036-003374838
040-003375372
Is part of:
Add MS 89230 : Expedition journals of Sir Albert Hastings Markham
Add MS 89230/2 : Expedition journals: British Arctic Expedition

 

Add MS 89230/2/1 : Arctic Expedition: Volume one
Hierarchy:
032-003374833[0002]/036-003374838[0001]/040-003375372
Container:
View / search within Archive / Collection: Add MS 89230
Record Type (Level):
File
Extent:
1 volume (344 folios)
Digitised Content:
Languages:
English
Scripts:
Latin
Start Date:
1875
End Date:
1875
Date Range:
1875
Era:
CE
Access:
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User Conditions:
Physical Characteristics:

Three softbound stationer's notebooks bound into a single volume, half dark blue morocco over pebbled boards, front cover stamped in gilt with Markham arms and crest, spine lettered in gilt.

Arrangement:

The volume comprises three stationer's notebooks bound together:

  • Volume 1, 29 May to 22 August 1875, ff 1-101.
  • Volume 2, 23 August to 24 December 1875, ff 102-221.
  • Volume 3, 25 December 187524 july 1876, f 222-344.
Publications:
The journal notes form the basis for Markham's account of the expedition, published as the Great Frozen Sea. A Personal Narrative of the Voyage of the Alert during the Arctic Expedition of 1875-76, (London: 1878).
Material Type:
Archives and Manuscripts
Legal Status:
Not Public Record(s)