Several of the

suitable house constructed by the sappers. party were left here to take care of the matériel, and also the women and children, who were unequal to a long journey over the snow.

In October the bulk of the expedition started for Cumberland House, and reached it on the eighth day after leaving Cedar Lake. On the first day's journey private Hugh Geddes and a half-caste Indian were attacked by a bear on Muddy Lake. The latter fired three times at the beast without bringing him down. Neither of them now had any ammunition; but Geddes, who was incapable of much exertion from an axe wound in the foot, anticipating the peril, forgot his pains and felled two young birch trees, one of which he handed to his companion: with these formidable defensors both made a desperate onslaught on the raging bear, but it was not until after much labour and hazard that they succeeded in slaying it. In due time they sleighed his huge carcase to the rendezvous at Cedar Lake.

At Cumberland House one of the divisions passed the winter, and was kept in constant employment by attending to several seasonable occupations, such as cutting firewood, driving sledges with meat or fish, and fulfilling a round of services no less laborious than necessary. They also established a fishery on the Beaver Lake, two days' march north of the depôt.12

From July to December three rank and file were employed under Captain T. Webb, R.E., in surveying and laying out roads in Zetland, in connection with the Central Board for the relief of Destitution in the Islands of Scotland. This service was ordered by the Home Government, and the party returned to Woolwich when the winter had fairly set in. Second-corporal Harnett was well reported of for his intelligence and capabilities, and the two privates for their industry and exertions.

At the Cape of Good Hope the two companies were distributed to fifteen posts and forts on the frontier. On the 2nd May the sapper force there was increased to 198 of all ranks

12 Sir John Richardson's Journal of a Boat Voyage through Rupert's Land and the Arctic,' edit. 1851, p. 45.

by the arrival of thirty-five men, under Lieutenant Jesse, R.E. Between the 14th September and 23rd December one sergeant and sixteen rank and file were in the field, under Captain Walpole, R.E. They had with them an assortment of carpenters' and smiths' tools, engineer stores, and a quantity of intrenching tools, besides a large five-oared cutter, and the materials and gear to form a raft of casks. From the 1st to 6th December, eleven of these men were actively employed in transporting men and provisions to a large portion of the division on the left bank of the Kei, under Lieutenant Jervois, R.E., at a time when the rise of the river prevented any intercourse by waggons. During the six days, the party exerted themselves in a most praiseworthy manner, and sergeant Alexander McLeod was particularly active and zealous. Between the 21st November and 1st December, three sappers, with a party of the line, under Lieutenant Stokes, R.E., opened a road for waggons in the Amatola mountains, and constructed a temporary bridge across the Keiskama. Before the execution of this service provisions were conveyed to the camp in the mountains on mules, and hence the transit was slow and uncertain.

On the representation of Colonel Lewis, R.E., a company of full strength was removed from Chatham to Portsmouth, on the 22nd December. Its employment was confined to the erection and repair of such works as could not be undertaken by contract, such as strengthening the fortifications, repairing gates, laying platforms, curbs, &c. It was also considered indispensable to retain a company in that command, to execute, in the event of a war suddenly breaking out, the numerous wants likely to occur in such an emergency.

1848.

Staff appointments-Survey of London-Colour-sergeant Smith-Sergeant Bay-Trigonometrical operations-Opposition to the military survey-Observatory above St. Paul's; the scaffolding-Privates Pemble and Porteous -Sergeant Steel-Industry and conduct of the Sappers in the Metropolitan survey-Preliminary arrangements of the Arctic expedition-Privates Waddell and Sulter-Corporal Mackie-Expedition starts; corporal McLarenCoasting journeys and services-Overland march-Winter at Fort Confidence-Party detached to Great Bear Lake-Close of the search for Sir John Franklin and his crews.

SERGEANT-MAJOR JENKIN JONES was commissioned to be quartermaster to the corps on the 11th January, 1848, vice Hilton retired. These pages amply testify to the merits of Mr. Jones. A more indefatigable non-commissioned officer never served his country, nor one more worthy of the honours conferred upon him. Colour-sergeant Michael Bradford, a good soldier and foreman, succeeded him as sergeant-major at Woolwich.

With a view to establish a system for the sanitary improvement of the drainage of London, a survey of the metropolis, under the auspices of the Commissioners of Sewers, was commenced in January, 1848, and continued with a fluctuating detachment-once as many as forty-three strong, and as few as two men only-until January, 1850. Captain Yolland, R.E., had the direction of the work, and colour-sergeant Joseph Smith was first appointed to the executive charge, but he

For some twenty years he was in charge of office and field parties on the detail survey and plan drawing. He had the local superintendence and direction, under Captain Williams, R.E., of the survey of the property belonging to the duchy of Lancaster at Langeinor, in South Wales, and of the royal domain of Windsor Castle, under Major Tucker, R.E. His qualifications, as

being soon afterwards discharged, it then fell upon sergeant Andrew Bay. With this survey was connected the determination of the relative levels of all parts of London.

The great triangulation was the first point attended to. That wonderful specimen of skill, the scaffolding on and around the ball and cross of St. Paul's, put up in the spring, was the main station for observations. The summits of Primrose and other hills, the towers, steeples, and roofs of churches, the parapets or terraces of public buildings or houses, were made available as sites for signal-staffs, visible from each other

displayed in the direction of these surveys, led to his selection for the charge of the London survey, but his connection with it on the part of the Ordnance, was early broken, by his receiving, in July, 1848, the appointment of surveyor to the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers, at 2001. a-year, which salary has since been considerably increased. On leaving the corps he received a silver medal and gratuity for his long services and exemplary conduct. Ever since his discharge he has had the superintendence of a large staff of draughtsmen and men surveying underground in the sewers. In February, 1851, seven hundred miles of sewers had been thoroughly examined, and the levels of the different parts minutely ascertained. "The result of this," observed Sir Henry de la Beche, "is, that they had documents connected with the condition of these seven hundred miles of sewerage, such as were not possessed by any metropolis in Europe. It was but justice," adds Sir Henry, "in referring to the work as examined, to call attention to the officer who had charge of it-Mr. Joseph Smith, who had executed his task with an ability, a zeal, and perseverance, deserving the highest eulogiums both of that court and the inhabitants of the whole metropolis."-The Times, 1st February, 1851. Mr. Smith afterwards became conspicuous for his report condemning the construction of the Victoria Sewer, which was nullified by an entirely antagonistic report from Mr. Foster, the engineer, and gave rise to some little discussion in the House of Commons between Sir Benjamin Hall and Lord Ebrington.

2 Remarkable for his great endurance of fatigue and exertion, and as being one of the best and quickest surveyors in the Ordnance. In his early career in Ireland he walked twenty-two miles to work, surveyed twelve miles of lines, and returned the same evening-twenty-two miles-to his quarters! This was considered at the time to be fair progress for six days; indeed, it was facetiously said of him that he carried on his work by moonlight. He was also clever as an observer with the two-feet theodolite, and the accuracy of his arcs was so rigidly faithful, that an officer visited him specially to watch his work, and test the value of his services. More than twenty-one years he took part in the national surveys, and had the local superintendence for many years of large parties dispersed over extensive districts. He also assisted with much credit in the survey of the disputed territory in North America; and, receiving for his good conduct and long services a gratuity and silver medal, was discharged from the corps in January, 1851. Soon afterwards he emigrated to Canada.

and from St. Paul's. By these observations the relative angular portions of the several points were obtained, from which, as the basis of the work, a detailed survey was made, embracing not only the principal streets and squares, but the minutiae of alleys and single buildings. Of every street the slope or ascent was ascertained, and also the exact height of every spot above the assumed datum or base-line. The bench marks to show the permanent points of the survey and levels were cut in stone, or on the most prominent objects, by the sappers, who, though not brought up to that work, became very expert in the use of the mallet and chisel. At least twelve parties with twelve-inch instruments were scattered to the most conspicuous places in the metropolis and its vicinage, to complete the observations; and sergeant James Donelan, with the great three-feet instrument, visited some of the old stations celebrated by the labours of General Roy and other officers, to check the smaller triangles formed by the operation of the twelve-inch instruments. Some of those stations were at Hanger's Hill near Twyford, Banstead Downs, Severndroog Castle on Shooter's Hill, &c. The survey, including the city, extended to a distance of eight miles in every direction from St. Paul's. 4

London was unaccustomed to see soldiers employed in so important a work as the metropolitan survey, and much excitement was caused by their unobtrusive and peaceful operations. The jealousy of a class of surveyors was at once called into angry activity, and under the name of the "Associated Civil Surveyors," they formed themselves into a body, and opposed by meeting, petition, and remonstrance, the continuance of the sappers on the duty. The Metropolitan Commissioners did the Association the honour calmly to investigate their grievance; but from the lucid and truthful statements of Mr. Edwin Chadwick and others, the continuance of the sappers on the duty was confirmed and justified, not only on the score of com

5 The Observer,' April 9, and June 24, 1848; 'Civil Engineer and Architectural Journal,' and some of the London press.