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1860 Feb 26 Sunday In the Morning Took a Walk down to the Battery - My souls yearned to be upon the water engaged in the Mission I hold [[strikethrough]] engaged in [[/strikethrough]] dear to my heart. Wrote an answer to Capt. B. It does now seem that Heaven smiles upon my efforts. What better success do I ask - could I pray for, than I have met thus far? 1 A vessel of great historical interest - properly strengthened for the ices of the North - is already for this Expedition. 2 A Commander, of tried experience, having perfect command of the Esquimaux Language - in ability to control dogs for sledge travelling, even surpassing the Esquimaux - awaits an engagement. Testimony of honorable parties shows Capt Q. the best qualified in the U.S. 3 The Kane family, as represented by Thomas Kane of Philadelphia has offered assistance in the enterprise. 4 Childs & Paterson, as represented by Mr Childs, has ^[[also]] offered assistance. [[end page]] [[start page]] 5 But last, tho the [[underlined]] greatest of all [[/underlined]] - Henry Grinnell, the one to whom the world owes a debt of gratitude for his spirit in sending forth two Expeditions to recover those who had gone [[strikethrough]] forth [[/strikethrough]] into the unknown North for the purpose of doing Good to Mankind [[strikethrough]] for the [[/strikethrough]] ^[[to recover those who]] [[strikethrough]] believed [[/strikethrough]] believed - "Ignorance is the curse of God; Knowledge the wing where with we fly to heaven" Mr. Henry Grinnell is with me. [[underlined]] This, [[/underlined]] I say, [[underlined]] is the greatest of all. He believes, with me, that there are survivors of the Franklin Expedition - that no proper search has yet been made to determine the great fact. [[/underlined]] 6 I should not forget to write of those in my dear City, Cincinnati - of Senator Chase Gov. Dennison of Columbus - Of the good people of New London - all of whom feel to do all they can to assist in this Work. I will not forget ^[[either]] the R.R. & S [[?Bart]] company ^[[good deeds]] for their