Godfrey’s Narrative of the Last Grinnell Arctic Exploring Expedition, in Search of Sir John Franklin, 1853-4-5. With a Biography of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, from the Cradle to the Grave.

p. 77-78, on decision to procede further North towards North Pole:

We now held a grand consultation, in which all hands on board (common sailors not excepted), were invited to take a part; the object being to decide what course it was most expedient for us to pursue. Some of our fellows were more or less home-sick, and I dare say they would have given their vote for an immediate return to the United States, promising themselves more comfort in the arms of their wives and doxies than in the chilla "green-horn," comparatively speaking, was not conversant with the usages and etiquette of the naval service in such cases as that which now claimed our attention ; and, when requested to declare what appeared to me to be the proper line of conduct for men in our situation to pursue, I frankly stated that I could see no use in proceeding any further on the voyage. "As for Captain Franklin,” said I, "no doubt he is safe in heaven, if he was as brave a commander and as good a man as the and newspapers represent him; and if we desire to follow him to that celestial harbor, we can do so by a safer and more agreeable route than through the polar seas. Should we succeed in finding his dead body, something would be gained, I confess; for public curiosity might then be satisfied, and no pretense would be left for future adventurers to undertake this dangerous voyage on the score of humanity. But even these good effects, such as they are, would not follow our discovery, unless we could return and communicate that discovery to the world. Should we succeed in reaching that point where this veteran arctic navigator and his hardy companions could not live, is it not likely that we should perish as they did ? The same circumstances which were fatal to them might be equally so to us. And if we should share the fate of our unfortunate predecessors, of what avail would our discoveries be to the world, even if we should ascertain how, when, and where Captain Franklin and his comany perished ? a "green-horn," comparatively speaking, was not conversant with the usages and etiquette of the naval service in such cases as that which now claimed our attention ; and, when requested to declare what appeared to me to be the proper line of conduct for men in our in heaven, if he was as brave a commander and as good a man as the and newspapers represent him; and if we desire to follow him to that celestial harbor, we can do so by a safer and more agreeable route than through the polar seas. Should we succeed in finding his dead body, something would be gained, I confess; for public curiosity might then be satisfied, and no pretense would be left for future adventurers to undertake this dangerous voyage on the score of humanity. But even these good effects, such as they are, would not follow our discovery, unless we could return and communicate that discovery to the world. Should we succeed in reaching that point where this veteran arctic navigator and his hardy companions could not live, is it not likely that we should perish as they did ? The same circumstances which were fatal to them might be equally so to us. And if we should share the fate of our unfortunate predecessors, of what avail would our discoveries be to the world, even if we should ascertain how, when, and where Captain Franklin and his company perished?

p. 228-29, on Kane’s reactions to Godfrey’s book: In the composition of the preceding pages, circumstances compelled me to be as brief and concise as possible ; I have therefore omitted the particular mention of many of my labors and adventures in the polar regions; but I can conscientiously say, in general terms, that no man labored more constantly and zealously than I did in the service of the last Grinnell Exploring Expedition. If I had merely been unrewarded for my services, and merely refused the credit which I thought I had deserved, I should have made no complaint; but I have received such positive injuries as might have justified a resort to still more vindictive measures than the publication of this narrative. Since my return to the United States, I have felt the effects of the stigma which Dr. Kane had affixed to my character. The denunciations of such a high authority were well calculated to "take the bread out of my mouth." The reader will not be surprised, therefore, when I inform him that I have found it very difficult to’ obtain employment in a country where Dr. Kane’s has been extensively circulated ; and, for some time, I was reduced to the necessity of earning my livelihood by driving an omnibus in the city of Philadelphia! A mere reference to these facts would be a sufficient apology for the publication of this volume. It is through no fault of mine that the was not published sooner. If it could have appeared before the decease of Dr. Kane, I should have been much better satisfied; but every man who has any experience in the writing and publishing of books, will know that a poor and obscure author must encounter many obstacles in the attempt to bring a literary production before the public. I am indebted to the liberality and enterprising spirit of Messrs. Lloyd & Co. for the opportunity I now have to give publicity to my work; and I hope the sale of the will be sufficient to remunerate those gentlemen for their generous exertions in my behalf. [Godfrey goes on (p. 229-30) to assess the successes and failures of the second Grinnell expedition.]