Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/193

 that all documents had been destroyed. I mean journals and books, because the natives told me, that at least a dozen books with markings on them, (not blank books) had been seen, and being of no use to the Eskimos were thrown aside or given to the children to play with and torn up.

No documents have ever been found except that by M'Clintock in Spring 1859, which informs us that the good Franklin died in 1847. All M'Chintock's other information confirmed mine in a wonderful manner.

After Collinson's return with no news the reward (£10,000) was paid to me and fellows in spite of some strong opposition from one or two quarters.

Excuse my troubling you with such a very long letter on a very small and old subject.

Early in life, through the good offices of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, H. H. was given an introduction to Carlyle and spent an unforgettable hour in the Chelsea house. Carlyle spoke much of Australia and asked repeatedly about the youth of Australia: what were the young men doing—what were they reading? Did they work? H. H. could quote an Australian friend, who had heard from Carlyle's own lips, "Life only begins with self-renunciation." When H. H. rose to leave, Carlyle shook his hand with an approving, "I am told you are a young man who is going to do some great work."

"Henniker Heaton, what a name for a novel," cried Anthony Hope, meeting H. H. for the first time.

Unfortunately, Rudyard Kipling's promise of some verses was never fulfilled. On December 17th, 1900, he wrote from The Elms, Rottingdean: