Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and round the World
Being Personal Narratives of Attempts to Reach the North and South Poles
Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and round the World 2 Volume Set Series

Published in 1884 and illustrated with over 100 of his own drawings and maps, this two-volume work by the doctor and naturalist Robert McCormick (1800?90) provides an account of his voyages in the Arctic with William Parry and in the Antarctic with James Clark Ross, noting also his part in the search for Sir John Franklin. Incorporating a very detailed autobiography, McCormick's work also provides many details relating to natural history and geology. Volume 1 is mainly devoted to his Antarctic voyage (1839?43), during which he also visited St Helena, the Kerguelen Islands, Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. During three attempts to reach the South Pole the expedition explored the Ross Sea, described the ice barrier, and raised the British flag to claim possession. The volume ends with the abortive attempt in 1827 to reach the North Pole via Spitsbergen.

Preface; Part I. Voyage of HMS Erebus and Terror to the Antaractic Seas: 1. Departure from England; 2. Visit to the convents; 3. Trinidad; 4. A deep sounding; 5. At Kerguelen's Island; 6. Second boat-expedition; 7. New Bay discovered; 8. Geological résumé of Kerguelen's Island; 9. Our boatswain drowned; 10. A drive across the island to Launceston; 11. Excursion to Port Arthur; 12. First voyage towards the South Pole; 13. Campbell Island; 14. Discovery of a southern continent; 15. The volcanic mountains; 16. Remarkable rock, like a Roman gateway; 17. Summary of our attempt to reach the South Pole; 18. Quail-shooting at Risdon; 19. Leave for Sydney; 20. Trip to Waimate; 21. Up the Kava-Kava river; 22. Trip inland; 23. Second attempt to reach the South Pole; 24. Closely beset in the pack; 25. A heavy gale; 26. Collision with the Terror off the icebergs; 27. The Falkland Islands; 28. Trip to Swan Bay; 29. Hermite Island, Cape Horn; 30. Excursion up to the summit of Cape Spencer; 31. Summary of Hermite Island; 32. Second visit to the Falkland Islands; 33. Third attempt to reach the South Pole; 34. Our highest latitude; 35. Summary of the last voyage south; 36. Simon's bay; 37. Ascension Island; Part II. Attempt to Reach the North Pole in the Year 1827: 1. Departure from the Nore; 2. Hecla secured in Treurenberg Bay; 3. Return of the polar boats; 4. Résumé of the geological and botanical features of the island; Appendix; Plans for reaching the North and South Poles.