1852.] ADMIRALTY INSTRUCTIONS. 5 



15. We have furnished you with copies of these instructions, which 

 you are to deliver to the Captain and Officers in command of vessels 

 under your orders. And we deem it necessary that you should be 

 directed to communicate freely anA unreservedly with your second in 

 command and the officers in charge of the other ships, on all points 

 connected with the Expedition, keeping them acquainted with your 

 views and intentions, that, in case of an accident happening to your- 

 self, or a separation of the ships, these officers may be fully aware of 

 the course of proceedings intended to be adopted by you ; and when 

 the ships are separated from you for the purpose of carrying out our 

 orders, the same unreserved intercourse and communication is to be 

 maintained between the officers in command of the respective ships. 



16. You are no doubt aware of the ' Prince Albert,' private vessel, 

 being engaged in a like search in the Arctic Seas ; you are to afford 

 that vessel every aid and assistance, in the event of falling in with her, 

 but you are in no way to interfere with her orders or take her under 

 your charge. 



17. The various logs and private journals, with drawings, plans, etc., 

 are to be sent to this office on the return of the Expedition. And you 

 are to be careful that, from the date of your parting company with the 

 ships sent to assist in towing you, your own letters to our Secretary, 

 together with those of the officers addressing you, are duly numbered 

 as well as dated ; and you are invariably, should any opportunity offer, 

 to leave letters for us at such places as Cape Warrender, Ponds Bay, 

 etc., provided no delay be incurred thereby. 



18. Your ships have been fully equipped for the service they are 

 going upon, and it has been our desire that you should be provided with 

 even- means and resource that might be made available. We have an 

 entire reliance on the best use and application of those means on your 

 part, and we have equal confidence in the care to be exercised by you 

 for those employed under your orders ; but there is one object which in 

 the exercise of that care will naturally engage your constant attention, 

 and that is, the safe return of your party to this country. 



19. We are sensible however that notwithstanding a wish to keep 

 this part of your duty prominently in mind, yet that an ardent desire 

 to accomplish the object of your mission, added to a generous sympathy 

 for your missing countrymen, may prevail in some degree to carry you 

 beyond the limits of a cautious prudence. 



20. You are therefore distinctly to understand our directions to be, 

 that the several ships under your orders shall each be on its way home, 



