10 ADMIRALTY INSTRUCTIONS. [1852. 



further search for the missing Expedition, unless any circumstances 

 (on consultation with the senior officers of Her Majesty's ships) should 

 induce you to believe that your remaining out another year would tend 

 to clear up the fate of our missing countrymen. But if Captain Kellett 

 has been unable to move from his position at Melville Island, it may 

 be necessary to give orders to him to abandon the ' Resolute' and 

 ' Intrepid,' and secure his retreat to Beechey Island ; but as this can- 

 not be accomplished this year, you need not detain any officers or men 

 who may have already reached Beechey Island, but send them to 

 England forthwith. 



2. Should no tidings have been heard of Captain Collinson in her 

 Majesty's ship Enterprise, it becomes absolutely necessary to provide 

 for his safety. For this purpose the Melville Island depot must be 

 replenished with provisions and stores ; and it will be necessary for 

 a ship and steam-tender to remain there, also the ' North Star ' or 

 ' Talbot,' with a tender, at Beechey Island, and at those stations every- 

 thing which can add to the health and comfort of the crews shoidd be 

 deposited ; and having done this, it does not appear to their Lordships 

 to be necessary that any of the other ships shoidd remain another year 

 in the Polar Sea, unless, as before stated, you consider further search 

 to be prudent and necessary. 



These are the views of their Lordships : their great object being to 

 recall, with the least possible delay, the whole of the ships or crews 

 named in the margin,* if it can be done ; if not possible to do so, they 

 leave it to your judgment and discretion to send home such of them 

 as may not be required, and to adopt those measures which you con- 

 sider most necessary to ensure the safety of Captain Collinson and his 

 crew, and their speedy return to England. This, their Lordships are 

 aware, must depend on the information you may have received from 

 Melville Island, the position of the respective ships under your orders, 

 the state of the depots, etc. ; all their Lordships can do is to confide 

 in your judgment, and they authorize you to take such steps and 

 give such orders, and to make such exchanges of officers and men, as 

 you may deem necessary for carrying their wishes into effect. 



They trust however Captain Collinson is safe ; and if so, it will be 

 a source of much satisfaction to them, if during the approaching 

 Autumn the whole of your ships and crews shall arrive in England. 



* Assistance, Pioneer, Resolute, Intrepid, Enterprise, Investigator, 

 North Star, Phoenix, and Talbot. 



