246 RETURN OF MR. GROVE. [April, 



finest of a most peculiar and very handsome breed, ob- 

 tained at Cape York. As I had suspected, the water in 

 the Main-tide Channel, between Pioneer Island and Vil- 

 lage Point, was open for half a mile, but on their return 

 was again skimmed over, probably under a 25 tem- 

 perature. This and one or two other air-holes noticed 

 will probably break up the moment the sun has a fair 

 view of them, they are directly in the course of the 

 strongest tide. One other bear was seen, but he was 

 too wary to trust himself in such company. 



April 20. 'This being the appointed day for the re- 

 turn of the first sledge from Commander Richards' divi- 

 sion, shortly after noon the banner of the ' Dauntless' 

 was seen, and about 1.30 Mr. Grove returned, the bearer 

 of a letter from Commander Richards, reporting all well, 

 in high spirits, and informing me that all was going on 

 smoothly, no casualties, and that they had made good 

 forty-five miles against these adverse gales, which ranged 

 from north to north-north-west, with a temperature not 

 lower than 27, it being then 17 in the tent where 

 he was writing ! 



A sledge having been prepared, with ten days' rations, 

 for the conveyance of the despatches to Cape Becher, 

 they were entrusted to the charge of Lieutenant Cheyne, 

 under the ' Victory' banner. This left me about eight 

 days to complete my arrangements for my examination 

 to the north-east, unless intelligence by Dr. Lyall, due 

 on the 2nd of May, should interpose any difficulty. Our 

 artificers were busily engaged re-manufacturing cooking 

 gear : indeed, every sledge that returns reports some- 

 thing amiss. In time we shall be perfect, but it is really 



