1853.] LETTERS FROM COMMANDER PULLEN. 247 



disheartening to start for ninety or a hundred days un- 

 der such apprehensions ; not as regards myself, but for 

 those who have already departed. 



On the 28th, about 3.30 A.M., Lieutenant Cheyne re- 

 turned, informing me " that he had brought an ' English 

 mail.' ' The report surprised me. However, a very few 

 minutes decided that he had made an egregious mistake: 

 he had brought one or two letters and newspapers, but 

 the "despatches," as noted in Commander Pullen's note, 

 were left behind. Two packages were clearly indicated. 

 This note of Commander Pullen's puzzled me not a little. 

 Commander Inglefield had arrived in the ' Isabel,' bring- 

 ing " despatches and newspapers," copies of which were 

 also deposited at Cape Phillips. 



This unfortunate mistake, at such a moment, worried 

 me not a little : but considering that Commander Pul- 

 len must be aware of any material change of orders, and 

 would indicate it in his sealed note to me, I resolved 

 that no orders or despatches had arrived. However, 

 having given Mr. Cheyne fresh instructions to retrace 

 his steps, and find the despatches on the return of Dr. 

 Lyall, I commenced my preparations for the march. 



I fully intended to proceed on the evening of the 1st 

 of May, but I was too unwell. Another cause, perhaps, 

 had also some weight in causing me to delay : I was 

 very anxious to include in my last report any intelligence 

 of which Dr. Lyall might be the bearer, and as that offi- 

 cer was also eventually to join my division, I wished to 

 confer with him before starting. I fully expected his ar- 

 rival early on the 2nd ; our preparations were complete 

 on the 1st. 



