338 STORES COVERED WITH SNOW. [June, 



the southern coast of Melville Island, and up the Byam 

 Martin Channel. Directing Lieutenant Hamilton to the 

 rendezvous for your despatches, and desiring him to en- 

 deavour to overtake Lieutenant Osborn, and deliver to 

 him Commander M'Clure's journal, we parted without 

 loss of time." 



But let us now revert to the 'Assistance.' Many 

 changes had occurred ; but one idea prevailed, that she 

 had exchanged her snow-white bath for the semblance of 

 a filthy farm -yard: I could barely credit my senses. 



The decided action of the tides now furnished un- 

 doubted proof of the release from outward floe pressure 

 by the increased gaping of the cracks, as well as gradual 

 motion of the ice off shore. The thaw also materially 

 assisted this latter action, and rendered me anxious to 

 recover our stores, still buried beneath the snow, afford- 

 ing at the same time an important warning, not to be lost 

 sight of at a future season. Had any sudden break-up 

 of the ice occurred and carried the ship out, most assu- 

 redly a very considerable portion of the standing fittings 

 of the ship would have been left behind, buried beneath 

 the snow, and, as it so happened, without any sooth- 

 sayer to divine in what spot. Every effort was therefore 

 directed to the embarkation of the Observatory, boats, 

 spars, etc. with the utmost despatch ; and so tedious did 

 this duty prove, that up to the latest moment it was 

 barely completed. 



The next object was the release of the vessels from 

 the ice, still adhering to the bends and bottom, to about 

 seven or eight feet beneath the probable line of floata- 

 tion. In order to effect this without injury to the ship, 



