14 BOAT DEPARTMENT. [February, 



little to add, but that little was clue principally to the 

 kind suggestions of Captain Hamilton, from whom I 

 obtained a very beautiful model of a flat yawl, which, 

 under the hands of the famed builder, Mr. Searle, and 

 the inventor of a light shaving plank one-eighth of an 

 inch in thickness (Mr. Eorster), produced four very beau- 

 tiful ice-boats, two of sixteen and two of twenty feet, 

 the heaviest weighing but 300 Ibs. The heavy lifeboats, 

 unmanageable in ice, were left behind, the other boats 

 being more than sufficient to take care of the crews. 



In all such expeditions the numberless schemes pro- 

 posed, and correspondence to be answered, are enough to 

 occupy the attention most seriously, to the detriment of 

 public duty, and the inconvenience of being either drawn 

 into interminable discussion, or the charge of want of 

 courtesy to those unanswered. To all, who may feel so 

 offended, I can only plead, " not want of courtesy," but 

 inability by my own hand. They were answered gene- 

 rally by dictation. 



The provisions, clothing, as well as the selection of the 

 crews, remained as principal features, to which unremit- 

 ting attention was necessary. 



Every possible facility was afforded by their Lordships' 

 " special orders," as well as by all their leading officers 

 in the several departments, so that, if anything went 

 wrong, I alone must take upon myself the discredit to a 

 very great extent. Upon the first and vital point, the 

 provisions, I was immediately in communication with 

 Captain Milne, and the Comptroller of Victualling, Mr. 

 Grant ; and after recent exposures on preserved meats, 

 it became a matter of very serious consideration. 



