1853.] HAMPERED BY SEA EASTERLY. 355 



our meeting, etc., on Cape Majendie, witli which he was 

 -supplied. 



Being now in full possession of all our intelligence, 

 and knowing the interest which must be felt at home, 

 about the great object of this Expedition, as well as of 

 our present proceedings, I directed him " to be prepared 

 to leave Beechey Island on the 1st of September, and 

 proceed to England, taking on board the crew of the 

 ' Investigator,' should they arrive by the ' Intrepid,' and 

 to leave the latter vessel as depot at Beechey Island." I 

 fully expected, at this moment, to reach Beechey Island, 

 in this ship, before him, and long before that period di- 

 rect in person all the necessary arrangements. 



From this date until the 17th of August we continued 

 to move from spot to spot, seeking easting: opinions 

 very conflicting and unpleasant in their obtrusiveness 

 were hazarded, "too many cooks" never were more ap- 

 parent. The south shore was the favourite; however, 

 thank God, I took the north, and moved in that direction 

 with all speed ; not from the littleness of having my own 

 way, but because no opening, after reducing opinions to 

 record, was truly seen to -the south-east ; that the three 

 Ice Quarter-masters, closely questioned daily, saw no 

 prospect by that direction ; that Penny's remarks, which 

 Sir Francis Beaufort had obtained from him at my re- 

 quest, distinctly opposed any navigation on that side, and 

 he had travelled there ; and finally, that at this date last 

 year we had navigated the north side, and found it clear, 

 when I, from the heights above Cape Hogarth, was well 

 satisfied that the ice blocked the space between Hamil- 

 ton and Dundas Islands, and appeared moreover to press 



2 A > 



