36 TERMS OF ABANDONMENT. [October, 



natives left were, " If twenty men volunteer to remain 

 with Commander M'Clure, in the ' Investigator,' then all 

 her remaining crew, together with that of the ' Resolute' 

 (exceeding thirty-eight men), were to be sent home in 

 the ' Intrepid ;' ' but the lateness of the season, the de- 

 lay of carrying out such plans, must of necessity in some 

 measure delay the ' Intrepid,' ordered to call at Beechey 

 Island, and where I had hoped our invalids would have 

 been added, for two lives here were very precarious. On 

 the other hand, if twenty men did not volunteer, then 

 the entire crew of the ' Investigator' would abandon the 

 vessel, and return in the 'Resolute' direct to Beechey 

 Island. 



Such were the contents of the communications for- 

 warded to me, and, whatever may have been the result, 

 we were absolutely in the dark, and my decision for 

 future action must be determined without reference to 

 Captain Kellett. It was apparent, from the information 

 brought by Commander Pullen, that no chance of fur- 

 ther information, although possible, was at all probable 

 this autumn : the ice, both easterly as well as westerly, 

 had been completely stationary since the end of August. 



The probabilities of disaster, under this scanty infor- 

 mation, were threefold. We had before us the disastrous 

 gale of the 18th of August, 18th of September, and also 

 that recently experienced on the llth of October; and 

 the further additional cause for disquietude, should Cap- 

 tain Kellett have sent the 'Intrepid' forward alone, with 

 scanty supply for her increased crew. Other conside- 

 rations also intruded, and matters, which find no place 

 in the public despatches, left me not quite at ease : this 



