44 DETAIL OF PROCEEDINGS. [October, 



With a sealed public letter, to be opened if any superior should meet 

 you, read, and exhibited to him, but to be returned to me unopened if 

 no such cause for its use presents. E. B. 



The extract from the official letter reporting proceed- 

 ngs explained, as extracted in page 48, the general 

 movements of Commander Richards in the search, and 

 the cause for his deviation from his original Instructions. 

 Having now before me that part of his detail of the sledge 

 operations necessary to explain his course, which must 

 however be followed on the chart to be understood, I 

 shall endeavour to condense the parts of most interest, 

 using, where expedient, his own words, with the customary 

 mark of extract. 



" On the 10th of April, with the thermometer at 4, 

 breeze favourable, the Division sailed from Northumber- 

 land Sound. 



"On the 16th reached a group of islands fifteen miles 

 west-north-west of Cape Lady Franklin, to which the 

 temporary name of Deception Group was given. Here 

 the first depot was secured, and the first auxiliary re- 

 turned to the ship (Mr. Grove, of 'Dauntless'). 



" On the 21st reached the western termination of this 

 group, and on the 24th reached Cape Fortune : it lies 

 in latitude 76 26' N., and longitude 103 33' W. The 

 second depot was placed on this Cape." 



On the 25th the ' Lady Franklin,' Dr. Lyall, returned 

 to the ship. These two were auxiliary sledges, and be- 

 long to my Division. The others were commissariat, and 

 on which the victualling of Commander Richards would 

 depend until he proceeded alone. 



On Friday, the 29th of April, he reached the north- 



