108 DEPARTURE OF RICHARDS. [February, 



About nine on the morning of the 22nd of February, 

 yielding to the anxiety of Commander Richards to pro- 

 ceed to Beechey Island, in order to make due prepara- 

 tion from the materials available there for his expedition, 

 and the temperature having risen to 35, I determined 

 to launch the 'Sir Edward' and 'Success' sledges, the 

 former having seven and the latter eleven men, with Mr. 

 Herbert, the Senior Mate, as his second. They were 

 attended by all our spare population, and two sledge 

 crews were specially told off to relieve them of half a day's 

 labour at the drag-ropes, as well as to report upon the 

 nature of the ice over which they travelled. This report 

 was satisfactory ; they parted from them four miles in 

 advance, with a clear floe in view and the men in high 

 spirits. 



It is now incumbent on me to state what my plans 

 were, and why I had selected Commander Richards to 

 command this service, instead of, as I had before direct- 

 ed, Commander Pullen ; and I feel fully satisfied that 

 my readers will feel with me that until facts, or want of 

 facts, bore more strongly on the possible fate of Cap- 

 tain Kellett's Division, it was not my province to issue 

 orders which could indicate any contemplation of dis- 

 aster. It must also be apparent to those who will refer 

 to my parting with Commander Pullen, that I had only 

 given him such instructions as would enable him to act if 

 I did not form other views before the spring. From con- 

 stant conversation during the winter, I saw the necessity 

 of sending the next in command and next in seniority to 

 Captain Kellett ; I saw also the propriety of sending an 

 officer to communicate, if possible, to him all my views 



