1854.] ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS. 117 



28. Having clone thus much, and relying fully on your well-tried 

 zeal and ability, I feel assured that any deviation will arise solely from 

 circumstances over which you have no control. 



29. And now, committing you to that merciful Disposer of events 

 who has, on many occasions, interposed his powerful aid in our rescue, 

 I fervently pray for the entire reunion of our at present disjointed 

 Squadron in health, vigour, and prosperity. 



Given under my hand this \th day of October, 

 1853, on board Her Majesty's Ship Assist- 

 ance, off Cape Osborn. 



EDWARD BELCHER. 

 To CAPTAIN HENRY KELLETT, C.B., 

 H.M.S. Assistance. 



As the appointment of Commander Richards to this 

 service, and maturer thought, had very much confirmed 

 me as to what the country expected from me, I added 

 the following :- 



[Confidential.^ 



H.M.S. Assistance, off Cape Osborn, 

 February 1st, 1854. 



SIR, In my former Instructions of October, I had not so well con- 

 sidered matters as at the present moment, and it occurs to me that 1 

 have not been so precise or urgent as the nature of their Lordships' 

 intentions require. 



We are not now left to our own feelings, our zeal, or our judgment, 

 and we know not what may be the orders which will arrive in July or 

 August ; but I can foresee* them, and it becomes my duty to meet 

 them in the same spirit. Taking into consideration therefore that 

 similar orders will be given respecting the next steamer, she cannot be 

 retained beyond the 1st of September. Whatever powers may be left 

 to me to await your extrication, I must send home every soul who is 

 useless here, or whose death may result from that oozing out of fancied 

 zeal which brought them here. 



You must therefore read the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th para- 

 graphs as definitive orders for abandonment to all who are not to stay 



* I was right. 



