134 ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT HAMILTON. [March, 



coming in from taking the temperature of the Crystal 

 Palace, reported " A dog-sledge nearly alongside, Sir !" 

 My reply, instigated by what was then passing in my 

 mind, was very short, and without emotion, " I know it" 

 which somewhat astonished him; but fortunately I ex- 

 plained my meaning, which perhaps led him to imagine 

 I was dreaming. 



At 12.30 Lieutenant Hamilton, attended only by one 

 man and the dog-sledge of the ' Resolute,' reached the 

 ' Assistance,' being the bearer of letters from Captain 

 Kellett, which informed me that the 'Resolute' was 

 frozen in the pack twenty-eight miles south-west by 

 south from Cape Cockburn, having been blown out of 

 " Winter Quarters" off Dealy Island on the 18th of Au- 

 gust last, during the gale which had thus nearly proved 

 fatal to the whole Squadron. 



All our sledges had reached the ' North Star' safely, 

 and Commander Richards had started on his expedition 

 before the arrival of the two last sledges under Mr. Grove. 

 He did not meet with Lieutenant Hamilton, but had 

 fallen in with another sledge from the ' Resolute,' about 

 ten miles to the eastward of Cape Hotliam ; and having 

 obtained from her officer full particulars as to where the 

 ' Resolute' would be found, lightened his sledge of some 

 of her load, and pushed forward. Delighted I was to see 

 Lieutenant Hamilton, and to learn from him that all were 

 in good health and spirits. 



It is necessary that I should now refer to the state of 

 our affairs generally ; and it will be perceived that in so 

 far as the movement of the ' Resolute' is concerned, it 

 was compulsory, and that the probabilities were, as I ap- 



