146 ALLOTMENT or CREWS. [March, 



the month of April, all arriving there by the 1st of May. 

 I will accompany myself the First Division, to commu- 

 nicate and receive instructions from you, or, should you 

 not be there, to give Commander Pullen instructions 

 for his guidance ; after which I shall return to my ship, 

 to await the break up of the ice. I will not allow my- 

 self to consider the possibility of there being no ship at 

 Beechey, or no resources. Even under these circum- 

 stances, I must endeavour to get the same number 

 away. 



" I should like much to send a chosen few home by 

 way of America, or right on to ' Plover.' It is practi- 

 cable now, I think, with the depots, etc., laid out.* 



" The employment of my crew until the commence- 

 ment of the thaw, 7th of June, is all I have now to enter 

 on in the way of proceedings. I hope to be able to visit 

 Dealy Island, ' Investigator,' and Princess Royal Islands, 

 besides getting a little fresh meat from Cape Cockburn 

 in the shape of venison. 



"The 'Investigator's' officers and crew are sixty in 

 number, one Commander, one Lieutenant, one Master, 

 two Surgeons, one Purser, three warrant-officers, and 

 fifty-one seamen and marines. 



" I propose to send from ' Resolute,' for your disposal, 

 Lieutenant Pirn and my three Mates, with twenty-one 

 men. I very reluctantly part with my Mates ; they are 

 noble young men. I shall deem it a favour if you, as 

 Commander of the Expedition, will acquaint them with 

 my high appreciation of their conduct whilst with me. 



* If he had made such an attempt, how utterly injudicious would it 

 have proved ! 



