1854.] RETURN OF SHOOTING PARTY. 171 



that I was worthy of the trust reposed in me: certainly 

 those who selected me never contemplated my shifting 

 any responsibility on those whose opinions I might ask, 

 but which expressly, by my Instructions, I was only to 

 follow " If such likewise should be your opinion" 

 Again, " We place every confidence in your zeal and 

 intelligence, that you will act with sound judgment in 

 whatever situation you may be placed." 



Now the degree in which my character for judgment 

 and discretion was to be involved was within mv own 



it 



keeping, and no one but myself positively knew the full 

 intent of every word of my Instructions. If I failed, 

 after the extracts I have given of my confidential expla- 

 nation, to induce others to coincide in the view I took 

 of the public interests entrusted to my charge, it then 

 became a prudent duty on my part to continue the ser- 

 vice without risking further difference of opinion, or of 

 estranging those who still, if I could credit written evi- 

 dence, professed the most friendly and, as I believed, 

 professional anxiety to further all my views. 



Shortly after the departure of Commander M'Clintock 

 our sporting party returned, having killed two hares ; 

 they had not noticed the most remote trace of musk- 

 oxen or reindeer possibly from not having penetrated 

 sufficiently into the country, or from the period of the 

 season being too early for their emergence from their 

 winter concealment. Several of the party seemed to 

 have experienced attacks of snow-blindness, and to be 

 generally rather fatigued by the excursion ; but, on the 

 whole, I can detect that it has been beneficial, suffusing 

 the olive complexions of some who have not seen much 



