209 



CHAPTER VII. 



Thaw. Pools of Water. Cracks. Final Preparations. Extracts 

 from Despatch. Volunteers to proceed to the ' Assistance.' Effect 

 of Tides. State of the Ice. Thoughts on Flitting. Evils of De- 

 tention. Withdraw the Crews. Arrival of the ' Phoenix' and ' Tal- 

 bot.' Final Instructions. Tablet to M. Bellot. Beechey Island. 

 Navy Board Inlet. Lieveley. Arrive at Cork. 



* 



THE ' Assistance' and ' Pioneer' were now in all respects 

 ready for sea at any moment the ice may afford oppor- 

 tunity. The thaw has worked so rapidly during the 

 last ten days, that the Crystal Palace has not only va- 

 nished, but all the ground about it is entirely denuded of 

 snow. My duties here being complete, preparations were 

 made for my journey to Beechey Island, and full instruc- 

 tions, in the spirit of the preceding memorandum, drawn 

 up for the guidance of Commander Richards, under every 

 imaginable difficulty. 



On the 12th of July, shortly after eight A.M., with a 

 fresh breeze from east-south-east, and drizzling rain, our 

 party, consisting of four sledges and two boats, accom- 

 panied by Mr. Loney, Messrs. Nares, Jenkins, Grove, 

 and Pirn, left the ship for Beechey Island. The chro- 

 nometers, under the special charge of Mr. Loney, were 



VOL. n. p 



