COMPLETE THE DEPOT. [August, 



they authorize you to take such steps, and give such 

 orders, and to make such exchanges of officers and men, 

 as you may deem necessary for carrying their wishes 

 into effect." 



Thus it will be manifest to my readers that the most 

 full and complete powers here assigned to me had been 

 contemplated and carried out before their arrival, simply 

 because inv communications, from, the moment of no- 







ruination to this command, all indicated a precise duty, 

 first, to command and prosecute whilst sensible hope 

 remained ; next, not to drive on helter-skelter to pur- 

 sue discovery ; next, to determine when, or where, fur- 

 ther search was to cease ; and, finally, not to hesitate in 

 abandoning the vessels, when I considered that step was 

 prudent. 



But, upon the matter of abandonment, my orders are 

 explicit, merely the withdrawal of crews (' Investigator' 

 excepted). leaving the vessels in a condition to be re-oc- 

 cupied, should any part of my Instructions warrant such 

 an injudicious step. For myself, foreseeing difficulty as 

 to comma/id, if I abandoned, I brought my gig with my 

 pendant, dating all orders from her, and considering my- 

 self simply " on duty until the further pleasure of my 

 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should be made 

 known." 



By the arrival of these vessels, I was enabled to laud 

 a few more provisions, clothing, and four boats, which, 

 with the ' Mary' yacht, left by Sir John Ross, would aid 

 any party arriving to reach Pond's Bay. 



In my despatch to their Lordships I observe : " I 

 trust, from the contents of my previous despatches, that 



