1854.] ACCIDENT TO ' PHCENIX.' 237 



them in tow, pursued our course southerly, intending, if 

 possible, to make further search about the Clyde and 

 Cape Walsingham ; but many powerful reasons prevented. 

 In the first instance, the ice rendered it dangerous whilst 

 hampered by our consorts ; their safety was of more im- 

 portance than any chances where no reasonable hope of 

 success could be advanced. Next, unless I altered the 

 arrangements, removed the officers, and took the sepa- 

 rate command of the 'Phoenix,' sending the remainder 

 home, I could not satisfactorily pursue the course I con- 

 templated. Eventually, the 'Phoenix' met with an ac- 

 cident, which destroyed all further confidence in her 

 powers, by uncoupling her screw-shaft, bending it, and 

 rendering her further services for a time doubtful. In 

 addition to this, her supply of coal had not yet been re- 

 moved from the ' Talbot,' and could only be effected in 

 some safe harbour. A dog driver from Upernavik was 

 yet on board, and forty-five tons of coal were also de- 

 posited at Lievely; but for these latter points, nothing 

 would have induced me to visit Lievely, but that port I 

 now decided to seek. 



We were fortunate enough to thread the middle ice 

 without difficulty, even with our consorts in tow; which 

 fact clearly proves, to my mind, that the visit to Beechey 

 Island can be made safely, and more expeditiously, by 

 adopting our homeward track, in the latter part of 

 August, than by the doubtful, dangerous, and trouble- 

 some mode of proceeding by Melville Bay. No vessel, 

 to my knowledge, has yet failed to reach England from 

 Lancaster Sound in September, but we know the very 

 doubtful success attending the course by Melville Bay. 



