42 ORDERS TO COMMANDER RICHARDS [October, 



2. You are hereby directed to take under your command the under- 

 mentioned sledge crews, and, accompanied by Lieutenant Osborn, pro- 

 ceed, via the depot already established at Cape Lady Franklin, to vigo- 

 rously search the points in succession towards the position agreed upon 

 with Captain Kellett as the [Rendezvous of 1853, viz. lat. 77 0' N., 

 long. 105 W., or the nearest coast thereto, where I fully anticipate you 

 will precede that party. 



3. This duty effected, you will deliver to any officer whom you 

 may chance to meet there, or deposit in cairn, in conformity with my 

 General Order, failing to meet any one, the despatches addressed to 

 the Secretary of the Admiralty, as well as those for Captain Kellett. 



4. Proceeding with the run of the land then in sight, I must trust 

 to your own judgment in prosecuting the great work of our Expedition, 

 viz. to search not only for our missing countrymen, but also for any 

 traces of cairns, drift-wood, or other indication of the missing Expe- 

 dition having entered this sea by the Wellington Channel ; also, any 

 traces of the Expedition under Captains Collinson and M'Clure. 



5. You will bear in mind that unless the state of the ice should ren- 

 der it probable that the sea had at any period Avithin the last ten years 

 been free from ice, and been in motion at the entrance of any bays, in- 

 lets, or channels, that no valuable time should be expended in their ex- 

 amination for the vessels. Your own judgment will point out any other 

 chances of the crews having sought refuge there. 



6. If any opportunity occurs, by sight of divergent objects, which 

 may render it expedient to separate, you will take the northernmost 

 and westernmost, and Lieutenant Osborn that to the south-west, taking- 

 especial care that your Rendezvous is so securely fixed and understood 

 by both parties, that no possible mistake, misconception, or disappoint- 

 ment to either party shall accrue. 



7 . The general Instructions to the sledges which will escort and re- 

 main by you for stated journeys are already clearly set forth ; you will 

 therefore, as you detach them, countersign each order furnished to 

 them, adding any further directions which your experience on the jour- 

 ney may render expedient. 



8. You have been fully provisioned for this important service; no 

 thought or caprice has been forgotten : indeed, I feel that the minor 

 matters of detail have rested within your own province. 



9. Up to the period of detaching your last commissariat sledge you 

 will insert your " state and condition" on the last detached orders of 

 the officer commanding that sledge, and you will of course exchange 

 any men that seem unable to hold out. 



