72 DEFICIENCY OF RECORDS. [November, 



' Enterprise,' Leopold Island 10.44 



' Kesolute,' Griffith Island - 9- 57 



'Assistance,' Northumberland Sound, 1852-3 10-03 



It certainly appears very strange that the results should 

 so nearly agree, but it reminds me strongly of the ge- 

 neral guesses which have been made since we reached 

 these regions, not only in our times of starting, but in 

 our general estimates of the operations to be executed, 

 and the written orders issued in consequence. 



It is true that the records of Parry's voyages, and 

 some chance private manuscript extracts from those of 

 Sir James Ross and Austin, happen to be in my posses- 

 sion, from which various questions have suggested them- 

 selves, and so far experience may be said to have lent its 

 aid ; but it may naturally occur to my readers, Why can- 

 not all officers commanding such voyages adopt the law 

 of the profession? Why is Parry's the sole official au- 

 thority ? We have no published information from Sir 

 James Ross, Austin, or Saunders, to aid us either in tem- 

 peratures, tracks, homeward or outward ! no searnanlike 

 observations to guide us in the selection of a homeward 

 route. The profession may exclaim, You must exercise 

 your own ability. That I am prepared for, in so far as ex- 

 perience has been gained; but when called on to write 

 instructions, and to direct a vessel to pursue a certain 

 course, for her safe as well as rapid voyage to England, I 

 should be prepared with some reason to give for the se- 

 lection of a route which may differ from the only record 

 supplied by Parry in his voyages of 1819 and 1824. 



Here 1 am sent to discover quite as much as Parry 

 was on his first voyage, and, in many instances, find 



