1854.] TO LEAVE ONE VESSEL. 115 



report on the localities where caches may be formed, so that no delay 

 may occur on the eastern route to be taken by returning parties. 



11. Failing, however, in this most important feature of my Instruc- 

 tions, I must direct your attention to the next in interest, the traces 

 of Captain Collinson. 



12. If you should discover that he had followed up the track of the 

 Investigator,' and it appeared likely to you that he might seek Mel- 

 ville Island; 



13. I woxild suggest to you the necessity of leaving the ' Resolute' 

 there, or at a more advanced position, for his use, and coming on with 

 the 'Intrepid' to the Half-way Depot near Cape Capel. 



14. Of course Commander M'Clure will have left all the necessary 

 information, not only at the c Investigator,' but at every available point 

 or projection, which may enable Captain Collinson, without risk, to reach 

 the depot left by you at Melville Island.* 



15. If, on the other hand, you should not discover any trace of 

 Captain Collinson, you will adopt the necessary measures for com- 

 pleting the chain of caches up to the Half-way Depot, at, or near to, 

 Cape Capel. And taking into consideration their Lordships' Instruc- 

 tions to me, you are at Liberty to determine, on reaching that locality, 

 whether you will leave the ' Resolute' or ' Intrepid' as a depot. One 

 must be left. 



16. You will be guided in the matter, "with or without a crew," 

 with reference to volunteers, provisions, and the physical condition of 

 those willing to remain. But you are clearly to understand my mean- 

 ing : that only in the event of your being in possession of sufficiently 

 reliable anthority that Captain Collinson is yet absent and advancing 

 are you to leave a crew. 



17. It is very clear to my mind that if Captain Collinson has not 

 been heard of, in time to inform me before next August, from England, 

 that no good can accrue by leaving a crew behind, when we well 

 know that they can, if necessary, be forwarded from Beechey Island 

 fully in time to answer any useful purpose. 



18. These matters disposed of, I must now revert to the equally 

 important consideration of yourself, officers and crews, now detained 

 by this untoward season. I have, it is true, no possible information 

 to guide me as to whether yon quitted Melville Island accompanied by 



* He did not prosecute the back search, as I imagined he would 

 have done. 



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