120 VIEWS RELATIVE TO ESQUIMAUX. [February. 



that M'Clure had tried back and left information for 

 Captain Collinson. 



How odd if the steamer had to carry home the Captains of five 

 ships, besides tenders : yet such may be the case ! As to poor Sir 

 John and Crozier, that -affair must be for ever decided. I firmly be- 

 lieve he was seen in Prince Eegent Inlet by the natives, reached Union 

 Bay, there got damaged, and tried to get home. I have never ceased 

 to think about those seams of oakum. 



I have a strong presentiment that those natives at Dundas Harbour 

 know something of Franklin, and I shall try hard to get a party down 

 there with the first open water, and hope Mr. Miertsching may arrive 

 in time to join them, They have evidently robbed the depot at Navy 

 Board Inlet, as Inglefield found the doctors' scales, jars, part of a lime- 

 juice case, etc., among them. They had also robbed the cairns of 

 notices, and who knows, as Ommanney's was purchased last year, that 

 when they return home, finding paper a valuable article of traffic, they 

 may produce some record of Franklin ? 



Such were the communications forwarded by Com- 

 mander Richards, and, as I deemed, to a second in com- 

 mand, decisive. 



