136 CAPTAIN KELLETT'S PROCEEDINGS. [March, 



rescue this season was a game of chance to which I would 

 not become a party, or subject myself to the hazard of 

 disobedience to what I knew (and I speak not at random 

 or without high authority] was my duty. 



But supposing I did not possess irrefutable docu- 

 ments in support of my determination, a determination 

 for which I was, I may assert, selected for this command, 

 I could only draw the conclusion from the entire corre- 

 spondence forwarded to me, public as well as private, 

 that doubt was involved. Let me calmly ask, who was to 

 decide as to what the duty of the superior was ? 



The following, being the official letter of Captain Kel- 

 lett to me, will communicate all that may be required 

 of his operations since Commander Richards left him in 

 June, 1853. 



No. I. 



" Her Majesty's Ship Resolute, February 10, 1854, 

 " Lat. 74 42' N., Long. 101 2' W. 



" SIR, My letter of the 8th of June, with the docu- 

 ments accompanying it, will have given you a concise ac- 

 count of my proceedings and intended movements up to 

 that date. I beg now to transmit papers containing in- 

 formation relative to this part of the Expedition, with a 

 report of proceedings since that time. 



"Commander Richards left ' Resolute 3 on the evening 

 of the 8th of June, at four P.M., and Dr. Domville arrived 

 on board here at one A.M. on the 10th, bringing me the 

 information relative to ' Investigator's' crew, contained 

 in the accompanying documents. It will be readily seen 

 from them what would have been the result had their 

 Lordships not determined on del aching a portion of this 



