1854.] DANGERS OF AUTUMN. 151 



might shake my decision (from any private feeling), it was 

 my duty to pursue measures for relief and immediate 

 abandonment ; not without sound reasons, for it was 

 clear to me, after discussing the matter fully with Lieu- 

 tenant Hamilton, one of the most intelligent and active 

 officers of this Squadron (a Lieutenant of the ' Resolute') 

 and standing high also in the opinion of Captain Kellett, 

 that the ' Resolute' was too far off the northern shore 

 even to save the crew, should any sudden " run of the 

 ice" break up the pack, which, as before described, in- 

 variably tumbles to pieces before the even homogeneous 

 floe, subjecting the vessels to be ground between them, 

 or, as in the case (then unknown to Captain Kellett) of 

 the * Breadalbane,' annihilating her instantaneously. 



But what does the public letter of Captain Kellett in- 

 dicate, even at the end of the season in winter, in proof 

 of my views ? 



" Winter had now really commenced. I was anxious 

 to communicate with you, and had a party prepared for 

 the purpose, but it was impracticable; the floe was so 

 much broken up that a boat could not have been taken 

 over it, and there was so much water or light ice that it 

 would not have been safe without one." 



If such danger was manifest after the winter had really 

 commenced, infinitely greater danger would attend the 

 deserting of "a nipped vessel" over far greater difficulties 

 of loose ice without the chance of becoming solid by 

 frost ! Our Division, and myself personally, had practical 

 proof of this difficulty, when cut off at Hungry Island in 

 October of the same season, and the distance intervening 

 between us and the mainland did not exceed hoo miles. 



