1854.] ARRIVAL OF COMMANDER M'CLINTOCK. 165 



that they are the prey of numerous birds and animals 

 we well know. 



On the 17th I forwarded a shooting party, with a 

 week's provision, to the north-east ; it was placed under 

 the direction of Dr. Lyall, and partly composed of some 

 of our men who have been particularly subject to affec- 

 tion of the gums, induced principally by their peculiar 

 duties and confinement on board. They started about 

 ten A.M., with a temperature of 7, in high spirits, and 

 passed round Cape Eden, taking the direction of the 

 great Eastern Valley, falling in suddenly from thence. 

 Today also, for the first time for some weeks, I made an 

 attempt to bask in the sun's rays on the upper deck, en- 

 joying a temperature of 14. 



April 20. My visits on deck perhaps rendered me 

 more expectant, but I could not shake off the impression 

 of something advancing. Today I had become wearied, 

 and had not yet reached the deck, when I was apprised 

 of some extraordinary event by the noise on deck, and, 

 before I had time to make inquiry, the arrival of Com- 

 mander M'Clintock, with the dog-sledge, was announced. 

 He was the bearer of letters from Captain Kellett, the 

 contents of which certainly surprised me, as I conceived 

 that my letters, independent of the explanations which 

 Commander Richards, as well as Lieutenant Hamilton, 

 could give, left no doubt as to my intentions ; indeed 

 Commander Richards had, for this special purpose, been 

 sent instead of Commander Pullen. The question at issue 

 appearing to be, that, as no imperative orders had been 

 sent, he would await them, I penned the following : 



