166 ORDERS TO WITHDRAW CREW. \April, 



H.M.S. Assistance, Wellington Channel, 



April 21, 1854. 

 SIR, 



I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of 12th 

 April, which, with others, will be formally noticed on my arrival at 

 Beechey Island. 



Having maturely considered the contents, I see no reason for alter- 

 ing my original decision in October last, that the ' Resolute ' or tender 

 should be abandoned, or both. 



The only consideration now arises from the absence of travelling- 

 parties. You are therefore hereby directed to withdraw from the ' Re- 

 solute,' the valuable stores, chronometers and instruments, officers and 

 crew, and repair for further instructions to Beechey Island, leaving 

 Commander M'Clintock to await the return of the absent sledge crews, 

 when he will also abandon that vessel* and repair to Beechey Island. 



It is almost needless for me to add that both vessels are to be well 

 battened down and nothing disturbed, so that they may be re-occupied, 

 should I deem it necessary, in July or August next ; or that their ex- 

 trication, should Nature send them to us, oif Beechey Island, will be a 

 simple matter of re-occupation in a fit condition for immediate service. 



The sledge crews devoted to this service by my last " General 

 Order" cannot now be spared from the duties required here, and must 

 reach this ship by the loth of May, but those of 'North Star' and 

 ' Investigator' will be placed at your disposal. 



Given under my hand on board H.M.S. Assistance, in Wellington 

 Channel, this 21st day of April, 1854, 



EDWARD BELCHER, Captain, 



Commanding the Arctic Squadron. 

 CAPTAIN H. KELLETT, C.B., 



H.M.S. Resolute, Barrow's Strait. 



But these definitive, imperative orders, were not, as 

 may be imagined, the result of arbitrary command ; and 

 it is necessary to a just view of the case, to give the fol- 

 lowing letter, delivered by Commander M'Clintock ; it 

 bears date the 12th of April, 1854 :- 







' Intrepid* tender, 



