1854.] COMMANDER M f CLlNTOCK DEPARTS. 169 



them, nor shall their replies or assurances deceive the 

 country that the trust reposed in me, viz. ' the final 

 issue of all Expeditions to this region, for the end in- 

 tended, should rest on my decision.' 



" The valuable time for action, i. e. for the withdrawal 

 of valuables, has elapsed. My sledges must return here 

 before the 15th of May; for we have infinitely more to 

 do than you have, and the water will impede me before 

 it can vou. 



i/ 



" If it should be the pleasure of the Admiralty that 

 the ship should be saved, that intention will be com- 

 pletely met at Beechey Island, and at that date the sea 

 will be open, and reduced crews and new men can be 

 sent before the ice breaks out on the 22nd of August 

 (and not before) in Barrow's Strait. Our vessels must, 

 under any circumstances, be left to chance, to the 

 workings of Nature, we cannot help them ; and the 

 value of one man's life, in my view, is far above what 

 the hulks will sell for as firewood. Independent of this, 

 double wages, left in danger, the expenses of other ships 

 sent out to search for you, would entail something more, 

 I imagine, than the value of stores abandoned !" 



Such then being my feelings, I took leave of Com- 

 mander M'Clintock, who quitted about nine P.M. on the 

 21st. But it must not be imagined that the mere ques- 

 tion of the safety of the 'Resolute' and tender occupied 

 my thoughts. Every man fancies his goods and chattels 

 of the most importance ; but let us calmly look to my 

 duties. If all could not be saved, then those measures 

 should be adopted which promised success. No chance, 

 to my conviction, offered of carrying out the double duty 



