21S NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS. \AligUSt, 



with me a suite of officers, of constitutions competent 

 to withstand the possibility of being detained another 

 winter, but not to be left unless it appeared probable 

 that, in the ordinary course of nature, the 'Assistance' 

 might drift out of Lancaster Sound. I had not the most 

 remote intention of altering my design of securing the 

 return of the entire crews to England this season, unless 

 something in niy expected orders should change this 

 determination. 



At the latest moment I believed that the ice was fast 

 breaking up in Wellington Channel, and for the last 

 few days I had been hourly expecting the report from 

 the summit of Beechey Island, where a constant watch 

 was maintained, that the ' Assistance ' was in sight ; but 

 the result satisfies me that no reliable judgment can be 

 formed, by any persons at Beechey Island, of what goes 

 on beyond fifteen miles from it, and therefore I reject 

 the admissibility of any opinions formed by those who 

 did not accompany me. 



In justice to the officers who volunteered I will name 

 them: Commander M'Clintock; Mr. Robert C. Scott, 

 Assistant-Surgeon ; Mr. Court, Acting-Master (Investi- 

 gator) ; and Mr. Jenkins, Mate (North Star). These 

 gentlemen volunteered for any service which I might 

 direct. Dr. Domville also volunteered, but I considered 

 his duties required that he should accompany the crew 

 of the ' Resolute.' 



Every precaution having been adopted to meet the 

 chances of the ' North Star' being blown out, and Dr. 

 Lyall having accompanied me for medical surveys, our 

 party embarked in my gig at eleven A.M. on the 23rd of 



