1854.] FINAL INSTRUCTIONS. 227 



It will now be necessary for me to allude specifically 

 to the Instructions sent to me by the Lords Commis- 

 sioners of the Admiralty, No. III., Vol. I., page 9. 



In the second paragraph their Lordships direct my 

 special attention to the withdrawal at once of the whole 

 force now employed in the search of Sir J. Franklin ; 

 they refrain from issuing any positive Instructions of 

 how I am to act, or what steps to take, as they must de- 

 pend on the knowledge I possessed. 



The third paragraph : (1.) " The crews of the ' Enter- 

 prise' and ' Investigator/ if at Banks' Land, to be with- 

 drawn." I read those orders as explicit, had I not taken 

 that step (at this late period of the season impossible), 

 to abandon the ' Resolute.' " If any trace has been dis- 

 covered, or any further search should be deemed feas- 

 ible, then I may consult the Seniors of Her Majesty's 

 Ships on the question of further search.''' No such case 

 arose. Their Lordships anticipated the impossibility of 

 abandoning the 'Resolute' this season; but that I had 

 remedied by my decision, and it was only under the im- 

 possibility that she was to remain. 



The paragraph relating to Captain Collinson I had 

 clearly met by all my arrangements, and I deemed it, 

 under the information I possessed, injudicious to leave a 

 vessel at Beechey Island. 



Their Lordships finally acquaint me, that their great 

 object is to recall., with the least possible delay, the whole 

 of the ships or crews so employed, if it can be done ; if 

 not possible to do so, they leave it to my judgment to do 

 that which appears to me necessary, adding, " All their 

 Lordships can do is to confide in your judgment ; and 



