IS 54.] FURTHER SEARCH UNNECESSARY. 229 



it will be manifest to their Lordships that I could not 

 entertain any idea of leaving behind any vessel, officer, or 

 crew here, to prosecute a duty, I trust, complete, but on 

 which our united force and well-trained officers had pro- 

 secuted their researches to the extreme to which human 

 endurance could be carried ; nor could I possibly frame 

 orders, or, in my then condition, select any officer to carry 

 them into effect, without some definite Instruction as to 

 the service for u:liicli he was to be employed, inasmuch 

 as the only objects to which my attention was directed 

 were, " search for Sir John Franklin, and relief to Cap- 

 tain Colliuson, if not heard of" 



" But I trust the latter has already reached a place of 

 safety, and that relief from England, taking into consi- 

 deration the caches laid out, will, under a very mature 

 consideration of the whole circumstances, be better ar- 

 ranged by a steamer direct from England, under a 

 proper officer, fully in time to meet any exigency, and 

 unshackled by towing transports." 



In the discussion of these matters in England it reads 

 very simple, that particular provision is to be made, that 

 stores have been forwarded, and that officers and men 

 are to be left out to carry forward any service which 

 may appear to me to be called for ; indeed confidential 

 letters, which were but mere traps on which I was to 

 wreck myself, boldly urged the prosecution of rash un- 

 considered adventures adverse to my Instructions. 



All these matters might have perplexed, but certainly 

 did not change, uiy mind ; moreover, I was unable to 

 trace amongst any of my qualified associates any incli- 

 nation for Quixotism. Bv the first intention of mv In- 



x- ./ ., 



