1854.] TABLET TO M. BELLOT. 231 



which seemed to have made more impression on the 

 minds of those around than they did on me. 



This was the report of Captain Inglefield and his Ice- 

 master on the state of the ice in Baffin's Bay and mouth 

 of Lancaster Sound, or, in plain terms, the doubt of the 

 vessels passing out of Lancaster Sound and clearing 

 the ice of Baffin's Bay without encountering very heavy 

 difficulties ; indeed, it appeared to be mere matter of 

 chance, from the various dangers into which the ' Phoe- 

 nix' and 'Talbot' had been driven (by Captain Ingle- 

 field's public letter), that they had been rescued from 

 disasters from which we could not have relieved them, 

 and that their mission to us would, in such case, have 

 proved entirely abortive. 



It required no argument with me to determine what 

 my duty was ; unfortunately time was not available to 

 carry out what the service prescribed. I had but one 

 steamer, and that vessel must accompany and aid the 

 sailing vessels until clear of the ice of Baffin's Bay, other- 

 wise I should have sent an officer and crew into the 

 ' Talbot' to take home direct the crew of the ' Investi- 

 gator ;' as in the event of accident to them, I had heard 

 enough from those around me to feel that such a topic 

 would not fail to be worked with powerful effect to my 

 annoyance. 



The landing of boats and further additions to the 

 depot entailing some delay, the vessels were made fast 

 to the floe ; I therefore took advantage of this detention 

 to affix to our cenotaph a marble tablet to the mernoty 

 of Monsieur Bellot, brought out by the ' Phoenix.' This 

 tablet had been executed for Mr. Barrow, of the Admi- 



