440 A DISCOVERY. 



stone," near Winter Harbor, where he had been bidden 

 to leave a record. He went on in advance of his party, 

 meaning to cut the date, 1852, on the stone. On top 

 of it was a small cairn, built by M'Clintock the year 

 before. Mecham examined this, and, to his surprise, a 

 copper cylinder rolled out. " On opening it," he says, 

 " I drew out a roll folded in a bladder, which, being 

 frozen, broke and crumbled. From its dilapidated ap- 

 pearance, I thought, at the moment, it must be some 

 record of Sir Edward Parry ; and, fearing I might damage 

 it, laid it down with the intention of lighting the fire to 

 thaw it. My curiosity, however, overcame my pru- 

 dence, and, on opening it carefully with my knife, I came 

 to a roll of cartridge-paper with the impression fresh 

 upon the seals. My astonishment may be conceived on 

 finding it contained an account of the proceedings of 

 her majesty's ship Investigator since parting company 

 with the Herald (Capt. Kellett's old ship), in August, 

 1850, in Behring's Strait ; also a chart which disclosed 

 to view not only the long-sought north-west passage, but 

 the completion of the survey of Banks's and Wollaston 

 Lands. I opened and endorsed Commander M'Clintock's 

 dispatch, and found it contained the following additions : 



' Opened and copied by his old friend and messmate, upon this date, 

 April 28, 1852. ROBERT M'CLURE. 



' Party all well ; and return to Investigator to-day.' ' 



A great discovery, indeed, to flash across one in a 

 minute ! The Investigator had not been heard from for 

 more than two j^ears. Here was news of her not yet 

 Bix months old ! The north-west passage had been 

 dreamed of for three centuries and more. Here was 

 news of its discovery, news that had been known to 

 M'Clure for two years 1 M'Clure and M'Clintock were 



