396 THREE MORE EXPEDITIONS. 



Bide of Baffin's Bay, from Carey's Islands to Cape Alex- 

 ander, often remaining- on deck the four-and-twenly 

 liours round for night there was none. He entered 

 Jones's Sound, but was stopped by the ice, and came to 

 the conclusion that there is no available channel from 

 the sound into the polar basin, though there is possibly 

 some narrow frozen strait. Inglefield then made for 

 Beechey Island, where he arrived on the 7th September, 

 and where he met the North Star, the depot ship of the 

 Admiralty expedition. Thence, after a short delay, he 

 shaped his course homeward. In spite of the advancing* 

 season, he examined a considerable part of the western 

 coast of Baffin's Bay ; and, though sorely beset on more 

 than one occasion, managed to get through, and reached 

 Stromness on the 4th of November exactly four 

 months from the date of his departure from Woolwich. 



It is hardly necessary to add that Inglefield's investi- 

 gations established the utter falsity of the story told 

 by Sir John Ross's interpreter. 



In the beginning of the year 1853 three expeditions 

 were fitted out, partly to continue the search for Frank- 

 lin, and partly to reinforce the vessels already in the 

 field of action. The Rattlesnake, under Commander 

 Trollope, and the Isabel screw-steamer again refitted 

 by Lady Franklin, and placed under the command of 

 Mr. Kennedy- -sailed for Behring's Strait, in order to 

 carry supplies to Captains Collinson and M'Clure. Mr. 

 Rae was again despatched to the Isthmus of Boothia, to 

 make a further examination of the coast in that quarter ; 

 and Commander Inglefield was sent to Barrow's Straits, 

 with the Phoenix and the Lady Franklin, to reinforce 

 the squadron under Sir E. Belcher. Mr. Grinnell, of 

 New York, aided by Mr. Peabody, of London, also fitted 

 out an expedition, under the command of Dr. E. K. 

 Kane, and sent it to explore the passages leading out 



