﻿1847. SIR JAMES C. ROSS'S PLAN OF SEARCH. 19 



than 500 tons, be purchased for this service, and fortified 

 and equipped, in every respect as were the ' Erebus ' and 

 * Terror,' for the Antarctic Seas. 



" Each ship should, in addition, be supplied witli a 

 small vessel or launch of about 20 tons, which she could 

 hoist in, to be fitted with a steam-engine and boiler of 

 ten- horse power, for a purpose to be hereafter noticed. 



" The ships should sail at the end of April next, and 

 proceed to Lancaster Sound, with as little delay as pos- 

 sible, carefully searching both shores of that extensive 

 inlet, and of Barrow's Strait, and then progress to the 

 westward. 



*' Should the period at which they arrive In Barrow's 

 Strait admit of it, Wellington Channel should next be 

 examined, and the coast between Cape Clarence and Cape 

 Walker explored, either in the ships or by boats, as may 

 at the time appear most advisable. As this coast has 

 been generally found encumbered with ice, it is not de- 

 sirable that both ships should proceed so far along it as to 

 hazard their gettiug beset there and shut up for the 

 winter ; but in the event of finding a convenient harbour 

 near Garnier Bay or Cape Rennell, it would be a good 

 position in which to secure one of the ships for the winter. 



" From this position the coast line might be explored, as 

 far as it extends to the westward, by detached parties 

 early in the spring, as well as the western coast of 

 Boothia, a considerable distance to the southward ; and at 

 a more advanced period of the season the whole distance 

 to Cape Nicolai might be completed. 



" A second party might be sent to the south-west as 

 far as practicable, and a third to the north-west, or in any 

 other direction deemed advisable at the time. 



" As soon as the forjnation of water along the coast 



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