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



between the land and main body of the ice admitted, the 

 small steam-launch shoidd be despatched into Lancaster 

 Sound, to communicate with the whale ships at the usual 

 time of their arrival in those regions, by which means 

 information of the safety or return of Sir John Franklin 

 might be conveyed to the ships before their liberation 

 from their winter quarters, as well as any further in- 

 structions the Lords Commissioners might be pleased to 

 send for their future guidance. 



" The easternmost vessel having been safely secured in 

 winter quarters, the other ship should proceed alone to 

 the westward, and endeavour to reach Winter Harbour in 

 Melville Island, or some convenient port in Banks's Land, 

 in w^hich to pass the winter. 



" From this point, also, parties should be despatched 

 early in spring, before the breaking up of the ice. The 

 first should trace the western coast of Banks's Land, and, 

 proceeding to Cape Bathurst, or some other conspicuous 

 point of the continent, previously agreed on with Sir John 

 Richardson, reach the Hudson's Bay Company's settle- 

 ment of Fort Good Hope on the Mackenzie, whence they 

 may travel southward by the usual route of the traders 

 to York Factory, and thence to England. 



" The second party should explore the eastern shore of 

 Banks's Land, and, making for Cape Krusenstern, commu- 

 nicate with Sir John Richardson's party on its descending 

 the Coppermine River, and either assist him in completing 

 the examination of Wollaston and Victoria Land, or 

 return to England by any route he should direct. 



" These two parties would pass over that space in 

 which most probably the ships have become involved (if 

 at all), and would, therefore, have the best chance of 

 communicating to Sir John Franklin information of the 



