8 DISCOVERIES BY THE LATE EXPEDITION [Nov. 14, 1859. 



When, at that period, he viewed the ice pressed up heavily at the north- 

 west horn of Crescent Island, he thought that any vessel subjected to such pres- 

 sure, would be destroyed. But later experience, and that also which had 

 befallen the Besolute and Fox^ satisfied him that, by keeping well off the 

 shore, such a danger would easily be avoided. Because, after travelling be- 

 yond Crescent Island, his travelling party had passed over a great deal of ice 

 far to the north and west, free from the land, and found it to be the simple 

 smooth floe — nothing but ordinary ice — and he much regretted that he had not 

 been, unfortunately, as he might term it, forced to make his way by that 

 northern channel. However, they were barred, probably much in the same 

 manner as Franklin had been.* 



But he must now remark on his (Sir John Franklin's) good fortune in 

 finding his way back the same season, and he attributed this to Franklin 

 either taking the northern side of Wellington Channel by Cape Becher, and 

 sending his consort by the south, or vice versa, and by that means discovered 

 the channel between Cornwallis and Bathurst Islands ; otherwise it was im- 

 possible for Franklin, according to the supposed track drawn in the Admiralty 

 Chart (now before him), to have discovered anflchannel by which he would 

 have so daringly ventured, but must have returned by the same route by 

 which he went up. 



He (Sir Edward) then proceeded to explain the second attempt of Sir John 

 Franklin in the summer of 1846. His instructions were " to proceed from 

 74° 15' N. and 98° w., and attempt a passage to the w.s.w. from Cape Walker." 

 He would, therefore, after passing that position, experience the full tidal 

 influence of the southerly set down Byam Martin Channel — the very set which 

 had pressed the Resolute towards that southern bight of Melville Sound ; and 

 it is also apparent on the chart that the depths increase greatly southward. 

 He would be driven by the full force of that tide, which, in conjunction with 

 that setting south-east between Melville and Banks Land, formed the true 

 flood-tide for the Great Fish River, pressing directly south-east down that 

 channel, and forcing the heavy ice on to the opposing angle. Cape Felix of 

 King William Land, where the constant pressure of direct flood and counter 

 eddy of ebb would for ever hamper his vessels. 



Here he would remark, that the evidence of Captain Sir James Ross, of 

 Lieutenant Browne, of Captain PuUen, and lastly of Captain M'Clintock, in 

 their examinations of Peel Strait did not afford the slightest evidence of 

 either current , tide, or motion of any description to justify an opinion of that 

 ice having ever been in motion. No pack was noticed, not even the cus- 

 tomary disruption caused by motion past the islets. Whence then, the huge 

 masses of ice pressed down on King William Land? If any strong tide 

 through Peel Strait had existed, then it would have cleared away the ice 

 from Cape Felix, and driven it soutli-westerly during the summer of 1847. 

 But no ; the great and constant pressure was from the great open water to 

 the north-west through the now termed M'Clintock Channel. 



If Sir John Franklin had been aware of the discoveries of Rae and Collinson, 

 and stuck to the shore near Gateshead Island, he might have passed into Vic- 



* The Chairman was understood to say, that Franklin had navigated farther 

 north in open water in Queen Channel than any other navigator. We have no 

 evidence of this beyond the mere record found, which probably assumed within a 

 fetn miles the 77th degree of latitude. Even if he determined it afloat, the doubt 

 as to sea horizon would be suflScient to vitiate the question. But the Pioneer was 

 navigated up to Crescent Island, and Sir E. Belcher in his gig navigated up to 

 the N.E. horn of Crescent Island, beyond the 77th degree; and there, too, the 

 Pioneer might also have been placed, if necessary. — P. 88 and 97, vol. i., last Arctic 

 Voyages.— E. B. 



