14 INSTRUCTIONS. 



despatches, reporting your proceedings, to Eng- 

 land, by the route of Cape Horn, you are to 

 proceed with the other ships to re-pass Behring's 

 Strait, as above directed, if you should have 

 determined on that course ; but, if you should 

 have resolved to return by the south, you are 

 to take care to interchange with the lieutenant 

 commanding the other vessels copies of your 

 respective journals and despatches ; or, if you 

 do not meet Captain Ross, or his ships, you 

 are to deposit copies of your own papers on 

 board the Trent, in order to ensure as far as 

 possible the arrival of these important docu- 

 ments in England by thus multiplying the 

 modes of conveyance. 



If, however, either on the passage out, or 

 on the return, it should so happen that, from 

 obstruction of ice, or any other circumstance, 

 your progress should be so slow as to oblige 

 you to winter in those parts, you are in that 

 case to approach the most convenient land, 

 and endeavour to find . out some secure bay in 

 which the ships may be laid up for the win- 

 ter ; taking such measures for the health and 

 comfort of the people committed to your charge 

 as the materials with which you are supplied 

 for housing-in the ships, or hutting the men 

 on shore, may enable you to do. And, if you 



