CAPTAIN BUCHAN'S DETERMINATION. 131 



all her crew ; and, in addition, by taking com- 

 mand of the Trent himself, Captain Buchan felt 

 he would incur the appearance of wishing to 

 escape the danger to which his crew would be 

 exposed. To this, therefore, he determined on 

 no account to accede ; and as to Lieutenant 

 Franklin's request, he preferred taking upon him- 

 self the responsibility of appearing to deviate 

 from his Instructions, rather than subject his 

 crew to the risk of proceeding home singly in 

 a vessel so shattered and unsafe. He finally 

 determined, therefore, upon remaining in his own 

 ship, and sharing the fate of those who had ac- 

 companied him in so many trials and dangers, 

 retaining also the Trent as a convoy. 



The next consideration was, whether some- 

 thing more might not yet be accomplished by 

 a boat expedition over the ice ; but, upon con- 

 sulting with Lieutenant Franklin, and examining 

 into the resources of the ships for such an enter- 

 prise, they were found so inadequate to the pur- 

 pose that the project was speedily given up. 

 Captain Buchan was thus reluctantly compelled 

 to abandon all further discovery, and to proceed 

 to England as soon as the necessary repairs of 

 his vessel should be completed. 



It was now proposed to make the most of 

 the few days which the vessels had to remain 



K 2 



