PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION. 45 



tion were found, and had made a number of subsequent 

 voyages. The Pandora was a vessel in which he took 

 great pride, as he had purchased her expressly for 

 Arctic expeditions, and had tested her well on such 

 voyages. He parted with the vessel to Mr. Bennett 

 under a sudden impulse, and then regretted his loss so 

 keenly that even after the vessel was ready for sea he 

 made ineffectual efforts to recover her. 



Lieutenant De Long was attached to the St. Mary's 

 in New York harbor, as executive officer, when he 

 received news of the purchase of the Pandora. He 

 immediately resigned his position and secured a six 

 months' leave of absence. Pending further word from 

 Mr. Bennett, he wrote him at length, January 25, 1878, 

 giving his views of the course to be pursued, and the 

 letter is interesting as showing the comprehensiveness 

 of the plans which he formed and the promptness with 

 which he acted : — 



•' Since receipt of infonnation on the 17th inst., that you 

 had purchased the Pandora, I have been momentarily expect- 

 ing a summons to join you in England. Acting upon your 

 notification to get six months' leave immediately, I secured the 

 necessary permission from the Department upon tendering my 

 resignation as executive officer of the St. Mary's. Obtaining 

 a leave of absence for a second time from that vessel was, as 

 I had previously informed you, out of the question. By dint 

 of extraordinary exertion I secured my release within forty- 

 eight hours of my knowing you wished me to get six months' 

 leave, and I have since that time remained with trunks packed 

 ready to sail. . . , 



" There are three ways for us to send the expedition. 

 Smith's Sound, Behring Strait and east coast of Greenland. 

 Of the three I am in favor of Behring Strait, though some- 

 thing can be said in behalf of the east coast of Greenland. 

 Professor Nordenskjold has received some information from 



