BEERING STRAITS. 151 



On Sir James C. Ross's return to England in 

 1849, the Admiralty resolved that a still more 

 vigorous search should be organised, and accord- 

 ingly the " Enterprise " and " Investigator " were 

 again fitted out and despatched to Beering's Straits, 

 the former under the command of Captain Collin- 

 son, C.B., and the latter of Commander McClure. 

 These ships having separated in the Pacific, the 

 " Investigator," which was the dullest sailer, 

 through a fortunate choice of route, reached the 

 Straits first, succeeded in passing Point Barrow, 

 and was last seen on the 4th of August, 1850. 

 The " Enterprise," having been unable to penetrate 

 the barrier of ice, went to Hong Kong to refit in 

 the winter, and is to make another attempt this 

 summer of 1851. 



The preparations for the search on the side of 

 Lancaster Sound were on a large scale. The 

 " Resolute " was commissioned by Captain Horatio 

 T. Austen, and the " Assistance," Captain Erasmus 

 Ommaney, was put under his orders, together with 

 the " Pioneer " and " Intrepid," steam tenders to 

 the two vessels. Captain William Penny, an ex- 

 perienced whale-fisher, was also engaged for the 

 search, and placed in command of the " Lady 

 Franklin " and " Sophia." In addition to these 

 expeditions fitted out by the Admiralty, others 

 furnished from private sources showed the interest 



J. 4 



