POSTSCRIPT. 421 



and bit off the end of the metal cylinder containing the 

 record. 



The want of this memorial leaves us totally in the dark 

 as to Franklin's intended course, which would in all proba- 

 bility have been decided upon before he left the harbour; 

 for, from his position, he had the means of ascertaining the 

 state of the ice both in Barrow's Strait, and in "Wellington 

 Channel. If the former was open, his course would be to 

 Cape Walker and the south-west, agreeable to his instruc- 

 tions ; but if Barrow's Strait was closed, as he had found 

 it to be the preceding year, and Wellington Channel open, 

 then he would gladly follow the latter, which one at least 

 of his intelligent officers considered to be the most pro- 

 mising route of all, and which the spirit of his instructions 

 permitted him to take, if shut out from the west or south- 

 west. 



The well-planned and thoroughly organised travelling- 

 parties of the searching squadron, though they traced with 

 extraordinary perseverance extensive portions of insular 

 coast, failed in detecting any further decisive vestiges of 

 Franklin's course. Captain Austin's two ships, with their 

 tenders, wintered at the south-west end of Cornwallis 

 Island, under the shelter of Griffith Island. From thence 

 Lieutenant M'Clintock, who made the longest journey 

 of all the pedestrian parties, setting out in spring, rounded 

 the west end of Melville Island in longitude 114° W., and, 

 passing over the extreme discoveries of Sir W. Edward 

 Parry, saw distant land extending beyond the 116th 

 meridian. The intermediate passages and bays were ex- 

 plored by Lieutenant Aldrich, Mr. Bradford, and Mr. 

 M'Dougall. On the south side of Barrow's Strait, Cape 

 Walker, and the adjoining coasts, were traced by Captain 

 Ommaney and Lieutenants Osborne, Meecham, and 

 Browne ; Lieutenant Osborne having carried his re- 



