Capt. Sabine’s Remarks on Capt. Ross’s Work. 375 
“© We had a long run that night, with a fair wind, which took 
us far out of the inlet. Captain Ross states that * his opinions 
were mentioned after he had determined to proceed to the south- 
ward.’ They were so, but not until long after he had executed 
his determination; for it was not until the Ist of September, 
when we were out of Lancaster’s Sound, and on our way down 
the coast, that a conversation took place between Captain Ross 
and myself on the subject. The purpose of this conversation was 
not to consult about quitting a sound which we had already left ; 
—it was not to inquire whether I thought Captain Ross had done 
right or wrong in leaving it;—it was not to learn whether I 
agreed with Captain Ross that a passage could not exist, because 
he well knew that I had not seen the continuity of land, the 
only decisive proof; and that as he was the only person who had, 
I could form no opinion until I heard the particulars of what he 
had seen, and which J did not do until in that very conversation. 
I could know nothing but from what he should say; I had not 
seen any land in the direction of the inlet; -I should have been 
very happy to have been an evidence of its existence, and to have 
judged for myself on so important an occasion, in preference to 
depending on the account of another person. But I was not on © 
deck when the land is stated to have been visible, nor was I in- 
formed until nearly four hours afterwards that such an occurrence 
had taken place. It was not necessary that I should be informed 
of it. It is true, Captain Ross had directed that ¢ Captain Sa- 
bine be called whenever any remarkable object is to be seen in 
the sky or water,’ (General orders, Nov. 8.) but I had not been 
called on this occasion, and therefore lost the sight of two very 
remarkable objects, namely, the ice in Lancaster’s Sound, and 
the range of lofty mountains at its bottom. 
“ The conversation alluded to, was occasioned by my very.vi- 
sible mortification at having come away from a place which I 
considered as the most interesting in the world for magnetic ob- 
servations, and where my expectations had been raised to the 
highest pitch, without having had an opportunity of making 
them. Captain Ross explained to me his reasons for not having 
stood on in the inlet, amongst which reasons one was his opinion 
that there was no passage. He said that he was directed to keep 
at a distance from land, and not to entangle himself in sounds 
where he did not find the strong current which his instructions, 
pointed out as an indication of a passage. He said, ¢ You saw 
there was no appearance of such a current, no drift wood, which 
people at home talked of.’ [ assented to the observation inas- 
much as it related to facts. He further explained, that scientific 
observations were considered in his instructions as very secon- 
dary; and however desirous he might be to stretch a point in my 
Aad favour, 
