No. I. APPENDIX. 359 



It is witli no desire to avert from myself the sacrifice 

 of my own funds, which I devote without reserve to the 

 object in view, that I plead for a liberal interpretation of 

 those communications, but I owe it to the conscientious 

 and high-minded Arctic officers who have generously 

 offered me their services, that my expedition should be 

 made as efficient as possible, however restricted it may 

 be in extent. The Admiralty, I feel sure, will not deny 

 me what may be necessary for this purpose, since, if I 

 do aU I can with my own means, any deficiencies and 

 shortcomings of a private expedition cannot I thiak be 

 justly laid to my charge. 



In conclusion, I would earnestly entreat of Her 

 Majesty's Government, while this subject is stiU under 

 deliberation, that they would be pleased to obtain the 

 opinions of those persons who, in consequence of their 

 practical knowledge and vast experience, may be con- 

 sidered best qualified to express them in the present 

 emergency. And as it must be in the ranks of those 

 officers who would naturally be selected for command 

 of any final expedition that these qualifications will 

 most assuredly be found, I trust I may be pardoned for 

 directing your Lordship's attention to the names (which 

 I put down in the order of their seniority) of Captains 

 Collinson, Richards, McClintock, Maguire, and Osborn. 

 AU these officers have passed winter after winter in 

 Arctic service, have carried out those skilful sledge 

 operations which have added so much to our knowledge 

 of Arctic Geography, and have ever, in the exercise of 

 combined courage and discretion, avoided disaster, and 

 brought home their crews in health and safety. 



I commit the prayer of this letter, for the length of 

 which I beg much to apologize, to your Lordship's 

 patient and kind consideration, feeling assured that, 

 however the burden of it may pall upon the ear of 

 some, who apparently judge of it neither by the heart 

 nor by the head, you will not on that, or on any light 



