496 
COMMANDER DE HAVEn's 
the Erebus and Terror had made this their first winter quarters after leaving 
England. The spot was admirably chosen for the security of the ships, as well 
as for their early escape the following season. Every thing, too, went to prove, 
up to this point, that the expedition was well organized, and that the vessels had 
not received any material injury. 
Early on the moraing of the 28th of August, H. B. M. ship Resolute (Captain 
Austin), with her steam-tender, arrived from the eastward. Renewed efforts 
were made by all parties to discover some written notice, which, according to 
his instructions. Sir J. Franklin ought to have deposited at this place in some 
conspicuous position. A cairn of stones, erected on the highest part of the isl- 
and, was discovered. A most thorough search with crows and picks was in- 
stituted at and about it, in the presence of all hands. This search was contin- 
ued for several days, but not the slightest vestige of a record could be found. 
The graves were not opened or disturbed. 
Captain Sir John Ross had towed out from England a small vessel of about 
twelve tons. He proposed leaving her at this point, to fall back upon in case 
of disaster to any of the searching vessels. Our contribution to supply her 
was three barrels of provisions. 
From the most elevated part of Beechy Island (about eight hundred feet high) 
an extensive view was had, both to the north and west. No open water could 
be seen in either direction. 
On the 27th of August we cast off from Beechy Island, and joined our consort 
at the edge of the iixed ice, near Point Innes. Acting Master S. P. Griffin, com- 
mander of the Rescue, had just returned from a searching excursion along the 
shore, on which he had been dispatched forty-eight hours before. Midshipman 
Lovell and four men composed his party. He reports that, pursuing carefully 
his route to the northward, he came upon a partially-overturned cairn, of large 
dimensions, on the beach a few miles south of Cape Bowden. Upon strict ex- 
amination, it appeared to have been erected as a place of depot of provisions. 
No clew could be found within it or around as to the persons who built it, neither 
could its age be arrived at. 
At two P.M. of the 28th, reached Cape Bowden without further discovery. 
Erecting a cairn, containing the information that would prove useful to a dis- 
tressed party, he commenced his journey back. 
Until the 3d day of September, we were detained at this point by the closing 
in of the ice from the southward, occasioned by strong northeast winds, ac- 
companied with thick weather and snow. On this day the packed ice moved 
off from the edge of the fixed ice, leaving a practicable lead to the westward, 
into which we at once stood. At midnight, when about two thirds the way 
across the channel, the closing ice arrested our progress. We were in some 
danger from heavy masses coming against us, but both vessels passed the night 
uninjured. In the evening of the 4th we were able to make a few more miles 
westing, and the following day we reached Barlow's Inlet. The ice being im- 
practicable to the southward, we secured the vessels at its entrance. The As- 
sistance and her steam-tender were seen off Cape Hotham, behind which they 
disappeared in the course of the day. 
Barlow's Inlet would afford goocf shelter for vessels in case of necessity, but 
it would require some cutting to get in or out. The ice of last winter still re- 
mained unbroken. 
