39 
month's provisions, could remain out sufficiently long to enable her to accomplish 
anything beyond what he has already done. 
The plan, therefore, I have to propose is, that the " Mary" yacht, left by 
Admiral Sir John Ross, and now lying here useless, should be placed at my 
disposal, with two additional hands, and provisioned for three months, with a 
gutta percha boat (left here by the " Prince Albert") for hauling over the ice, 
should the floes in the sounds not have broken up. To start immediately after 
the return of the party, conveying your authority so to do, and by which time 
the navigation in Barrow Strait will most probably be open. 
I am, &c., 
R. M'CoRMicK, R.N. 
P.S, The departure of the sledge parties for the rendezvous depots, being a 
month earlier than anticipated, a series of sketches, comprising the headlands 
and bays betv/een Beechey Island and Point Hogarth, Baring Bay, (wdiich I 
had taken for the purpose of illustrating a track-chart on which they are laid 
down from compass bearings), not being finished, I must reserve for a future 
opportunity. — R. M'C. 
The Secretary of the Admiralty to Dr. M'Cosmick, R.N. 
Sir, Admiralty, 13th October 1853. 
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknow- 
ledge the receipt of your narrative of an expedition under your orders in a 
boat of H.M. Discovery Ship " North Star," up the eastern shore of Wel- 
lington Channel and round Baring Bay, for the purpose of discovering traces of 
Sir John Franklin's expedition. 
My Lords approve of your exertions on this occasion, and of the conduct of 
your boat's crev/ on a service incurring both risk and hardship, and are satisfied 
with the efforts you made in determining the important question as to there 
being any connexion between Baring Bay and Jones Sound. 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) W. A. B. Hamilton. 
