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 tlie 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 injur>'. 
Early on the morning 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, wdiich, 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. Tiiis search was contin- 
ued for several days, hut not the slightest vestige of a record could be found. 
The graves were not opened or disturbed. 
Captain Sir .lohn 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 Beecliy Island (about eight hundred feet high) 
an extensive view' w'as had, both to the north and west. No open water could 
be seen in either direction. 
On the 27tli of August w'e cast off from Beechy Island, and joined our consort 
at the edge of the fixed ice, near Point limes. Acting Master S. P. Griffin, com- 
mander of the Rescue, had just returned from a searching excursion along the 
shore, on wffiich he had been dispatched forty-eight hours before. Midshipman 
Lovell and four men composed his ]iarty. 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 dep6t of provisions. 
No clew could be found w'ithin it or around as to the persons who built it, neither 
could its age be arrived at. 
At two P.M. of tiie 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 hack. 
Until the 3d day of September, w'e w'ere detained at this point by the closing 
ill of tlie ice from the southw'ard, occasioned by strong northea.st winds, ac- 
companied with thick weather and snow. On this day the packed ice moved 
off from tlie edge of the fixed ice, leaving a practicable load 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. M e were in some 
ilanger from heavy masses coining against us, but botli vessels passed the night 
uninjured. Tn the evening of the 4th w'e w'ere able to make a few more miles 
wresting, and tlie 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-teiuh'r were seen off CaiM? Hotham, behind wiiich they 
disappeared in the course of the day. 
Barlow’s Iiilct w-oold afford good 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. 
