DANGEROUS STATE OP CAPTAIN TROTTER. 151 
it is very probable that tlie extreme irritability of 
stomach which resisted all active means, had brought 
his illness to a termination, before it was possible for 
the fever to developo itself perfectly. 
12fA. — The sick were for the most part going on 
satisfactorily. Doctor Me William was very much 
improved, but still confined to bed. On the other 
hand. Captain Trotter, whose anxiety for the future 
operations of the Expedition continually excited him 
to physical and mental exertion, quite beyond his 
enfeebled state, was clearly losing ground, and it 
was evident that unless speedily removed from all 
responsibility, there would be no hope of his recovery. 
Under these circumstances, Mr. Thomson wrote, urging 
on him in the strongest manner the absolute necessity 
of disconnecting himself for the present from the causes 
which were endangering his life, and to return to 
England immediately. In this view Doctors Mc- 
A¥illiam and Stanger also coincided ; and it was at 
last, with great reluctance, acquiesced in by Captain 
Trotter. 
21s^. — Most of the sick were now in a fair way of 
recovery; but such miserable objects! they looked like 
men risen from the grave, as they crawled about morn- 
ing and evening, to take advantage of the cool refresh- 
ing breezes. 
The worst cases were now those of Mr. W. Merri- 
man, gunner; William MacClaughlin, sailmaker, and 
