PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
335 
incurring that risk. By quitting the rendezvous earlier than had been CHAP, 
agreed upon, the lives of Captain Franklin’s party might be involved; 
by remaining too long, those of my own ship’s company would be placed Oct 
in imminent hazard, as but five weeks’ provision at full allowance 
remained in the ship, and the nearest place where we could replenish 
them was upwards of 2000 miles distant. 'I'hus circumstanced, I was 
desirous of having the advice of the officers of the ship before I made up 
my own mind, and accordingly addressed an official letter to them, 
requesting they w'ould take every circumstance into their consideration, 
and furnish me with their opinion on the propriety of remaining longer 
in these seas. 
Their answer, which I received the next day, conveyed an una- 
nimous opinion that the ship could not continue longer at her pre- 
sent anchorage without incurring the risk of wintering, and suggested 
her removal to the entrance of the sound, where the majority of the 
officers thought she might remain a few days longer ; but previous 
to our taking up our station there, it was considered advisable that the 
strait should be ascertained to be navigable, lest the ice should have 
been drifted down from the northward, and the retreat of the ship 
be cut off*. I fully concurred in opinion with them, that if the 
frost continued the ship could not remain at her anchorage ; but as 
there was a possibility of its yielding, I resolved to wait a day or two 
longer upon the chance, determined, if it did not give way, to quit the 
sound ; and in the event of Beering’s Strait being found clear, to re- 
turn, as had been proposed, and to wait a few days off Cape Krusen- 
stern, in the hope of meeting the party. Considering, however, the 
lateness of the season and the long nights, there did not appear to be 
much chance of the ship being able to maintain an advantageous position 
at the mouth of the sound; still, as I was unwilling to relinquish 
the smallest chance of falling in with the party, 1 purposed making 
the attempt. In so doing, however, it was necessary to insure our de- 
parture by the 23d instant, which, considering our distance from any 
new supplies, and that at that period there would be but nine weeks’ 
provision remaining at half allowance, was as late as I thought it 
prudent to continue. 
