CONSULTATION. 
83 
We are sufficiently surrounded by ice to make our 
chances of escape next year uncertain, and yet not as 
far as I could wish for our spring journeys by the 
sledge. 
“ August 26, Friday.—My officers and crew are 
stanch and firm men; but the depressing influences 
of want of rest, the rapid advance of winter, and, above 
all, our slow progress, make them sympathize but little 
with this continued effort to force a way to the north. 
One of them, an excellent member of the party, 
volunteered an expression of opinion this morning in 
favor of returning to the south and giving up the 
attempt to winter.” 
It is unjust for a commander to measure his subor¬ 
dinates in such exigencies by his own standard. The 
interest which they feel in an undertaking is of a dif¬ 
ferent nature from his own. With him there are 
always personal motives, apart from official duty, to 
stimulate effort. lie receives, if successful, too large a 
share of the credit, and he justly bears all the odium 
of failure. 
An apprehension—I hope a charitable one—of this 
fact leads me to consider the opinions of my officers 
with much respect. I called them together at once, in 
a formal council, and listened to their views in full. 
With but one exception, Mr. Henry Brooks, they were 
convinced that a further progress to the north was 
impossible, and were in favor of returning southward 
to winter. 
Not being able conscientiously to take the same view, 
