510 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
care about the actions of the other; when, by consulting and lay¬ 
ing before each other their respective plans, a path might have 
been chalked out, by which, not only many of the disasters, 
which had occurred, might be remedied, and provision made 
against their recurrence, but the very means might have been 
adopted, by which the success of the expedition could have been 
confirmed. These continual quarrels between the two officers, 
were also a great drawback upon the general harmony of the 
crew, and in some respects subversive of the discipline of the 
ship. It was impossible not for the men to entertain an opinion 
as to the particular party, who was in the wrong; and as Com¬ 
mander Ross was decidedly the greatest favorite of the two 
disputants, it excited a degree of ill blood in the breasts of the 
crew towards their commanding officer, which was by no means 
favorable to the order, discipline, and harmony of the ship ; in 
fact, in some respects, it was a house divided against itself: one 
party espousing the cause of Capt. Ross, and another, that of 
Commander Ross; and thus, the quarrels of the two officers did 
not terminate amongst themselves, but their effects were visible 
on the whole of the crew ; and the battles of the officers were 
fought over again in the different messes of the ship, until, for 
some time, quarrelling and wrangling were the order of the 
day. 
On the afternoon previously to the departure of the expedi¬ 
tion, the two officers evidently saw, that they must either relin¬ 
quish travelling together, or a reconciliation must be effected 
between them. Like the majority of quarrels, it required only 
an advance and a friendly word on one side, to meet with a 
corresponding feeling on the other ; but the vile passion of pride 
generally interferes on those occasions, and checks the effusion 
of those amiable feelings, which may be inherent in the cha¬ 
racter, but which, like the corn of the field, are choaked up, and 
prevented from coming to maturity, by the baneful influence of 
the tares. 
The two expeditions were accompanied by seven men, as aux¬ 
iliaries, who were to assist the fatigue party, to a certain distance. 
