At 6.15 P.M., the Captain Kellett inspected the lower deck, holds, &c., and after drinking a glass of wine to the old "Resolute" and her crew, the lower deck was cleared for the last time, and the main hatchway secured.

At 7 P.M. precisely, the four sledges, commanded by Captain Kellett, Commander M'Clintock, Mr. Roche (mate), and myself, moved on in the direction. of Cape Cockburn; Roche, being the junior officer, leading, whilst the captain brought up the rear, as in funeral order. We numbered in all fortytwo souls; viz, eleven officers and thirty-one men; officers as follows:

"RESOLUTE."

Captain H. Kellett, C. B.
G. F. M'Dougall, Master.
Richard Roche, Mate.
G. S. Nares, Mate.

W. H. Richards, Clk. in charge.
W. Johnson, Acting Boatswain.
W. Dean, Carpenter.

And men.

"INTREPID."

Francis L. M'Clintock, Com.
Robt. C. Scott, Assist.-Surg.
Thos. R. Purchase, Engineer.
Wm. Josh. Ibbetts, Engineer.
And men.

After advancing about a quarter of a mile, the crews of the various sledges halted simultaneously; unharnessed, and gave three hearty cheers for the "Resolute" and "Intrepid;" but though the ice is a good conductor of sound, we heard no response.

CHAP. XVI.

Journal from "Resolute" to "North Star.” — Arrival on board the "North Star."-Travelling Arrangements between "North Star" and "Assistance.". Arrival of Mecham, Hamilton, and Krabbé.-Copy of Mecham's Letter of Proceedings.Krabbé's Letter of Proceedings.-Lieut. Hamilton appointed to command "Pioneer."-Leave "North Star" for "Assistance" in Disaster Bay.—Arrive on board " Assistance.” -Winter Quarters of " Assistance" and "Pioneer."-Return to Beechey Island.- Arrive on board the "North Star."Cairn on Beechey Island.-Sir Edward Belcher arrives at Beechey Island.-The Monument on Beechey Island.Liberation of "Assistance" and "Pioneer" from Disaster Bay."-Sir Edward Belcher and Party leave for "Assistance."-" Assistance" and "Pioneer” abandoned.- Arrival of "Phoenix and "Talbot" at Beechey Island. — Tablet to Lieut. Bellot.-Leave Beechey Island for England.Anchor in Navy Board Inlet. - Depôt injured by Esquimaux. Lose an Anchor and four Shackles of Cable.Regain another and five Shackles of Cable.-Off the Black Hook. Anchor off Lievely. - Sail from Lievely. — Return to England and Court-Martial.

THE wind being light from the N. W. enabled us to make sail, and the scenic effect of perhaps the most striking incident of our lives, was not a little

JOURNAL FROM RESOLUTE ΤΟ "NORTH STAR." 393

heightened by the display of the various coloured ensigns and pendants.

The weights proved heavy enough in all conscience, and the work consequently laborious, and our pace bore a stronger resemblance to that of the tortoise than the hare; when about a mile and a half from the ship, Roche's sledge began to evince evident signs of weakness, and a party returned to the "Resolute" to bring up another sledge, on which we deposited a part of the load from the weaker one, one man being taken from my sledge to assist in dragging the new one. I therefore installed myself as one of the horses at my own sledge.

Tuesday, 16th June. At 4:45 A.M., encamped about eight miles from the ships; weather fine, clear, and cold; the men, heartily tired, gladly availed themselves, as I did, of the comfort (comparative I must acknowledge) of a felt bag.

At 3.30 P.M., struck tents and proceeded; wind light from the northward, weather fine and clear; about seven encountered a heavy and extensive mass of hummocks, and with many a standing pull, crossed without any accident to the sledges. On stopping for luncheon, all the water had disappeared from our bottles (thanks to the increased exertion