s gig, evidently going to
make an official visit to our leader. Directly after the "Pioneer" was
secured, I went on board the "Resolute," to hear the news, her first
lieutenant having been in Assistance Harbour (Captain Penny's quarters)
up to the moment of our arrival. I then learned that Penny was going to
volunteer to proceed up Wellington Channel, if it cleared out, in one
of our steamers; and my gallant friend, the first lieutenant, spoke
strongly upon the necessity of still trying to reach the North Water by
the said route, whilst I maintained that, until we had visited Jones's
Sound, it was impossible to say whether it would not be found an easier
road into the open sea seen by Captain Penny than Wellington Channel
appeared to be. Captain Penny soon joined us, and there, as well as
afterwards on board the "Lady Franklin," I heard of his proposal above
alluded to, which had been declined. Failing in his offer of
cooeperation, which was for one reason not to be wondered at,--insomuch
that our large and efficient squadron needed no assistance either in
men or material to do the work alone,--Captain Penny had decided on
returning home, believing that Franklin was so far to the N.W. as to
be beyond his reach, and also looking to the tenor of his instructions,
which strictly enjoined him to return to England in 1852.

* * * * *

[Headnote: _DEPARTURE FOR JONES'S SOUND._]

Next morning, by four o'clock, we were all bound to the eastward. A few
amongst those of our squadron still hoped by Jones's Sound to reach
that sea of whose existence, at any rate, we had no longer any doubt,
whatever might be its difficulty of access. Off Cape Hotham we found a
loose pack; it extended about half way across Wellington Channel, and
then a clear sea spread itself eastward and northward along the shores
off North Devon to Cape Bowden. From a strong ice-blink up Wellington
Channel there was reason to think the barrier[4] still athwart it; we
did not, however, go to ascertain whether it was so, but, favoured by a
fair wind, steamed, sailed, and towed the "Resolute," as fast as
possible past Beechey Island. The form of sending letters to England
had been duly enacted, but few were in a humour to write; the news
would be unsatisfactory, and, unless Jones's Sound was an open sea, and
we could not therefore help entering it, there was a moral certainty of
all being in England within a short time of o