of those intrusted to my charge after the winter of 1852, but in the ensuing spring quit the vessel with sledges and boats, and make the best of our way either to Pond's Bay, Leopold Harbor, the Mackenzie, or for whalers, according to circumstances. "Finally. In this letter I have endeavored to give an outline of what I wish to accomplish, (and what, under moderately favorable seasons, appears to me attainable,) the carrying out of which, however, not resting upon human exertions, it is impossible even to surmise if any, or what, portion may be successful. But my object in addressing you is to place their Lordships in possession of my intentions up to the latest period, so far as possible, to relieve their minds from any unnecessary anxiety as to our fate; and having done this, a duty which is incumbent from the deep sympathy expressed by their Lordships, and participated in by all classes of our countrymen, in the interesting object of this expedition, I have only to add, that with the ample resources which a beneficent government and a generous country have placed at our disposal, (not any thing that can add to our comfort being wanting,) we enter upon this distinguished service with a firm determination to carry out, as far as in our feeble strength we are permitted, their benevolent intentions. "I have, &c., "ROBERT M'CLURE, Commander." "Her Majesty's ship 'Enterprise, "Oahu, June 29, 1850. "MEMORANDUM.-As soon as Her Majesty's ship under your command is fully complete with provisions, fuel, and water, you will make the best of your way to Cape Lisburne, keeping a good look-out for the Herald, or casks, and firing guns in foggy weather, after passing Lawrence Bay. The whalers also may afford you information of our progress. "Should you obtain no intelligence, you will understand that I intend to make the pack close to the Ameri can shore, and pursue the first favorable opening west of the Coast stream, pressing forward toward Melville Island. In the event of meeting land, it is most proba ble that I would pursue the southern shore, but conspic uous marks will be erected, if practicable, and informs tion buried at a ten-foot radius. "As it is necessary to be prepared for the contin gency of your not being able to follow by the ice clos ing in, or the severity of the weather, you will in that case keep the Investigator as close to the edge of the pack as is consistent with her safety, and remain there until the season compels you to depart, when you will look into Kotzebue Sound for the Plover, or information regarding her position; and having deposited under her charge a twelve month's provisions, you will proceed to Valparaiso, replenish, and return to the Strait, bearing in mind that the months of June and July are the most favorable. "A letter from the hydrographer relative to the variation of the compass is annexed; and you will bear in mind that the value of these observations will he greatly enhanced by obtaining the variation with the ship's head at every second or fourth point round the compass occasionally, and she should be swung for deviation in harbor as often as opportunity may offer. "Should you not find the Plover, or that any casualty has happened to render her inefficient as a depot, you will take her place; and if, (as Captain Kellett supposes,) Kotzebue Sound has proved too exposed for a winter harbor, you will proceed to Grantley Harbor, leaving a notice to that effect on Chamisso Island. The attention of your officers is to be called, and you will read to your ship's company, the remarks of Sir J. Richardson concerning the communication with the Esquimaux, contained in the arctic report received at Plymouth. "Your operations in the season 1851, cannot be guided by me, nor is there any occasion to urge you to proceed to the northeast; yet it will be highly desirable, previous to entering the pack, that you completed provisions from whalers, and obtained as much reindeer meat as possible. Captain Kellett's narrative will point out where the latter is to be had in most abundance, and where coal can be picked up on the beach; but husband the latter article during the winter, by using all the drift-wood in your power. "In the event of leaving the Strait this season, you will take any weak or sickly men out of the Plover, and replace them from your crews, affording Commander Moore all the assistance in your power, and leaving with him Mr. Miertsching, the interpreter; instructions with regard to whose accommodations you have received, and wili convey to the captain of the Plover. "RICHARD COLLINSON. "To Commander M'Clure, of her Majesty's ship' Investigator. "Should it be the opinion of Commander Moore that the services of the Investigator's ship's company in exploring parties during the spring would be attended with material benefit to the object of the expedition, he will, notwithstanding these orders, detain you for that purpose; but care must be taken that your efficiency as a sailing vessel is not crippled by the parties not returning in time for the opening of the sea. "R. C." "Her Majesty's discovery ship 'Investigator,' July 28, 1850. Kotzebue Sound, latitude 66° 54′ N, longitude 168° W. "Sir, I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that to this date we have had a most excellent run. Upon getting clear of Oahu, on the morning of the 5th, we shaped a course direct for the Aleutian group, passing them in 172° 40′ W., upon the evening of the 20th; continued our course with a fine southeasterly breeze, but extremely thick and foggy weather, (which retarded the best of our way being made.) Got fairly out of Behring's Strait upon the evening of the 27th, and are now in a fair way of realizing their Lordships' expectations of reaching the ice by the beginning of August, our progress being advanced by the favorable circumstances of a fine southerly wind and tolerably clear weather. The latter we have known nothing of since the 19th, which, I can assure you, rendered the navigation among the islands a subject of much and deep anxiety, seldom having a horizon above 480 yards, that just enabled the dark outline of the land to be observed and avoided. "It is with much satisfaction that I report the good qualities of this vessel, having well tried her in the heavy gales experienced during five weeks off Cape Horn, and in moderate weather among the intricate navigation of these islands, where so much depended upon her quick obedience to the helm, although laden with every species of stores and provisions for upward of three years. From these circumstances I am, therefore, fully satisfied she is as thoroughly adapted for this service as could be reasonably wished. "I have not seen any thing of the Enterprise, nor is it my intention to lose a moment by waiting off Cape Lisburne, but shall use my best endeavors to carry out the intentions contained in my letter of the 20th, of which I earnestly trust their Lordships will approve. "I am happy to be able to state that the whole crew are in excellent health and spirits, and every thing as satisfactory as it is possible to desire. "I have, &c., "ROBERT M'CLURE, Commander. "The Secretary of the Admiralty." VOYAGE OF H. M. S. "PLOVER," AND BOAT EXPEDITIONS UNDER COMMANDER PULLEN, 1848–51. In the copy of the instructions issued from the Admiralty to Lieutenant, (now Commander,) Moore, of the Plover, dated 3d of January, 1848, he was directed to make the best of his way to Petropaulowski, touching at Panama, where she was to be joined by H. M. M* S. Herald, and afterward both vessels were to proceed to Behring's Strait, where they were expected to arrive about the 1st of July, and then push along the American coast, as far as possible, consistent with the cer tainty of preventing the ships being beset by the ice. The Plover was then to be secured for the winter in some safe and convenient port from whence boat parties might be dispatched, and the Herald was to return and transmit, via Panama, any intelligence necessary to England. Great caution was ordered to be observed in communicating with the natives in the neighborhood of Kotzebue Sound, should that quarter be visited, as the people in that part of the country differ in character from the ordinary Esquimaux, in being compara tively a fierce, agile, and suspicious race, well armed with knives, &c., for offense, and prone to attack. They were also ordered to take interpreters or guides from a small factory of the Russian-American Company in Norton Sound. The Plover was safely ensconced for the winter of 1849-50 in Kotzebue Sound, after the termination of a hard season's work. She had, conjointly with the Herald, discovered to the north of Behring's Strait, two islands, and several apparently disconnected patches of very elevated ground. Lieut. Pullen had previously quitted her off Wainwright Inlet, with four boats, for the purpose of prosecuting his adventurous voyage along the coast to the mouth of the Mackenzie River, where he arrived safely on the 26th of August, after a perilous navigation of thirty-two days, but had obtained no clue or intelligence regarding the prime object of his expedition. At a later date he encountered at Fort Simpson, higher up the river, Dr. Rae, and gathered from that gentleman that the party led by him down the Coppermine, with the view of crossing over to Vic toria or Wollaston Land, had, owing to the unusual difficulties created by the more than customary rigor of the season, met with entire failure; the farthest point attained being Cape Krusenstern. Lieut. Pullen is occupied during the present year in |