The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-01 00:00:00

the ice to the other, and towards the evening they
were at some distance from us. Captain Ommanney
left early iu the morning, with directions from me to
give Captain Penny an opportunity to proceed to the
south-west. When Captain Ommanney reached the
brigs were adrift, under sail, and there was a kind of

race between Captain Penny's two brigs and the In-
trepid. Shortly after this the weather changed, a
thick fog came on—it was very severe weather—and
the Intrepid returned. I shall have to refer to Cap
tain Ommanney's report as to what passed on that
occasion. He came back with difficulty, and from
that time until I sent a party out to examine if the

ships were fast, and preparing themselves for the
winter, I did not know where the brigs were,
although I had certain apprehensions about them. The
Intrepid returned. We had very severe weather at
this period, and were drifting with the ice to the
southward. The first moment that admitted of it we
cast off—that is, our expedition and one of the Ame-
rican vessels, the other having broken adrift during
the severe weather; and after as severe a day as ever
I experienced in my life, we got into open water
under the lee of Griffith Island. I considered that
our situation at this moment was a very serious one,
for everything depended upon our reaching to the
west of Griffith bland, and I thought that unless we
came upon the remains of our fellow-countrymen be-
tween that and Melville Island, nothing would have
allowed me to have returned to Eogland as long as I
existed, for my orders were Melville Island. We thus
arrived under the lee of Griffith Island. Seeing, from
the state of the season,.the lowness of the temperature,
that I had no dependence upon the steamers on ac-
count of that low state of the temperature, as the
injection of water from the sea could not be regu-
larly supplied, which I wish to be kept in view—
seeing that if they stopped there was no moving
again, and it would be sailing• ships on which I
should have to depend—under these circumstances I
must say that I felt very anxious. There was no ice
to keep us off from Griffith Island, and therefore it
was necessary to push for something in the shape
of security. But to the eastward I would not
go ; I called for Captain Ommanney on board
to inquire as to the state of the ice between
Griffith Island and Cape Martyr, his report being
that there were hopes of some fast ice being found
there. We continued under a press of sail to make
that ice. Whilst doing so the American vessels
hoisted their colours, and bore up, and I was much
pained at the moment by a supposition that they must
be for America, and that they would have no report
on board from me. But I felt at that moment that
nothing would justify me in keeping the expedition
without some holdfast. We pushed on, and reached
the fixed ice at Griffith Island, which eventually be-
came our winter quarters. As will be seen from my
circular, I made up my mind that the Assistance
should not advance ; but I was anxious that she
should remain to the latest moment, to see if we
could get round Griffith Island. And again it re-
quired some little time carefully to think over the
instructions necessary to give to Captain Ommanney,
to ensure the operations being carried out to the
utmost next spring. In the meantime a tender was
dispatched to look to the south end of Griffith Island,
in the hope that there might be something in the
shape of water that would admit of fifty miles more
to the westward being obtained, as I must say that I
had made up my mind that, having the Assistance
in her place, the Resolute should become a forlorn
hope. However, as my report will show in de-
tail, there was no hope, and the Assistance and
her tender were sent off in the execution of her in-
structions to get into port. She made the attempt,
but with her tender and her steam she became in
such a helpless position that Captain Ommanney felt
that the sooner he could get back into a channel of
water to join us it was his duty to do so. The As-
sistance having returned, the temperature fell consi-
derably. There was much ice, and very little open
water, and this state of things continued some days.
At last I felt that there was no, hope of getting this
fifty miles, and in that case that both ships bad better
be together, for then we should have joint operations,
which would be more successful. The ice had formed
so strongly, and become so pressed, and the tempera-
ture so low, that I determined that both ships should
go into winter quarters. I saw there was not the
slightest hope of getting westward, and I began to
cut through 300 and 400 yards in extent between us
and the channel, which promised to lead us into a
little bay to the eastward of Cape Martyr, but the
ice again made so fast that I felt it was necessary to
give up further operations in that direction. We
then, considering the ships fixed, dispatched parties in
the hope of doing something, at the same time with
the view of giving them some idea of what travelling
would be. One of the party discovered the
position of Captain Penny. I must say,
that the weather was so severe, that the tempera-
ture being down to 17 below zero, that our
advance parties were driven in. I would refer to
their journals for the sufferings these people under-
went at this period. Captain Penny came over in
hie dog-sledge, and he cheerfully undertook to com-
plete the search of Wellington Strait. He was two
days' march nearer than we were. This brings us
up to the commencement of the winter. We then
commenced our operations for the health and exer-
cise of the men during the winter season.
Chairman—lf you refer to your report of July for
the proceedings of the winter, you can proceed at
once to the spring, when you sent your parties out.
Captain Austin—Yes. These papers will be pro-
duced. I have nothing to repeat further in that re-
spect. Captain Austin continued—Winter com-
menced, and our great object was to establish health,
improvement, and happiness amongst the men. So
soon as the weather would admit of it we commenced
training, which I consider a most important thing.
It was most beneficial in this instance. It gave us, in
the first place, confidence in the men; and, secondly,
by testing their strength, it enabled us to form an opi-
nion as to the extent of labour they could endure.
This was continued as far as the weather would admit.
Previous to this I assembled all the officers together
and gave them the plan of operations, which I take
the opportunity of saying were wholly my own ; for
my occupation during the winter was having my in-
structions before me, as well as all the best works
which had been written on the subject of Arctic
travel. All the officers to whom I communicated
my opinions appeared satisfied with their destinations,
and I called upon them to give me their views and
their anticipations, to name their sledges, select their
men, their flag, and their motto, and they were to be
brought to me on a certain day. This was done and
received my approval. I never met with so much
earnestness as was exhibited on that occasion by the
officers and men in training for that work. At the
same time I consulted all the authorities as, to the time
I could ensure safety in departure, because I felt that
we could not go away too early ; first, that we should
avoid the risk of the ice being disrupted in the strait
on our return, and second, because as the season ad-
vanced the labour of proceeding would become so
much greater. Everything worked well, and was
highly satisfactory. During the period of detention
from the weather, seeing that there was great anxiety,
I addressed one of the beat petty officers of the
division and asked him how he felt about the
weather, and he said he thought the sooner
we were off the better. My attention was
rather called to this remark of his, and
I asked him why? His reply was, I feel assured
that we shall find it much worse as the season ad-
vances than the severity we have now. That con-
vinced me that the men were reasoning and reflecting,
and I derived considerable satisfaction from the cir-
cumstance. The time had arrived for an inspection
of the parties as arranged for departure, and I must
Say that I never witnessed anything equal to it in
my life. The earnestness, determination, and general
conduct of all afforded me the highest gratification. I
addressed them on the spot and issued a memoran-
dum. I felt it due to them to embody my opinions
in a document, so that they might stand on record as
a public document; that document will be amongst
the papers to be produced. They departed, and from
that time until they returned not one of the arrange..
ments we had made failed. When they returned
they did so, just as was anticipated, and the greatest
confidence existed in the abilities of all to accom-
plish what they bad undertaken. "I had almost
forgotten to state that as the parties came in I
again dispatched what I considered the limited
and auxiliary parties ; first, in order that in
the event of anything happening to the distant
parties, they should be there to bring them in ; and
second, in order that what had been discovered
should be satisfactorily laid down—that is, that the
positions should be fixed, and that all should be sur-
veyed that could by any possibility be accomplished.
Captain Penny reached the Resolute, and communi-
cated to me that he bad discovered a large space of
water up the Wellington Strait. At this time I
really bad no assistance to give to Captain Penny, but
I am by no means prepared to admit that Captain
Penny asked me for it. My impression is, that I
observed to Captain Penny that I regretted that I
had not the means, but that we must have a boat in
that water. What I meant by that was, that Captain
Penny and myself, that is, with my assistance, should
have a boat in that water, and I recollect also that
Mr. Allen, the master of the Resolute, said to me,
"Why, sir, I should be glad to go under Captain
Penny, if it is only to do the astronomical part." I
said, " You have gratified and pleased me much; we
must talk that over." This conversation occurred
after our dinner, on, I believe, a royal birthday. I
have no very full recollection of this, but I may
refer to my notes, and, if necessary, I will return
to the subject hereafter. Previous to this, in the
afternoon, Captain Penny aid myself were walking
before dinner, and I desired to ielicit from Cap-
tain Penny, if I could, what really was the state
of the case as to the water ; for round about me
there was nothing but ice, aud I could not well un-
derstand that he had been in an open sea, cireum-
-1 04110e4 al We Were. I put some don 110509114 to