The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-05

ia1d: b foremost e charge me With rsst want 0!
public money, md would their L rdshps think that
had displayed that 6rmuess Of Character vhica
warrant them tn reposing similar confdences Re
curing to pert Of tth narrative, another con.
alteration IN Conjunction with leaving ship behind
presented itself The North Star was periled at her
quarters, and II the vessel left out met with dsas-
ter then the means left for the relief OF Capt Collin
son would Be disspated TO support the crew Of the
yese.l wr5caed. Again Il vessel, say the Talbot,
had been left behind and cut into wintsr quarters,
now impeativeIy necessary to decide ON inssanter,
abe might not be able to cut out next season. and
the necessity Of her sband ,nment would again be-
come fresh subject Of doubt. or this un saiaty
We had the year Of 1868, when the Breadalba0e was
ost and the open season this year, when the North
Star aide by three oiers amounting 70 four tim 8
ner establishment, only succeeded in reachiog ths
nee edge Or the 2ist Of August. 1t has been sur.
missed that council OF officers should have bsen
held. But confidently ask If, after had Quilted
tDis position and time passed, could calculate on
uranwity Of cecison. In one instance, it was sux.
eested BY their lordships, noon the question Of
abandoamess OF furtoer search, paragraph g. No. q,
"ADd II such should likewise be your opinion
CATER mature confederation with the seuors under
your command) theee appears no other course
left, but 70 abandon all further search"
csndidiy ask, intrusted as | was with full
powers, most completely in possession Of the
views Of her Majesty's government. and with my
dnal orders before me, was - risk confusion OF
councils, and, finally to act a. l thought proper
Ct such critical momenr7 Was this Contemplated
when this command was entrusted to me, and was
1t to such an alternative that was 10 be driven to
screen myself from responsibility? No one, I feel
sure, would give credit for conduct 80 unworthy
Of the coLfdente rcposed in me, so likely to pro
duce dissension and i'll feeling among those asso
catt with me, by possibly acting dismetri ally in
opposition. to opinion given uader such cieeum.
stances. even if majority thought vito me. have
hesid OF council Of war termed the preparation for
retreat, but trust that my b. may never be turn
ed from the enemy; nor do fear to make my sell
responsible for my conduct, or for my decision 10
this expedition. The appreciation Of my Lords Com
nsti0ners Of the Admiralty, under the views IN
,ained in my former despatch, fully satisfied me
that the course adopted would meet with their ap
probation the merits Of the CASE decided TO tue
best Of my ability, and under tie trust reposed 10
me, st. to withdraw the crew of the Investigator OF
TO sppl0ve OF the measures adopted by Captain Kel
let's next that Of the Resoue (the crews Of tenders
being borne on the books of the ships to which they
were attache o. and, finally, that Of the Assistance
But with all due submission TO this honorable court
am here in England lon duty) in my gig awaiting
the further pleasure Of my Lords Commissioners 81
the Admin atty (as my dispatches ipdicats), and
ready, should such be their direction to reoin my
ship where my pendant was left flying. By the
will appear that blasting the ice was resorted to-
Now blasting, unless there be free space for the
dislocated ice 70 doat on Is but very injadicious
expenditure OF powder The removal of ice, not
exceeding eighteen feet in thickness, even to free
the chip from her winter berth, one hundred and
sixty feet ahead cost the labor Of ou one hundred
nd six men at the rate Of about fourteen hours aday
over one month. The docking ship in the foe Is
only deemed temporary measure TO avoid nips,
never for winter quarters. 80 cut the North Star
out of winter quarters, with open waters outside
distance Of about eleven hundred yards, occupied
one hundred and sixty men and officers from the
tenth of June until the twenty.frst Of August,
sevsntytwo days In ice varying from three to seven
feet But In the course Of taking opinion fully oou
suited all the officers around me- and taking not the
opinion any particular, decided In the spirit
Of their lordships instructions to abandonment f
such likewise should be your opinion no possible
chance offered Of extrcating her Majestys ship As
sisasne IN the season Of 1854, aud my nstru tions
directed me, possible, that all the if not tbs
vessels were to come home. Commander Richards
has informed you that the crew Of the Assista see
were enervated by continued service. Why they
Heie in worse condition than chat or Kellett's
ship or the North Star, has not bsen stated.
The former had the resources Of Melville
leland, affording daily, for . period, Ii h. per
man, Of beef and venison, besides small game, &C.
tivity and amusement; whereas the cre1 Of the Az
stores, except casual hare, or p,armigan, snot by
single sportsmen in the barren, unproductive vii
derness where our ship wintersd. Thu North Ssar,
also, had the successive refreshments provided by
the several vessels which touched at Beecley Island
and her crew were nearly exchanged in 1858 by the
men brought ont by the Phoenix. The ev dencs of
Commander Richards is fully borne out by that of
he medical Officers. A general survey wa5 hsd
observation could not be ignorant not only Of the
present ailings but OF the general disposition 70
disease throughout the crews. Lest any iaicon
eelton should arise with respect to tae s,a!e Of
was 80 far satisfactory that no complain. was mads
by the crsw, and 1t Is we'll known that seamea sci.
com omit to let their feelings on such matters be
known on the quarterback. Neither fuel, clothing,
mr. man In oyrh IN IN
warrant leaving crew-for the health and comfort
Of my officers and crew had been deemed to be my
6rst consideration and upon the m liter Of comfort
to the officers, ali had been spared that could bs
sent to those who were in want at B sechey Island
and was informed that neither meas articles nor
wine nor any wine for the SICK remained TO render
the winter more than that Of simple endurance I'M
der tie high profs ssional feelings which actuated
formed that NO volunteers among the crew would be
found. The evidence Of Commander M'Clintock
goes, humbly submit, and. he Is no ua,om n,n an.
thoity to prove most clearly that With his expert:
Leopold and Burrows Straits, both under Capt Aus.
tin In 1S505l, and now with our expedite IN, that
the cause of the ice not clearing in the Wellington
Channel 70 De eDuted 70 the OF
Resolute? And although much opinion has been
brought 70 bear on matters on which direct evil
dence ~ to fact on oath Is necessary, trust, with
all cue submission to the court, that no rsliabls
10 meet any Of the questions involved add without
considering the powers entrusted to me. Bat that
there ia no evidence whatever of any of these new
opinions ever having been submitted to my cous-
derasion when ! was within Lancaster Sound,
could even, had been necessarily compelled to be
influenced by the opinion of any one, have attended
to their opinions on such untenable grsunis. now
arrive at the evidence Of Captain Mcclure and here
must make my stand, in so far as my opinions and
general acts relative TO Captain Collins0n are con-
cerned. To whom could look for Information 50
securely a. to the intentions Of Captain Collinson
as TO the dangers to which he might be subject,
and to the probability Of his coming towards
Beectey Island? Surely it will no. be for one
moment entertained that conversation, conf ien-
tial or private correspondence, on the intensely
exciting objects Of this expedition, are not the
true ndioes of the minds Of the nmost feelings Of
those associated with me. II am 70 be guided
solely by official communications, let them be pro
duced-I acknowie ige none. But must strongly
resist any opinions formed in this country, after
my ultimate acts after quitting Beechey Island hal
revealed intel q nee on which II would then be in.
Yne dent 70 act. Cantain Mc(ylura had informed