Year: 1875




is supposed to have passed down
Peel Strait in order to reach the
position where we know his ships were finally
beset. This would seem to indicate that
Peel Strait and the bottom of McClintock
Channel are, in some seasons at least, open
enough to allow navigation. Secondly,
when the Fox was finally stopped by this
pack an expanse Of open water was
seen beyond, which, if she could
have arrived at, she would probably
have been enabled to reach King
Williams Island. My hope was that would
find this pack broken up, as it must have
been the season that Sir John Franklin
passed through, and Ihoped, if had found
open water here, to reach King Williams
Island without difficulty; thence, by passing
around the eastern side Of the island in
stead of the western, would have avoided
the danger Of being beset where
Franklin was and hoped to pass
through Dease and Simpson straits,
and SO on along the coast to Behring
Strait. Thus it will be seen that the
doubtful and intricate navigation Of the
Northwest Passage is reduced to distance
of about 100 miles. 1t is now known that
the latitude of Bellot Strait, 72 deg. north,
may be reached by proceeding down Peel
Strait as well as by Regent Inlet, and as for
the prospect of any future attempt, we need
scarcely take into account any further
obstacles than might be met between
the limits of that point and the north
ern shore Of King Williams Island.


Unfortunately we were stopped by the
same pack which arrested the progress Of the
Fox, although by navigating the whole
length of Peel Strait, hitherto found impas-
sable for ships, we had approached it from
different side. We had chosen this route in
preference to that of Bellot Strait as offer
ing greater chances of getting through the
pack because we would have had better OPP
portunities of reaching any lead that might
have offered, or, perhaps, Of penetrating
between the pack and the shore Of Prince of
Wales Land. The result, then, Of our expe-
dition has not proved the impracticability of
the Northwest Passage. A more favorable
season might permit of success. The pack
alone prevented our further progress Our
ship was perfectly equipped and in better
condition than when she left England. We
had still ninety-fve tons of coal on board,
everybody in good health and spirits and
very anxious to proceed. 1t was only the
obstacles offered by nature that prevented
the accomplishment of our enterprise


THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.


do not, therefore, wish to protest against
the possibility of making the Northwest
Passage. On the contrary, believe it will
yet be done.


AS to the second object of our expedition,
our hope was to reach King William Island
in time for summer search for the books
and papers of the Erebus and Terror,
which recorded scientific observations
extending over period of four
years, and would have been probably
deposited in some place on the land in or
near the vicinity of the imprisoned ships,
there to await another expedition, which
would certainly have been sent for the pur-
pose Of recovering them had any of the party
succeeded in reaching home.


This supposition is confirmed by reports
brought home by that enterprising and gal
liant American explorer, Captain Hall, who
gathered from conversations with the Esqui-
maux that tradition existed Of somo such
deposit


When that great Arctic explorer. Sir Leo
pold McClintock made his most exhaustive
search in his extraordinary sledge journey
from Bellot Strait down the east coast of
King Williams Island to the mouth of the
great Fish River and Montreal Island, thence
round the south and west coast, and thus cir
cumtravelling the whole island, the ground
was covered with deep snow, and it is pos
sible that many objects were concealed that
might when the ground was bare have been
revealed, and on this supposition our project
was founded; but the same obstacle that
prevented our making the Northwest Pas
sage also rendered it impossible to obtain
any further information regarding the man
ner in which those brave men died who
gave their lives for the noble cause of science
and their country's honor, but not without
having been the first to discover the North
west Passage


In closing my letter let me again thank
you for the generous and disinterested way
in which you have assisted my undertaking,
and the liberal spirit you displayed when
you thus showed that the cause of science is
Of no nationality, and that you were as ready
t6aid an English expedition as you would,
feel sure, be equally ready to aid one organ
lied and sent out by your own countrymen.


On our way back we decided to make
another attempt to obtain news Of the
progress of the English Arctic expedition,
sent out under Captain Mares, by searching
the Carey Isles, and if necessary, even to pro-
ceed as far north as Littleton Island, where
also the Polaris passed her second winter.
You will see by the English papers the good
news we brought home and which have l