myself even to think of relinquishing the great object of my ambition, and of disappointing the flattering confidence that had been reposed in my exertions. But I had higher duties to perform than the gratification of my own feelings; and a mature consideration of all the above matters forced me to the conclusion, that we had reached that point beyond which perseverance would be rashness, and our best efforts must be fruitless. In order to put the reader completely in possession of the motives which would have influenced me, had I been entirely a free agent, I have mentioned them without allusion to the clause in my instructions which directed me to commence my return on the 15th or 20th of August, ‘if, in consequence of slow progress, or other unforeseen accident, it should remain doubtful whether we should be able to reach Kotzebue’s Inlet the same season.’
“In the evening I communicated my determination to the whole party; they received it with the good feeling that had marked their conduct: throughout the voyage, and they assured me of their cheerful acquiescence in any order I should give. The readiness with which they would have prosecuted the voyage, had it been advisable to do so, was the more creditable, because many of them had their legs swelled and inflamed from continually wading in ice-cold water while launching the boats, not only when we accidentally ran on shore, but every time that it was requisite to embark, or to land upon this shallow coast. Nor were these symptoms to be overlooked in coming to a determination; for though no one who knows the resolute disposition of British sailors can be surprised at their more than readiness to proceed, I felt that it was my business to judge of their capability of so doing, and not to allow myself to be seduced by their ardour, however honorable to them, and cheering to me. Could I have known, or by possibility imagined, that a party from the Blossom had been at only the distance of 160 miles from me, no dangers, difficulties, nor discouraging circumstances, should have prevailed on me to return; but taking into account the uncertainty of all voyages in a sea obstructed by ice, I had no right to expect that the Blossom had advanced beyond Kotzebue Inlet, or that any party from her had doubled Icy Cape. It is useless now to speculate on the probable result of a proceeding which did not take place, but I may observe, that, had we gone forward as soon as the weather permitted, namely on the 18th, it was scarcely possible that any change of circumstances could have enabled us to overtake the Blossom’s barge.”
The point at which Captain Franklin’s voyage towards Behring’s Strait terminated is in lat. 70° 20' N., and long. 148° 52' W.; but his discoveries extend to a hummock, named Point Beechey, in lat. 70° 24' N., long. 149° 37' W.: the Blossom’s barge, under the command of Mr. Thomas
