On the morning of
the 21st we hauled the launch up on the beach, it being my intention to
direct such resources of every kind to be landed as would render our
party wholly independent of the ship, either for returning to England or
for wintering, in case of the ship being driven to sea by the ice; a
contingency against which, in these regions, no precaution can
altogether provide. I directed Lieutenant Foster, upon whom the charge
of the Hecla was now to devolve, to land without delay the necessary
stores, keeping the ship seaworthy by taking in an equal quantity of
ballast; and, as soon as he should be satisfied of her security from
ice, to proceed on the survey of the eastern coast; but, should he see
reason to doubt her safety with a still farther diminution of her crew
to relinquish the survey, and attend exclusively to the ship. I also
gave directions that notices should be sent, in the course of the
summer, to the various stations where our depots of provisions were
established, acquainting me with the situation and state of the ship,
and giving me any other information which might be necessary for my
guidance on our return from the northward. These and other arrangements
being completed, I left the ship at five P.
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