Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1854a

1. Capt E. Belcher, with his eastern division, the Assistance and Pioneer reports (p. 13, 62-84) the voyage into Wellington Channel to winter quarters in Northumberland Sound, a boat expedition north across Belcher Channel to Cornwall Island, journeys westward across north Bathurst Island by Lyall and Cheyne; naming of new geographical features; Eskimo ruins; footwear of sledgers with illus. (p. 72); organization of sledge expeditions to the northeast under Belcher, and southwest under Richards (p. 75-77); depots established at Capes Majendie and Lady Franklin, Mount Beaufort, and Northumberland Sound; crews; fold. map (at p. 84) shows Belcher's discoveries through Wellington and Queens Channels to Cornwall Island.

2. Capt. Henry Kellett, with the western division, the Resolute and Intrepid, gives (p. 85-97) a condensed report (1852-53) of the voyage from Beechey Island westward to winter quarters at Dealy Island off the south coast of Melville Island, activities of the 1852 autumn sledge parties, one of which discovered message left by M'Clure at Winter Harbour; sledge journey by Pim to contact M'Clure at the Investigator's winter quarters in Mercy Bay, Banks Island (p. 87, 89-93); arrival at Dealy Island of the Investigator crew, in poor health; monthly temperature tabulation and wind directions (p. 95-97) al Dealy Island, 1852-53.

3. Cmdr. W. J. S. Pullen, at Beechey Island, North Star (p. 103-147): journal Aug. 1852-Feb. 1853 (p. 103-129), including visits by the Prince Albert and the Isabel (p. 105-108, 110-12); ice dock cut for North Star (p. 107); Pullen's expedition to Maxwell Bay, Devon Island; Eskimo ruins (p. 109); reference to reported entry of the Prince of Wales into Jones Sound (p. 111); M'Cormick's boat expedition (p. 113, 127); the North Star aground, and means adopted for her release (p. 115-23); wintering arrangements aboard ship, ice in Wellington Channel, birds and animals, mean, maximum and minimum temperatures at Beechey Island 1852, wind observations Jan. 1853, tidal currents (p. 124, 126, 129); dogs (p. 125, 128); clothing, victuals (p. 125-26).

Reports of proceedings, North Star, 1852-53 (p. 131-36), with outline chart, showing position of the North Star in Erebus Bay, maps at end of the volume; journal of a sledge journey by Shellabear from Beechey Island across Wellington Channel to Cape Phillips on Cornwallis Island (p. 137-42).

Drowning of Joseph René Bellot is reported (p. 142-47), cf. No. 1304, 27482 of Arctic Bibliography.

4. Dr. Robert M'Cormick's boat expedition up Wellington Channel in 1852, from Beechey Island to Baring Bay (Owen Point) and return, is reported (p. 187-225), with numerous detailed observations on ice conditions, coastal features, flora, fauna, Eskimo ruins, geology, etc.; M'Cormick's report is illustrated with sketches of topographic features in southwestern Devon Island, viz. (in turn, except as pages cited): Cape Spencer, Lovell Point, Cape Bowden, Cape McBain, Cape Daniell (i. e. Bellot Point?), Emery Bay, Pim Point, McCormick Bay, Franklin Beacon (p. 196, 208), Cape Osborn (p. 197, 205), Mount Providence, Baring Bay (p. 199, 205, 217), Owen Point (p. 202, 203), Prince Alfred Bay, Eden Point, Rogier Head, Cape Thoms, Domville Point, Griffin Bay, and Caswall Tower, also Cornwallis Island, east coast.

M'Cormick concluded his report with (p. 216-25) a list of game killed, dimensions of a polar bear; speculations on the Franklin expedition; views on preservation of health in the Arctic (p. 223-24), including recommendations regarding diet, provisions, clothing, exercise, medicines; and proposal for further search.

M'Cormick's track chart is appended, map 3 at end of volume.

5. Capt. E. A. Inglefield: reports, etc. from his voyage with the Phoenix and Breadalbane June-Sept. 1853, to take supplies and coal to Belcher's base at Beechey Island and return at once to England (p. 1-20).

Includes crushing of the whaler Rose, engineer's report on Greenland coal (p. 10), sinking of the Breadalbane, report of the drowning of Bellot.

6. Capt. Robt. M'Clure in the Investigator: report (1850-53) of Investigator's passage (1850) eastward along the north continental coast to Point Warren (p. 24-29), and to Cape Bathurst (p. 29-33), with detailed description of Eskimos, Horton River and Smoking Mountains (p. 33-34), landing on Banks Island and penetration of Prince of Wales Strait to winter quarters at Princess Royal Islands (p. 34-37); sledge journeys (1851) northeastward to Viscount Melville Sound (p. 37-39), along west coast of Victoria Island into Prince Albert Sound, with detailed description of Eskimos, discovery of copper ore (p. 39-40); sledge journey around northwestern Victoria Island into Hadley Bay, and along southeastern Banks Island (p. 40-41), failure of attempt to enter Viscount Melville Sound, return around south end of Banks Island, continuing northward up west coast (p. 43-46), entrance into M'Clure Strait to winter quarters at Mercy Bay (p. 49); spring (1852) sledge journey to Winter Harbour on southwest Melville Island (p. 50); second winter (1852-53) at Mercy Bay (p. 51-54); tabulated meteorological data 1850-53, game killed, daily rations, boats stores, etc.; arrival of Pim from one of Kellett's sledge parties at Winter Harbour, and movement of the Investigator's crew to Kellett's winter quarters at Dealy Island (p. 87, 89-93).

M'Clure's despatches announcing discovery of Northwest Passage are delivered in England by Cresswell (p. 21-22). Map 4 at end of volume shows Northwest Passage as discovered by M'Clure.

7. Capt. C. Frederick in the Amphitrite: reports (p 156-59) his 1853 voyage from Honolulu to Bering Strait and the northwest coast of Alaska, his survey of the Plover.

8. Capt. R. Maguire in the Plover: report of the voyage (1852) from Port Clarence to winter quarters at Point Barrow, boat expedition eastward to Dease Inlet, sledge journey to the Colville River mouth, and return to Port Clarence (p. 160-63).

Appended (p. 165-85) is Maguire's narrative covering the same period, with detailed observations on natives, their appearance, customs, manners, habits, thievery, villages, etc.; specific altercations with them, and means of handling such are described; orders (1853) from Admiralty (p. 149); report by Vernon of brief boat voyage southwest of Point Barrow (p. 185-86); map showing tracks followed by the Plover's traveling parties faces p. 186; survey of the Plover (p. 159).

9. Cmdr. H. Trollope in the Rattlesnake: orders and report Mar.-Sept. 1853 (p. 147-56) of voyage to Bering Strait to resupply the Plover, and return to England.