ongst them were several cases in which portions of
injured feet had to be amputated; only one man had fallen, John
Malcolm, a seaman of the "Resolute;" he, poor fellow, appears to have
been delicate from the outset, having fainted on his road to the place
of inspection and departure, in April, 1851.

[Headnote: _LIEUTENANT M'CLINTOCK RETURNS._]

After an absence of sixty-two days, Lieut. Aldrich, with the "Lady
Franklin" sledge, arrived from Byam Martin Channel. He had searched the
west coast of Bathurst Island, which tended a little westerly of north
until in latitude 76 deg. 15' N. At that point, the channel was still full
twenty miles wide between Bathurst and Melville Islands, and extended
northward as far as could be seen. The only things of note observed,
were reindeer, in the month of _April_, on Bathurst Island, and, with
the temperature at 60 deg. below freezing-point, they were grazing on moss
or lichen; this point placed beyond doubt the fact, which is now
incontestable, that the animals of the Parry group do not migrate to
the American continent in the winter. On his way back, Lieut. A. fell
in with large flocks of wild fowl winging their way _northward_.

The floes around our ships were entirely covered with the water of the
melted snow, in some places full four feet in depth, eating its way
rapidly through in all directions, when Lieut. M'Clintock's sledge, the
"Perseverance," and the "Resolute" sledge, Dr. Bradford's, hove in
sight, having been out exactly eighty days. Lieut. M'Clintock had been
to Winter Harbour, and visited all the points known to Parry's
squadron, such as Bushman Cove, Cape Dundas, &c.; but of course no
traces of Franklin. He had, however, brought a portion of Parry's last
wheel, used in his journey, and substantial proofs of the extraordinary
abundance of animal life in that remote region, in the hides and heads
of musk-oxen, the meat of which had helped to bring back his crew in
wonderful condition. Eighty head of oxen and reindeer had been counted
by Mr. M'Clintock, and he could have shot as many as he pleased. Dr.
Bradford's journey was not so cheering a one. He had been early knocked
up from a fall,--serious symptoms threatened, and for nearly a month
the gallant officer was dragged upon his sledge; carrying out--thanks
to his own pluck, and the zeal of his men--the object of his
journey,--the search of the eastern side of Melville Island. We were
now all in: Lieut. M'Clintock h