Leopold McClintock to James Clark Ross (15/Oct/1851)
90 Great Portland Street. London.
Wednesday 15th. Octr: 1851
[Read] 16 & 22
My dear Sir James
your truly kind and most flattering note would not so long have remained unanswered but for the unusual manner in which we were bundled out of our ships, and ^the present^ inaction of the Admiralty which keeps us in suspense.
The great exhibition too, has left us but little leisure. In the course of a few days I shall have it in my power to send you a copy of my Journal of the journey to Melville Island should you desire to see it, and if any of the details of our proceedings would be interesting to you I will most readily transmit a copy of them to you. our travelling equipment was almost a copy of yours in 1849 but from having provided the greater part of it in England we were enabled to reduce the constant weights so as to carry 40 days provisions instead of 30 days. for instance my tent and poles weighed 39 ½ lbs instead of 52 lbs; macIntosh floor cloth 9 lbs instead of 23lbs; sledge 62lbs instead of 100lbs. the men wore canvas boots with a single leather sole, and blanket wrappers instead of hoze upon their feet. on the sledge a trough 18 inches in depth and resembling in shape a cot, was placed and in it all the lading was placed; some of these were of Gutta percha & others of oiled canvas so that the sledge might pass through water & even float without wetting anything; this affair we found very useful. our daily allowance of meat was 1lb Pemican & 6 oz of Pork.
whilst only Melville Island we had abundance of game, I shot 4 musk oxen & saw 46, besides reindeer, hares, &c.. On my return I assured Captain Austin that by naming some of our discoveries after you, as the person to whom my gratitude was due for being in the position to ask so great a favor, he would satisfy any claim my labors might have given me; and I beg you will accept this humble but sincere tribute of esteem since it is the only one I have to offer, and is the only request I have made of Capt Austin.
I believe the Admiralty intend a board of officers to sit & inquire into the recent Arctic operations, and hear that Admiral Bowles and Capt Fanshawe have been sent for.
I remain my dear Sir
very sincerely yours
F. L. M:Clintock