that it would have occasioned thee, the want of comforts more
than might have been provided, and more especially, if what
thou fearedst had taken place; these, oh then I think, that it is best
that it should be as it is. – We have, my dearest, done much
towards the accomplishment of ^ ^the service for which we came out;
many risks we have run, but escaped from all, and at least
done as much as, time and circumstances considered, can
be expected. Had we found an inlet which would admit us
into the interior of New Holland, I should have been much
better pleased, but as such did not exist, we could not find
it; several important discoveries however are made, of
islands, bays and inlets; of these, when the charts go home
thou wilt probably see something said in the newspapers
or magazines. This reminds ^ ^me of expreƒsing a wish to thee,
that thou wilt, in thy journal, mention what is said of
the Investigator or of me in any public papers. I hope thou
wilt send me a journal of all that occurs ^ ^to thee; it will be
the greatest delight I can receive, to travel and see thy
friends with thee, to read with thee, go into retirement
and into company with thee, for I shall fancy myself
with thee on reading thy account.
    It will grieve thee, as it has me, to understand, that poor
Thistle was lost upon the south coast. Thou knowest how
I valued him; he is however gone, as well as M^r Taylor and
six seamen, who were all drowned in a boat. No remains
of them were found; but the boat, which was stove all to
pieces against the rocks, was picked up. M^r Fowler agrees
better with me than he did earlier in our acquaintance;
he does not find it so difficult a task to please me, as he once
thought; and I believe he now has the inclination to do it.
I wish so much could be said of my brother; the distance be-
-tween us has widened considerably. He is satisfied with being
as much inferior to other officers as I would have him supe-
-rior to them. With my meƒsmates, and all the other gentlemen
of the ship, with but one exception, every thing goes on smooth-
-ly and well. John Franklin approves himself worthy of