McCliu took 's  own  journey  to  Melville  Island  in  1851  covered  the  unpre-
cedented distance  of  800  miles.  He  was  away  eighty  days  from  the  ship,  and
his  men  came  back  in  perfect  health.  It  was  a  memorable  triumph.  All  the
other  **  Assistance  "  parties  carried  out  their  instructions  and  returned,  having
suflbred  nothing  but  from  frost  bites  and  snow  blindness.  It  was  a  thorougldy
well-conducted  expedition.  "Wlien  the  four  vessels  returned  to  Woolwich  it
was  resolved  by  the  Admiralty  to  mud  tht-m  out  again.  One  division,  con-
i  is  ting  of  the  *'  Resolute  "  and  "  Intrepid/'  was  to  proceed  to  Melville  Island,
niainly  w'ith  the  ol>|ect  of  relieving  the  **  In%^esti^4^itnr  "  some  anxiety  being
felt  owing  to  her  long  absence.  This  object  was  happily  effected.  The
"  Kesolute  "  and  "  Intrepid  "  passed  the  winter  of  1852 — 53  at  Dealy  Island,
off  the  coast  of  Melville  Island.  McClintock  did  not  fail  to  make  provision
for  the  winter  amusements  of  the  men.  He  felt  its  importance,  although  his
temperament  did  not  admit  of  his  joining  personally  in  any  thing  but  the  actual
arrangements.
In  the  severe  autumn  travelling  of  1852,  McClintock  surpassed  himself.
He  was  away  forty  days,  and  laid  out  a  depot  at  a  distance  of  260  miles.  His
spring  travelling  in  1853  was  the  greatest  achievement,  with  men  alone,  that
has  ever  been  done,  and  it  remains  unsurpassed.  He  started  on  April  4  and
returned  on  July  13,  being  away  106  days,  covering  1328  statute  miles  at  a
rate  of  1 1  miles  a  day,  and  discovering  886  miles  of  new  land,  including  the
northern  half  of  Prince  Patrick  Island.
