The ship was cleaned and put in thorough order, and, after M’Clure had examined her for the last time, and had addressed a few words to the men, which according to Armstrong, were not particularly complimentary, the _Investigator_ was abandoned on June 3. Lieutenant Cresswell and several members of the expedition joined the _North Star_ at Beechey Island, and were finally conveyed to England by H.M.S. _Phœnix_ during the summer of 1853. Those who remained on board the _Resolute_ and _Intrepid_ were destined to spend yet another winter in the ice, but they eventually reached home in safety during the autumn of 1854. The ships themselves, however, had to be abandoned, the crews being taken on board the _North Star_, which was still in the neighbourhood. It is worthy of mention that in May, 1854, a party was sent from the _Resolute_ to report on the condition of the _Investigator_ in Mercy Bay. It appeared, from the condition of the ice, that she had not been released during the summer, and that M’Clure and his men would have perished had they remained on board. The expedition, though it resulted in the discovery of the North-West Passage, cannot be regarded as an entire success. It must be remembered that it was sent out to take part in the Franklin Search and not to add to the world’s store of geographical knowledge. The coast of Bank’s Land was examined, it is true, but had not M’Clure been so possessed of a desire to complete the passage himself, he would probably have accomplished a great deal more. Collinson’s voyage in the _Enterprise_, if less sensational than M’Clure’s, was really far more remarkable, not only for the brilliant manner in which he conducted it, but also for the fact that, though he did not know it, he was the first of the search parties to approach the spot where the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ had been lost. Passing Cape Lisburne a fortnight later than M’Clure, and not knowing whither the _Investigator_ had gone, he examined the pack for a short distance and then sailed south to Hong-Kong, where he spent the winter. As soon as the conditions permitted he returned to the scene of his labours and rounded Point Barrow on the last day of July. Entering Prince of Wales’ Strait, he succeeded in following it almost to its mouth, but, as he had already learnt from a record left by M’Clure that his junior officer had discovered the North-West Passage, and that there was, in consequence, no object in his proceeding further in that direction, he turned south again and found winter quarters in Walker Bay. Sledging expeditions were sent out during the autumn and spring to look for the _Investigators_ and to try to discover traces of Franklin, but in neither object did they meet with any success. The _Enterprise_ was released in August, 1852, and, having explored Prince Albert Sound, Collinson set his course eastward along the coast of America, and eventually reached the east end of Dease Strait, where he spent the next winter.