The officer's load consisted of a gun, powder and ball, telescope, compass, and note-book; and as all the party, in anticipation of cold weather, had to be heavily clad, it may be supposed that the total weight to be dragged through snow and over rough ice was quite as much as the stoutest physical powers were capable of. Several days previous to departure we had travelled short journeys, in perfect marching order, and sledges ladened,--an arrangement which was highly beneficial; and from the way the sledges went over the floe, they gave us high hopes of answering our expectations in the forthcoming march. From head-quarters the following arrangement of sledges was made public:-- Capt. Erasmus Ommanney was to cross Barrow's Strait to Cape Walker, with the following sledges and officers under his orders: he there was to use his own judgment as to the disposal of the force, it being required, in the event of two routes showing themselves, viz., one to the S.W., and the other W., that Lieut. Sherard Osborn was to be ordered to take up the latter. [Headnote: _GRAND SOUTHERN SEARCH._] _CAPTAIN OMMANNEY'S COMMAND._ +-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+ | Long-party sledge |Reliance | _Domine dirige nos_ |Captain Ommancy, | | | | |six men. | +-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+ | Ditto ditto |True Blue | _Nil desperandum_ |Lieutenant | | | | |Osborn, seven | | |men. | +-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+ | Supporting sledge |Succour | _Sequor juvare_ |Lieut. G. F. | | | | |Mecham, six men. | +-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+ | | | Gaze where some | | | | | distant speck | | | Ditto ditto |Enterprise | a sail implies, |Lieut. W. H. | | | | With all the |Browne, six men. | | | | thirsting gaze | | | | | of enterprise. | | +-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+ | Ditto ditto }| | Nothing adventure, |Mr. Vesey | | to Lieutenant }|Adventure | Nothing win |Hamilton (mate), | | Osborne |seven men. | +-------------------------------+---------------------+-----------------+ | Ditto ditto |Inflexible | _Respice finem_ |Mr. Charles | | | | |Ede (assist. |