In the meantime the _North Star_ with her provisions and despatches had spent the winter in North Star Bay, in Wolstenholme Sound, 76° 33´ north latitude and 68° 56´ west longitude. Not until August, 1850, did she get free of her retreat, and some days later in Lancaster Sound she spoke the _Lady Franklin_ and _Sophia_ under the command of Mr. Penny. These ships had been equipped mainly at the expense of Lady Franklin; had sailed early in the spring and, though independent of the government expeditions, were to coöperate with them as circumstances demanded. Later the _North Star_ fell in with the _Felix_, a schooner-rigged vessel of one hundred and twenty tons, provisioned for eighteen months and under that veteran sea captain and explorer, Sir John Ross. The _Felix_ had been equipped by public subscription and sent out for the purpose of searching the west side of the entrance of Wellington Channel from Cape Hotham to Banks Land. The _North Star_ deposited a quantity of provisions at a point the commander named Navy Board Inlet, on the mainland behind Wollaston Island, and erected a cairn and flagstaff, having first made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Port Bowen and Port Neale. In Possession Bay she spoke the _Prince Albert_, that gallant little craft, equipped in greater part by the devoted Lady Franklin, who had raised the necessary funds by selling out all personal securities which she could legally touch. Commander Charles C. Forsyth and Mr. W. P. Snow had volunteered their services without compensation, and the object of this expedition was to examine the shores of Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia and send out travelling parties to examine the west side of Boothia down to Dease and Simpson straits. Shortly after this, the _North Star_ turned homeward, reaching Spithead, England, September 28, 1850. The British government had by now outfitted two strong teak-built ships, the _Resolute_ and the _Assistance_, and two steam vessels, the _Pioneer_ and _Intrepid_. The object of this expedition was to renew the search by way of Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound. Captain H. T. Austin commanded the _Resolute_, Captain Ommaney the _Assistance_, Lieutenant Sherard Osborn the _Pioneer_, and Lieutenant Commander Cator the _Intrepid_. Of what they accomplished, we shall speak later.