The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 22, 1853.

ried away by one of them a short time previous, while
playing on the shore a little distance from her. The
We continue to-day our publication of Captain poor creature shed tears in relating the catastrophe.
M`Cluro's despatches:— lAt parting several presents were bestowed upon
Her Majesty's Discovery Ship Investigator, them, which had the effect of eliciting promises
off Cape Bathurst, Polar Sea, Aug. 30, of friendship for us or any of our white brethren
1850, in lat. 70.28 N., long. 128 33 W, who might come on their coast. These people had
Sir,—ln accordance with the intention expressed at no article of European manufacture, except a few
the conclusion of my last letter, I proceeded in the first iron pots, which certainly they gave a very formidable
rice for—no less than five of the best silver fox-skins
whaleboat, accompanied by Dr. Armstrong and Mr. P
for each. The tribe leave the Cape about the 20th of
Miertsching, followed by Lieutenant Cresswell and a
party of officers in a cutter, bringing a vuriety of pre. September, when the ice is sufficiently strong to bear
their sledges, for the purpose of bartering with the
bordering tribe; they then go to their winter houses
sents. We were met upon landing by two women, who
some distance inland, with the exception of a few faini-
Ir greeted us very cordially, and, through the medium of
the interpreter, acquainted me that the remainder of the
pitable shore. Sept. 2d.—Fine day, with lAA northerly
tribe were at Cape Bathurst, catching whales, which was lies who live the entire year upon this bleak and inhos-
at no great distance, and they would be our guides.
Gladly availing ourselves of this apparently fortunate in. wind,ran along the pack edge,the ice being h avy and im-
cident, the boats were directed to pull along shore, while penetrable, not a drop of water to be seen fr the mast-
we, ascending the cliff, reached, a fine level plain, extend-
head among it ; the water between it and he shore is
ing several miles north and south, rich with verdure and practicable, although encumbered with mu loose ice.
abounding in moss. We preferred walking, hoping to meet Experienced a strong current from the south-east, which
some reindeer, for which the pasture was excellent, but set us to the westward of Bailley's Island. Upon the
mile-after mile was walked without any appearance of morning of the 3d the wind gradually vered to the south-
the fishing party. Arriving, after the expiration of three ward, bringing with it a very dense fog, and, being at the
hours, in a small bay, we were, however, gratified at time surrounded with heavy floe pieces and close sailing
being told this was the spot where two boats, the year ice, through which it was necessary to pursue our course,
before last, had pitched their tents for the night (Sir J. so that every advantage might be taken of the favourable
Richardson), and we had to go a very little further, breeze, the vessel occasionally came into violent collision.
CiU reaching the next bays_swe found. there two tents, At noon it cleared a little, when Trail Point bore
*
which our guides said belonged to them, but the Cape S.S.W. abouteseven"lffileiff-'itashded in 65 fathoms
ot
or any appearance of the tribe could not be seen. We (mud). The nights having a few hours' da ness, blue
declined going any further, as, in consequence of the lights and rockets are fired for the purpose attracting
wind falling light, the vessel was by this time hull down, the attention of any parties that might tie returning
We were then kindly invited to become partakers of their from Wollaston to Victoria Lands bound to the Mac-
tents, and go on the next morning, which hospitable offer kenzie. September 4.—Light variable winds, with
was not accepted ; but, bartering several articles in ex- warm weather, the temperature rising to 41 deg. ; the
change for salmon, and making them a few presents, we water along shore free from ice ; about four miles to
returned on board, when, at 10.30 p.m., it becoming dark the westward of the. Horton, sounded in 83 fathoms,
a and foggy, and getting into 3i fathoms, we anchored for and shortly after passed over a narrow shoal having but
the night. 13 fathoms ; a few pieces of heavy ice were grounded
August 31st, at daylight, found that we were between upon it ; the land appears to average from 80 to 100 feet
in height, composed of blue clay, intermingled with sand.
the mainland Bailey's Islands, about a mile from the
latter, the weather still foggy, with a moderate N.W.
Aeighheta,rantdhefrofimrstontiemtto
hfoauerbthe greater part of the day.
Many whales have been about the ship—at one time
breeze, but determined, if possible, to discover the fish-
ing party, at 7. 30 a.m. I left the ship, with Mr. Miert- marked upon some loose ice in-shore,eenseenimwt was lei kweewuilsl
nreet-
sching and Dr. Armstrong in the cutter, and after coast- allow of its being pursued. September s.—The weather,
ing about 10 miles, discovered upon the extremity of Cape which had been squally, accompanied by a thick fog,
during the early part of the day, cleared towards noon,
Bathurst, a large encampment, consisting of 30 tents and
9 winter houses, numbering a little over 300 people. wheniniles ftgeanvdolvmee
to
ftiLmeoaket warsdoelleritired about 12
teortoensieirn. Upon landing upon a very low isthmus, which connects the same sp. ot that it had
e attractedsw our attention
within a few yards the islands and mainland, we remarked day. As divers opinions were in circulation respectingir
a commotion at the village, and a number of men rushed its probable cause, and the ice-mate having positively re-
down the cliffs, launched their kyacks, and crossed to ported that from the crow's nest he could distinguish
severalan persons moving about, dressed in white shirts,
meat us ; hauling these light and elegant skiffs on the
beach, they advanced with knives drawn and bows observedcertainly
yd
every
wreahisteentetnet;min anhotllhow of the cliff,tl
bent, evidently prepared for hostilities. Finding by of Europeans in listress, convincedagie thate
nwoe weretravellersour gestures that our intentions were amicable, their would remain for so long a period as we had remarked
bows were returned to their sealskin cases, but the knives the smoke in one spot for their pleasure ; therefore, to
they still retained. The interpreter told them that hsaotaitsfyonmsyhself, equally as others, I determined to send a
our visit was friendly, and that they shouldePut away under Lieuetreen, aanstitewreasssnwoewllcawhirtiii
3T)hr. The Irrsmtswtrheanl whaleboat,
their knives. "Yes," said they, " when you do your Mr. Miertsching, was dispatched to examine into the
guns." To be allowed to carry the musket appeared a cause, who on their return reported the smoke to emanate
great favour, for which they presented you with their from 15 small mounds, of volcanic appearance, occupy-
knife, as a token of friendship. We remained upwards pinrgeganastpeadcwe
R.I.
sulphur,
50
hyards, the place strongly uln-
aan hour ; during the greater part of the time, Mr. 30 feet above the psear,levtele,
the highest
mhoeustndatobuetinfoa
feet.
t
Miertsching was in earnest conversation with the chief— The land in its vicinity was blue clay, much intersected
a fine, intelligent, middle-aged man—upon the neces- with ravines and deep watercourses, varying in elevation
sity of his forwarding our despatches to the Mackenzie, from 300 to 500 feet ; the mark of a reindeer was traced 1
which he promised most faithfully to perform, for which
to a small pond of water immediately above the mounds ;
he was to receive a musket and ammunition, and, upon
naont o tliocnegofreomuraihnaviy,ng ltahned ecclli
ffwaiss leefvtiden
which wllld
his delivering the packet, a further reward equal in value crumbling away. Thus the mystery of tylierav!rliter
to a silver fox-skin. He, however said that their tribe do shirts and tents was most satisfactorily explained.
not trade with the Mackenzie, but with another further A breeze shortly springing up from the westward,
south, who in their turn traffic with the Indians who
we made
considerably, d etraablhe N.E.tl ; during the night it
are in the service of the Hudson's-bay Company ; so, This, combined witk fyo'urlours':adianrkannedssthiek weather.
me
as they have to pass through three tribes of the heathen to shorten sail, although loath to lose the full compelledbenefit of
before they come into the hands of civilised men, the fair wind ; but we struck heavily against large blue
I think it extremely probable that they may never floe pieces that were barely above the water, that the
reach their destination. Mr. Miertsching, from his greatest vigilance and attention were insufficient to
knowledge of the Esquimaux character, thinks other-
aasvtoeir.d thAem,
rseoa tno alternative remained to prevent dis-
wise, and imagines that the chief will himself carry Franklin-bay great
noinlaesnsy
thsaena slsanedf Ntvhhealleasttewrewreerseeenla in
them. The perfect ease with which this gentleman un- ing around us at one time, but very small, or, according
derstands and converses with these interesting people to Greenland fishing phraseology, " having wily three-
surprises them very much ; they were most anxious for fAotot4bone," so Mr. Newton, the ice-mate, informs me.
him to remain, promising to be very kind. The chief small. a.m.,
duapnoenatrheeameoring of tho 6th, we were off tho
presented his daughter, a very pretty girl of about 15, miles, with a fine westerlypParry,bre e bearingbreeze,
andN,looseE
'llol4' ice,ten
who should be his-wife ; tents and all appurtenances interspersed with many heavy floe pieces ; the main
were to be added. While these negotiations were pack was about three miles to the N.W., apparently
going forward, upwards of 100 persons had descended one solid times. At 11.30 a.m, high land was, observed
from the village ; with such a concourse I did not think
miles.on On approaching it th the port bow, bearing N.E. by N., distaneabciut 50
it prudent to open the bag containing the presents, be restin uon the western the
main
, pack appeared tw-hich side it a
well knowing their cupidity is easily excited by the my intention to have coasted had it been possible ; he
display of such valuables, when they are not to be eastern one being, however, comparatively clear as far
relied on. We consequently returned to the boat, as could be ascertained from the masthead, decided me
When the chief was instructed in the use of his to follow the water, supposing it an island round which
gun, he showed himself an apt pupil, and when the taixnaes sdaro
working
l dt
eb ewfionudnwdairndt
toh the Polar Sea. Wet caonnd-
ammunition was given into his hands expressed himself by 9.30 a.m. of the 7th were
ofef wtllieolonftthhecanpigela,
a,
fine
very much gratified at the gift, and walked towards the bold headland, the cliffs rising perpendicularly upwards
village with his chief men. A line was then made on of a thousand feet, which was named "Lord Nelson's
the beach, which the recipients of gifts were not to pass Head," in memory of tche hero, whose early career was
(and this they perfectly understood), and the interpreter cwoanrndeec
hove to, and, Arctic adventure.
first haleeboshtorntld.
cutter,
rr-
then commenced the distribution. For a little time landed and took' posession, in the namew of her most gra-
order was maintained, but the fair sex becoming clamor- cious Majesty, calling it "Baring's Island," in honour of
ous and closing round, the line was broken, and to pre- the First Lord of the Admiralty. A pole was erected,
vent being driven into the water, we were compelled to with a large painted ball upon it, near a cask which was
leeffte,ncronhtainingh a notification and other particulars
retreat to the boat, which was lying aground about 20
yards from the beach. By this manoeuvre, we escaped artificial aluigizoneenpltaceereihe signal The fgshttasfr obtained by
from all that had not on water-tight boots, but still 71° 6' N., longitude 123° 0' W. ; and the fall of the
about 40 surrounded the cutter ; and, although all the tide was ascertained to be six inches during one hour
crew were stationed round her to prevent their getting and a half. We observed numerous recent traces of
on board, so eager and persevering were the women reindeer,er, hare, and wild fowl ; moss and divers species
that several were lifted in, endeavouring to seize speeimdeflnoswoefrtshewmereequaalsl?y' in
as
ge
~.,pot
tial übundabric
jeeet;s :3fainny
everything within their reach ; one of them in the most terest to the naturalist, were selected wer
ith much care
dexterous manner slipped the compass out of its box by Dr. Armstrong. From an elevation obtained of
into the breast of her jacket, and with difficulty it was about 500 feet we had a fine view towards the interior,
recovered. It was only by great firmness and stoppage which giving was well clothed with moss, • •
ng a verdantl ap-
of the supplies that we reduced them to order, or to b pearance to the ran
between 2,000 and 3,g000 feet, es of hills thainterstecrteesdewgirthadsuaavinyetse
quit the boat. The presents being at length distributed, which must convey a copious supply of water to a large
and every one in good humour, we wished them fare- lake situated in the centre of a wide plain, about 15
well, and commenced launching the boat, in which miles distant ; the sight to seaward was favourable in
the extreme • open water, with a.l very small quantity
operation they most vigorously assisted, and 17, in their
of ice, for the' distance of full 40
ntolfdts the east,
fairy kyacks, escorted us to the ship, arriving about a insured good progress in that direction,
quarter of an hour before we did—except one, who hay- board at 1 p.m., we made sail to the eastwarudr,ullinafrinaga
ing got some little distance off the shore, encountered a beating wind. Continued working along shore, in
a fresh breeze and rough sea. We shortened sail and
mixedsoundin vygisth"ryi
n fromol nine. to 76 fathoms, dark mud
took boat and all in. The poor fellow being drenched,
changed to yellowfine whitey' suanntt close., to the land, when it
we offered him a little brandy, which he drank at a foggy, our lead was the only ' guide ue
ntil 10
a.becomingln.
mouthful, not being aware of its strength. He suffered 9th ;it then cleared for a short time, when land was
the sensation to subside without evincing (except by his observed to the eastward, about 15 miles distant, ex-
tending to the northwardfar as the eye could reach.
eyes watering) any symptom of vexation, and then asked
The mountains in the interior are lofty
very re-
markable snow-covered,
for water. Many came on board the ship, but one onlya
while the low ground is quite free. Several e-
ventured below, who was exceedingly surprised to find markable peaks were discernible, apparrentlyof volcanic
that we had not tents, but houses (cabins), and said he origin. The discovery was named Prince Albert's Land,
should have many wonderful things to relate when he in honour of Her Majesty's Consort, in lat. 72 IN.
went home. This tribe is a fine intelligent race—cleanly, long. 119 25 W. Continuing our course slowly to the
handsome, and well-grown; and I deeply regret that so N.E.,in consequence of thick fog, snow, and baffling
little has been hitherto attempted in civilising them. I
winds,isets m naatBesr after
of he 10tht we were near two rocky
sincerely hope that the day is not far distant when this Royal, the largestebn
her
reig about
eyalllighness the Princess
600 feet in
interesting people may be redeemed from their deplor- mile and-a-half in length, the southernandheeaistertghi 's and
sidesa
able state of heathen darkness. being precipitous ; the other was about a quarter of a mile
At 5 40 p,ra. we weighed, with a moderate breeze long and a hundred feet-high, gradually sloping to the
from the S.W., and reached to the S.E. for the purpose water's edge, representing very much the appearance of
of clearing Bailley's Islands. At 9 tacked and stood a
weather
invertedeleawrihnale-atttim The wind
abfeheiomingi, fair, andh
to the N.W., the wind becoming light and variable. the hope of reaching Barrow gStsraits,w;rro7ket,wteth
During the night we made but little progress ; and at 8 we were now distant about 70 miles. The 'water was
a.m. on the morning of September I observed Cape tolerably clear in that direction, although much ice was
lying against the western land, and from a shoal extend-
Bathurst, N.E. by E. 6 miles. In the course of the
forenoon many kyacks came off. The natives, now as- Tsfatnodws,aruds
oitn &well iieitihewelarstastinoefd tll
e 3 farttmesss
water,
sured of our friendly intentions, came on board without much loose was also in motion, and, while endea:
the slightest reluctance, and, through the medium of the vouring to run between two floes, at the rate of four
interpreter, acquainted us that during the night they knots, they closed so rapidly, one upon either beam,
had been preparing a feast, roasting whale and venison that our way was instantly stopped, and the vessels
liftedrt crensiaderably ; in this position we were retained a
and had salmon, blubber, and other delicacies, besides
plenty of skins, ready at the tents, and hoped we would readeci. of
Ourn hour,advance when
wasth eepfreet.seurrte easedtira tfeann d
as we
aptr 02-
come on shore, which, indeed, I should very much p.m. the wind sudderly shifted to the north-east and
have enjoyed had the vessel been in a less precarious began to freshen ; the water, which a few hours pre-
position • but under the present circumstances it pos , was vious had excited sanguine hopes of a good run; became
soon so thickly studdec with floes that by 4 Am. there
impossible, which it appeared that those on shore un-
derstood, for in the afternoon a great many of both mwansehsecaxrecrteit suwffiasciellitovteovekreetoffetehtees,httfir
‘;
athmis by
sexes joined us ; and, all being clamorous to get on the 11th, when we were beset ; at 5 a.m. the ice again
board, we were obliged to take their kyacks on deck. opened, which admitted of our getting a few miles to
Seeing their boats were in safety, they made themselves the north-east, until 11.30 a.m., when our course was
perfectly at home, examining every article of furni-
setth whole body" ofhtehwind
e
impededsnt
ebytilea
nvoerrti .
w densel t pack. At p m t
ture most minutely. The pictures and looking-glasses upon shifting
eastern shore,
'which shoaled our water from
in the officers' cabins were objects of much admiration. 80 to 50 fathoms in one hour ; a clear space of two miles
Many were dancing with our men, and so mutually happy was, however, the resrlt of this movement, in which we
were all parties, that it was near 6 o'clock before I continued working the whole night, and upon the morn-
could not get them to leave the ship ; indeed, had not
ituhge ()fa
cttewl2e iatl we pterseitvedhweehadh loastdsozesemtifliesi as
the interpreter told them that we were going towards therpmorticatuiomneolfeuseeeintg etteutwhwoler of; the weesteurnr.
the pack, and would not again come near their tents, i shore perfectly exempt from ice, while the space of water
I very much question if we should have got them we occupied was becoming rapidly more limited by very
away without compulsion. We understood from them large and heavy flocs, through which we were unable
that the main pack is permanent, never leaving the, tolforceitrd at 11htlin. wejenuaegdaiunntbirette i A frush
shore above 12 or 14 miles. They designate it as tho 1 gofa tel:e wl3th, spnroewes'eci the icersol heavily upon thmeevreusisufl
"land of white bear," as it abounds with those animals, 1 that the rudder was unhung to prevent its being dam-
which they appeared rather to dread, as, when we stood I aged ; during the night the temperature fell to 10°, and
towards the pack in the forenoon, they entreated the land became completely snow-covered ; on the 15th,
not to be left there, as they were fearful of the however, it ricl)se to 30°, with the wind from the S.W.,
bear now that so many of their women were with them.
I our eb
erste: te t
o a. eevci idu collision wccior
alnlinfgmmusentsoe sfibeieft
One mother mentioned that she had her little child car- At 2,g1 a,m, ammenced warping, Which' tedious

TIIE NORTH-IT/ESP PASSAGE.

and laborious duty continued with but slight inter-
mission until half-past 12, when we passed into clear
water. A run of five miles to the N.E. brought us to
another icy field too dense to penetrate, extending from
shore to shore, which here is about 12 miles asunder.
The weather towards sunset becoming thick with snow,
we ran into six fathoms, and secured to a piece of'
grounded ice under the western land, with the intention
of remaining during the night, as they were then long
and dark ; therefore, navigating close ice is quite im-
practicable ; the wind, which had been fresh from the
S.W. during the day, about 7 p.m. fell light, when the
ice in the N.E., no longer restrained, spread itself
abroad with such rapidity, that at a little after eight it
was observed approaching, its white line, clearly defined,
running like an unbroken wave along the dark smooth
water. To turn the hands up, make sail, and cast off
the warps, was but the work of a few minutes ; yet with
such violence was it impelled, that we had scarcely time
to tow clear of the piece we had been fastened to before
it encircled the vessel, sweeping her away to the S.W.
into five fathoms. I expected to have been driven on the
beach ; fortunately, from some unseen cause, its course
was changed to the S.E., which took us into 20 fathoms,
thus fluctuating between hopes and fears until 11.45
p.nl
A the navigable season was now drawing to a
.'
when
opening
p itseni
ng progress
allowed
vas mysteriously
ur a
runningr arrested, si tnetdu,
clearand,
gradually
close, which the fall in the temperature, as well as the
formation of pancake ice upon the surface of the water
water.
whenever the wind became light, unmistakeably pointed
out, it became a subject of anxious consideration what
tell()
eurr eb tyo adopt
runningin reTug ard
the t
sou
ut h t
he safetyward, in
onf
wt he vessel,
hi
uh -
direction
the water was still open, endeavour to obtain a harbour
in one of the bays indenting the south-eastern side of
Baring's Land, the nearest probably being sixty miles
distant, and then only the chance of finding a safe an-
chorage, which, if our search proved a failure, would
place the vessel in a worse situation than. at present, ex-
posing her to a wide sea range, subject to heavy pressure
from the enormous massive floes with which the Polar
Sea is encumbered, but from which we are here protected
by the Princess Royal Islands, or continue our ad-
vance to the north-east as long as the season permitted,
and then submit to the only alternative, that of hazard-
ing a winter in the pack. I decided upon the latter,
for these reasons,—that to relinquish the ground ob-
tained through so much difficulty, labour, and anxiety,
for the only remote chance of finding safe winter quar-
ters, would be injudicious, thoroughly impressed as I
am with the absolute importance of retaining every mile
to insure any favourable results while navigating these
seas, the loss of which might frustrate the operations of
a whole season. Above all, being in the vicinity of
Bank's Land, and in the direction which Sir J. Frank-
lin would, in all probability, have endeavoured to pene-
trate, could he have reached Cape Walker. I therefore
considered that our position was most eligible for carry-
ing into full effect the instructions of my Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, when the season becomes
favourable for dispatching parties upon this important
and interesting search. These, Sir, were the considera-
tions which influenced me in this "choice of difficulties,"
and they will, I trust, appear of sufficient validity to
meet with the concurrence of their lordships, hazardous
as was the experiment. At 6 a.m. of the 17th,
the wind, which had been light from the N.W.,
gradually died away, when we were almost immediately
beset. There were several heavy floes in the vicinity ;
one, fully six miles in length, passed at the rate of two
knots, crushing everything impeding its progress, and
grazed our starboard bow. Fortunately there was but
young ice upon the opposite side, which yielded to the
pressure ; had it otherwise occurred the vessel must in-
evitably have been cut asunder. In the afternoon we
secured to a moderate-sized piece, drawing 8 fathoms,
which appeared to offer a fair refuge, and from which we
never afterwards parted ; it conveyed us to our furthest
N.E. position, lat. 73.7 N. long. 117.10 W., back
round the Princess Royal Islands. Passed the largest
within 500 yards to lat. 72 42 N., long. 118.42 W., re-
turning along the coast of Prince Albert's Land, and
finally freezing in at lat. 72.50 N., long. 117.55 W.,
upon the 30th Sept., during which circumnavigation we
received many severe nips, and were frequently driven
close to the shore, from which our deep friend kept
us off. To avoid separation, we had secured with two
steam cables (one chain) two 6 and two 5 inch hawsers.
As our exposed position rendered every precaution ne-
cessary, we got upon deck!l2 months' provisions, with
tents, warm clothing, &c., and issued to each person a
pair of carpet boots and blanket bag, so that, in the
event of ony emergency making it imperative to quit
the vessel, we might not be destitute. On the Bth of
October our perplexities terminated with a nip that
lifted the vessel a foot, and heeled her 4 degrees to port,
in consequence of a large tongue getting beneath her,
in which position we quietly remained,., As, however,
there was a probability of being thrown upou the ice, it
was requisite that a smooth surface should be made to
receive the vessel, which was accomplished with much
facility, by blasting the hummocks along the edge of
the floe for about 150 yards, and 20 in breadth. This
done, and every indication of the pack being now tho-
roughly cemented with a temperature of 7 minus, we
completed housing over, and other arrangements for
our winter-quarters. As the weather upon the 10th
was calm and fine, and the ice quiet, at 8.30 a.m. left the
ship, accompanied by Lieutenant Cresswell, Dr. Arm-
strong, and Mr. Miertsching, with a party of seamen,
carrying a pole, &c., to plant upon the shores of Prince
Albert's-Land, to which we proceeded to take posses-
sion in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty. This
accomplished, we walked to the highest hill observable
at the distance of five miles, to an elevation of 1,500
feet, which gave an extended view in every direction.
The country was very hilly, with deep ravines and large
lakes. This appears the general character of the land
on both shores. The course of the water towards the

N.E. we were anxious to trace, hoping to see an open.
ing into Barrow's Strait. In this we were dis

appointed, from the many low points intervening,
rendering it impossible to ascertain the land from
the sea, both being frozen. On our return we had the

mortification to find that the land and sea ice had

separated about 100 yards along the whole line of coast.
We walked by its margin for some miles, hoping to
meet with a loose piece of ice to ferry us across ; but
night closing rapidly subjected us to so many falls,
owing to the inequalities of our road not being distin-
guishable, that we were compelled to halt, and com-
mence firing to attract attention, but our distance from
the ship was too far to render our signals of any utility.
At 8.30 p.m. Mr. Court, with one of the many parties
that were searching the ice in all directions, fortunately
saw our flashing, and made for it ; but, unsuspecting
our dilemma was created by open water, he had no boat;
immediately returning, he met with a party which had
two of Halkett's. These were soon launched ; only

getting them through the pancake ice, which was by this
time an inch thick, was attended with great difficulty.

The sea' ice also rapidly setting to the northward, the
boats after each transit had to ba carried south before

being launched, so as to insure their reaching the only
spot from which the party to be relieved could embark.
This operation commenced at 10.30 p,m., and by mid-
night we were all over, and reached the ship at 2.30 a.m.,
all parties meeting with heavy falls, but receiving no
accident of consequence. I cannot refrain from noticing
the excellence of Halkett's boats, or speak in too high
terms of the ingenuity' of their inventor. These admir-

able little articles were inflated on board, and with the
greatest facility carried upon a man's shoulders over ice
which, from its excessive roughness, no other boat could
by any possibility have been got across without being
smashed. By their means a large party were relieved,
who were without tents, clothing, fuel, provisions, or in
any way provided to withstand the severities of a polar
night, with the thermometer 8 degrees minus. The

conseiuences to them might have been very serious;
as it was, however, the annexation of Prince Albert's

Land to the British Crown was considered to have ter

minated so favourably, that I directed an extra supper

and allowance of grog to be issued to my energetic crew
as a reward for their eight hours' vigorous exertions.
- -- -

Being dissatisfied with the view obtained from Prince
Albert's Land respecting the waters we were now in as
to their connection with Barrow's Straits, which would

V VB.& •• •
settle the question of a north-west passage,to proceed in that direction with a travelling par y,
al-
though rather I late in the season, as soon as felt that the
vessel
might be safely quitted, which I judged would oc-
cur after the ensuing spring tides, if at that period there
was no commotion among the ice. Accordingly, upon the
21st, everything being favourable, I started with Mr.
Tiffany,
Court, second master, and the following men :—Robert
the
foretop ; and James Saunders, private, 'Royal Marines.
GtCaaei cap-
tain oegrfe,
thecaptainß rowinna,
noAtf
0.
Bpt h.:e;
ireietecehar
as
et
Thomson,
eh
Flynn,o;
m Rsoonb e rt
captain
The ice, for two miles from the ship, was so rough that
Lientenant Haswell and the whole of the ship's com-
pany were occupied in carrying the sledge and different
articles of lading. At 8 a.m. the sledge was finally
packed, when, with the fatigue party in charge of Mr.
Wynniatt (mate), accompanied by Dr. Armstrong, as an
amateur, we set off to the north-east at noon ; the fa-
tigue party, having taken us eight miles, were directed
to return. Soon after they quitted us we got among
very difficult ice. The sledge was broken, but, quickly
fishing it, we proceeded. Unfortunately, scarcely an
hour had elapsed, when in crossing a floe, the inequali-
ties of which were imperceptible, it came down with such
a crash that it broke into pieces. This was unlucky,
but, pitching our tent, Mr. Court and Peter Thomson
(captain of the foretop) started for the ship, where they
arrived at 7.30 p.m., and rejoinedthe next day at 2 p.m.,
with a fresh and larger sledge, and a fatigue party, with
Mr. Wynniatt, to carry the damaged one back. (This
party, upon my return, I found did not get on board
until the following day, being stopped by a heavyusffneorn;
drift, but, having a tent and provisions, did notte s
was packed, and by 3 p.m. we were ag
alisnter, until 3.45
ing our course, without any further
's
gratification
p.m. of the 26th, when we had the
extremesofßarrow's Strait,
As soon as the new corners were refreshedo,fft iconslteidngue.
of pitching our tent upon the shore
h line, as represented
114 14 W. lunar), nearly n
o ward Parry has very
in the charts, where Sir
of the land. Upon the
marked the loom
correctly
in lat. 73 31 N., long. 114 39
; before sunset, Mr. Court and
following morning,
11 hill about 600 feet in height,
ascended a small
myself ascen nd extensive view of 40 or
command
so that we could
point of Prince Albert's Land
50 miles. The extreme W. (chronometer), (long.

ners.