The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-21 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2!, 1853.

BANK OF DEPOSIT,
7, St. Martin's-place, Trafalgar-square, London.
Parties desirous of Investing Money are requested to examine the
Plan of this Institution, by which a high Rate of Interest may be
obtained with perfect security.
Interest payable in January and July.
PETER MORRISON, Managing Director.
Prospectuses free on application.

TREE TRADE FREEHOLD LA ND
SOCIETY,
86, St. James's-street, Pall-mall; City Agency, 42, Poultry.
Shares 401. each, Monthly payments, Cs. per share.
At the FIRST GENERAL MEETING of the above SOCIETY
held at the Society's Offices, September 29, 1853, Lieut.-Col. DICK-
SON in the Chair,
It was Resolved, " That a Public Meeting be held on Wednesday,
October 25, 1813, to ballot for priority of Members, in which all
shares already taken, and which may be taken up to that time, will
partic!pate."
Prospectuses and rules may be obtained at the Society's Offices.
THOMAS SHE RIVOOD SMITH, Secretary.
The above Meeting will be held at the Whittington Club, Arundel-
street, Strand, on WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26. The chair to be taken at
half-past 7 precisely.

LAURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLL Rooms,
(Lessee, CHAS. C. LAURENT, Onslow-house, Fulham-road).
The above Rooms are now OPEN FOR THE SEASON,
and will continue open every evening, with LAURENT'S
CELEBRATED BAND. Admission, Is. Doors open at half-past 8 ;
Dancing to commence at 9 o'clock, and terminate at half-past 11.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
PATRON—H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.
LAST WEEK of the SECOND PART of an HISTORICAL LEC •
TURE on "THE THAMES," from its Source to its Estuary, by
GEORGE BUCKLAND, Esq., assisted by Miss Blanche Younge, with
NEW SONGS and NEW DISSOLVING SCENERY, on Tuesdays and
Fridays at four o'clock, and every Evening except Saturday at !Nine.
LECTURES.—By J. H. Pepper, Esq.: On PHOTOGRAPHY, with
Illustrations, Mornings and Evenings.
By Pr. Bachhoffner : On ELECTRO-GILDING and
SILVERING.
The LANCASHIRE SEWING MACHINE and BATE'S IM-
PROVED FIRE ESCAPE exhibited in Use and explained Daily.
Open Mornings and Evenings. Admission, Is.; Schools, and
Children under Ten years of age Half-price.

ATKINSON and COMPANY, CABINET
MANUFACTURERS, UPHOLSTERERg, and "-CARPET
WAREHOUSEMEN. 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75, Westminster-
bridge-road, Lambeth, London.

ATKINSON and COMPANY, DRAPERS,
SILK MERCERS, LACEMEN, &c., 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74,
and 75, Westminster-bridge-road, Lambeth, London.—Shawls, Furs,
Mantles, Family Mourning, &e.

'TO LOVERS of FISH.-100 REAL YAR-
MOUTH BLOATERS for 65., package included. The above
forwarded to al' parts on receipt of penny postage stamps, or Post-
office order (preferred), for the amount.—Address, THOMAS
LETTIS, Jun., Fish Curer, Great Yarmouth.

A NCTIOR ASSURANCE COMPANY,
67, Cheapside, London.

Policies in the Fire Department effected at ➢iichaelmas require
to be RENEWED within fifteen days from the 29th September.
Life Assurances embracing every contingency are ismied by this
Company, free of stamp duty, at moderate premiums, while the Bonus
Additions tend still further to diminish the outlay.
Life Annuities may be purchased of the Company on equitable
terms.

T. BELL, Secretary and Actuary.

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY,
London.
SHARE OF PROFIT INCREASED FROM ONE-TTALF TO
FOUR-FIFTHS.
Policies effected with this Society after Midsummer, 1850, and re-
maining in force at each Septennial period of division, will PARTCI-
PAT E IN FOUR-FIFTHS of the Net Profits of the Society accru-
ng after Midsummer, 1850, in proportion to their contributions to
those profits, and according to the conditions contained in the
Society's, Prospectus.
The Premiums required by this Society for insuring Young Lives
are lower than in many other old-established offices, and Insurers
are fully protected from all risk by an ample guarantee fund, in ad-
dition to the accumulated funds derived from the investments of
Premiums.
Policy Stamps paid by the Office.
Prospectuses may be obtained at the Office in Threadneedle-street,
London, or of any of the Agents of the Society.
CHARLES HENRY LIDDERDALE, Actuary.

ENGINEERS', MASONIC, and UNIVERSAL
MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
Head Office-345, Strand, London.
BONUS.
NITICE.—A Division of Profits by this Society will take place at
the end of the year 1854. All persons who have paid two annual
premiums will be entitled to sham therein. Policies to participate
in the Bonus must therefore be effected in the course of this year.
ABATEMENT IN INCOME TAX.
Every person assured in this Society is entitled to have the amount
of the annual premium paid for assurance or for a deferred annuity
on his own life or the life of his wife "deducted from any profits or
gains in respect to which he shall be liable to be assessed under
either of the Schedules D and E of the Income Tax Act."
By order of the Board.
ANTHONY PECK, Assistant-Actuary.

SIR WILLIAM BURNETT'S DISINFECTING
FLUID.—The best Concentrated " CHLORIDE OF ZINC."—
Great Reduction of Price.—The merits of this Fluid, invented by
Sir W. Burnett, M.D., F.R.S., &c., &c., for the Disinfection of Sick
Rooms, Clothing, Linen, &c. ; the prevention of Contagion ; the
preservation of Animal Matter from Putrescence; the purification of
Bilgewater, Cesspools, Drains, Water Closets, &c., are now so well
known to the public as to render comment unnecessary.
Sold at the Office, 18, Cannon-street, City, London, and by Che-
mists, Shipping Agents, and others throughout the United Kingdom,
in Imperial Quart Bottles at 2s. 6d. ; in Pints at Is. 3d. ; in Half-
Pints at 9d. ; and in bulk at 6s. per Gallon.
CAUTION.—BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.—The only genuine
Disinfecting Fluid is seal ed over the cork with the inscription. " Sir
Wm. Burnett's Disinfecting Fluid," and accompanied with nume-
rous Testimonials of the highest order, and instructions for its use.

ON THE SECRET CAUSES OF SELF-ACQUIRED MISERIES
AND DISAPPOINTED HOPES.
THE SILENT FRIEND.
In Six Languages—Fiftieth Edition.
CONTAINING THE REMEDY FOE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.
Illustrated by One Hundred Anatomical Coloured Engravings and
Cases.

New Edition, enlarged to 200 pages, price 2s. 6d., by post, from the
Establishment, 3s. 6d. in stamps,
THE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
the exhaustion and physical decay of the system, produced by
excessive indulgence, the consequences of infection, or the abuse of
mercury, with directions for Ufa use of the preventive lotion, fol-
lowed by observations on Marriage, and the disqualifications which
prevent it. Illustrated by 100 Coloured Engravings. By R. and L.
PE R, Y
London.and e ConsultingoPublished
by Surgeons,
Sherwood 19.,n8d e
Cr noe. r s - sst,rpe eatie
i.n oOxford-
streetster -
row, and sold by Hannay, 63, and Sanger, 150, Oxford-street; Gor-
don, 146, Leadenhall-street ; 95, Farringdon-street ; W. Sutton, 10,
Bow Church-yard; Butler, 4, Cheapside ; R Johnson, 68, Cornhill.
PART I. treats of the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive
organs, and is illustrated by 28 Coloured Engravings.
PART 11. treats of the consequences resulting from excessive in-
dulgence, and their lamentable effects on the system, producing
mental and bodily weakness, nervous excitement, and generative
Incapacity. Illustrated by 10 Explanatory Engravings.
PART 111. treats of the diseases resulting from infection, either in
the primary or secondary form, and contains explicit directions for
their treatment. This section is illustrated by 62 Coloured Engrav-
ings.
PART IV. contains a Remedy for the Prevention of Disease by a
simple application, by which the danger of infection is obviated.
PART V. is devoted to the consideration of marriage and its duties.
The causes of unproductive union are also considered, and the whole
subject critically and philosophically inquired into.
THE CORDIAL BALM OF SYRIACUM is exclusively employed
in treating nervous and sexual debility,'lmpotence, &c., lls. and 335.
per bottle. The Concentrated Detersive Essence, an anti-syphilitic
remedy, for purifying the blood in cases of infection, secondary
symptons, eruptions, and the abuse of mercury, I la. and 335. per
bottle. Perry's Purifying Specific Pills, 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 1 ls.
per box, a certain remedy for gonorrhoea, gleet, stricture, and
chronic inflammation of the bladder. Consultation fee, if by letter,
11. A minute detail et the case is required : age, habits, and posi-
tion in society. 51. Packets, with advice, to be had at the Establish-
ment only, by which the fee, 11., is saved. Messrs. Perry, Surgeons,
arc in attendance, daily, at 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street, Lon-
don. from Eleven till Two, and Five to Eight; on Sunday from
Eleven to One.

TRAVELLERS BETWEEN PARIS AND LONDON.—Many
Jomplaints have been made by travellers of being de-
tained at Dover on their return to London by the mail
leaving Paris at 7 30 p.m., in consequence of not being
able to get their luggage landed and examined in time
for the train corresponding with the mail packet. This
cause of complaint no longer exists. Passengers can now
have their luggage registered in Paris and brought direct to
the London-bridge terminus without examination ; and
since the 3d inst. no fewer than 334 packages have been so
brought;through, relieving 265 passengers from all anxiety
as to catching the train, and saving them the trouble of look-
ing after their luggage both at Calais and Dover. The great
improvement has been brought about at the earnest desire
of the travelling public, represented by the chairman of
the South-Eastern Railway, whose application to Go-
vernment in the House of Commons, for permission to
hove the luggage examined by the Customs at the Lon-
don-bridge terminus instead of at Dover was very
promptly acceded to by Mr. James Wilson, the Secretary
of the Treasury, in the early part of last session ; but the
difficulties thrown in the way by interested parties at
Dover prevented the new facility being accorded to tra-
velling until the 3d of the present month. The Customs'
offieers now attend on the arrival of the mail train at the
examination room, which has been erected for the pur-
pose by the South Eastern Railway Chmpany, at the
London-bridge Terminus ; and so much is the new plan
appreciated, that packages of luggage are already sent
forward in this way to wait the arrival of their owners
on a future day.
THE SHIP-BUILDERS OP LIVERPOOL AND THEIR SHIP-
WofRLIGiHveTrSp.--Aool
wasimportant n meetmeeting s ofda
yt e
ws
hh
ei pn- biuti 1 dwe
ar
ss
unanimously determined that strangers should be em-
ployed in the building-yards, and that the rate of wages
should be 7s, a day, and is, an hour overtime.

THE NORTH- WEST PASSAGE.

The following is the first portion of Captain
M'Clure's despatches. We shall complete the pub-
lication in two successive impressions :
Her Majesty's Discovery Ship Investigator, off
Point Warren, Polar Sea, Aug. 24, 1850, in
lat. 69.43 N., long, 131.57 W.
Sin,—l have the honour to report to you, for the in-
formation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
that we arrived off the Mackenzie on the 21st inst. The
letters that I forwarded by her Majesty's ship Herald,
from whom I parted company on the 30th ult., off Cape
Lisburne, will have put you in possession of my pro-
ceedings up to that date.
After parting with the Herald I stood to the N.N.W.
with a fresh breeze from the N.E., with the intention of
making the ice, which was accomplished on the morning
of the 2d of August, in lat. 72.1 N., long. 166.12 W., and
at 11 a.m. stood into the loose ice for the purpose of ex-
amining the pack ; the wind, however, failing before we
got far in, I was induced to run out to avoid being beset,
having ascertained that the pack was very close and
heavy, extending from N.N.E. to W.N.W., and, seeing
no hope of getting through, worked along its edge in
soundings from 24 to 26 fathoms (mud), the hundreds of
walruses that were lying upon the ice, thickly huddled
together like sheep in a fold, were most astonishing.
We continued working along the ice, occasionally getting
drifted in, until the sth, when the weather, which had
been previously thick and misty, cleared a li le, and, no
ice being in sight, I shaped a course for Vrainwright's
Inlet, with the intention of getting between the pack
and shore ; in running exchanged numbers with her
Majesty's ship Plover, and at 11.30 a.m. observed a
low bench, Lapparently shingle, distant about two
miles. The weather again having become thick, we
we went entirely by our soundings, which varied
from 14 to 73 fathoms, in which latter we rounded
Point Barrow at 11.80. P.m., without, hOuievcri,
observing the land, and steered to the eastward,
direct for Bank's Land, finding that the ice was
sufficiently loose and practicable for sailing through.
These hopes were soon, however, dissipated ; for on the
forenoon of the 6th it suddenly cleared, when I found
that we had been running directly into the pack, which
was very heavy -and impenetrable, extending from
S.E. to S.W. (by the north), in lat. 71 35 N., and long.
155 12 W., and the sea through which we had come

ooking nearly as white as the ice ahead, except that
lanes of water were observable. We instantly hauled
to the wind, and commeneed working out. During the
night the breeze freshed considerably, bringing showers
of rain with thick weather, while being compelled to
carry a press of canvas through very heavy and close sailing
ice rendered the navigation extremely critical. The vessel
occasionally struck with some violence. This continued
till the afternoon of the 7th, when clear water was reported
from the crow's-nest. The wind almost immediately fail-
ing, the boats were all manned, and towing commenced
amid songs and cheers, which continued with unabated
good humour for six hours, when their laborious work
was brought to a successful termination ; being in per-
fectly clear water in Smith's Bay, a light air springing
up, we worked to the eastward. At 2 a.m. of the Bth,
being off Point Drew, sent Mr. Court (second master)
on shore to erect a cairn, and bury a notice of our
having passed. Upon landing they were met by three
natives, who at first were very timid, but, upon ex-
changing signs of friendship, which consisted of raising
the arms three times over the head, they approached
the boat, and after the pleasant salutation of rubbing
noses, became very communicative ; when, by the as-
sistance of our valuable interpreter, Mr. Miertsching—
the selection of this gentleman for this important office
does infinite credit to the discernment of those who
sent him—we found the tribe consisted "of ten tents
(this being the only approach to their numbers he
could obtain), that they had only arrived three days pre-
viously, and that they hold communication with a party
inland, who trade with the Russian Fur Company. The
evening before they had observed us, but could not ima-
gine what large trees they were moving about (our masts),
and all the tribe had assembled on the beach to look at
them, when they agreed that it was something very
extraordinary, and left the three men who met the boat
to watch. They also gave the pleasing intelligence that
we should find open water along the coast from about
three to five miles' distance during the summer ; that
the heavy ice very seldom came in or never left the land
further than at present ; that they did not know if there
were any islands'further north, as they found it impos-
sible to go in their kyacks, when in pursuit of seals,
further than one day's journey to the main ice, and then
the lanes of water allowed of their proceeding three-
quarters of a day further, which brought them to very
large and high ice, with not space enough in any part
of it to allow their kyacks to enter ; the probable dis-
tance Mr. Miertsching therefore estimates, from his
knowledge of the Esquimaux habits, to be about 40 miles
off shore, and from what I have seen of the pack, I am
inclined to think this is perfectly correct, for a more un-
broken mass I never witnessed ; they also mentioned
seeing the boats with white men going eastward last
year (which I suppose was Lieutenant Pullen), but had
not seen any other white persons or anything like this
vessel before ; they had, therefore, no name of sufficient
grandeur to give the great " mniae," so they called her
the " fast moving island." Several of them came off to
the vessel, but had little to barter, as all their hunters
were away, but immediately we had been observed they
were sent for, and would soon arrive. Then said they,
"You will be gone, and how disappointed they will be."
They appear a simple, kind people, very poor, very
filthy, and, to us, looked exceedingly wretched. The
time of our return was repeatedly inquired for by
them. They would have a quantity of skins ; they
were anxious for us to wait a little, that they might
send off a supply of reindeer ; but, the boat return-
ing, and the wind fair, I made them a few presents,
and gave them a letter to be forwarded to the Rus-
sian Fur Company, and made sail to the eastward ; the
wind being light as we ran close along-shore, in from
four to six fathoms, we had a great many visitors ;
many of them had been their whole lives between the
Coppermine and Point Barrow. These could give no
information of the missing expedition. I am certain that
had any of them reached these shores we must have
heard of it. The coast is inhabited throughout, and the
natives are, to all appearance, a kind and merry race,
and when we gave them presents, through the medium
of the interpreter, we told them that we were looking
for our lost brothers, and if they saw any white men in
distress they were to be very kind, to which they as-
sented, by saying they would, and give them plenty of
"deer's flesh." While running along the land, which is
exceedingly low, observed upon Point Pitt two conical
mounds ; thinking they might have some communica-
tion buried beneath, ran in to examine them. While
in stays the vessel took the ground, but was hove
off almost immediately without any damage, the bot-
tom being soft clay. The boat sent to examine the
mounds reported them old Esquimaux eachds, where
they deposit their venison. They left a bottle con-
taining a notice of our passing. Upon rounding Cape
Halkett on the morning of the 9th found the ice was
set close to the shore, which rendered it a passage of
much anxiety, great labour, and imminent risk, as the
wind was strong, from E.S.E., with thick fog, and the
ice closing around us fast, so that we had barely space
to work in,itacking frequently in five, and never beyond
ten minutes, standing upon one tack into three•and-a-
half fathoms, and upon the other to four-and-a-half and
six fathoms ; this operation was continued the greater
part of the middle and all the morning watch. A t
9 a.m. the weather cleared a little, and open water
was observed in Smith's Bay; our soundings gradually
increased; the reaches became longer as we rounded the
Cape, and all apprehenaion of being forced on shore was
over. Aug. 10.—In crossing Harrison's Bay found the
influence of the Colville to extend twelve or fourteen
miles, the surface of the water being of a dirty mud
colour, and scarcely salt. The weather, thick and
foggy, prevented any land being seen. The soundings
were very regular on one tack ; the ice allowed of our
standing off to eight fathoms, and on the other, the
land to three-and-a-half fathoms, black mud. Aug. 11.
—ln the morning the weather cleared a little, and dis-
covered to us Jones's Island. An erect piece of wood
on the shore attracted the attention of the officer of the
watch ; a boat was sent to examine it, when it appeared
to be a piece of drift wood, which had been squeezed up
by the ice. The shore was strewed with it, and one
spar was as large as our mainmast, and 45 feet in length.
We erected a cairn and left a notice, In the forenoon
about 30 natives came off in two baidars, for whom
we obtained some fish and ducks, in exchange for a little
tobacco. They had been about two months oa the
coast, and trade with the Russian Fur Company. Their
surprise, of course, was very great, particularly at the
size of our handkerchiefs (the sails) ; the whaleboats
attracted their attention, and they asked if trees grew in

our country sufficiently large to make them. The head
man possessed a gun with " Barnett, 1840 " upon the
lock ; this he obtained from the Russians. As a fair spe-
cimen ofthe observation of these people and their aptitude
for trade, the following may be taken :—Seeing that we
cut the tobacco into pieces to give in exchange for their fish
(salmon trout),they began to do so the same with the fish
This, however, we would not admit, so they were
obliged to come to our terms. During the afternoon,
while standing along a low flat island, we observed a
flag (a pair of seal-skin inexpressibles) upon a lofty pole,
and a number of natives around it ; we stood for them,
but when the boats were pulling in they appeared to re-
gret their temerity,; for down came the seal-skin and
away they ran ; shortly gaining courage, they returned,
and, as, we approached, ranged themselves in line upon
the beach, and commenced extending their arms above
their heads (typical of friendship), which being an-
swered from the boats, perfectly assured them of our
amicable intentions. Upon landing they evinced a
most manly confidence, rubbing noses, and embracing
most vigorously ; these were very cleanly, so that the
operation was not so unpleasant as it otherwise might
have been. Through the interpreter, Mr. Miertsching,
we learnt that these people had never before seen a Eu-
ropean, nor had they the smallest article of European
manufacture about them (Lieut. Pullen's boats they
observed last year, but they were some distance, on, and
consequently had no communication). They live during
the summer months upon these desolate islands, and in
the winter retire a short distance on the mainland to
their warmer residences. Their women and tents were
upon another island. They were a fine active set of
young men, average height about five feet six inches.
These barter their skins, &c., with a tribe further
west, who, in their turn, do the same with others,
until they reach the Russian post upon the Colville. To
them I entrusted a dispatch for their Lordships, which
,they,p,remised most faithfully should be forwarded to the
Colville. I made them a few presents, also a boat's en-
sign, in commemoration of the first man-of-war whose
flag has ever floated in these sterile regions. The magnifi-
cence of the gift they could not for some time comprehend,
and were loath to touch it, but at length the interpreter
made them understand it was sent them by a great
chief, and in return they were to be very kind to all
white men they met, and show it to them ; all this they
promised ; the chief then seized it in his arms and ran
across the island to his canoe, followed by the remainder
of his tribe, and no doubt hurried with the joyful tidings
to the women. We find a westerly set which prevents
our nuking but slight progress, the wind hanging so
muiph tl the eastward.

On the morning of the 12th four baiders came along-
side, containing the whole encampment of the tribe we
met last sight, and also some that we had seen two days
previously, from which it appeared they are migratory,;
they brought off a supply of fish and a quantity of veni-
son, but the latter was in such a high state of putrefac-
tion we could not touch it ; we allowed most of the men
to come on board, and, although well aware of their
knavish propensities, and, consequently, a sharp look-out
was kept upon them, they most adroitly managed to slip
both handles of our winch and a small ice-anchor into
their baidar, when the fair sex became the recipients.
It was by the greatest accident that the theft was
discovered by the end of one handle protruding from
beneath the ample proportions of the lady—who, when
taxed, immediately returned the articles, and informed
upon her husband. For this immorality the whole boat
was exempted from receiving any present. Working to
the eastward observed a few deer upon one of the low
islands, but was prevented sending any boat, as a south-
east current was setting us in to shoal water very fast,
so that all the boats were required to tow until eight
p.m., when a light air ran us to the westward into six
fathoms ; the loose ice was in rapid motion, and the
larger floe pieces, as they passed, appeared to create a
current which frequently turned the vessel completely
round against helm and sails, the power of a two-
knot breeze being iissufficient to counteract it. On
the morning of the 13th we were enveloped in a
dense fog, among exceedingly heavy and close sailing
ice, through which we attempted to work, but found
that endeavouring to avoid one piece we ran upon
another, striking occasionally with great force, which
determined me to snake secure to a floe until it cleared.
In this we fortunately succeeded, getting one that was
grounded in seven fathoms. It was a heavy piece, but
not so much so as many that were about us. I took its
height above the water in seven places, which gave an
average of 11 feet 11 inches ; a pack chiefly composed of
such would be too powerful a foe for any ship long to
contend against. At 8 a.m. of the 14th, it having cleared
a little, slipped from the floe, and commenced working
to the eastward among masses of ice. At 10.30 a.m.
observed a shoal just in time to avoid it ; it was com-
pletely hidden from view off deck, not being as high as
the ice, having a quantity of driftwood upon it, which
is in great abundance along the whole coast. At 3.30
p.m. our course was impeded by another of these
low islands, which had the ice resting upon its
northern extreme, while the southern point was flanked
by a shoal, which connected it with the island
seen in the morning. We were thus perfectly
hemmed in. The boats were sent to sound, when
Mr. Court represented a passage practicable in 3
fathoms. In running through we unfortunately hit
upon a spot with only 21 fathoms, which had escaped
observation ; we had consequently to lighten the vessel
considerably before she got off, which, however, was
accomplished without any damage (the bottom being
sand) by 11 p.m., having been on shore five hours. I
regret to add that 11 casks of salt meat, which were
placed in the first whaleboat, were lost by her upsetting,
being compelled to place the provisions in the whalers,
the cutters having the bower anchors in them. This was
a serious loss ; indeed, an irreparable calamity. As soon
as we were off it was my wish to return by the way we
came in, but we found that the ice had set upon the
shoal we had first observed, and cut off our retreat,
under which circumstances I was obliged to anchor
and wait a change of wind. Upon the 16th the
wind came slightly from the westward, which set the
ice in motion off the north point of the island. At
9 a.m. weighed and towed to the edge of the
ice, which presented a barrier of about 500 yards in
width between us and the open water we wished to get
into. We commenced warping at 2 p.m., and so heavy
was the ice that it was not until 8 p.m. that we could
get through ; it fell calm, so made fast to the ice for the
night. Next morning, the 17th, a very thick fog, with
light north-east wind, and at 4 p.m. commenced kedg-
ing to the eastward, but at 7 a.m. gave it up ; the wind

freshened and unable to see for fog. At 2 p.m. it
cleared ; we slipped from the ice and plied to the north-
earth amid heavy streams and large floe pieces, vessel
striking violently, but unavoidably, against them.
August 18.—To-day, from the masthead, observed
the first lane of open water in the pack, extending
east and west several miles, but very marrow. In
the evening a fresh breeze from the south-west, and
almost simultaneously a slight pitching motion was
observed, which is considered an infallible symptom
of open water being near. It was so foggy that no-
thing could be seen ; but, notwithstanding, I shaped
a course north-north-west for Banks's Land, thinking
that we had rounded the pack, having coasted it between
400 and 500 miles ; we continued the greatest part of
the night to run without much obstruction, but upon the
following morning, the 19th, our progress was checked
by finding that we had run into a deep bight which
compelled us to work back again to the south-east.
Aug. 20.—Before getting clear of this pack, into which
we had penetrated a considerable distance, being deeoyed
by a few lanes of open water, we were compelled to run
70 miles south, which placed us in lat. 69 50 N, long.
136 50 W. It is seldom that observations can be ob-
tained, this being only the sixth set since the sth of the
month, the fog and mist being more continuous than I
ever remember to have met elsewhere. Aug. 21.—We
have succeeded in getting again into clear water. At 1
p.m. made the Pelly Islands, off the mouth of the Mac-
kenzie ; the coast is, however, so exclusively shoal that I
find it impossible to reach the main land, which I was very
anxious to accomplish, but, at the distance of 40 miles
from it was obliged to tack in 3i fathoms ; we passed the line
of its tide most distinctly marked about 10 miles fur-
ther north, the water being the colour of the Thames at
Woolwich, slightly brackish, and its temperature 39
degrees, the sea, four hours previously, being 28 degrees.
From what I have observed of the pack, I feel con-
vinced that any attempt to reach Banks's Land through
it would only terminate in failure, and the t
consequentits
s
edge
and the shore have confidence in making
loss of valuable time, but by working
between e
the
latter method, and, in so doing,
this season ; it is, ther afore tr.: my in.
deviate from my origi-
nal sicp goodursu advance
thelee,
as mentioned in my
purpose of pushing into
dated the 19th of July. Aug. 22.
letter
—Fog t to
ut r eni
gr lt ohredPws
whole of the night very dense, but, 'LINN