The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-04 00:00:00

CAPTAIN PARRY'S tXPEDITION.

It is curious to remark. that during all their
progress northward, the wind was in the north,
nearly right against them ; and that when they
turned, to shape their way back again to the
south, the ill-tempered and opposing wind also
chOpped round and still blew in their teeth !
Of: course there could be no travelling in
these regions without some communications
with their denieene, the bears. Two of these
natives were slain ; and both—oh want of
gallantry in British sailors !—were females. The
scenes must have been very curious and pic-
turesque. At night-fall, every night, the sledge-
boat- was converted into a tent : three light
bamboo spars stuck-up, fore, inidship, and aft;
with the oar 6 crossing them aloft, made the sup-
poi t and roof of this simple and primitive-looking
shelter. The canvass- sail thrown over, and
fastened down to the sides: with loose parts for
gegress and regress, completed the noettirnal
imicile. One sentinel paraded the cold out-
side, to watch for any breaking or separation
of the ice, or other moving accident by
flood or field. All being snug one night,
the gasping watch suddenly looked in and
gave the alarm of a huge bear approach-
ing : the exquisite sense of smell possessed
by these animals had brought it probably from a
great distance, in quest °fits scented prey. The
order was quickly given to lie close, and be si-
lent ; for, the least noise is often sufficient to
alarm and scare off the animal, and our country-
men were, for various reasons, as will appear
hereafter, very anxious that their present visitor
should meet with a proper reception. The mon-
ster shuffled onwards, and coming to the boat,
raised herself on her hind legs,- so as to place
her fore paws over the gunwale and take a peep
of what was going on inside. At this moment
the triggers of two fowling-pieces were pulled,—
one missed fire, but the other went off, and was
no well directed, that the ball went through the
creature's heart. She fell backward, and had
hardly expired,_ before all hands were at work, in
a style of which we can hardly form a conception
at home. The consequences were, that the lady's
dress was off her back, ,and her entrails, such as
heart, liver, &c. (which are excellent eating) in
the pot in five minutes. The carcass, when
stripped, is about the size and colour of that of
a horse ; and, what was of the utmost conse-
quence under the circumstances in which our
poor fellows were placed,—the animal supplied
more than fuel enough for its otvn cooking.
With the skin is flayed off, when in good con-
dition, a lining of fat of the breadth of a hand ;
this was immediately cut into pieces, and thrown
into a vessel with bits of rope, or junk, which
were lighted, and a famous fire soon made for
culinary purposes. The vessel, however, also
deserves a notice. It consisted of a sheet of the
copper (of which a few spare sheets were carried
to mend any hole that might be made in the bot-
tom of the boat, and " expel the winter's flaw,")
beat up round the edges so as to form a shallow
receptacle for the bear's grease and ropes ends ;
and over the flame of these the beat's body was
converted into a variety of stews, frys, boils, &c.,
wiiich, if not equal to Ude's recipes, were, we
will be bound to say, relished with a better appe-
tite than usually awaits the fricassees and fritters
of that eminent artiste. I-10W

repa2t must have he..aor. tor-auf-titin, nlaW-Con-
ie4ueit, when it is remembered that their allow-
ance of pemmacan and biscuit was little more
than sufficient. to sustain nature, and certainly
not sufficient to enable them to undergo the se-
vere fatigues to which they were constantly ex-
posed. Indeed, so fierce and craving was their
hunger, we have heard, that on the killing of
One of the bears, a considerable quantity of the
flesh was devoured raw during the night of its
capture. What remained was put in bags, and
served out as occasion required ; but, altogether,
it will be seen that a visit frorn a bear was one of

the most welcome events which could happen to
the expedition.

The next animal of importance in these icy
domains is the seal, which also yields a valuable
oil, where it is impossible for travellers to take
any quantity of necessaries in great bulk. Of
these creatures, however, only two were caught,
and eaten as delicacies. They are cunning in
their habits ; and it required more time to watch
for them than could be spared.

There were immense numbers of sea-f'owi
seen! but few of them shot for the kitchen

Indeed, the expedition was one of such *inces-
sant labour and toil, that there was little oppor-
tunity for doing any thing thing else but drag-
ging the boat, &c. on, and persevering in the
principal object of the undertaking. .
The' water was full of marine insects and
shrimps; &c., whether in the open spaces of the sen,
sea, or in the pools formed- On the surface of the ice.
In our former papers*e. noticed- the limited
.•
allowance of ,spirits given to the party ; we
might have added, that. owing to the severity of
the temperature, the rum, though conveyed in
essence, lost its flavour, and could hardly be
called a spirituous liquor-. ' We have only to add
to these particularS, thrown loosely together,
that, on their return, so accurate were the in-

!;truments., and the use made for them, the Cap-
tain canie directly, and within an hour, as he was
looking ,or it, on the headland whence he set.
out.—Literary Gazette.

There arc, near Hornby Castle, the, seat of the
Duke of LELD:,, is Yorkshire, not !us than a thousand
Lridle gates, -put up by his Grace for the accommodation
of sportsmen.

It was said yesterday, that the statements put
forth as to the deficiency in the Revenue during the pre-
Lent quarter, are much exagL,tratcd ; that, in fact, it will
nut amount to more than halt what common report
affirm;. It i 3 to be hoped, that whatever the produce may
turn out to be, the byatem pursued during the last Adnu_
niztration, of swelling the different br.'inclies by anticipatin
tlie payment of duties, has been abandoned, and that the
actual state of the country will not be concealed. We have
heard, that the deficiency in the revenue of the Port or
London is in a considerable degree counterbalanced by the
increased trade at the outports.--Morning chronick.

Enormous fortunes are realized by the keepers
of gaming-houses. In spite of the expences of Occasional
prosecution, and the still more constant charge of bribing
1:o avoid it, these persons live at a rate which noblemen
can scarcely surpass. Dwelling in splendid ina.nsions ;
maintaining carriages, and suites of servants ; and visit-
ing, on their excursions of business or pleasure, all the
most fashionable resorts in the kingdom. The wealth of
has almost become a proverb : he intends shortly
to buy a borough, and go into Parliament. H-11
(now dead) had a house in Clarges.street, fitted up in
more than oriental splendour. His profits have been
known (from only one-1611111i share of the " bank" in
which he was a partner) to exeecil a thousand pounds per
week. T—R was a man of rather magnificent spirit :
he collected pictures, and paid the artists whom he em-
ployed with great liberality. who was the son
'of a charwoman, kept six or eight horses, and servants in
proportion, and was taken out of his own curriele, to be
carried to prison, on '.:s last conviction. Bankrupt trades-
men, footmen, and waiters from coffee-houses, low attor-
reys, horse-dealers, brothel-keepers, and worn-out gam-
blers, are the part owners and overt agents at these houses.
In some cases, the capital is supplied by persons who keep
in the back ground, and occupy a more reputable station
in lociety.—Monthly Magazine,