Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-02

nothing that could I'm the SMALLEST desree damp
our spirits; we had lived well, suffered no la
tigue, either from anxiety or bodily excrtion :;
we had seen nothing like danger, and We had
been animated by one sentiment; but nothing
had yet occurred 10 inspire with the hope oi
success in the greai enterprise we had pro-
cetded cheeriuliy. but without enthusiasm,
aud our ardor had rather diminished AS we he.
gun 10 diminish our latitude. Bat 10 find so
GRATED an opening under such circumstances as
lave mentioned, and in the very spot too of
ak others most likely to lead us at once 10 the
yorthern coast OF America, was so unexpected
and at tue same time 40 exiiilerating, that
firmly believe every creature on board aniici.
patel the pleasure of writing an overland des-
patch to his friend, either from the eastern or
the western shores OF the Pacific. We stood
directly into this spacious inlet; the width
continued pretty nearly the same, as far as we
cunld see, and not particle of ice on the
water neither was there amy appearance Of
land ahead. Every breast beat high, aud every
Que was DESTROYS to mount the crows nest, to
look out tor the opening which should conduct
us into the Polar Sea, near the coast of the
MUM taAd Of America. We had not run, how
ever, above ten leagues within the inlet when
the issb<lla bore up, aud of course, the Alex
ander did the same, aud We stood out Of the
Inlet why. we could not co lecture, but under
all sail. Our Commodore. as 1t afterwards
appeared, had seen the land at the bottom of
the inlet. Ii is impossible 10 describe the
gloom that was immediately spread over every
thus uneN peciedly dashed tn the srosHd. At
the very spot where the Isabella bore up, the
dcpth Oi water was $50 fathoius, aud the tenn
peratnre continued the same AS al the entrance
lie Alexander was about 4 or miles asteru
OF her consOrt AT tkai time but not the least
appearance. OF land was visible in the direction
OF the Inlet trom her crows nests
Tn passing near the southern point OF
Lancaster Sound, The depth of water mad ia.
creased Is upwards OF 1000 iathoms. Close to
lansl .I a.
beach, at tue bottom or a little bay into which
river OF ruunin. water was failing whose
width might he from so to CD Yards, and the
water above knee deep. The Hat ground thro'
whichii ran was ire fromice, q appeared 10 he
covered with a toicrabiy good soil, on which
were growing variety OF plants On the banks
were found piece of IA fir tree, or branch,
about five inches in diameter and piece of
birch bark. We went through the ceremony
OF taking possession of this land IN the name OF
His Majesty, which fear is only putting " a
barreu >cet'tre in his hand" though of all the
places We had yet seen simce we crossed the
Arctic circle, this is by far the most inviting /;
and, indeed, were it not for the high peaked
mountains, partially covered with SNOW, which
bonad The valley on leach side, we conld not
possibly have supposed ourselves TO be in the
high latitude of7i, especially OH looking sea.
ward, aud seeing not particle OF ice as tar as
the eye could reach.
=" The month of September had now SET in
and the disappointment experienced in Lam
caster Sound cast damp OH all oar failure
proceedings. We continued to the south east
ward, along the land, which we saw at inter
walls, but kept at very respectable distance
from il. We saw several openings. but exa.
mined none. The sea continued clear of ice.
aud the weather moderate, hut seldom clear
ion Will probably expect from me some
opinion as to the existence and practicability
OF northwest passage; but 1 really feel
myself TO he utterly unable to give any well
founded opinion OF the subject. L may, how
ever, with safety assert, that our obserV atious
have not supplied us with any grounds
whaseverfor stating, as perceive has been
positively stated in the newspapers, and
apparently OH demi official authority, that
there Is no passage from Baffins Bay into the
iacitic. am perfectly certain, that no
ofcer employed on the expedition ventured
TO hazard such an assertion, because no an, ia
competent TO make up his mind to such a
decision. But, were l compelled to deliver my
sentiments on this interesting question L
should say that the whole OF this land from
Wolstchiieims Sound ronna the head of
na.niis BAY, and down tn The northern coast
oil Labrador, is so intersectcd by numerous
straits or inlets. that as far as appearances go,
The iand on the western side of Dayis's Strait
and Batnns Bay is formed into great cluster
or Archipelago ufislands, lie yond which is the
Polar sea but whether all or any of these
straits are, or are not, navigabie is n question
mat yet remaius TO he decided, and which
nothing can decide but practical experience
ana inns have reason TO believe TO be the
opinion entertained at head quarters; for I
am extremely happy to inform you, that til
Admiralty have allowed the crews of the two
SHIPS 10 volunteer their services, MS it is
understood, for another expedition next year,
and 1t rs almost unnecessary TO add, every one
to a man has volunteered for this service
n. Il. IL IN confidently asserted in Morning
paper, that Captain Ross, Oh his arrival at an
English port, took away all the journals which
had boen kept by any person under bis com.
mand, and thus precluded the publication of
what wonld have been The best evidence
against him.
The Crows nest is kind Of box sufficient
to Hold Hian generally a cask, fixed near
the mast head, to protect the observer from
cola, and enable him TO look out for whales or
open pieces of water.