Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-03-07

We are led 10 believe, from q statements
I've think harsh one,) in the Quarter
" Review, were, on the whole. some
what dissatisfied with Capt. Ross's in
yestigation OF Sir james Lan<sster's
Sound, and were of opinion, that if
passage existed in Bafiin's Bay, it must
be somewhere in that quarter. In or
der to determine this important geo.
graphical problem, an expedition was
fitted out last year, consisting of two
strong vessels, the Hecla and Griper,
which were placed under the command
of Lieut.. Parry. This gentleman,
whose talents and feelings are worthy
of the best and most glorious days Of
nautical enterprise and discovery, was
accompanied by chosen band Of in
trepid and experienced officers; and
the vessels were manned by crews full
Of zeal and enthusiasm, and in the high.
est and most perfect state of discipline.
Government provided every comfort
and convenience for the crews embark
ed in this perilous undertaking-and it
was universally acknowledged, that no
discovery ships ever left the shores of
England in a higherstate OF equipment.
They left England on the llth of
May, 1919, and reached Cape Farewell,
the most southern part of West Green
land, on The 18th of the succeeding June.
On the goth of June, the ships we're
in lat. 81, north.-On the 26th of June,
they were beset in the ice and, after
having endeavoured, but in vain, to urge
their way, during painful detention of
fourdays, were. at last, glad to get back
again. Having reached lat. ~, north,
they determined to force passage
through the barrier of ice, which they
found to be eighty miles broad. Having
succeeded in this, they reached Pos.
session Bay on the 3lst July; and on
the LIST of August, entssed in safety Sir
James Lancaster's Sound, where they
found the same open sea, which has been
described in the accounts of the former
expedition. They advanced to long.
80, west, meeting with but little OBJ
struction from the ice; and in long. 90,
west, discovered two considerable ISL
ands, named Prince Leopold's isles
But, at this point, their progress west
ward was interrupted by strong bar
rier of ice, extending quite across from
these islands, to the north coast of what
Capt. Parry, we understand, named
Barrow Straits. Being thus arrested
by the ice, and forced to alter their
course, they now entered a great inlet,
of IL or Is leagues in breadth, which
they found extending to the southwark.
They sailed along its eastern coast its
middle part and western coast being
blocked up with ice, as far as lat. n,
north, when their farther progress
southwark also was found to be impos-
sible, by reason of the ice. In proceed.
ing down this inlet, the magnetick at
traction Increased so powerfully, that
the existence of the magnetick fiole may
be conjectured to be somewhere in that
neighbourhood; probably in the lat. 20,
N. and long. of 100, w.
On their return 10 Barrow's Straits,
it was found that the barrier of ice, ex-
tending across from Prince LeopoId's
Isles 10 the north coast, had broken up,
so that the ships were now enabled to
pursue their course westward. Hay.
ing reached long. 90, they found the
land on the north side of the Strait,
which had been continuous, from the
entrance of Sir James Lancaster's
Sound now discontinuous, owing to
great inlet. Land, however, was still
seen to the weslward-so the expedi-
ton continued its course in that direc.
ton. In doing so, the ships passed
number Of great islands, all Of them
apparently surrounded with ice; from
which circumstance partial de,entions
were unavoidable and their course ran
in sorl of zigzaS style from lat. 7s,
N. to lat. rs, N.
On the 4th Of September, they were
in long. 100 W.; and here they dis
covered an island which appeared to be
larger than any they had hitherto exam
iDed, and which, we understand, was
named Melville Island, in honour of
the distinguished statesman now at the
head of the Admiralty. This island,
we are informed, extends from long.
l06, w. to ia, w. On the 9Th of