Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-09
FOREIGN.
From papers received in New-york by the ship
Hector, from Liverpool.

From papers received in New-York by the ship
Hector, from Liverpool.
Two Of The Discovery Ships have ar.
rived in England. Few particulars Of
their highly interesting voyage have yet
transpired. the officers aud crew OF the
Hecla combining themselves to casual 90.
servations, until their commander shall
have laid his journal before the lords Of
the admiralty. We understand, however
that Lieut.. Parry entered by Lancaster
Sound, proceeded over Capt. ROSES spe-
cial chart Of land, add reached the paral-
lei Of IA or IS, Ia or lis west, about
$50 miles further than Capt. Ross asserted
the polar sea to be navigable. 10 30 the
ships fell 10 with islands, which continued
successfully till they reached the extreme
westerly point of one in ll5, where win
ter overlook them. They wiutered in a
snug bay in Lancaster Sound, and did not
get clear Of the ice till the 5th OF August,
this year. From October till February,
or for about 100 days, they were 10 dark
ness but with abundance Of wholesome
provisions and other requisite comforts,
they passed the tine very agreeably.
The crew were amused with games Of ev.
cry kind, and occasionally they acted
plays for mutual entertainment. On the
breaking up Of the ice this season, al
tempts we're made TO proceed westerly,
but immense barriers Of ice from the polar
sea to the northward shut up all hope Of
succeeding 10 the parallel Of IA, aud be-
fore they could return to the eastward
and renew the attempt in a lower latitude,
the navigable season, which is confined to
August and few days in September, Of.
fered no reasonable chance Of succeeding
this year; independent Of which provi-
sions would not have held out 10 SO pre-
carious, and dangerous navigation for
the winter, and the time they would GER
tainly have been frozen up. ffiiie exist
ence of polar sea to the westward Of
Hearn's river, is incoDtestibly established;
and experience has taught these hardy
navisators, that 10 the month Of August
such a powerful radiation from the land
takes place, as to render a channel sufii-
cient to demonstrate the certainty Of the
existence Of a northwest passage, and that
a practicable one, but not open TO any
possible commercial purposes. In 80 the
compasses were useless on board-lhe at
traction of the needle was extreme. The
crews of the vessels have conducted
themselves as become men 10 such mo
mentous expedition. They have been
particularly healthy, and returned to
England with the loss only Of one man,
that from a casualty which is high
tribute to the discipline and care of the
officers commanding, with the thermome-
ter Of Fair. S. deg. below zero, where
the breath of every one in his sleeping
place formed sheet Of ice over his head
10 the morning. The ships have been
out for about Is months, having sailed
from Sheerness 90 the 18th May, 1919.
Sunday last the commander, officers, sea-
men and marines, OF his majesly's ships
employed on discovery 10 the Arctic re-
gions, returned public thanks TO Almighty
God, in the church Of st. Mary-le-Strand,
London, for the many mercies received
during their perilous undertaking. and for
their safe return 10 their native land.