Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-15
DISCOVERY SHIP.

OAoNO' In
On the 2i,b, March, the Hecla unmoored from
her former anchorage, little below the King
Yard, at Depford, ahead Of the Monmouth Cd
sheer hulk, and warped out more into the middle
OF the river. She had her ice boats on board, one
OF which was on her quarter gallery, with her
keel upwards every thing being prepared for start
ing the following morning at ten. Copper life
buoys were hanging over her stern, in case OF any
person falling overheard, ready to be thrown out
to them TO catch hold of. and support themselves
until boats be cent to afford assistance. AT
six in the evening she hauled her colours down.
Next day morning, (Sunday,) there no blue
Peter hoisied, no fore',op-sail loosened. or gun
hired the usual signals for departure of ships OF
war, requiring every person belonging TO such
ships, 10 repair forthwith on board. AN old I'm
ION Jack, at the fore top gallant masthead was
the only Indication Of the intended NOV ement-
Capt Parry, with Mrs. p. went ON board early in
the morning, and precisely the clock in the
Dock Yard struck ten, the Hecla under weigh
and moved downwsrds having been taken in tow
by the Lightning steamer. The men on board the
Hussar trigaie were mustered upon deck, with
their marines drawn up, aud gave three hearty
cheers, and making other demonstrations CT Joy,
Tor her success on her voyage out and home again.
The crew of the Hecls returned three cheers. The
other ships OF war, storeships, merchantmen, and
steamers, as well as the spectators in boats and
by loud and tumuliuous acclamations, the deep in
terest they took in the prosperous issue of this
singular and daring enterprize. The wind was
favourable, but the tide contrary. The Lightning
steamer moved rapidly, though not near so
quickly as her name would seem to import, pro-
ceedng al rate OF six seven miles an hour. -
All eyes continued fixed on the two vessels until
they had passed Greenwich, and the point of land
below IL formed by the curvature OF the river
Thames. Long after they. were out of sight, shoals
OF Lonioners continued TO arrive, anxious to wit
ness the departure of the far-famed North Pole
Expedition, and felt sorely disappointed at being
too late Some, in their extreme eagerness to catch
glimpse of this nautical rsree show, were de-
termined TO follow her TO Northfeet, near Graves
end, where it is expected she would anchor by
one o'clock yesterday sfternoon and remain four
Ave days.
In his person, Captain Parry is tsll and slen-
der; his complexion is sallow; his eye quick,
keen, and penetrating; his forehead is, as phre4
biologists would say, well developed. His re-
Elective organs of comparison and capacity are
prominent, and still are the organs of
space and locality, which form great eleva-
tim the frontal snus. that the organ of in =
dividuaiity, or memory of facis, between and be.
low the two former, appears depressed, like an
indsn,stion or fuHow in the knitting oil the brows.
Great travellers, geographers, and astronomers, are
remarkable for this formation ofihe skull, any
one may convince himself by looking at the por-
traits OF Sir Isaac Newton and Captain Cook, or
by inspecting the heads OF migratory birds.
Mrs. Parry has very fi.e features, but grief and
anxiety, on account of The multifarious dangers
awaiting her husband, seem, for the present, TO
have nipped the on her cheek.
The burden of the Hecla is about 100 ions, and
though post ship, she only carries two six poun-
ders, and complement of 81 men, namely:
Three Lieutenanis; first Lieutenant, MIR. Rose;
second do. Mr. Foster, who acts likewise as AS
tronomer and Surveying officer; third do. Mr. Gro
sier; Master, Mr.. Crawford "a gentleman well
acquainted with the Greenland wig alton and trade
who has made four voyages in the Hec!a before;
Masters Mate, MIR. Ware, la,ei, returned ,om
Africa; Surgeon, Mr.. Beaverley; Assistant sur
geon, MIR. MacCoTmick; three Midshipmen.- In
all 20 Offices and warrant officers; seven marines
and tbe rest fine crew Of seamen
The ship is about twelve years old the expe
dition to Alsers in 1916, having been her very
first trip. She carries 10 months provisions. IS
chaldrons of Goals, and her water in bulk or more
properly speaking, IN tanks, instead of water cak-,
which constitutes great saving in stowase; an OBJ
jeci OF great importance in long voyages
The greatest attention has been paid TO the vic
tuallins department Of the ship. Preserved meat
beef, pork, veal and mutton, besides vegetables
are carried out In tin cansters, besides two thou
sand pounds weight of pemmican, a concentrated
essence OF meat dried by fire of oak and elm
wood, six pounds of the best beef being reduced to
one pound, the continuance Of a blI. Holmes, a
| surgeon and late resident at Hudson 5 Bay. Sam
pies OF this quintescence OF animal food are shown
on board, having the appearance and hat the
favour OF German saussges, with this difference,
however, that the expense Of il is said to be Us
Per pound. This is intended to be used in the
boats after leaving the ship at Spzbergen, as IS ell
as he bircui! powder.
The strength OF rum is recifed TO S. per cent,
above proof
The ship herself secured by strong iron knees
both fore aud aft She is lined all over with !
coating Of cork, in layers of three inches thick. 10
project the against cold and damp. Iron
iues, of sem-cylinlTical shape, convey heated
air 10 all parts OF the ship, from a stove below
the lower deck, well as from the csboose be-
tween decks. subject 10 the regulation of Their
mometer From 60 H. 20 dead lights, in vsrious
parts of the deck convey light only all the of
6cers & warrant officers cabins, but likewise to the
CT CIV; they arranged that they may be taken
out, S. ventaors screwed in their places to air The
ship. The boards Of the upper deck not laid lon
giiudinslly, usual bu. diasonally for the sake oil
the greater strength. a patent capstan, by Phil
lips, in perpendicular position, with three mul
tipiying wheels, is placed betwixt the main and
mizzen mast, besides horizontal one aft of the
foremaet, the former being Of new construction.
In comforts for the crew, the Hecta far exceeds
any ship OF her size, the sleeping places, tables
SC. being arranged with great judciousness f.
very two men have a large box like an arm chest
assigned to them, duly numbered, which serve.
FOR set. The tables are covered with green baize
Light, siriness elegance, aad salubTiiy charac,e.
rye every part between decks Two arm. chests,
four pumps, three cOmpasses, one Of them ON an
elevated stand, and FIVE boats, are upon deck, &,
three ice boats have arrived from Woolwicb, bu,
are for the present deposited in the Kings Xard
iheu rnern nannciallu hnilf ,rfh ,.heeln and LII