Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-08

die was 50 deg. % min. 45 sec. n, the magnetic
pole bearing Mn. e.. distance ninety miles. The
variation as shown by the nzimuth compass and
the horizontal bar needle was As deg east. The
objects seen on this coast are easily enumerated
a low unlnteresting limestone tract, Astounding
nevertheless in rein deer, musk oxen, and old ma.
tive encampments. TO the westward good deal
Of ice appeared, and vast numbers of snow geese
passed high overhead in long triangular flights,
bound for mder skies.
Whilst engaged in linking observations, our men
constructed another durable memorial of our dis
cOyeries, which sauted III the usual manner
Then, recrossng the strait on the 25th we resum-s.
ed for sometime our outward route only keeping
more along the seaward verge OF the islands, so
to shape a straghter course.
The weather, from being threatening and I'M
settled, soon became unequyocay severe. On
the 10Th of August, a snow storm began, that las
ted for seven days, during four days Of which we
wele fixed TO single spot by the violence of the
N. w. gales; while the frost was so keen, that the
pools among the rocks on which we lay became
solid enough to bear man. A more moderate
interval succeeded this fierce outbreak. Quitting
the continent again. at the large river already men,
toned, we struck N. N. W., for an extensive is
land, twenty two miles off, which we coasted NJ
w. for twenty miles, and, shortly before sunset,
on the 9th of September, stood out thence due N.
for the nearest point OF Victoria Land which prov
ed equally distant We have never seen any thing
more brilliant than the phosphoric cleaning of the
waves when darkness set in. The boats seemed
to ceave flood of molten silver; and the spray,
dashed from their bows before the fresh breeze,
fell back like showers of diamonds into the deep.
| II was a cold night, and when we at last made the
| land cliffs, face with eternal ice, obliged US to
run on for u couple of Leagues before we could
take the shore with safety. The coast of Victoria
Land, which we explored for upwards of $50
miles, is mconparably the boldest we have met
with in these seas. Often, near the shore, no bot
tom could be found with thirty five fathoms OF
line and the ceruean blue color ofthe water
ry where indicated a profound depth. There are
several bays, the largest of which, NJ w. of Cape
Alexander, is twenty miles wide, and equally deep,
backed by snow clad mountains Vt attans to
60 deg. 40 mn N. the highest latitude Of this voy-
age.
AT length we reached the extreme point seen
by Mr.. Simpson from Cape Franklin in 1888,
where the coast ofthis large country begins again
TO tend northward Of west, Cape Barrow lying by
computation S. ;. w. distance fifty miles. On
the 10Th September, we crossed this magnificent
strait, with strong T.. = E. side wind, and a
rough sea, in which our gallant boats, old aud
worn out ms they were, acquitted themselves be-
yond our most sanguine hopes. Our return from
Cape Barrow wns miserahiy retarded by furious
N. W. winds and severe stress OF weather. Win
ter permanently set in on the 18th September; and
next day, to the undsgused JOY of the whole par
ty, we re- entered The Coppermine river, after by
g far the longest voyage ever performed in boats on
the Polar Sea. Leaving one of our little craft to-
gether with the remains Of the pemcan (which
through age and long exposure was become quite
mouldy) and various other articles as prize 10
the first EsqumauX who may visit the Bloody
Fall, we assembled the river with our double crew
in four days, abandoned our tents, and every thing
but absolute necessaries, crossed the barren
grounds, up to the knees in snow, having unucki-
ly left orr snow shoes on the coast, and safely
reached Fort Confidence at dusk on the OATH
; The fisheries had failed sooner than ever, and we
) had good reason to congratulate ourselves on not
being doomed TO pass third winter within the
Arctic Circle.
After settling with the indians, literally reward
} ing the most deserving, and supplying all with
} munltlon gratutously, we took our departure on
the evening of the Both, in two inland battaux
one belonging to the expedition, the other came
from Fort Simpson, sixteen days before arri-
val.
Our passage of Great Bear Lake was most
bosterous and nclemcnt In crossing the body
of the lake, aud other considerable tmverses, our
boats with every thing in them, and even the very
. clothes on our backs, became converted into shape
less masses aud connections of ice. Ii was high
time for us TO escape from Great Bear Lake, for
the temperature, which was deg. below zero,
when we landed AT the head of the river, ON the
-, evening of the 4th of October fell 10 deg lower
in the course of the night, and the next day we
descended the rapid stream in the very midst Ot
the driving ice. On entering the Mackenzie, W,
experienced a temporary mitigation Of this ex.
cesSive cold but we should most assuredly have
struck fast above Fort Norman, had not the north
ern gales again rose in their strength, and while
! they shattered and dispersed the rapidly forming
ice, enabled US to stem the current under close
reeied sails. AT noon on the 18th Of October,
after forcing way, with small risk, through
the torrent of ice forced out by the rivers Of the
mountains, we reached this place, Fort Simpson,
and were cordially welcomed by our valuable
friend, Chief Trader MCPHERSON, who had for
some time given up all hopes of our arrvalL
Most ofour people are still afflicted with acute
pains and swellings in the limbs, caused by cold
and exposure /; and we are assured by MIR. M'Pher-
son that he has never known or heard Of so early
or rigorous commencement of winter in Macken-
4, zie's River On the other hand, SO fine spring
that of 1889, seldom visits these frozen regions
and 10 this favoring circumstance, under Provi-
dence, ought our signal success TO be partly as
crlbet.
e October Bottle state Of the ice at length en-
ables us TO despatch couriers to Slave Lake In
the meantime, Gov. Simpsons highly valued let
ter of The 18th of june which unfortunately miss
:, ed us on our way bither, has cast up over land.
: We rejoice in having anticipated the Russian ex-
pedilion, and secured 10 our country and The
=, Company the ndsputable honor of discovering
: the Northwest Passage, which has been an OBJ
! ect ofsearch TO all maritime nations for three CEN
, turtles. When our expedition was planned al Nor
: way house, in 1886, il was confidently expected
that Sir George Back would have achieved the sur
vey of The Gulf OF lioota with the Terroi's boats,
aud that our meeting ut the mouth OF tie TREAT
Fish River would have left no blank in the Geog-
= r,ply of northern America. That officers failure,
the exhaustion OF our men and means, and the ne
cessly of new wintering ground, render n fresh
expedition indispensable for the examination OF the
Gulf of Isoothia the circuit OF which 10 the Strait
of Fury and lecla, according to the Esquimaux
accounts, cannot be less than or 500 miles Ii
only remains for us 10 recommend to your appro-
baton The plan proposed by Mr.. Simpson TO per-
feet this interesting service; which, as he had no