1852.] FLOE LAW. 61 



Star,' carrying away her cat-head ; and that further as- 

 sistance was required." Commander Pullen further re- 

 ported, " that he momentarily expected to lose his bow- 

 sprit, if further damage did not result." 



Fatigued as our crews were, there was no alterna- 

 tive : all the available hands from the Squadron were 

 sent to the 'North Star;' and the master of the Ame- 

 rican having abandoned his vessel to me, possession was 

 taken, to save stores, protect property, and to prevent 

 any mad action of the wreckers, which might endanger 

 H.M.S. North Star. 



It is unnecessary for me to narrate all that was done. 

 1 adopted such measures as secured the 'North Star' from 

 injury, saved a considerable quantity of bread from the 

 ' M'Clellan,' and eventually allowed the vessel to go down. 



The floe about this period presented a very interesting- 

 subject for the painter. Several of the whalers were ex- 

 periencing very decided pressure from without, and astern 

 of these vessels would be seen the various " flitters," 

 boats, sails, provisions, etc., with the crews idly and 

 unconcernedly awaiting the result. The Americans too 

 had not yet selected their vessels, and were, with their 

 boats and chattels, on the floe, sleeping however on 

 board different vessels. 



One fact however, totally unlike the old breed of 

 English seamen, I was ashamed to witness, the child- 

 ish apathy, or worse feeling, which seemed to pervade 

 them at the moment when their services were most re- 

 quired, and when their exertions might have determined 

 the safety of their vessels. No danger to themselves 

 presented ; yet all subordination appeared to cease, when- 

 ever one boat-steerer chose to take Jtis boat to the ice. 



