376 UNSAFE POSITION. [September, 



over" for winter. When that event takes place, our men 

 will exclaim, " Well, here we are for certain." 



As to any prospect of such a dilemma, I at present 

 dissent. It is not my intention to remove anything out 

 of the ship, but simply to secure as much internal com- 

 fort as circumstances will permit ; more, probably, if I 

 err not in my reasoning, than last season ; but to be 

 prepared to be moved at any moment that it may suit 

 the caprice of Dame Nature. The grounds upon which 

 I base my opinion are as follow. First. Notwithstanding 

 opinion is against me, I consider this position unsafe, 

 and that we are liable, even throughout the months of 

 October, November, and December, to be driven from 

 hence. The American vessels were entrapped in the 

 pack, and comparatively safe : they had no prospect of 

 open water, it is true, but that is a danger, unless you 

 are prepared with a port where shelter can be obtained. 

 They were compelled to perform certain gyratory move- 

 ments during these months, reaching the neighbourhood 

 of Beechey Island about the 22nd of December ! 



Now all these same causes are visibly in operation, 

 and it is only necessary for "the turn of the wheel" to 

 take a liking or involve in its chances our frail barks, 

 and off we travel on the tangent (if not crushed) into 

 mid-channel. The scaling of the main pack to that con- 

 necting us is the act of a few hours. Who will ven- 

 ture then to dissolve the connection ? I trust that it is 

 scarcely necessary for me to illustrate this by diagram ; 

 for the ice motion is so capricious, that direct, lateral, 

 oblique, or rotary force will perform all we have to fear 

 in a few hours, leaving us to solve the problem in winter, 



