150 



PARRY'S THIRD VOYAGE. 



newly-formed ice, they reached Port Bowen, in time to 

 make it their winter quarters. 



Here they remained until the 20th of July, 1825, 

 when the voyage was resumed, but under very dis- 

 couraging circumstances. Great accumulations of ice 

 rendered it almost impossible to advance ; the Fury 

 was driven on shore, and abandoned, though most of 

 her stores were saved and piled on the beach ; and the 

 Hecla returned to England with a double complement 

 of men and officers. This was the least successful of 

 Parry's voyages, but there is a fact connected with it 

 which deserves to bo recorded : it proved that the 

 anxiety and difficulty consequent on the loss of power 

 in the compasses need no longer exist. The placing of a 

 small circular plate of iron in the line of no direction of 

 the ship, and near to the needle, effects a compensation 

 which keeps the latter in working condition. This con- 

 trivance is due to Mr. Peter Barlow, of Woolwich, and 

 Parry says, " Never had an invention a more complete 

 and satisfactory triumph ; for to the last moment of our 

 operations at sea did the compass indicate the true 

 magnetic direction." 



