56 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



gale, her crew having suffered a good deal from the 

 inclemency of the weather. In bringing to, under the 

 lee of the island, she had the misfortune to spring 

 her rudder, so that on joining us it was with much 

 difficulty she could steer. To insure her safety and 

 more rapid progress, she was taken in tow hy the 

 Advance, when she bore up with a fine breeze from 

 the westward. Off Cape Martyr we left the English 

 squadron under Captain Austin. About ten miles 

 farther to the east, the two vessels under Captain 

 Penny, and that under Sir John Eoss, were seen 

 secured near the land. At 8 P.M. we had advanced 

 as far as Cape Hotham. Thence, as far as the in- 

 creasing darkness of the night enabled us to see, 

 there was nothing to obstruct our progress, except 

 the bay ice. This, with a good breeze, would not 

 have impeded us much ; but unfortunately the wind, 

 when it was most required, failed us. The snow, 

 with which the surface of the water was covered, 

 rapidly cemented, and formed a tenacious coat, 

 through which it was impossible with all our appli- 

 ances to force the vessels. At 8 P.M. they came to 

 a dead stand, some ten miles to the east of Barlow's 

 Inlet. 



" The following day the wind hauled to the south- 

 ward, from which quarter it lasted till the 19th. 

 During this period the young ice was broken, its 



