8 VESSEL PURCHASED. 



had been made, I found the vessel lying at a wharf, 

 heavily laden with a cargo brought from the West 

 Indies. She was a strong, snug, jaunty looking craft, 

 and appeared to be well adapted for the peculiar 

 service to which she was destined. Her " register " 

 quaintly set forth that she was " A 1," that she meas- 

 ured one hundred and thirty-three tons burden, that 

 she was a fore-and-aft schooner, drew eight feet of 

 water, and was named Spring Hill. For this name 

 we at once substituted United States, which change 

 was, upon my memorial, subsequently confirmed by 

 act of Cono-ress. 



The season was now growing very late. Before 

 the vessel had been purchased it was fully time that 

 I should have been upon my voyage, and every day's 

 delay added to my anxiety lest I should be unable to 

 penetrate the Baffin's Bay ice, and secure a harbor 

 before the winter had shut out all access to the land. 

 It was therefore with no small degree of satisfaction 

 that I saw the schooner on the ways in the ship- 

 yard of Mr. Kelly in East Boston, and the work of 

 refitting her going rapidly forward. 



As a protection against the wear and pressure of the 

 ice, a strong sheathing of two and a half inch oak 

 planking was spiked to her sides, and the bows were 

 cased with thick iron plates as far aft as the fore- 

 chains. Internally she was strengthened with heavy 

 beams, crossing at intervals of twelve feet a little 

 below the water-line, which, as well as the deck-tim- 

 bers, were supported by additional knees and diagonal 

 braces. For convenience of working among the ice, 

 her rig was changed from a fore-and-aft to a foretop- 

 sail schooner. 



Owing to many unavoidable delays, the month of 



