232 INSTRUCTIONS TO CREW. [CHAP.V. 



alarm, crowded on deck ; and even the poor sick 

 came tottering aft, in an agony of terror. Provi- 

 dentially the ship lifted herself up fully eight 

 inches, under the pressure of a force that would 

 have crushed a less strengthened vessel to 

 atoms ; and thus the opposing ice either passed 

 in part beneath the bottom, or was wedged 

 against the large masses at either extremity. 



After 8 h a. m. we had some quiet ; and at 

 divisions, I thought it necessary to address the 

 crew, reminding them that as Christians and 

 British seamen, they were called upon to con- 

 duct themselves with coolness and fortitude ; 

 and that independently of the obligations imposed 

 by the Articles of War, every one ought to be 

 influenced by the still higher motive of a con- 

 scientious desire to perform his duty. I gave 

 them to understand, that I expected from one 

 and all, in the event of any disaster, an implicit 

 obedience to and an energetic execution of every 

 order they might receive from the officers, as 

 well as kind and compassionate help to the sick. 

 On their observance of these injunctions, I warned 

 them, our ultimate safety might depend. Some 

 fresh articles of warm clothing were then dealt out 

 to them ; and as the moment of destruction was 

 uncertain, I desired that the small bags in which 

 those things were contained should be placed on 

 deck with the provisions, so as to be ready at 



