242 doctor's report. [chap. v. 



shore, there was no saying at what moment a nip 

 might come on ; and as the upper deck had been 

 more affected than any of the others, the first Lieu- 

 tenant suggested a method of lashing its beams to 

 the stronger ones of the lower deck, to prevent 

 them from rising up, as they had always a tendency 

 to do, when under the influence of heavy pressure 

 amidships, or on the topsides. The people were 

 forthwith set to work in canting the barge and 

 clearing the booms for that purpose. The wind 

 had set us towards the land abeam ; and that 

 ahead bore S. 3° E., distant about eight or ten 

 miles. After inspection to-day, Doctor Dono- 

 van made a favourable report of the health of 

 the crew, which he considered to be manifestly 

 improving. One only was added to the list, 

 whilst many of those who had been affected 

 were so far recovered, as to stand in no further 

 need of an extra quantity of acid. Until 5 h p. m. 

 the ice was generally in motion, and setting fast 

 to the westward ; at that hour the motion ceased, 

 and was succeeded by a noise to the northward, 

 occasioned, as was supposed, by the freshening 

 breeze breaking up the ice in that quarter. 

 Soon after the cracking of the pitch and timber 

 about the stern frame gave notice of fresh an- 

 noyance ; and, though nothing could be detected 

 by the officer of the watch denoting any action 

 on the surface, the cracking became more vehe- 



