Chap. IV. PARRY'S FIRST VOYAGE. 93 



weather, without any shelter on the shore, made it 

 expedient for them to endeavour to retrace their 

 steps to the eastward. Other parties were sent out, 

 and several days were passed in great anxiety before 

 the whole of them returned. 



About this time, the 14th of September, the 



change in the temperature was a very striking one, 



the mercury having descended as low as to 9° ; and 



from this day the commencement of winter might 



fairly be dated. The 18th was a day of severe trial 



for the ships. Endeavouring to return along the 



land, the bay ice had become so thickened that, 



with the pressure of the floes without, the ships 



were arrested in their progress and unable to move 



a single foot a-head ; and there was but too much 



reason to apprehend that they would be driven on 



shore, or forced by the floes against the heavy ice on 



the beach. From this time till the 20th of the 



month, the perilous situation of the ships is minutely 



described, when on that day a large floe forced the 



Griper on shore, where she lay aground on the beach. 



At this time Lieutenant Liddon, who had recently 



recovered from a rheumatic complaint, caused by the 



harassing circumstances of the last fortnight and 



the increased cold, which reduced the mercury down 



to 15°, was brought to a very debilitated state. 



Parry, therefore, proposed to him to allow himself to 



be removed to the Hecla till the Griper was again 



afloat. To this proposal he would by no means 



listen, saying he should be the last man, instead of 



