230 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VII. 



The passage to England produced nothing re- 

 markable ; the Griper arrived at Portsmouth on 

 the 10th November, her crew much exhausted by 

 the severity of the weather and wash of the sea over 

 the ship; and three were sent to the hospital. 

 Captain Lyon thus concludes his narrative ; — 



" Thus ends the Journal of our unsuccessful expedition. 

 Before I take leave of my readers, I hope I may be allowed 

 to make a few observations respecting my shipmates, sea- 

 men as well as officers, whose conduct on all occasions was 

 such as to entitle them to the warmest praise I can bestow. 

 I may with truth assert that there never was a happier 

 little community than that assembled on board the Griper. 

 Each succeeding day, and each escape from difficulties, 

 seemed to bind us more strongly together ; and I am proud 

 to say, that during the whole of our voyage, neither punish- 

 ment, complaint, nor even a dispute of any kind, occurred 

 amongst us." — p. 144. 



The narrative of this unsuccessful voyage displays 

 a fine example of manly resolution under the most 

 distressing difficulties, and of pious resignation to 

 the Divine will, on the part of both officers and 

 men, at a time when a fatal crisis appeared to be 

 inevitable. It is one of the many cases in which 

 the devoutly religious character of our British sea- 

 men is eminently conspicuous, and which never 

 fails to guard them against despondency, though 

 surrounded with dangers and difficulties such as, to 

 men unaccustomed to them, would be apt to create 

 despair. Whether in the present instance the critical 

 eye of a thorough-bred seaman might or might not 



