Chap. VI. CAPTAIN PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 207 



The reply of Mr. Edwards the surgeon was, as 

 might be expected, decisive. Under any circum- 

 stances, he stated that an increase of general de- 

 bility, with a corresponding degree of sickness, 

 might be expected ; but considering the matter as 

 in a single ship, it assumes a much more important 

 shape. In that view the increase of labour and ex- 

 posure, from the separation of the vessels, the pri- 

 vation of many salutary occupations, mental and 

 corporeal, attending their union; and, at this late 

 period of the season, the hopelessness of the success 

 of the ensuing navigation being such as to excite 

 feelings sufficiently lively to counteract those de- 

 pressing causes. The substance of the answer being 

 sent to Commander Lyon, after noticing the great 

 change he had observed in the constitution of the 

 officers and men of the Hecla, from the continuance 

 of one particular diet, almost total deprivation of 

 fresh animal and vegetable food for above two 

 years, and the necessary and close confinement for 

 several months of each severe winter, " I conceive," 

 he says, " that a continued exposure to the same 

 deprivations and confinements, the solitude of a 

 single ship, and the painful nionotony of a third 

 winter to men whose health is precarious, would in 

 all probability be attended with very serious conse- 

 quences." 



But he goes further, and notices the inutility of 

 the measure. From the circumstance of being de- 



