A.D. 



1773, 



314 HON. CAPTAIN PHIPPS. 



southward to avoid being beset. The expedi- 

 tion was at this time about twenty-one miles 

 to the westward of the Seven Islands, which 

 appeared to be surrounded by ice ; the sea to 

 the southward of them, however, seemed to be 

 clear, and Captain Phipps shaped his course in 

 that direction, in the hope of being able to pass 

 the islands, and of finding the sea to the east- 

 ward of them clear of ice. In doing this, he 

 opened out Henlopen Strait, and found a heavy 

 swell from the southward ; from which it may 

 be inferred that the sea was clear of ice in 

 that direction, for a considerable distance at 

 least. The wind here fell light ; and the ships 

 being near a low island, a boat was sent to 

 examine it : they found it to be about seven 

 miles in length, and very low. Dr. Irving, who 

 accompanied the party, stated that there were 

 lying upon the beach, sixteen or eighteen feet 

 above the level of the sea, several large trees, 

 about seventy feet long, which had been torn 

 up by the roots, and others which had appa- 

 rently been felled with an axe, and marked 

 out in twelve-feet lengths. The timber was in 

 no ways decayed, nor the strokes of the axe 

 in the least defaced. There were likewise some 

 pipe-staves, and wood, fashioned for use. The 

 beach was formed of old timber, sand, and 



