CAPTAIN M*CLURE"s DESPATCHES. 17 



it then cleared for a short time, when land was observed to the east- 

 ward, about 15 miles distant, extending: to the northward as far as the 

 eve could reach. The mountains in the interior are lofty and snow- 

 covered, while the low ground is quite free. Several very remarkable 

 peaks were discernible, apparently of volcanic origin. This discovery 

 was named Prince Albert's Land, in honour of Her Majesty's Consort, 

 in lat. 72° 1' N., long. 119° 25' W. Continuing our course slowly to 

 the N.E., in consequence of thick fog, snow, and baffling winds, at 

 8 a.m. of the 10th we were near two rocky islets, named after her 

 Royal Highness the Princess Royal, the largest being about 600 feet 

 in height, and a mile and a half in length, the southern and eastern 

 sides being precipitous ; the other was about a quarter of a mile long 

 and a hundred feet high, gradually sloping to the water's edge, repre- 

 senting very much the appearance of an inverted whale-boat. The 

 wind becoming fair, and weather clearing, all the studding sails were 

 set with the hope of reaching Barrow's Strait, from which we were 

 now distant about 70 miles. The water was tolerably clear in that 

 direction, although much ice was lying against the western land, and 

 from a shoal extending towards it from the largest of the Princess 

 Royal Islands, upon which we obtained 13 fathoms water ; much loose 

 ice was also in motion, and while endeavouring to run between two 

 floes, at the rate of four knots, they closed so rapidly, one upon either 

 beam, that our way was instantly stopped, and the vessel lifted consi- 

 derably ; in this position we were retained a quarter of an hour, when 

 the pressure eased, and we proceeded. Our advance was of short 

 duration, as at 2 p.m. the wind suddenly shifted to the north east and 

 began to freshen ; the water, which a few hours previous had excited 

 sanguine hopes of a good run, became soon so thickly studded with 

 floes, that by 4 p.m. there was scarcely sufficient to keep the ship free ; 

 this by much exertion was, however, eifected, until 2 a.m. of the 11th, 

 when we were beset; at 5 a.m. the ice again opened, which admitted of our 

 getting a few miles to the north-east, until 11.30 a.m., when our course 

 was impeded by a very dense pack. At 7 p.m. the wind shifting to 

 the north-west, set the whole body of the ice upon the eastern shore, 

 which shoaled onr water from 80 to 50 fathoms in one hour. A clear 

 space of two miles was, however, the result of this movement, in which 

 we continued w^orking the whole night, and upon the morning of the 

 12th we perceived we had lost some miles, as the pack was in motion to 

 the southward ; also the further mortification of seeing the whole of 

 the western shore perfectly exempt from ice. w'hile the space of water 

 we occupied was becoming rapidly more limited by very large aud 

 heavy floes, through which we were unable to force, and at 1 1 a.m. 

 were again beset. A fresh gale, with snow, which continued until the 

 morning of the 13th, pressed the ice so heavily upon the vessel that 

 the rudder was unhung to prevent its being damaged ; during the night 

 the temperature fell to 10°, and the land became completely snow-covered. 

 On the 15th, however, it rose to 30°, with the wind from the S.W., 

 which set the ice in motion, compelling us to shift our berth, to avoid 

 collision with an immense floe. At 2.30 a.m. commenced warping, 

 which tedious and laborious duty continued with but slight intermission 

 until half-past 12, when we passed into clear water. A run of five 

 miles to the N.E. brought us to another icy field too dense to penetrate, 

 extending from shore to shore, which here are about twelve miles asunder. 



B 



