250 



A VOYAGE TO 



1779- ward. On the 1 <;th, the wind frefhened from the Weftward, 



Julv. 



« • and having, in a great meafure, difperfed the fog, we im- 



u ' v ,s * mediately flood to the Northward, that we might take a 

 nearer view of the ice ; and in an hour were clofe in with it, 

 extending from North North Weft, to North Eaft. We found 

 it. to be compact and folid ; the outer parts were ragged, and 

 of different heights ; the interiour furface was even ; and, 

 we judged, from eight to ten feet above the level of the 

 fea. The weather becoming moderate for the remaining 

 part of the day, we directed our courfe according to the 

 trending of the ice, which in many parts formed deep 

 bays. 



Friday 16. In the morning of the 1 6th, the wind frefhened, and was 



attended with thick and frequent mowers of fnow. At 

 eight in the forenoon, it blew a flrong gale from the Weft 

 South Weft, and brought us under double-reefed top-fails ; 

 when, the weather clearing a little, we found ourfelves 

 embayed; the ice having taken a fudden turn to the South 

 Eaft, and in one compact body furrounding us on all fides, 

 except on the South quarter. We therefore hauled our wind 

 to the Southward, being at this time in latitude 70 8' North, 

 and in twenty-fix fathoms water 3 and, as we fuppofed, about 

 twenty-five leagues from the coafl of America. The gale 

 increafing, at four in the afternoon we clofe reefed the fore 

 and main-top-fails, furled the mizen top-fail, and got the 

 top-gallant-yards down upon deck. At eight, finding the 

 depth of water had decrcafed to twenty-two fathoms, which 

 we confidercd as a proof of our near approach to the Ame- 

 rican coaft, we tacked and flood to the North. We had 

 blowing weather, accompanied with fnow, through the 

 , 7 . night; but next morning, it became clear and moderate; 

 and, at eight in the forenoon, we got the top-gallant yards 



acrofs, 



