NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBEllGKN. 455 



whom I ordered to fill the bailing tubs, quitted his 

 station, on the weak pretence, that the water was 

 spilt upon ■ him. My chief mate, however, and a 

 few others, it is but justice to say, shewed that 

 arduous zeal, that steady obedience and unrelenting 

 perseverance, which are properties when combined, 

 that dignify the seaman, and characterise him as 

 truly British. And notwithstanding some of the 

 men who visited us, were considered rather as 

 a burthen than a help, yet there were otliers who 

 acquitted themselves to admiration. Most of the 

 people belonging to the John and North Briton, were 

 unexceptionable, as well as those of the JMargaret, 

 during their short stay, those belonging to the Pres- 

 cotand some others. INIy brother Jackson, though his 

 ship was on the opposite side of a floe, scarcely ever 

 left m.e ; and the master of the North Briton, Mr 

 Allen, beha\ed in a most gentlemanly manner. 

 Some of the officers of different ships, though un- 

 known to me, distinguished themselves by their ac- 

 tivity and zeal for our service. 



As no ship could with propriety venture near us 

 to assist in turning the Esk over, on account of the 

 hazardous position of the ice around her, we had no 

 other means of performing this singular evolution 

 than by attaching purchases to the ice from the 

 ship. We proceeded as follows : A new hawser of 

 9i inches circumference, was taken under the ship's 

 bottom, the end clenched to the main-mast, and the 



