OF THE POLAR SEA. 3 
This return afforded us, at least, the oppor- 
tunity of comparing the longitude of Yarmouth 
church, as shewn by our chronometers, with its 
position as laid down by the Ordnance Trigono- 
metrical Survey ; and, it was satisfactory to find, 
- from the small difference in their results, that the 
chronometers had not experienced any alteration 
in their rates, in consequence of their being 
changed from an horizontal position in a room, to 
that of being carried in the pocket. 
_ An untoward circumstance, while at this an- 
chorage, cast a damp on our party at this early 
period of the voyage. Emboldened by the de- 
cided appearance of the N.W. sky, several of 
our officers and passengers ventured on shore for 
a few hours ; but, we had not been long ‘in the 
town before the wind changed suddenly to S.E., 
which caused instant motion in the large fleet 
collected at this anchorage. The commander of 
our ship intimated his intention of proceeding to 
sea, by firing guns ; and the passengers hastened 
to embark. Mr. Back, however, had unfortu- 
nately gone upon some business to a house two 
or three miles distant from Yarmouth, along the 
line of the coast; from whence he expected to be 
able to observe the first symptoms of moving, 
which the vessels might make. By some acci- 
dent, however, he did not make his appearance _ 
Be . 
. 
