OF THE POLAR SEA. 13 
sanguine in their expectation of having a speedy 
change in the wind, which had been so vexatiously 
contrary, but they were disappointed in every in- 
stance. 
Thursday, July 1.—The month of July set in - 
more favourably; and, aided by fresh breezes, 
we advanced rapidly to the westward, attended 
daily by numerous fulmars and shearwaters. 
The Missionary brig had parted company on the 
22d of June. We passed directly over that part 
_ of the ocean where the “‘ Sunken Land of Buss” 
is laid down in the old, and continued in the ‘Ad- 
miralty charts. Mr. Bell, the commander of the 
Eddystone, informed me, that the pilot who 
brought his ship down the Thames, told him that 
he had gained soundings in twelve feet some- 
where hereabout ; and I am rather inclined to 
. attribute the very unusual and cross sea we had 
in this neighbourhood, to the existence of a bank, 
than to the effect of a gale of wind which we had 
just before experienced ; and I cannot but regret 
that the commander of the ship did not try for 
soundings at frequent intervals. 
25th July we had opened the entrance 
its, and in the afternoon spoke the: 
Andrew Marvell, bound to England with a cargo 
of fourteen fish. The master informed us that 
the ice had been heavier this season in Davis’ 
