OF THE POLAR SEAv-~ 19 
_ Inthe morning of the 7th, the Island of Reso- 
lution was indistinctly seen through the haze, but 
was soon afterwards entirely hidden by a very 
dense fog. The favourable breeze subsided into 
a perfect calm, and left the ship surrounded by 
loose ice. At this time the Eddystone was per- 
ceived to be driving with rapidity towards some 
of the larger masses ; the stern-boats of this ship 
and of the Wear were despatched to assist in 
towing her clear of them. At ten, a momentary 
clearness presented the land distinctly at the dis- 
tance of two miles ; the ship was quite unmanage- 
able, and under the sole governance of the cur- 
rents, which ran in strong eddies between the 
masses of ice. Our consorts were also seen, the 
Wear being within hail, and the Eddystone at a 
short distance from us. Two attempts were in- 
effectually made to gain soundings, and the ex- 
treme density of the fog precluded us from any: 
other means of ascertaining the direction in which 
we were driving until half past twelve, when we 
had the alarming view of a barren rugged shore 
within a few yards, towering over the mast-heads. 
Almost instantly afterwards the ship struck vio- 
lently on a point of rocks, projecting from the 
island ; and the ship’s side was brought so near. 
to the shore, that poles were prepared to push 
her off. This blow displaced the rudder, and 
C2 
