68 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
Whilst the boat was at the berg, they were employed 
on board sounding ; they struck bottom in three 
hundred and seventy-three fathoms, soft mud, and at 
the same time a tide, or current, was found setting 
N. 65° E. true, at the rate of seven fathoms per hour. 
Wednesday, 4th. —'The momentous question so 
often alluded to in the course of this narrative, (and 
indeed a subject of conversation for nearly a twelve- 
month past, ) has this day been decided in the manner 
in which I always thought it would be, that is, that no 
land exists on the west side of Lancaster’s Sound, where 
it was said to have been seen last year; for we were 
to-day at noon in longitude 86° 56’ W., which is nearly 
three degrees to the westward of where it was laid 
down. It would perhaps be unbecoming to take a re- 
trospective view of the opinions and arguments ad- 
vanced by those who maintained that Lancaster’s 
Sound was of all others the place that appeared most. 
likely to be the opening or inlet through which the pas- 
sage so long sought after would ultimately be found ; 
because a review of that kind might be considered as a 
triumph over those who have the misfortune of being 
this day proved to be wrong. Although people may 
refrain, however, from making an ostentatious parade 
about their own merit or judgment, yet they cannot 
avoid feeling a secret satisfaction that their opinions 
have turned out to be true ; nor is it indeed necessary 
to stifle these inward pleasures. But, to abandon the 
subject, I shall resume my diary by relating the rest 
of the events of the day, leaving to others the task 
of contrasting and judging of the respective merits 
of the deeds and opinions of the parties or indivi- 
duals concerned, for upwards of two centuries, in pro- 
jecting or performing voyages to this country, similar 
to that on which we are employed. 
