4' 0)1 the Local Attraction of the Griper. 



immediately commenced fitting her out for the intended voyage ; 

 and, in consequence of her having been already strengthened 

 for an Arctic voyage, little delay took place in the equipment. 

 I had the vessel fitted with a patent capstan, which afterwards 

 proved of essential service in warping amongst the ice. 



The Griper was originally a gim-brig of 180 tons ; but having 

 been raised upon six feet, when the coals, water, and provisions 

 were on board, the buttocks and the whole of the dead work 

 were completely immersed in the water. tTnder these circum- 

 stances, swiftness in sailing was not to be expected. To aid us 

 in exploring the coasts of Greenland, I applied for a cutter to 

 accompany us ; but this the Lords of the Admiralty did not 

 think fit to grant. 



We were ready for sea by the beginning of May, and on Sa- 

 turday the 3d, cast off from the Hulk at Deptford. We tided 

 it down to Galleor's Reach, where we took on board our guns 

 and powder. In the evening received Admiralty orders to pro- 

 ceed to the Nore. 



May 4. — On the following day weighed with the tide, and 

 worked down, with a strong easterly wind, a few miles below 

 Woolwich, where we anchored. Soon after, a collier came 

 athwart our hawse, and I feared would have carried away our 

 masts ; we, however, cleared without any material damage. 



Monday, May 5. — The wind still easterly, weighed and 

 worked down with the ebb as far as Gravesend. I found the 

 ship to stay and work well. We anchored at the Nore on the 

 7th ; and, as this was a fair trial in smooth water, I considered 

 her to stand tolerably well up under her canvass. The three 

 following days were employed in repairing the damages we had 

 sustained, and in preparing for sea. 



My attention was also directed to ascertain the local attraction 

 of the ship, by swinging her round to every point of the com- 

 pass, and taking the bearing of a distant object, and then ascer- 

 taining the true variation of the place. The difference is the 

 deviation caused by the attraction of the ship, which we found 

 here to be 26° when the ship's head was at right angles with the 

 magnetic meridian, and diminishing till the line of the ship co- 

 incided with it, when there was no deviation. To correct this, 

 Mr Barlow's plate was applied, at such a distance behind the 



