Attempt to reach a High Latitude. 13 



when we had just cleared the islands ; and when we had run due 

 north 25 miles from Cloven Cliff, and were in the act of heav- 

 ing the ship to, we found ourselves suddenly embayed amongst 

 the ice, and, before we could wear, the ship struck : failing in 

 backing her out, and the ice beginning to beat against the rud- 

 der, we forced her about two cables' length farther in, whei'e 

 she lay quiet from the influence of the swell for 24 hours. We 

 attempted ineffectually to warp the head round to seaward. 

 In the evening, however, we succeeded, and were ready to take 

 advantage of the first opening. Sounded in 115 fathoms, fine 

 sand. 



On the 6th, after a light air from the N. W., the fog dis- 

 persed, and presented to our view packed ice, extending nearly 

 east and west as far as the eye could reach, being apparently 

 driven upon the main body by the late southerly gales. We 

 observed this day in 80° SCV N., which proved to be our highest 

 latitude. A shift of the wind from the eastward enabled us to 

 warp out, and we made all sail, ranging along the ice in a 

 westerly direction. We skirted the margin in a line nearly east 

 and west, for about 60 miles, but did not proceed farther to the 

 west, as the ice began to trend towards the south. During this 

 run, the ice was everywhere closely packed and cemented, with- 

 out any appearance of an opening, and no signs of clear water 

 beyond it from the mast-head. I have no doubt but northerly 

 winds would have dispersed it, and, had the nature of the ser- 

 vice admitted of a delay, no doubt but I would have reached as 

 far as Captain Phipps or Captain Buchan. Had I reached the 

 main body of ice, it was my intention to have attempted to 

 proceed a degree or two nearer the pole, having, for this pur- 

 pose, been provided with a light Portsmouth wherry, which 

 could have been dragged over the ice. 



On the morning of the 8th, finding we were led so much to 

 the southward without any prospect of getting to the northward, 

 we tacked and stood off to the east. Next day we again found 

 the ice to trend to the S. E., and finally joining the land without 

 any appearance of an opening. We fell in with the land 15 

 miles E. N. E. of Fair Haven, for which we made sail. On the 

 night of the 10th, we passed close to some small rocks lying off 

 the outer Norway, and bearing from Cloven Cliff E, N. E. from 



