Account of a Voyage to Sp'tljhergen. l^l 



After having ftaid above twelve hovirs with the Ruffians, 

 highly entertained, we invited them to come to fee us on 

 board and took our leave, returning the fame way by the 

 compafs, and arrived fafe on board, after having been abfent 

 almoft eighteen hours. 



We now prepared for the voyage home ; and, after having 

 filled our empty caflcs with good water from the ftore, and 

 made a clear fliip, we fet fail with a fine north-eallerly breeze 

 in the middle of July 1780. Wc failed again through a great 

 quantity of floating ice, and, our fliip being a good failer, 

 pafled feveral full fliips bound homewards. 



The firil pleafing change we experienced was to have fomf 

 night, and to be obliged to light a candle in the cabin. O 

 what a luxury ! — When you have no darknefs for a confider- 

 able time (during May, June, and July), light becomes te- 

 dious at laft ; and the firft time you fee a candle burning in 

 the cabin, and a dark night, the pleafure is indefcribable. 

 Before we came into this more fouthern latitude, I ufcd to 

 obferve the fetting of the fun, refting, as it were, on the ho- 

 rizon, appearing of a very large fize, furroundcd with moft 

 beautiful and plorious colours of various tints, and then the 

 rifing of it fhortly after in full majefty. Language cannot 

 convey an idea of the fcene. 



We came to anchor at Larwick towards the end of July, 

 and were received in the kindeft manner by Mr. Imies and 

 all our friends in tlie place. 



After three weeks Hay we took leave of our Shetland 

 friends, and failed in company with a number of full fhips 

 for England. When we came on the coaft of Northumber- 

 land and Yorkfliire, the breeze and weather being favour- 

 able, wc were delighted with the fmell of the hay from the 

 fhore, and the fight of the pretty little towns and villager 

 built on the fea-fide, and rcfrcfhed with excellent frefli cod 

 and haddock, which the Yorkfliire cobles (a kindof fifhing 

 boats) bring on board ; in return for which they prefer 

 taking a piece of beef or pork to money : they bring feme- 

 L 4 tinrcs 



