SS6 Return of the Distovery Ships. 



From the London Gazette. 



Admiralty Office, November 4, 1820. 



Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant William Edward Pany, commanding His 

 Majesty s ship Hecia, (lately employed with the Griper gun-brig on a 

 Voyage of Discovery in the Arctic Seas,) to Jolin Wilson Croker, Esq. 

 dated His Miijesty's ship Hecla, West coast of Davis's Straits, lat. 70 deg. 



" 41 min. N., lung. G9 deg. 17 min. W. September 5, 1820. 



" Sir, — I avail myself of an unexpected opportunity by the 

 Lee, of Hull, whaler, to acquaint yon, for the information of my 

 Lords Conanissioners of the Admiralty, that Mis Majesty's ships 

 nncier my orders succeeded in discovering a passage through 

 Lancaster's Sound into the Polar Sea, and penetrated, during 

 the sumn^.er of 1819, as far as the longitude of 112f deg. west 

 of Greenwich, between the parallels of 7-1 deg. and 75 deg. north 

 latitude. 



" In this space twelve islands have been discovered, and named 

 th6 Islands of New Georgia, in honour of His Majesty. The 

 expedition wintered in a harbour on the south side of the largest 

 of these islands (called Melville Island), in latitude 7-1 deg. 47 

 uiin. N. and loi^itude 110 deg. 47 min. W., and proceeded to 

 the westward immediately on the breakina; up of the ice at the 

 commencement of the present season, the ships being in perfect 

 condition, the officers «nd men in excellent health, and with 

 every prospect of the final accomplishment of our enterprise. 



" At the south-west end of Melville Island, however, the 

 quaiitity and magnitude of the ice was found to increase so 

 much, that for 16 days (being above one-third of the whole na- 

 vigable season in that part of the Polar Sea) it was found im- 

 possible to penetrate to the westward beyond the meridian of 

 I 13 deg. 47 min. W. In order, tlierefore, that no time might be 

 lost, I determined to try what could be done in a more southern 

 latitude, and, for that purpose, ran back along the edge of the 

 ice, which had hitherto formed a continuous barrier to the south 

 of us, in order to look out for any opening wiiich might favour 

 the plan I had in view. In this endeavour I was also disappointed ; 

 and the season being so far advanced as to make it a matter of 

 question wliethcr, with the remaining resources, the object of 

 tlie enterprise could now be persevered in with any hope of 

 success, I consulted the principal officers of the expedition, who 

 were unanimously of opinion that nothing more could be done, 

 and that it was, on that account, advisable to return to England. 



" In tins opinion it was impossible for me, under existing cir- 

 cumstances, not to concur; and I trust that the detailed account 

 of our proceedings, whicli I shall shortly have the honour to lay 

 before their Lordships, will prove highly satisfactory ; and that 



though 



