310 Northern Expedition. 



nearly ten months, is in lat. 73° and long. 89°. They left that 

 place on the 19th of July, when the ice broke up; and twelve 

 days aftei' this, while working southwards, exploring the inlet, 

 the shipwreck of the Fury compelled them to forgo the further 

 prosecution of their discoveries. It is satisfactory to learn that 

 the ships have not lost a single man. As the progress of the 

 expedition was cut short by an accident, and not by any thing 

 depending on the climate, we think there is nothing in the re- 

 sult to discourage a new attempt. The Hecla was off the mouth 

 of the Frith on Wednesday, and on her way southward. In- 

 formation as to the general result of the expedition was com- 

 municated to the Lord Provost by Captain Knight yesterday; 

 and his lordship, with the most polite attention, immediately 

 gave notice to the newspapers. The extract subjoined, how- 

 ever, siipplies various additional details. — Scotsman. 



"His Majesty's Ship Hecla, Oct. 12, 1825. 

 " Dear sir, — We sailed from the west coast of Greenland on 

 the 4th of July ISS^. In passing Davis's Straits we wei'e 

 beset 58 days in the ice. On the 9th of September we cleared 

 the ice, and on the 13th of the same month entered Barrow's 

 Strait. The winter was now setting in fast ; we therefore en- 

 deavoured to reach Port Bowen, in Prince Regent's Inlet, 

 which we effected with some difficulty on the 28th. By the 

 6th of October we were completely surrounded with young 

 ice. The winter passed more agreeably than could have been 

 expected ; we had a good library on board, and managed to 

 raise a tolerable masquerade in one of the ships every fort- 

 night. The winter was what might be called a mild one in 

 this part of the world, the thermometer never exceeding 48i^ 

 degrees below zero. During its continuance we had fine sport 

 chasing white bears, twelve of which were killed. White grouse 

 were abundant in spring : we shot a great number of them. 

 They were excellent, and proved a great luxury to the officers 

 and men. The summer, which commenced on the 6th of June 

 with a shower of rain, was very fine; the thaw went on rapidly. 

 On the 19th of July the ice broke up, and we bade farewell to 

 Port Bowen, where we had passed nearly ten months. On 

 the 23d we made North Somerset, and worked to the south- 

 ward along its coast, until the morning of the 1st of August, 

 when unfortunately the Fury was driven on shore by the ice. 

 Every effort was made to save her; but our exertions proving 

 fruitless, she was abandoned on the 19th, and her people taken 

 on-board the Hecla. Thus ended all our hopes of making the 

 North-west passage, which seemed fovourable till this accident. 

 On the Jst of September we left Regent's Inlet for England, 

 and made the coast of Scotland on the 10th. We have been 



extremal V 



