148 Notice of Captain Parry's last Expedition 



ing objects for which it was fitted out, will probably termi- 

 nate for a while those valuable and interesting voyages of dis- 

 covery, by which the British government have added so much 

 to our knowledge of the Polar Regions. 



The expedition set sail from the west coast of Greenland on 

 the 4th of July 1824 ; but such was the condition of the ice, 

 that the Fury and Hecla were detained in Davis' Straits for 

 eight weeks. Having disentangled themselves from the ice 

 about the 9th of September, they entered Lancaster Sound, 

 and, passing through Barrow's Straits, they arrived at the en- 

 trance of Prince Regent's Inlet. Here the weather became 

 very severe, and after experiencing great obstruction from the 

 ice, they, with considerable difficulty, reached Port Bowen on 

 the 28th of September in North Lat. 73', and West Long. 79°. 

 Winter was now rapidly approaching, every exertion was 

 made to prepare for it, and the ships were safely placed in their 

 position for the winter on the 1st of October. The ships 

 were completely surrounded with young ice so early as the 

 6th of October. 



The monotony of an Arctic winter Captain Parry contrived 

 to relieve by such amusements and occupations as were within the 

 reach of his party. Once every fortnight a masquerade was 

 got up in one of the ships ; and as there was a good collection 

 of books on board, the intellectual part of the ships' company 

 were enabled to add instruction to their amusements. 



The greatest degree of cold observed during the winter 

 amounted to 48|° below zero of Fahrenheit, and the winter 

 was considered as comparatively mild. This circumstance 

 will give a greater degree of value to the meteorological 

 observations made on board the ships, as their combination 

 with those formerly made, will enable us to deduce with very 

 considerable accuracy the mean temperature of the parallel of 

 73°. 



When the weather was favourable the hunting of the white 

 bear, of which twelve were killed, formed an agreeable relax- 

 ation ; and in the spring considerable numbers of white grouse 

 were shot, which were considered, both by the officers and men, 

 as a great luxury. 



When the spring brought with it more genial weather, par- 



