NABRATIVE 



OF 



A VOYAGE to the POLAE SEA 



DURING 18 75-76. 



CHAPTEE I. 



DEPARTURE FROM PORTSMOUTH BANTRT BAY SEA BIRDS PART 



COMPANY WITH ' VALOROUS ' — HEAVY GALES — CARRIER PIGEONS — 

 DEAD WHALE — EAST GREENLAND DRIFT ICE — SIGHT ' VALOROUS ' 



SEALS AND WALRUS — DESCRIPTION OF PACK ICE — ANTARCTIC 



ICE — A GALE — DISCOLOURATION OF SEA — INACCURACY OF CHARTS 



SIGHT ' DISCOVERY ' — DREDGE ON TORSKE BANK — CROSS ARCTIC 



CIRCLE — GREENLAND MER-DE-GLACE. 



At 4 p.m. of May the 29th, 1875, H.M. ships 'Alert' 

 and 'Discovery' cast off from the dockyard wharf, 

 Portsmouth, and proceeded to sea. Shortly before our 

 departure I had the honour of receiving the following 

 telegram, elated Balmoral, from Her Most Gracious 

 Majesty : ' I earnestly wish you and your gallant 

 companions every success, and trust that you may 

 safely accomplish the important duty you have so 

 bravely undertaken.' This special mark of interest 

 displayed by the Queen towards the Expedition was 

 speedily communicated to the officers and crews of the 



VOL. I. B 



