it continued to blow very fresh ; constantly tacking between 

 land and ice. Ship got several very severe knocks; so severe, 

 indeed, that a considerable quantity of copper has been torn 

 from her bottom. 



Saturday, July the 18th. Weather continues squally, 

 with dense fog. Still tacking about between land and ice. 

 Uncertain of our situation, the captain not being able to make 

 any observation. Also uncertain of our course, in consequence 

 of the extraordinary variation of the compass.* The ship 

 became so leaky this day, in consequence of the injuries re- 

 ceived from the ice, that we were obliged to keep the pumps 

 constantly at work. 



Sunday, July 19th. Weather much improved ; occasional 

 sun-shine. About twelve, the captnin was enabled to make an 

 observation; found that we were in latitude 61 26'. We 

 were now quite satisfied that the land in view was Resolution- 

 Island. 



Four o'clock. Haze and mist completely dispersed : 

 steady sun-shine. Wind much more moderate; patches of 

 fine blue sky here and there present themselves. It is incon- 

 ceivable with what joy we beheld the first gleam of sun-shine; 

 its cheering beams appeared to diffuse cheerfulness and good- 

 humour amongst us all. About six, we were completely sur- 

 rounded with ice ; the wind, however, became so moderate, 

 that we ran no risk by venturing in amongst it. Several ice- 

 bergs in view. Just as we had done dinner this day, the 

 steward came into the cabin with word that the King George 

 and Eddystone, the two vessels already mentioned, were in 

 sight. Nothing could possibly have afforded us greater gra- 

 tification than this intelligence. We all immediately went 

 upon deck, when, to our very great surprise, we saw the 

 George about thirty yards from us. The Eddystone, owing 

 to the ice, could not get quite so near. In a short time, the 

 George got so close that we were able to get on board by 



* The exact cause of this extraordinary variation is, I believe, not well 

 ascertained. The most generally received opinion, however, is, that which 

 attributes it to the influence of some enormous mass of metallic matter con- 

 tained in the bowels of the earth. By the early navigators, this phenomenon 

 was ascribed to the cold air situated between the needle and the point of its 

 attraction. Ellis asserts, that when the compasses were brought into a warm 

 room, they recovered their proper action and direction; i. e. when brought 

 down to the cabin it pointed with much greater accuracy. I may remark, 

 that we found the same effect produced by bringing the boxes down to the 

 cabin. Perhaps, in this case, the cold acted by congealing the moisture 

 contained in the air which surrounded the needle, and in this way presented 

 a mechanical obstruction to its motion. The subject is curious. 



