4(5 M'-Kecvor's Voyage to Hudson's Bay. 



With a new colour as it gasps away, 



The last, still loveliest, till 'tis gone and all is grey. 



Last Canto of Childe Harold, p. 16. 



A night of uncommon fineness succeeded ; the rnoon rose 

 with unclouded splendour, irradiating with its placid efful- 

 gence the surrounding scenery, and giving it, if possible, 

 a still more interesting appearance. The clearness of the 

 heavens, the serenity of the air, and the soft tranquillity which 

 appeared to pervade all nature, contributed to harmonize the 

 mind, and produce the most calm and pleasing sensations. 

 On those occasions the soul appears to have an irresistible ten- 

 dency to rise from the grand and majestic scene to the great 

 Author of all sublimity. 



About eleven o'clock we returned to the vessel, highly gra- 

 tified with our evening's amusements. Just as we were getting 

 on board a very melancholy event had nearly happened. The 

 poor sailor-boy, to whom we were indebted for a great part of 

 the evening's amusement, unfortunately slipped while getting 

 up the quarter-deck, and was precipitated into the sea. Ropes 

 and boat-hooks were instantly got, and in a few minutes we 

 had the poor fellow safe on board. 



On the 12th we made the north-end of Mansell's Island, 

 situated in lat. 62" 38^', long. 80 33'. 



August 15th. Hardly any ice in sight; going about four 

 knots in the hour; the ship continuing very leafcy, we were 

 obliged to keep the pumps going day and night. 



August 20. About half-past one, A. M., the man at the 

 forecastle shouted out ice a-head. The mate immediately 

 went up to the bow of the vessel, and found we were running 

 straight on very heavy ice. Being under a heavy press of 

 sail, and going at the rate of 1\ knots in the hour, we were 

 of course much alarmed ; fortunately, however, the ship was 

 readily got about, so that, in a short time, we were completely 

 clear. After a short tack we again fell in with ice ; about 

 five o'clock, however, A. M., we got into a clear sea. At 

 nine, A. M., going about 5| knots in the hour ; course S. W. 

 by W. ; wind fair. 



On the 21st we got into Hudson's Bay, after which we saw 

 no more ice. Instead of feasting our eyes with the grand and 

 impressive scenery which we had so long enjoyed, we had to 

 encounter three days of almost incessant squalls, sleet, rain, 

 and a most boisterous sea. 



On the 24th it blew a tremendous gale of wind ; danger 

 considerably aggravated by our having made the land too 

 soon. In a short time the whole horizon was covered with 

 large foaming billows, which 



