THIRD VOYAGE 427 



" Captain Clerke having determined, for the reasons just 

 assigned, to give up all further attempts on the coast of 

 America, and to make his last efforts in search of a passage 

 on the coast of the opposite continent, we continued during 

 the afternoon of the 21st of July to steer to the west north- 

 west, through much loose ice. 



" In the morning of the 23rd, the clear water in which we 

 continued to stand to and fro did not exceed a mile and a 

 half, and was every instant lessening. At length, after 

 using our utmost endeavours to clear the loose ice, we were 

 driven to the necessity of forcing a passage to the southward, 

 which at half -past seven we accomplished, but not without 

 subjecting the ship to some very severe shocks. The Dis- 

 covery was less successful, for at eleven, when they had nigh 

 got clear out, she became so entangled by several large 

 pieces that her way was stopped, and immediately dropping 

 to leeward, she fell broadside foremost on the edge of a 

 considerable body of ice ; and having at the same time an 

 open sea to windward, the surf caused her to strike violently 

 upon it. This mass at length either so far broke or moved 

 as to set them at liberty to make another trial to escape ; 

 but, unfortunately, before the ship gathered way enough to 

 be under command, she again fell to leeward on another 

 fragment, and the swell making it unsafe to lie to windward, 

 and finding no chance of getting clear, they pushed into a 

 small opening, furled their sails, and made fast with ice- 

 hooks. 



" In this dangerous situation we saw them at noon about 

 three miles from us, a fresh gale driving more ice to the 

 north-west, and increasing the body that lay between us. 

 To add to the gloomy apprehensions which began to force 

 themselves on us, at half past four in the afternoon, the 

 weather becoming thick and hazy, we lost sight of the 

 Discovery. Our apprehensions for her safety did not cease 

 till nine, when we heard her guns in answer to ours ; and 

 soon after, being hailed by her, were informed that upon the 

 change of wind the ice began to separate, and that, setting 

 all their sails, they forced a passage through it, though with 

 considerable damage. 



" On the 24th, we had fresh breezes from south-west, with 

 hazy weather and kept running to the south-east till eleven 

 in the forenoon, when a large body of loose ice, to which 

 we could see no end, again obstructed our course. 



" As it was now necessary to come to some determination 

 with respect to the course we were next to steer, Captain 

 Clerke sent a boat with the carpenters on board the Dis- 

 covery, to inquire into the particulars of the damage she had 

 sustained. They returned in the evening with the report, 



