OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 11 



surprise to us to find the masses of ice so quiet among tliemsclves as to give us 1821. 

 no disturbance ; a circumstance tliat seemed to indicate a greater regularity " ^' 

 in the set of the tides near the centre of Hudson's Strait, carrying the 

 whole of the ice along in one body, instead of producing the violent 

 cross-sets which we had experienced in-shore. In the middle of the strait 

 we could obtain no soundings with three hundred fathoms of line. The 

 sea-water was frequently brought up in Dr. Marcet's bottle from different 

 depths below the surface, when its temperature was found to be as follows : 



On the 13th, both ships' companies were exercised in firing at a target Frid. 13. 

 on the ice, as well for the purpose of giving them occupation, as of 

 finding out who w^ere our best shots. On the same afternoon, we saw 

 two ships beset to the northward, which we supposed to be those bound 

 to the Hudson's Bay factories. They were joined the next day by a Sat. 14. 

 third ship, which afterwards proved to be, as we conjectured, the Lord 

 Wellington, having on board settlers for the Red River. The ice being 

 somewhat more slack about the ships on the 15th, we cast off and made Sun. 15. 

 sail at nine P.M.; but after running with difficulty about a mile to the 

 W. bN., we were obliged to make fast to a small berg near us. Here we 

 remained till eleven P.M., the wind blowing a gale from the N. E., when 

 the ice closing in suddenly and violently to leeward of the berg, forced 

 the ships against it, and was near carrying away the Hccla's bowsprit by 

 the pressure. The Fury also received a heavy " nip," which, lifting her 

 abaft, made her timbers crack a good deal about the quarters, but no material 

 injury was sustained. To avoid, however, a repetition of this occurrence, 

 we cast off, and allowed the ships to take their chance among the loose 

 ice for the rest of the night, which was dusky about midnight. 



The ice being rather less close on the morning of the IGth, we made sail 



c 2 



