On Classic Ground. 237 



No living soul had landed on Fury Beach since 

 March, 1859. I looked upon it as classic ground, 

 for here Parry, Hoppner, James Ross, Bird, Austin, 

 and Crozier had displayed all the finest qualities of 

 seamen in 1824. Here the Rosses wintered in 

 1833 ; here Kennedy and the gallant Bellot had 

 rested in 1852 ; and this was the scene of Allen 

 Young's severe work in 1859. 



Casks, spars, rigging, and a perfect assortment 

 of ship's stores were strewn about in all directions. 

 Two boats were hauled up on the beach. One was 

 in pieces, as described by Allen Young ; but the 

 gig, on a pinch, might be made seaworthy. It is 

 a 22-foot four-oared gig, painted black with a green 

 ribbon, the paint appearing tolerably fresh. The 

 other had been a larger boat, about 30 feet long. 

 It has " W. 1824 >J> ." on its stem — being a Wool- 

 wich-built boat. On the stern the name of G. 

 Fowler, June 10th, 1849, was cut, — a marine belong- 

 ing to the party of Lieutenant Robinson, — under 

 which our doctor carved his own name : A. Graham, 

 August 3rd, 1873. The gig had been built either 

 at Devonport or Deptford, and had on its stem 

 "XXII. ^. D. 24." The remains of Somerset 

 House, which had fallen or been blown down, were 

 lying between the two boats, the framework being 

 composed of spars. The running rigging of the 

 " Fury " had- all been unrove, and was lying on the 

 beach, jagged up in five-fathom lengths. The top- 



