82 MISCELLANEOUS. 
and clear of the land. After the abatement of the gale, the Bulldog continued 
her line of soundmgs back to Reikiavik, in Iceland, but was subject to almost 
continuous interruptions from gales of wind. But the few soundings which could 
be made were of the most satisfactory character, a depth of only 748 fathoms 
being found where it was expected to find 2,000. The return soundings of Sir 
F. L. MClintock were of a peculiarly interesting character, in a scientific point of 
view, inasmuch as they set at rest the long disputed question of the existence of 
animal life at great depths in the ocean. Several starfish were brought up from 
the depth of 1,260 fathoms. At Reikiavik, information was obtained respecting 
the Fox. She had left that port for Greenland at the end of August. The 
Bulldog left Reikiavik on the 28th of October, experiencing on her homeward 
voyage a constant succession of foul wind, with frequent very heavy gales, which 
retarded, and in some instances completely prevented her sounding operations. 
Sir Leopold M’Clintock carried his line of soundings into the Rockall-bank, and 
on the 9th November obtained bottom in 1,840 fathoms, about mid-channel be- 
tween it and the Vidal-bank. The wind still continuing adverse, and the coal 
being nearly exhausted, Sir F. L, M’Clintock was obliged to put into the port of 
Killybegs, county of Donegal. 
The expedition of the Fox was fitted out at the expense of the promoters of the 
undertaking, and was intended not only to co-operate with the Bulldog in the 
sounding and general survey of the seas which intersect the various stations on 
the route, but also to fix upon and examine the precise localities for the landing 
of the cables, as well as to explore and fix upon the overland route through Ice- 
land and Greenland. The expedition was commanded by Captain Allen Young, 
who accompanied M’Clintock in the celebrated voyage of the Foz in search of 
the Franklin expedition. Her cruise, like that of the Bulldog, was in her main 
results entirely successful, though her operations were retarded, and in some 
measure prevented, by the almost unparalleled succession of gales which prevailed 
with but little intermission from the time of her departure till her return to 
England. The Foz sailed from Cowes Roads on the 20th of July last, and after 
calling in the Downs, on the following day proceeded through the North Sea with 
a fair wind and calm weather. On the morning of the 24th, when off Whitby, 
the moderate breeze changed to a hard gale from the north—of course, dead 
aheaj,—and for the two succeeding days the Fox could do little but hold her own 
against the wind and sea, which ran very high the whole time. During the 27th 
the sea was calm, and the winds, though light, were fair, so that by the morning 
of the 28th Aberdeen was reached, and in the evening, the Foz finally teok her 
departure for the Faroe Isles. On the 29th and 30th, the wind continued still to 
blow stiffly ahead, which so far retarded the progress of the ship that it was mid- 
day on the 21st before the wild and rocky islands of the Shetland group were 
passed. For the two succeeding days the weather was squally, but the wind was 
generally sufficiently favourable to allow the ship to lay her course, ‘‘ close hauled ” 
to the wind, so that about twilight (10 p.m.) on the 2nd of August the lofty pre- 
cipitous cliffs of the Faroes were sighted, distant 45 miles, From daylight on the 
morning of the 8rd a line of soundings was carried from a distance of 20 or 30 
miles out into Thorshaven, Stromoe Island, the capital of the Faroe group. The 
