THE JOURNAL OF JOHN BISCOE. 307 
brought it to bear about N.W. distant one mile, when I again hove to, 
the weather being still hazy, in hopes to see the cutter when it should 
clear away. At daylight, on the 12th, the weather, more moderate and 
something clearer than yesterday, continued. Lying to until noon, 
when not seeing anything of the Lively, bore up §.S.E. for Sandwich 
Land, where I hoped still to find her. What makes it worse than all is 
that the carpenter is on board her, he having been sent there two days 
since to repair her boat,and the weather not permitting him to come 
on board again. I likewise found the barometer broken this morning, 
but cannot trace out by what means, 80 must conclude it has burst of 
itself. Latitude at noon by indifferent observations 45° 7’, chronometers 
26° 38’. At 10 o'clock p.m., whilst running under easy sail, the vessel 
grated over something like coral—though but slightly, as some on deck 
did not perceive it—which I expect was some floating ice, as we have 
seen several small pieces lately ; but now I could perceive nothing, and 
although we sounded several times with 100 fathoms of line, found no 
bottom, and am quite at a loss to conceive what it was. a.m. 13th. 
Thick weather. Wind W.N.W. 4.30. Hove to, not considering it safe 
to run, as I find Travers Island laid down at least 6° longitude different 
in the charts, and likewise much difference in the latitude. At noon,very 
thick fog. Latitude by dead reckoning, 55° 10'S. Longitude 26° 15’ W. 
Dec. 14.—Strong gales and thick weather as yesterday. For the 
last eight or ten days I have not been able to get more than two 
observations which can be depended on. Noon, saw the cutter in the 
§.8.W.; wore round to close her, spoke her, and found she had not met 
with any damage. p.u., more moderate. Strong winds from the west- 
ward, with snow squalls. Two or three icebergs continually in sight. 
Very few birds, some stormy petrels, Cape pigeons, and now and then 
the small albatross with black wings. Saw one sea or Port Egmont hen. 
Dec. 16.—Weather fine and more clear. Made all sail to the south- 
ward from good sights. The longitude by means of all the chronometers 
was 23° 30' 45”; latitude by double altitudes, it being hazy at noon, 
57° 00'S., by dead reckoning 56° 59’ 8. 
Dec. 17.—The wind veered gradually to the northward and westward, 
with comparatively smooth water, and although Sandwich Land appears 
to be imperfectly laid down, I now concluded myself to be under the 
lee of it. Towards evening it blew a heavy gale of wind from the N.W., 
with thick weather, which obliged us to heave to, as several icebergs 
were about us. Some penguins were in sight during the day, with 
stormy and blue petrels. The snow-birds, or kind of white petrel and 
some nellies, but no albatross for some days back. 
Dec. 18.—Strong breezes, and hazy from north-west by west. Owing 
‘to the strong gales from the westward and thick weather, I have been 
able to make but little progress towards Sandwich Land. Saw two fin- 
backed whales to-day. Passed several icebergs, and some small pieces of 
flat ice. Noon, latitude by very indifferent observations, 58° 43’ 8. ; 
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