364 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



At 4 p. M. discovered a ship ahead, and shortly after another was 

 made, both standing to the northward ; the brig hauled up to the north- 

 west, intending to cut them off and speak them, supposing them to be 

 the Vincennes and the Peacock ; shortly afterwards they were seen to 

 be strangers, being smaller ships than our own ; at 4 h 30 m the Porpoise 

 hoisted her colours. Knowing that an English squadron under 

 Captain Ross was expected in these seas, Lieutenant-Commandant 

 Ringgold took them for his ships, and was, as he says, " preparing 

 to cheer the discoverer of the North Magnetic Pole." 



" At 4 h 50™, being within a mile and a half, the strangers showed 

 French colours : the leeward and stemmost displayed a broad pen- 

 nant ; concluded now that they must be the French discovery ships 

 under Captain D'Urville, on a similar service with ourselves : desirous 

 of speaking and exchanging the usual and customary compliments 

 incidental to naval life, I closed with the strangers, desiring to pass 

 within hail under the flag-ship's stern. While gaining fast, and 

 being within musket-shot, my intentions too evident to excite a 

 doubt, so far from any reciprocity being evinced, I saw with surprise 

 sail making by boarding the main tack on board the flag-ship. 

 Without a moment's delay, I hauled down my colours and bore up on 

 my course before the wind." 



It is with regret that I mention the above transaction, and it cannot 

 but excite the surprise of all that such a cold repulse should have 

 come from a French commander, when the officers of that nation are 

 usually so distinguished for their politeness and attention. It was 

 with no small excitement I heard the report of it, — that the vessels of 

 two friendly powers, alike engaged upon an arduous and hazardous 

 service, in so remote a region, surrounded with every danger naviga- 

 tors could be liable to, should meet and pass without even the 

 exchange of common civilities, and exhibit none of the kind feelings 

 that the situation would naturally awaken : — how could the French 

 commander know that the brig was not in distress or in want of assist- 

 ance ? By refusing to allow any communication with him, he not 

 only committed a wanton violation of all proper feeling, but a breach 

 of the courtesy due from one nation to another. It is difficult to 

 imagine what could have prompted him to such a course. 



At 6 p. m. the weather again was thick, with the wind south- 

 easterly ; field-ice again in sight ; it commenced snowing, and the 

 French ships were lost sight of. At 8 p. m., they passed in sight of 

 large fields of ice and ice-islands ; at 10 h 30 m , the snow falling so dense 

 and the weather so thick, that it was impossible to see the brig's 



