APPENDIX. 493 



XXIX. 



[Copy.] 



U. S. Ship Peacock, 



Sydney, New South Wales, 

 March 3d, 1840. 



Sir, 



I have the honour to report the arrival of the Peacock at this port, 

 for the purpose of making such few repairs as have become necessary, 

 preparatory to the further prosecution of the objects of the Expedition, 

 and avail myself of the occasion to say, that in our recent adventures 

 south, we fell in with a barrier of ice in the latitude of 65° S., and 

 longitude 159° E., and had followed its trendings as far as 67° S., 

 longitude 150° E. 



On Sunday, January 19th, while standing into a bay of ice, in 

 latitude 66° 31' S., and longitude 153° 40' E., we made (what we 

 believed to be) land to the southward and westward. 



It was seen towering above and beyond some large icebergs, that 

 were from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in height. We 

 endeavoured to work up for this land, which presented the appear- 

 ance of an immense mass of snow, apparently forming a vast amphi- 

 theatre, with two distinct ridges or elevations throughout its extent. 

 After working up until midnight through detached portions of ice, Ave 

 reached the barrier at the head of the bay, and were compelled to 

 give up any further attempt to near it, (what we believed to be land,) 

 and passed out of the bay again, which was some twenty miles in 

 extent, through drift-ice, into a more open space for pursuing our 

 course to the southward and westward along the barrier. 



On the 23d of January we made, beyond the barrier, which was 

 thickly studded with bergs and islands of ice, (what we believed it to 

 be,) high land, at least so far as terra fir ma can be distinguished 

 where every thing is covered with snow, and worked into a bay for a 

 nearer and more minute examination. The sea-water had been dis- 

 coloured for some days, but no bottom obtained by soundings ; in the 

 bay, however, it changed to a dark dull green, and gave every indi- 

 cation that we were on soundings, and not far from land. 



The result confirmed the appearances : we obtained bottom in three 

 hundred and twenty fathoms, of slate-coloured mud, and the lead 

 brought up with it a piece of stone, about an inch in length, of nearly 



vol. n. 124 



