OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



353 



The officers agreeing with me in opinion as to the expediency of our not 

 risking a detention in the Strait during the winter, I determined, on the 

 grounds before detailed, no longer to postpone our departure, if indeed, as Thur - 19 

 there was some reason to think, it had not already been delayed too long. I 

 therefore directed a memorandum to be read on board each ship, acquainting 

 the officers and men with my views as above stated, and also expressing my 

 intention to employ whatever time might yet remain of the present season, in 

 the examination of the coast of Cockburn Island to the northward and eastward. 

 In the event of making little progress in that direction, I proposed looking 

 out for some situation in the neighbourhood of Igloolik that might afford se- 

 curity to the ships during the winter, and by ensuring an early release in the 

 spring, allow us at least the liberty of choosing to what part of the coast our 

 efforts should then be directed. I gladly availed myself of this opportunity 

 to offer my best thanks so justly due to the officers and men under my com- 

 mand, for their zealous and unremitted exertions during the two seasons that 

 had passed ; and it was scarcely necessary to remind the ships' companies of 

 the necessity of continuing to the last those praiseworthy efforts, on which 

 the ultimate accomplishment of our enterprise might still depend. 



The young ice had now formed so thick about the Fury, that it became 

 rather doubtful whether we should get her out without an increase of wind to 

 assist in extricating her, or a decrease of cold. At ten A.M. however we be- 

 gan to attempt it, but by noon had not moved the ship more than half her own 

 length. As soon as we had reached the outer point of the floe, in a bay of 

 which we had been lying, we had no longer the means of applying a force 

 from without and, if alone, should therefore have been helpless at least for a 

 time. The Hecla however being fortunately unencumbered, in consequence 

 of having lain in a less sheltered place, sent her boats with a hawser to the 

 margin of the young ice ; and ours being carried to meet it by men walking 

 upon planks at considerable risk of going through, she at length succeeded 

 in pulling us out ; and getting into clear water or rather into less tough ice, at 

 three P.M. we shaped a course to the eastward. At seven o'clock, it being too 

 late to run through the narrows, we anchored for the night in ten fathoms, 

 near the east end of Liddon Island, where we lay without disturbance. 



Although the thermometer remained at 11° most of the night, little or no Tues.'20. 

 young ice had formed about the ships by daylight on the following morning. 

 This circumstance, which it may be practically useful to explain, arose from 

 the newly -formed sheets immediately drifting away from the land, on which 



