486 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



October P roacne( * tne Orkneys, which we made on the morning of the 9th, the wind 

 ^t*^ being moderate from the southward. It can scarcely perhaps be imagined 

 by those who have not been similarly situated, with what eager interest one 

 or two vessels were this day descried by us, being the first trace of civi- 

 lized man that we had seen for the space of seven and twenty months. The 

 breeze increasing to a fresh gale from the southward in the course of the 

 night, with a heavy sea from the same quarter, rendering it impossible for 

 us to make any progress in that direction, I determined to put into Lerwick 

 in the Shetland Islands, to procure refreshments and await a change of 

 wind in our favour. We accordingly bore up fov that harbour early on the 



Frid. 10. morning of the 10th, and at thirty minutes past ten A.M. anchored there, 

 where we were immediately visited by a great number of the inhabitants, 

 anxious to greet us on our return to our native country. 



1 feel it utterly impossible adequately to express the kindness and atten- 

 tion we received for the three or four days that we were detained in 

 Bressay Sound by a continuance of unfavourable winds. On the first infor- 

 mation of our arrival the bells of Lerwick were set ringing, the inhabitants 

 flocked from every part of the country to express their joy at our unex- 

 pected return, and the town was at night illuminated as if each individual 



vSun. 12. had a brother or a son among us. On the 12th, being Sunday, the officers 

 and men of both ships attended divine service on shore, when the worthy 

 minister, the Reverend Mr. Menzies *, who was before well known to 

 many among us, offered up in the most solemn and impressive manner a 

 thanksgiving for our safe return ; at the same time calling upon us, with 

 great earnestness, never to forget what we owed to Him who had been 

 " about our path, and about our bed, and who spieth out all our ways." 

 The peculiarity of the circumstances under which we had joined the con- 

 gregation, the warmth of feeling exhibited by every person assembled 

 within the sacred walls, together with the affectionate energy of the 

 preacher, combined to produce an effect of which words can convey but 

 little idea, but which will not easily be effaced from the minds of those who 

 were present on this affecting occasion. 



Mon. 13. On the 13th, a breeze springing up from the northward, we took leave of 

 our kind and hospitable friends, deeply sensible of the cordial and affec- 



* This faithful minister and most estimable member of society has since gone to receive the 

 reward of his labours ; but he will long live in our grateful remembrance. 



