SOS GREENLAND OR POLAR ICE. 



most compact pack, have sometimes been sepa^ 

 rated to the distance of several leagues within the 

 space of two or three days, notwithstanding the 

 apparent continuity of the pack remained un- 

 broken I 



On the 7th of May 1798, the Dundee of Lon. 

 don, (then commanded by my Father,) while 

 forcing to the northward on the most eligible 

 cour&e, was suddenly stopped by a shift of wind^ 

 and enveloped by the ice at a very short distance 

 from the land. The Volunteer of Whitby, and 

 three other ships, were likewise arrested, a little 

 way from the Dundee. During the day, three 

 Russian convicts visited them, coming over the 

 ice from the nearest shore ; but as none of the 

 crew could speak their language, they were 

 prevented from deriving any information from 

 them. 



The next day, a heavy gale of wind prevailed 

 from the north-west ; the frost was intense^ and 

 much snow fell. The pressure of the ice was 

 very severe ; insomuch, that their iron-tiller was 

 broken, the ship lifted above two feet, and forced 

 within a mile and a half of the land. All the 

 bay ice was squeezed upon the top of the heavy 

 ice, and the whole was rendered so compact, that 

 they could not find a hole sufficient \to admit a 

 lead, for the purpose of ascertaining the depth of 

 the water. They got their provisions upon deck^ 

 considering the ship in great danger 



