OFFICIAL REPOET. 
497 
A fresh breeze from the north on the 8th caused the ice in the channel to set 
i,o the southward. It still remained, however, closely packed on Cape Hothara. 
On the 9th, in the morning, the wind shifted to the westward, an opening ap- 
peared, and we at once got under way. Passing Cape Hotham, a lead was 
seen along the south side of Cornwallis Island, into which, with a head wind, 
we worked slowly, our progress being much impeded by bay ice ; indeed, it 
brought us to a dead stand more than once. The following day we reached 
Griffith's Island, passing the southern point of which the English searching ves- 
sels were descried made fast to the ice at a few miles distant. The western 
lead closing at this point, we were compelled to make fast also. 
The ice was here so very unfavorable for making further progress, and the 
season was so far advanced, that it became necessary to take future movements 
into serious consideration. A consultation was had with Mr. Griffin, and after 
reviewing carefully all the circumstances attending our position, it was judged 
that we had not gained a point from which we could comm.ence operations in 
the season of 1851 with decided advantages. Therefore, agreeably to my in- 
structions, I felt it an imperative duty to extricate the vessels from the ice, and 
return to the United States. 
The state of the weather prevented our acting immediately upon this decision. 
September 1 1th, wind from the eastward, with fog and snow ; we were kept 
stationary. Much bay ice forming. Thermometer 26°. Early in the morning 
of the 12th the wind changed to the northwest, and increased rapidly to a heavy 
gale, which coming off, the ice brought with it clouds of drift snow. 
The Rescue was blown from her ice anchors, and went adrift so suddenly 
that a boat and two of her men were left behind. She got under sail, but the 
wind was too strong for her to regain the ice. The driving snow soon hid her 
from us. The Advance came irear meeting the same fate. The edge of the 
floe kept breaking away, and it was with much difficulty that other ice anchors 
could be planted further in to hold on by. The thermometer fell to 8° ; mean 
for the twenty-four hours, 14°. 
On the morning of the 13th, the wind having moderated sufficiently, we got 
under way, and working our way through some streams of ice, arrived in a few 
hours at Griffith's Island, under the lee of which we found our consort, made 
fast to the shore, where she had taken shelter in the gale, her crew having suf- 
fered a good deal from the inclemency of the weather. In bringing to under 
the lee of the island, she had the misfortune to spring her rudder, so that on 
joining us it was with much difficulty she could steer. To insure her safety 
and more rapid progress, she was taken in tow by the Advance, when she bore 
up with a line breeze from the westward. Off Cape Martyr, we left the English 
squadron under Captain Austin. About ten miles further to the east, the two 
vessels under Captain Penny, and that under Sir John Ross, were seen secured 
near the land. At 8 P.M. we had advanced as far as Cape Hotham. Thence, 
as far as the increasing darkness of the night enabled us to see, there was noth- 
ing to obstruct our progress, except the bay ice. This, with a good breeze, would 
not have impeded us much ; but unfortunately, the wind, when it was most re- 
quired, failed us. The snow with which the surface of the water was covered 
rapidly cemented, and formed a tenacious coat, through which it was impossi- 
ble, with all our appliances, to force the vessels. At 8 P.M. they came to a dead 
stand, some ten miles to the east of Barlow's Inlet. 
