508 COM. DE haven's official report. 
4th of August, when the ice slacking a little, we succeeded in getting hold of 
the land ice one mile further to the north. The Prince Albert was still in the 
pack, a mile or two to the southward of us. Mr. Kennedy informed me that 
it was his intention to abandon this route and return to the southward, as soon 
as his vessel could be extricated from her present position, in hopes of finding 
the ice more practicable in that direction. Some letters and papers that he had 
brought out for the other English searching vessels, he placed on board of us ; 
unfortunately, we were unable to deliver them. 
We lost sight of the Prince Albert on the 13th. For our own part, there 
was no possibility of moving in any direction. The berth we had taken up, un- 
der the impression that it was a good and safe one, proved a regular trap ; for 
the drift pack not only set in upon us, but innumerable bergs came drifting along 
from the southward, and stopped near our position, forming a perfect wall around 
us at not more than from two hundred to four hundred yards distance. Many 
unsuccessful attempts were made to get out. The winds were light, and all 
motion in the ice had apparently ceased. The young ice, too, begat to form 
rapidly, and was only prevented from cementing permanently together the 
broken masses around us by the frequent undulations occasioned by the over- 
turning or falling to pieces of the neighboring bergs. 
My anxiety daily increased at the prospect of being obliged to spend another 
winter in a simUar, if not worse situation, than was that of the last. 
On the 18th the ice was somewhat looser. We immediately took advantage 
of it, and managed to find an opening between the large bergs sufficiently wide 
to admit the passage of the vessels. Outside the bergs we had open water 
enough to work in. 
We stood to the northwest, but the lead closing at the distance of a few 
miles, and the ice appearing as unfavorable as ever, I did not deem it prudent 
to run the risk of besetment again at this late period of the- season, and con- 
sidering that even if successful in crossing the pack, it would be too late to 
hope to attain a point on the route of search as far as we had been last year, 
therefore, in obedience to that clause in my instructions which says, " You are 
especially enjoined not to spend, if it can be avoided, more than one winter in 
the Arctic regions ;" accordingly, with sad hearts that our labors had served to 
throw so little light upon the object of our search, it was resolved to give it up 
and return to the United States. 
We therefore retraced our steps to the southward. The ice that had so much 
impeded our progress had entirely disappeared. We touched for refreshment 
by the way at some of the settlements on the coast of Greenland, where we 
were most kindly and hospitably received by the Danish authorities. 
Leaving Holsteinberg on the 6th of September for New York, the two vessels 
were separated in a gale to the southward of Cape Farewell. The Advance ar- 
rived on the 30th ultimo, and the Rescue on the 7th instant, with grateful hearts 
from all on hoard to a kind and superintending Providence for our safe deliv- 
erance from danger, shipwreck, and disaster during so perilous a voyage. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) Edwin J. De Haven, Lieut, commanding Arctic Expedition. 
To the Honorable William A. Graham, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 
