OFFICIAL REPORT. 
497 
A fresh breeze from the north on the 8th caused the ice in the channel to set 
to the southward. It still remained, however, closely packed on Cape Hotham. 
On the 9th, in the morning, the wind shifted to the westw’nrd, an opening ap- 
peared, and wc at once got under way. Passing Cape Hotham, a lead was 
seen along tlie south side of Cornwallis Island, into which, witli 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. 'Plic following day wc reached 
Griffith’s Island, passing the eoutliern 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 compedied to make fast also. 
d’he icc was here so very unfavorable tor making furtlicr progress, and the 
season was so far advanced, that it became necessary to take future movements 
into serious consideration. A consultation was had wutli Mr. Griffin, and after 
reviewing carefully all the circumstances attending our position, it was judged 
that we had not gained a point from which wc could commence operations in 
the season of 1851 with decided advantages. Therefore, agreeably to niy 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 11th, wind from the eastward, with fog and snow ; we were kept 
stationary. Much bay ice forming. Thermometer 26*^. Early in the morning 
ofthe 12th the wind changed to the northwest, and increased rapidly to a heavy 
gale, which corning off, the ice brought with it clouds of drift snow. 
The Rescue was blown from lier 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 icc. The driving snow soon hid her 
from us. The Advance came near 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 I3th, the wind having moderated sufliciently, we got 
under way, and working our way through some streams of ice, arrived in a few 
hours at Griflith’s Island, under the Ice of which we found our consort, made 
fast to the shore, wffiere she had taken shelter in the gale, her crew having suf- 
fered a good deal from the inclemency of the weatiier. 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 fine 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 niglit enabled us to see, there was noth- 
ing to obstruct our progress, except the bay icc. This, witli a good breeze, would 
not have impeded us much ; hut 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. 
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