1 54 Notice of Captain Parry’s Voyage qf Discovery. 
crack; on tho 31st of July, it moved off very gently, and re- 
leased the crew from their winter prison, where they had been 
shut up for 310 days. Capt. Parry, in his official communication 
to John Wilson Croker, Esq. Secretary of the Admiralty, says, 
He proceeded to the westward immediately on the breaking up 
of the ice at the commencement of the present season, the ships 
being in perfect condition, the officers and men in excellent 
health, and with every prospect of the final accomplishment of 
our enterprise. At the south-west end of Melville Island, 
however, the quantity and magnitude of the ice was found to 
increase so much, that for sixteen days (being above one-third 
of the whole navigable season in that part of the polar sea,) 
it was found impossible to penetrate to the westward beyond 
the meridian of 113° 47' west. In order, therefore, that no 
time might be lost, I determined to try what could be done in 
a more southern latitude, and for that purpose ran back along 
the edge of the ice, which had hitherto formed a continuous 
barrier to the south of us, in order to look out for any opening 
which might favour the plan I had in view : in this endeavour 
I was also disappointed, and the season being so far advanced 
as to make it a matter of question whether, with the remaining 
resources, the object of the enterprise could now be persevered 
in with any hope of success, I consulted the principal officers 
of the expedition, who were unanimously of opinion that no- 
thing more could be done, and that it was on that account advis- 
able to return to England, In this opinion, it was impossible 
for me, under existing circumstances, not to concur, and I 
trust that the detailed account of our proceedings, which I shall 
shortly have the honour to lay before their Lordships, will 
prove highly satisfactory, and that though our exertions have 
not been crowned with complete success, they will not be found 
discreditable to the naval honour of our country 
^ Throughout the year, as we are informed, the wind blows almost constantly 
either from the north, or from northern points of the compass, in the sea discover- 
ed by Parry. As soon as the heat of the sun becomes powerful, the ice is released 
from the northern coasts, and driven towards the south. Thus, instead of the sou- 
thern sides of bays, straits, and seas, affording open sea, it actually happens, 
that the openings exist on the northern sides, where prevailing north winds de- 
tach the frozen mass from the shore, and blowing it off, leave a passage between 
