112 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
June 30 . 
present month, which is commonly found to be re- 
markably fine, calm, open, and clear, with a pleasant 
temperature, whereas this has been accompanied 
by repeated gales, with a temperature below that of 
the freezing point. Our endeavours to penetrate 
to the westward were so anxiously conducted, as 
to constitute a perfect voyage of discovery, and no 
navigator, in the endeavour to explore regions known 
only by conjecture, could have been kept in more 
watchful expectation than we were, or have suffered 
more disappointment than we now experienced. 
A change of weather at length took 
place, and we were favoured with a most 
beautiful day. About noon, the wind abated to a 
gentle breeze, and the sun shone with uncommon 
lustre, as we entered a large bay, the bottom of 
which was formed of impenetrable floes of rugged 
ice, extending from the south-east north about to 
south-west ; thus again was our western progress 
arrested. Here our squadron of five ships was aug- 
mented to twelve, and presented an interesting 
spectacle as they were all lying-to in the bay. One 
of our boats was despatched for a load of ice or 
congealed snow, to be dissolved for the use of the 
ship’s crew, the only means, in this forlorn region, of 
providing that very necessary article of life ; and I 
availed myself of this opportunity to take a shooting 
excursion. On my return I went on board the Cato, 
a ship which had been in company with the Thorn- 
ton when that vessel was wrecked in May; here I 
obtained many interesting particulars of the catas- 
