178 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
appearances indicating a probability of finding any 
in this quarter, we sailed to the north-west with a 
strong breeze, and saw a large tree at sea, for 
which we lay to ; when it was hoisted on board, it 
proved to be the lower part of a fir, without 
branches or bark, twenty-five feet in length, and 
four feet in girth ; it had been felled by fire, as 
is usual in some parts of America, to clear the 
ground, and it bore the marks of having long con- 
tended with ice and the elements. The distinction 
between day and night now began to be apparent, 
and the splendid luminary was again seen by us 
to take its diurnal farewell, sinking below the ho- 
rizon at twenty minutes past ten o’clock. 
We continued our course to the north- 
August 12, until we met with ice, which from 
the return of fog, compelled us to steer to the 
south-west. It was His Majesty’s birth-day, but 
being Sunday, we contented ourselves with drink- 
ing our sovereign’s health in heart-felt loyalty. On 
the 13th, however, we resolved to celebrate the 
event, which we should have xommemorated on 
the preceding day, by a repast, probably different 
from that of any of our fellow subjects. Our feast 
was on a leg of mutton that we had brought out 
with us and which had been suspended under the 
mizen-top for a hundred and thirty-one days ; it 
was full of gravy, and as fine flavoured as ever was 
eaten : such a repast heightened the joys of the 
day, and we drank with glee, a long, happy, and 
glorious reign to our King, and prosperity to our 
