OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
3 
It fell calm in the evening, and several fine cod ( Gadus Morhua) and coal- 1819. 
fish ( Gadus Carbonarius ) were caught ; the centre of the island bearing N.E. 
half N. per compass, distant eight or nine miles. This was the last supply 
of fresh fish that we obtained during the voyage. It was light enough at mid- 
night, to see Fair Island distinctly at the distance of ten miles. 
On the 20th, we spoke the Danish brig David Eske, from Copenhagen, Thur.20. 
bound to Disko Island. The Griper was taken in tow again in the evening, 
and we rounded the northern-point of the Orkneys, at the distance of two 
miles and a half, having from thirty to thirty-six fathoms of water. 
We made the island of Rona on the 21st., and Bara on the following Frid. 21. 
morning. The position of these islands by our observations is : Sat. 22. 
BARA. RONA. 
Latitude, ... 59° 04' 24". 59° 05' 54". 
Longitude, . . 6° 14' 34". 5° 52' 04". 
As we ran along to the northward of them, at the distance of six or seven 
miles, the soundings were from fifty to seventy-five fathoms, the deepest 
being off Bara, on a bottom of gravel, coarse sand, and broken shells. 
It is recommended by the most experienced of the Greenland Masters, to 
cross the Atlantic to Davis’ Strait, about the parallel of 57|° or 58°, and I 
shaped our course accordingly. A bottle was thrown overboard, containing 
a printed paper, stating the date and the situation of the ships, with a request, 
in six European languages, that any person finding it would forward it to the 
Secretary of the Admiralty, with a notice of the time and place where it was 
found*. One bottle, at least, was thrown out daily during the voyage, except 
when the ships were “ beset” in the ice. 
The wind being right aft on the morning of the 24th, the Griper, still in Mon. 24. 
tow, took the wind out of our sails, and forged a-head, obliging us to cast 
off the hawser. Soon after noon we made Rockall ; its latitude, by our 
observations, was 57° 38' 40", and its longitude 13° 47' 42". The geogra- 
phical position of this remarkable rock was determined by Captain Capel, in 
1818, to be lat. 57° 39' 32", long. 13° 31' 16", which is to be preferred to 
* The purpose intended to be answered by this kind of communication, will be best 
understood, by referring to my Instructions from the Lords Commissioners of the 
Admiralty. 
