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Art. XL- — Narrative of a Voyage to Davis’ Straits in 1820, 
By Mr William Jameson, Surgeon. Communicated by 
the Author *. 
On the afternoon of Wednesday the 9th March, we sailed 
down the Humber in the ship John of Hull, a whaler bound to 
Davis’ Straits. Our crew were thirty-three in number, which, 
with sixteen to be engaged at the Orkneys, was to complete our 
compliment. We accordingly shaped our course for these Is- 
lands ; and, after a passage of fifty-six hours only, anchored in 
Stromness Roads. Here were fourteen whalers detained by a 
contrary wind, and about twenty besides moored within the har- 
bour, which, being more sheltered, and affording a better an- 
chorage, is generally preferred ; and, indeed, would be invari- 
ably resorted to, were it not for the difficulty of getting out 
when the wind blows from the southward, — a disadvantage of 
too trivial a nature to make Stromness Roads the more desirable 
situation. There, however, we remained for twelve days, being 
occasionally obliged, from bad weather, to let go both anchors. 
On the 22d, having the wind from SS. W., we sailed through 
Hoy Sound, in company with nineteen sail of ships on the same 
trade. 
The weather we experienced during our passage across the 
Northern Ocean was very tempestuous, in so much so, that we 
were frequently obliged to call the assistance of the whole ships 
company to take in the sails, and get every thing properly se- 
cured. On the 5th April, in particular, we experienced a most 
tremendous gale, accompanied with showers of sleet from the 
northward, which continued to blow for twenty-four hours with 
such violence, that we could carry no sail. At length, after 
many short alternations of good and bad weather, we made the 
Cape Ice on the 16th April, in Lat. 58° 25', and Long. 47° 10' W., 
having the wind from SE. On the same evening we laid the 
ship to, lest, by running too far among the ice, we should be af- 
terwards unable to extricate ourselves. Next morning we had the 
wind from NW., with a very high sea, which, raising the floating- 
ice to the same elevation, had a very threatening appearance. 
* Read before the Wernerian Natural History Society. 
