240 Observations on the late Expedition of Capt. Parry , 
half of June in sawing through 2000 feet of environing ice, they 
set sail on the 3d July, and about the middle of the month saw 
before them the great northern insular tract, which they chose 
to call Coekburn Island ; and, on the left, the strait which they 
fondly hoped was to lead them into the great ocean. On at- 
tempting, however, to enter this passage, it was found, to their 
deep disappointment, closed by a continued and impenetrable 
barrier of ice. In the course of the summer they worked their 
way forward ten or twelve miles, thus placing themselves with- 
in the strait, but never could reach farther ; and the whole ex- 
tent of the bay and of the sea appeared covered with ice piled 
upon ice, in immoveable masses. All their subsequent informa- 
tion was gained by land-expeditions, which enabled them to de- 
lineate the strait, its islands, and its opening, into the Polar Sea ; 
but all their endeavours to penetrate across the great masses of 
continent were baffled by rocks, ravines, lakes, and inundations 
occasioned by the thaw. To the great tract of land on whose 
eastern cosat they sailed, they gave the name of Melville Penin- 
sula. 
On the commencement of the third summer, as their stores 
and supplies were drawing to a close, Captain Parry formed the 
too daring; design of taking those of the Hecla into his own 
ship, sending home Captain Lyon, and prosecuting the voyage 
alone. Luckily this hazardous scheme was frustrated by the 
appearance of very formidable symptoms of scurvy, which left 
no choice but that the whole should hasten homewards. 
In science and natural history, only slight and casual obser- 
vations have as yet been given, these subjects being reserved for 
a separate publication, which shall be duly noticed. Of the hu- 
man occupants of this territory, however, ample details are 
found, particularly in the very amusing journal of Captain Lyon, 
in regard to which the world is certainly much indebted to Mr 
Barrow, for rescuing it from the prescription in which expedi- 
tionary etiquette would have involved it. Our limits must now 
dictate to us great brevity. The inhabitants belong to the race 
of Esquimaux, who also occupy Greenland, Labrador, and all 
the bleak and outer corners of America. Their stature is short, 
and their visage appears decidedly to present the Mongol fea- 
tures ; round and flat surface, eyes turned down at the corners, 
