MR. BONSALL S RETURN. 
273 
harbor, and this has been definitely fixed by the labors 
of Mr. Son tag, our astronomer. We have therefore not 
only r a reliable base, but a set of primary triangula¬ 
tions which, though limited, may support the minor 
field-work of our sextants. 
lournnr of gttssn. ltc(6arn anb gjmtsall. 
“ They left the brig on the 3d, and reached the Great 
Glacier on the 15th, after only twelve days of travel. 
They showed great judgment in passing the bays; and, 
although impeded by the heavy snows, would have 
been able to remain much longer in the field, but for 
the destruction of our provision-depots by the bears. 
“I am convinced, however, that no efforts of theirs 
could have scaled the Great Glacier; so that the loss 
of our provisions, though certainly a very serious mis¬ 
hap, cannot be said to have caused their failure. They 
were well provided with pointed staves, foot-clampers, 
and other apparatus for climbing ice; but, from all 
they tell me, any attempt to scale this stupendous 
glacial mass would have been madness, and I am truly 
glad that they desisted from it before fatal accident 
befell them. 
“Mr. Bonsall is making out his report of the daily 
operations of this party. It seems that the same heavy 
snow which had so much interfered with my travel in 
April and May still proved their greatest drawback. 
It was accumulated particularly between the headlands 
Vol. i_18 
