326 
APPENDIX NO. IV. 
Report of Lieut. Hartstene to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy. 
United States Barque Release, off Upernavik, July 10, 1855. 
Sir :—Herewith enclosed is a duplicate of my last communication, 
left at Lievely, to be sent to its destination by the first opportunity. 
On the 10th, in company with the Arctic, wc started from the latter 
place for the coal-district in Waigat Strait; but, on arriving off the 
supposed position of it, the weather became so boisterous and thick 
that, after several times narrowly escaping running on shore by shaving 
the coast too close, I reluctantly abandoned the idea of losing time 
here on an uncertainty, and made immediately for this port, where we 
have just arrived. While becalmed off Hare Isle, at the northwest 
entrance of the Waigat Strait, I succeeded in obtaining there about 
nine tons of inferior coal, which, however, will answer very well for 
cooking-purposes. 
On our passage up we fell in with two English whalers who had 
been up as far as Horsehead Isle, and, after ineffectual efforts to enter 
Melville Bay, had given it up, and were on their way to try the west¬ 
ern coast. They represented the last winter as having been very 
severe and the ice now unusually close, and think we shall not be able 
to enter for several weeks. 
I shall remain here but a few hours, to obtain some furs, and by 
to-morrow morning will be at the ice-barrier, as we have a strong 
favorable wind. 
There is no news of the missing party. We are all well. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
H. J. Hartstene, 
Lieutenant commanding Arctic Expedition. 
Hon. J. C. Dobbin, 
Secretary of the Na vy , Washington , D . C. 
Report of Lieut Hartstene to the Hon . Secretary of the Navy . 
United States Barque Release, Baffin's Bay, ) 
Lat. G9° 39* N., Ion. 63° 30' W., September 8, 1856. J 
Sir: —We have suddenly and unexpectedly fallen in with an English 
whaler, which necessitates me to draw up, rather hastily, an account of 
our efforts since my last communication of the 16th of July, from 
Upernavik, on the afternoon of which date both vessels stood to the 
northward, and in a few hours met the ice drifting down in an 
