93 
FIRST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
lowisli vegetation at the top ; behind it, at the distance of eigh¬ 
teen miles, there were seen high mountains, covered with snow. 
About six miles to the north of Cape Dudley Digges, a beauti¬ 
ful glacier was seen,'filling up a space of four miles square, and 
extending several miles into the sea. Its height appeared to 
be, at least one thousand feet. To the northward several huts 
were plainly distinguished, which Capt. Ross was led to believe 
to be Petowack. Wolstenholme Island was now in sig-bt to the 
northward, and as the ships were steering for it, with a fine 
breeze, and the sea almost clear of ice, all idea of communicat¬ 
ing with the king of the Arctic Highlands was given up, the 
hope of attaining the grand object of the enterprize, being now 
raised to such a height, as to make that which was considered 
desirable a few hours before, an object of no moment whatever. 
On the 19th, Carey’s Islands were discovered, which may be 
considered as the highest degree of latitude which Capt. Ross 
reached, being in latitude 76° 49' north, and longitude 73° 10 
west. 
His course was now to the south west, and after passing seve¬ 
ral Headlands and Bays, which were named in honour of his 
private and professional friends, the expedition may be said 
to have arrived at that point, where all hope of obtaining the 
great object of the enterprise was banished, and by which, Capt, 
Ross exposed himself on his return, to the most severe animad¬ 
versions, not only from the public in general, but even from some 
of the officers who accompanied him on the expedition. As the 
opinions which Capt. Ross then held, laid the foundation of 
the subsequent expeditions of Capt. Parry, and it may also be 
added of that expedition, which constitutes the chief feature of 
this work, it is considered requisite for the right understanding 
of the subject in all its bearings, that the statement of Capt. Ross 
should be fully laid down in order that it may be seen, whether 
the charges which were brought against him have been substan¬ 
tiated by future navigators, and whether he were in reality de¬ 
serving of that obloquy, which was so indiscriminately and pro¬ 
fusely heaped upon him. 
On the 29th August, the nearest land was the southern point 
