LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
141 
the uncommon heaviness of the ice. It was indeed supposed by 
the crew, that the plan was suggested by Capt. Ross more with 
the view of giving them some exercise, than from any hope 
which he could entertain of deriving any advantage from it, 
The men might have attempted with an equal chance of success, 
to bore through an icebeig to admit the passage of the ship, as to 
accomplish it by merely breaking the ice around her. The labour 
of the day would not have been perceptible on the following 
morning, and the only satisfaction which the men could enjoy 
was, that they had obeyed the commands of their officers. The 
latitude by observation was now found to be 70° O' 0" north, ano 
longitude 92° 0 ; 0" west. Some vivid flashes of lightning were 
seen during the night, but unaccompanied by thunder. 
On the 22nd the weather was very fine, with the wind inclin¬ 
ing to the westward. It was found at daylight that the ice was 
making a move towards the north east, on which all hands were 
turned up, and some of them sent on the ice to loosen some of 
the heaviest pieces of it, but they found that their labour was all in 
vain. It was now determined as the last resource, to attempt to 
saw a passage for the ship through the ice, and the ice saws with 
the necessary gear were delivered to the men. At 10 a.m. they 
commenced sawing, and by noon with one saw they had cut 
nearly to the ship. It was found that the sawing weakened the 
neck of ice to which it hung, and the prospect of liberation 
stimulated the men to renewed exertions. At 1 p.m. the wind 
came on to blow strong from the S. S. W., and the ice began 
to move a little, but was still stationary in the immediate vicinity 
of the ship; it was however no little satisfaction to find that she 
was now held only by a small floe, which was attached to the 
ground ice. The saws and all the gear were now brought on 
\ board, and a five inch hawser taken out for the purpose of making 
; fast to a berg that was going to the N. E. It was perhaps the 
first time that an iceberg had the honor conferred upon it, ot 
towing a British ship, although we know that the direct contrary 
was once in contemplation, of towing the icebergs by British 
ships to the tropics, for the purpose of diffusing their refrigerat¬ 
ing power on the countries situated between them The sight 
