LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
149 
less than it was before the slice was taken off. It is said that 
when Capt. Ross was under the discipline of his writing domine, 
the first copy in his attempt to become a proficient in round-hand 
was “ Perseverance overcometh difficulties,” and the opportunity 
was now afforded him of carrying that salutary maxim into exe¬ 
cution. Whilst seated over his hippocrene in his cabin, the re¬ 
membrance of his round-hand copy flashed upon him as one of the 
reminiscences of his early days, the result of which was that the 
conviction burst upon him, that although the cutting up of the 
berg had an indisputable claim to be ranked amongst the diffi¬ 
culties of the first class, yet that there was a power, which could 
overcome it, and to that power he determined to apply. 
When Buonaparte projected the road over the Simplon, one of 
the everlasting monuments of his transcendent genious, he was 
told that the difficulties were too great to admit of its execution ; 
he answered, II nq a pas ime difficulty dans le monde , que l hom- 
me ne pent pas subjuguer, s'U possede de Vactitivite et de ta 
perseverance. It is to be supposed that minds of corresponding 
vigour and grandeur will engender the same ideas, and to say 
that the mind of Capt. Ross ever conceived an idea bearing any 
relationship to that, which was generated in the mind of Buona¬ 
parte, is perhaps paying him the highest compliment which the 
historian of his memorable exploits in the arctic seas has it in his 
power to bestow upon him. The cutting of the road of the 
Simplon was accomplished by perseverance; the cutting up of 
the berg was not accomplished, because the same eminent virtue 
was not practised. After five hours labour, during which time the 
berg had gradually lost about one sixteenth of its original mag¬ 
nitude, but was still so immoveably fixed that the whole navy of 
England could not have towed it from its position, Capt. Ross 
very prudently declined any farther demolition of the berg, and 
retired from the arduous task with the flattering consolation, 
that, although he could not command success, he had most richly 
deserved it. The temperature of the air was this day by thermo¬ 
meter 22°, of the sea 26°. 
During the night of the 2nd, a heavy fall of snow took place, 
which occasioned the crew some labour in clearing away. The 
