LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 535 
No. 4, 839, No. 5, 55, No. 6, 211, No. 7, 244, besides a tierce of 
salted, and about 400 dried. 
On tbe 3rd of August, the boats were got off from the shore, 
the ship was cleaned, and the watering of her commenced. At 
4 o’clock in the afternoon, to the great surprise of all on 
board, the ice gave way about the ship, and she drove her own 
length, making exactly 10 months and 2 days since she had 
moved at all from her position. On the 1st of August of the 
preceding year, the ice was all in motion, but no symptoms 
of that desirable event had, as yet, taken place, although the 
ship was literally surrounded by water. The prevalence of the 
westerly winds, which appeared to have set in on the 4th of 
August, and blowing with uncommon violence, was greatly 
adverse to the ice running out of the bay; at all events, even if 
the ship w ere clear, it would not have been possible to make any 
great headway, with the wind blowing directly in their teeth. 
On the 5th, the whale boat was hoisted up, for the purpose of 
being repaired, and the powder was got on board. The crew 
were employed in repairing the sails; and all was bustle on 
board, to get every thing in such a state of readiness, as to be 
enabled to start, on the breaking up of the ice. Commander 
Ross went on shore, for the purpose of taking a survey, and 
he saw the water clear to the eastward. To the westward, 
however, it appeared to be stationary. Mr. Mc’Diarmid went 
with the dingey to the lake, and returned at midnight, having 
had very little success, bringing home with him only one pin¬ 
tail duck. 
Towards the evening the ice was in motion about the shin, 
o l 
with light winds from the W.N.W , and all hands were on the 
alert, to take the advantage of it, but their hopes were blighted 
in the budding, for the wind veered round suddenly to the 
northward, driving the ice into the bay, and apparently choak- 
ing up every outlet, by which the Victory could escape. It 
was, however, necessary that the strictest watch should be kept, 
for it was well known to the majority on board, that when the 
ice once begins to be in motion, a particular spot will be 
choaked up one hour, and the next, scarcely a piece of ice si to 
be seen. 
