550 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
at midnight, was calculated to instil the feeling of terror and 
of awe into the stoutest heart. 
The 4th, being Sunday, the duty of the day was performed as 
usual, after which, Commander Ross and Mr. Mc’Diarmid went 
over the hills for a walk, and returned at half past six, with a 
hare and seven grouse. Having the telescope with them, they 
were able to distinguish the ice far to the northward, densely 
packed, and close in shore; and it was similarly situated about 
the harbour. The day closed with a heavy fall of snow, and 
strong gales from the N.W. by W. These gales continued until 
noon on the following day, when the weather became more mo¬ 
derate, but the wind still hanging to the northward, which, as 
concerned the Victory in getting out of the bay, was the most 
adverse quarter from which it could blow. A tide pole was set, 
and at high water the rise was found to be six feet. 
On the 6th, very heavy ice was setting fast into the bay; on 
which every hand was turned out to secure the ship. With 
great difficulty, she was got into the middle of the harbour, 
where she received the heaviest nip that had befallen her, during 
the whole of the voyage. So great was the pressure, that she 
careened nearly keel out, and never righted for several hours, 
during which it was apprehended, every moment, that she 
would fall on her beam ends. After the most strenuous exertions, 
the ice being partially cleared away, she righted ; and then 
with the least possible delay, was got to the head of the 
bay, and moored to the rocks, and to a berg. The rudder was 
now unshipped, and every precaution taken, to prevent the 
recurrence of a similar disaster, on which perhaps the very 
fate of the vessel depended. 
There was now scarcely a night, that the men turned into their 
hammocks, that they did not expect to be roused from their 
sleep ; and in their hearts they vented their imprecations against 
the individual, by whose want of skill and good management, 
the ship was driven into her present position ; nor did the fears 
of the men turn out to be wholly groundless, in regard to the 
provisions, which were served out to them; in fact, some part of 
