556 
LAST "VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
From this erratic trip into the regions of Fancy, we turn to 
the more beaten path of sober reality, in which, truth must be 
our guide ; and where, if we do at times venture to stray. 
From grave to gay, from lively to severe, 
we are drawn back by the genius of History, to a more strict 
and rigid performance of our duty. 
The dinner in the cabin of the Victory is nearly closed ; and, 
with the unnecessary adjunct of a Stilton cheese, the appetite of 
all may be said to be appeased. Seldom, however, was the 
table without some game, animal or feathered ; for although the 
men were certainly, in the majority of cases, allowed to keep 
the game they killed, yet it was very seldom that they could 
obtain permission to leave the ship, to shoot on their own ac¬ 
count; and when the leave was obtained, it was generally on a 
Sunday, a day on which Capt. Parry would not allow a gun to 
be fired. Some of the best shots, particularly Abernethy and 
Wall, were frequently sent on a shooting expedition, but the pro¬ 
duce was destined for the table of the cabin; although it is not 
to be supposed, that they produced to Capt. Ross all the game 
they killed. In one instance. Wall shot at one fire three geese 
out of four: two of them certainly found their way to the cap¬ 
tain’s table, but one of them was privately cooked for one of the 
messes; although it was found necessary to have it dressed on 
the same day and hour as Capt. Ross’ goose, from a fear that 
the smell of the bird, whilst baking, would betray to him, that 
the men had at times other fare to live upon than barley broth 
and cocoa. 
The distinction in the quality of the daily beverage between 
the men and the officers, was also not less striking. Snow, 
melted into water, is not at any time considered as conducive 
to health: it was, however, for a considerable period, the only 
drink, which the crew of the Victory could enjoy ; whilst the 
officers in the cabin regaled themselves with wine twice a week, 
and the intervening days with snow water also—but then it 
was deprived of its injurious effects, by a proportionate quan¬ 
tity of the product of the Whitechapel distillery. 
