074 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
however, could not be accomplished without a considerable 
degree of trouble, for the first difficult part of the task was, to 
cut away with the axes all the ice, that obstructed their passage, 
as well as some pieces of flat ice, that were longer than the 
boat ; in fine, they had to dig a groove for the keel of the boat, 
as some fear was entertained, that the boats would not float. 
The ice was for some time stationary in the bay ; but it was the 
intention of Capt. Ross, after he had got the boats down, to 
shift the tents down to them, but this was in a certain degree 
found to be impracticable, on account of the high land, which 
was almost perpendicular, and the tide overflowing nearly the 
whole of the beach to the base of ths rising ground. As the 
tents could not be pitched on the beach, they were moved 
about half a mile lower down the bay, a man keeping watch 
during the whole of the night, at his boat, until the tide had 
left her, and she had grounded. 
There are certain passions, which cling to individual cha¬ 
racters, and break forth on every opportunity, which presents 
itself, no matter what the circumstances may be, in which ihe 
person may be placed, or whether the time and season are 
proper, in which a display of them should be exhibited. 
Amongst those passions, the love of fame is one of the strongest, 
for it appears to be an inmate of every breast, exhibiting 
itself only in a greater or less degree, accordingly as the spirit 
of ambition is dominant in the character. 
The roads to fame are, however, as diversified and distinct 
in their goodness and badness, as the innate disposition of 
man will permit them; and whilst some attempt to gain their 
aims by noble and honorable means, others seek for it in infamy 
and ignominy :—a Howard sought his fame in acts of philan¬ 
thropy ; George IV. obtained his fame by his acts of debauchery 
and voluptuousness; Lord Byron earned the fame of an honor¬ 
able man by a regular payment of all his debts, and a monument 
was refused him; the Duke of York earned the fame of a dis¬ 
honorable man by never paying his debts at all, and he is 
perched on the highest monument, which the folly of his 
countrymen could erect for him ; Capt. Cook earned his fame, 
