254 
A VOYAGE TO 
1 779- At noon, the latitude, by account, was 69° 34/, and longi- 
tude 193 0 , and the depth of water twenty-four fathoms. 
Thus, a connected, folid field of ice, rendering every ef¬ 
fort we could make to a nearer approach to the land fruit- 
lefs, and joining, as we judged, to it, we took a laft farewel 
of a North Eaft paflage to Old England. I fhall beg leave 
to give, in Captain Gierke’s own words, the reafons of this 
his final determination, as well as of his future plans ; and 
this the rather, as it is the laft tranfatftion his health per¬ 
mitted him to write down. 
“ It is now impoflible to proceed the leaft farther to the 
cc Northward upon this coaft (America) ; and it is equally 
<c as improbable that this amazing mafs of ice fhould be 
“ diftolved by the few remaining fummer-weeks which 
“ will terminate this feafoii; but it will continue, it is to 
<c be believed, as it now is, an infurmountable barrier to 
u every attempt we can poflibly make. I, therefore, think 
66 it the beft ftep that can be taken, for the good of the fer- 
(( vice, to trace the fea over to the Afiatic coaft, and to try 
66 if I can find any opening, that will admit me farther 
u North ; if not, to fee what more is to be done upon that 
66 coaft; where I hope, yet cannot much flatter myfelf, to 
66 meet with better fuccefs; for the fea is now fo choaked 
u with ice, that a paflage, I fear, is totally out of the quef- 
u tion.” 
CHAP. 
