the general good." "In the animals of this day (observes Lyon) we were convinced that our sportsmen had not forgotten the latitude to which their perquisites might legally extend, for the necks were made so long as to encroach considerably on the vertebræ of the back; a manner of amputating the heads which had been learned during the former voyage, and, no doubt, would be strictly acted up to in the present one." While the ships on the 30th were proceeding through this strait, having to contend with heavy wind and wild ice, which with an impetuous tide ran against the rocks with loud crashes, at the rate of five knots in the center stream; four boats towing astern were torn away by the ice, and, with the men in them, were for some time in great danger. The vessels anchored for the night in a small nook, and weighing at daylight on the 31st, they stood to the eastward, but Gore Bay was found closely packed with ice, and most of the inlets they passed were also beset. A prevalence of fog, northerly wind, and heavy ice in floes of some miles in circumference, now carried the ships, in spite of constant labor and exertions, in three days, back to the very spot in Fox's Channel, where a month ago they had commenced their operations. It was not till the 5th of September, that they could again get forward, and then by one of the usual changes in the navigation of these seas, the ships ran well to the northeast unimpeded, at the rate of six knots an hour, anchoring for the night at the mouth of a large opening, which was named Lyon Inlet. The next day they proceeded about twenty-five miles up this inlet, which appeared to be about eight miles broad. Captain Parry pushed on with two boats to examine the head of the inlet, taking provisions for a week. He returned on the 14th, having failed in finding any outlet to the place he had been examining, which was very extensive, full of fiords and rapid overfalls of the tide. He had procured a sufficiency of game to afford his people a hot supper every evening, which, after the constant labor of the day, was highly acceptable. He . fell in also with a small party of natives who displayed the usual thieving propensities. Animal food of all kinds was found to be very plentiful in this locality. A fine salmon trout was brought down by one of the officers from a lake in the mountains. The crew of the Hecla killed in a fortnight four deer, forty hares, eighty-two ptarmigan, fifty ducks, three divers, three foxes, three ravens, four seals, ermines, marmottes, mice, &c. Two of the seals killed were immense animals of the bearded species (Phoca barbata,) very fat, weighing about eight or nine cwt.; the others were the common species, (P. vitulina.) Captain Parry again left in boats, on the 15th, to examine more carefully the land that had been passed so rapidly on the 5th and 6th. Not finding him return on the 24th, Captain Lyon ran down the coast to meet him, and by burning blue lights, fell in with him at ten that night. It appeared he had been frozen up for two days on the second evening after leaving. When he got clear he ran down to, and sailed round, Gore Bay, at that time perfectly clear of ice, but by the next morning it was quite filled with heavy pieces, which much impeded his return. Once more he was frozen up in a small bay, where he was detained three days; when, finding there was no chance of getting out, in consequence of the rapid formation of young ice, by ten hours' severe labor, the boats were carried over a low point of land, a mile and a half wide, and once more launched. On the 6th of October, the impediments of ice continuing to increase, being met with in all its formations of sludges or young ice, pancake ice and bay ice, a small open bay within a cape of land, forming the southeast extremity of an island off Lyon Inlet, was sounded, and being found to be safe anchorage the ships were brought in, and, from the indications which were setting in, it was finally determined to secure them there for the winter; by means of a canal half a mile long, which was cut, they were taken further into the bay. The island was named Winter Isle. Preparations were now made for occupation and amusement, so as to pass away pleasantly the period of detention. A good stock of theatrical dresses and properties having been laid in by the officers before leaving England, arrangements were made for performing plays fortnightly, as on their last winter residence, as a means of amusing the seamen, and in some degree to break the tedious monotony of their confinement. As there could be no desire or hope of excelling, every officer's name was readily entered on the list of dramatis persona, Captain Lyon kindly undertaking the difficult office of manager. Those ladies (says Lyon) who had cherished the growth of their beards and whiskers, as a defense against the inclemency of the climate, now generously agreed to do away with such unfeminine ornaments, and every thing bade fair for a most stylish theater. As a curiosity, I may here put on record the play bill for the evening. I have added the ship to which each officer belonged. THEATER ROYAL, WINTER ISLE. The Public are respectfully informed that this little, yet elegant Theater, will open for the season on Friday next, the 9th of November, 1821, when will be performed Sheridan's celebrated Comedy of Songs by Messrs. C. Palmer, (Hecla,) and J. Henderson, will be introduced in the course of the evening. On the 17th of December, a shivering set of actors performed to a great-coated, yet very cold audience, the comedy of the "Poor Gentleman." A burst of true English feeling was exhibited during the perform ance of this play. In the scene where Lieut. Worthington and Corporal Foss recount in so animated a manner their former achievements, advancing at the same time, and huzzaing for "Old England," the whole audience, with one accord, rose and gave three most hearty cheers. They then sat down, and the play continued uninterrupted. On Christmas Eve, in order to keep the people quiet and sober, two farces were performed, and the phantasmagoria, (which had been kindly presented anonymously to the ships before leaving, by a lady,) exhibited, so that the night passed merrily away. The coldness of the weather proved no bar to the performance of a play at the appointed time. If it amused the seamen, the purpose was answered, but it was a cruel task to performers. "In our green-room, (says Lyon,) which was as much warmed as any other part of the Theater, the thermometer stood at 16°, and on a table which was placed over a stove, and about six inches above it, the coffee froze in the cups. For my sins, I was obliged to be dressed in the height of the fashion, as Dick Dowlas, in the "Heir at Law," and went through the last scene of the play with two of my fingers frost-bitten! Let those who have witnessed and admired the performances of a Young, answer if he could possibly have stood so cold a reception." Captain Parry also states in his Journal, "Among the recreations which afforded the highest gratification to several among us, I may mention the musical parties we were enabled to muster, and which assembled on stated evenings throughout the winter, alter |