examination of Wellington Channel, and, if possible, of extending our researches as far as Melville Island; but when about twelve miles from the shore we came to the fixed land ice, which had not broken away this season, and nothing but an uniform sheet of heavy ice was to be seen to the westward.

"We kept the ships near that which appeared to be the most probable spot, watching for any opening that might present itself, when, a strong wind suddenly arising on the 1st September, brought the loose pack, through which we had been struggling, down upon and it closely beset the ships. At times, during two or three days, they sustained severe pressure, and ridges of hummocks were thrown up all around us, but after that time, the temperature falling to near zero, it formed the whole body of the ice into one solid mass. We were so circumstanced that for some days we could not unship the rudder, and when, by the laborious operation of sawing and removing the hummocks from under the stern, we were able to do so, we found it twisted and damaged, and the ship was so much strained, as to increase the leakage from three inches in a fortnight to fourteen inches daily.

"The ice was stationary for a few days; the pressure had so folded the lighter pieces over each other, and they were so interlaced, as to form one entire sheet, extending from shore to shore of Barrow's Strait, and as far to the E. and W. as the eye could discern from the masthead, whilst the extreme severity of the temperature had cemented the whole so firmly together, that it appeared highly improbable that it could break up again this season. In the space which had been cleared away for unshipping the rudder the newly-formed ice was fifteen inches thick, and in some places along the ship's side the thirteen feet saws were too short to work.

"We had now fully made up our minds that the

!

ships were fixed for the winter, and, dismal as the prospect appeared, it was far preferable to being carried along the west coast of Baffin's Bay, where the grounded bergs are in such numbers upon the shallow banks off that shore, as to render it next to impossible for ships involved in a pack to escape destruction.

"It was, therefore, with a mixture of hope and anxiety that, on the wind shifting to the westward, we perceived the whole body of ice begin to drive to the eastward, at the rate of eight to ten miles daily. Every effort on our part was totally unavailing, for no human power could have moved either of the ships a single inch; they were thus completely taken out of our hands, and, in the centre of a field of ice more than fifty miles in circumference, were carried along the southern shore of Lancaster Sound.

"After passing its entrance the ice drifted in a more southerly direction, along the west shore of Baffin's Bay, until we were abreast of Pond's Bay, to the southward of which we observed a great number of icebergs stretching across our path, and presenting the fearful prospect of our worst anticipations. But, when least expected by us, our release was almost miraculously brought about. The great field of ice was rent into innumerable fragments, as if by some unseen power.

"Hope revived, and our people worked with energy; all sail was made, and warps run out from each quarter, to spring the ships past the heavy floe pieces. The Investigator reached an open space of water on the evening of the 24th, but it was not until noon of the 25th September that the Enterprise could clear the pack. It is impossible to convey any idea of the sensation we experienced, when we found ourselves once more at liberty, whilst many a grateful heart poured fourth its praises and thanksgivings to Almighty God for this unlooked-for deliverance.

"The advance of winter had now closed all the

harbours against us; and, as it was impossible to penetrate to the westward through the pack from which we had just been liberated, I made the signal to the Investigator of my intention to return to England.

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Standing to the S. E., we came in with the middle ice of Baffin's Bay, within a few miles of the land, and were obliged, in order to make our retreat the more sure, to run along its western edge to the N. E., until we reached the lat. 743° N., where we rounded its north end, on the 4th October, in sight of the coast of Greenland.

"Favoured by unusually fine weather as we proceeded to the southward, we passed without any accident through the great cluster of bergs, which is always found in lat. 69° N., and on the 12th, we recrossed the Arctic Circle, after which time we saw no more ice.

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Strong westerly winds carried us past the meridian of Cape Farewell on the 18th, and at 1 A. M. of the 28th we struck soundings off Mould Head. At daylight we found ourselves in the Fairway between North Ronaldshay and Fair Island, but a southerly wind so impeded our further progress, that it was late on Saturday night before we could anchor off Scarborough.

"I arrived at the Admiralty early on Monday, the 5th November.

"I cannot conclude this report without expressing my deep obligations to Captain Bird for his cordial co-operation and zealous support throughout this most arduous service, and my admiration of the conduct of the officers and crews of both ships, whose meritorious excrtions fully entitle them to the most favourable consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

"JAMES C. Ross, Captain, R. N."

"To the Secretary to the Admiralty."

CHAPTER XXV.

Return of Sir J. Richardson from his Search by the MackenzieAccount of his Proceedings-First Measures-Communication with Esquimaux-Deposits of Pemmican-Explorations-Sir J. Richardson and Dr. Rae separate-Dr. Rae remains to pursue the search-Various Suggestions-Sir J. Richardson's Return to England.

On the 7th November, Sir John Richardson likewise returned to England, from his Arctic land expedition, which had been as unsuccessful, with regard to its principal object, as the voyage of Sir James Ross. The following are the principal heads of his

official report:

"SIR,-I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of my return from America in the Royal Mail steamer Caledonia.

"On the 4th June, 1847, five seamen, fifteen sappers and miners, with four boats, 15,800 lbs. of pemmican, and other provisions and stores, were embarked on board the Hudson's Bay Company ships. The arrival of these ships at York Factory was later than usual, and some of the stores still remained on board on the 10th Sept.; but Chief Trader Bell, of the Hudson's Bay Company, who now took charge of the party, considered it imprudent to wait longer for their landing. At this date, therefore, he commenced his voyage into the interior, taking with him, in addition to the English boats and their crews, a large

batteaux, with sixteen Canadian voyageurs, and the stores necessary for building a winter residence, providing for the fisheries, and equipping and paying Indian hunters.

"Owing to the extreme dryness of the summer, the rivers were uncommonly low, and the boats being, therefore, unable to carry more than two-thirds of their ordinary load, it was necessary to leave a considerable quantity of pemmican at York Factory to be forwarded inland, with the additional supplies next summer. The difficulties which Mr. Bell encountered, as well from the lowness of the waters as from the very early setting in of winter, were great, his progress consequently was slow, and he was finally arrested by the freezing of the lakes, six days' march short of his intended winter quarters at Cumberland House.

"He immediately housed the boats, constructed a storehouse for the reception of the provisions and other packages, established fisheries, and as soon as sledges could be made, accompanied the bulk of the party on snow shoes through the woods to Cumberland House.

"On the 25th March, 1848, Mr. Rae and I left Liverpool, and landed a fortnight afterwards at New York, and proceeded, by way of the Hudson and Lake Champlain, to Montreal, where we found waiting for us sixteen Canadian voyageurs, forming the crews of two canoes provided by Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company's territories. Our route lay through Lakes Ontario, Erie, St. Clair, and Huron, to Sault St. Marie, where we were detained some days waiting for the breaking up of the ice on Lake Superior. When the lake opened we resumed our voyage to Fort William, and from thence to Rainy Lake, the Lake of the Woods, and Lake Winipeg, where we were again stopped for