mity to the vessels. Hummocks consisting of massive granite-like blocks, would be thrown up to the height of twenty, and even thirty feet. This action in the ice was accompanied with a variety of sounds impossible to be described, but when heard never failed to carry a feeling of awe into the stoutest hearts. In the stillness of an arctic night, they could be heard several miles, and often was the rest of all hands disturbed by them. To guard against the worst that could happen to us -the destruction of the vessels the boats were prepared and sledges built. Thirty days' provisions were placed in for all hands, together with tents and blanket bags for sleeping in. Besides this, each man and officer had his knapsack containing an extra suit of clothes. These were all kept in readiness for use at a moment's notice.

"For the sake of wholesome exercise, as well as to inure the people to ice traveling, frequent excursions were made with our laden sledges. The officers usually took the lead at the drag ropes, and they, as well as the men underwent the labor of surmounting the rugged hummocks, with great cheerfulness and zeal. Notwithstanding the low temperature, all hands usually returned in a profuse perspiration. We had also other sources of exercise and amusements, such as foot-ball, skating, sliding, racing, with theatrical representations on holidays and national anniversaries. These amusements were continued throughout the winter, and contributed very materially to the cheerfulness and general good health of all hands. The drift had set us gradually to the S. E., until we were about five miles to the S. W. of Beechey Island. In this position we remained comparatively stationary about a week. We once more began to entertain a hope that we had become fixed for the winter, but it proved a vain one, for on the last day of November a strong wind from the westward set in, with thick snowy weather. The wind created an immediate movement in the ice. Several fractures took place near us, and many heavy hummocks were thrown up. The floe in which our vessels were imbedded, was being rapidly encroached upon, so that we were in mo

mentary fear of the ice breaking from around them, and that they would be once more broken out and left to the tender mercies of the crashing floes.

"On the following day (the 1st of December) the weather cleared off, and the few hours of twilight which we had about noon, enabled us to get a glimpse of the land. As well as we could make it out, we appeared to be off Gascoigne Inlet. We were now clear of Wellington Channel, and in the fair way of Lancaster Sound, to be set either up or down, at the mercy of the prevailing winds and currents. We were not long left in doubt as to the direction we had to pursue. The winds prevailed from the westward, and our drift was steady and rapid toward the mouth of the Sound. The prospect before us was now any thing but cheering. We were deprived of our last fond hope, that of becoming fixed in some position whence operations could be carried on by means of traveling parties in the spring. The vessels were fast being set out of the region of search. Nor was this our only source of uncasiness. The line of our drift was from two to five miles from the north shore, and whenever the moving ice met with any of the capes or projecting points of land, the obstruction would cause fractures in it, extending off to and far beyond us. Cape Hurd was the first and most prominent point-we were but two miles from it on the 3d of December. Nearly all day the ice was both seen and heard to be in constant motion at no great distance from us. In the evening a crack on our floe took place not more than twenty-five yards ahead of the Advance. It opened in the course of the evening to the width of 190 yards.

"No further disturbance took place until noon of the 5th, when we were somewhat startled by the familiar and unmistakable sound of the ice grinding against the side of the ship. Going on deck, I perceived that another crack had taken place, passing along the length of the vessel. It did not open more than a foot; this, however, was sufficient to liberate the vessel, and she rose several inches bodily, having become more buoy

ant since she froze in. The following day, in the evening the crack opened several yards, leaving the sides of the Advance entirely free, and she was once more supported by and rode in her own element. We were not, though, by any means, in a pleasant situation. The floes were considerably broken in all directions around us, and one crack had taken place between the two vessels. The Rescue was not disturbed in her bed of ice.

"December 7th, at 8 A. M., the crack in which we were, had opened and formed a lane of water fifty-six feet wide, communicating ahead at the distance of sixty feet with ice of about one foot in thickness, which had formed since the 3d. The vessel was secured to the largest floe near us (that on which our spare stores were deposited.) At noon, the ice was again in motion, and began to close, affording us the pleasant prospect of an inevitable nip between two floes of the heaviest kind. In a short time the prominent points took our side, on the starboard, just about the main-rigging, and on the port under the counter, and at the fore-rigging; thus bringing three points of pressure in such a position that it must have proved fatal to a larger or less strengthened vessel. The Advance, however, stood it bravely. After trembling and groaning in every joint, the ice passed under and raised her about two and a half feet. She was let down again for a moment, and then her stern was raised about five feet. Her bows being unsupported, were depressed almost as much. In this uncomfortable position we remained. The wind blew a gale from the eastward, and the ice all around was in dreadful commotion, excepting, fortunately, that in immediate contact with us. The commotion in the ice continued all through the night; and we were in momentary expectation of the destruction of both vessels. The easterly gale had set us some two or three miles to the west. As soon as it was light enough to see on the 9th, it was discovered that the heavy ice on which the Rescue had been imbedded for so long a time, was entirely broken up, and piled

up around her in massive hummocks. On her On her pumps being sounded, I was gratified to learn that she remained tight, notwithstanding the immense straining and pressure she must have endured.

"During this period of trial, as well as in all former and subsequent ones, I could not avoid being struck with the calmness and decision of the officers, as well as the subordination and good conduct of the men, without an exception. Each one knew the imminence of the peril that surrounded us, and was prepared to abide it with a stout heart. There was no noise, no confusion. I did not detect, even in the moment when the destruction of the vessel seemed inevitable, a single desponding look among the whole crew; on the contrary, each one seemed resolved to do his whole duty, and every thing went on cheerily and bravely. For my own part, I had become quite an invalid, so much so as to prevent my taking an active part in the duties of the vessel as I had always done, or even from incurring the exposure necessary to proper exercise. However, I felt no apprehensions that the vessel would not be properly taken care of, for I had perfect confidence in one and all by whom I was surrounded. I knew them to be equal to any emergency, but I felt under special obligations to the gallant commander of the Rescue, for the efficient aid he rendered me. With the kindest consideration, and the most cheerful alacrity, he volunteered to perform the executive duties. during the winter, and relieve me from every thing that might tend in the least to retard my recovery.

"During the remainder of December, the ice remained quiet immediately around us, and breaks were all strongly cemented by new ice. In our neighborhood, however, cracks were daily visible. Our drift to the eastward averaged nearly six miles per day; so that on the last of the month we were at the entrance of the Sound, Cape Osborn bearing north from us.

"January, 1851.-On passing out of the Sound, and opening Baffin's Bay, to the north was seen a dark horizon, indicating much open water in that direction. On

the 11th, a crack took place between us and the Rescue, passing close under our stern, and forming a lane of water eighty feet wide. In the afternoon the floes began to move, the lane was closed up, and the edges of the ice coming in contact with so much pressure, threatened the demolition of the narrow space which separated us from the line of fracture. Fortunately, the floes again separated, and assumed a motion by which the Rescue passed from our stern to the port bow, and increased her distance from us 709 yards, where she came to a stand. Our stores that were on the ice were on the same side of the cracks as the Rescue, and of course were carried with her. The following day the ice remained quiet, but soon after midnight, on the 13th, a gale having sprung up from the westward, it once more got into violent motion. The young ice in the crack near our stern was soon broken up, the edges of the thick ice came in contact, and fearful pressures took place, forcing up a line of hummocks which approached within ten feet of our stern. The vessel trembled and complained a great deal.

"At last the floe broke up around us into many pieces, and became detached from the sides of the vessel. The scene of frightful commotion lasted until 4 A. M. Every moment I expected the vessel would be crushed or overwhelmed by the massive ice forced up far above our bulwarks. The Rescue being further removed on the other side of the crack from the line of crushing, and being firmly imbedded in heavy ice, I was in hopes would remain undisturbed. This was not the case; for, on sending to her as soon as it was light enough to see, the floe was found to be broken away entirely up to her bows, and there formed into such high hummocks that her bowsprit was broken off, together with her head, and all the light wood work about it. Had the action of the ice continued much longer, she must have been destroyed. We had the misfortune to find sad havoc had been made among the stores and provisions left on the ice; and few barrels were recovered; but a large portion were crushed and had disappeared.