several headlands, where a consider- | with which they were supplied, one of able branch of commerce has long Earnshaw's construction was proved to been established. have gained only one second per day, up to May 21; and, on a comparison with the lunar and other observations throughout the voyage, this excellent instrument was found to point out the true time so nearly, that it might be pretty safely relied upon, in determining the vessel's longitudinal situation, in the absence of opportunities for celestial observations. Land, south of Coquin's Sound, was made on the 1st of June; and at the mouth of Davis' Strait, (and frequently during the voyage) a copper cylinder was committed to the waters, containing an account of the proceed By the superior excellence of the instruments, with which Mr. John Ross, who commanded the expedition, was liberally furnished by the Admiralty, he has clearly ascertained the shores of Davis's Straits, to be no less than ten degrees nearer to each other, than has hitherto been laid down in the maps. Cumberland strait he has also fixed two degrees south of its generally received position. These unquestionably important facts respecting the geography of these parts, will fill up, in the eyes of discerning men, no contemptible portion of space in that general blank of disappoint-ings up to that time, for the double ment, which, what has been called the purpose of ascertaining the course of failure of this undertaking, has occa- the current, if any, and of communisioned. cating information respecting the proThe Isabella, commanded by Capt.gress of the expedition.-June 9th. Ross, and the Alexander, by Lieut. Parry, sailed from the Thames on the 25th of April, 1818, with instructions to proceed through Baffin's Bay; and, if found practicable, round the northern extremity of America, through Behring's Straits to Kamtschatka, there to deliver the journal of the voyage to the Russian governor of that place, to be forwarded overland to England; then to refit, and obtain supplies at one of the Sandwich, or other islands of the South Sea. The first iceberg seen by the voyagers, was in lat. 58° 36′ N. long. 51o W. May 26th. "A monument: where every flake that falls, Montgomery's Greenland. About two degrees further north, they were cheered by one of the few advantages of high latitudes; for "there was so little darkness during any part of this night, that the features of the people on the forecastle were distinctly visible from the quarter deck;" but whether this light arose from the Sun, or his gladdening northern auxiliary, the aurora borealis, we are not informed. Among the several chronometers Disco, the only island worth the name in the whole bay, was seen, and was passed on the 16th. To us who inhabit these southern regions, it seems somewhat anomalous to read, "the weather here (lat. 70°) was hot and sultry;" while the navigators were tugging and squeezing through shoals of ice five or six feet thick. and encircled by piles of accumulated congelation, which mixed their burnished summits with the clouds, and met each other in fearful concussion, making the surrounding seas to tremble. Other accounts state the climate in the summer season to be mild and comfortable; the thermometer sometimes reaching 80° in the sun. This will not appear strange, when it is considered that the Sun pours his uninterrupted warmth on these inhospitable regions during a great part of the long polar day of about 1900 hours. The course of our adventurers through the drifting ice was sometimes attended with great peril; while, from the novelty and wild grandeur of the scenery, mingled with the hopes and fears excited by the probable success or failure of their enterprise, these rugged passages must be to every one exceedingly interesting. At one time, they were brought into a very dangerous situation. After describing the tracking of the vessels through the bayice, Capt. Ross says, "At half-past six, the ice began to move, and the wind increasing to a gale, the only chance left for us was, to endeavour to force the ship through it to the north, where it partially opened; but the channel was so much obstructed by heavy pieces, that our utmost efforts were ineffectual: the floes closed in upon us, and at noon we felt their pressure most severely. A floe on one side of the Isabella appeared to be fixed, while another, with a circular motion, was passing rapidly along. The pressure continuing to increase, it became a trial of strength between the ship and the ice: every support threatened to give way; the beams in the hold began to bend, and the iron tanks settled together. At this moment, when it seemed impossible for the ship to sustain the accumulating pressure much longer, she rose several feet; while the ice, which was more than six feet thick, broke against her sides, curling back on itself. The great stress now fell upon her bow, and after being again lifted up, she was carried with great violence towards the Alexander, which ship had hitherto been in a great measure defended by the Isabella. Every effort to avoid getting foul of each other failed; the iceanchors and cables broke one after another, and the sterns of the two ships came so violently into contact, as to crush to pieces a boat that could not be removed in time. The collision was tremendous; the chain-plates being broken, and nothing less expected than the loss of the masts; but, at this eventful instant, by the interposition of Providence, the force of the ice seemed exhausted: the two fields suddenly receded, and we passed the Alexander with comparatively little damage." Several instances of the great refractive power of the atmosphere in this part of the globe, are to be found in Capt. Ross's account. One in particular, of irregular operation, deserves notice. "A remarkable appearance of unequal refraction was observed here, in the ships near us, and at a distance. Some whalers, within two or three miles, seemed extended to a monstrous size; while those at double the distance appeared to be drawn out in a horizontal direction." With the assistance of this strong refraction, the opposite side of the Strait, a distance of about 200 miles, can be distinctly seen in clear weather. Pursuing the course of the voyage up the east side of Baffin's Bay, as the centre was completely blocked up by the ice, some individuals of an Esquimaux tribe were discovered on the shore, in lat. 75°. It subsequently appeared, that these natives are so completely isolated from the other various divisions of that humble class of mankind, and even from the rest of the world, that they conceived themselves to be the only occupants of the universe. The peculiar characteristics and habits of this singular people, distinguish them so much from the more known tribes of their fellows of the same original stock, that we shall no doubt gratify our readers by presenting them with a summary of their peculiarities. And here we cannot but offer a small tribute of respect to the memory of that intelligent and useful man, John Sackheuse*; through whose means we obtained almost all the information we have respecting this strange nation. It appears to us, that the most valuable and interesting part of this man's conduct has not only not been made as prominent as it deserves, but has been thrown in the back ground of neglect. Capt. Ross has recorded a fact respecting him which excites at once feelings of astonishment and pleasure. informed me," says Capt. Ross, "that he had, through the Missionaries, been converted to Christianity; and the strong desire he had to see the country these good men came from, had induced him to desert his own; but that it was always his intention to return, when he had learnt the Scriptures and the art of drawing. He related traditions, current in his country, respecting a race of people who were supposed to inhabit the North; adding, that it was for the purpose of communicating with them, and converting them to Christianity, that he had volunteered for our expedition." This is an extraordinary instance of genuine philanthropy and pure benevolence, exhibited in a mind uncultivated by the forms of civilization, and unpolished by the refinements of literature. But, perhaps, on these accounts there was the greater room for the proper display of exalted feeling, and true beneficence. "He Aug. 9. The ships had made very little progress, when we were surprised by the appearance of several men on the ice, who were hallooing, as we imagined, to the ships. The first impression was, that they were ship * For some account of this man, see Impe rial Magazine, 174. wrecked sailors, probably belonging to was brought home at the appointed some vessel that had followed us, and time. Having surveyed it with raphad been crushed in the late gale; we ture, she placed it on a sofa in her therefore tacked, hoisted our colours, dressing-room, and went out to invite and stood in for the shore. On apsome of her female companions to surproaching the ice, we discovered them vey her ornaments, and partake of her to be natives, drawn on rudely-fashion-joy. During her absence, a tradesed sledges by dogs, which they con- man, to whom she was indebted, came tinued to drive backwards and for- with his bill. He had at different wards with wonderful rapidity. When times, during the last twelve months, we arrived within hail, Sackheuse call- called repeatedly on the same errand; ed out to them in his own language: and had been invariably put off withsome words were heard in return, to out his money. On finding her absent, which a reply was again made in Eski- he inquired for her husband, and on maux; but neither party appeared to being introduced, communicated to be in the least degree intelligible to the him his business. Being a man of other. For some time they continued some humour, but actuated by printo regard us in silence; but on the ciples of honesty, he took the tradesships tacking, they set up a simulta- man into his wife's apartment, and neous shout, accompanied with many shewing him the ornaments which she strange gesticulations, and went off in had provided for the masquerade, adtheir sledges, with amazing velocity, to- dressed him as follows:-"I have no wards the land. Having attained the money by me at present, but take this distance of a mile, or more, they halted fool's coat: you will at this time sell it for about two hours. As soon as this for more than will pay your bill." The was observed, the ship tacked, and a tradesman walked off highly pleased. boat was sent to place an observation The Lady on returning, being informed stool on the ice, on which various pre- what was done, was so completely sents, consisting of knives and articles mortified, that she was taken ill with of clothing, were left. Either, however, vexation, and carried to bed. This they did not see it, or it did not attract circumstance laid an embargo on her their attention: a second boat was masquerading expedition. therefore sent, with directions to leave one of the Eskimaux dogs, with some strings of blue beads around his neck, Apparent Inconsistencies of Scripture near the same place. It being necessary to examine if there was a passage in this place, we took the opportunity of their absence to stand towards the SIR, head of the pool, which was about HAVING some time ago seen an atfour miles off, trusting that in the mean tempt in a note on Luke ii. 32,—“ Imtime they would return to the same proved Version of the New Testament," spot; to which also it was our intention to discredit the two accounts of our to come back. After examining into Lord's infancy, given by Matthew and the chance of a passage northward, no Luke, and, consequently, to remove an opening was however found; we there- insuperable barrier to the degrading fore returned, after an absence of ten views of the Son of God, held by Socihours. The dog was found sleeping nians, I set about solving the diffion the spot where we had left him; the culty, by drawing up the following presents remained untouched. A sinHarmony. If you think my observagle sledge was shortly afterwards ob- tions worthy of a place in your Magaserved at a great distance, but it imme-zine, I shall be happy to see them diately drove off with much rapidity." (To be continued.) ANECDOTE OF A MASQUERADING A Lady, some time since, who, in the reconciled. TO THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL inserted. I shall also be glad to see Z. ON THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT, &c. MATTHEW and Luke differ in several circumstances consistently. Luke re2 M ' the ice, some individuals of an Esquimaux tribe were discovered on the shore, in lat. 75°. It subsequently appeared, that these natives are so completely isolated from the other various divisions of that humble class of mankind, and even from the rest of the world, that they conceived themselves to be the only occupants of the universe. The peculiar characteristics and habits of this singular people, distinguish them so much from the more force the ship through it to the north, where it partially opened; but the channel was so much obstructed by heavy pieces, that our utmost efforts were ineffectual: the floes closed in upon us, and at noon we felt their pressure most severely. A floe on one side of the Isabella appeared to be fixed, while another, with a circular motion, was passing rapidly along. The pressure continuing to increase, it became a trial of strength between the ship and the ice: every support threat-known tribes of their fellows of the same ened to give way; the beams in the hold began to bend, and the iron tanks settled together. At this moment, when it seemed impossible for the ship to sustain the accumulating pressure much longer, she rose several feet; while the ice, which was more than six feet thick, broke against her sides, curling back on itself. The great stress now fell upon her bow, and after being again lifted up, she was carried with great violence towards the Alexander, which ship had hitherto been in a great measure defended by the Isabella. Every effort to avoid getting foul of each other failed; the iceanchors and cables broke one after another, and the sterns of the two ships came so violently into contact, as to crush to pieces a boat that could not be removed in time. The collision was tremendous; the chain-plates being broken, and nothing less expected than the loss of the masts; but, at this eventful instant, by the interposition of Providence, the force of the ice seemed exhausted: the two fields suddenly receded, and we passed the Alexander with comparatively little damage." Several instances of the great refractive power of the atmosphere in this part of the globe, are to be found in Capt. Ross's account. One in particular, of irregular operation, deserves notice. "A remarkable appearance of unequal refraction was observed here, in the ships near us, and at a distance. Some whalers, within two or three miles, seemed extended to a monstrous size; while those at double the distance appeared to be drawn out in a horizontal direction." With the assistance of this strong refraction, the opposite side of the Strait, a distance of about 200 miles, can be distinctly seen in clear weather. Pursuing the course of the voyage up the east side of Baffin's Bay, as the centre was completely blocked up by "He original stock, that we shall no doubt gratify our readers by presenting them with a summary of their peculiarities. And here we cannot but offer a small tribute of respect to the memory of that intelligent and useful man, John Sackheuse*; through whose means we obtained almost all the information we have respecting this strange nation. It appears to us, that the most valuable and interesting part of this man's conduct has not only not been made as prominent as it deserves, but has been thrown in the back ground of neglect. Capt. Ross has recorded a fact respecting him which excites at once feelings of astonishment and pleasure. informed me," says Capt. Ross, “that he had, through the Missionaries, been converted to Christianity; and the strong desire he had to see the country these good men came from, had induced him to desert his own; but that it was always his intention to return, when he had learnt the Scriptures and the art of drawing. He related traditions, current in his country, respecting a race of people who were supposed to inhabit the North; adding, that it was for the purpose of communicating with them, and converting them to Christianity, that he had volunteered for our expedition." This is an extraordinary instance of genuine philanthropy and pure benevolence, exhibited in a mind uncultivated by the forms of civilization, and unpolished by the refinements of literature. But, perhaps, on these accounts there was the greater room for the proper display of exalted feeling, and true beneficence. 66 Aug. 9. The ships had made very little progress, when we were surprised by the appearance of several men on the ice, who were hallooing, as we imagined, to the ships. The first impression was, that they were ship *For some account of this man, see Impe rial Magazine, p. 174. wrecked sailors, probably belonging to some vessel that had followed us, and had been crushed in the late gale; we therefore tacked, hoisted our colours, and stood in for the shore. On approaching the ice, we discovered them to be natives, drawn on rudely-fashioned sledges by dogs, which they continued to drive backwards and forwards with wonderful rapidity. When we arrived within hail, Sackheuse called out to them in his own language: some words were heard in return, to which a reply was again made in Eskimaux; but neither party appeared to be in the least degree intelligible to the other. For some time they continued to regard us in silence; but on the ships tacking, they set up a simultaneous shout, accompanied with many strange gesticulations, and went off in their sledges, with amazing velocity, towards the land. Having attained the distance of a mile, or more, they halted for about two hours. As soon as this was observed, the ship tacked, and a boat was sent to place an observation stool on the ice, on which various presents, consisting of knives and articles of clothing, were left. Either, however, they did not see it, or it did not attract their attention: a second boat was therefore sent, with directions to leave one of the Eskimaux dogs, with some strings of blue beads around his neck, Apparent Inconsistencies of Scripture near the same place. It being necessary to examine if there was a passage in this place, we took the opportunity of their absence to stand towards the SIR, head of the pool, which was about HAVING some time ago seen an atfour miles off, trusting that in the mean tempt in a note on Luke ii. 32,—“ Imtime they would return to the same proved Version of the New Testament," spot; to which also it was our intention to discredit the two accounts of our to come back. After examining into Lord's infancy, given by Matthew and the chance of a passage northward, no Luke, and, consequently, to remove an opening was however found; we there- insuperable barrier to the degrading fore returned, after an absence of ten views of the Son of God, held by Socihours. The dog was found sleeping nians, I set about solving the diffion the spot where we had left him; the culty, by drawing up the following presents remained untouched. A sin- Harmony. If you think my observagle sledge was shortly afterwards ob- tions worthy of a place in your Magaserved at a great distance, but it imme-zine, I shall be happy to see them diately drove off with much rapidity." (To be continued.) was brought home at the appointed time. Having surveyed it with rapture, she placed it on a sofa in her dressing-room, and went out to invite some of her female companions to survey her ornaments, and partake of her joy. During her absence, a tradesman, to whom she was indebted, came with his bill. He had at different times, during the last twelve months, called repeatedly on the same errand; and had been invariably put off without his money. On finding her absent, he inquired for her husband, and on being introduced, communicated to him his business. Being a man of some humour, but actuated by principles of honesty, he took the tradesman into his wife's apartment, and shewing him the ornaments which she had provided for the masquerade, addressed him as follows:-" I have no money by me at present, but take this fool's coat: you will at this time sell it for more than will pay your bill." The tradesman walked off highly pleased. The Lady on returning, being informed what was done, was so completely mortified, that she was taken ill with vexation, and carried to bed. This circumstance laid an embargo on her masquerading expedition. ANECDOTE OF A MASQUERADING A Lady, some time since, who, in the reconciled. TO THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL inserted. I shall also be glad to see Z. |