ling which so essentially improves the
character of seamen, by furnishing the highest motives for increased
attention to their other duties. The officers also found full
employment in the various observations to which their attention was
directed. An expedition was also made to the eastward, under Commander
Hoppner. On his return, two other parties, under the respective
commands of Lieutenants Sherer and Ross, travelled, the former to the
southward, and the latter to the northward, along the coast of Prince
Regent's Inlet, for the purpose of surveying it accurately. The
travelling along the shore was so good that they were enabled to extend
their journeys far beyond the points intended. On returning, Lieutenant
Ross brought the welcome intelligence that the sea was perfectly open at
a distance of twenty-two miles northward of Port Bowen. On the 12th of
July the ice began to break up, and by the 20th, owing to the sudden
separation of the floe, the ships got free. They first crossed over to
the western shore of Prince Regent's Inlet, then proceeded southward,
close in with the land, having alternately open water and floating ice,
to which they had occasionally to make fast. Before long, however, the
ice was observed to be in rapid motion towards the shore. The _Hecla_
was immediately beset, in spite of every exertion, and, after breaking
two of the largest ice-anchors, in endeavouring to heave in to the
shore, she was compelled to drift with the ice. Both ships were in
extreme danger. The cliffs next the sea, four or five hundred feet in
perpendicular height, were constantly breaking down, and the ships lay
so close in shore as to be almost within range of some of these falling
masses. The following day the _Hecla_ managed to get to a greater
distance; but the _Fury_ remained where she was, and on the 31st a hard
gale brought the ice closer and closer, until it pressed with very
considerable violence on both ships, though mostly on the _Fury_, which
lay in a very exposed position. Shortly afterwards the _Fury_ was
forced on the ground, where she lay, but was got off again at high
water. A broad channel appearing and a fresh breeze springing up, an
attempt was made to reach the water; but the ice came bodily in upon the
ships, which were instantly beset in such a manner as to be literally
helpless and unmanageable.

Thus they were carried southward, when the _Hecla_, driving close in
shore, struck the ground