and at noon we were in latitude 66º 39′ S., and longitude 156º 42′ W., so that after having exhausted five weeks of the best part of the season of navigation in what appeared to be, at this time, a fruitless attempt to get through this formidable pack, we found ourselves driven back to nearly the same spot we were at three weeks before. With only a brief period of the season remaining, our ships much strained, and some doubt on our minds as to the sufficiency of the rudders we had not yet tried, our prospects were by no means cheering; we had reason, however, to be thankful that we might still be enabled to go forward in the execution of the important duties with which we were charged.
By the evening the main pieces of the Terror's spare rudder were bolted together, and nothing but the filling pieces, and securing the braces and pintles was wanting to make it complete. But the labour of our people, particularly the carpenters and blacksmiths, had been almost incessant; I therefore directed that all work should be suspended after ten p.m., that they might get some rest, and resume their labours at an early hour the next morning, on which, although it was the Sabbath-day, I felt the necessity of departing from our practice of ceasing from work on that day, to complete a measure so essential to the safety of our ships.
Jan. 23.The wind continued moderate from the N.E.,