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248
SAILING THROUGH YOUNG ICE.
[Chap. VIII.
1841
and therefore undoubtedly the seat of the southern magnetic pole, was distinguished by the name of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, who had been graciously pleased to express a warm interest in the success of our expedition.
The whole of the great southern land we had discovered, and whose continuity we had traced from the seventieth to the seventy-ninth degree of latitude, received the name of our Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria, as being the earliest and most remote southern discovery since Her Majesty's accession to the throne.
As soon as we had completed all the necessary observations at this interesting spot, we commenced the laborious work of retracing our way through the pack to the eastward; but the young ice had so greatly increased in thickness, that this was a measure of great difficulty, and for a long time we had great doubts whether it would not prove too strong for us, and that in spite of our utmost exertions we might be frozen fast; for when we got clear of the heavy pack, the whole surface of the sea presented to our view one continuous sheet of ice, through which, when the breeze freshened up, we made some way, but were sometimes more than an hour getting a few yards; the boats were lowered down, and hauled out upon each bow, and breaking up the young ice by rolling them, we found the most effectual means; for although it was sufficiently strong to prevent our ships sailing through it, yet it was not strong enough to bear the weight