streams of heavy ice, until 10 50 p.m., when we found the newly-formed ice so thick, and the heavy pack also so close, that we had some difficulty in wearing round to get out again, and this not without sustaining some severe shocks: after an hour's struggling we got into a more open space, and hove March 3.to for daylight. As soon as it appeared we wore round and again stood in towards the land, which we saw at 6 30 a.m., bearing W.N.W., but was soon after covered by clouds, and completely shut out from our view. At 8 a.m. we were obliged to steer more to the north, the pack being too close for us to proceed any further to the westward, and soon after noon we were much embarrassed by light variable winds, with thick snow and a heavy swell; so that it was difficult to keep the ships so close together as to ensure our not separating and at the same time not to endanger their falling on board of each other, being at times quite unmanageable. And although we took advantage of every light breeze to draw off towards the open water, we were frequently unable to keep the ships' heads in the desired direction; and we were now also surrounded by many bergs and heavy pieces of pack ice that were difficult to avoid.
At 10 30 p.m. a fresh breeze arose from the eastward, and as the night was tolerably clear we continued our course to the N.W. under easy sail. March 4.Land was again seen at daylight bearing S. 38° W. to S. 68° W., and from this point presenting the appearance of three distinct islands, and distant, by