at length by the easterly breeze which was bringing up the Griper, a crowd of sail was set to carry us with all rapidity to the westward. It is more easy to imagine than to describe the almost breathless anxiety which was now visible in every countenance, while, as the wind increased to a fresh gale, we ran quickly up the Sound. The mast-heads were crowded by the officers and men during the whole afternoon; and an unconcerned observer, if any could have been unconcerned on such an occasion, would have been amused by the eagerness with which the various reports were received, all, however, hitherto favorable to our most sanguine hopes.
“Between 4 and 6 p.m., we passed several ripplings on the water, as if occasioned by a weather-tide, but no bottom could be found with the hand-leads. Being now abreast of Cape Castlereagh, more distant land was seen to open out to the westward of it, and between the cape and this land was perceived an inlet, to which I have given the name of the Navy Board’s Inlet. We saw points of land apparently all round this inlet, but being at a very great distance from it, we were unable to determine whether it was continuous or not. As our business lay to the westward, and not to the south, the whole of this extensive inlet was in a few hours lost in distance.
“In the mean time the land had opened out, on the opposite shore, to the northward and westward of Cape Warrender, consisting of high mountains; and, in some parts, of table-land. Several head-lands were were distinctly made out, of which the northernmost and most conspicuous was named after Captain Nicholas Lechmere Pateshall, R.N. The bay into which it extends, and which, at the distance we passed it, appeared to be broken or detached in many parts, was named Crokers-bay, in honor of the secretary of the admiralty; I have called this large opening a bay, though the quickness with which we sailed past it did not allow us to determine the absolute continuity of land round the bottom of it; it is, therefore, by no means improbable, that a passage may here be one day found from Sir James Lancaster’s Sound into the northern sea. The cape on the western side of Croker’s bay was named after Sir Everard Home.
“Our course was nearly due west, and the wind still continuing to freshen, took us in a few hours nearly out of sight of the Griper. The only ice we met with consisted of a few
