pied nearly the whole of one season, it could not of course, be considered that the attempt to penetrate to the westward, in the manner directed, had as yet been made, nor could it, indeed, be made during the present year. I could not, therefore, have a moment’s hesitation as to the propriety of pushing on as far as the present season would permit, and then giving a fair trial during the whole of the next summer to the route I was instructed to pursue.”
Contrary to his expectations, Captain Parry succeeded in reaching Port Bowen, where he remained from Sept. 28, 1824, until July 20, 1825. On leaving that place, he stood over to the western shore of Prince Regent’s Inlet, which it was his first wish to gain, on account of the evident advantage to be derived from coasting along the southern part thereof, as far as it might lead to the westward; which, from his former knowledge, he had reason to suppose it would do as far at least as the long, of 96°, in the parallel of about 72° 45'. In the night of July 30th, the ice pressed with very considerable violence on both ships, and at length forced the Fury on the ground; but towards high water she was hove off with very little strain. On the 1st August, the Hecla also struck, and remained immoveable for several hours. The disasters which subsequently befel the former ship, obliging the officers and crew finally to abandon her, will be noticed in our memoir of Captain Hoppner. The spot where she was left is in lat. 72° 42' 30", long. 91° 50' 05".
Captain Parry’s expectations of ultimately accomplishing the object of the expedition were now at an end, as the whole of the Fury’s stores were of necessity left behind; every spare corner that could be found in the Hecla being absolutely required for the accomodation of so many officers and men, whose cleanliness and health could only be maintained by keeping the decks as clear and well ventilated as their limited space would permit; with no more than twelve months’ provisions for both ships’ companies, extending their resources only to the autumn of the following year, it would, indeed, have been folly to hope for final success, considering the small progress he had already made, the uncertain nature of the navigation, and the advanced period of the season (August 30th). He was therefore reduced to the only remaining conclusion, that
