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39 in the Western Arctic Sea. 10 or 12 yards above the level of the water. The spot on which the observations were made was about 100 yards back from the shore in lat. 74°, 5S', and long. 107°, 03'|. The variation was 15l°, SO' easterly, or 208» 30', counted round westerly. The time of high water at full and change was probably towards 2 o’clock; the rise and fall of the tide about 5i feet. The piece of fir-tree above mentioned, and still more, the skeleton of a whale found up from the water, could never, therefore, have been transported to their position by the tides, if they were for merly as they are now. The skeleton of the whale may have occupied its present site for many ages past. The wood has evidently been crushed by the pressure of the heavy ice. On a hill behind the place of observation, the necessary notifications of the presence of the ships was deposited in a bottle under a heap of stones. On the 3d the great body of ice was observed to draw in towards the land ; it became therefore necessary, although the wind was slack, to gain as much westing as possible ; which was done with all the means at our command. I must notice the peculiar beauty of this evening, the atmosphere being without a cloud, and the air frosty. The sun set with singular splendour, and the moon soon rose in all her glory. The refraction on the horizon gave her an appearance more elliptical than circular ; an accident, you know, owing to the unequal effect of the air on the rays of light. This day and the 4th we were employed in making way to the westward, passing before several headlands and bays ; one of the latter running deeper into the land than we could see, nor did it seem to be worth the time which must have been lost in exploring it. Between nine and ten at night we calculated that we were on the meridian of the U0» degree of longitude, west from Greenwich. This was a point of no small importance to all persons in the expedition; and in the outset of the voyage it was considered as no contemptible exploit to be able to reach that meridian before we should be closed in for the winter. For by arriving in that longitude, within the arctic circle, the companies of both ships became entitled to 50001. being the reward offered by the authority of parliament to any British subjects who should accomplish it. On the following morning, Sunday the 5th, after divine service, the event was communicated by Captain Parry to the company of the Hecla; and the same notification was made to the Griper. An addition to the usual allowance of meat and beer was served °ut to the people at dinner, and to mark the success, the seamen of themselves gave the name of Bounty Cape to a bluff headland a little to the eastward of the meridian of 110°. Continuing her course to the westward,'the Hecla made a low