Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/378

 service was slowly effecting a serious decay of their constitutional powers. The recent appearance also of several cases of incipient scurvy in the most favorable month of the year, and occurring after a more liberal and continued use of fresh animal food than we can calculate upon procuring hereafter, are confirmatory proofs of the progression of the evil.

“With a tolerable prospect of eventual success, other circumstances remaining unchanged, I should yet expect an increase of general debility, with a corresponding degree of sickness, though at the same time confident of our resources being equal to obviate serious consequences. But considering the matter in the other point of view, namely, as a single ship, it assumes a much more important shape. It is not necessary that I should dwell on the altered circumstances in which the crew would then be placed, as they are such as you must long ago have foreseen and weighed: I allude to the increase of labour and exposure resulting from the separation of the vessels; the privation of many salutary occupations, mental and corporeal, attending their union; and, I may add, at this late period of the season, the hopelessness of the success of the ensuing navigation being such as to excite feelings sufficiently lively to counteract those depressing causes. It is impossible, in fact, to reflect on the subject, and not to apprehend a less favorable result than might be expected under the preceding conditions.”

Captain Parry also requested the opinion of the commander of the Hecla, whether, under existing circumstances, he still considered it expedient to adopt the measure originally intended, with respect to the separation of the two ships, when Captain Lyon, for various reasons, advised that they should return to England together, as soon as such arrangements respecting the removal of stores and provisions, as the senior officer might judge proper to make, should be completed. In the meantime, the Fury stretched over from Igloolik to the northward, for the purpose of examining the state of the fixed ice at the eastern mouth of the strait communicating with the Polar sea, and found it firmly attached to both shores, while one vast expanse of level solid ice occupied the whole extent of sea visible to the westward, the eye wearying itself in vain to discover a single break upon its surface. Having finished this examination, which at once destroyed every hope of a passage through the strait. Captain Parry resolved to lose no time in removing from the Fury some of her now superfluous provisions and stores, which service was completed by the night of the 10th August.

