pany, that the arrival of the ships at either of the
establishments in Hudson's Bay gives full occupation to all the boatmen
in their service, who are required to convey the necessary stores to the
different posts in the interior; that it was very probable a sufficient
number of men might not be procured from this indispensable duty; and,
considering that any delay at York Factory would materially retard our
future operations, I wrote to the Under Secretary of State requesting his
permission to provide a few well-qualified steersmen and bowmen at
Stromness to assist our proceedings in the former part of our journey
into the interior.

May 30.

The easterly wind, which had retarded the ship's progress so much that we
had only reached Hollesley Bay after a week's beating about, changed to
West-South-West soon after that anchorage had been gained. The vessels
instantly weighed and, by carrying all sail, arrived in Yarmouth Roads at
seven P.M.; the pilots were landed and our course was continued through
the anchorage. At midnight the wind became light and variable and
gradually drew round to the North-West and, as the sky indicated
unsettled weather and the wind blew from an unfavourable quarter for
ships upon that coast, the commander bore up again for Yarmouth and
anchored at eight A.M.

This return afforded us at least the opportunity of comparing the
longitude of Yarmouth church, as shown by our chronometers, with its
position as laid down by the Ordnance Trigonometrical Survey; and it was
satisfactory to find, from the small difference in their results, that
the chronometers had not experienced any alteration in their rates in
consequence of their being changed from a horizontal position in a room
to that of being carried in the pocket.

An untoward circumstance while at this anchorage cast a damp on our party
at this early period of the voyage. Emboldened by the decided appearance
of the North-West sky, several of our officers and passengers ventured on
shore for a few hours; but we had not been long in the town before the
wind changed suddenly to South-East, which caused instant motion in the
large fleet collected at this anchorage. The commander of our ship
intimated his intention of proceeding to sea by firing guns; and the
passengers hastened to embark. Mr. Back however had unfortunately gone
upon some business to a house two or three miles distant from Yarmouth
along the line of the coast; from whence he expe