In the morning of the 26th, the whole sea was in a manner covered with ice, 200 large islands, and upwards, being seen within the compass of four or five miles, which was the limits of our horizon, besides smaller pieces innumerable.  Our latitude at noon was 66 deg. 15’, longitude 134 deg. 22’.  By observation we found that the ship had drifted, or gone about 20 miles to the N.E. or E.N.E.; whereas, by the ice islands, it appeared that she had gone little or nothing; from which we concluded that the ice drifted nearly in the same direction, and at the same rate.  At four o’clock a breeze sprung up at W.S.W., and enabled us to steer north, the most probable course to extricate ourselves from these dangers.

We continued our course to the north with a gentle breeze at west, attended with clear weather, till four o’clock the next morning, when meeting with a quantity of loose ice, we brought-to, and took on board as much as filled all our empty casks, and for several days present expence.  This done, we made sail, and steered N.W. with a gentle breeze at N.E., clear frosty weather.  Our latitude at this time was 65 deg. 53’ S., longitude 133 deg. 42’ W.; islands of ice not half so numerous as before.[8]

At four in the morning of the 28th, the wind having veered more to the E. and S.E., increased to a fresh gale, and was attended with snow showers.  Our course was north till noon the next day.  Being then in the latitude of 62 deg. 24’, longitude 134 deg. 37’, we steered N.W. by N. Some hours after, the sky cleared up, and the wind abating, veered more to the south.

On the 30th, had little wind westerly; dark gloomy weather; with snow and sleet at times; several whales seen playing about the ship, but very few birds; islands of ice in plenty, and a swell from W.N.W.

On the 31st, little wind from the westward, fair and clear weather, which afforded an opportunity to air the spare sails, and to clean and smoke the ship between decks.  At noon our latitude was 59 deg. 40’ S., longitude 135 deg. 11’ W. Our observation to-day gave us reason to conjecture that we had a southerly current.  Indeed, this was no more than what might reasonably be supposed, to account for such huge masses of ice being brought from the south.  In the afternoon we had a few hours calm, succeeded by a breeze from the east, which enabled us to resume our N.W. by N. course.[9]

January 1st, the wind remained not long at east, but veered round by the south to the west; blew fresh, attended with snow showers.  In the evening, being in the latitude of 58 deg. 39’ S., we passed two islands of ice, after which we saw no more till we stood again to the south.

At five o’clock in the morning on the 2d, it fell calm; being at this time in the latitude of 58 deg. 2’, longitude 137 deg. 12’.  The calm being succeeded by a breeze at east, we steered N.W. by W. My reason for steering this course, was to explore part of the great space of sea between us and our track to the south.