[Footnote:  Middleton discovered the Frozen Strait on the 20th August 1742, according to the New Style.]

All sail was made at daylight on the 23d along the northern shore of the Frozen Strait, which here continues about the same height as that of Repulse Bay, and was at this time quite free from snow.  At nine A.M. the weather became squally with thick snow, which rendered great caution necessary in running.  There was something in the appearance of this part of the coast which held out so favourable a prospect of a direct passage to the northward, that I determined more closely to examine it.  Having beat up to the mouth of an opening which, the nearer we approached, assumed a more and more favourable appearance, we found that a body of ice occupied the greater part of the channel, rendering it impracticable then to enter it either with the ships or the boats.  The only mode left, therefore, of examining it without loss of time, was to despatch a party equipped for travelling by land, to ascertain enough of its extent and communications to enable me to decide as to our farther progress.  As, however, in their present situation, I did not feel myself justified in leaving the ships, I requested Captain Lyon to undertake this service.  He was accompanied by Mr. Bushnan and two seamen from each ship, and was furnished with a tent, blankets, and four days’ provisions.

Captain Lyon, on his return, at the end of two days, reported that he had landed on an island, which he called BUSHNAN’S ISLAND, had then crossed a strait, to which afterward the name of HURD’S CHANNEL was given, and landed on a steep point called by him CAPE MONTAGU.  From hence his party proceeded to a high and remarkable hill called BROOKS’S BLUFF:  following the strait to the northward, they passed the remains of many Esquimaux habitations; and, though their short journey had been unsatisfactory on account of the badness of the weather, there was still sufficient to cause the most lively interest, and give strong hopes of the existence of some passage to the northeast of the small inlet they had examined.

At eight P.M., having shoaled the water from sixty to forty, and then to thirty-two fathoms, and the weather still continuing extremely thick, I suspected that the tide was taking us too close to Passage Island, which was the nearest land when the fog came on.  A large space of open water was at this time not more than a quarter of a mile distant from us in the opposite direction; but, before the ships could be moved by warps or any other means within our power, the tide was observed to be setting her directly between the island and the little yellow-looking rock I have before mentioned as lying on its eastern side.  The anchors were kept ready to drop in an instant should the ship drive into shoal water; had we grounded, and the heavy masses of ice continued to drive upon us, little less than the total destruction of the ship was to be apprehended.  The natural direction of the stream, however, effected for us that which, hampered as we were, our own exertions must have failed in accomplishing; the ship drove through, at the distance of one hundred yards from the rock and about one hundred and forty from Passage Island, having no less than twelve fathoms; and soon after deepened the water to thirty-five and forty, and then to no bottom with ninety.