Some time before noon, we perceived a brightness in the northern horizon, like that reflected from ice, commonly called the blink.  It was little noticed, from a supposition that it was improbable we should meet with ice so soon.  And yet the sharpness of the air, and gloominess of the weather, for two or three days past, seemed to indicate some sudden change.  About an hour after, the sight of a large field of ice, left us no longer in doubt about the cause of the brightness of the horizon.  At half-past two, we tacked, close to the edge of the ice, in twenty-two fathoms water, being then in the latitude of 70 deg. 41’, not being able to stand on any farther.  For the ice was quite impenetrable, and extended from W. by N. to E. by N. as far as the eye could reach.  Here were abundance of sea-horses, some in the water, but far more upon the ice.  I had thoughts of hoisting out the boats to kill some, but the wind freshening, I gave up the design, and continued to ply to the southward, or rather to the westward, for the wind came from that quarter.

We gained nothing; for, on the 18th at noon, our latitude was 70 deg. 44’, and we were near five leagues farther to the eastward.  We were, at this time, close to the edge of the ice, which was as compact as a wall, and seemed to be ten or twelve feet high at least.  But, farther north, it appeared much higher.  Its surface was extremely rugged; and here and there, we saw upon it pools of water.

We now stood to the southward; and, after running six leagues, shoaled the water to seven fathoms, but it soon deepened to nine fathoms.  At this time, the weather, which had been hazy, clearing up a little, we saw land extending from S. to S.E. by E., about three or four miles distant.  The eastern extreme forms a point, which was much encumbered with ice, for which reason it obtained the name of Icy Cape.  Its latitude is 70 deg. 29’, and its longitude 198 deg. 20’.  The other extreme of the land was lost in the horizon, so that there can be no doubt of its being a continuation of the American continent.  The Discovery being about a mile astern, and to leeward, found less water than we did, and tacking on that account, I was obliged to tack also, to prevent separation.

Our situation was now more and more critical.  We were in shoal water, upon a lee-shore, and the main body of the ice to windward, driving down upon us.  It was evident, that if we remained much longer between it and the land, it would force us ashore, unless it should happen to take the ground before us.  It seemed nearly to join the land to leeward; and the only direction that was open, was to the S.W.  After making a short board to the northward, I made the signal for the Discovery to tack, and tacked myself at the same time.  The wind proved rather favourable, so that we lay up S.W. and S.W. by W.