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 north-west, with a gentle breeze at north-east, clear frosty weather. Our latitude at this time was 65° 53ʹ S., longitude 133° 42ʹ W.; islands of ice not half so numerous as before. At four in the morning of the 28th, the wind having veered more to the east and south-east, 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° 24ʹ, longitude 134° 37ʹ, we steered north-west by north. 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 west-north-west. 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 betwixt decks. At noon our latitude was 59° 40ʹ S., longitude 135° 11ʹ 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, had a few hours’ calm, succeeded by a breeze from the east, which enabled us to resume our north-west by north course. January 1st, the wind remained not long at east; but veered round by the south to west; blew fresh; attended with snow showers. In the evening, being in the latitude of 58° 39ʹ 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° 2ʹ, longitude 137° 12ʹ. 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.