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Started to find how badly the most favorable as
well as the most unfavorable compared as to
ice changed with our own position. Wishing
to [unreadable] examine into the state of the
ice to the South. I determined to attempt
to cross the floes and reach the true waters
edge. I took with me the faithful Hand and
our poor foot worn dogs - [?] [?] protected
by canvas shoes. I am to start immediately
after dinner.

Have made a laborious journey of sixty
miles - sleeping just three [unreadable] and that in
the open air. How would one [?] [?]
[?] that sort of thing.

The object of the trip was accomplished
but the result such as to prepare me for
a grave step. Which had engaged [?] my [?]
for the [unreadable] [unreadable] but which [?] [?]
journey for its confirmation.

The ice of [?] Sound is without as [?]
a break for twenty eight miles to the [unreadable]. I
found off Refuge (?) Inlet and the
[?] Point - open leads and beyond
them the true open sea but [unreadable] the
great field between [unreadable] and the [unreadable] not
a crack. By running great risks and
nearly drowning my dogs. I crossed the
drifting ice - and sighted clear the
North Water. Since the observation of Mt.
McFeary [?] in May it had [?] advanced
more than four miles. On returning to the vessel I found
by reviewing my Arctic correspondence and
admiralty reports that Penny had [?] in -
the Southward in [?] Straits as early
as June - and that by the 1st July - large
leads approached {?] [?] and at intervals