Page:The Life and Voyages of Captain James Cook (Young).djvu/148

hardly think myself in it, so long as I am deprived of having any connexion with the civilized part of it, and this will soon be my case for two years at least. When I think of the inhospitable parts I am going to, I think the voyage dangerous; I however enter upon it with great cheerfulness. Providence has been very kind to me on many occasions, and I trust in the continuance of the divine protection. I have two good ships, well provided, and well manned. You must have heard of the clamour raised against the Resolution before I left England: I can assure you, I never set foot in a finer ship. Please to make my best respects to all friends at Whitby, and believe me to be, with great regard and esteem, your most affectionate friend,

Jams. Cook.

On the 22nd of Nov. our navigators sailed from the Cape, directing their course southward for Cape Circumcision, the land said to have been seen by M. Bouvet in 1739. Warm jackets and trowsers, allowed by the Admiralty, were served out to the men, in anticipation of the colds and storms of the Antarctic regions. The advantages of this precaution were speedily apparent; for, on the 6th of Dec. the thermometer fell to 38, and a severe storm began, accompanied with rain, hail, snow, and sleet; which, continuing for several days, destroyed a great part of the live stock brought from the Cape of Good Hope, and drove the ships so far to the eastward of their course, that they had no hopes of reaching Cape Circumcision. On the 10th, being in latitude 50° 40' S. they began to see icebergs, which increased in number and size, as they advanced towards the south; some being about two miles in circuit, and