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Chapter IV.—The Ship Resolution, of Whitby 116 Sect. 1. Continued Prosperity; the Results, comparatively and generally, of this fresh Enterprise 116   2. Treatment and Recovery of a half-frozen Seaman 126   3. Judicious Treatment of Men having suffered from severe Exposure 129   4. The Crow’s Nest 135   5. Extraordinary Celerity in preparing an empty Boat for the Fishery 139   6. Tact and Bravery in attacking and killing a dangerously-resisting Whale 144   7. Remarkable Enterprise: the nearest Approach to the North Pole 152   8. Devotional Habits, at Sea and on Shore 164 Chapter V.—Further Enterprises: General Results 171 Sect. 1. The Greenock Whale-fishing Company 171   2. “Cum au greim a gheibhthu” 174   3. Subsequent and concluding Enterprises 178   4. General Results of his entire Whale-fishing Adventures 185   5. Unusual Capture of Walruses 189 Chapter VI.—General Characteristics, and Miscellaneous Notices 195 Sect. 1. Superiority as an Arctic Navigator 195   2. Natural Science 203   3. Improvements and Inventions 215   4. Miscellaneous and concluding Notices 224

MEMORIALS OF THE SEA.

My Father.

 

Chapter I.

EARLY LIFE AND PROGRESS AS A SEAMAN.

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Section I.—My Father’s early Life.

The name of Scoresby, it is believed, is entirely unknown, in this country, except in the case of the family, and one or two relations, of the subject of the present records.

My Father’s “more immediate ancestors,” as a short biographical account of him by a friend, states,[A] “occupied respectable stations in the middle walks of life, supporting, in each case, unblemished character, and possessing, at times, considerable property;” and, in periods rather remote, holding conspicuous stations.

In Drake’s History of York, the family name, varying in the spelling in a progress through several centuries, repeatedly occurs. But the single line traceable through my Father’s ancestors, now alone appears to exist in Britain. Walter de Scourby was “bayliffe of York,” in the year 1312; and in the seventh and ninth years of Edward III., Nicholas de Scorēby, it appears, was Member for York. Subsequently, we find, under the date of 1463, Thomas Scawsby, holding the office of Lord Mayor of that city. Some member of the family, after the name assumed its present form, must have given the designation of “Scoresby Manor” and “Scoresby Lodge,” to places still known in the neighbourhood of York.

At the period, however, of this memoir, the family occupied more humble stations in life, chiefly in the class of yeomen,—a class once