L. Schonberg’s Lithogy
ACCOUNT
OF A
VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN.
In the year 1806, being at the University of Edinburgh, an advertisement was put on the College Gate, by Messrs. P. and C. Wood, merchants, Leith, intimating that a surgeon was wanted for the ship Resolution of Whitby, Yorkshire, engaged in the North Sea whale-fishery.
Impelled by curiosity, and by a still more powerful motive, to visit the snow-clad coast of Spitzbergen, I applied; and was, after due examination, admitted surgeon for the voyage.
Nothing particular occurred on my journey from this to Whitby, where I arrived on Sunday the 16th of March, and was, in every respect, comfortably accommodated at the house of the Captain.
As we did not sail for several days after my arrival, I spent a considerable part of my time in making such remarks on the town as were particularly interesting.
Whitby is a thriving sea-port in the North Riding of Yorkshire, situated on the mouth of the river Esk. It is chiefly celebrated for the manufacture of canvas, and for the extensive alum works in its neighbourhood. Its harbour is the best on this coast, and has a fine pier; but it has no river communication with the interior country. Behind the pier is a battery which mounts twelve eighteen-pounders. This town was formerly noted for its Abbey, of which some ruins still remaining testify its ancient magnificence.