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We were now within half a mile of the range of bergs. The roar
of the surf, which extended each way as far as we could see, and the
crashing of the ice, fell upon the ear with fearful distinctness, whilst
the frequently averted eye as immediately returned to contemplate the
awful destruction that threatened in one short hour to close the world
and all its hopes and joys and sorrows upon us for ever. In this our deep
distress 'we called upon the Lord, and He heard our voices out of His
temple, and our cry came before Him.'
A gentle air of wind filled our sails; hope again revived, and the
greatest activity prevailed to make the best use of the feeble breeze:
as it gradually freshened, our heavy ships began to feel its influence,
slowly at first, but more rapidly afterwards; and before dark we found
ourselves far removed from every danger. 'O Lord our God, how great
are the wondrous works Thou hast done; like as be also Thy thoughts,
which are to us-ward! If I should declare them and speak of them, they
should be more than I am able to express.' 15
The expedition regained Hobart safely and spent the cooler
months in Australia and New Zealand. While his ships and men were
recouping, Ross assessed the work of the previous season. Inevit-
ably, this meant comparing his claims with Wilkes's. And, inevitably,
news of Ross's complaints against him reached the American. Wilkes
was, of course, furious that the British expedition had capped his
own achievements and that Ross was questioning the accuracy of his
information. He put the Englishman's reaction down to jealousy and
pique and never forgave him. Even before the American returned
home news of this disagreement was creating doubts about Wilkes's
achievement within the scientific establishment. But it was not only
the English with whom the aggressive patriot was at odds. He dis-
puted with the French the primacy of discovery. D'Urville claimed to
have sighted AdeĆ³lie Coast on 19 January 1840. Wilkes put no dates
on his chart but later claimed to have made his first land sighting on
 
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