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Your affectionate brother , Robert Walton Letter 3 To Mrs . Saville , England . July 7th , 17 — . My dear Sister , I write a few lines in haste to say that I am safe — and well advanced on my voyage . This letter will reach England by a merchantman now on its homeward voyage from Archangel ; more fortunate than I , who may not see my native land , perhaps , for many years . I am , however , in good spirits : my men are bold and apparently firm of purpose , nor do the floating sheets of ice that continually pass us , indicating the dangers of the region towards which we are advancing , appear to dismay them . We have already reached a very high latitude ; but it is the height of summer , and although not so warm as in England , the southern gales , which blow us speedily towards those shores which I so ardently desire to attain , breathe a degree of renovating warmth which I had not expected . No incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a letter . One or two stiff gales and the springing of a leak are accidents which experienced navigators scarcely remember to record , and I shall be well content if nothing worse happen to us during our voyage . Adieu , my dear Margaret . Be assured that for my own sake , as well as yours , I will not rashly encounter danger . I will be cool , persevering , and prudent . But success shall crown my endeavours . Wherefore not ? Thus far I have gone , tracing a secure way over the pathless seas , the very stars themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph . Why not still proceed over the untamed yet obedient element ? What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man ? My swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus . But I must finish . Heaven bless my beloved sister ! R . W . Letter 4 To Mrs . Saville , England . August 5th , 17 — . So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording it , although it is very probable that you will see me before these papers can come into your possession . Last Monday ( July 31st ) we were nearly surrounded by ice , which closed in the ship on all sides , scarcely leaving her the sea - room in which she floated . Our situation was somewhat dangerous , especially as we were compassed round by a very thick fog . We accordingly lay to , hoping that some change would take place in the atmosphere and weather . About two o’clock the mist cleared away , and we beheld , stretched out in every direction , vast and irregular plains of ice , which seemed to have no end . Some of my comrades groaned , and my own mind began to grow watchful with anxious thoughts , when a strange sight suddenly attracted our attention and diverted our solicitude from our own situation . We perceived a low carriage , fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs , pass on towards the north , at the distance of half a mile ; a being which had the shape of a man , but apparently of gigantic stature , sat in the sledge and guided the dogs . We watched the rapid progress of the traveller with our telescopes until he was lost among the distant inequalities of the ice .
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