1852.] A GALE. 155 



and, having overcome his modesty, made a very taking 

 speech, not omitting Allsopp in conclusion, and retired, 

 promising to omit no exertion to please at a more pro- 

 pitions day. 



The temperature during the performance may be as- 

 sumed as near 17 as possible. This would be warm if 

 calm, but the breeze in the boxes made it cutting : no- 

 thing but the most determined loyalty rendered it en- 

 durable. 



This gale came on with the thermometer at 20. On 

 the Sth it fell to 10, at noon on the 9th to zero, and 

 rose as high at the Observatory, when we had it at 17, 

 in the theatre, to 20, at least so I find it recorded. The 

 tide-gauge rose one foot above its scale, and I have rea- 

 son to believe that some movement of ice, unperceived 

 by us, shook the Observatory. 



On the 10th of November the gale continued with 

 unabated violence, cutting off all communication with 

 the shore, the temperatures ranging from 9 to zero, 

 rising according to the strength of the wind. A heavy 

 snow-bank formed on our port side, but the reaction of 

 the wind against our side caused it to maintain a re- 

 spectable distance, channelling out a nice sheltered walk 

 for our men in future, and raising a most picturesque, 

 ornamental snow-wreath as a permanent overhanging 

 wall, distant about sixty feet from the ship's side, and 

 level with our upper works, or about fourteen feet above 

 the ice. Between us and the ' Pioneer' a huge wave of 

 snow intervened, nearly on the upper level, and extended 

 up to the shore, tapering to nothing. This weight of 

 snow caused the water to flow up, which, \vhen solidly 



