170 SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED. {December, 



southern shore, near Cape Lady Franklin,* was peculiarly 

 refracted, and appeared to be considerably nearer than 

 our positive knowledge would warrant, displaying very 

 beautifully its particular features. A delicate salmon 

 tint pervaded the horizon, affording the pleasing idea of 

 a March sunrise in England. Our climate here, as far 

 as we can judge from the journals of our predecessors, 

 differs considerably from that further south. It is drier, 

 clearer, I would almost add, superior, to that we read 

 of ; but this, I imagine, results from a freer scope of air. 

 On board I find the 'tween-decks very wet and uncom- 

 fortable, extending from the after-gunroom bulkhead to 

 the bows. My cabin is particularly dry, the ice in all 

 the inaccessible crevices of the after-storeroom, abaft it, 

 absorbing greedily the little moisture which may arise ; 

 all the bulkheads and furniture cracking and splitting 

 with loud noise, at the same time attended with some 

 difficulty in maintaining an even temperature. The wet 

 between decks, resulting from cooking, breath, and dry- 

 ing clothes in the main hold, cannot by any present ar- 

 rangement be remedied. 



December 1 . Our first amusement was the theatre ; 

 this was followed by a newspaper ; but something more 

 useful and solid was required. We therefore established 

 I he evening schools, and not having sufficiently, or at all, 

 prepared for this important matter by the customary Go- 

 \ eminent supplies, the requisite paper of which to form 

 writing-books dipped deeply into our supplies. Three 

 classes were formed : first, those who could read, write, 

 and calculate ; second, those who could read and write 



'* The new Ciipe Liidy Franklin. 



