178 DETACHED ICE CRYSTALS. [December, 



surface ; it in return replied by similar signal, and inter- 

 laced its branches downward at the centre. This was 

 succeeded by a milky infusion, similar to that of water 

 introduced into a solution of camphor in alcohol, and all 

 became chaos. But I was not so easily satisfied ; and re- 

 peating these experiments with salt water and at higher 

 temperatures, I noticed that, as the point of general con- 

 gelation approached, peculiar stars were produced, and 

 rose to the surface, where they became attached to and 

 formed the general mass. These stars were, I perceived, 

 perfect detached crystals, similar to those we meet with 

 in the atmosphere, and which belong to bright-weather 

 snow. 



At a subsequent date, on sending for sea-water from 

 a depth, so as to be free from ice, I noticed that it 

 appeared impure, and rejected it ; but the next bottle 

 was, if possible, worse. This induced rue to examine it 

 closely. I then found that it was all composed of these 

 fine crystalline stars, the water being, at the moment it 

 entered my cabin, at the point of congelation. But in 

 very few minutes after, being influenced by a warmer 

 temperature, its countenance changed, and beamed as 

 bright as ever. Such we may observe constantly in port 

 wine. I am afraid that many of us would under similar 

 circumstances look very dull ; but I know, from sad ex- 

 perience, that my coimtenance would undergo many very 

 unseemly contortions under such treatment before it as- 

 sumed anything like brightness : such would especially 

 result from the pain of recovering from a bite of John 

 Frost, Esq. 



On the nth, 9th, and 10th of December, further exhi- 



