202 LOWEST TEMPERATURE. [January, 



doubt. The observers have been too numerous to allow 

 of mistake : the self-acting index tells its own tale, ad- 

 verse observers watch every decimal division, and the 

 lowest minimum thermometer, after severe investigation, 

 has been rejected. I copy the following from the Me- 

 teorological Journal: "January 12. About nine this 

 evening, being at dinner with my weekly party of offi- 

 cers, I was informed that the temperature had fallen 

 below 62. As this was a question not to be casually 

 passed over, I visited the Observatory, and remained 

 walking about in my simple cabin dress for some time ; 



62'5 was the lowest which I, as well as others, read 

 at the standard. But the minimum thermometer indices, 

 read next day at eight A.M., only gave 62 '0, 61-6, 



66'0, 63 '2. The night was bright and calm : no 

 sensation of cold. 63 '2 is the external exposed ther- 

 mometer, but was never read, excepting by its index, at 

 that graduation. This external thermometer, after severe 

 testing under the boat as low as 40, with the entire 

 range of spirit and mercury thermometers, was selected 

 as the standard Observatory gauge : supported on an 

 open frame, attached to two pikes about one foot asun- 

 der, it was subjected, uncovered, to all the winds of 

 heaven. That was read at 62'5, and indicated what 

 I have rejected, 63 "2. 



January 15. I was induced, whilst writing these re- 

 marks, to turn to Parry's work, page 145 (first voyage, 

 1819-20). On the 15th of February he remarks as his 

 coldest, the thermometer standing at 54 for fifteen 

 hours and a half, but his maximum on that day was up 

 to 32. Looking over the Observatory record, I no- 



