208 CONGELATION OF ALE. \Juniiary, 



spirit-thermometer with graduated stem inserted into a 

 test-tube containing four ounces of pure mercury, well 

 corked and covered with four layers of bladder, to pro- 

 tect it from the air; it was self-balanced in a kind of 

 test-rack, and admitted of a pendulum motion to deter- 

 mine its freezing-point. 



It happened however, unfortunately, that this thermo- 

 meter never did its duty satisfactorily, and all its records 

 are in such a state of confusion that they have been re- 

 jected. We may not, it is true, be confined to this high 

 latitude, but it is probable that we may have an opportu- 

 nity of pursuing this investigation more rigidly at stated 

 temperatures next season. 



Next to mercury, it occurred to me to partially freeze 

 Allsopp's ale, and reserve the unfrozen fluid for future 

 examination : congelation took place at 22" 5. That 

 frozen and drained from one-third of the fluid, when 

 again reduced to a fluid state, was very insipid ; the re- 

 mainder concentrated.* This mode of concentrating 

 cider is practised in America, three barrels making one 

 of good quality. 



January 24. Already we begin to feel the increase of 

 daylight, four hours (between ten and two) being now 

 available. The light red tint of the southern horizon 

 also intimates that the prodigal (sun) may shortly be 

 expected to exhibit his cheering and animating rays : we 

 shall probably exhibit a sort of chameleon tinge, inclining 

 to dead tea-green or an incipient case of jaundice ! 



The late extreme cold induced me to make experiments 



* This concentrated has been tried since ray arrival in England, and 

 found to be excellent quite a liqueur. 



