1853.] ACTION OF COLD OR HOT AIR. 13 



completely. This, I contend, is not healthy, is unplea- 

 sant, and repugnant to reason. It will naturally be 

 asked, Of what use was our warming apparatus ? The 

 Sylvester did not act satisfactorily ; it could not overcome 

 the cold between decks, and the heat refused to travel to 

 the cabins abaft the mizen-mast. Now in order clearly 

 to comprehend my scheme, it is necessary to observe 

 that the action of cold air is a direct downward pres- 

 sure ; that may be proved any frosty day, by standing a 

 piece of funnel vertical, and another inclined at 30 from 

 the perpendicular . the rime, or hoar-frost, will mark the 

 disc in the vertical tube ; but what is the result in the 

 second? Every part of its vertical shadow, so to speak, 

 supposing a vertical light, will be protected from any 

 deposition. On the other hand, hot air will flow up- 

 wards at any angle of inclination. If Mr. Sylvester, or 

 the workmen he employed, had duly considered this, his 

 principle might have been carried out ; but he will find 

 few captains of moderate ability who would bring their 

 ships two feet by the head simply to neutralize, or per- 

 haps make good, bad arrangement (accident may do 

 this, of which hereafter). 



Now the Esquimaux, although perhaps illiterate, are 

 a very shrewd, sagacious set of people ; of this we have 

 many undeniable proofs in our museums. They fully 

 comprehend, or at least act upon, the laws relating to 

 cold, and therefore, in the construction of their winter 

 habitations, take great care to place the entrance below 

 the level of their flooring of the main chamber (possibly, 

 in those most complete, three feet), and furnished with a 

 long, low, arched passage, compelling the occupants or 



