20 AIR-PUMPS REQUIRED. 



principle of the use of hot air, not very long introduced 

 (within my own recollection) into the blast furnaces. One 

 thing must be evident, viz. that in the same proportion 

 as the combustion is increased at the keel, so must the 

 foul air be consumed, the vessel dried, and the ascending 

 warm current maintained ; all acting with unerring cer- 

 tainty, to produce the greatest degree of actual circulation 

 of air, so much to be desired. Before leaving England 

 I applied to have the pumps fitted expressly for air- 

 pumps, in order to draw off daily all the foul air from 

 the limbers. The order was given by the Admiralty ; 

 but difficulties equal to refusal were started, and so dis- 

 heartening, as to prevent further prosecution of the plan. 

 However, I caused Downton's pumps to be worked daily 

 for this object, and I am satisfied that they materially 

 assisted my views. 



Of the after-part of the ship I will now explain, that 

 the Observatory, not being required, by reason of the 

 uncertainty of our communication with the shore, was, to 

 prevent its destruction, put up complete, so as to include 

 the after-companion leading to my cabin, with the door 

 at its after-end, so that no cold air could pass by these 

 doors, one being closely shut before the other could be 

 approached. This position was one of the miserable de- 

 fects of last season ; everything around the mizenmast 

 froze ; the after gun-room bulkhead, forming one side, 

 was constantly coated with ice, and the temperature of 

 my cabin could not be maintained, falling at night as 

 low as +18. All this has already been obviated, and 

 this previously ice-bound passage is no\v warm. I am 

 quite satisfied that this could have been completely fitted 



