1853.] TIDAL EFFECTS ON SHIP. 61 



October 23, Sunday. At present it is calm ! Another 

 run of the ice towards the shore must decide the fate of 

 these vessels ; it may lift us quietly up, and leave us 

 aground. It is our day of rest, and Nature herself 

 seems disposed to permit of its enjoyment. 



October 24. Feverish, restless gusts from south to 

 west still continue to tantalize us. We continue landing- 

 provision, to be prepared for the worst, as well as fuel 

 and other necessaries ; but, in my own mind, I begin to 

 think we have seen the worst. 



November 1. The month of October has terminated, 

 but still I regret to say that a dreary uncertainty seems 

 to hang over us. The temperatures have continued high, 

 and consequently the ice has but now attained one foot 

 in thickness. Our principal changes seem to occur in 

 these latitudes more at the first and last quarters of the 

 moon, but this morning, at low water of the new, we 

 experienced a slight shock ; but, as I had long suspected 

 the cause, it did not surprise me. It was occasioned by 

 the falling away of the ice from the sides, on the keel 

 taking her whole weight on the ground. This I expect 

 to be repeated, until having at each grounding interposed 

 a fresh layer of water when the ice detaches itself, she 

 will gradually become lifted, and eventually completely 

 ice-borne, free from the ground. 



Our old enemy, the external floe, has been in motion 

 during the week, and opened a space of water about 

 half a mile outside of us, but it has again become frozen. 

 The Crystal Palace progresses rapidly, being at present 

 five feet above the level, very firm, and promises to afford 

 substantial shelter. The windows, constructed of one 



