APPENDIX. 291 



Condensers of all kinds have been tried, but merely to increase the 

 evil by admitting more cold air. 



I instantly comprehended this nuisance in 1852, and I would then 

 have remedied it, but the force of public opinion, for public peace, 

 must not be contravened. If I failed then, most, decidedly I should 

 have been victimized. I deemed it wiser, first, to let them decide 

 (without theorizing on what might have happened) on the reality re- 

 sulting from unscientific arrangements, carefully watching every evil 

 process, and registering my vow to remove it next season. My mea- 

 sures were thus prepared before the autumn of 1853, but the materials 

 were too scant for the thorough completion of my scheme, which was 

 based on the following objects to be attained. 



First, the tilt-awning, old and inefficient, might be compared to a 

 threadbare tent which had seen a summer's rain, it would keep out 

 snow, but not wind ; I therefore determined to ceil overhead, at seven 

 feet above deck, by a complete layer of boats, spars, and the heavy 

 sails ; these rested on the skid beams ; the space above this, to the 

 pitch of the awning, was seven feet ; lighter canvas was also nailed on 

 the under side of the skid beams ; the sides being also doubly screened, 

 by spare sails, formed inner walls three feet within the outer curtain. 

 So far the deck was better protected, and every aperture for air closed. 



I now constructed a cabin on deck, occupying the entire sparr 

 between the fore and main masts ; this was subdivided into three 

 compartments. 



First, the galley and steam-escape condenser ; air-tight, excepting 

 the door for snow and the vertical escape of vapour by a small hatch. 



Second, the after compartment, including the main hatchway and a 

 space of seven feet before it, as a kind of landing-place. This had a 

 door with weight and pulley. 



Third, the middle space, devoted to washing purposes, was entered 

 by a door having weight and pulley on the starboard side, but so far 

 forward as not to permit any cold air from the outer entrance reaching it. 



The main hatchway was open, and the only general thoroughfare. The 

 fore hatchway was closed, and the galley facings removed, so as to 

 allow the radiation free play aft and on each side. 



The Observatory, a complete house,* was erected over my cabin, in- 

 cluding the companion hatchway and skylight, and extending two feet 

 abaft it. The skylight was filled in with the travelling furs and saw-- 

 dust, so that the circular aperture, five inches in diameter, coidd be 

 opened at pleasure for ventilation. Latterly, the officers' companion 



Marked Cabin Condenser in Plate XIX. 



u :2 



