1853.] INCREASED COMFORT. 69 



deck, and moreover free from any breeze or draught ; 

 61 at the condenser over the main hatchway, and about 

 40 above the old snow-house for washing : to expatiate 

 on such advantages would be idle. But what amount of 

 perfection one would be warranted in anticipating under 

 adequate fittings for Arctic service would probably still 

 more astonish those who have hitherto been incredulous. 

 The great point to which my present interest is direct- 

 ed will not undergo a fair trial until the spring, when 

 with glazed windows adapted to our housing, I fully 

 anticipate great advantage to the invalids, invariably in- 

 vigorated under scorbutic affection by the sight of light 

 and the sun's rays : in fact, in a deck hospital, under a 

 temperature not much lower than that of our lower deck 

 during the last season. Last evening, notwithstanding 

 such imperfect fittings, we had an opportunity of testing 

 the result of a strong gale, 5 to 8 from south by east, 

 attended with considerable drift. Although the drift pe- 

 netrated, abundantly showing every imperfection of our 

 workmen, we contrived to preserve 8 on the quarter- 

 deck, when the external air ranged 17 . During this 

 breeze I momentarily expected some movement of the 

 ice ; but beyond heavy cracks and jarring of the outer 

 ice, no perceptible disturbance could betraced. 



We have now pretty well settled the true cause which 

 produced the sensation to those ice-bound, and termed 

 hitherto the snapping of bolts, etc. I have watched it 

 narrowly, and for every crack so heard read " a crack in 

 the floe, which instantly communicates itself to our mu- 

 sical box." I have traced them all satisfactorily, and I 

 further notice, that as the ice increases in thickness, that 



