1854.J EFFECT OF FREEZING TN BOTTLES. 179 



bottles, affording no abrupt opposition, that the ice first 

 forming in the long narrow neck simply displaced the 

 cork, and forcing the icy cone into the neck, saved the 

 fluid by Nature's own cork ! 



In the case of the formation of the floe, careful experi- 

 ment teaches us that the daily rate of freezing does not 

 exceed 0'45 inch per diem : that the lower stratum of ice 

 is, so to speak, rotten until it assumes an accumulated 

 thickness of eight or ten inches ; then it becomes homo- 

 geneous with the upper floe ice ; and if it does not 

 buckle and break by lateral pressure, its expansive force 

 is likely to act on the ship and gradually lift her, until 

 she becomes eventually perfectly imbedded and secured 

 from further pressure by the great solidity of the ice 

 itself. This motion upwards appears to be indicated by 

 the surface line of cradling gaping at the presumed water- 

 line, just in such a degree as would naturally be noticed 

 in replacing any vessel sitting in a mould of wax, where 

 some extraneous matter prevented it from falling into its 

 proper position. Another curious fact has just been de- 

 termined, viz. that at the stern, where but twelve feet 

 water could be found in October last, we have now six- 

 teen feet : consequently the ship cannot be aground. 

 This is matter beyond my comprehension, without call- 

 ing in the aid of the same expansion acting between 

 the position occupied by the ship and the land. 



May 13. Yesterday three sledges, commanded by 

 Lieutenant May, Messrs. Grove and Pirn, Mates, re- 

 turned, but brought no news of importance from Beechey 

 Island. The tent depots already alluded to on this route 

 were established. 



N 2 



