Jan. 1858. NEW YEARS DAY. 65 



and singing songs, each in his turn. I expressed great satis- 

 faction at having seen them enjoying themselves so much 

 and so rationally, I could therefore the better describe it to 

 Lady Franklin, who was so deeply interested in everything 

 relating to them. I drank their healths, and hoped our 

 position next year would be more suitable for our purpose. 

 We all joined in drinking the healths of Lady Franklin and 

 Miss Cracroft, and amid the acclamations which followed I 

 returned to my cabin, immensely gratified by such an exhi- 

 bition of genuine good feeling, such veneration for Lady 

 Franklin, and such loyalty to the cause of the expedition. 

 It was very pleasant also that they had taken the most 

 cheering view of our future prospects. I verily believe I 

 was the happiest individual on board that happy evening. 



Our Christmas-box has come in the shape of northerly 

 winds, which bid fair to drift us southward towards those 

 latitudes wherein we hope for liberation next spring from 

 this icy bondage. 



2W1. — We have been in expectation of a gale all day. 

 This evening there is still a doubtful sort of truce amongst 

 the elements. Barometer down to 28*83 ; thermometer up 

 to +5°, although the wind has been strong and steady 

 from the N. for twenty-four hours, low scud flying from the 

 E., snow constantly falling. An hour ago the wind suddenly 

 changed to S.S.E. ; the snowing has ceased; the sky become 

 clear ; the thermometer falls and barometer rises. Here, as 

 on the 23rd November, we have a well-marked instance of a 

 revolving storm passing to north-westward, and occasioning 

 the otherwise unaccountable phenomenon of a warm north 

 wind. 



2nd Jan., 1858. — New Year's day was a second edition of 

 Christmas, and quite as pleasantly spent. We dwelt much 

 upon the anticipations of the future, being a more agreeable 

 theme than the failure of the past. I confess to a hearty 



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