124 VIOLENT CONCUSSIONS EXPERIENCED. 



(supposing we were compelled to remain out) 

 had been concerted during the passage across the 

 Atlantic. Observatories were to be erected on 

 shore, experiments were to be made, much in 

 short was to be done from which interesting re- 

 sults might have been obtained ; and though I did 

 not yet altogether despair of accomplishing these 

 designs, since, by possibility, the ship might still 

 be set close to some bay or other place conveni- 

 ent for the purpose, yet it could not be concealed 

 that the probability was hourly diminishing. 



The night of the 13th October was rough and 

 boisterousjust at the very time of the highest tide, 

 and wedging the ice against and under the ship, 

 occasioned many severe concussions. A little past 

 ll h I was reading in the cabin, when I felt so 

 violent a shock directly under the quarter, that 1 

 thought it must have been stove in. The attack 

 (if I may so express myself) was repeated at 

 regular intervals, and lasted for upwards of two 

 hours. On the 14th October there was no other 

 change than that brought by snow, and a depres- 

 sion of the thermometer to 14° + . One faint au- 

 rora had been seen, During the two succeeding 

 days, at the flood-tide, the same concussions 

 were indicated by a slight trembling of the ship. 

 As the tides became weaker the effect ceased, 

 and we remained thenceforth undisturbed. 



It was not till October 17th that the tempera- 



