136 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. V. 



arrived at New York on the 10th December; com- 

 menced observations on the 22nd, and concluded on 

 the 2nd Jan., 1823, in the two last of which Sabine 

 had a co-operator. The observations were carried 

 on at Columbia College; and Captain Sabine says, 

 " I must ever deem myself to have been most highly 

 fortunate in the association which it procured me of 

 the Professor of Natural and Experimental Philo- 

 sophy and of Chemistry, Mr. James Renwick, whose 

 interest in the experiments was so strongly excited 

 as to induce him to give me his unremitting co- 

 operation, a circumstance peculiarly desirable and 

 satisfactory on an occasion in which the results may 

 hereafter come in question, in the comparison of the 

 standard measurements of the two countries." 



On the 5th of February, 1823, the Pheasant ar- 

 rived at Portsmouth ; and Captain Sabine had the 

 satisfaction of finding that a letter which he had 

 written to Sir Humphry Davy from Maranham, 

 proposing the extension of the experiments to the 

 high latitudes, had met the approbation of the 

 Commissioners of Longitude ; that Lord Melville's 

 consent had been obtained for the employment of 

 one of His Majesty's ships in its prosecution ; and 

 that the Griper sloop of war, which had been en- 

 gaged in the expedition of 1819-20, would forth- 

 with be commissioned by Commander Clavering. 

 The interval, however, of the Griper's equipment 

 was occupied by Captain Sabine in repeating the 



