Chap. VI. CAPTAIN PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 163 



the voluntary superintendence of Mr. Hulse, for the instruc- 

 tion of such of the men as were willing to take advantage 

 of this opportunity of learning to read and write, or of im- 

 proving in those acquirements. The same plan was adopted 

 on board the Hecla : Benjamin White, one of the seamen 

 who had been educated at Christ-church school, volunteer- 

 ing to officiate as schoolmaster. Tables were set up for 

 the purpose in the midship part of the lower deck ; some of 

 the men, already thus qualified, undertook the task of assist- 

 ing in the instruction of their shipmates ; and thus were 

 about twenty individuals belonging to each ship occupied 

 every evening, from six to eight o'clock. I made a point of 

 visiting the school occasionally during the winter, by way of 

 encouraging the men in this praiseworthy occupation ; and 

 I can safely say, that I have seldom experienced feelings of 

 higher gratification than on this rare and interesting sight."' 

 —pp. 123, 124. 



And well might he be gratified ; for we are as- 

 sured by him, on the return of the ships to Eng- 

 land, that " every man on board could read his 

 Bible." 



Nor were the interests of science neglected while 

 these domestic arrangements were in progress. A 

 portable observatory was erected for magnetical ob- 

 servations, and a house built for the reception of the 

 requisite instruments for astronomical observations, 

 and for various experiments .recommended by a 

 committee of the Royal Society. In short, nothing 

 was neglected or omitted that could contribute to 

 the fulfilment of the instructions received by the 

 Commander of the expedition from the Lords of the 

 Admiralty. 



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