I'K E FA CE. 



of the season to be released from the ice, but though the summer at Port Kennedy 

 was a warm one, they were not able to move before the 9th of August. At this 

 time they commenced their homeward voyage and arrived at Portsmouth on the 

 23d of September following. 



During the whole time of the exploration of "the Fox," a regular series of obser- 

 vations was made upon the temperature, the pressure and movements of .the atmos- 

 phere, as well as upon the variations of the elements of terrestrial magnetism, the 

 tides, &c. 



The meteorological observations were under the care of Dr. David Walker, of 

 Belfast, and were made at equal intervals of time during day and night. In winter 

 they were generally taken at intervals of two hours; and in summer of four hours. 

 Occasionally, there are found some irregularities in the time of observation, and 

 omissions noted in the records, but these are of rare occurrence, and are corrected 

 approximately in the reductions. 



The reductions have been made at the expense of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 by Mr. Schott, whose previous labors in the reduction of the observations of Dr. 

 Kane have met with general approval. 



The series of observations is divided into three parts, relating to the following 

 subjects, namely : — 



1. The temperature. 



2. The direction and force of the winds. 



3. The pressure of the atmosphere. 



To these are added, in an appendix, miscellaneous phenomena, such as the face 

 of the sky, appearance of plants and animals, auroras, &c. 



The following remarks relative to the observations are from communications 

 addressed by Captain M'Clintock to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution : — 



" I have much pleasure in transmitting to you the meteorological records of my 

 whole voyage in the Fox. I have had my two-hourly observations for the tempe- 

 rature and pressure of the air reduced according to the method adopted in Kane's 

 observations, but they have not been published in any book, nor do I think they 

 will be, the time required and the expense being an objection. Admiral Fitzroy 

 has published in the fourth number of the Meteorological Papers of the Board of 

 Trade a part of my observations [the temperature for noon, the face of the sky, 

 and the specific gravity of sea water, &c, without reduction], which I fear will not 

 be sullicient for your purpose. You are at full liberty to make any use you may 

 think fit of the observations, and should you deem them worthy of publication, it 

 would afford me much pleasure." 



" I think it better to send the whole record than to make extracts which would 

 increase the chance of error and perhaps not be sufficient after all. You will thus 

 be able to trace my drift down Baffin's Bay and Davis' Straits and to compare it 

 with Dc Haven's drift. 



"My magnetical observations arc in the hands of General Sabine. In the 



