Second Deep-sea Soundings. 263 



temperature of the air during the night fell to 41° Fahrenheit, 

 and was felt yet more keenly in squalls accompanied by rain, 

 which made our life on board anything but agreeable, although 

 the certainty that we were proceeding favourably with the so- 

 called " Fair" Westerly winds indemnified us in some degree 

 for the discomfort. 



On 14th November, in 40° 44' S., 60° 8' E., we availed our- 

 selves of a dead calm and smooth sea to try a cast of Brooke's 

 Patent Deep-sea Lead. 



While at Rio, we had been supplied, through the kindness of 

 Don Jose de Barnabe, Commander of the Royal Spanish 

 Frigate Bilbao, with a large quantity of lead-line, after an un- 

 successful attempt to purchase it there. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, the line had become somewhat decomposed by moisture, 

 and gave way at 6,170 fathoms (37,020 English feet) while still 

 running out, so that on this occasion also, we could only tell 

 that bottom had not been reached with the portion of the line 

 paid out. 



The times occupied by the line in running out were as 

 follows : — 



