OF THE POLAR SEA. 8d 



remained open in the severest weather, although 

 it was somewhat contracted in width. Its tem- 

 perature was 32°, as was the surface of the river 

 opposite the house, about a quarter of a mile 

 lower down, tried at a hole in the ice, through 

 which water was drawn for domestic purposes. 

 The river here was two fathoms and a half deep, 

 and the temperature at its bottom was at least 

 42° above zero. This fact was ascertained by a 

 spirit thermometer; in which, probably, from 

 some irregularity in the tube, a small portion of 

 the coloured liquor usually remained at 42° when 

 the column was made to descend rapidly. In the 

 present instance the thermometer standing at 47° 

 below zero, with no portion of the fluid in the 

 upper part of the tube, was let down slowly into 

 the water, but drawn cautiously and rapidly up 

 again, when a red drop at + 42° indicated that 

 the fluid had risen to that point or above it. At 

 this period the daily visits of the sun were very 

 short, and owing to the obUquity of his rays, 

 afforded us Uttle warmth or light. It is half past 

 eleven before he peeps over a small ridge of hills 

 opposite to the house, and he sinks in the horizon 

 at half past two. On the 28th Mr. Hood, in 

 order to attain an approximation to the quantity 

 of terrestrial refraction, observed the sun's meri- 



