72 ArcticlMnd ETpediilon. — Chain Cables — Mammoth Goiird- 



ANTAKCTIC CONTINENT. 



In our last volume (p 93.) we announced the discovery of this 

 land bv Captain Smith, of the Wilham of BIythe, who named it 

 New Soiith Slietland ; not, to be sure, a very correct name, as 

 there is no other South Shetland. In consequence of this dis- 

 covery, the Admiralty sent out the Conway, Captain Basil Hall, 

 to explore the coasts and procure whatever information may be 

 attainable. Advices have since been received of the arrival of 

 the Conway at Rio Janeiro, on her voyage out. 



ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION. 



The last accounts from this party are dated in January 1819. 

 They were then in winter quarters at Cumberland House. The 

 temperature 30° below zero, but owing to the dryness of the at- 

 mosphere, less unpleasant than the cold wet weather in England. 

 The hunters bring them moose deer and buffaloes, and the rivers 

 and lakes abound with fish. 



NEWLY DLSCOVERED ISLANDS. 



The Swedish journals announce that Major Graner, who set 

 out last year to explore in the South Sea a new route for ships 

 from Chili to the East Indies, has discovered a group of islands 

 hitherto unknown to mariners; but these journals do not mention 

 either their longitude or latitude. He has named the largest of 

 the group Oscar Island. 



CHAIN CABLES USEFUL CONDUCTORS OF LIGHTNING. 



" Saut;op, J\Jay 28, 1820. 

 " A little before 4 o'clock P.M. yesterday, a severe squall from 

 the N.W. commenced, accompanied by torrents of rain, tremen- 

 dous crashes of thunder, and lightning most awful. At 20' past 

 4, the lightning struck the fore royal-mast of the Exmouth, and 

 shivered the mast to the gun -deck in a thousand pieces ; struck 

 down and dreadfully burnt several of the crew, and most provi- 

 dentially was conducted out of the hawseholes by the attractive 

 powers of the iron chain cables, by which she was moored; to 

 which fortunate circumstance is entirely to be attributed the pre- 

 servation of the ship from blowing up, lier hold being full of salt- 

 petre." — Madias Paper, June 23. 



MAMMOTH GOURD. 



A gourd was cut some time ago in the garden of H. P. Tozer 

 Aubrey, Esq. of Broomhall, near Oswestry, which, by some pe- 

 culiar management in the culture, attained the weight of \ 13 

 pounds. 



LIST 



