PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 519 



ly breeze, through a dense fog, could not see more than the length 

 of the boat, passed through a strong current-ripple ; got into it 

 before I could see it; the water for about sixty yards in a fearful 

 foam and tossing very dangerously ; boat would hardly steer ; 

 was a long time getting out ; sometimes her headway was stopped ; 

 it resembled Hell Gate, New York. From that fact, and feeling 

 like ice, I concluded we were in the Polar. This was in latitude 

 44° 12' N. and longitude 46° 47' W. July 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 

 and 31, made eighty-five, eight^'^-nine, one hundred and seventeen, 

 one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and seventy-two, fift}- 

 one, one hundred and twenty-nine knots per day ; waves dashed 

 very high at tiiaes, and were obliged to put the boat before the 

 sea to prevent some of them taking passage on board, as our 

 accommodations already were somewhat cramped. On the 30th, 

 at 3 A. M., a large whale came very near us, evidently wishing our 

 acquaintance. We kept away from him, preferring to pick our 

 own company. On the 31st, from 8 p. m., until midnight, we had 

 fresh breezes from southwest and overcast. The water sparkles 

 so much that it is almost light wdiere the sea breaks. Tow^ards 

 midnight several seas in succession come rolling along, carrying 

 the ship with the greatest velocity, so that the sails were hard 

 back. I never saw the like before at sea. August 1, 2 and 3, 

 run one hundred and thirty, one hundred and nine and one hun- 

 dred and fourteen knots ; raining, everything wet and disagreea- 

 ble ; frequently treated to a cold bath. Waves dashed over us 

 considerably. August 4, course E. | S. ; distance seventy-six; 

 difference of latitude five ; departure seventy-five ; latitude by 

 dead reckoning, 47°, 15'; latitude by observation, 47° 5'; varia- 

 tion 2-1 ; difference of longitude, 110° ; Lon. in., 19° 23'. Wind 

 all around the compass. Sighted a bark ; the first sail seen for 

 twenty days, and saw the glorious bright sunset the first time for 

 ten days. Oh, such ten lonel}', dreary, long, long days ! No 

 animate thing around or about us. Left to ourselves and our own 

 thoughts. Dark, dull and gloomy all around, with naught but a 

 thin plate of iron, about as thick as a sheet of tin, between us and 

 the ocean's bottom ; but our boat is a lifeboat indeed. I here 

 bear testimony to Mr. O. R. Ingersoll's lifeboat. It seems impos- 

 sible to capsize her. The side cylinders, when she appeared to 

 be going right over, would, as it Avere, catch and throw her back 

 on her keel. 



8]}oke a Hos])itable Cajptain. — August 5. Sighted another ship. 



