OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 125 



stove was placed, could at all times be kept at a high temperature, but the I821. 

 observ'atory-part when the slits were open derived of course but little ad- ^,^^ 

 vantage in this way ; and Mr. Fisher in vain endeavoured to keep his clock 

 going in it, when it would have been most convenient as well as most interest- 

 ing to have done so. The house was also of service for receiving the che- 

 mical apparatus, and materials furnished for certain experiments recommended 

 by a committee of the Royal Society, as well as for conducting those experi- 

 ments whenever circumstances would permit during the winter-months. The 

 electrometer-chain was hoisted up to the Fury's masthead, the point of pla- 

 tina being one hundred and twelve feet above the level of the sea, and the 

 lower end secured to the ice several yards from the ship's side. As the 

 usual method of hoisting it up at sea, attached to a line of the same length 

 by means of a number of short glass rods, appeared an uncertain mode of 

 insulating the chain, a more effectual plan suggested by Mr. Fisher was 

 afterwards adopted. A long plank being firmly secured up and down the 

 royal-mast, several glass rods three or four feet apart were fixed to it hori- 

 zontally : the links being attached to the outer ends of these as a support, 

 the line was altogether removed ; so that when the lower end of the chain 

 was fastened also by glass rods, the whole was kept free from contact and 

 thus eifectually insulated. A tide-pole marked to feet and inches was drop- 

 ped through the fire-hole, and firmly moored to the bottom by a heavy weight ; 

 and an accurate account of the time and height of the tides registered in a 

 table in the log-book throughout the winter. 



It was a matter of sincere satisfaction to observe the excellent health en- 

 joyed by our people at this time, as well as the various comforts which were 

 likely to ensure its continuance. The only man on the Fury's sick-list was 

 John Reid, carpenters' mate, who, in consequence of a severe cold and cough 

 occasioned by exposing himself when overheated by work, had been for 

 several weeks confined with an inflammatory complaint, which threatened to 

 be of a very serious and alarming nature. He was just at this time in some 

 respects better, having nearly lost the cough, but was still in a delicate and 

 precarious state. Every possible attention was paid to the dryness, warmth, 

 and ventilation of the sick-bay, in which a fire was kept alight during a part 

 of the day, and subsequently, as the cold increased, during the whole of the 

 twenty-four hours, preserving a high and equable temperature of about 60°. 

 This and other arrangements for the convenience of the sick rendered it 

 little less comfortable than the ward of a regular hospital. 



