v 





Voyage of Capt. Sir James C. Ross to the Antarctic. 17 



when human skill was wholly unavailing. Convinced that he 

 is under the protection and guidance of a merciful God. the Chris- 

 tian awaits the issue of events firm and undismayed, and with 

 calm resignation prepares for whatever he may order. His seren- 

 ity of mind surprises and strengthens but never forsakes him ; 

 and thus possessing his soul in peace, he can with the greater 

 advantage watch every change of circumstance that may favor 

 his escape." 



" We were now within half a mile of the range of bergs. 

 The roar of the surf, which extended each way as far as we 

 could see, and the crashing of the ice, fell upon the ear with fear- 

 ful distinctness, whilst the frequently averted eye as immediately 

 returned to contemplate the awful destruction that threatened in 

 one short hour to close the world and all its hopes and joys and 

 sorrows upon us forever. In this our deep distress we called upon 

 the Lord, and he heard our voices out of his temple, and our cry 

 came before him*" "A gentle air of wind filled our sails; hope 

 again revived and the greatest activity prevailed to make the best 

 use of the feeble breeze ; as it gradually freshened our heavy ships 

 began to feel its influence, slowly at first but more rapidly after- 

 wards ; and before dark we found ourselves far removed from 

 every danger." 



Position of the South Magnetic Pole. — Captain Ross con- 

 cludes from all the observations that had been made, including 

 those of the French and American navigators, that the South 

 Magnetic Pole is in about 76° S. The theoretical views of Gauss 

 had placed it in 66°. 



The return to Van Diemens Land was not marked by any very 

 extraordinary events. The line of no variation was crossed in 

 lat. 62° 0' and long. 135° 50 / E. 



The aurora grew more frequent and more remarkable. 



March 23. — A bright arch of the aurora austral is of a yellow 

 color and a purple hue extended across the zenith ; a succession 

 of lower arches was formed in the S.S.W., and the center of each 

 arch gradually rose to the zenith before they disappeared. At 

 the altitude of 45° they generally broke up into smaller stream- 

 ers ; this splendid display was as usual followed by a shower of 

 snow. 



March 25. — The aurora gave considerable light in the absence 

 °f the moon ; it rose in arches of a yellow color with vivid 

 flashes of a bright pink. The aurora appeared in concentric 

 arches of diffused light, with an apparently rapid internal motion 

 hke a current passing through and lighting up a mist. At 10 

 o'clock a bright light appeared behind a dark cloud with pink 

 and green colors ; brilliant streamers darted to the zenith forming 

 a corona with bright flashes of all the prismatic colors, green and 



Second Series, Vol. VIII, No. 22.— July, 1849. 3 



