Aug. 1857. HEAVY GALE OFF UPEKNIVIK. Zf 



the night, I went early to bed In the hope of 

 sleeping. I had been up all the previous night, 

 naturally anxious about the ship threading her 

 way through so many dangers, uncertain about 

 being able to complete the number of our sledge- 

 dogs, and much occupied in closing my corre- 

 spondence, to which there would be an end for 

 at least a year. All this over, the uncertain 

 future loomed ominously before me. The great 

 responsibilities I had undertaken seemed now 

 and at once to fall with all their weight upon 

 me. A mental whirlpool was the consequence, 

 which, backed by the material storm, and the 

 howling of the wretched dogs in concert on 

 deck, together with the tumbling about of 

 everything below, long kept sleep in abeyance. 

 One thought and feeling predominated : it was 

 gratitude, deep and humble, for the success 

 which had hitherto attended us, and for some 

 narrow escapes which I must ever regard as 

 Providential. 



Yesterday's gale has given place to calm 

 foggy weather. An occasional iceberg is seen. 

 The officers amuse themselves in trying new 

 guns, and shooting sea-birds for our dogs. 



Governor Fliescher told me yesterday that for 

 the last four weeks southerly winds prevailed, 

 and that only a fortnight ago his boat was un- 



