218 NEW YEAR'S DAY. Chap. XII. 



masters of the watches during the day and 

 night. 



1st Jan. 1859. — This being Saturday/ night 

 as well as New Years Day., " Sweethearts and 

 Wives " were remembered with even more than 

 the ordinary feeling. New year's eve was cele- 

 brated with all the joyfulness which ardent hope 

 can inspire : and we ham reasonable ground for 

 strong hope. At midnight the expiration of the 

 old year and commencement of the new one was 

 announced to me by the hand — flutes, accordion, 

 and gong — striking up at my door. Some 

 songs were sung, and the performance con- 

 cluded with " God save the Queen :" the few 

 who could find space in our mess-room sang the 

 chorus; but this by no means satisfied all the 

 others who were without and unable to show 

 themselves to the officers, so they echoed the 

 chorus, and the effect was very pleasing. Our 

 new year's day has been commemorated with 

 all the substantial of Christmas fare, but with- 

 out so much display, — less tailoring in pastry, 

 not quite so much clipping of dough into roses, 

 and anchors, and nondescript animals, &c. &c. 

 The past week has been cold and stormy ; 

 it now blows strong, and the temperature is 

 -44°. 



On the 29th a few fresh tracks of animals 



