ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 361 



The Vincennes was left on the 21st of February on her way north 

 On the night of the 22d, we had a beautiful and novel appearance 

 of the aurora australis. The sketch of it which I made will in some 

 measure convey an idea of it. 



Black clouds were passing rapidly over the sky ; an orange glow of 

 light seemed to cover the heavens, emanating from a point, over which 

 flitted rays of the prismatic colours, directed towards the horizon, 

 lighting up both edges of the clouds, and throwing them into bold relief. 

 The rays seemed to dart simultaneously towards the horizon, on 

 reaching which they would seem to be gathered, as if by magic, to- 

 wards the centre, and slowly vanish, to reappear again and fold up. 



Strong gales from the west-northwest with snow-squalls continued 

 until the 27th, with thick misty weather. Numerous ice-islands were 

 passed during this interval. The last iceberg seen, was in the latitude 

 of 53° S., and longitude 120° 25' E., the temperature of the water 

 was 46°. 



On the 28th, we found our variation 1° easterly, in the longitude 

 of 131° 50' E., latitude 50° 30' S. ; and in attempting to get a deep- 

 sea sounding of eight hundred and fifty fathoms, we lost our Six's 

 thermometer by the wire parting. The sea was a deep blue; the 

 temperature 45°. We found a current setting west-northwest three- 

 fourths of a knot per hour. The white object was seen at the depth 

 of fifteen fathoms. 



On the 1st of March we had reached the latitude of the Royal 

 Company's Isles, and I continued to run in nearly the same parallel 

 for eight degrees of longitude, without seeing any signs of the sup- 

 posed land. Having sailed far to the eastward of their supposed 

 position, I again hauled to the northward to proceed to Hobart 

 Town, Van Diemen's Land, to fill up our water. We now saw a 

 sail, the first during sixty days, which made us feel as if we were 

 returning to a habitable part of the globe. This night w 7 e had a 

 brilliant display of the aurora australis, resembling that seen on the 

 9th of February, with this difference, that it was seen to the south- 

 ward, extending from east-southeast to west-southwest. 



On the 5th of March the wind headed us off our course to Hobart 

 Town ; I then determined to proceed direct to Sydney, and thus be 

 enabled to communicate as speedily as possible with the United States. 

 The consideration of getting intelligence respecting the other vessels, 

 also led to this determination. I felt, in truth, forebodings that all was 

 not well, from not having met any of the vessels at the appointed 

 rendezvous, along the icy barrier ; and I was anxious for their safety, 

 after the severe gale of the 28th of January. 

 Vol. II. 2F 46 



