APPENDIX. 467 



state we could hardly hope to have it answer its purpose, through the 

 boisterous weather with which we should have to contend before 

 reaching the nearest port, and its utter unfitness for further cruising 

 amongst icebergs and near ice, through the foggy, thick weather, and 

 frequent snows to which those latitudes are subject, and when rapid 

 evolutions are often necessary, in which the rudder must perform its 

 part, — with the ship considerably strained, her starboard spar-deck 

 bulwarks gone as far as the gangway, the gripe off and stern muti- 

 lated, and the further fact before me, that the other vessels of the 

 squadron were ranging over the same longitude, with directions to 

 leave on the 1st of March for surveying operations in the north; that 

 the ship's bottom would have to be examined, and repairs made before 

 leaving another port, (which w 7 ould occupy, with all the facilities this 

 quarter of the world affords, at least four weeks,) during which time 

 the services of this ship would be lost in surveying the Feejee, &c, I 

 determined to proceed at once to Sydney, expedite as much as pos- 

 sible the repairs of the ship, and be ready at the earliest moment to 

 co-operate with the rest of the squadron. 



The Vincennes was seen by us in the distance on the 19th, and the 

 brig Porpoise on the 23d of January. 



On the night of the 7th, and morning of the 8th of February, we 

 had frequent and unusually brilliant displays of the aurora australis, 

 one of which made its first appearance in the southwest portion of the 

 horizon, but soon diffused its beams of light from east to west, throw- 

 ing them up to a concentrated point in the zenith, where they were 

 attended with continued quick flashes, resembling heat lightning, and 

 extending over about a third part of the heavens. The rays or beams 

 of light composing this magnificent spectacle, varied in colour from a 

 light orange to tints of pale red, assuming in their changes hues I 

 should in vain attempt to describe. 



During intervals of the brightest flashes in the zenith, however, they 

 lost their distinctive outlines, and mingled in the glow of bright twilight 

 which nearly overspread the heavens. 



This exhibition was to us so perfectly unique and strongly marked 

 in character, as to excite the attention of those on board most indif- 

 ferent to such phenomena, and called forth from all, exclamations of 

 surprise and pleasure. 



The ship's compasses were minutely examined on this occasion, but 

 exhibited no symptoms of being affected by the presence of the aurora. 

 The motion of the ship, however, from the effect of the sea at the time, 

 would have rendered any change imperceptible, if the disturbing cause 

 had not produced an oscillation of the needle beyond four or five degrees. 



