OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



123 



auxiliaries in the promotion of these desirable objects. It would perhaps, 

 indeed, be difficult to imagine a situation in which cheerfulness is more to be 

 desired, or less likely to be maintained, than among a set of persons (and 

 those persons seamen too,) secluded for an uncertain and indefinite period 

 from the rest of the world ; having little or no employment but that which is 

 in a manner created to prevent idleness, and subject to a degree of tedious 

 monotony ill according with their usual habits. It was not, however, simply 

 as a general principle, applicable in a greater or less degree to all situations 

 and societies, that the preservation of cheerfulness and good-humour was in 

 our case particularly desirable, but as immediately connected with the pre- 

 vention of that disease to which our crews were most liable, and which in- 

 deed, in all human probability, we had alone any cause to dread. The 

 astonishing effects produced by the passions of the mind, in inducing or 

 removing scorbutic symptoms, are too well known to need confirmation, or to 

 admit doubt ; those calculated to excite hope, and to impart a sensation of 

 pleasure to the mind, having been invariably found to aid in a surprising 

 manner the cure of this extraordinary disease, and those of an opposite na- 

 ture to aggravate its fatal malignity. As a source therefore of rational amuse- 

 ment to the men, soon after our arrival, I proposed to Captain Lyon and the 

 officers of both ships once more to set on foot a series of theatrical enter- 

 tainments, from which so much benefit in this way had, on a former occasion, 

 been derived. This proposal was immediately and unanimously acquiesced 

 in ; Captain Lyon obligingly undertook to be our manager and, some pre- 

 paration having been made for this purpose previous to leaving England, 

 every thing was soon arranged for performing a play on board the Fury once 

 a fortnight. In this, as in more important matters, our former experience 

 gave many useful hints. Our theatre was now laid out on a larger and more 

 commodious scale, its decorations much improved and, what was no less es- 

 sential both to actors and audience, a more efficient plan adopted for warm- 

 ing it, by which we succeeded in keeping the temperature several degrees 

 above zero on each night of performance throughout the winter*. 



To furnish rational and useful occupation to the men, on the other evenings, 



* While on the subject of our plays, I cannot omit to mention that just before we left 

 England, a large and handsome phantasmagoria or magic lantern had been presented to me 

 for the use of the Expedition, by a lady who persisted in keeping her name a secret to those 

 whom she was thus serving. This apparatus, which was excellent of its kind, was frequently 



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