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ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION". 



made the Declaration of American Independence. Here, amid 

 mountains robed in snow — on a sea covered with thick-ribbed ice 

 — among a people free as God's own children can be, we celebrate 

 the birthday of our freedom. The iron free sons of the North 

 have joined us in making the welkin ring with our cheers and 

 steel-throated welcomes of this memorable day. 



"Soon after nine last night all turned in, agreeing to be on 

 deck a few minutes before twelve midnight. Sleep stole so heavi- 

 ly upon us that it was 1 o'clock A.M. when Morgan came to my 

 berth and called me. A few moments sufficed to find a company, 

 armed and equipped as the law (the George Henry's) directs, ready 

 for action. Some of the company were, as they leaped from their 

 blankets, in stocking-feet and drawers. Nevertheless, they had 

 willing hands and patriotic hearts, wide mouths and deep-toned 

 throats, therefore they 1 passed muster.'' The signal was given by 

 me, and in voices of thunder we spoke, and then followed cheer 

 upon cheer. The ensign was hoisted, while we saluted it with a 

 round of cheers and sulphurous fire. 



"After a capital dinner, an old cast-away gun, that had been 

 lying about the deck, was filled to the brim with powder, the 

 charge hammered down, and the barrel plugged to the muzzle. 

 The stock had been ripped off in the morning by the Innuits, 

 leaving only the barrel. It was now taken far out on the ice, 

 placed on a pure white bed, and fired. One grand explosion filled 

 the air, and the old gun was shattered into innumerable frag- 

 ments, some flying over the vessel, others mounting high into the 

 air, and one piece going as far as Cooper's Island, a quarter of a 

 mile off, where it was afterward picked up. 



" Such has been our celebration of Independence Day, 1861. 



" This afternoon I visited Cooper's Island, and, with chisel and 

 hammer, dug out some of the ' black ore,' such as was discovered 

 by Frobisher's expedition of 1578, with which many of his ships 

 were laden. This ore attracts and repels the magnetic needle 

 about like iron. It is very heavy." 



On the 6th of July I went to Whale Island for the purpose of 

 looking seaward, that I might see the state of the ice and consider 

 the probability of the ship becoming free. It was only about six 

 miles to the open water — the sea. Good prospect, therefore, of 

 soon being entirely free. All the ice, except that around the 

 ship, where islands blocked up the passages, had drifted away, 

 and hope rose strong within us that we should soon be able to 



