VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
31 
for the purpose of ascertaining the difference of its 
meridian influence, which was only one degree, the 
thermometer being 30° at meridian day, and 29° at 
midnight, if I may so term it. 
The long-wished-for north wind enabled 
us to make five degrees of east longitude, 
and to regain the ice in a new situation, where we 
found the hummocks much larger than I had before 
seen. The surface of the ocean being only just 
rippled, I was pleased to observe the effect which a 
lofty swell had upon those immense bodies of ice : 
the undulating swell that put them in motion, caused 
them to rise and fall in the most graceful manner 
possible. As we proceeded on our eastern course, 
the pieces of ice increased in size, so as often to 
shut out the appearance of water at a short distance 
from the ship. Latitude 76° 11' north. 
Going on deck just as the morning watch 
was set, I beheld the most magnificent 
masses of ice, bearing a different character to those 
I had before seen ; they were flat, and of several 
hundred yards in length and breadth ; a vessel, at 
no great distance from us, was, like ourselves, sailing 
through them. The weather now began to be much 
colder, but, although severe, and although the ther- 
mometer was much lower than I had at any time 
seen it in England, the climate was so exhilarating, 
that its effects were different from those I had ever 
felt in my native country. The sea was now ob- 
served to assume the proper colour of dark water ; 
and more birds being about the ship than had been 
