106 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1819. 
October. 
blanket was brought on deck, and suffered to remain there for a short time, 
it of course acquired the temperature of the atmosphere. When this hap- 
pened to be rather low, under zero of Fahrenheit for instance, the im- 
mediate consequence, on taking the blanket again into the inhabited 
parts of the ship was, that the vapour settled and condensed upon it, 
rendering it almost instantly so wet, as to be unfit to sleep on, and requiring, 
therefore, after all, that it should be dried by artificial heat before it could 
be returned into the bed-place. We were, therefore, under the necessity 
of hanging the bedding upon lines between decks, as the only mode of 
airing it; and what was likely to prove still more prejudicial, we were 
obliged to have recourse to the same unhealthy measure in drying the washed 
clothes. 
Under circumstances of leisure and inactivity, such as we were now placed 
in, and with every prospect of its continuance for a very large portion of a 
year, I was desirous of finding some amusement for the men during this 
long and tedious interval. I proposed, therefore, to the officers to get up a 
Play occasionally on board the Hecla, as the readiest means of preserving 
among our crews that cheerfulness and good-humour which had hitherto 
subsisted. In this proposal I was readily seconded by the officers of 
both ships ; and Lieutenant Beechey having been duly elected as stage- 
manager, our first performance was fixed for the 5th of November, to the 
great delight of the ship’s companies. In these amusements I gladly under- 
took a part myself, considering that an example of cheerfulness, by giving a 
direct countenance to every thing that could contribute to it, was not the least 
essential part of my duty, under the peculiar circumstances in which we were 
placed. 
In order still further to promote good-humour among ourselves, as well as 
to furnish amusing occupation, during the hours of constant darkness, we set 
on foot a weekly newspaper, which was to be called the North Georgia 
Gazette and Winter Chronicle, and of which Captain Sabine undertook to be the 
editor, under the promise that it was to be supported by original contributions 
from the officers of the two ships: and, though some objection may, perhaps, 
be raised against a paper of this kind being generally resorted to in ships of 
war, I was too well acquainted with the discretion, as well as the excellent 
dispositions of my officers, to apprehend any unpleasant consequences from a 
measure of this kind ; instead of which I can safely say, that the weekly con- 
tributions had the happy effect of employing the leisure hours of those who 
