t the bottom increased to about
four feet. Besides this, a bed of snow, three feet deep, was
subsequently laid on the deck over my cabin, and also on the
forecastle over the sick-bay, to assist in retaining the warmth in
those parts of the ship; an office which it seemed to perform very
effectually. It was impossible, however, as the cold increased, to
keep up a tolerably comfortable temperature in the cabin if the
fire was suffered to go out for several hours: for instance, the
night after the above arrangements had been made, the fire was out
for only six hours; and the consequence was, that the thermometer
fell to 27 deg., and could be got no higher on the following day, in
the after part of the cabin, though only nine feet from the stove,
than 33 deg. This was, indeed, a most inclement day, the temperature
of the atmosphere having for the first time fallen to -27 deg.,
accompanied by a fresh wind from the northward and westward.

A great squeezing of the young floes took place at the S.E. point
of the island on the 12th. The noise it makes when heard at a
distance very much resembles that of a heavy wagon labouring over
a deep gravelly road; but, when a nearer approach is made, it is
more like the growling of wild animals, for which it was in one or
two instances mistaken. It was, however, rather useful than
otherwise, to encourage the belief that bears were abroad, as,
without some such idea, people are apt to become careless about
going armed.

The thermometer rising to -5 deg. in the course of the 17th, the
weather appeared warm to our feelings. It proved favourable also
for another play, which had been fixed for this night, and the
"Poor Gentleman" was performed by the officers in so admirable and
feeling a manner as to excite uncommon interest among the men, and
to convince me more than ever of the utility of our theatrical
amusements. The 18th was a remarkably clear day, without any of
that cloudiness which usually hung about the southern horizon. The
sun was therefore clearly visible at noon, when such was its oval
shape that its horizontal diameter exceeded the vertical by 4'
07". We had light in the cabin for reading and writing for three
hours and a quarter without candles, and about five hours for
convenient walking.

On the evening of the 24th, being Christmas eve, the ships'
companies were amused by the officers performing the two farces of
"A Roland for an Oliver," and the "Mayor of Garratt." On C