[1] “The two time-keepers being
put on each side of the great cabin, I put a thermometer
by each, and before a fire was kept in the cabin, I
never saw them differ more than half a degree;
but since there has been a fire, I have constantly
found that thermometer highest, which happened
to be on the weather-side, sometimes by three degrees,
whereas one would naturally have expected it to
have been just the contrary.”—W.
The rapidity of the current of moist
air would be no doubt greater on the other side,
and therefore, as moisture occasions cold, would lower
the thermometer on that side. On the weather-side,
on the contrary, the air would be less quickly
changed, and of course preserve greater uniformity
of temperature. This explanation, however, depends
on a certain supposition as to the form of the
cabin, and its kind of communication with the
external air.—E.
[2] “The natural state of the
heavens, except in the south-east quarter, and
for about ten degrees of altitude all round the horizon,
was a whitish haze, through which stars of the
third magnitude were just discernible. All
round, the horizon was covered with thick clouds,
out of which arose many streams of a pale reddish light,
that ascended towards the zenith. These streams
had not that motion which they are sometimes seen
to have in England; but were perfectly steady, except
a small tremulous motion which some of them had near
their edges.
“19th.—In the night
the southern lights were very bright at times, and
the colours much more various and vivid than they were
on Wednesday night, their motion also was greater,
so that on the whole they were extremely beautiful.
“20th.—At nine o’clock
in the evening, the southern light sprung up very
bright about the east point of the horizon, in a single
steady pillar, of a pale reddish light. Its
direction was not directly towards the zenith,
but gradually deflected towards the south, and grew
fainter as it ascended, so as to vanish about south-east,
and at forty-five degrees of altitude.
“15th March.—The
southern lights very bright at times, and exceeding
beautiful; their colours being
vivid, and their motion quick and
curious.
“18th.—A little after
nine o’clock in the evening it was very clear,
and the southern lights were exceeding bright and
beautiful, and appeared of a semi-circular or
rainbow-like form, whose two extremities were
nearly in the east and west points of the horizon.
This bow, when it first made its appearance, passed
a considerable way to the north of the zenith;
but rose by degrees, turning, as it were, on its
diameter, and passing through the zenith, settled at
length towards the southern horizon. These
lights were at one time so bright, that we could
discern our shadows on the deck.”—W.
It was thought proper to bring together
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