Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-03-07

within about 900 yards from the shore.
The lat. of this harbour (if we recollect
rightly, named Winter Harbour,) Is
"a N. and long. Ill, w. Hitherto,
they had never lost sight of a continu-
Gus barrier Of ice to the southwark, that
Is, from west long. 80, to the extreme
of Melville Island
Every thing was soon made snug for
the formidable winter of these regions.
The officers and crews formed various
plans for passing the dreary days, or
rather nights, of the polar regions
Plays were performed by the officers
for their own amusement and that Of
the crews-and we are told that melo-
drama was written, having for its OBJ
lect the probable success of the expe.
dition, and their ultimate return to their
friends through Behrings's Straits, af-
ter having planted the British Aag in
countries which had eluded the bold
and fearless darings of Davis and a
BafFin.
The sun disappeared entirely on the
llth of November. The Thermometer
was below zero Of Fahrenheits's scale
when the expedition entered Winter
Harbour. In the month of November
the spirit of wine thermometer was SIS
below zero, and in February, the cold
est month of these regions, the spirit
of wine pointed to the tremendous cold
Of "a and SIS below zero. During
these intense colds, our adventurous
conntrymen felt but little Inconvenience
so long as they rem9ined under the
housing Of their SHIPS. A slight COW
ering for the ears, and shawl around
the neck, were considered as sufficient
protection against the most intense de.
gree of cold; but when the atmosphere
was agitated by gales of wind, then the
cold became truly dreadful and insup.
portable, and every one was forced to
seek shelter below. Nevertheless,
scarcely any accident occurred from
exposure to cold while the constant
and regular exercise, which formed
necessary part of the duty Of the crews,
kept every one lively, and active, and
free from disease. One death only
took place during the expedition, and
that was 10 the caseof an individual, VINO
had ontracted the disease of which he
died, before he left England.
When the sun had its greatest south
ern declination, a twilight was percepti-
BILE at noon in the southern horizon,
affording sufficient light to read book
with difficulty. The day was like the
fine clear evening of winter in our cli-
mate. The stars shone with great
brihiancy and when the moon appear
ed IN the armament, she shone with a
beauty and splendour unknown in the
more southern and temperate regions
of the globe. The northern lights ap-
pear frequently, generally of yellow
colour, sometimes green, but rarely
red, and most commonly towards the
southwest. II was remarked, that this
briliancy was seldom SO great as in our
country. No noise was ever heard to
proceed from them, and the magnetick
needle did not appear to be affected by
their presence. But we long to know
if they were visible the whole day, and
what were their various forms and mo.
tons, and transparency. The sun re-
appeared on the Sd of February, after
an absence of s3 days. and those only
who have suffered the priyation of "its
glorious light" can feel and tell the
rapture with which the crews hailed the
first glimpse from the mast-head.--
They had calculated the exact period
OF its return, and we're anxiously, look
ing for it from The main-top.
In April some partial symptoms of
thaw appeared. By the end of May,
pools and streams Of water made their
appearance, and shortly after, regular
thaw commenced. Nearly about this
time, Capt. Parry, with party of his
officers and men, crossed Melville ISL
and, and reached the sea on the oppo.
site siGe, in lat. rs N. where they dis
covered another Island. They were
fourteen days absent and, we have
heard, made many curious obserya-
tions on the forms Of the hills, and
mountains of this Island, collecting
withal, very extensively, specimens of
its vegetable, animal, and vulnerable
productions. The remains of an enor-