Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-09
MAGNETIC DIP; ENDERBY ISLAND.

i n
MAGNETIC DIP; ENDERBY ISLAND.
BY the 25h the instruments were all fixed and adjusted
and had the satisfaction finding during pre-
minary observations that the foundation remained perfectly
steady, and the results satisfactory.
The term-day observations the 2Sth and a
iored as we afterwards found most interesting comparison
with hose made al the hossbank observatory, Van Diemens
Land showing the of the in
siruments in the northern regions thus prn-
cipal purpose OF coming here fulfilled wishes
Hourly and additional observations agreed upon before
sailed from Hobart Town continued until had obtain
ed days OF uninterrupted results when considered
the magneomec operations complete the absolute determi
nations next to be attended these found very
markable confederation OF what have already said respecting
the uncertainty and magnetic
on land In our course from Van Demen's Land found
gradual OF app IN exact proportion to the distance
sailed during each day towards these islands, from which
could determine with very great accuracy the of dip
due to their geographical position but the first observations
we obtained here gave small dip by than two
degrees The of course attributed local
attraction and directed observations be made several diff
erent stations At position only thirty yards distant from
the first station the dip with the instrument found
be nine degrees less therefore eleven degrees error
The rocks at this point had peculiar erugnous appearance
and on presenting some of them delicate compass they
as the hand could move and
moreover found possess powerful degree polarity
the north and south pole of the fragments depending entirely
upon the direction in which they were found living With refer
ence to the magnetic meridian They not, however,
loose stones those OF beach,
rocks OF which the land consists that esteem the
whole mass to be great magnet Mr.. Smith, whom
trusted with this service made many observations various
Of the harbor all of which recorded and will prove
useful lesson magnetic observers At point where
he had placed the magneomeers found the dip accorant
with computations, but this purely accidental The
y removed from the perncous influence of the land that
which obliged depend and probably very
near the truth and the variation these places also
corded very nearly
VISIONARY APPEARANCES OF LAND.
remarkable appearance Of land reported I'M the even
ing and continuing for many hours without any alteration
saw assuming the OF many pointed hills perfectly
covered with snow and calculated deceive the nexper
would doubtless have asserted return England
we had discovered land this position This appearance
land was however nothing more than the upper part Of
to which ascend these latudes Below yapor
every degree of condensation above the clear cold space
which vapor attain. 1t is always the margin OF
the ice that these appearances of land remarkable and
most deceptive proved useful lesson our new
hands, who could be persuaded land until we had
actually passed the place of their baseess
EVENING PROSPECT OF VICTORIA LAND.
1t was beautifully clear evening" and we had most en-
chanting view OF the two magnificent ranges of mountains
whose lofty peaks perfectly with eternal snow
elevations varying from thousand feet above the
level OF the The glaciers that filed their intervening
Valleys and which descended from the SUBMITS
projected places several mesino the sea- termi-
mated in lofty perpendicular cliffs In few places the rocks
broke through their icy covering, by which alone be
enormous iceberg.
ICEBERG ISLAND.
Whilst measuring the survey an island had
before noticed appeared which quite sure was not to
be two three hours previously Ii one hun
dred feet high and nearly the whole of the summit and east
ern side perfectly free from snow was much snrnrsed ~
the and calling attention of some of the
officers to OF them remarked large berg which
had been anobeet of observation before had disappeared
rather had turned unperceyed by
surface, covered with earth and stones exactly ISL
and that nothing but landing it could have
the contrary had not its appearance been satisfactorily
planned and moreover, careful observation slight
rolling motion was still percepuble.
THE ICY BARRIER.
Aswe approached the land under all studdngsas per-
cevcd low white line extending extreme
point as tar as the eye could discern the eastward pre-
sented extraordinary appearance gradually increasing
pendicuar cliff ice between one hundred and fry and two
hundred feet above the level of the perfectly and level
at the top ana WITHOUT any assures or promontores on its
CINE for being much higher than masthead could
thing except the summit OF lofty range of mountains
extending the southwark far the
OF latitude These mountains being the souhernmost land
hitherto discovered felt great satisfaction in naming after
Captain Sir William Edward Parry IN. in grateful
bance of the honor he conferred by calling the north
ernmsst known land the globe by my name. !
Meeting with such obstruction great disappontment
all for we had already expectation passed far beyond
the egheh degree, and had appointed rendezvous
there the ships accidentally separating Ii was how
obstruction of such character leave no doubt
upon my mind future proceedings; for might /
with equal chance of success try to sail through the c Of
Dover As penetrate such mass When within three or four
miles OF this remarkable object altered the
eastward for the purpose OF determining its extent and
without the hope that might still lead further to the
southwark The whole here from the extreme
point presented similar vertical cliff of ice about two or
FACTS ON SOUND.
Although the fog very thick all night and the wind light
from the n e. contrived keep company by firing
muskes sounding the gong ringing the bell and had
opportunity of Judging the relative value OF these
methods usually employed as fog-sgna
To the bell most distinct, and the gong little in
ferior when the muke scarcely audible but Twas much
surprised this time, hang through speaking
receive immediate clear from the Off
of the watch OF the Terror that might carried on
conversation. !.
STORM IN AN ICE-PAGK. !
At nine p. NJ the wind suddenly reshened violent gale
from the northward, compelling reduce sailsto
closerecfed mainopa and storm sas the quickly
rising fearful height breaking the Hottest bergs
unable any longer hold ground but driven
the heavy under lee. Soon after midnight our
ships involved in OF rolling fragments of ce
hard floating rocks of granite, which dashed
them by the with much violence that their
cred as if they would fall every successive blow and the
destruction of the ships seemed inevitable the
dous shocks they received by backing and filling the Sails
endeavored to avoid collision with the larger
this always possible In the early part the storm
longer of any and about the informed by
signal that the Terrors completely de royed and nearly
torn away from the sernpo. We had hoped that,
dted deeper into the pack should beyond the reach of
the tempest but in this mistaken Hour passed
after hour without the least mitigation
in which placed indeed there seemed
be but little probability Of ships holding together much
longer frequent and violent the shocks they sustained
The loud crashing noise Of the sranng aud working of the
mbers and decks she driven against OF the heav
pieces which all the activity and exerons Of people