A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions/Volume 1/Appendix

by James Clark Ross

APPENDIX.

 

APPENDIX, No. I.

MEMORANDUM OF THE FITTINGS OF H. M. SHIP EREBUS, BY MR. RICE, OF CHATHAM DOCKYARD.

The ship is fortified externally by solid chock channels, the spaces between the channels being similarly fitted, tapering at the extremities, so as to form an easy curvature in a fore and aft direction; the side is doubled with six-inch oak plank under the channel, increasing to eight-inch at the wale, which is three feet broad; from thence, through a space of five feet, the doubling diminishes to three inches in thickness, of English elm, and the remainder of the bottom to the keel is doubled with three-inch Canada elm. The quarter galleries are removed, and the quarter pieces and stern strongly united by planking; all rails and projections being carefully avoided.

The knee of the head being removed, the bow is terminated by fittings or thick bolsters, leaving no projections at the stern. Braziers, or thick copper, is substituted for that ordinarily used, extending along the body at the line of flotation, and entirely covering the bow down to the keel.

Within-board, the spaces between the bands at the floor heads, &.c, are fitted in with six-inch oak plank; the entire surface in the hold being caulked, two thicknesses of 1½ inch African board are then worked diagonally over the bands, &c. at right angles to each other, each layer being also caulked. The thwartship bulkheads of the fore, main, and, after holds are wrought diagonally of two thicknesses of 1½ inch African board at right angles to each other, the upper ends rabbetting into the lower deck beams, and the lower ends into four-inch plank, wrought upon the doubling. The bulkheads are caulked on both sides, and rendered water-tight. The wing bulkheads are similarly wrought. The limber boards are likewise caulked down and doubled by a fore and aft plank. Penstocks are introduced in the limbers at the bulkhead, allowing a communication, when required, from one compartment to another, leading to the well. The fore hold is provided with two common pumps, to work on the weather deck; and the well is furnished with four of Massey's excellent pumps.

The bow, internally, is fortified with a solid mass of timber eight inches moulded, canting from abreast the foremast to the stemson, square to the body. Between the upper and lower decks, and also between the lower and orlop decks, thick shelf pieces are wrought, terminating under the transom abaft, and meeting at the middle line at the deck hooks forward.

The central planks of the weather deck are six inches thick, laid fore and aft; the remainder of the deck is wrought double; the lower planks, three inches thick, are laid fore and aft; the upper planks, three inches thick, diagonally, having fearnaught dipped in hot tallow, laid between the two surfaces. The beams of this deck are connected by pointers, or diagonally-lopped carlings, from the catheads forward.

Additional crutches and sleepers have been introduced abaft, and diagonal trusses worked between the chocks under the lower deck beams. The ship is otherwise very strongly built, having diagonal iron riders, iron hooks and crutches in the bow, and iron sleepers abaft.

Filling timbers have been introduced in the stern, with an inner transom, kneed to the stern post and ship's side, double-planked inside and out, thus rendering the counter as strong as the bow, to meet the shocks which the extremities are most likely to encounter in the ice.

Chatham,
19th September, 1839.

APPENDIX, No. II.

ELEVATION OF PICO RUIVO IN THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA.

Four barometers were employed in this measurement, viz. the two standard marine barometers of the Erebus and Terror, and two portable barometers; the latter were of Newman's construction, with iron cisterns, numbered respectively 94 and 103. The standards were numbered 19 and 20. The corrections for capillarity, the ratio of the capacities of the tube and cistern, and the neutral points, or heights of the mercury, at which no correction was required for capacity, were respectively as follows:—

19.	Capillary	+	.012;	Capacity	1/20;	Neutral Pt.	29.922;	Temp.	65°.
20.	————	+	.012;	———	1/20;	—————	29.922;	——	65°.
94.	————	+	.052;	———	1/50;	—————	30.130;	——	55°.
103.	————	+	.052;	———	1/58;	—————	30.084;	——	60°.

COMPARISON OF THE BAROMETERS.

The mean of eight readings, taken simultaneously at intervals of ten minutes, gave as follows:—

Mean Height.	(No. 19.)	30.172;	(No. 20.)	30.164;	(No. 94.)	30.091;	(No. 103.)	30.142
Capillary.		+ .012		+ .012		+ .052		+ .052
Capacity.		+ .012		+ .012		—.001		+ .001
Reduction to 32°.	(72º.3)	—.118	(71º.6)	—.116	(69°)	—.099	(72°)	—.118
		30.078		30.072		30.043		30.077
						+ .032	Index.	—.002
	Mean of Standards,		30.075			30-075		30-075

Observations were made at the summit of Pico Ruivo, at intervals of ten minutes, during 1½ hours, viz. from ½ past 7 to 9 a.m., simultaneously with those of the standards on the shore, six feet above mean tide.

On the Shore.					Summit of the Peak.
Mean Height	(No 19)	30.247;	(No. 20)	30.237;	(No. 94)	24.265;	(No. 103.)	24.286
Capillary.		+ .012		+ .012		+ .052		+ .052
Capacity.		+ .016		+ .016		—.117		—.100
Reduction to 32°	(70°)	—.112	(70°)	—.112	(46°)	—.038	(46°)	—.038
Index.		—.003		+ .003		+ .032		—.002
		30.160		30.153		24.194		24.198
Mean corrected heights		30.1565				24.1960

Detached Thermometer	⁠	70°	⁠	44°
Dew Point		62°		42°7	(3 observations)
Humidity		.63		.90	(Saturation = 1)

Whence by Bessel's Tables (Sci. Mem. vol. ii. art. xvi.) we find the height equal 6089.08 English feet, if .00375 (Gay Lussac's determination of the volume of air at 0° C.) be taken as the measure of its expansion for each degree of the centigrade thermometer, and 6094.90 feet, if .003648 (Rudberg's determination) be taken.

The cisterns of the standard barometers were 6 feet above the sea; therefore 6 feet is to be added for the height of the summit of the peak, making the above numbers 6095.08 and 6100.90 feet.

"My dear Ross,

"Mr. Bowditch was, I believe, the first to notice that the height which I had assigned to the Pico Ruivo, from the barometrical observations which were made by Captain Clavering and myself during our short stay at Madeira in the winter of 1821–1822, was some hundred feet less than the true height of the peak, as measured by himself a few months after we had visited the island. A similar notice has recently been made by Lieutenant Wilkes, the American navigator; and the observations of Wilmot and Lefroy, which you are about to publish, bear full testimony to the same fact. If I recollect right, Mr. Bowditch ascribed the error into which we had fallen to our guides having conducted us to one of the summits less elevated than the peak; an imposition which it is well known they frequently attempt to practise, for the purpose of saving themselves the fatigue of a part of the ascent. The day on which our excursion was performed was certainly one on which such an attempt was likely to be made, and not unlikely to be successful. It was mid-winter, the paths scarcely discernible from the depth of snow, and the summits for many hundred feet enveloped in cloud. We had been cautioned, however, both by Mr. Veitch and Mr. Blackburne, that the guides were not to be relied on; and the appearances of the ground and of surrounding objects on the Peak itself had been carefully described to us, that we might not be wholly at their mercy. Twice they did attempt deception, and twice the description which had been given to us enabled us to detect and defeat it. The third summit to which they conducted us, and which was considerably higher than either of the others, corresponded so well with the description, that, influenced also in some degree possibly by the solemn protestations of the guides, we believed ourselves to be really at the Peak; and we were confirmed in this opinion on our return to Funchal by Mr. Veitch, who, though he had predicted failure on account of the season of the year and the state of the weather, believed, from our description, that we had actually succeeded. We therefore ourselves entertained no doubt on the subject.

"It is very possible, nevertheless, that Mr. Bowditch's surmise may be the true explanation. There is, however, another mode of accounting for the erroneous height which we assigned, which it may at least afford a useful caution to others to mention. The barometer which I employed was one of Newman's, with an iron cistern, enclosed in a circular wooden case having an opening by which a few inches only of the upper part of the column of mercury could be seen, the lower part of the column being altogether concealed from view. Using the same barometer a few months afterwards, in the mountains of Jamaica, I was not a little surprised to find that the barometer on one occasion stood higher than it had done when examined three or four hundred feet lower down. Immediately suspecting the cause, and having a fine turnscrew with me, I detached the case altogether from the tube and cistern, and then perceived that a separation had taken place in the column of mercury, low down in the tube, arising doubtless from a small quantity of air which had made its way in, in spite of the usual precautions. It was of course soon tapped out, and the barometer being replaced in its case, gave its proper indication. After this experience, on my return to England, I had a barometer made in which the case was so arranged as to permit the whole column of mercury to be inspected, from the cistern upwards, at every observation; and I have always used it since.

"Now it is certainly possible that a similar occurrence may have taken place on Pico Ruivo. It is true that on the return to Funchal the barometer agreed with its indication at the same place before our departure; but this does by no means preclude the possibility that the column may not have been perfect on the Peak. The escape of air in travelling might be more easy than its introduction. It may be a very rare occurrence when the proper precautions are not omitted, and I dare say it is so. I do not remember an instance of the kind taking place in the barometer which I have since used, and in which I always examine the whole column. But it would appear undoubtedly preferable to have portable barometers so constructed as always to admit of this examination.

"Believe me, dear Ross,

"Sincerely yours,

"Edward Sabine."

APPENDIX, No. III.

TABLE REFERRED TO PAGE 97., SHOWING THE DAILY AMOUNT OF EASTERLY CURRENT OBSERVED BETWEEN KERGUELEN ISLAND AND VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, JULY 20 TO AUGUST 5. 1840.

Date.	Course.	Dis- tance run.	Lat.	Long.	Current.			Mean Tem- pera- ture.
		Miles.	South.	East.				Air.	Sea.
July 20 sailed from Christmas Harbour.
21	N. 86 E.	149	48.24	72.57	No observation.			35	35
22	N. 88 E.	157	48.29	76.55	S. 40 E.	10	miles	30	35
23	N. 85 E.	136	48.17	80.15	S. 80 E.	11	"	30	37
24	N. 82 E.	139	47.55	83.41	N. 3 E.	8	"	31	37 44	a.m. p.m.
25	N. 85 E.	106	47.46	86.18	No observation.			32	45 41	a.m. p.m.
26	N. 77 E.	141	47.12	89.45	N. 68 E.	58	"	35	44
27	N. 87 E.	133	47.18	93.0	S. 10 E.	16	"	43	43
28	S. 88 E.	169	47.28	97.7	S. 67 E	35	"	42	42
29	S. 75 E.	131	48.02	100.17	No current.			37	38
30	N. 77 E.	102	47.39	102.43	N. 83 E.	10	"	30	36
31	N. 89 E.	150	47.36	106.26	S. 86 E.	32	"	37	36
Aug. 1	S. 87 E.	172	47.45	110.39	S. 76 E.	8	"	36	49
2	N. 86 E.	145	47.35	114.16	N. 65 E.	23	"	40	42
3	S. 84 E.	156	47.51	118.08	S. 66 E.	15	"	39	41
4	N. 86 E.	136	47.42	121.31	N. 30 E.	11	"	35	40
5	N. 87 E.	129	47.34	124.43	No current.			35	44
Average rate of current = 15.8 miles daily.

APPENDIX, No. IV.

REMARKS ON SOME CORALS OBTAINED FROM GREAT DEPTHS IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN, IN A LETTER FROM CHARLES STOKES, ESQ., F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. TO CAPTAIN SIR JAMES C. ROSS, R.N.

"Verulam Buildings,
"26 Feb. 1846.

"My dear Sir James,

"I have found much interest in the examination of the specimens you have sent me which were obtained by soundings, and the use of the dredge at great depths, and have to apologise both for delaying so long to send you some observations upon them, and for sending them now in so imperfect a state.

"The fragments obtained by soundings from 400 fathoms, 11th August, 1841, lat. 33° 31′ S., long. 107° 40′ E., consist of pieces of shells and small corals, none of which appear to have been brought up in a living state, with small angular pebbles very little rounded by attrition. Among them I find two joints of stems of a small fossil pentacrinite.

"Among the small sand taken up by the soundings in 400 fathoms, August, 1841, Professor Forbes finds portions of spines of echinus and of spines of cidaris.

"Of shells, a small broken cerithium, mouth of a Resida, a Pteropod allied to Peracle, and a fragment of Cleodora.

"Of Annelides, Spirorbis on the stones.

"Many foraminifera, among which are Textularia, Nodosariæ, and several of orbicular and renoidal forms in abundance.

"The corals brought up by the dredge from 270 fathoms, 19th Jan. 1841, lat. 72° 31′ S., long. 173° 39′ E., consist of three species of Lepralia: Retepora cellulosa—a small piece in a perfectly fresh and living state: a Retepora or Hornera, much resembling the Hornera frondiculata of Lamouroux in similar fresh condition. The polype cells are salient only at the extremities of the branches. The cells appear also on all sides of the branches, which must distinguish it from the species mentioned. The absence of the openings of polype cells from the exterior side of the branches is made a generic character of Hornera by Lamouroux, but probably is only of value to distinguish species.

I name this Hornera lateralis.—The genus Hornera was established by Lamouroux for a division of Retepora, of which R. frondiculata is the type, but it was not well defined by him. The generic character, as given by Milne Edwards, is, 'Polyparium branched, composed of tubular cells united together throughout nearly their whole length, with terminal circular openings. The cells all opening on one surface.'

The cells of the present species are not so decidedly elongated as those of H. frondiculata, and it may be said to occupy an intermediate place between Hornera and Retepora, but this is one of the ordinary difficulties in arranging species in genera. An instance of such difficulty is seen in the species R. versipalma, which Lamouroux says (Expos. Method, p. 41.), 'est tres voisin des Hornères,' which De Blainville places in the genus Hornera, and of which Milne Edwards says, (Anim. sans Vertèbres, Second Edition, vol. ii. p. 279.) 'Nous sommes porté a croire que ce Polype ne doit pas être rangé dans le genre Hornère, ainsi que le veut M. de Blainville; il nous parait se rapprocher davantage des vrais Retepores."

"The present species differs from all that are described in the opening of the cell which, as is shown in fig. 3^[1], is placed laterally immediately below the pointed summit of the cell. It is only at the unbroken ends of the branches that this can be seen, as the ends of the cells seem soon to wear away, and on the general surface of the branches only circular openings are left, which are hardly at all prominent.

"In examining into the relations of this species, we have another proof of the necessity of good figures to determine species. The description given of R. versipalma is as follows:—"R. nana, ramosissima; ramis ramulosa-palmatis; palmis brevibus variè versis; interna superficie poris prominalis scabra; externa sublævigata."

"This description might do for the present species if taken from a specimen of which the summits of the branches were not quite perfect, but as the lateral position of the openings of the terminal cells is not mentioned, there is good reason to believe that the present is a different species. It is to call attention to this point that the name 'lateralis' is given to this species, though it is at the risk of finding this character common to others, when specimens are found in a perfect state. It is to be observed also that the cells of H. frondiculata have not, strictly speaking, circular openings, although the tube of the cell is cylindrical. The end of the tube of the cell is in the perfect specimens much higher on one side than the rest, so that the opening becomes elliptic by being oblique to the line of the elongated tubular cell.

"A new species of Primnoa, which I name P. Rossii.

"A Melitœa, nov. sp.—M. australis.

"A Madrepora? nov. sp.—M. fissurata.

"This is hardly to be considered a true Madrepora, but I am unwilling to make a genus for it.

"I send herewith drawings of the three corals last mentioned, which are perhaps the most interesting of the whole. These drawings are carefully and correctly made, and I will say little of the description of them, as the figures will be more useful than words. Although we have long known that a Primnoa from Norway, (of which I will speak presently,) is found at a great depth, and some other corals have been taken at from 70 to 100 fathoms; yet it is rare, as far as our present knowledge instructs us, to find any corals, except perhaps some of the celleporæ at great depths, and I am not aware of any previous instance of a Melitœa or a Madrepora at all resembling those here represented having been found except at a small depth, and in a warm climate; from which I had concluded that they required more of the solar light and warmth than they could obtain at the depth from which you took those specimens. Your Primnoa is, however, to me the most interesting among them. The genus Primnoa was first established by Lamouroux for the single species previously called Gorgonia lepadifera, which is that found in Norway above alluded to. Ehrenberg (in his "Corallenthiere des rothen Meeres") was the first to include in it other species, and he properly added to it the G. verticillaris: he describes also a third species under the name of P. flabellum, but I am not quite satisfied that this species is established. The locality given for P. verticillaris by Ellis and Solander, and by Marsigli, is the Mediterranean. I have good specimens of this species from the West Indies, where they were collected by the late Rev. Lansdown Guilding. I have met with no statement of the depth at which it grows, but have reason to believe that Mr. Guilding did not use means to obtain his specimens (of which I have many) at great depths, and Ellis and Solander would certainly have told us if they had known of their occurrence at a great depth.

"Primnoa lepadifera is found, I believe, only on the coast of Norway. I have specimens nearly two feet in height, which were presented to me by Sir Arthur de Capell Brooke, Bart, who collected them there in 1820. He received accounts of their growing to a much larger size. They are found at great depths, varying from 150 to 300 fathoms. At these depths they grow in company with a large branching Alcyonium of a red colour (A. arboreum), and it is in fishing with lines for the red fish that the specimens are obtained. This fish frequents the places where these corals grow, and the lines getting entangled with the branches of the corals frequently bring up specimens of them, and sometimes the size and strength of the corals is such as to break the lines.

"The drawings represent your species—Primnoa Rossii. Fig. 1. of natural size: fig. 2. portion magnified: 3, 4. polype cells more magnified: 5, 6, 7. polype cell of P. lepadifera.

"The polype cells of Primnoa are membranaceous and covered with calcareous scales, the forms of which are accurately represented in the drawings, and are useful in forming specific characters, as they differ in form and number in each species. These scales do not cover the whole surface of the cells; on the inner side, next to the stem, there is a part devoid of scales, as if being less exposed their protection was not needed. This is shown in the figures of both species. The substance of the cells being membranaceous they are movable in all directions, as is shown by the different positions in which the cells of P. lepadifera have dried, and hence a mistake was made by Ellis, who described the cells as "reflexed," that is, with the mouth downwards, which must have arisen from the position in which his specimen had been hung up to dry, as the weight of the cells would make them fall.

"I will not go into further remarks respecting the different species, but have said thus much because the Primnoas are a rare form of coral, and there is an additional interest in the Norway species occurring at a great depth, as is the case with your new species of the genus.^[2]

"Very truly yours,

"C. Stokes."

APPENDIX, No. V.

EHRENBERG'S PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF THE MINUTE FORMS OF ORGANIC LIFE IN THE OCEAN, THE ANTARCTIC SEAS, AND AT GREAT DEPTHS; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF SEVEN NEW GENERA AND SEVENTY-ONE NEW SPECIES.

---

At the Berlin Academy of Science, May, 1844:—

23rd May. M. Ehrenberg communicates to the Academy some of the results of his examination of Materials received by him from Captain Ross's Antarctic Voyage.

Page 4. Section I. South Polar Voyage, 1841–1843.

Captain Ross's Antarctic Voyage in 1841–1843 has materially advanced our knowledge of those minute forms of organic life which are invisible to the naked eye, and the author of this communication feels it incumbent upon him to lay some of the general results at once before the Academy, although the complete scientific examination of the materials cannot be concluded for a long time.

The Royal Society of London having in 1840 appointed a Committee to prepare a list of physical and meteorological queries and desiderata of special scientific interest, for the intended Antarctic Voyage and Magnetic Observatories, M. de Humboldt, in a communication to the Committee printed by them in their report (p. 96.), called attention to the important bearing of those minute forms of organic life on the great questions of modern geology, and described the easy methods of collection and preservation recommended by myself.

By the scientific zeal of Dr. Hooker (son of the well-known botanist), who was one of the voyagers on board the Erebus, a large collection has been formed and preserved, and forty small packets and three glasses of water from different parts of the ocean from Cape Horn to Victoria Land have been transmitted to me.

I received almost at the same time a similar quantity of materials of the same nature from other parts of the globe from Mr. Darwin.

It seemed right to examine without delay the contents of the water brought from the Polar Sea in 75° to 78° S. lat. 162° W. long.: as another such opportunity can hardly be looked for. Of the dried materials, only a few have yet been examined, chiefly from the most interesting localities, such as samples of deposits from melted Polar ice, and others taken from the bottom of the sea in latitudes from 63° to 78° South, and at depths from 190 to 270 fathoms. The results show, as I had anticipated, that in high Southern as well as in high Northern latitudes, and great oceanic depths, the minute forms of organic life are intensely and extensively developed.

The following details of the preliminary investigation (which are well assured in essential respects) may not be unwelcome to the Academy, and will at the same time convey the thanks of science to the enterprising voyagers who have brought home the materials.

It may be remarked in general, that those materials are very rich in wholly new typical forms, particularly so in new genera, with sometimes numerous species, forming generally the whole of the mass, though sometimes mixed with a little mud and fragments of small crustacea. The new genera and species are distinguished in the subjoined account. The Asteromphali are quite peculiar and very beautiful stellated forms.

Analysis of the different Materials sent by Dr. Hooker from the Antarctic Voyage.

1. Deposit from melted Pancake Ice from the Barrier in 78° 10′ S. latitude, 162° W. longitude.

A. Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Actinoptychus biternarius.
2. Asteromphalus Hookerii.
3. ⁠Rossii.
4. ⁠Buchii.
5. ⁠Beaumontii.
6. ⁠Humboldtii.
7. ⁠Cuvierii.
8. Coscinodiscus actinochilus.
9. ⁠apollinis.
10. ⁠cingulatus.
11. ⁠eccentricus.
12. ⁠gemmifer.
13. ⁠limbatus.
14. ⁠lineatus.
15. ⁠lunæ.
16. ⁠oculus Iridis.
17. ⁠radiolatus.
18. ⁠subtilis.
19. ⁠velatus.
20. Dicladia antennata.
21. ⁠bulbosa.
22. Dictyocha aculeata.
23. ⁠binoculus.
24. ⁠biternaria.
25. ⁠Epiodon.
26. ⁠octonaria.
27. Dictyocha ornamentum.
28. ⁠septenaria.
29. ⁠speculum.
30. Flustrella concentrica.
31. Fragilaria acuta.
32. ⁠Amphiceros.
33. Gallionella pileata.
34. ⁠sulcata ?
35. Halionyx senarius.
36. ⁠duodenarius.
37. Hemiaulus antarcticus.
38. Hemizoster tubulosus.
39. Lithobotrys denticulata.
40. Lithocampe australis.
41. Pyxidicula dentata.
42. ⁠hellenica.
43. Rhizosolenia Calyptra.
44. ⁠ornithoglossa.
45. Symbolophora Microtrias.
46. ⁠Tetras.
47. ⁠Pentas.
48. ⁠Hexas.
49. Synedra Ulna ?
50. Triceratium Pileolus.
51. Zygoceros australis.

 

B. Siliceous-earthy Phytolitharia.

52. Amphidiscus agaricus.
53. ⁠clavatus.
54. ⁠Helvella.
55. Lithosteriscus bulbosus.
56. Spongolithis acicularis.
57. ⁠aspera.
58. ⁠brachiata.
59. ⁠caput serpentis.
60. ⁠cenocephala.
61. ⁠clavus.
62. ⁠collaris.
63. ⁠fustis.
64. Spongolithis heterocornis.
65. ⁠inflexa.
66. ⁠leptostauron.
67. ⁠mesogongyla.
68. ⁠Neptunia.
69. ⁠radiata.
70. ⁠trachelotyla.
71. ⁠Trachystauron.
72. ⁠Trianchora.
73. ⁠vaginata.
74. ⁠verticillata.
75. ⁠uncinata.

C. Calcareous-shelled Polythalamia.

76. Grammostomum divergens.
77. Rotalia antarctica.
78. Rotalia Erebi.
79. Spiroloculina ——

Several forms of the genus coscinodiscus have been recognised with their green ovaries, and must certainly therefore have been collected in a living state.

2. Deposit from melted ice while the ships were sailing through broad strips of brown pancake ice.

(Materials from 75 S. latitude, 170 W. longitude.)

A. Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Asteromphalus Buchii.
2. ⁠Rossii.
3. Coscinodiscus lineatus.
4. ⁠lunæ.
5. ⁠oculus Iridis.
6. ⁠radiolatus.
7. ⁠subtilis.
8. Dictyochia aculeata.
9. Eunotia gibberula.
10. Fragilaria acuta.
11. ⁠pinnulata.
12. ⁠rotundata.
13. Hemiaulus antarcticus.
14. Hemizoster tubulosus.

B. Siliceous-earthy Phytolitharia.

15. Spongolithis fustis? Fragment.

These and the preceding mass were sent over in water in the same sealed glass vessels in which they were collected in 1842. Hemiaulus antarcticus was the prevailing form found in the first smaller bottle, which has a rich sediment, almost all the separate atoms of which are independent siliceous-shelled creatures. The larger bottle was only about a quarter full, the larger portion having exuded through the sealed cork: almost the whole of the mass of sediment arrived in Berlin in 1844 in a state which I do not hesitate to call a living state, though all were forms having little or no motion. The Fragilarias predominated (Fragilaria pinnulata); these, though rarely hanging together in the form of a chain, still preserved for the most part their green ovaries in the different natural arrangements. Coscinodisci and Hemiaulus also showed in many cases groups of grains still green in their inside. No motion.

The following Nos. were sent dry:—

3. Taken up by the lead from 190 fathoms depth, in 78° 10′ S. latitude, 162° W. longitude.

A. Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Asteromphalus Hookerii.
2. ⁠Buchii.
3. ⁠Humboldtii.
4. ⁠Cuvierii.
5. Coscinodiscus Apollinis.
6. ⁠gemmifer.
7. ⁠limbatus.
8. ⁠lineatus.
9. ⁠lunæ.
10. ⁠radiolatus.
11. Dictyocha septenaria.
12. ⁠speculum.
13. Fragilaria Amphiceros.
14. Fragilaria al. sp
15. Gallionella sol.
16. Hemiaulus antarcticus.
17. Lithobotrys denticulata.
18. Mesocena spongolithis.
19. Pyxidicula.
20. Rhizosolenia ornithoglossa.
21. Symbolophora Microtrias.
22. ⁠Tetras.
23. ⁠Pentas.
24. ⁠Hexas.
25. Triaulacias triquetra.
26. Tricnatium Pileolus.

B. Siliceous-earthy Phytolitharia.

27. Amphidiscus polydiscus.
28. Spongolithis acicularis.
29. ⁠aspera.
30. ⁠brachiata.
31. ⁠caput serpentis.
32. ⁠cenocephala.
33. ⁠clavus.
34. Spongolithis fustis.
35. ⁠Neptunia.
36. ⁠Pes mantidis.
37. ⁠Trianchora.
38. ⁠vaginata.
39. ⁠uncinata.

4. From snow and ice taken from the sea in 76° S. latitude, 165° W. longitude, near Victoria Land.

Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Coscinodiscus lineatus.
2. ⁠lunæ.
3. ⁠subtilis.
4. Fragilaria pinnulata.
5. ⁠rotundata.
6. ⁠al. sp.

The mass consists principally of thickly crowded Fragilaria pinnulata with Coscinodisci, which, when softened in water, allow for the most part their green, perhaps originally brown, ovaries to be recognised.

5. Contents of the stomach of a Salpa, 66° S. latitude, 157° W. longitude, 1842.

Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Actiniscus Lancearius. 3.
2. Coscinodiscus Apollinis.
3. Coscinodiscus cingulatus.
4. ⁠gemmifer.
5. Coscinodiscus lineatus.
6. ⁠lunæ.
7. ⁠subtilis.
8. Dictyocha aculeata.
9. ⁠speculum.
10. Fragilaria acuta.
11. ⁠granulata.
12. ⁠rotundata.
13. Halionyx duodenarias.
14. Pyxidicula.

This contains so very much larger a proportion of Dictyochas than are found in other samples, that they must have been selected by the Salpa, with whom therefore they are apparently a favourite kind of food.

6. Floating spots from the surface of the open sea, 64° S. latitude, 160° W. longitude.

Small loose-textured, tender-threaded masses (similar to the Oscillatorias of our waters) interspersed with small grains. They consist principally of the siliceous, very tender and long side tubes of the quite new and very peculiar genus Chætoceros. The nature of the grains is still obscure. The other forms are interspersed in the loose mass; they all still show their dried ovaries, evidencing that they were collected alive.

Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Asteromphalus Darwinii.
2. ⁠Hookerii.
3. ⁠Rossii.
4. ⁠Buchii.
5. ⁠Humboldtii.
6. Chætoceros dichaeta.
7. ⁠tetrachaeta.
8. Coscinodiscus lineatus.
9. ⁠subtilis.
10. Dictyocha aculeata.
11. ⁠Binoculus.
12. Dictyocha ornamentum.
13. ⁠speculum.
14. Fragilaria Amphiceros.
15. ⁠granulata.
16. Hemiaulus obtusus.
17. Lithobotrys denticulata.

7. Taken up by the lead from 207 fathoms depth, in the Gulf of Erebus and Terror, 63° 40′ S. latitude, 55° W. longitude, among apparently inorganic sand, were found with sometimes distinctly recognisable ovaries:—

A. Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Anaulus scalaris.
2. Biddulphia ursina.
3. Coscinodiscus Apollinis.
4. ⁠cingulatus.
5. ⁠lunæ.
6. Coscinodiscus subtilis.
7. ⁠velatus.
8. Fragilaria rotundata.
9. Gallionella sol.
10. ⁠tympanum.
11. Grammatophora parallela.
12. Hemiaulus antarcticus.
13. Rhaphoneis fasciolata.
14. Zygoceros ? australis.

B. Siliceous-earthed Phytolitharia.

15. Spongolithis acicularis.
16. Spongolithis fustis.

8. Taken up by the lead from 270 fathoms, 63.40 S. latitude, 55° W. longitude.

A. Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Achnanthes turgens.
2. Amphora libyca.
3. Anaulus scalaris.
4. Biddulphia ursina.
5. Campylodiscus clypeus.
6. Coscinodiscus Apollinis.
7. ⁠gemmifer.
8. ⁠lineatus.
9. ⁠lunæ.
10. ⁠oculus Iridis.
11. ⁠radiolatus.
12. ⁠subtilis.
13. Denticella lævis.
14. Discoplea Rota.
15. ⁠Rotula.
16. Flustrella concentrica.
17. Fragilaria Amphiceros.
18. ⁠pinnulata.
19. Gallionella oculus.
20. ⁠sol.
21. Gallionella sulcata.
22. Grammatophora africana.
23. ⁠parallela.
24. ⁠serpentina.
25. Hemiaulus antarcticus.
26. Lithocampe nov. sp.
27. Mesocena spongolithis.
28. Navicula elliptica.
29. Podosphenia cuneata.
30. Pyxidicula hellenica ?
31. Rhaphoneis fasciolata.
32. Rhizosolenia calyptra.
33. ⁠ornithoglossa.
34. Stauroptera aspera.
35. Symbolophora Microtrias.
36. ⁠Tetras.
37. ⁠Pentas.
38. ⁠Hexas.
39. Synedra Ulna.

B. Siliceous-earthed Phytolitharia.

40. Amphidiscus clavatus.
41. Spongolithis acicularis.
42. ⁠aspera.
43. ⁠brachiata.
44. ⁠caput serpentis.
45. ⁠clavus.
46. ⁠Fustis.
47. Spongolithis Heteroconus.
48. ⁠ingens.
49. ⁠Neptunia.
50. ⁠obtusa.
51. ⁠vaginata.
52. ⁠uncinata.

C. Calcareous Polythalamia.

53. Grammostomum divergens.

9. Samples from Cockburn Island, the extreme southern limit of vegetation.

Siliceous-shelled Polygastrica.

1. Eunotia Amphioxys.
2. Pinnularia borealis.
3. ⁠peregrina ?
4. Rhaphoneis scutellum.
5. Stauroptera capitata.

Two of these forms are new; two have also been observed in the North, and one is distributed extensively over the earth.

The distinguishing characters of the seven new genera collected in the course of the voyage, viz. Anaulus, Asteromphalus, Chætoceros, Halionyx, Hemiaulus, Hemizoster and Triaulacias are given in pages 19, 20, and 21, of Professor Ehrenberg's communication to the Academy of Science at Berlin: and those of the seventy-one new species in eight following pages, to which I must refer the enquiring naturalist for further information.

---

APPENDIX, No. VI.

LETTER FROM LIEUT. CHARLES WILKES, COMMANDING UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION, TO CAPTAIN JAMES C. ROSS, H.B.M.S. EREBUS.

"U.S. Flag Ship Vincennes, New Zealand,
"Bay of Islands, 5th April, 1840.

"My dear Sir,

"I need not tell you how much I feel interested in your cruise. From the interest you took in the outfit of our expedition, I am sure you well know the interest it excites, and how much this feeling is heightened by a knowledge on my part of what you have undertaken, and have to go through. This prompts me to a desire to be useful to you if possible, and to give you my experience of the last season among the ice, whither you are bound.

"Your cruise will be an arduous one, no matter how you may be enlightened in your course; but you have so much knowledge of the ice, and the manner of treating it, that it appears almost presumptuous in me to sit down to give you any hints relative to it. But, believing as I do that the ice of the antarctic is of a totally different character from that of the arctic, I venture to offer you a few hints that may be useful to you in your undertaking: and although my instructions are binding upon me relative to discoveries, I am, nevertheless, aware that I am acting as my Government would order, if they could have anticipated the case, knowing how deeply it feels the liberal assistance and great interest evinced by all the societies and distinguished men of Great Britain, to promote and aid this, our first undertaking in the great cause of science and usefulness; and I must add, the pleasure it gives to me personally to be able to return, though in a small degree, the great obligation I myself feel under to you and many others, the promoters of your undertaking.

"Winds.—The winds for the first fortnight of our time, to the eastward of 140° east longitude, were from the northward and westward, light generally, accompanied occasionally with clear weather for hours, and again with dense fogs of short duration, with a long swell from the same quarter.

"After passing 140° east, or to the westward of it, we experienced fine weather, with south-east winds and occasional snow squalls, lasting but ten or fifteen minutes, and a dry healthy atmosphere.

"The barometer, during our stay on the coast, was always indicative of wind by its depression, and was a true guide. Its mean standing was 29.023 inches, and in a snow-storm it once fell as low as 28.390 inches. The temperature surprised me; we seldom, if ever, had it above 30°, even in the sun at mid-day, or below 22°; and I do not think that three times it was found above 35°.

"Gales come on very suddenly, and are always attended with snow, sleet, and thick fogs, rendering it extremely hazardous; for one must be found, when they do come, more or less surrounded with ice islands: they sometimes last for thirty-six hours. After they set in, you may calculate that they will blow strong for at least half that time. The nearer you are to the land the more violent they are, though not of such long duration. Fine weather usually precedes them, and we found them to happen, and the weather to be more changeable, near the full and change, although I am no believer in the lunar influences upon the weather.

"Currents.—During the whole of our stay along the icy coast, we found no perceptible current by the reckoning and current log: during a gale of wind I was induced to believe that some existed, from the short sea that was formed, thinking there was more than was to be expected. Tides on such an extent of coast there undoubtedly must be, but of little strength, or we should have perceived them.

"In many of the icy bays we were stationary for a sufficient time to perceive them if they had been of any magnitude, and where the current was repeatedly tried.

"The winds have their effect upon the loose drift ice, or that which is detached from the icy barrier. From a change of wind from south-east to north, with a fresh breeze, the Peacock became embayed, and the ice forced in upon her, which brought about her accident. The northerly winds are always accompanied with a heavy swell, and her escape was a miracle, combined with good seamanship and perseverance. If Captain Hudson's ship had been as strong as adamant itself, he is of opinion she would have been ground to atoms by a longer exposure; her stem suffered to within an inch and a half of the woodends. This was one of the places in which the barrier is within the floe ice several miles.

"The temperature being so low in the summer months, there is but little chance of the ice melting or disappearing, as from accounts frequently takes place in the Arctic Ocean. Your time being unlimited will allow you to wait some days in a situation to make experiments.

"I conceive that the ice of the permanent barrier changes very little from year to year: along the line of our exploration it looks too solid and fast to be moved by any thing short of a continued temperature.

"I frequently found myself so closely beset that I thought it next to impossible to escape, and if the wind had not been extremely constant in its direction, I should have been shut up or much injured; as it was, I escaped with scarcely a scratch, although we took some heavy thumps.

"The chart will show you the track of my ship and the state of the barrier, and the localities of seeing the land and approaches to it. I have not had time to insert on it the tracks of the other vessels, but they very nearly agree with ours, and their reports of the weather is very similar to what I have described; it was constructed as I went on, and your copy is a tracing from it. The ice islands are all laid down as we found them; I made the officer of the deck during his watch keep a diagram of them, and they were transferred by me to the chart; this I found gave me more confidence in proceeding among them, and facilitated and rendered comparatively safe my return, if rendered necessary, (I must guard you against supposing they were only as numerous as there represented on the chart; it contains about one sixth; frequently upwards of a hundred were counted from the deck, of large size); I would by all means recommend a similar course to be pursued. They undoubtedly change their positions, but not to signify in the time you will be among them.

"Magnetic Pole.—I consider we have approached very near to the pole. Our dip was 87° 30′ S., and the compasses on the ice very sluggish; this was in 147° 30′ E., and 67° 04′ S. Our variation, as accurately as it could be observed on the ice, we made 12° 30′ E. It was difficult to get a good observation, on account of the sluggishness of our compasses. About one hundred miles to the westward we crossed the magnetic meridian, and as rapidly increased our west variation as we had diminished that of the east.

"The pole, without giving you accurate deductions, I think my observations will place in about 70° S. latitude, and 140 E. longitude.

"On the meridian of 140° E., latitude 66° 45′ S., you will find a small bay, partly formed by ice islands and rocks, which I have named Piner's Bay, and I think among the rocks you may find a snug little harbour. I was driven out of the bay by a gale of wind, sounding about one and a half miles from the shore in thirty fathoms. The icebergs being aground formed a good shelter to it from seaward; I would have been much exposed to have anchored off it, and I had not time to examine it in my boats; a gale came on that lasted thirty-six hours, and a most providential escape we had of it. My object was to trace the land to the westward, and I have done so; a sketch of its position you will see on the chart. I regret being unable to furnish you a more perfect one, but you will be able to decipher it, I hope, and will have information of the points where you may penetrate.

"We had delightful and clear weather ten days or a fortnight along the coast, with the wind at from south-east to south-south-west; the two latter points particularly. The drift ice is in large pieces, so large as to give a ship an awkward thump; but when I found it tolerably open I have run through it to get to clear water, and in hopes of making the land, but our progress was soon stopped by the firm barrier, impenetrable, through which there is no passing. On this point you will, I have little doubt, agree with me.

"I am of opinion that there is little movement of the ice during the season. Strong gales may change its position a little, but I think not materially.

"The only prospect of nearing the land is through a sea well studded with large icebergs, nearly thirty or forty miles in width; and I generally found that we got nearer to the shore in those places than elsewhere. One thing I must tell you, as respects filling your water. You will sometimes find a pond of delicious water on the top of an old iceberg, frozen over, but on cutting through it you will get a supply sufficient for a navy. It will save you fuel, and discomfort and cold to you, your vessels and their crews.

"I was very fortunate in the weather the greater part of the time; and indeed altogether I was scarcely a day without some observation, (except during the gales, of which we had three, occupying about eight days), and generally half a dozen.

"My time for six weeks was passed on deck, and having all daylight, I, of course, had constant employment, and with the many assistants, I could make rapid progress: and you will find that no opportunity ought to be lost in this navigation, if one is to do any thing. One's ship is in constant danger, and the Vincennes, a first-class sloop of seven hundred and eighty tons, it requires all the foresight and activity one is possessed of to look out for her.

"I consider that I have had a most providential escape, and if this ship had not been enabled to do every thing but talk, I should not have been where I now am; but she had inspired me with so much confidence among the coral reefs last summer, that I could put faith in her doing her duty.

"I should have mentioned that in 1838 and 1839 I went south in the brig Porpoise, in order to trace Palmer's Land on its eastern side, (but too late for any trial to reach high latitudes), and hoping that the lateness of the season would enable me to run some distance along it. I got within three miles of the coast, and saw it trending to the south-south-east about thirty miles; but it was so blocked up with ice as to render it impossible to get through; and after other unsuccessful attempts to the south-eastward to get in with the land, I concluded to visit some of the South Shetlands: we had but one day in which we got observations to be relied upon out of ten. If I had been earlier in the season, I should have followed Weddell's track, or coasted the ice of Palmer's Land as far as it could be done. I firmly believe it may be done in favourable seasons, notwithstanding what the Frenchmen may say to the contrary. I know the currents are strong, and plenty of wind must change the ice rapidly, as I then witnessed; I could not afford the time to be frozen up, as my other duties were paramount to passing the nine months in such a torpid state. You are differently situated, and I should advise you by all means to try to penetrate between 35° and 50° west longitude; if you get nothing more, we shall have a chart of the ice, which I should think worth the trouble. Two of the vessels went to 105° west, and met the barrier solid in 70°. It was my intention that they should have gone east from that longitude to Biscoe's Range; they explored several degrees, and had wretched weather, gales attended with very thick fogs and snow. I should very much like to have met you, for I am well aware one can give more information in a few minutes, than an hour's writing will communicate. I hope you intend to circumnavigate the antarctic circle: I made 70 degrees of it, and if my time would have permitted, I should have joined on to Enderby's Land; it is extremely probable that land will be discovered to the eastward of 165° east, and I have no doubt it extends all round, with the exception of 30 or 40 degrees east of 50 west: where there is no land there will be no icy barrier, and little drift ice will be met with; although there will always be found plenty of ice islands, there is plenty of space for them and a ship too. Wishing you all success,

"I am, &c. &c.,

(Signed)⁠"Charles Wilkes.

"To Capt. James C. Ross,
H.B.M. Ship Erebus."

APPENDIX, No. VII.

CAPTAIN AULICK'S LETTER.

"To the Editors of the Spectator.

"Gentlemen,—Lieutenant Wilkes, in his 'Synopsis of the Cruise of the Exploring Expedition,' which I have but recently seen, having made some statements calculated to produce erroneous impressions in regard to myself, I deem it proper they should be explained and corrected, and with that view I ask the favour of you, who I know take a lively interest in all that concerns the character of the navy, to give this communication a place in the columns of your highly respectable paper.

"In the first place, at page 18. of his Synopsis, Lieutenant Wilkes says, 'In speaking of this cruise to the Antarctic, it will be necessary for me to go more into detail than I intended, not only to substantiate our country's claim to the discovery, but in consequence of the unfounded statement that seems to have been made by Captain Ross to a commander in our navy, and given currency by him, viz. that Captain Ross had actually run over a part of the ocean where I had reported the existence of land.'

"I am doubtless the commander here alluded to; and the words I have underscored seem to be intended to convey the impression that I was the only, or at least first person, to whom Captain Ross made this statement, and through whose report alone it obtained 'currency.' Such is not the fact. The truth is, that Ross's statement was published in the Sydney Herald of the 10th of August, eight days before I met that officer at New Zealand. From that paper it was copied into the 'Madisonian,' of this city, of 12th March last. It had also reached Mazatlan, on the coast of Mexico, whence it was taken to the Sandwich Islands by Captain Bissell, of the Cayuga, and published in the 'Polynesian' of the 2d of October, seven days before my arrival there.^[3] The account I received from Captain Ross was not matter of secrecy, and was of course spoken of by me without reserve at Honolulu. Thus, and through no other agency of mine, it found its way into a subsequent number of that paper; not, however, as an original article, but expressly as a mere confirmation of what had been previously published.^[4] This Lieutenant Wilkes might have learned, if he did not, when he last touched at Oahu, a few days after I left there.

"In the next place, at page 20., he says, 'On my original chart I had laid down the supposed position of Bellamy's Island or land in 164 deg., 165 deg. E. longitude, and that it was traced off and sent to Captain Ross. I am not a little surprised that so intelligent a navigator as Captain Ross, on finding that he had run over this position, should not have closely inquired into the statements relative to our discoveries, that had been published in the Sydney and Hobart Town papers, which he must have seen, and have induced him to make a careful examination of the tracks of the squadron laid down on the chart sent him, by which he would have assured himself, in a few moments, that it had never been laid down or claimed as part of our discovery, before he made so bold an assertion to an American officer (meaning myself), 'that he had run over a clear ocean where I had laid down the land; and I am not less surprised that that officer should have taken it for granted, without examination, that such was the fact.'

"From the above statement, and in the absence of any explanation, it might well be inferred that both Ross and myself must be, to say the least, very shortsighted and dull of comprehension, not to have been able to see that it was Bellamy's, and not Wilkes's Land, that he (Ross) had run over. But, in the statement above quoted, Mr. Wilkes has done us injustice, by omitting to mention one very important fact in this connexion: namely, that in laying down the land of Bellamy on the chart he sent Captain Ross, he neglected to affix thereto the name of its discoverer, or to distinguish it in any way from his own land there traced out, and almost connected with it. He also sent Captain Ross a letter with his chart, but unfortunately the name of Bellamy, or his land, is neither mentioned nor even hinted at in this letter, (as may be seen from the copy of it published with his Synopsis). In short, no intimation, in any manner whatever, was given Ross by Lieutenant Wilkes that he did not claim the discovery of all the land marked on his chart, and to this cause alone is to be ascribed the error into which Captain Ross was, I think, unavoidably led.

"Mr. Wilkes says, Ross ought to have examined the accounts of his discoveries, published in the Sydney and Hobart Town papers, before he made so bold an assertion to an American officer. But with such evidence as the chart and letter of Mr. Wilkes in his hands, I apprehend it could hardly have been seriously expected that he should search the newspaper accounts (which probably he never saw) for other or better information on the subject.

"On my visit to Captain Ross on board the Erebus, he spread this chart before me in the presence of Captain Crozier and two of my own officers. It was distinctly drawn out on tracing paper—the whole appearing, so far as I observed, one connected operation, representing nothing but the result of his own (Wilkes's) explorations. Ross, believing it to be such, had transcribed it at length on his chart, which he also placed before us, and pointed out the tracks of his vessels marked on it in red ink, and passing directly over the spot assigned to the land, which we all considered as laid down by Lieutenant Wilkes to represent the north-eastern limit of his supposed antarctic continent, and where he (Ross) said they had a clear sea as far as the eye could reach. Such was the evidence on which my belief in his report was founded. To my mind it was conclusive; and I cheerfully leave it for the judgment of others to determine whether or not, under all the circumstances here stated, it be just cause of 'surprise' that Captain Ross should have boldly asserted that he had run over a clear ocean where Lieutenant Wilkes had laid down the land, and that I should have taken it for granted, without further examination, that such was the fact.

"In making this statement, I can say, with perfect sincerity, I am actuated by no unkindness of feeling towards Mr. Wilkes; but, fully persuaded as I am that the erroneous statement for which he publicly censures Captain Ross, and shows a little temper towards me, was the result of his own negligence alone, I considered it due to that distinguished navigator, as well as to myself, that the matter should be publicly explained.

"I am, very respectfully, &c.

"J. H. Aulick."

APPENDIX, No. VIII.

LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT WILKES IN REPLY TO CAPTAIN AULICK.

"To the Editors of the Spectator.

"Gentlemen,—The editorial notice in the columns of your paper, in which the remarks of Captain Aulick are inserted, is so full as respects the discovery of the Expedition, that I should not have thought it necessary to say another word relative to the subject, if Captain Aulick's remarks might not give the idea, that the chart and letter sent Captain Ross by me were disingenuous, in so far that I had attempted to claim a greater extent of discovery than the Expedition was entitled to, and that I had taken occasion to show some little temper towards himself, and pass 'public censures upon Captain Ross, while my own negligence was the cause alone to which is to be ascribed the error into which he thinks Captain Ross was unavoidably led.'

"It will, I think, be sufficiently shown, that I had the warmest feelings towards Captain Ross and the English Expedition, by the simple perusal of my letter to him, giving him the information I did. The whole was prepared in much haste, and when my time was much occupied, and I doubt not all will perceive the candour and frankness with which it was written; and it ought certainly to go to prove that I was not afraid of rivalry, for every one knew that Captain Ross was about to explore our very track, and thus would test our operations. I am well aware that many have blamed me for sending him any information; but I have not changed my opinion, that it was proper for me to do so. As the Commander of a great undertaking in the cause of science, I was in duty bound to forward that of another Expedition of a foreign nation, similarly engaged, every way in my power, even at a sacrifice to myself.

"On my arrival at Sydney from the antarctic cruise, I was introduced to Captain Briscoe (Biscoe), the discoverer of Enderby's Land; and I believe he gave me the first information of the English discovery^[5] and its position, which I placed on my chart, marking it 'English discovery.'

"My impression is that the copy which I ordered to be made (from my own original) on tracing paper, and sent to Captain Ross, was a perfect one, and on the original chart the English discovery is detached and separate from ours, and stands alone. At the time I sent my letter to Captain Ross, I did not know the English discoverer's name; but whether the English discovery was so marked or not, is of but little consequence, for Captain Ross knew of Bellamy's discovery before he left England, and therefore must have seen at once the longitude and latitude of that on the tracing were almost identically the same with those of Bellamy's; and I am satisfied that the only erroneous conclusion Captain Ross could have been led into by it, was, that I had verified Bellamy's discovery.

"That I felt and expressed surprise relative to Captain Aulick having taken Captain Ross's assertion on a point (without a full examination of all the data) in which not only the credit of the Expedition, but the country and navy were concerned, is very natural, and I believe all who consider the subject will agree with me.

"I cannot suppose that the words in the Synopsis, 'given currency by him,' can be tortured into that he (Captain Aulick) was the 'only or at least the first person' to whom Captain Ross made the statement; but I think and suspect it will strike all, that coming, as it did, from an officer of rank in our navy, it would obtain currency, and be generally believed, from that fact alone.

"My authorities are the inhabitants of Oahu, who, on our arrival there, a few days after Captain Aulick left, told us of the report; one and all gave Captain Aulick as the author of it, 'that it must be so, for Captain Aulick had said it, and that there was no continent left for us.'

"On my return to the United States, Captain Aulick's name was again attached to the report, and being an officer of high standing, gave it weight and currency throughout the Union that otherwise it would not have had. I was desired by a number of gentlemen of high standing, friends of the Expedition, to state the facts for the credit of the Expedition and country, which I have done in my Synopsis.

"I never, myself, thought enough of this attack on the Expedition to have any feeling on the subject as regards Captain Aulick; nor did I intend any thing personal towards him in the remarks in my Synopsis, as I told a mutual friend, some days since, who spoke to me on the subject.

"My language is erroneously quoted when I am made to say, that Captain Ross 'ought' to have examined, whereas I only express surprise that he should not closely have inquired into the statements, as I think any one would have done similarly situated.

"As for Captain Aulick's charge of negligence against me, as an apology for Captain Ross's error, I am well assured, from the personal acquaintance I have had with the latter, he never would have made it himself. I can truly say that I rejoice in his success. With Captain Ross, as an individual, I am not at issue; but when an unjust attack is made on the Expedition and the results of our hard labours, which belong to the country, I feel it my duty to defend them.

"I am, very respectfully,

"Your obedient servant,

"Charles Wilkes.

"Nov. 19th, 1842."

 

APPENDIX, No. IX.

TABLES ILLUSTRATING THE ABSTRACTS FROM THE METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL KEPT ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP EREBUS, PRINTED WITH THE NARRATIVE.

Figures—To denote the Force of the Wind.

0	denotes	Calm.
1	"	Light Air		just sufficient to give		Steerage way.
2	"	Light Breeze	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	with which a well-conditioned man-of-war, under all sail, and clean full, would go in smooth water, from	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	1 to 2 knots.
3	"	Gentle Breeze				3 to 4 knots.
4	"	Moderate Breeze				5 to 6 knots.
5	"	Fresh Breeze	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	in which the same ship could just carry close hauled	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Royals, &c.
6	"	Strong Breeze				Single-reefs and top-gallant sails.
7	"	Moderate Gale				Double-reefs, jib, &c.
8	"	Fresh Gale				Triple-reefs, courses, &c.
9	"	Strong Gale				Close-reefs and courses.
10	"	Whole Gale		with which she could only bear		Close-reefed main topsail and reefed foresail.
11	"	Storm		with which she would be reduced to		Storm stay-sails.
12	"	Hurricane		to which she could show		No canvas.

Letters—To denote the State of the Weather.

[6]b	denotes	Blue sky.—Whether with clear or hazy atmosphere.
c	"	Cloudy.—i.e. Detached opening clouds.
d	"	Drizzling rain.
f	"	Fog—f̣ thick fog.
g	"	Gloomy dark weather.
h	"	Hail.
l	"	Lightning.
m	"	Misty or hazy.—So as to interrupt the view.
o	"	Overcast.—i.e. The whole sky covered with one impervious cloud.
p	"	Passing showers.
q	"	Squally.
r	"	Rain.—i.e. Continuous rain.
s	"	Snow.
t	"	Thunder.
u	"	Ugly threatening appearance in the weather.
v	"	Visibility of distant objects.—Whether the sky be cloudy or not.
w	"	Wet dew.
•	under any letter denotes an—Extraordinary degree.

By the combination of these letters, all the ordinary phenomena of the weather may be recorded with certainty and brevity.

EXAMPLES.

bcm	denotes	Blue sky, with detached opening clouds, but hazy round the horizon.
gṿ	"	Gloomy dark weather, but distant objects remarkably visible.
q̣pdlṭ	"	Very hard squalls, and showers of drizzle, accompanied by lightning with very heavy thunder.

F. B.

APPENDIX X.

GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE.

Name and Description of Place.	Latitude South.	Longitude East.
	º⁠′	º⁠′
Adam, Mount	71 23	168 56
Adare, Cape	71 18	170 45
Anne, Cape	73 45	170 10
Albert Mountains (centre)	76 00	160 00
⁠
Balleny Islands	66 44	163 11
Barrow, Cape	71 12	168 58
Bay, McMurdo (centre)	77 20	165 00
⁠Mowbray	72 11	170 30
⁠Robertson	71 22	170 25
⁠Wood	74 25	165 30
⁠Yule	70 39	166 30
Beaufort Island	76 55	166 58
Bird, Cape	77 09	166 40
Brewster, Mount	72 53	169 30
⁠
Cape Adare	71 18	170 45
⁠Anne	73 45	170 10
⁠Barrow	71 12	163 58
⁠Bird	77 09	166 40
⁠Christie	72 17	170 42
⁠Cotter	72 39	170 50
⁠Crozier	77 25	169 10
⁠Daniell	72 53	170 00
⁠Davis	70 32	166 06
⁠Dayman	70 40	170 58
⁠Downshire	71 35	170 58
⁠Gauss	76 09	162 52
⁠Hallett	72 25	170 45
⁠Hooker	70 36	166 28
⁠Johnson	74 16	166 20
⁠Jones	73 08	169 15
⁠McCormick	71 55	170 58
⁠Moore	70 49	167 27
⁠North	70 31	165 28
⁠Oakley	70 56	167 45
⁠Phillips	73 00	169 55
Cape Roget	72 06	170 50
⁠Scott	70 59	168 02
⁠Sibbald	74 06	166 47
⁠Wadworth	73 27	169 55
⁠Washington	74 37	165 10
⁠Wheatstone	72 42	170 48
⁠Wood	71 19	169 32
Christie, Cape	72 17	170 42
Cotter, Cape	72 39	170 50
Coulman Island	73 36	170 02
Crozier Cape	77 25	169 10
Conical Hill	71 14	168 58
⁠
Dalmeny, Mount	71 05	167 08
Daniell, Cape	72 53	170 00
Davis, Cape	70 32	166 06
Dayman, Cape	70 40	166 50
Doubtful Island (1)	75 44	166 10
Doubtful Island (2)	71 43	171 08
Downshire, Cape	71 35	170 58
Dunraven Rocks	71 15	170 40
⁠
Elliot, Mount	70 50	166 35
Erebus, Mount	77 33	166 58
⁠
Frances Island	67 20	164 20
⁠
Gauss, Cape	76 09	162 52
⁠
Hallett, Cape	72 25	170 45
Harcourt, Mount	72 32	170 04
Herschell, Mount	72 04	170 08
Hill, Conical	71 14	168 58
Hooker, Cape	70 36	166 28
⁠
Inlet, Smith	70 55	167 33
⁠Tucker	72 46	169 45
Island, Balleny	66 44	163 11
⁠Beaufort	76 55	166 58
⁠Coulman	73 36	170 02
⁠Doubtful (1)	75 44	166 10
⁠Doubtful (2)	71 43	171 08
⁠Frances	67 20	164 20
⁠Franklin	76 07	168 20
Island, Possession	71 56	171 10
⁠Smyth	67 36	165 00
Islets, Kay	74 00	169 40
⁠Lyall	70 45	167 20
⁠Possession	72 00	171 about
⁠
Johnson, Cape	74 16	166 20
Jones, Cape	73 08	169 15
⁠
Kay Islets	74 00	169 40
⁠
Lyall Islets	70 45	167 20
Lloyd, Mount	72 19	170 07
Lubbock, Mount	73 04	169 00
⁠
Magnetic Pole	75 05	154 08
McCormick, Cape	71 55	170 58
McMurdo, Bay	77 20	165 00
Melbourne, Mount	74 25	164 10
Minto, Mount	71 33	169 16
Monteagle, Mount	74 00	166 12
Moore, Cape	70 49	167 27
Mount Adam	71 23	168 56
⁠Albert (centre)	76 00	160 00
⁠Brewster	72 53	169 30
⁠Dalmeny	71 05	167 08
⁠Elliot	70 50	166 35
⁠Erebus	77 33	166 58
⁠Harcourt	72 32	170 04
⁠Herschell	72 04	170 08
⁠Lloyd	72 19	170 07
⁠Lubbock	73 04	169 00
⁠Melbourne	74 25	164 10
⁠Minto	71 33	169 16
⁠Monteagle	74 00	166 12
⁠Murchison	73 25	166 56
⁠Northampton	72 40	169 15
⁠Parker	71 18	167 24
⁠Parry⁠to	79 00	169 00
⁠Peacock	72 11	170 06
⁠Pechell	71 06	167 30
⁠Phillips	73 06	168 15
⁠Robinson	71 44	170 25
⁠Sabine	71 42	169 55
Mount Terror	77 30	168 34
⁠Troubridge	71 12	168 05
⁠Whewell	71 55	170 18
Mowbray Bay	72 11	170 30
Murchison, Mount	73 25	166 56
⁠
North, Cape	70 31	165 28
Northampton, Mount	72 40	169 15
⁠
Oakley, Cape	70 56	167 45
⁠
Parry Mountains⁠to	79 00	169 00
Parker, Mount	71 18	167 24
Peacock, Mount	72 11	170 06
Peak, Russell	67 26	164 30
Pechell, Mount	71 06	167 30
Phillips, Cape	73 00	169 55
Phillips, Mount	73 06	168 15
Pole, Magnetic	75 05	154 08
⁠
Robertson Bay	71 22	170 25
Robinson, Mount	71 44	170 25
Rocks, Dunraven	71 15	170 40
Roget, Cape	72 06	170 50
Russell Peak	67 26	164 30
⁠
Sabine, Mount	71 42	169 55
Sabrina Land	66 00	120 00
Scott, Cape	70 59	168 02
Sibbald, Cape	74 06	166 47
Smith Inlet	70 55	167 33
Smyth Island	67 36	165 00
⁠
Terror, Mount	77 30	168 34
Troubridge, Mount	71 12	168 05
Tucker Inlet	72 46	169 45
⁠
Wadworth, Cape	73 27	169 55
Washington, Cape	74 37	165 10
Wheatstone, Cape	72 42	170 48
Whewell, Mount	71 55	170 18
Wood, Cape	71 19	169 32
Wood Bay	74 25	165 30
⁠
Yule Bay	70 39	166 30

APPENDIX, No. XI.

(Referred to in p. 17. of Narrative.)

A LIST OF ROCK SPECIMENS, FROM ST. PAUL'S ROCKS.

No.	1.	Hornstone—from summit of white rock, southwest side.
	2.	"Kaolin," veined with serpentine, from side of do.
	3.	The latter rock, from the base, where exposed to the spray of the sea; in progress of decomposition.
	4.	Altered Hornstone—from the rock on the northeast side.
	5.	Veins—intersecting the base of the rock, like small dykes, black and much hardened.
	6.	The same, filled with calcareous deposit, &c.
	7.	Masses of conglomerate, confusedly intermingled with the last four kinds.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

London:
Spottiswoode and Shaw,
New-street-Square.

1. Plates of the beautiful drawings will be found in the "Zoology of the Voyage," now being published under the superintendence of Dr. Richardson and J. E. Gray, Esq.
2. I learn from Professor Forbes that he has got from Capt. Sulivan another new species of Primnoa from near Staten Land, in 278 fathoms.—1st August, 1846.
3. "To the Editor of the Polynesian.—Captain Ross, in the Erebus and Terror, had been as far south as 78 deg. 4 min., in long. 186 deg. 40 min. W. He made the south magnetic pole to be in lat. 76 deg., 154 deg. long. east. He discovered an active volcano, which he called Mount Erebus, in 77 deg. 31 min. S., 167 deg. 10 min. E.

   "This information was brought to Mazatlan from Sydney by an English vessel; the writer had it from Dr. Wiley, of the English navy, who was a passenger on board, and who stated to him that he took this memorandum from Capt. Ross, who was at Sydney when he left.

   "He further verbally stated that Captain Ross had sailed over the spot where land is supposed to have been seen by the American surveying vessels. They (the English vessels) saw vast numbers of seal and many whales.

   G. W. P. Bissell."
   "Sandwich Islands, September 20, 1841."
4. Captain Aulick, of the Yorktown, confirms the intelligence in regard to Captain Ross's discoveries, published in No. 17. of our paper. He met that celebrated navigator a few months since at the Bay of Islands, and from him learned the discovery of two volcanoes as far south as 77 deg. One of them, which he named Mount Erebus, was 12,000 feet in height, and at the time he saw it in active operation, affording a most magnificent spectacle to the crews of both vessels: the other, whose altitude was 10,000 feet, was named after his consort, the Terror. Captain Ross had received the chart sent him by Captain Wilkes, and had cruised over a space of 50 miles in extent in either direction, where land had been laid down by the latter navigator, and found nothing but clear sea.—Polynesian, Oct. 15th, 1841.
5. Bellamy's Land.—Editors.
6. The figures prefixed to this letter denote the quantity of blue sky visible in eighth parts of the hemisphere.—J.C.R.