Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/202

1840

To effect this desirable object we had again to avail ourselves of the aid of volunteers under Sir John Franklin, who, in his zeal for the advancement of science, took his share of the duties of that day, which, as on the previous occasion, amounted to twelve of the twenty-four hours' observations, at intervals of two and a half minutes. The observations in the ships' observatory were made by Captain Crozier, the officers of both ships, and myself: those in the permanent observatory by his Excellency, and the following gentlemen, who had devoted some time to acquire accuracy in reading off the instruments,—Rev. John Philip Gell, M.A., Trin. Coll., Cambridge; Rev. Dr. Turnbull, Mr. Henslowe, Lieut. Bagot, A.D.C. 51st; Mr. Cracroft, Mr. Nairne, Lieut. Kay, of the Terror, and two mates. I had thus the satisfaction of witnessing the effectual working of the observatory on those days on the enlarged plan of observation I contemplated, and which, by the unabated zeal of the volunteers, continued without interruption, on every succeeding term-day.

The regular hourly observations were next commenced by Lieutenant Kay, whom I had selected to conduct the magnetic and meteorological experiments at this important station, in co-operation with the numerous observatories established in different parts of the globe, and who had shown great diligence and application in making himself acquainted with the instruments to be employed in these investigations, and the various and delicate adjustments and corrections necessary to ensure