New Georgia; but having afterwards recollected that this name is already occupied in another part of the world, I changed it to that of the North Georgian Islands, in honor of our gracious Sovereign.”
Among the many fortunate circumstances which had attended the Hecla and Griper during this first season of their navigation, there was none more striking than the opportune time at which they were securely placed in Winter Harbour; for on the very night of their arrival, the thermometer fell to -1°; and, on the following day, the sea was observed from the hills to be quite frozen over, as far as the eye could reach; nor was there any open water seen after this period until the early part of July, 1820.
“Having reached this station, where, in all probability, we were destined to remain for at least eight or nine months, during three of which we were not to see the face of the sun, my attention was immediately, and imperiously, called to various important duties; many of them of a singular nature, such as had for the first time devolved on any officer in H.M. navy, and might indeed be considered of rare occurrence in the whole history of navigation. The security of the ships, and the preservation of the various stores, were objects of immediate concern. A regular system to be adopted for the maintenance of good order and cleanliness, as most conducive to the health of the crews, during the long, dark, and dreary winter, equally demanded my attention. Not a moment was lost, therefore, in the commencement of our operations; the whole of the masts were dismantled except the lower ones, and the Hecla’s main-top-mast; the lower yards were lashed fore and aft amidships, to support the planks of the housing intended to be erected over the ships; and the whole of this was afterwards roofed over with a cloth” similar to that with which waggons are usually covered. The boats, spars, running-rigging, and sails, were removed on shore; and as soon as the ships were secured and housed over, my whole attention was directed to the health and comfort of the officers and men.
“Under circumstances of leisure and inactivity, such as we were now placed in, and with every prospect of its continuance for a very large portion of the year, I was desirous of finding some amusement for the men during this long and tedious interval. I proposed, therefore to the officers of both ships to get up a play occasionally on board the Hecla, as the readiest means of preserving among our crows that cheerfulness and good-humour which had hitherto subsisted. In this proposal I was readily seconded by them; and Lieutenant Beechey having been duly elected as stage-manager, our first performance was fixed for the 6th November, to the great delight of both ships’ companies. In these amusements I gladly