which was now laid out on a larger and more commodious scale than formerly, its decorations much improved, and, what was no less essential both to actors and audience, a more efficient plan adopted for warming it, by which they succeeded in keeping the temperature several degrees above zero on each night of performance throughout the winter.
To furnish rational and useful occupation to the men, on the other evenings, a school was also established, under the voluntary superintendence of Mr. Halse, for the instruction of such of the men as were willing to take advantage of this opportunity of learning to read and write, or of improving in those acquirements. While these internal arrangements were making, the interests of science were not neglected; the portable observatory was erected for the purpose of making magnetic observations; and a house was built for the reception of the instruments requisite in conducting the other observations and experiments. Every possible attention was paid to the dryness, warmth, and ventilation of the sick-bay, in which a fire was kept to preserve a constant equable temperature of about 60°; this and other arrangements rendered a little less comfortable than the ward of a regular hospital. Captain Lyon having expressed a wish that his officers and men, with himself, should attend divine service on board the Fury, during the continuance of the ships in winter-quarters, and some psalm tunes, purposely set upon an organ, being played at the proper intervals, their little church formed a pleasing and interesting scene to such as were disposed to be interested by scenes of this nature.
The first day of the year 1822 was a very severe one in the open air, the thermometer being down to – 22°, and the wind blowing strong from the N.W. On the 18th January, at a late hour in the evening, the stove-pipe of Captain Parry’s cabin caught fire, and gave cause for a momentary alarm; but buckets and water being at hand it was soon extinguished.
On the morning of the 1st February, a number of strange people were seen to the westward, coming towards the ships over the ice, and some appearance of huts on shore, at the distance of two miles, was also discovered in the same direc-
