STANMER.-(Packet.)

1818. September 15th, off Cuba, West Indies; P.M. light airs, dark threatening weather; 5h. violent squalls, thunder, lightning, and rain; 5h. 30m. the lightning struck the ship, shivered main-top-gallant-mast and main-top-mast, and damaged the main-mast.

The discharge passed through the fowl coop, and killed all the fowls except two, which appeared to have been in one corner of it out of the course of the explosion.

The lightning continued until 11h. P.M. with heavy rain. Several waterspouts appeared in various directions about the ship.

SAPPHO, 18.

1820. February 9th, at sea, lat. 4° 38' N., long. 19° W.; P.M. light airs and fine weather, wind E.N.E.; 6th cloudy with thunder and lightning; 8h. squally with rain; 8h. 20m. fore-top-gallant-mast, top-mast, and lower mast struck and shivered by lightning. Four men were struck off the fore-yard and never seen afterwards; two men were killed on deck, and four others died soon after in consequence of the injury which they sustained; several others were knocked down and stunned, and upwards of fourteen were severely hurt.

The wind had been from the east and E.N.E., after which calm with light airs at noon, when the ship was struck it came more to the north, and at night flew in to S.S.E.; on the following day easterly and northerly, cloudy with lightning; after which north-east, variable and calm; midnight of the 10th light breezes and cloudy.

1832.

SOUTHAMPTON, 52.

November 5th, at anchor in the Downs; P.M. 12h. 30m. mizen-mast and mizen-top-gallant-mast struck by lightning and considerably damaged. The discharge passed through ten beams on the upper deck, shook four and exploded in the Captain's cabin.

The lightning first took the heel of the mizen-top-gallant-mast, which was housed, and then set fire to the paunch mat on the mizentop-sail yard It ran down the mizen-mast to the copper in the wake of the boom, which seemed to disperse it; the quarter-master and the signal-man were seriously injured. It started the oak plans and bolts about the wheel. The discharge got to the main-deck, and divided upon a copper bell wire, by which a portion reached the cabin, and in its general course shook the beams, and tore down all the lining of the sky-lights and other joiners' work, another portion traversed the deck, and shivered a box containing grape shot, to atoms, and then striking a 24lb. shot left on it marks of fusion. The lightning passed into the gun-room by a bolt in the waterway, and shivered several boxes and shelves in pieces.

The wind on the 4th N.N. W., moderate breezes and fine weather; on the 5th south-west; A.M. moderate and fine; noon strong breezes and rain; P.M. north-east, squally with thunder and lightning. The wind remained at north-east; on the 6th, squally; on the 7th E.N.E., strong breezes and cloudy.

During the thunder storm several waterspouts were observed about the ship. The storm was eventually attended by a shift of wind from south-west to north-east.

(To be continued.)

THE MAGNETIC EXPEDITION.

WE take the following with some amendments of our own from the Literary Gazette, as a connected account of the proceedings of the magnetic expedition under Captain Ross. The letter of Captain Ross relating to his discovery, with the chart shewing the position, of it our readers will remember in our vol. for 1841 p. 634.]

THE Erebus, Capt. James Ross, and the Terror, Capt. Crozier, left England on 29th Sept., 1839, and made observations at Madeira, Port Praya, St. Paul's Rocks, and Trinidad. On the last day of January, 1840, the expedition reached St. Helena, Capt. Ross having been desirous, in taking this course, to determine the important point of minimum magnetic intensity, and the nature of the curve connecting those points in which that intensity is weakest. This he accurately accomplished; and we may note that the large space of Atlantic Ocean so traversed possesses the least magnetic intensity of any like portion of the surface of the globe. The position of the line, presumed to be proceeding towards the north, being thus ascertained, it will be easy in all future time to mark its progress, and establish a certain law upon the subject. (Vide Transactions of the Royal Society for 1842.) The position of the line of no-dip or magnetic equator was also determined, and fixed grounds laid for subsequent observation of the changes to which it may be liable.

The magnetic observatory of St. Helena having been set on foot, and the officers and instruments landed, the expedition sailed again Feb. 8, and March 17th arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where similar services were performed. A series of daily experiments was made on the temperature and specific gravity of the sea, at the depths of 180, 300, 480, and 600 fathoms, and at length soundings at the bottom of the ocean were struck. (See Nautical Magazine, vol. for 1840.) From all which, the physical condition of this element will come to be better understood.

April 3. The Cape was left behind, and the system of magnetic observation sedulously and zealously continued, to connect the voyage with the observatories established in other parts of the world. Kerguelen's Land was reached on 12th May; and on the 29th (the day previously fixed for simultaneous observations), the magnetometric instruments were noted every 2 minutes, for 24 hours; and, fortunately, one of the magnetic storms which have been noticed in various parts of Europe, occurred, and its affecting the instuments, as at Toronto, afforded complete proof of the vast extent of magnetic influences, pervading the earth's diameter with a velocity equal to light or electricity.

Geological and geogrophical investigations were carried on here. Large fossil trees were found in the lava, and indicated the igneous origin of these islands. Extensive seams of coal were also imbedded in the volcanic mass, which may, with great benefit, be employed for the purpose of steam navigation in this quarter of the world, and be of immense importance to the commerce of India.

First Year. From Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land, the expedition proceeded to Auckland Islands, and completed a perfect series of magnetic obserENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 10.-voL. FOR 1843. 4 R

vations on the important term-day of Nov. 1840. The anticipatory attempts of the American Lieut. Wilkes, and the French Commodore D'Urville, having become known to our countrymen, Capt. Ross wisely used his discretionary power in altering his route from that originally intended. He accordingly directed his course for the utmost south, at about the 170th degree of east long. by which the isodynamic oval and the point exactly between the two foci of greater magnetic intensity might be passed over and determined directly between the tracks of the Russian navigator Bellinghausen and our own illustrious Cook. He then proposed to steer S. W. towards the pole, rather than attempt its approach directly from the north on the unsuccessful footsteps of preceding voyagers.

On the 12th of December he quitted Auckland Islands, touched at Campbell Island, and passing through numerous icebergs to the southward of 63° lat. made the Pack-Edge, and entered the Antarctic Circle on New-Year's day, 1841. This pack was not so formidable as represented by the French and Americans, but a gale and other unfavourable circumstances prevented the vessels from entering it at the time. A gale from the northward blew them off; and it was not till the 5th that they regained it, about 100 miles to the eastward, in lat. 66° 45′ S., and long. 174° 16' E., when, though the wind was blowing and the sea running high directly upon it, the entrance was achieved without the slightest injury to either ship. After advancing through it a few miles, they were able to make their way to the southward with comparative ease and safety. Thick fogs, however, ensued, and, with light winds, rendered their course more difficult as well as tedious; and constant snow-showers impeded their operations. Whenever a clear glimpse could be obtained, they were nevertheless encouraged by seeing a strong water-sky to the S.E.; and on the morning of the 9th, after sailing above 200 miles through the pack, they gained a perfectly clear sea, and bore away S.W. for the magnetic pole!

Jan. 11, lat. 70° 47′ S., and long. 172° 36′ E., land was discovered at the distance of nearly 100 miles, directly in their course and between them and the pole the southernmost known land ever discovered, though somewhat nearly approached by the Russians twenty years ago. As those who accomplished this honour for their country approached, it was seen to rise in lofty mountain peaks of from 9000 to 12,000 feet in height, entirely covered with eternal snow, and the glaciers projecting from the vast mountain brows for many miles into the ocean. By and by exposed patches of rock were visible; but the shore was so lined with bergs and pack-ice, with a heavy swell washing over them, that a landing could not be effected. They therefore steered to the S.E., where were several small islands; and on the 12th Capt. Ross landed, accompanied by Capt. Crozier and a number of officers of each ship, and took possession of the country in the name of our gracious Queen Victoria. The island is composed altogether of igneous rocks, and lies in lat. 71° 56′ S., and long.

171° 7' E.

The east coast of the mainland trended to the southward, and the north took a north-westerly direction; and Capt. Ross resolved on penetrating as far as he could to the south, so that he might, if possible, pass beyond the magnetic pole, which the combined observations had placed in 76° S., nearly, and thence proceed westward till he completed its circumnavigation. They accordingly steered along this magnificent land, and on 23rd January reached 74° 15' S., the highest southern latitude that had ever been previously attained!

Here strong southerly gales, thick fogs, and perpetual snow-storms impeded them; but they continued to examine the coast to the southward, and on the 27th again landed on another island, in lat. 76° 8' S., and long. 168° 12′ E.; like the former, all of igneous rocks. On the 28th a mountain, 12,400 feet above the level of the sea, was seen emitting flame and smoke in grand profusion; which splendid volcano received the appropriate name of Mount Erebus. Its position is lat. 77° 32′ S., long. 167° 0′ E.; and an extinct crater to the eastward of it was named-though not quite so fitly Mount Terror.

Continuing to follow the mainland in its southern trending, a barrier of ice, stretching off from a prominent cape, and presenting a perpendicular face of above 150 feet, far above the mast-heads of the vessels, shut up the prospect of further advance in that direction. They could just discern beyond, the tops of a range of very lofty mountains towards the S.S.E., and in lat. 79° S. This barrier they explored to the eastward, till, on the 2nd of Feb., they reached lat. 78° 4' S., the highest they were at any time able to attain; and on the 9th, having traced its continuance to the long. of 191° 23′, in lat. 78° S., a distance of more than 300 miles, their farther progress was stopped by a heavy pack pressed closely against it, and the narrow lane through which they had hitherto found their way being now completely covered by rapidly forming ice, nothing but the strong breeze which they fortunately had with them put it into their power to retrace their course. At the distance of less than half a mile they had soundings on a bed of soft blue mud, with 318 fathoms. The temperature was 20° below the freezing point; and nought more here being impracticable, they bore away for the westward, and again reached lat. 76° S., (that of the magnetic pole) on the 15th of February. They found the heavy ice partially drifted away, but its place supplied by more, recently formed, through which they got a few miles nearer the pole-lat. 76° 12′ S., and long. 164°, the dip 88-40, and variation 109 24 E.-thus only 157 miles from the pole. The nature of the coast rendered it impossible to lay up the ships and endeavour to reach this interesting point by land; but it is satisfactory to know that it was approached some hundreds of miles more nearly than ever it was before, and that from the multitude of observations made, in so many different directions, its position can be determined with almost as much certainty as if the spot had been actually visited.

The advanced period of the season in this high latitude now rendered return advisable; but yet they made another effort to land on the north part of the coast, which was defeated by the heavy pack-ice. They found it terminate abruptly in lat. 70° 40' S., and long. 165o E., trending considerably to the southward of west, and presenting an immense space, occupied by a dense pack, so firmly cemented together by the newly formed ice, as to defy every attempt to penetrate it. The whole southern land thus traced extends from nearly the 70th to the 79th degree of latitude, and was distinguished by the name of our beloved Sovereign.

Their way from hence lay near the chain of islands discovered by Balleny, in 1839, and more extensively explored by the American and French expeditions in the following year. On the 4th of March they recrossed the Antarctic Circle, and being necessarily close by the eastern extreme of those patches of land which Lieut. Wilkes has called "the Antarctic Continent," and having reached their latitude on the 5th, they steered directly for them; and at noon on the 6th, the ships being exactly over the centre of this mountain range, they could obtain no soundings with 600 fathoms of line; and having traversed a space of 80 miles in every direction from this spot, during beautifully clear weather, which extended their vision widely around, were obliged to confess that this position, at least, of the pseudo-antarctic continent, and the nearly 200 miles of barrier represented to extend from it, have no real existence !!

Continuing to bear westward, the expedition approached the place where Professor Gauss supposed the magnetic pole to be, which was proved, by extended investigation, to be erroneous; and they then, April 4th departed for Van Dieman's Land.

No disease or casualty of any kind attended their first labours, and there was not one individual in either ship on the sick list! Sir John Franklin, too, the estimable friend and arctic companion of Ross, was still at the opposite pole, ready to welcome and entertain him. It was doubtless a happy meeting.

Second Year. The magnetometers, &c., again strictly compared with those

of the fixed observatory, the crews refreshed, the ships refitted, the gallant band again proceeded with their arduous task. The expedition went to Sydney and the Bay of Islands, in order to extend the magnetic observations, and finish meteorological and other philosophical experiments. These at the Antipodes of European observatories, and equally separated from each other, are of much interest to science; and have decided the important question of the exact correspondence of the momentary magnetic perturbations. The perturbations at Van Dieman's Land and New Zealand were found to be in exact accordance. Nov. 23, 1841. They sailed from the Bay of Islands, and passing by the Chatham Islands, bore away to the eastward, to examine the supposed position of the focus of greater magnetic intensity, and, favoured with fine weather, obtained a series of observations which demonstrated the error of the assigned position. They accordingly proceeded to the south to resume the examination of the Antarctic seas.

Dec. 18. In lat. 62° 28′ S., and long. 146° 57′ W., they made the pack 300 miles farther north than before; which unexpected obstruction showed that they were too early for the season. They entered, however, and pursued their voyage for 300 miles, when it became so close that they could push the ships no more to the southward. With untiring zeal and unflinching fatigue of officers and men, it was again New-Year's day, 1842, before they could cross the Antarctic circle. The intense brightness of the sky foreshewed them that they would still have to encounter vast bodies of ice in that direction, whilst more encouraging appearances held out inducement to try their fortune to the westward. By Jan. 19, they had succeeded in reaching within a few miles of the open water, when a violent gale sprung up and placed them in a situation of appalling jeopardy. The rudder of the Erebus was shattered, and that of the Terror was soon after utterly destroyed; and violent shocks against the ice for twenty-six hours, as they rolled deeply among its heavy masses, severely tried their strength, and threatened their existence. On the 21st the gale abated; and though driven back far into, and closely beset by the pack, they went to work to repair damages and prepare for new efforts. Their condition was very helpless, and their vexation the greater, as the last days were fast shortening, and the season drawing to a close. They had, however, gone through the pack in a direct line 450 miles, and were more south than Cook or Bellinghausen had been able to reach in more favourable seasons.

At length Feb. 2, they cleared the pack in lat. 67° 28′ S., and long. 159° 0 E., after an imprisonment of forty-six days in the "thick-ribbed ice." This was only ten days earlier than they had been obliged to abandon their operations the year before; but still they advanced to see what could be done. They pursued their course to the southward along the edge of the pack, but it was found to trend to the westward across their course, which obliged them to stretch farther in that direction than was wished; and a continuance of violent gales added more to their difficulties. They fought against every obstacle, and at midnight, on the 22d, they had the satisfaction to make the great barrier a few miles to the eastward of the spot where their examination of last year had concluded. This enormous mass gradually diminishes, from its commencement at the feet of Mount Erebus, where it is about 200 feet, to 150 feet at the eastern extreme, as far as could be seen. At the point now reached it was farther diminished to 107 feet, and broken into deep bays and low projections not above from 50 to 70 feet high. Soundings in a bed of blue mud were ob tained at 290 fathoms; which, together with the strong appearance of land, gently rising in ridges to the height of several hundred feet, at a distance of 50 or 60 miles from the barrier, leaves little doubt of the existence of an extensive country to the southward, but so entirely covered with perpetual ice as to conceal every conceivable feature of marked character to establish its positive

existence.

The barrier was, with a strong breeze, traced about 130 miles farther eastward than in the preceding year, but all beyond was fruitless. Captain Ross